Birthdays, Birthdays, and more Birthdays!

Spring had always been slow birthday-wise in our family until Noah came along. Then one by one we've added Ella, Riley, Alexa and now new baby Jasmine. I guess now I have an excuse to just keep on shopping straight through Christmas!

First we celebrated Alexa's 1st birthday. She's getting so big, and I can't believe she's already 1.

Alexa and her mommy on her 1st birthday!

Alexa and her favorite Aunt on her birthday!

(can't you see the resemblance??)

Yummy birthday cake from Sugarlips Cakery!

Then came Noah's Birthday! Noah is 6 this year. My how time has flown. It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating his 1st birthday, now he's all grown up and almost done with his first year of "big kid school." This mama isn't liking my last baby growing up so fast.

His crazy laughing monkey card from Aunt Dana & Uncle Wes. (thanks for the annoying card you two! Just wait, now you have a child....paybacks... well you know the rest :)

Uncle Gary flew in for a visit just in time to celebrate with us!!

Alexa with Dana & Wes. I think she's all partied out at this point!

Thank you Granny & Poppy for his "6 fives"

He promptly spent it on Beyblades :)

Noah's fabulous cake from Sugarlips! Yummy!!

Uncle Josh and Ella flew in for a few days to visit, just in time for Noah's birthday. Unfortunately, Aunt Dana has the pics of them together on her camera. As soon as she shares (hint, hint) I'll add some more pics of their visit, and our trip to the zoo while they were here.

We've had a good past month visiting with family, and taking lots of spring time outings. It'd be nice to do it more often.

Coming up next.....more pictures of Ella & Josh's visit.

Karen

Long Overdue.....

Obviously I'm a bit behind in updating my blog. I haven't posted since last February which makes me a total slacker.

We've had a busy year this past year. Noah started Kindergarten (cue the waterworks), Reaghan is studying for her drivers permit, and Sydney is getting ready to get her braces off. My how they've grown.........and how the time flies! I, of course, am NOT getting any older :)

I finally have a new computer (iMac, love it!) that will upload photos, so over the next few days, I'm going to try to upload some pics from the last year. (these were taken by an RT I work with, check out his work here: mblonde.smugmug.com)

My niece Alexa is just turned 1 and I have another new niece, Jasmine, born just before Noah's birthday this month! Our family is growing more every year!

I still love my job in the Peds ER, although it has been crazy busy the last couple of months. I've changed my status to Seasonal RN which means I work 7 days every 2 weeks, but I'm off 3 months in the summer with pay (kind of like a teacher) so I'll get to play all summer this year with the kids!

Gotta run....more to come with pics hopefully.

K

"It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, He did everything that needed to be done for everyone..." Hebrews 10:14

All because two people fell in love....

"For I know the plans I have for you....plans to give you hope and a future." --Jeremiah 29:1


Almost two years ago, we were blessed to welcome Wes into our family....

This past summer, we were all thrilled to receive the news that this little blessing was on it's way...

Now, I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce this little bundle of joy:

Alexa Kate Sanders

born at 4:05 p.m.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

7 lbs 2 ounces

19 inches long

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I've asked of him"
-- 1 Samuel 1:27

We all are so excited to have this newest edition to our family. Dana, Wes, and Alexa are all home and doing well. We are so blessed!


Now, let me just say that the waiting for this baby was pure torture for me! Not only did Dana & Wes not find out the gender, but they didn't tell anyone the names they had chosen either. I'm a planner by nature, so the not knowing was a killer for me. Do any of you realize how hard it is to shop for gender neutral baby gifts?? If not, let me tell you now, it's no picnic!!

Anyway, I was so excited to be living here close for her birth, and to spend such sweet time with my sister while waiting for her first baby to be born. I'm so proud of the woman she has become and absolutely positive that she and Wes are going to be wonderful parents to baby Alexa. Once again, thank you Lord for this wonderful blessing!!

Love to all,
K

Christmas 2009

We had a really nice Christmas holiday this year. Granny & Poppy arrived on the 17th. The kids were so happy to see them! Mimi & Papa made a surprise appearance on the 22nd (the kids didn't know they were coming.) Noah really had a grasp this year of the "Santa thing" and it was so nice to see everything through the innocent eyes of a little kid this year. We celebrated with Dana & Wes on the 23rd since they were flying out on Christmas Eve for Illinois. Thank goodness they made it in and out safely and didn't get snowed in. St. Matthew's had a beautiful Christmas Eve service and we actually managed to get everyone there on time! I have to admit though that the sign language choir is my absolute favorite to watch. It is so peaceful and soothing to see them perform. Now on to some pics :)

Noah riding his "big boy" bike for the first time. He's getting so big, my how the time flies. The kids all got new bikes this year so I anticipate a lot of this in the future.

This is Noah's favorite shirt for Scottie. He loves Wolverine :)

A little old school Lincoln Log action...

Sydney waiting to open her first present of the year.

We had a really nice visit with all the grandparents, and were sad to see them go. The kids are all making plans already to go to Arkansas to visit this summer. We are so fortunate that both Scottie's and my parents are young enough and energetic enough to still chase the kids around, or in the girls case, chauffeur them around!! I know we should enjoy it while we still can 'cause they won't be small for too much longer.

On another note, I celebrated my 37th birthday on the 27th. I'm not sure why, but this number isn't sitting too well with me. Maybe it's that it is closer to 40 than to 30....I don't know. I'm well aware that 'age is a state of mind,' but this number is very depressing to me. I'm going to have to reconcile myself to this though, 'cause I'm not going to get any younger!

K

Halfway thru December...

Here we are already over halfway thru December and I have yet to post anything. What a slacker I've become! We've been very busy. Sydney has started basketball practices, I'm still working nights (yuk!) as is Scottie, and Reaghan and Noah are just trying to keep up. I am proud of myself, I did manage to get my Christmas cards all mailed by December 10th! I think that's a new record for me. Here's a peak at our Christmas card this year:

I ordered them from TinyPrints. They do the best cards, and have super fast, competent service :)

Last weekend we decided to take a trip to the Phoenix Zoo to see the zoo lights. I must say, I was pleasantly suprised by the display. Reaghan opted to be "too cool to go" and stay home, but we had a good time anyway with Dana & Wes.

I thought this peacock was the prettiest of the displays.

Syd & Noah posing by the giant spider web. You can't see it in this picture, but there is a giant spider looming in the top left corner.

Here's a picture of our tree this year. Big fiasco with the tree this year. I had a pre-lit tree that I loved, it had lots of lights, and rotated....so I plugged it up this year and guess what?? It decided to die. Only half of the top section would light up, none of the middle section, and only the front part of the bottom. Thank goodness for Wal-Mart and cheap trees, 'cause we now have this one:

The girls said, "it looks like it's throwing up..." Gotta love the honest, uncensored input from teenagers. This is why they said it looks that:

Noah picked out these cute sparkly things at Hobby Lobby and I couldn't come up with any other use for them. I did make a new bow for the tree top this year too. I guess those who don't help decorate the tree don't get to make too much of a fuss about it though... I am super excited about my new paper for this year's presents though. Here's a pic taken by Sydney that I really like. We may have a budding photographer on our hands. I like her perspective on it.

I guess I've babbled on enough for now. I'll update more after Christmas. I'm sure I'll have plenty of pics. Granny & Poppy are here, Noah had a school Christmas program, and Christmas is Friday. Take care all, and I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas!
K

The Polar Express

We had a great Thanksgiving with Dana & Wes. This was our first official holiday here in Arizona. Fortunately we have family here to share such events with. I'm a stickler for not celebrating or even decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving is over, but since it is officially the Christmas season now, we headed out yesterday to see the Man in Red himself. Off we went north to Williams, Arizona to ride the Polar Express to the 'North Pole.' Here's a few pics.....

"Look mom, we can sit together and not fight!!"

Did I mention that it had been snowing up in the mountains? Well it had been, and it was cold!!

Some of the lights at the 'North Pole'

Here's our funny little chef....they brought us hot chocolate (yum!) and chocolate chip cookies on the Polar Express!

Noah was all hopped up on chocolate (thanks to the chefs) and ready to sing some Christmas carols

A Christmas bell from the Man himself.....let me assure you, there was no shortage of bell ringing going on in the room last night. He had three bells between him and the girls. Anyone know how to take the 'ring' out of those bells?? I need sleep...zzzzzzz

Yummy cookies!!

waiting with Sydney to get on the train.

My beautiful babies actually posing for me by the Christmas tree at the lodge. Gotta love Noah's goofball expression. I'm sure there are many more years of those to come :)

By the way, for those of you who know Noah....guess what he told Santa he wanted for Christmas??? You guessed it, a COMBINE. I guess Santa's going to have to comply. He's been asking for one for about 6 months now.

Here's hoping you guys all have a safe, happy and healthy Christmas season. Remember germs are everywhere so wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands! (and sneeze into your sleeve :)

Let's not forget the reason for the season.....

Love,
K

Kicking off the Christmas season.....by rail!

This year we're going to try something a little different. Instead of kicking off the Christmas season by torturing ourselves with the annual Black Friday shopping trip, we're going to try this the Sunday after Thanksgiving:

We're taking a train ride.....to the 'North Pole' (actually the Grand Canyon). Upon arrival to the 'North Pole' this guy will board the train....

Here's what the website says, "The Polar Express comes to life when the train departs the Williams Depot for a journey through the dark and quiet wilderness for a special visit to the "North Pole." Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while listening to the magical story. Watch the joy on the children's faces when the train arrives at the North Pole, where Santa Claus and his reindeer are waiting! Santa will board The Polar Express and hand each child their own special gift. "

Then we'll take the train back here to spend the night:

The kids all get to wear their Christmas pj's on the train, so now we're on a hunt for cute Christmas pj's for everyone. I'll be sure to take my camera so I can update everyone with pictures after the trip. Noah is so excited!! I guess I'd better hurry out and get the 'Polar Express' movie so Noah can watch it before the trip....time's running out :)

If any of you are interested, here's the website: www.thetrain.com/polar-express

Thanksgiving plans....

You may or may not know, but Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. No pressure, no gifts, just good ole' fashioned fellowship with the people we love. It is truly one of my biggest pet peeves that Christmas decorations are out in the store before Halloween even arrives....seriously, is that necessary?? Anyway, we are celebrating Thanksgiving this year at Dana & Wes' house with a few friends of theirs.

This is one of the many things we'll be giving thanks for this year.
We are so excited for Dana & Wes to be having their first baby!







Here's a little sneak peak......

The menu is planned, the shopping soon to be done, then to just wait on the good food!! Even though we'll be celebrating with a new group of people this year, the things we are thankful for haven't changed...happiness, health, and the love of family and friends. What more could we want?

K

Update.......

So, it's been FOREVER since I've updated....bear with me, this may ramble a bit :)

Let's see, since I last blogged in February we've had a lot going on. The girls both played softball this spring, so we averaged 4 games a week between the two of them. Poor Noah tagged along to every game and practice. Softball finished up in June.

The first week of July, I got a job offer I couldn't refuse at a hospital in Phoenix, AZ.......so here we are! The kids and I left July 13th and trekked across the country to Arizona. Thank heavens Dana & Wes were so hospitable (thanks a million guys) because I only had 2 weeks from job offer to start day. Obviously, the girls weren't thrilled with the idea of leaving their friends, etc. but they've transitioned wonderfully. I'm so proud of them. We've had a few rough patches along the way, but they've made new friends and are getting along better than they ever have.

Noah was sad to leave his Nana Susie and his little buddies at her house, but it was time to go to preschool. We found a Montessori school for him and he goes 3 days a week. He is doing great! He really likes school, and is so proud of his many art projects!

Scottie's transfer wasn't completed until 2 weeks ago, so he didn't get here permanently until Oct 4th. That was a tough 3 months living bi-coastally. We definitely don't want to ever have to do that again. Thank goodness mom was able to come out and stay a few weeks to help out with the kids. I don't think I could've done it alone.

I'M AN AUNT AGAIN!!!! Nick & Deborah had baby Autumn in August. I've only seen pictures so far, but she's beautiful and perfect in every way.

AND.....God continues to bless our ever expanding family. Dana & Wes are expecting their first baby in mid- March! I'm so excited to be here to experience my baby sister's first pregnancy/baby with her. Fortunately for my pocketbook, they aren't going to find out the gender...makes it alot easier not to shop!

NOAH IS IN HIS OWN BED!!!! Not super news worthy, but a point to make note of. We are all sleeping much better now :)

We're going to be busy over the next few months....our first Thanksgiving here in Arizona. The weekend after Thanksgiving we're taking Noah on a Polar Express train ride to the Grand Canyon to kick off the Christmas season. I'm hoping for snow early in the mountains so we can take the kids snowboarding for the first time! Scottie's parents are coming for Christmas and we are super excited to share our new city with them. Hopefully mom and dad will be able to come out soon (though I'm not holding my breath because it's now deer season!).

We still love and miss all of our old friends in Prairie Grove, but are enjoying Arizona. I promise to add pictures soon, but the laptop has died again and the old PC makes uploading painfully slow. I'll have to add that to my list of projects...

Happy Fall Ya'll,

K

I'm leavin' on a jet plane...

I'm so excited! I am officially going to see my sister next month. Just me, all alone, no kids, no husband, for 4 days...ahhh. I can't wait. Now don't get me wrong, I love my family but sometimes a person (wife, mother, waitress, housekeeper, etc) just needs a break. A nice little time away to clear the mind and refresh the perspective is always in order.

Thanks to my sister booking appointments for us, this is what I'll be doing on one of those days:

Woohoo....Girls spa day!! It's definitely long over-due. And since the average monthly Phoenix temp in February is 70 degrees, it'll be a nice change from the cold weather we've been having here.

Only 24 days to go....

K

Great Expectations!!

Let me just start by saying that I absolutely love everything about newborn babies. The way they smell, the little noises they make, the sheer innocence.....all of it is nothing short of heavenly. With that said, I just do not want any more as permanent members of my household!! That is why I was ecstatic when my baby brother Nick called me Sunday afternoon to tell me that I'm going to be an aunt again! All of our babies have grown into toddlers and teenagers so it's time for a new baby to smooch on. Congratulations Nick & Deborah!

K

Christmas Day 2008

Christmas Day went off without a hitch at our house this year. That's a first!! Nevermind the fact that Noah was up at 1:30 a.m. It's a good thing Santa came early and that Noah was a bit too groggy to want to play. Whew!! Back to bed he went and didn't get up until much after 8am. Here's a pic of Scottie enjoying the last few moments of peace and quiet before all the kids got up.....

Here's Sydney discovering that we did, indeed, find a Wii for her. (Thanks to Aunt Dana in AZ)

Noah w/his train he's been asking for for weeks on end. He liked it so much that he had to be forced to open any of his other gifts. The girls ended up doing it for him. It was all about the choo-choo for Noah.

One of the only smiling pics I got of Reaghan for the day. Who knew the teenage years would be so hard to adjust to?

Later in the day Josh, Jacquelyn, and Mary Ella came over to play. Ella and Noah played suprising well together w/his trains.

Meanwhile, the rest of the family was otherwise engaged. Nick had to work so they weren't able to come up. Here's what Dana & Wes were doing out in Arizona.....I'm so jealous!!

Way to represent the Hogs on the slopes Dana!!

Thanks to Mom and Dad for this:

It's my Christmas and Birthday present for the year. It takes some great point and shoot pics, and I'm sure it'll take even better pics when I figure out all of the features.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas this year. Let's not forget to give thanks for all of the blessings that we've been given this year.

K

The tree is lit...mostly

I finally put up the Christmas tree today. Let me just say I love, love, love having a pre-lit tree. That is, when all of the lights are working properly. My patience was not in abundance today, so needless to say the more un-lit portion of the tree is against the wall!! Oh well, the kids still had fun decorating it!

Noah really wanted to play w/this one, not hang it!

Trying to get the hook to stay put!

On the stool to reach up high...

The girls finally let me get a pic w/them in it!

Another pic of all three kids. Amazing!! They're not even fighting!

I guess when I take the tree down I'll have to spend some time figuring out which lights are out. Until then, I'll just not look at the back of the tree!!

K