Sadie Jane's 5th Birthday

This is a day I have D-R-E-A-D-E-D since she was born! I don't want my little baby girl to turn 5!!!!!! NO!!!!!! Let her stay 4 forever!!!!!!!
But, since it's inevitable, let's at least make it FUN and MEMORABLE!
So, her celebration started a little over a week early. Spoiled, much? Yes, I think so. My mom took her to Build a Bear and let her pick out Ms. Piggy and get her some clothes and accessories, which is always such a treat!!!! They spent the whole day together! We had her party at Monkey Joe's, per her request. I was sick. as. a. dog. for the whole week leading up to party night. Like, on. my. death. bed. Sickest I have ever been in my life. And yes, that is compared to puking for 9 months while pregnant with 2 children and throw in a few kidney stone episodes as well. This took the cake! I'm still not exactly sure what I had. The nurse said it was a sinus infection. I think not. I have had my share of sinus infections and they have never felt like this. I had 101.4 temperature, chills, sweats, pain from head to toe, tingling, congestion, puking my brains out, lethargy, and I didn't eat for about 5 days. Doesn't sound much like a sinus infection to me, but whatever. I literally remember laying in the bed at one point and seriously didn't care if my house burned down right then and there with me in it. Anything to take away the way that I was feeling!!!!!!! A-W-F-U-L! You get the hint? Okay, good.
Since the Lord is always in control, thank goodness, I had already prepared for Sadie's bday party the week before. So, all of that was done. THANK YOU LORD!
Anyways, I don't really even remember seeing my kids all of last week, but I was bound and determined, come hell or high water, I was going to be at Sadie's 5th birthday party - NO MATTER WHAT! I'm a mom. That's what I do. When I'm physically unable to "be a mom", I feel empty, helpless, miserable. So, that is how I felt all of last week. But, I took it slow and made it to Sadie's party. I don't remember a lot from it, b/c I think I was so doped up on Phenergan, Zofran, Zpac, Zyrtec, and steriods, but I do have pictures and video to remember it by! And, I was there. Sadie won't remember what I looked like, or how I felt, but she WILL remember that I was there!!!

Sawyer flew over the side of a bouncy right after we got there and ate. the. floor. The thud heard round the world. Ouch. It was so pitiful!!!! He busted his head, mouth, chin, and lip. I seriously thought he was going to look up and have no teeth left. Luckily, he was okay! Just badly bumped up and busted up a little!!!

Here are some pics of her and her friends from school!



Of course, we had lots of family there also!




And, the birthday girl was SO happy!!! This was by far the most excited I've ever seen her about her birthday. She had this HUGE smile all day long!!!!



It was such a FUN birthday party! I continue to be humbled every year when my children's birthday's role around. So many friends and family come and show their love for my kids and it means the world to me! We are so blessed!!!!!!




We stayed until they about closed and then we headed home so that Sadie could open all of her fun presents! We took baths first and got all ready for bed and then we let her open every last one of them! She had so much fun!!!




Sunday night, Dennis and I surprised her and took Sadie on a special date night with just us 2. We took Sawyer to my mom's and we took her to eat dinner at Outback and then we took her to see the Disney Princess show at TPAC. She was so excited to get to be with just mommy and daddy for a night all by herself! It was so much fun!!!!!





Finally, Sadie's REAL birthday arrived! Jodi had asked us to go to American Girl Doll store at the last minute, so we did! We waited to tell Sadie until the night before we left. She was SO excited!


We arrived fairly late, so we quickly checked into the hotel and headed straight to American Girl store. Sadie wanted to get Rebecca's hair done, so we did that right away.



We wanted to go eat a late dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, but there was too long of a wait, so we opted for our favorite, Fuddruckers!!! Jodi had never been before, and she was pleasantly surprised!


I think my favorite part of our trip was when we got back to our hotel room. I gave Sadie a bath and we just hung out together. Till after midnight! We got her a LeapPad for her bday, so she was playing with that. We were laughing together. I helped her get Rebecca changed into her new PJ's and then Sadie put on matching ones. She was so excited and proud. It was PRECIOUS!



She was in her bed and I was in mine and we sat that way for almost 2 hours. We would just look at each other and laugh that we were awake so late! I loved every minute of it.
We got up Saturday morning and went to have Brunch at the Bistro for Sadie's bday. It was so much fun! Always fun to get to eat a meal with your doll!



After brunch, we shopped for a long time. Reese and Sadie did so good. They were troopers! We rode the carousel and we ate some lunch, then grabbed some goodies at the Nestle Toll House store. YUM!
It was a fun, fun trip that I look forward to taking again SOON!
Sadie got to celebrate her birthday for over a week! I just wanted to make it extra special for her since it's her 5th. It's such a BIG birthday!
She's a precious angel who just has to be the easiest child in the whole world. I am blessed to call her mine. She makes me want to be a better person. She's so precious to Sawyer. She's a great big sis and takes such good care of him. She LOVES her new LeapPad, she LOVES playing with her dolls and Barbies. She loves watching any Princess movies. Right now, she loves the movie "Rio" and she loves watching "Bubble Guppies" on TV. She's getting so smart. She has learned this year to write her whole name and she does very good at it! She's learned a lot of Spanish, a lot of spelling, etc.
Happy 5th Birthday to the most precious little girl in the whole world!

Tough start to the New Year!

I have been a bit absent from the blogging world for the past few weeks and for that, I am sorry. More sorry to myself, b/c I have failed in keeping up with what's been going on!
The past 6 weeks or so have been...well...HARD for me.
I feel as though Satan has tried to attack me in every way possible ever since I started doing Beth Moore's "James" study. Now, don't get me wrong. I wouldn't change one. single. thing.
That study has rocked my world in the best way possible, but I wouldn't say it's been easy.
I have been in God's Word more in the past 6 weeks than I have ever been before. Yes, even more than when I did the Chronological Bible Study last year and I was reading the Bible every single day. This has been different. I've been actually "studying" the Bible instead of just "reading" it. There's a huge difference. Huge.
I hope that woman (Beth Moore) gets an extra special seat right up close to the throne of God when she gets to Heaven. I adore her for some reasons, but mostly b/c she teaches me more than anyone else I can think of. She gets me. She doesn't even know me on a personal level, but she gets me.
Anyways, January was just a gloomy, boring, blah month. February has started about the same.
Sadie has had a horrible stomach virus for the past 6 days, and it has about put me over the edge. I love taking care of her. Don't get me wrong. But, my sweet little Sadie has just been gone. She's been so weak, so sad, in pain, frustrated, and just plain sick. Poor Sawyer has had to settle with "Mommy" as a playmate, and I'll be honest, I'm just not as good of a playmate as Sadie is! I think he truly misses her! I don't play trucks and cars as good as she does, apparently. I don't do well being cooped up in the house for an extended amount of time. I like to be out and about. I like being connected.
I have felt very disconnected all together.
Some relationships have become even further strained during this first part of the year. Some relationships have grown and flourished, praise the Lord.
Even though it's been a tough start to the New Year, I wouldn't trade the "boredom" for anything. Simply because I get it.
I get that the reason I'm created is to know my God. I'm just supposed to know Him, read about Him, talk to Him, etc.
I can do that.
I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.
So, the reason I wouldn't trade this "tough" start to 2012 is because ABOVE ALL, I've come to know my Jesus deeper than ever before and I don't want to rush "such a time as this".

Do Not Dismiss

Earlier today, during "naptime", Sadie called me into her room several times saying that something was pinching her hand. I was so confused. After the 2nd or 3rd time of me going back there, looking at her hand, kissing her hand, and seeing N-O-T-H-I-N-G, I told her to lay back down A-G-A-I-N and try to go to sleep. I wasn't getting upset with her. I just seriously could not see anything wrong with her hand. Sadie NEVER complains about anything. Ever. I never even know when she's really sick b/c she doesn't "act" sick. I knew something had to be wrong. What is it, God?

Anyways, a few minutes later, I hear her in her bed, crying. Softly. Breaks my heart. So, I went BACK in there to see why she was so upset. She kept saying "mommy, something is really pinching my hand". I turned around and as I turned the lamp on in her room to get a better view, I prayed to myself - "God, please let me see what's hurting her". I looked, and looked, and looked, and felt...and finally...I felt the smallest little splinter right where she'd been pointing. Thank. You. Jesus.

So, I scooped her up, brought her into my bathroom, removed the splinter, put some neosporin and a princess bandaid on it and carried her back to her bed. She was a much happier little Tinkers now.

Do not Dismiss those gentle whispers that God gives you. I came back and as I sat down on the couch, I thanked God for letting me see her hurt.

One of my NY resolutions is to try to REALLY see every thing, BIG and small, that God does this year in my life and have a deeper heart of gratitude towards HIM. Even something as small as a splinter.

Christmas 2011

*so, I started trying to put all of the Christmas pics into this blog, but it takes sooooooooo long, so for now, the blog will have to be minus MANY pics...one day, when I have 10,000 hours in my day, I will add the pics...(seriously, blogger, can you please provide an easier, faster way to add pictures?????)
We had such a great Christmas this year. I seriously believe that Sadie and Sawyer's ages this year (3 and 4) are by far the BEST ages to have at Christmastime. I know, I know...I'll probably say that again next year...and the next...and the next. But, you get my point. We had SO MUCH FUN!!!

Friday night (Christmas Eve-eve), we went and had dinner at Casa Vieja. Yum. We were supposed to have a big shindig at my sister's house, but unfortunately Emma got strep throat the night before, so we had to cancel the activities for the night. Boo. So, after we went to eat, Dad and Lori came by and we did our gift exchange with them. The kids loved opening their first gifts of the season! Then, they both helped me open all of mine. So cute.




After they left, we let the kids watch our wedding video with us for the first time. It was SO precious. They loved it! The questions they asked and the comments they made were just priceless. I cried like a baby through most of the video. Okay, I sobbed. The kids kept asking me why I was crying and I just told them it's because I was so happy. Yes, that was part of the reason for sure. But, frankly, it's just plain hard to watch! I can't believe it's been 10 years. So many people have changed in that 10 years! There are people who are no longer with us that were in the video because they have passed away. My Grandpa, for example. He was so healthy then. Just walked himself right down that aisle. There are also people who have gotten much older and aged so much in just 10 short years. Dennis' grandfather, for example. He was so much healthier (and quicker) 10 years ago. Then, of course, there were people in the video who are no longer around due to the ugliness of divorce. Boo. It was just plain hard to watch how happy EVERYONE was in that video. Dancing, singing, clapping, smiling, loving, etc. And, then, there was precious little Chance, who was not even 2 years old in the video. There are no words to say how stinkin' precious he was!!!!!!!!!!! I loved and will always cherish that first time that we got to let the kids see how it all began. They need to see that. They need to see how happy we were back then. And, they need to see how happy we are now. It all matters.

Saturday morning, we got up and went straight to Grammy and Captain's house. We had so much fun there. Grammy dressed up as the Fairy Godmother and handed us all of our passes to Disney for the whole week. I seriously cannot wait for that trip to get here! We ate a great lunch and let all of the kids play. It was a wonderful time!!!!

We came home and let the kids nap and then we went to see my Grandma. She's just so wonderful. She's lovely, she's hilarious, she's loud and quiet all at the same time. She's just as perfect as they come. Kate, John, Stacy, and Brittany were all there too. We stayed just a little while and I loved every second of it. I soak up every moment I have with that woman. She's so special. There's just not one other woman on the planet like her. She got choked up several times while we were there and as always, she cried so hard when we left. God bless that sweet woman.

We headed to mom's after that. We had a DELICIOUS dinner and then opened what seemed like a million presents. Mom always goes all out at Christmastime. She got Sadie the cutest little desk for her American Girl Doll. Sadie LOVES it! And, she got me the cutest Prada purse from New York and I LOVE it!!!!!!

We left and came home to put out the reindeer food and cookies/milk for Santa. The kids kept thinking that they heard Santa and it was so darn cute!!! They seriously FLEW through bathtime and getting their PJ's on, b/c they knew that Santa wouldn't come until they were in bed. They kept telling me to look outside and see if he was there. They were excited beyond words and it was so much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They came to the den to tell Cocoa, our elf, goodbye until next year and then they went straight to bed. We didn't hear a peep out of them.

Then, the "fun" began. Dennis and I were up until 2:00 in the morning getting it all ready. Wow. We were tired. Excited, but definitely tired. Neither of us slept all night long.

We got up around 7:00. The kids did not. They didn't wake up until sometime after 8:00. Seriously? Who does that??
Sawyer woke up first and then we got Sadie up and the whole moment was a bit anti-climactical. They ran in the den and I think were immediately overwhelmed. They were REAL excited, but they just weren't sure what to do. Hilarious. Sadie just happened to walk by the door and see the trampoline out in the backyard. She was SO excited!!!! So, we put on coats and houseshoes and went straight out there to jump! They loved it!!!!! Mom and Butch came by for just a second and then Dennis and I opened our gifts to each other. He went WAY overboard. He always does. He spoils me. I got him a new 9mm Glock, so he was pretty fired up too! :)
Deb and LJ came by for a few minutes and when they left, we made our Christmas morning breakfast. Mornin Glory Oven French Toast. Yum-O!
We pretty much played all day long. The kids napped and then Dennis' dad came by for a few minutes too. The kids loved showing off all of their stuff.
Dennis smoked bbq all day, so we had a delicious Christmas dinner too. We played our new games on the Kinect and just had a ball. Love the memories of Christmas. They never get old.

Monday morning (the day after Christmas) we got up and went to Dennis' grandma's for Christmas. It was crazy, but a lot of fun! It felt pretty good outside, so the kids were able to play out there, which was nice.

It was a wonderful, wonderful Christmas this year. I definitely was not ready for it to be over. But, it's nice to be able to look back on it and know that it couldn't have been any better!!!