tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955414793314564402024-02-07T15:45:56.934-08:00The Westdyk Family"You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up." Deuteronomy 6:7steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-33144838330525354322011-12-15T09:22:00.001-08:002011-12-15T09:48:34.001-08:00Whirlwind of birthdays<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrqeCU2E6leV222zSpcDCYTyXEwCbd6hMAyzQcgQehfoDntH69imspEnr7-WK2oEwS6VXTEESY2J8vzGrVKKfytXrYRQMW0wQLWUwbyn3-4KmMMels3rvf-DLgMG9wBdt2fii4HM8H0w/s1600/IMG_8366.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrqeCU2E6leV222zSpcDCYTyXEwCbd6hMAyzQcgQehfoDntH69imspEnr7-WK2oEwS6VXTEESY2J8vzGrVKKfytXrYRQMW0wQLWUwbyn3-4KmMMels3rvf-DLgMG9wBdt2fii4HM8H0w/s320/IMG_8366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686408727153167634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We just went through our whirlwind of birthdays, starting on September 1st with Caleb's 1st birthday and ending on December 11th with Sydney's birthday. It is always a crazy time of year for us in the fall, that Christmas ends up being a breeze! First, our baby boy turned 1, and we did a zoo animal theme. We were pleasantly surprised that Caleb did not follow suit with his older brother by crying over his cake... he didn't mind getting a little messy, and enjoyed every bit of it!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18BGftCNwOisvUAgbPT7grC0YPzlDEQg79Xp7djX08o0kZDBgD6IDvsKY4xZyjh6uCdGmY2GNuatrCZneMVncrN_CckZLn48b0ZMLIH8x82O0bx0yniqJvZWyoyHtoPwLs0jT1yKdoNE/s1600/IMG_8373.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18BGftCNwOisvUAgbPT7grC0YPzlDEQg79Xp7djX08o0kZDBgD6IDvsKY4xZyjh6uCdGmY2GNuatrCZneMVncrN_CckZLn48b0ZMLIH8x82O0bx0yniqJvZWyoyHtoPwLs0jT1yKdoNE/s320/IMG_8373.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686408720220289618" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-jvy_RUGg1bT_7sg5KOkEOkms1Eq7cv8HQWIvJyamDn7zXwwrxBIRvCzJe4cI16k1ADCcirZR0yciSK0ddIzffSc_DKA2Zqyeuir-2qrgNQkMWL61i2OjJly13N2jVPZEeJGVLO7Y3M/s1600/IMG_8348.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-jvy_RUGg1bT_7sg5KOkEOkms1Eq7cv8HQWIvJyamDn7zXwwrxBIRvCzJe4cI16k1ADCcirZR0yciSK0ddIzffSc_DKA2Zqyeuir-2qrgNQkMWL61i2OjJly13N2jVPZEeJGVLO7Y3M/s320/IMG_8348.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686408737457889378" border="0" /></a><br />We had a great time celebrating with our friends and just can't believe how fast this year has gone!<br /><br />Then on October 16th, 3 days before Carter's actual birthday, we celebrated Carter's 5th birthday with a Pirate theme! Talk about not believing how fast time has gone by... I seriously can't believe I have a 5 year old already! His friends had a blast dressing up like pirates together!<br />Carter is growing up so much every day... he is starting to read and really enjoying going to Classical Conversations. The biggest joy I have gotten from this experience is watching how Carter loves to teach his little sister all of the stuff he is learning. I haven't had to teach her anything at all this year, Carter is taking the lead with that! Maybe I have a future teacher on my hands!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtO7ZBK9SGtxmqIZsN8d_CKbVLqGkP1XHo-CJFbOpA4PjVQLfCw6mQxwp2hTw0R6vZfLPOO0L4MQzOZDJmUhPmEjs-MsYE4K8XDmeLtnshyphenhyphen41wcq33I7MBHgw8SVzBw7g4lJCavZIcJxw/s1600/IMG_8591.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtO7ZBK9SGtxmqIZsN8d_CKbVLqGkP1XHo-CJFbOpA4PjVQLfCw6mQxwp2hTw0R6vZfLPOO0L4MQzOZDJmUhPmEjs-MsYE4K8XDmeLtnshyphenhyphen41wcq33I7MBHgw8SVzBw7g4lJCavZIcJxw/s320/IMG_8591.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686408720580891378" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzS9LUdQQ2aaHNhRmcLyjQ7Y53u1Ujbu0UpMwcIKQJ-R893RLqpik05Hz_7oiQEZHiXD8L-qgFqJ6igDrMOMgUMmp6vzuApZyG3CRGc80CFKZFHypESSxHjaVtLV_8X5j4YJPns60Qkek/s1600/IMG_8597.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzS9LUdQQ2aaHNhRmcLyjQ7Y53u1Ujbu0UpMwcIKQJ-R893RLqpik05Hz_7oiQEZHiXD8L-qgFqJ6igDrMOMgUMmp6vzuApZyG3CRGc80CFKZFHypESSxHjaVtLV_8X5j4YJPns60Qkek/s320/IMG_8597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686407945575766162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then on December 11th, Sydney's actual birthday, we celebrated Sydney's 3rd birthday with a Princess theme. At first she had asked for a Dora party, but then she settled on a Princess party because "I'm a Princess!" she says. All of her friends came dressed up like a Princess too! Sydney loved wearing her tiara and enjoying her birthday with her friends.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-jvy_RUGg1bT_7sg5KOkEOkms1Eq7cv8HQWIvJyamDn7zXwwrxBIRvCzJe4cI16k1ADCcirZR0yciSK0ddIzffSc_DKA2Zqyeuir-2qrgNQkMWL61i2OjJly13N2jVPZEeJGVLO7Y3M/s1600/IMG_8348.JPG">.</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3QUYu3RWuFojMXJvyqCxRjV3ukMd_PmtAjYHa_f8YjUBhPRAlwbXVrRAgnv7-B42W5j1MCHLIrc42O3yMcmw5pccsTk5hE-cmM6jOKl3ugwX0cau5AuVn9jepTaO-TuiexInYN4J7ko/s1600/IMG_9179.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3QUYu3RWuFojMXJvyqCxRjV3ukMd_PmtAjYHa_f8YjUBhPRAlwbXVrRAgnv7-B42W5j1MCHLIrc42O3yMcmw5pccsTk5hE-cmM6jOKl3ugwX0cau5AuVn9jepTaO-TuiexInYN4J7ko/s320/IMG_9179.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686407938499296114" border="0" /></a><br />The biggest treat from her birthday, was watching the joy on her face after she opened each and every gift. It didn't matter how big or small it was, she had such joy in her reaction and kissed just about every gift! It melted my heart!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2Qvki98B21Ve3jdohwHtbD8PTs2xlBTK5BdFM2fYY-1z2iWWiZZqjjRihYEqVm7FBIq12HHkQXCm95ec9TmLtIjsn_kzS03WfVwGEYTvxammycErVGKH-SFrpQjQQiNmTm7kGqyKG4g/s1600/IMG_9225.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2Qvki98B21Ve3jdohwHtbD8PTs2xlBTK5BdFM2fYY-1z2iWWiZZqjjRihYEqVm7FBIq12HHkQXCm95ec9TmLtIjsn_kzS03WfVwGEYTvxammycErVGKH-SFrpQjQQiNmTm7kGqyKG4g/s320/IMG_9225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686407933765622994" border="0" /></a><br />The big news with Sydney is that she is finally potty training!! We started a few days before her birthday, and hasn't had very many accidents at all. Something just seemed to click at 3 for her, because we had been trying off and on for the past 6 months with her. I am thrilled, because this mama was not looking forward to the possibility of three children in diapers come February!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmtK9xRqqsIeVqY3e6hR_GX4rUJh6YdJPfRZOsFOWbfMgCG98F6GeuRRi0PWQx6IheePaBMfPxqlsBp3XVnk9sI09W_m-MHyfWAv1X2ITzpKowI2OkYHXvl-9VcWVvySNOgVY1Ts4uYc/s1600/IMG_9244.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmtK9xRqqsIeVqY3e6hR_GX4rUJh6YdJPfRZOsFOWbfMgCG98F6GeuRRi0PWQx6IheePaBMfPxqlsBp3XVnk9sI09W_m-MHyfWAv1X2ITzpKowI2OkYHXvl-9VcWVvySNOgVY1Ts4uYc/s320/IMG_9244.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686407923687415586" border="0" /></a><br />And this is me, 32 weeks pregnant, putting my feet up for the first time all day at the end of the party.... and the end of a whirlwind few months of birthdays. And now, on to Christmas, and baby girl on the way.... For a more detailed update on my pregnancy, please visit my other blog: http://ajourneytovbac.blogspot.com/<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotCuvuD-Jf_tsQlAHefbK_SzC0s65XOHUNvrMKy-gjvukhrAf0G54XEghvswLXM3uDROx07sfZUYAXIOGch5vH-l_yZWf5IegegDdOVMNAp_vpkjEYWmzxViCjKK64OnDMQTJ1z5OOSI/s1600/31.5+weeks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotCuvuD-Jf_tsQlAHefbK_SzC0s65XOHUNvrMKy-gjvukhrAf0G54XEghvswLXM3uDROx07sfZUYAXIOGch5vH-l_yZWf5IegegDdOVMNAp_vpkjEYWmzxViCjKK64OnDMQTJ1z5OOSI/s320/31.5+weeks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686407918540035746" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-39398429584559103962011-10-07T19:45:00.001-07:002011-10-07T20:04:33.579-07:00I've become that MomYou know the Mom I'm talking about... a minivan Mom! Yes that's right, we are now proud owners of our very first minivan. It's surprising we even made it this far without having to buy one. When we first found out we were pregnant with Caleb, we had talked about getting a minivan. My husband, being the frugally minded man he is, decided it would be worth it to buy more expensive but thinner car seats for our Saturn SUV that only seats 5 people and squeeze in three car seats across the back seat, rather than shell out the thousands of dollars it would cost to buy a minivan. I agreed, and we made it work... until we found out #4 was on the way. We no longer had a choice in the matter!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01ucv8K_Yg2wRhh1E0ejeTjOncuuuWQE3WBIY1TrroeZbmvkoSHOnAiwjaDxfht1cxz9mCvL3vzwgeszwTNNExrlBIzRMRA7J_7IzpULEN0S7V6uroKrFlaj06gzAjfgAvsAfHaqwJa4/s1600/Minivan.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01ucv8K_Yg2wRhh1E0ejeTjOncuuuWQE3WBIY1TrroeZbmvkoSHOnAiwjaDxfht1cxz9mCvL3vzwgeszwTNNExrlBIzRMRA7J_7IzpULEN0S7V6uroKrFlaj06gzAjfgAvsAfHaqwJa4/s320/Minivan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660948653697445010" border="0" /></a>So here it is, our new minivan... not new, but new to us. It's a 2005 Honda Odyssey. Honda's are built to last, so we weren't too worried about buying an older vehicle. We were just glad we finally landed the deal we were praying for and were able to pay it 100% in cash and not have to go in debt over it. We were very frustrated with the search for a vehicle and often considered buying a newer Honda and taking out a small loan that we knew we could pay off in a short amount of time. Thanks to the wisdom of our dear friends who always give us great advice when it comes to finances, they encouraged us to continue praying that God would lead us to the right deal within our price range with exactly what we were looking for and could pay cash for it. I'm so glad we listened to them, and asked God to lead us, because not too long after we started praying that way, we found our van!<br /><br />If you have been keeping up with my VBAC blog, you will know that we are expecting a girl this time. We are very excited to be evening out the genders in our home! But for now, I couldn't be a happier mama with my three beautiful children. I'm often tired, but loving what I do. Carter has started Pre-K this year, including a once a week homeschool co-op called "Classical Conversations." We go together each week and I get to sit in his classroom and help the teacher as she leads them through the process. It has been such a fabulous addition to our homeschool curriculum. Carter absolutely loves it! Thanks to Daddy working from home, he is able to keep Sydney and Caleb at home while Mommy and Carter get to have a morning at school together all by ourselves. Then during the week, we get to practice what he is learning at home. I am amazed at how much he has learned in 6 short weeks, and love to watch as Carter teaches Sydney what he is learning! I hope to share more about "Classical Conversations" soon. I highly recommend it to any homeschool family out there!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhA_axcKIi8Pn8i5XQ6KHR4cAZkcrOGDZjPsFpBW8FgEz0rSYfRLsZx55_9BIkTck8t4lqlrdP4YByWUTE3gZ50aFvt7NCRp5TKzItlvuqGaFNg1KXPZLkV-mWFLriXlaQq5R-ov0xRE/s1600/Me+n+the+kids.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhA_axcKIi8Pn8i5XQ6KHR4cAZkcrOGDZjPsFpBW8FgEz0rSYfRLsZx55_9BIkTck8t4lqlrdP4YByWUTE3gZ50aFvt7NCRp5TKzItlvuqGaFNg1KXPZLkV-mWFLriXlaQq5R-ov0xRE/s320/Me+n+the+kids.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660948657319499458" border="0" /></a><br />No, life just doesn't get any better than this! :-)steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-63525510928979938682011-07-21T13:41:00.000-07:002011-07-21T13:54:30.321-07:00And so the journey continues...It's been awhile since I have blogged. Obviously, my last blog post was when Caleb was born, and now here I am announcing that baby #4 is on the way! I am due the beginning of February! This was not planned, but a true blessing indeed. I wanted to let you know about my new blog where I will be blogging during my pregnancy: ajourneytovbac.blogspot.com<br /><br />I also hope to get back up to date with my family blog, so stay tuned! Here are a couple of pictures of our precious children, plus the newest additions to our family:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh860KxhXgIoRDWbSkZRz3gLTsAbEjlu-FJoMlqLoYYOIr2rKin4LelFlkITt8GiKHKfQ2zc-3Gywo8M_VWCBqK2h-Joo5p9D_6Xud02fI00NaObPK4gWdVxXQuKmKMFYNzSsXeIgRayTw/s1600/IMG_8143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh860KxhXgIoRDWbSkZRz3gLTsAbEjlu-FJoMlqLoYYOIr2rKin4LelFlkITt8GiKHKfQ2zc-3Gywo8M_VWCBqK2h-Joo5p9D_6Xud02fI00NaObPK4gWdVxXQuKmKMFYNzSsXeIgRayTw/s320/IMG_8143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631910851765849666" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPykPfVruiiMiMZ8Qo_0fHkwXk-kVsX23O5FOQIjwRxNV35AkR3x-iK0d7PYiLFwQ93ZDS2gLqKUm3HhQsyizhdJ1wJW11U7Apbkv7NS2VXq-PuG6e8oMZdhMPksx3f8FnmI2HFSYyT9E/s1600/IMG_8171.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPykPfVruiiMiMZ8Qo_0fHkwXk-kVsX23O5FOQIjwRxNV35AkR3x-iK0d7PYiLFwQ93ZDS2gLqKUm3HhQsyizhdJ1wJW11U7Apbkv7NS2VXq-PuG6e8oMZdhMPksx3f8FnmI2HFSYyT9E/s320/IMG_8171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631910109574742242" border="0"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTxCt6GMZQPKfoR9Q0V-OPZJHCImq648Iar8T4LIp7wGzRLSWGlkVaNmlEssarnLiGG7Pg9SYBXTuVSeJrPNfkLWTgbP2niaY3e_ohAEKQ38JR1162dYyzdRr7F4PIgL3t9R6pfp_Ml4/s1600/IMG_8152.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTxCt6GMZQPKfoR9Q0V-OPZJHCImq648Iar8T4LIp7wGzRLSWGlkVaNmlEssarnLiGG7Pg9SYBXTuVSeJrPNfkLWTgbP2niaY3e_ohAEKQ38JR1162dYyzdRr7F4PIgL3t9R6pfp_Ml4/s320/IMG_8152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631910102844612530" border="0"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQ-grWwpQOoFdjQjwmNUKDlZTVfoVlYhd4pSQmYtP72tXMNuwSn8iUjtPavY3bGGJVtpsnkqvA9KtPd27MzJBI3kihbOEm5dSGbpHx_5qPJuawPbFlH9Q0cz_6ijNLbCKE4pYVo5Fg28/s1600/IMG_8117.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQ-grWwpQOoFdjQjwmNUKDlZTVfoVlYhd4pSQmYtP72tXMNuwSn8iUjtPavY3bGGJVtpsnkqvA9KtPd27MzJBI3kihbOEm5dSGbpHx_5qPJuawPbFlH9Q0cz_6ijNLbCKE4pYVo5Fg28/s320/IMG_8117.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631910096055717778" border="0"></a><br />Meet Custer (white male) and Shiloh (brown female) our new puppies! The kids are absolutely in love with them!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhix2yHZfP85-Ux3iQyrgVzKF1iC4PUZoX0J94reGE4hGebQzwcA4u7ZN6oX7tYabpyaL_ITxB2EkWpw2XbPeh5MytExUhyphenhyphenrobXa7MhTc3J6KRdy22A5CsGkFQbmXAz1YrVF12W25y0LlE/s1600/IMG_8207.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhix2yHZfP85-Ux3iQyrgVzKF1iC4PUZoX0J94reGE4hGebQzwcA4u7ZN6oX7tYabpyaL_ITxB2EkWpw2XbPeh5MytExUhyphenhyphenrobXa7MhTc3J6KRdy22A5CsGkFQbmXAz1YrVF12W25y0LlE/s320/IMG_8207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631910112646804130" border="0"></a><br />Carter and Sydney are taking swim lessons together this summer!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-35230681795159288632010-09-16T17:04:00.001-07:002010-09-16T18:01:09.106-07:00Caleb Asher's birth storyWell I think we have established that I am the world's worst blogger! But here I am finally to share the story of our third child's birth! It all started on Monday, August 30th when my parents arrived from Lynchburg, VA. We were so thrilled that Grandpa was able to come, since he had his bypass surgery only a couple of months ago. He has had such a great recovery and was given the green light to come. We were all thrilled to have him here and the kids took advantage of every minute with Grandma and Grandpa! <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLe6ayAb6Jo-7Pg4dpILz3GbwSdQNrMlxikGMoJ6vi5hPZxMNGHp3ca4juU1QfwLEEju7Iw7ym_ChKngyy2YGbBMSyqnn9P6ayEosRFYvre0CAAErIdNnSvmFebHiaCCeZo6Or6xnQbxQ/s1600/IMG_5884.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517672823162107634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLe6ayAb6Jo-7Pg4dpILz3GbwSdQNrMlxikGMoJ6vi5hPZxMNGHp3ca4juU1QfwLEEju7Iw7ym_ChKngyy2YGbBMSyqnn9P6ayEosRFYvre0CAAErIdNnSvmFebHiaCCeZo6Or6xnQbxQ/s320/IMG_5884.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpieMzSvcb5Y2b9XsGLNE6CbDbAeSh_BrI95R9LXOqJEHMgcyRSavuDWc47VAnuskj56mGd9MWEU9W0GzIFacmEXdY3QWg7HGjEERUMDrb4ykVLrbTWpiPoRecug4Fvm3GoV_ov4O5sQ/s1600/IMG_5887.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517672683063563442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpieMzSvcb5Y2b9XsGLNE6CbDbAeSh_BrI95R9LXOqJEHMgcyRSavuDWc47VAnuskj56mGd9MWEU9W0GzIFacmEXdY3QWg7HGjEERUMDrb4ykVLrbTWpiPoRecug4Fvm3GoV_ov4O5sQ/s320/IMG_5887.JPG" /></a><br />I think by the end of their week here, my parents were exhausted from reading books to my children! But these were precious photo moments for sure! </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnN7hHP9qNugiqdPByDmAu0joSL3vUCGw2hf4HTh1miuRlZgTCpL_oErt-URSyqC9y6GZxX0jMnzfBVuIhm1QQ2nRmkalBuLBxL9RuY9euyzZXztfl0ZHqpNcNSAx0YRlGZ-3qiEZ0P5g/s1600/IMG_5888.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517672677424227074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnN7hHP9qNugiqdPByDmAu0joSL3vUCGw2hf4HTh1miuRlZgTCpL_oErt-URSyqC9y6GZxX0jMnzfBVuIhm1QQ2nRmkalBuLBxL9RuY9euyzZXztfl0ZHqpNcNSAx0YRlGZ-3qiEZ0P5g/s320/IMG_5888.JPG" /></a><br />Grandpa and Carter also enjoyed putting a puzzle together!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX7vi-lRerUSr0xh7quMQ6ftIVeuCr0VsTPC4iMn1X6pfFL37pVBH8GhVXgMk-xpX6jrL_zyENOePhpTZKUtLvnhJi8zMfMgYFXU91AXxzNACxd5fWpL8xP0ih-zJ5RSZsEKAZQU9rNQ/s1600/IMG_5894.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517672673208677538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX7vi-lRerUSr0xh7quMQ6ftIVeuCr0VsTPC4iMn1X6pfFL37pVBH8GhVXgMk-xpX6jrL_zyENOePhpTZKUtLvnhJi8zMfMgYFXU91AXxzNACxd5fWpL8xP0ih-zJ5RSZsEKAZQU9rNQ/s320/IMG_5894.JPG" /></a><br />Here I am, my last evening being pregnant! Last time just sitting with two of my children, I would soon be the mother of three...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rwbT4e36sEYQTY2igreFyiNBhqLkJ-aOk2SHn8V8N-aYllvKoN7l3RWdMOrcwpCiLRYH7qluTaH1sg8EWQEVe_jox8OrSM_Wz1nKLfBH5VLSOjLNhlvVNOZikNTKORbJ7lHYQOq_X74/s1600/IMG_5895.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517672663241321234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rwbT4e36sEYQTY2igreFyiNBhqLkJ-aOk2SHn8V8N-aYllvKoN7l3RWdMOrcwpCiLRYH7qluTaH1sg8EWQEVe_jox8OrSM_Wz1nKLfBH5VLSOjLNhlvVNOZikNTKORbJ7lHYQOq_X74/s320/IMG_5895.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The next morning, we had to be at the hospital by 6 am to prep for surgery.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCjl-1x2vx_Z-b8Xc0hQDm2nF-SMiqAL-xau5CSJSzKTr2wA9r9fSDUgdt6C0p5v9WOxRyaSMus1MidNmbDSjy4B5npzMUIJMXWdGB2CrkjvWnMiNLK_RLyV5_FvgIybdZj9bf0xpTbQ/s1600/IMG_5901.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517672656877675570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCjl-1x2vx_Z-b8Xc0hQDm2nF-SMiqAL-xau5CSJSzKTr2wA9r9fSDUgdt6C0p5v9WOxRyaSMus1MidNmbDSjy4B5npzMUIJMXWdGB2CrkjvWnMiNLK_RLyV5_FvgIybdZj9bf0xpTbQ/s320/IMG_5901.JPG" /></a><br />At this point, I was just ready to get the show rolling and be done with all of this!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZX5MUVJ1s6tCxcSSTQtcdeSQIesRSn7ImZjKUPHUCLS90UkjlwFDCDbNOzkmYdA9KXDLi0PN9-2Z8ORK-mbZJ8Qv5f3ZKj7l7bU1ghkP9gZnk1dNAmCTYwQtx1ojXrgVXe8Zv6Grm34/s1600/IMG_5903.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517672100079579202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZX5MUVJ1s6tCxcSSTQtcdeSQIesRSn7ImZjKUPHUCLS90UkjlwFDCDbNOzkmYdA9KXDLi0PN9-2Z8ORK-mbZJ8Qv5f3ZKj7l7bU1ghkP9gZnk1dNAmCTYwQtx1ojXrgVXe8Zv6Grm34/s320/IMG_5903.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Sydney ended up being with us that morning even though she was supposed to be spending the night with our friends. We ended up bringing her home late that night because she woke up crying and wouldn't go back to sleep. Then we had to wake her up early to go to the hospital with us. She was a trooper, but it looks like she is about to fall asleep here!! </div><div> </div><div>It was the third time I was having a c-section in this hospital, but everything was very different from the start. For starters, my previous two c-sections had been around 6:30 pm on a Thursday evening. This one was at 7:30 am on a Wednesday. I had a different anestheologist this time, and was in a different OR this time as well. </div><div> </div><div>Surgery was supposed to start at 7:30 am, but there was an issue with the epidural... as in, it wasn't working! As they were prepping me for surgery and testing to see if my legs were numb, the anesetheologist kept getting worried when he would ask if they were numb, and I would say, "No!" Surgery was delayed about 30-40 mins because they finally had to re-administer the epidural! You know, once is fun enough, really! But once it was put in a second time, I began to get numb, and we were well on our way.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaZCwgrFDbhicmYdyFAV68iLIxs2M9xl8RuKv1JIsCvAMV2bocMscA2w0hQnZ__iOp0XVotrmhd9KFRhwzlQbbpNjZhb3aZ9uL6U_HJ5Q8W29H3ltilrYLf4sqm8yLnB0aXr2Y9AjGYs/s1600/IMG_5918.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517672097330302578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaZCwgrFDbhicmYdyFAV68iLIxs2M9xl8RuKv1JIsCvAMV2bocMscA2w0hQnZ__iOp0XVotrmhd9KFRhwzlQbbpNjZhb3aZ9uL6U_HJ5Q8W29H3ltilrYLf4sqm8yLnB0aXr2Y9AjGYs/s320/IMG_5918.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Before I knew it, I heard my baby boy crying, and so I began to cry! Tears of joy, and just thankful to be done. It was a fairly easy pregnancy, but the last couple of months, being the hottest summer on record in Texas... were not fun to say the least!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubcL3eAGG4Lbf59Fwu3Bmd3MURC0_gcZEUf1qFS9X-DSVchVxuuivGfxjI7xlynxX1egr8JJ7bJWOUTn8omBojIsREh4xydyAJc4ZbsrhGCq3_ij1vHcTr3qGk82mgOmI2XYjn0jxI1E/s1600/IMG_5926.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517672085636715170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubcL3eAGG4Lbf59Fwu3Bmd3MURC0_gcZEUf1qFS9X-DSVchVxuuivGfxjI7xlynxX1egr8JJ7bJWOUTn8omBojIsREh4xydyAJc4ZbsrhGCq3_ij1vHcTr3qGk82mgOmI2XYjn0jxI1E/s320/IMG_5926.JPG" /></a><br />He was perfect, in every way...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdDQwb2AP_8VPG1Ch8ZY3A3hcEKIpGJm_3jYVC7ivjXr8B-3QSstIc5NF67od0pJPe7ktJQAvOIi4jJ3XE4dEwUbVHFTG_AQMnc6imS6O0bG0mU2Wr9Etpo2O3QcFidt0JshRe0RsvfY/s1600/IMG_5928.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517672084331157538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdDQwb2AP_8VPG1Ch8ZY3A3hcEKIpGJm_3jYVC7ivjXr8B-3QSstIc5NF67od0pJPe7ktJQAvOIi4jJ3XE4dEwUbVHFTG_AQMnc6imS6O0bG0mU2Wr9Etpo2O3QcFidt0JshRe0RsvfY/s320/IMG_5928.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Our precious baby boy! He was finally here!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkx-uC9ZsN0B-jdjXHu6YsVR_BFAxO66wfB7mDQsTPkTidluieBJ9oc_2N7_bqxA2baj4ur0dJSWIPqdKVGjymhYZ_YbWrP1sXJpNDEICzRqQjfAebBVzRq2pt3yZceeb-c494vsY6LA/s1600/IMG_5934.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517672078357165490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkx-uC9ZsN0B-jdjXHu6YsVR_BFAxO66wfB7mDQsTPkTidluieBJ9oc_2N7_bqxA2baj4ur0dJSWIPqdKVGjymhYZ_YbWrP1sXJpNDEICzRqQjfAebBVzRq2pt3yZceeb-c494vsY6LA/s320/IMG_5934.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm62Lxow4Dv8sn0rsixUf_66utqjgCejWehnAuPyvSb_SR4pByX-gI05POpRYU4TGH0oGnzA4AXvgBJK7bfomB0LO_OtBZQP2jM20WhBaYxdeyr47eKpI8RbanGLjZvlDcF706JQEECw/s1600/IMG_5943.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517671118744748002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm62Lxow4Dv8sn0rsixUf_66utqjgCejWehnAuPyvSb_SR4pByX-gI05POpRYU4TGH0oGnzA4AXvgBJK7bfomB0LO_OtBZQP2jM20WhBaYxdeyr47eKpI8RbanGLjZvlDcF706JQEECw/s320/IMG_5943.JPG" /></a><br />Steve and I couldn't have been more thrilled! Okay, maybe Mommy was the most thrilled... but Daddy was pretty thrilled as well!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu-iXac5K-GyWqUOBdKVXJ3RFXHQZ4PS5sIEx-r_klhZkH84gbkABPgHKsfhZS5fejmk6wdSfU_TB0y2AbSA-7z4EaawqxhQdMKixaNhQfZqkPONPX6-xrtv_ZCUL06jaeFiN73S3gDM/s1600/IMG_5951.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517671111962845906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu-iXac5K-GyWqUOBdKVXJ3RFXHQZ4PS5sIEx-r_klhZkH84gbkABPgHKsfhZS5fejmk6wdSfU_TB0y2AbSA-7z4EaawqxhQdMKixaNhQfZqkPONPX6-xrtv_ZCUL06jaeFiN73S3gDM/s320/IMG_5951.JPG" /></a><br />Soon we were rolled into the c-section recovery room and were allowed to have visitors.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o2HMTR7NgTNyWwcFtK9-pCMN5OIP2PxWPMyvuv9ms6pPnsEWEgJCHy0Lmn4M0fE5YDABxwGCuAmb0wv3uOm0s6lqJEM1bD__kSYSUV-G1oPgnl4wWwT6O4ibEr954yq2Owl4Yj0dZBE/s1600/IMG_5952.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517671108948769986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o2HMTR7NgTNyWwcFtK9-pCMN5OIP2PxWPMyvuv9ms6pPnsEWEgJCHy0Lmn4M0fE5YDABxwGCuAmb0wv3uOm0s6lqJEM1bD__kSYSUV-G1oPgnl4wWwT6O4ibEr954yq2Owl4Yj0dZBE/s320/IMG_5952.JPG" /></a><br />Proud Grandpa Blackburn was the first to hold Caleb!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Nqtfhj9uE3wXt_CyAZvVtnrawei7ZYkWpohAw-UPThTM-bMNj1plAyMJC1uzAX0SL4Mp78NS98NdXnvTi9v36ykAthVyOl0pOd-de13LFop1HcCCVu-nYE6Eu5G1259jPab1rotmSU8/s1600/IMG_5955.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517671101867177794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Nqtfhj9uE3wXt_CyAZvVtnrawei7ZYkWpohAw-UPThTM-bMNj1plAyMJC1uzAX0SL4Mp78NS98NdXnvTi9v36ykAthVyOl0pOd-de13LFop1HcCCVu-nYE6Eu5G1259jPab1rotmSU8/s320/IMG_5955.JPG" /></a><br />Then of course Grandma Blackburn had the honors.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHDVp4EOmxFtO9uY36DoVTrAf0-aecxa4lDTsp0MJC3Hbv2HjBWN84DT_A60VDvIiXSndM0CNA2_b-0m0a85Bh1aRry4SP7J_bqMTJ_ICT-glko2l4ptyV5cUfbtdeXTwxPwZSnn8Ug0/s1600/IMG_5966.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517671095792523650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHDVp4EOmxFtO9uY36DoVTrAf0-aecxa4lDTsp0MJC3Hbv2HjBWN84DT_A60VDvIiXSndM0CNA2_b-0m0a85Bh1aRry4SP7J_bqMTJ_ICT-glko2l4ptyV5cUfbtdeXTwxPwZSnn8Ug0/s320/IMG_5966.JPG" /></a><br />Sydney surprisingly took to the new baby right away. She is going to be such a wonderful mother someday!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAid0q3Q9EmCqeJR27R5BcaRiK2zUOO5yE0sGf8qAv4URnpY5RtOk8ExA6WWpsI0eeqLs-ywirDYWVtRuYzM7WPEAyzpFw-LQ1pmu-xUkwG3qbBF_M32QoT3JvmT_4kp6XX39r8XgdkeI/s1600/IMG_5970.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517670704015919378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAid0q3Q9EmCqeJR27R5BcaRiK2zUOO5yE0sGf8qAv4URnpY5RtOk8ExA6WWpsI0eeqLs-ywirDYWVtRuYzM7WPEAyzpFw-LQ1pmu-xUkwG3qbBF_M32QoT3JvmT_4kp6XX39r8XgdkeI/s320/IMG_5970.JPG" /></a><br />All this passing around, and I finally realized that I hadn't held my baby boy yet!! So we had a little bonding time!<br /><br />Then he was whisked away to the nursery to be weighed and measured. And the verdict was...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHn6IaG7lSJwNvlxVTxtECWzIPc0K1VXYxSCjawWoJP3Vjm9F1EjE87cV7oEFaVMpyOi-1onCL92R5gj_9pNXdic_F3TeButGEpdTGtqFxbAQEzDRkTPBiI7ycrHuj9s3VP0zijpAvsE/s1600/IMG_5983.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517670692156904386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHn6IaG7lSJwNvlxVTxtECWzIPc0K1VXYxSCjawWoJP3Vjm9F1EjE87cV7oEFaVMpyOi-1onCL92R5gj_9pNXdic_F3TeButGEpdTGtqFxbAQEzDRkTPBiI7ycrHuj9s3VP0zijpAvsE/s320/IMG_5983.JPG" /></a><br />8 lbs even! Actually at first, the scale said 7 lbs 15.9 oz and the nurse began to say that he was 7 lbs 16 oz! But another nurse quickly responded that didn't quite add up right! So they weighed again, and it was officially 8 lbs. He was also 19.25 inches long.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDoWytyJAyt0bNjmmx6ZoWAdcAyui5OXcTF5B6dxxmpNh8dPRIbGRo-qCoXn-PbW46arZALqUsQG6G06ZskIfpji6N1o5hZUM9V7PnMl_QjiNupNspdFX7ttAtxcCdavz1UxbJ-wB2Bk/s1600/IMG_5985.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517670687272686658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDoWytyJAyt0bNjmmx6ZoWAdcAyui5OXcTF5B6dxxmpNh8dPRIbGRo-qCoXn-PbW46arZALqUsQG6G06ZskIfpji6N1o5hZUM9V7PnMl_QjiNupNspdFX7ttAtxcCdavz1UxbJ-wB2Bk/s320/IMG_5985.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We were soon taken to my room to wait the several hours before they bring the baby to me... yes, it is a torturous few hours! But once they brought him up and we had our first nursing session, our guests began to arrive.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwmATOxhuIVPsya6qKW3L_tY8DP7ofsn0iEkn3Tv3Z7k9pWBAmgTfyo0NZ3YOaGYw8QErlVpvx2wb1ZeqHaJ2Z0JZqYA794GeVdOcHdeOQhBaoMmbpN4kVwskUg9FRJa85_krQuwjI5g/s1600/IMG_5993.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517670677420216322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwmATOxhuIVPsya6qKW3L_tY8DP7ofsn0iEkn3Tv3Z7k9pWBAmgTfyo0NZ3YOaGYw8QErlVpvx2wb1ZeqHaJ2Z0JZqYA794GeVdOcHdeOQhBaoMmbpN4kVwskUg9FRJa85_krQuwjI5g/s320/IMG_5993.JPG" /></a><br />Our friends brought Carter and he finally got his first peek at his new baby brother. He wasn't quite sure what to do with him at first.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggdmO2qC66p1MXz2wcjvGp1XLToEvgPEdCqr43ooxHYRUcSXaKgWDXYEOY3ezMM5MJjw3ZxwptKJuQpsa9OD1eb8-2_LsEaFwA8QDbhc9X09VXrjfe5XBBQVW-wxbLIrkQnzuPoT_Az8/s1600/IMG_6000.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517670671058237218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggdmO2qC66p1MXz2wcjvGp1XLToEvgPEdCqr43ooxHYRUcSXaKgWDXYEOY3ezMM5MJjw3ZxwptKJuQpsa9OD1eb8-2_LsEaFwA8QDbhc9X09VXrjfe5XBBQVW-wxbLIrkQnzuPoT_Az8/s320/IMG_6000.JPG" /></a><br />But he finally warmed up, a little... Carter takes time adjusting to new situations, and this was a big one for him!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xVecf_ElXCmJPrs-p9ZTNPJqXC84rPBG4xy-p93pegR3iIKVYrJVV10LbCyqydE5hR-a8GmldpUjb5vo-qmWhGovh347OYc4K02LHUzxYpOCICsf_3wKTja4CueKsE0ZKg7rwsWjAAg/s1600/IMG_6007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517670153662835362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xVecf_ElXCmJPrs-p9ZTNPJqXC84rPBG4xy-p93pegR3iIKVYrJVV10LbCyqydE5hR-a8GmldpUjb5vo-qmWhGovh347OYc4K02LHUzxYpOCICsf_3wKTja4CueKsE0ZKg7rwsWjAAg/s320/IMG_6007.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Here our friend Alex is holding his new little pal!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKq19tEoP3Gf97ZOvvpkxX5ixeOnRqazy0wBZjhtw0ucmB-xB4K_i3gMCYXb4XURtNbdLhtcMyknljAI8CeUv6vLqhJ0SlMg5KafcWTzvQc98qpv5a7Sa8yR-Ijp3gLUgokukruwokU8o/s1600/IMG_6010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517670146511840466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKq19tEoP3Gf97ZOvvpkxX5ixeOnRqazy0wBZjhtw0ucmB-xB4K_i3gMCYXb4XURtNbdLhtcMyknljAI8CeUv6vLqhJ0SlMg5KafcWTzvQc98qpv5a7Sa8yR-Ijp3gLUgokukruwokU8o/s320/IMG_6010.JPG" /></a><br />And then proud Grandma Westdyk...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PGTIw5nGf7L30-QDECDFmEFkFyEMtKOX1Ps8hj7WYZW2QmJRdkjzmWYavr80lYVHOreQYVAqQMdNKa840x_G4zL_WzWXnnMyhg01cTQYkydiqv6scCn4yygyNzUmd2TQ1tVqhU9lrMg/s1600/IMG_6015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517670136714007666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PGTIw5nGf7L30-QDECDFmEFkFyEMtKOX1Ps8hj7WYZW2QmJRdkjzmWYavr80lYVHOreQYVAqQMdNKa840x_G4zL_WzWXnnMyhg01cTQYkydiqv6scCn4yygyNzUmd2TQ1tVqhU9lrMg/s320/IMG_6015.JPG" /></a><br />And proud Grandpa Westdyk!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpp774spmQFh1CphB8pjozYkJDoNJ0Sw1dbGD_z0ut2-mQfkHooOOxPFO0isZYQZHShJXL3GCfz99kpQi31sIRptr68y0aelpDGm0L2F-UvL99C3N8f1AneT4PurhNjLn44rowV_ZMN3A/s1600/IMG_6016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517670128887261506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpp774spmQFh1CphB8pjozYkJDoNJ0Sw1dbGD_z0ut2-mQfkHooOOxPFO0isZYQZHShJXL3GCfz99kpQi31sIRptr68y0aelpDGm0L2F-UvL99C3N8f1AneT4PurhNjLn44rowV_ZMN3A/s320/IMG_6016.JPG" /></a><br />Later on our good friend Robyn stopped by to say hello!<br /></div><div>We spent three days in the hospital and were well taken care of. By Saturday though, I was ready to go home and be with my children and parents. Fortunately, Steve had been there with me most of the week but I just really needed to be home again. Upon discharge, I was checked out by the on call Doctor and she told me that I had gotten an infection in my c-section incision. She wanted to keep me another day. She could tell by the look on my face that I really didn't like that option! So I was given a shot with an antibiotic and a prescription and was told to come back if the infection got worse.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcbYJAKFhcIqYDDsjBrVSbm2idZv4V9zzdGBaWbXpphPWRESrUsM-zYepEf6aa0CBAbXSOXwyWWrrJe9u-uGacVUrFAeoH6ueAWg_ywecVWfazjsuMs1xUls7Y00-9X5KmwLKxSMVhIk/s1600/IMG_6019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517670114711778386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcbYJAKFhcIqYDDsjBrVSbm2idZv4V9zzdGBaWbXpphPWRESrUsM-zYepEf6aa0CBAbXSOXwyWWrrJe9u-uGacVUrFAeoH6ueAWg_ywecVWfazjsuMs1xUls7Y00-9X5KmwLKxSMVhIk/s320/IMG_6019.JPG" /></a><br />Caleb passed the seat check...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELma1kjy2kh27HpyXyiwm2qC0hcfmUupzFSxJDIXSc5ETIAOmbMHw0R6oao2R87Khz6lohVQ0owIjDKq88fBDR3N_J3kDhOrOBrXTqsoCJsxdnf1AK3jgd32-w8XkgC9IDPxXWbv3P-I/s1600/IMG_6024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517667452714363330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELma1kjy2kh27HpyXyiwm2qC0hcfmUupzFSxJDIXSc5ETIAOmbMHw0R6oao2R87Khz6lohVQ0owIjDKq88fBDR3N_J3kDhOrOBrXTqsoCJsxdnf1AK3jgd32-w8XkgC9IDPxXWbv3P-I/s320/IMG_6024.JPG" /></a><br />And he was given the green light to go home as well! Our Pediatrician said he was just perfect in every way. Even didn't get jaundiced at all, which he said that 95% of babies do get it! He was also our tiniest baby. By the time we left the hospital, he was 7 lbs 8 oz. We have never had a baby go below 8 lbs!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BJzhRrzpVQjfJ5mTZg-Br97BWzh3_jo8qVpFYrsp3lc4G4NE2ROgjfgz_yl29Qo-qaqJQJVZ0Ee8CJg73Gf0hkQVDyUfjRVQ0Z-2fVfziuYsoaDbDuZSeyZlgzndUTOpqGzUH2ssb5Q/s1600/IMG_6036.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517667445103594658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BJzhRrzpVQjfJ5mTZg-Br97BWzh3_jo8qVpFYrsp3lc4G4NE2ROgjfgz_yl29Qo-qaqJQJVZ0Ee8CJg73Gf0hkQVDyUfjRVQ0Z-2fVfziuYsoaDbDuZSeyZlgzndUTOpqGzUH2ssb5Q/s320/IMG_6036.JPG" /></a> </div><div>So now, our little angel is at home! The first week was really rough, I'm not going to lie. I was feeling really sick from the infection and was having a rough time with nursing at first. I was exhausted from the lack of sleep and overwhelmed with now having three children! I began to wonder how I would ever make it... but it got easier with time. The infection began to heal up, and nursing became easier. I learned that I needed to sleep every chance I could and take advantage of the fact that my husband works from home! </div><div> </div><div>The kids were definitely adjusting, but doing well. Little Sydney is definitely a mother at heart. Every chance she gets, she likes to pretend her doll is her baby and put her in the baby's swing or carseat...<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjju43p4sogtL85OMrcWW3wwTe6ls9hIgIZtwep3299o3ElE5E-a0VaiHH2MKfn9D1gw2CWIvfrr8cxDSiEWN1Y2H1CuuTy0tKG6j96G3Lr9bBjIlb5QNNc8bONg7AwqKHQU7ShLKxlBGk/s1600/IMG_6053.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517667440287134626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjju43p4sogtL85OMrcWW3wwTe6ls9hIgIZtwep3299o3ElE5E-a0VaiHH2MKfn9D1gw2CWIvfrr8cxDSiEWN1Y2H1CuuTy0tKG6j96G3Lr9bBjIlb5QNNc8bONg7AwqKHQU7ShLKxlBGk/s320/IMG_6053.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pCC72M5JuvP8qU-vEImYRvoqphtAB9oLzNeP8xypop9mZlxDtq94nfKJsIlyo0mqB8iO05YmQL0dj7y0pHU8t918RY8be_BEzESoRDQBA7Bd3OmxIawSf0Bzddf07H2_eGUCAMIzW4U/s1600/IMG_6057.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517667428323978226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pCC72M5JuvP8qU-vEImYRvoqphtAB9oLzNeP8xypop9mZlxDtq94nfKJsIlyo0mqB8iO05YmQL0dj7y0pHU8t918RY8be_BEzESoRDQBA7Bd3OmxIawSf0Bzddf07H2_eGUCAMIzW4U/s320/IMG_6057.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Caleb is a sweet, and sleepy baby! Unfortunately a little too sleepy during the day and less sleepy at night... but we are working on that! When he had his first bath, he didn't even cry!</div><div> </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVPO9XifPhuBk2n64RkJhJQm3g-c64r5slZsGhtZ0Y0J0vZ55WCc9zomiLVTLFdt85clIM7AW4o2of-1uKoMl63d9nZrk_hKMu804SNkmUlAqUYq0pzm5owX9FfP1Dlb22ixxcAaGVLQ/s1600/IMG_6064.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517667413367513650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVPO9XifPhuBk2n64RkJhJQm3g-c64r5slZsGhtZ0Y0J0vZ55WCc9zomiLVTLFdt85clIM7AW4o2of-1uKoMl63d9nZrk_hKMu804SNkmUlAqUYq0pzm5owX9FfP1Dlb22ixxcAaGVLQ/s320/IMG_6064.JPG" /></a><br />So now we are two weeks in, and he is doing great! Nursing is going really well and we are slowly but surely getting back into gear. Today at his two week check up, he had already gained back to his birth weight and then some... he was 8 lbs 9 oz, a full lb in one week! Guess that milk really does work! We are so happy with our little family of 5 and enjoying every moment!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-26167125653178034052010-07-06T10:44:00.000-07:002010-07-06T11:22:33.149-07:00Catching up!Please forgive me for the massive post, but I have a lot to catch up on! It had been my intention to blog once a week, but it seems to be happening once every 1-2 months! I do hope to get back on the roll with that soon.<br /><br />Well, we are still cloth diapering and loving it! The only complaint I have had so far is trying to figure out the best wash routine. Not really a complaint but just trying to figure out what works best with our hard water to make sure the diapers don't leak or smell! I am loving cloth diapering and must admit that I am a bit addicted to it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEE0bUI3G1YssEVf7RwZ0Zf0swPOopR_Hiz0B5U9AQ-MAPr2XQP7P7ZjpMn9czmVGV_x-fiof1HJZhPushrs8sMw6G-88xNMukJiqdpqInXCNwjmHhN0mSA3bLhJmoHIMFK-pU9F5hNM/s1600/IMG_5652.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490853360737695378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEE0bUI3G1YssEVf7RwZ0Zf0swPOopR_Hiz0B5U9AQ-MAPr2XQP7P7ZjpMn9czmVGV_x-fiof1HJZhPushrs8sMw6G-88xNMukJiqdpqInXCNwjmHhN0mSA3bLhJmoHIMFK-pU9F5hNM/s320/IMG_5652.JPG" /></a> Here is one of our very favorite brands: Apple Cheeks! I love the look and the fit.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW1VF6Z7BC5BZNCOym3nQFOoaqMnp5y41qYo3yMUEb46GV-Jz3oajXkIaludnhrzDWTf1fQErOL1ypJuWicmAECTU192gMGS41ZAiG1CXQymY8xTNhlWVWsMILycSQFbVht5cubAar_g/s1600/IMG_5688.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490853358055662994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW1VF6Z7BC5BZNCOym3nQFOoaqMnp5y41qYo3yMUEb46GV-Jz3oajXkIaludnhrzDWTf1fQErOL1ypJuWicmAECTU192gMGS41ZAiG1CXQymY8xTNhlWVWsMILycSQFbVht5cubAar_g/s320/IMG_5688.JPG" /></a> Here is an ever popular brand, Bum Genius, which I do love very much. It is the most like disposables, so very easy to use.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByp3Z9j80MMtQ9N8EJyTphniwp2wTNDdM5Wit3Awl8pjDbh7VI_9AUn3Xmyw9CqxxP_yXJ1-pnyVcMmoUS8Rg1CKkcwMGKuuSdRWgSz4Zg4HFyrYluRwy4-X_3W9B7RSgMm9b68tiyn8/s1600/IMG_5678.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490853352336582578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByp3Z9j80MMtQ9N8EJyTphniwp2wTNDdM5Wit3Awl8pjDbh7VI_9AUn3Xmyw9CqxxP_yXJ1-pnyVcMmoUS8Rg1CKkcwMGKuuSdRWgSz4Zg4HFyrYluRwy4-X_3W9B7RSgMm9b68tiyn8/s320/IMG_5678.JPG" /></a><br />And this is our favorite nap and night time diaper, the Thirsties duo diaper. There are two nice things about this diaper: 1. It only comes in two sizes so it has a good fit but isn't as bulky as a one size fits all type diaper. You don't have to buy a bunch of different sizes either to get that good fit. 2. You don't have to take the inserts out of the pocket to wash. It has openings on both ends of the diaper, so it just comes out in the wash! Very convenient. It's also super absorbent which is why we use it for naps and night.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GHNX6eWZQl2gSUpfWGRE2LOO-cpGp9oOrmDpuLCh-Ldq3kfNTconzhTjyF_7Pr49o6wWflmAKUtu3905vwFQxeqGNRqQYfuh_6NENDmsIEqQTJ9ZXfw-VPQXGdFKlapWS-rLdlKixtU/s1600/IMG_5656.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490853142912934178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GHNX6eWZQl2gSUpfWGRE2LOO-cpGp9oOrmDpuLCh-Ldq3kfNTconzhTjyF_7Pr49o6wWflmAKUtu3905vwFQxeqGNRqQYfuh_6NENDmsIEqQTJ9ZXfw-VPQXGdFKlapWS-rLdlKixtU/s320/IMG_5656.JPG" /></a></div><div>We planted our first garden in the front yard! We started a little too late, so some of the flowers died early on, because we had such a dry spell in Texas. Sydney loved helping Mommy water the flowers with her little watering can. Fortunately the rain is picking up now, so our flowers are doing much better!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKY2bjxiJEp6kH8hEkVE9kWDHPrxa6PPDRIup_12KSDHnJpMcru-X_kMy9AeSVnBwD7J0iTe6uGyIAg-OWepxheejvV_7QyLpWQhOZF5QyuMhdHkErPxRcH1tgQkc1IrfQQSCNjMYXAT0/s1600/IMG_5684.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490853138622006642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKY2bjxiJEp6kH8hEkVE9kWDHPrxa6PPDRIup_12KSDHnJpMcru-X_kMy9AeSVnBwD7J0iTe6uGyIAg-OWepxheejvV_7QyLpWQhOZF5QyuMhdHkErPxRcH1tgQkc1IrfQQSCNjMYXAT0/s320/IMG_5684.JPG" /></a><br />Carter started swim lessons this summer, and as you can see, he wasn't too happy about it at first.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQWm5a_Z5IeKqDa1QaLwZlFE67AqEH_fE1vp0jDfLDbL4e4oThbjp__lz_EjKmP1JTQRtSYNVNAwTEzwAEAynR0OYr6RIfzl_v_Yg2mxFATM0zEFBpwTikwLtL_o-e37_rYbLBHyJLys/s1600/IMG_5686.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490853130867914850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQWm5a_Z5IeKqDa1QaLwZlFE67AqEH_fE1vp0jDfLDbL4e4oThbjp__lz_EjKmP1JTQRtSYNVNAwTEzwAEAynR0OYr6RIfzl_v_Yg2mxFATM0zEFBpwTikwLtL_o-e37_rYbLBHyJLys/s320/IMG_5686.JPG" /></a><br />About a month or so ago we were swimming at a friend's house and Carter slipped and fell face forward into the pool. It scared him so much that he has been terrified to get into the water.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuI925ETiWDbcJ8cajCKaRcERD4Or5zhhbTqPZAEUrsQT8oL0YAOT1YP5B4Pg7FhQkzpftgopDI0Q6-0c-A80XuoWRMVVtlPILZbzF4_jkVAKBfaS59BehAM948ChHEYHnrTjVhCIp5qg/s1600/IMG_5692.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490853124173344130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuI925ETiWDbcJ8cajCKaRcERD4Or5zhhbTqPZAEUrsQT8oL0YAOT1YP5B4Pg7FhQkzpftgopDI0Q6-0c-A80XuoWRMVVtlPILZbzF4_jkVAKBfaS59BehAM948ChHEYHnrTjVhCIp5qg/s320/IMG_5692.JPG" /></a><br />Fortunately, by about day 4 of swim lessons, he was smiling again! He is doing very well now! I think next summer we will definitely get Sydney started early with swim lessons.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFT2zPZZSqWvcha20l3SnWWi2EzFusZ1tlzaSXDip47yj4NBcv1cyjN_F_lO38JJbE03CAGRFA7sd_qnjMXaINZatCso9Ylt9UHC6T2iLrJVeda6AG7VMVGOdfWhf2YpANouNEsIFCgk/s1600/IMG_5701.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490853122269192786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFT2zPZZSqWvcha20l3SnWWi2EzFusZ1tlzaSXDip47yj4NBcv1cyjN_F_lO38JJbE03CAGRFA7sd_qnjMXaINZatCso9Ylt9UHC6T2iLrJVeda6AG7VMVGOdfWhf2YpANouNEsIFCgk/s320/IMG_5701.JPG" /></a><br />Sydney had her very first plane ride last week! Unfortunately, not under the best of circumstances. My Dad had a heart catheterization and found out that he needed heart bypass surgery right away. Sydney and I flew out to VA together to be with my family during the surgery. Sydney did very well on the way there! She slept on both flights (whew!) I was thankful to have survived that, considering I am now 7 months pregnant! The biggest challenge was having her on my lap the whole time.<br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEbsDfYm9F-zDQddo84uuQU3paU_ymwJjS8Zjmk4F5DyTW4zViQFvk-fRtU34KNdhOKkXMbty_i_WFtmSgLz_CvBehH719U1WEV9X-TSJLkRwv3Jce8QOAVBkty74-ow0mt9Tb66Svyw/s1600/IMG_5709.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490852562354247250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEbsDfYm9F-zDQddo84uuQU3paU_ymwJjS8Zjmk4F5DyTW4zViQFvk-fRtU34KNdhOKkXMbty_i_WFtmSgLz_CvBehH719U1WEV9X-TSJLkRwv3Jce8QOAVBkty74-ow0mt9Tb66Svyw/s320/IMG_5709.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We celebrated Dad's 60th birthday the day before the surgery, because his actual birthday was the day after the surgery and we knew he wouldn't be in much of a "party" mood! We were so blessed to have many of our family there together: Joel, Amy and I were all able to be there, which was great to have all three kids together. Amy's husband Walt, my Grandma (Dad's mom), and two of Dad's brother (Mark and Tim), plus Mark's wife Tammy and their son Josiah were all there too!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fdsj9KMjAYqw8brZnrbSM2Abesnnh0zIP17RFpUaif5aOqBZpTW7cKssftgiP1Ep2spJQIoZNnrkvgJIhmG0c4SjzRpCGuQ3ShGxZ2IqOFHRovQTgZG1vzEiu1i2_TmKPG5gmxTCYNo/s1600/IMG_5711.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490852554654273666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fdsj9KMjAYqw8brZnrbSM2Abesnnh0zIP17RFpUaif5aOqBZpTW7cKssftgiP1Ep2spJQIoZNnrkvgJIhmG0c4SjzRpCGuQ3ShGxZ2IqOFHRovQTgZG1vzEiu1i2_TmKPG5gmxTCYNo/s320/IMG_5711.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Mom and Dad also celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary just on the 19th!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UltSQUfv8_U0PEpQXcMEOy3Z8GAtAs8gqsvgBPH2daYsp3uKHlhp5WTmQQOg-1c05Nnmu-EdkR-QlOCx_slscUO42eriZfxcY5YmbFIUxarmk7TaZGzqNxfu29k1e82kRjpaphUVG9k/s1600/IMG_5713.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490852549224793218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UltSQUfv8_U0PEpQXcMEOy3Z8GAtAs8gqsvgBPH2daYsp3uKHlhp5WTmQQOg-1c05Nnmu-EdkR-QlOCx_slscUO42eriZfxcY5YmbFIUxarmk7TaZGzqNxfu29k1e82kRjpaphUVG9k/s320/IMG_5713.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Sydney really took to Aunt Tammy! She loved spending time with her, which was a blessing so that I was able to spend time visiting Dad in the ICU while Tammy watched her. Sydney unfortunately was not allowed in the ICU.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVJcJ4_1aRIRoqdakFLCqIyMV5mPdALMAzpF-ObsNiUzT7TprocuZ7aaIidQHNxP-3yQHqNsdjvmv6booRNPDQHqlaEse0TW5EqovUV_45gzDAZ5f-RICYEUl7MQBrzLJ34R1IqPzrMI/s1600/IMG_5716.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490852546039845186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVJcJ4_1aRIRoqdakFLCqIyMV5mPdALMAzpF-ObsNiUzT7TprocuZ7aaIidQHNxP-3yQHqNsdjvmv6booRNPDQHqlaEse0TW5EqovUV_45gzDAZ5f-RICYEUl7MQBrzLJ34R1IqPzrMI/s320/IMG_5716.JPG" /></a><br />Here Sydney was having fun playing peekaboo with Great Grandma!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTP6LvYXsOLhIlKyt_crYwbKu2891kThUHZQec_OYtmPhyyK_Un1fQHdHNqUcn1toiDK8mZgKYgqySqsZMvfVuZg4yv8UdgsMP3Ei6fqiuLQC9VIt0eWIUf2WK0XgmCQ7_4T-KlQHubSw/s1600/IMG_5717.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490852523674538690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTP6LvYXsOLhIlKyt_crYwbKu2891kThUHZQec_OYtmPhyyK_Un1fQHdHNqUcn1toiDK8mZgKYgqySqsZMvfVuZg4yv8UdgsMP3Ei6fqiuLQC9VIt0eWIUf2WK0XgmCQ7_4T-KlQHubSw/s320/IMG_5717.JPG" /></a><br />I couldn't have been more proud of how well behaved Sydney was all week, considering she was confined to either an airport, airplane or hospital waiting room pretty much the entire week!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mPcHC_kcAID43FcICREDLDyz0cJ7qFeVAeDWPIT7upU5gSxph2Y-FG5W78D1w1R2TsFsyfYEfFFu3PCcIvVIckpq83pHPMCbpZofwe_IqCny7CY8OoV0_85V_CfihnX_NiTsopndWAQ/s1600/IMG_5720.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490852140884166626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mPcHC_kcAID43FcICREDLDyz0cJ7qFeVAeDWPIT7upU5gSxph2Y-FG5W78D1w1R2TsFsyfYEfFFu3PCcIvVIckpq83pHPMCbpZofwe_IqCny7CY8OoV0_85V_CfihnX_NiTsopndWAQ/s320/IMG_5720.JPG" /></a><br />She not only entertained our family while we waited 9 hours on that first day in the waiting room for Dad to get out of surgery and kept our minds off why we were there... but she also entertained the other families waiting for their loved ones. There was even one family that was waiting for their loved one to pass away (the Doctor had told them it was only a matter of days.) Sydney made them laugh and entertained them as well! She was so sweet and such a blessing to so many people!</div><div> </div><div>Dad did very well with the surgery. They did 5 bypasses. I can't even describe how hard it was to see him that night after the surgery was over. He was still not awake and had the tubes still in. It was very hard. We all cried a lot. But by the next morning, he was talking a mile a minute! Then by that afternoon, the pain began to set in, and the talking subsided. He began to get depressed. It was hard to watch him through the highs and lows. Most of our family left by Tuesday, but Sydney, Grandma and I were still there. We left on Wednesday and Grandma stayed with Mom another week. I'm glad we were able to stay longer and be there for Mom. I know it was so hard for her to watch Dad go through that. The update is that he is now home (was in the hospital for 5.5 days) and doing well with walking and everything! Long road of recovery ahead, but we are all just thankful that he is doing well!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjg3MEs-rzjMRg4hihdo8kEFoZBbTbp5p7fAQIgn02t9QiWl5BubDVRU7_QXET47KJYBXlAPS7-JH1cl-1LUaWWr4XIZSyr-96u2x6SSzRcjHybAwHeYyhjCRhYZ_GS_Ltjqrmc4DG75k/s1600/IMG_5722.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490852137111712674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjg3MEs-rzjMRg4hihdo8kEFoZBbTbp5p7fAQIgn02t9QiWl5BubDVRU7_QXET47KJYBXlAPS7-JH1cl-1LUaWWr4XIZSyr-96u2x6SSzRcjHybAwHeYyhjCRhYZ_GS_Ltjqrmc4DG75k/s320/IMG_5722.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntiSc8O6qOVyKpz3j_sSV1Ru0755_-1WucQeXDpLrG46V1nVSM0eZPMmmOHLuqpBFfRPXutha48W3eMOC20_wEBILld7Cju0-n24hPTFp2xqSB_Dg7BS5gXldqU3lGgilVzapXw_boD8/s1600/IMG_5728.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490852130402125778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntiSc8O6qOVyKpz3j_sSV1Ru0755_-1WucQeXDpLrG46V1nVSM0eZPMmmOHLuqpBFfRPXutha48W3eMOC20_wEBILld7Cju0-n24hPTFp2xqSB_Dg7BS5gXldqU3lGgilVzapXw_boD8/s320/IMG_5728.JPG" /></a> Sydney was SO happy to see Daddy and Carter again! Carter was also happy to see us too I think! Sydney had som fun trying on Daddy's shoes and hat, while sporting one of her Thirsties diapers!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOQL2xxC5rZ46TDhkiLsAxA0zU-DBZ24Y9JYVXMTjaJnzYF6L-ocGAEspr7ADoga2JJ_z1rGSgyomrm07BOHI5hQFzGPkd6dcZTnjUMjC4wGxRLntF__2kwcNZ7jcj9ptuo8gadojMa8/s1600/IMG_5734.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490852126065468914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOQL2xxC5rZ46TDhkiLsAxA0zU-DBZ24Y9JYVXMTjaJnzYF6L-ocGAEspr7ADoga2JJ_z1rGSgyomrm07BOHI5hQFzGPkd6dcZTnjUMjC4wGxRLntF__2kwcNZ7jcj9ptuo8gadojMa8/s320/IMG_5734.JPG" /></a><br /><br />On July 2nd, Steve and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary! Hard to believe it has been 5 years and that we already have baby #3 on the way!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzS80cjb-EMp0MAyEwAYOcbH9qYx9JjaVjLUW5Jk250dIeCrloWYDkp7e3aZRxLM_M0OhaW3qtqQxoAI1j9f0Gu3he0ibFhWUTKyfY8cSa9rd9Iv4v-ULW-mOTGFybwX_ID1-TFhT6lY/s1600/IMG_5745.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490852121135905314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzS80cjb-EMp0MAyEwAYOcbH9qYx9JjaVjLUW5Jk250dIeCrloWYDkp7e3aZRxLM_M0OhaW3qtqQxoAI1j9f0Gu3he0ibFhWUTKyfY8cSa9rd9Iv4v-ULW-mOTGFybwX_ID1-TFhT6lY/s320/IMG_5745.JPG" /></a><br />On Sunday, Sydney watched her first fireworks, and wasn't too impressed! She cried a lot, but thankfully we had her bear and blankie to hide her eyes, and that seemed to make it all better!<br /></div><div>Whew! That was a lot to catch up on! Hopefully the next post will be a little bit shorter!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-57983510821641598282010-05-18T09:47:00.001-07:002010-05-18T10:03:14.406-07:00You're doing WHAT?!My Mom did it... and her Mom did it... and I'm sure her Mom did too. What am I talking about? Yup, cloth diapering! But wait, gone are the days of just plain white cloth rags with pins and covers... cloth diapering has changed SO much since my Mom cloth diapered me. I know people are going to start looking at me like I am crazy, and honestly, I don't know a single soul in my area where I live, go to church, etc. that actually cloth diapers. But I have a whole lot of friends online via Facebook and Babyfit (my absolute favorite baby/pregnancy website where I have made lifetime friends!) who cloth diaper and love it! I have been so intrigued by them that I finally looked into it myself. When I called my own Mom to tell her I was thinking about it, she even said, "I didn't even know that anyone did that anymore!" Oh yes, and it actually has become quite the trend.<br /><br />Now, my main reason for doing this wasn't the environment issue with it... although that is a very nice added bonus I must say! I first chose to do this simply because it costs LESS! And since we plan to have at least one more child after this one, I think it makes perfect sense for us to switch now. Sydney is still in diapers and will be for at least another year I'm sure... the thought of two in disposable diapers, woah, it makes me cringe! You buy one big stash of diapers and you can use them for every child! You just keep washing and reusing!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5nKFYkyLXJqKjdxw1hcitWb3my2gnXZU7HQxJCDOihtN6WL8TT54KD53uPh0V4qFfhZrqoVh87Dy_UYoO7nKTChz3qa_0DOmDl-uRmrMbQXlSolPqzDUtVpvfBWBIRuqLWPKjUrYlkA/s1600/IMG_5605.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472653051428484498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5nKFYkyLXJqKjdxw1hcitWb3my2gnXZU7HQxJCDOihtN6WL8TT54KD53uPh0V4qFfhZrqoVh87Dy_UYoO7nKTChz3qa_0DOmDl-uRmrMbQXlSolPqzDUtVpvfBWBIRuqLWPKjUrYlkA/s320/IMG_5605.JPG" /></a> Here is my first stash of cloth diapers! As you can see, they come in all sorts of colors and types. I'm telling you, these cloth diapers are so cool! And they look and feel so much more comfortable than those awful disposable diapers! I am also doing this because I don't like the thought of all those unknown chemicals touching my child's bottom on a daily basis and I am hoping this will cut down on the awful diaper rash!<br /><br />I am still a newbie, and as you can see I only have a small stash to begin with. But I can see us diving in to converting almost completely. We will have to still use disposables for the church nursery and many cloth diapering Moms use disosables at night since cloth is known for leaking overnight. But I am determined to find a way to do it overnight as well!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfLZLByzx7bWgRjLrGKnTQJakK1L-PznMmfBaB8TyLZPVbVUY1Ar4zD1_HGmfXqRFDQMX82fhJO4xTDwUWjqd5FTlUl9Mzrq-N_kO0IR4p-tlc1E21ll6Y1BH5QlUUfr3XSAnUubfh3w/s1600/IMG_5611.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472653049949628258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfLZLByzx7bWgRjLrGKnTQJakK1L-PznMmfBaB8TyLZPVbVUY1Ar4zD1_HGmfXqRFDQMX82fhJO4xTDwUWjqd5FTlUl9Mzrq-N_kO0IR4p-tlc1E21ll6Y1BH5QlUUfr3XSAnUubfh3w/s320/IMG_5611.JPG" /></a>Here is Sydney in her new BumGenius all in one cloth diaper. The all in one is the most like a disposable, because you don't have to stuff it into a cover or do anything else. It's the most "Daddy friendly" of the cloth world!</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwThHkgf9DQDvcbuWnfn0bLvTkGBZ5ABIFUkMxYf7FGdCD37fKb5pD4W8kpMvse4WBdIv8XIB11fDVBNS7H3vK9oEqMfLcTVqdGaJXZ7rn5Wn5ivm2SyyTLY4OZbxBa-apLuTj8ZBLaY/s1600/IMG_5613.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472653045951175650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwThHkgf9DQDvcbuWnfn0bLvTkGBZ5ABIFUkMxYf7FGdCD37fKb5pD4W8kpMvse4WBdIv8XIB11fDVBNS7H3vK9oEqMfLcTVqdGaJXZ7rn5Wn5ivm2SyyTLY4OZbxBa-apLuTj8ZBLaY/s320/IMG_5613.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMz_lKX7YFT6AKDYc5hVQGe70OTFNMc_MGxBJNUyKih6QwypZ0OP9O8cg8j21p481VoATuRY1mugNlUdYdCPSRrlJF3sYO2zOp1vVgCkJDnXyC4Hkg-28TfdWTV32oAmAwiUi230JMUE/s1600/IMG_5616.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472653041761422002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMz_lKX7YFT6AKDYc5hVQGe70OTFNMc_MGxBJNUyKih6QwypZ0OP9O8cg8j21p481VoATuRY1mugNlUdYdCPSRrlJF3sYO2zOp1vVgCkJDnXyC4Hkg-28TfdWTV32oAmAwiUi230JMUE/s320/IMG_5616.JPG" /></a><br />And here she is in her cute little FuzziBunz "One Size" cloth diaper. They make these great one size diapers so you don't have to keep buying new sizes as they grow! You just adjust with snaps or velcro! Pretty awesome and very economical. And don't you just love the names they have?! (FuzziBunz, BumGenius...)</div><div> </div><div>Check back with me in a few months to see if I am still in love with cloth diapering, but so far so good and I am very excited to keep going!<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-27384906941357535242010-04-19T11:58:00.000-07:002010-04-19T12:04:52.476-07:00Adoption celebration!A few months ago I blogged about some friends of ours, the Hyatts, who were adopting from Haiti. With the earthquake, the adoption moved into fast forward and now they have two precious little girls added to their family. Their family of 4 went to a family of 6 in the matter of days! This past weekend we had the priveledge of celebrating with them along with many of our church friends at a picnic. What a blessing it was for us to see them and meet their two new precious little girls!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsg5CyiEhYQCxnQM08yoRTpCRpZv4ipLtJxJ-TwhgI7Tx-MvUjd_eGDkdyIolGi4fy4dkku44dbrktXlv15Ho0QqV2_ume1dZGMsaU4Al7-DvB7HB-gYNroJsn6hmFZUngRDI5P9b7uU/s1600/IMG_5429.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461925524951021794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsg5CyiEhYQCxnQM08yoRTpCRpZv4ipLtJxJ-TwhgI7Tx-MvUjd_eGDkdyIolGi4fy4dkku44dbrktXlv15Ho0QqV2_ume1dZGMsaU4Al7-DvB7HB-gYNroJsn6hmFZUngRDI5P9b7uU/s320/IMG_5429.JPG" /></a><br />Here is little Amelia, who was the first to arrive to the Hyatt family. She is about 9 months old now and adorable as ever!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos2Zadqnyl6jVLcMitaoPRD_o6fLs7RtCCHrWuSZSDcLFaMRQWrIUWTxZ5zinj6m_NW5vJj5kCw4baOpuGESPd81_9_Xwp4av9lynWN7bmhdJrt9zFD-5RCuxsqbZ9zhQALhqobFAfJ8/s1600/IMG_5431.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461925521392663874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos2Zadqnyl6jVLcMitaoPRD_o6fLs7RtCCHrWuSZSDcLFaMRQWrIUWTxZ5zinj6m_NW5vJj5kCw4baOpuGESPd81_9_Xwp4av9lynWN7bmhdJrt9zFD-5RCuxsqbZ9zhQALhqobFAfJ8/s320/IMG_5431.JPG" /></a><br />And this is little Naomi with her Dad Jason. They knew for a couple of years they would be adopting Naomi but were prepared to wait a year or two more. With the earthquake, that all changed in the matter of days! What a blessing that she is now a part of their family!</div><div> </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqdmiCik6w4ub3h33i_eEFRg-2VNiwRvUvj5z8dY7qGSY1nMELulrZ2jlu1QjoYyd5dgRNQmT0CrclfSOAb70K1uYvCC9qQjnHI7Jg6pg01W9F2ex1GeNL9RbhBHR7_Hu7S-zRI-0POk/s1600/IMG_5432.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461925512899970850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqdmiCik6w4ub3h33i_eEFRg-2VNiwRvUvj5z8dY7qGSY1nMELulrZ2jlu1QjoYyd5dgRNQmT0CrclfSOAb70K1uYvCC9qQjnHI7Jg6pg01W9F2ex1GeNL9RbhBHR7_Hu7S-zRI-0POk/s320/IMG_5432.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99T4IZ51s5n3QdlBNx-yIPrV5uzceSsKkdMzOFYiC_bdVJNRcKfSk0a6KHOcVAjve-HWa84vNKtGwoP8Qwl1iCiRMntLJfOh8RT9rvVS6rLTlgqipq5klgdhgD2fN-Q5bIKBfetd-MRw/s1600/IMG_5437.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461925509252378210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99T4IZ51s5n3QdlBNx-yIPrV5uzceSsKkdMzOFYiC_bdVJNRcKfSk0a6KHOcVAjve-HWa84vNKtGwoP8Qwl1iCiRMntLJfOh8RT9rvVS6rLTlgqipq5klgdhgD2fN-Q5bIKBfetd-MRw/s320/IMG_5437.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-84805378780657454592010-04-19T11:43:00.000-07:002010-04-19T11:58:08.443-07:00Spring Cleaning!One nice thing about the second trimester is you get your energy back! Just in time for some good old fashioned spring cleaning! I just so happened to be looking around online recently for some blogs for Christian homemaker/home educators and stumbled across this blog:<br /><br /><a href="http://christianhomekeeper.org/">http://christianhomekeeper.org/</a><br /><br />I was so excited when I saw that they were going to begin a 5 week spring cleaning challenge on April 5th! Each week would be a different room(s) of the house. Week 1 we began in the kitchen!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_K7jYaNZjonip-7BGjphtcsom2HHjRAbJDnoyJZP7LRJyz4ine1HGGEVtD00GBRQAPaPYBr6I8FYEXCor0EOeXnf-CrOGe88pm2SCQG8PGkzWvfpqPzslSYxguuMCm7I08C-uJ0BH0A/s1600/IMG_5374.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461922444477618626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_K7jYaNZjonip-7BGjphtcsom2HHjRAbJDnoyJZP7LRJyz4ine1HGGEVtD00GBRQAPaPYBr6I8FYEXCor0EOeXnf-CrOGe88pm2SCQG8PGkzWvfpqPzslSYxguuMCm7I08C-uJ0BH0A/s320/IMG_5374.JPG" /></a><br />Here is a "before" shot of my pantry...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbui3fJl8fiVFzEW7zUnjgDrtWrVNPRO36WoEXfeYaRV_0yxtR-SBMnZcZZKZAhVmKCNHYuR1mTbti0xCbLVLvqWsIYCx9iHyDpTcGa-_tvovRkGFRXFmIhyphenhyphenGfGSizCPP-R1i3S1tluQ0/s1600/IMG_5382.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461922430903989442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbui3fJl8fiVFzEW7zUnjgDrtWrVNPRO36WoEXfeYaRV_0yxtR-SBMnZcZZKZAhVmKCNHYuR1mTbti0xCbLVLvqWsIYCx9iHyDpTcGa-_tvovRkGFRXFmIhyphenhyphenGfGSizCPP-R1i3S1tluQ0/s320/IMG_5382.JPG" /></a><br />...and here is the "after" shot!</div><div> </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RqKXWFBdgnDp7iWLH1IJaJi5RTk_0UZRgTLNfA0CUbLfwnwQn2nZVyFVuLX0JhcViewOtIQDOuzV3jPEeH6LW0hTfPnC-mn3NlDZYH1f4vMcZBRFBTm5siM92AJWpm_sbV40RbouSxE/s1600/IMG_5383.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461922429092565810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RqKXWFBdgnDp7iWLH1IJaJi5RTk_0UZRgTLNfA0CUbLfwnwQn2nZVyFVuLX0JhcViewOtIQDOuzV3jPEeH6LW0hTfPnC-mn3NlDZYH1f4vMcZBRFBTm5siM92AJWpm_sbV40RbouSxE/s320/IMG_5383.JPG" /></a><br />Unfortunately I didn't get any other "before shots, but I will show some of my finished product in the kitchen!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDYf6z8i2KlLqFFJxGHNIbQYLBq4GP82oBAZ2vSpQZYzrrQFjQnXIvIuh19Im0rdnCYzg0qdSwNnR1H9b6EQgOwypTyBhKUvDH6wfYcWszw1_O3_12XsLTrThLOaVF7dnZS31QC5W4IM/s1600/IMG_5370.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461922133295499570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDYf6z8i2KlLqFFJxGHNIbQYLBq4GP82oBAZ2vSpQZYzrrQFjQnXIvIuh19Im0rdnCYzg0qdSwNnR1H9b6EQgOwypTyBhKUvDH6wfYcWszw1_O3_12XsLTrThLOaVF7dnZS31QC5W4IM/s320/IMG_5370.JPG" /></a><br />My sparkling white fridge!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg337pcd73Gqdn9y6_wqdskaAN0VbPuDJncRqT81ltbQpSqi_vynnN1FSanwLApmkQn-melj9Eo6zPQIwUbS1GF2QSm_m7NtPqPAZm1MHH9XlC3JwI4XtcpBdDBB8XxFRhYKHDGxSc3CEE/s1600/IMG_5371.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461922121441810850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg337pcd73Gqdn9y6_wqdskaAN0VbPuDJncRqT81ltbQpSqi_vynnN1FSanwLApmkQn-melj9Eo6zPQIwUbS1GF2QSm_m7NtPqPAZm1MHH9XlC3JwI4XtcpBdDBB8XxFRhYKHDGxSc3CEE/s320/IMG_5371.JPG" /></a><br />The inside of my fridge, which by the way is still pretty clean, 2 weeks later! :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4a8wBNqrHaHcE67hdLp6JNq4nFZtZHDWFM6d9JqfYno3gM-SiyphDSIA6agjn-PsZeSR10Qr6X0nPwn0SyThXPy8yo9bg_qPLP-7RB0rXnGWKLST_4dosF1ZHVwB72Ji9rexG9afjyg/s1600/IMG_5386.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461922118370089506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4a8wBNqrHaHcE67hdLp6JNq4nFZtZHDWFM6d9JqfYno3gM-SiyphDSIA6agjn-PsZeSR10Qr6X0nPwn0SyThXPy8yo9bg_qPLP-7RB0rXnGWKLST_4dosF1ZHVwB72Ji9rexG9afjyg/s320/IMG_5386.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulljP8ECtxXN1vZ9SCescPZuBm0SZZPwjGjthm4lSE_wv5Ifjc4tRrY32R_6Io5IAeRj2TaN2dVOFBjapwhrQdlfOj0Syld0cZwiWNu78YESld3UC94CIM7BPzHUP1VSaTonIkHcrnMg/s1600/IMG_5387.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461922115013420034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulljP8ECtxXN1vZ9SCescPZuBm0SZZPwjGjthm4lSE_wv5Ifjc4tRrY32R_6Io5IAeRj2TaN2dVOFBjapwhrQdlfOj0Syld0cZwiWNu78YESld3UC94CIM7BPzHUP1VSaTonIkHcrnMg/s320/IMG_5387.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAGbYHygBWIq-HcAoJXsfOJMeoQ0VGsclPTv_5_nJHTgfH0mHfRQkjgQO4TsbdImV-LYM1lxUBEs_ws3ElHXuTrV8ZgyNoPOAL6WdFiVRf96RZKlWCpp7DjJZFQ3ZFiRNy0EMiqfia_Y/s1600/IMG_5389.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461922109476070434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAGbYHygBWIq-HcAoJXsfOJMeoQ0VGsclPTv_5_nJHTgfH0mHfRQkjgQO4TsbdImV-LYM1lxUBEs_ws3ElHXuTrV8ZgyNoPOAL6WdFiVRf96RZKlWCpp7DjJZFQ3ZFiRNy0EMiqfia_Y/s320/IMG_5389.JPG" /></a><br />Boy does it feel good to have a clean kitchen! If the kitchen is clean and nothing else is clean, I am happy! That doesn't mean I get a free pass to not continue cleaning... week 2 was the living room. I got a lot done but am a little behind. This week is the bathroom. Today I will be tackling the cabinets and linen closets. Oh yeah, and today is my 34th birthday! Yes I am still cleaning on my birthday and plan to do a little grocery shopping later today... I'm still a Mom and Wife even when it's my birthday! Steve and I will be celebrating tomorrow night for dinner on our own.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-30802753714016475442010-04-15T19:30:00.001-07:002010-04-15T19:43:15.638-07:00Our newest little Westdyk..."For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them."<br />Psalm 139:13-16<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AZ0TAgN4NbTrCe5HPl97IIbl2GSNK6Q72Zgtx7FJqY8ekV5Z3rdZpOBIGWnAmo3Qsjv1aKqmFLWVJlbJG0UM2HK61UYZyYR8cta9Wh2VvkkujKMt2ndMzbqF_Ah82xD_lHPYNMFLHSE/s1600/WESTDYK_CARYN_7.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460557399256027330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AZ0TAgN4NbTrCe5HPl97IIbl2GSNK6Q72Zgtx7FJqY8ekV5Z3rdZpOBIGWnAmo3Qsjv1aKqmFLWVJlbJG0UM2HK61UYZyYR8cta9Wh2VvkkujKMt2ndMzbqF_Ah82xD_lHPYNMFLHSE/s320/WESTDYK_CARYN_7.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We went in as a family this week for my routine 18 week check up. We were so blessed to see our little baby on the screen once again! This time there was so much more to see and it was so fun to watch Carter seeing his little brother on the screen and even hear the heartbeat!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMpR1khQoLVZJRillwkxl5n86X1nnAd9bjxVyiBcKpE1M4JVI8uTUTY7GV00JOMt4tL3KR-e_7WGr-Du9LBD8qNBXSpYW7mBP0kHFYXqnhTKHzvEiEbvVvmtUxtpO0RBoZtVWzmEEeWo/s1600/WESTDYK_CARYN_4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460557393708788962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMpR1khQoLVZJRillwkxl5n86X1nnAd9bjxVyiBcKpE1M4JVI8uTUTY7GV00JOMt4tL3KR-e_7WGr-Du9LBD8qNBXSpYW7mBP0kHFYXqnhTKHzvEiEbvVvmtUxtpO0RBoZtVWzmEEeWo/s320/WESTDYK_CARYN_4.jpg" /></a><br />We were also surprised to learn that our Doctor's office now offers free 3D images along with the typical ultrasound pictures! How fun it is to see a close up of our newest little Westdyk!</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3aEsAkA7iNsf8oFEHAWoByh-TKNW1NTP5NenGxJBDOtAUqckLvQGQvRq0mXVjKqnv7N44L8LjcAoiFcg0OwMp5eWbZF5lDB12y5tM1CyneEU8SbIHhr2Vbve-iPdg_ZmWwuox5u_C3g/s1600/WESTDYK_CARYN_5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460557390411706418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3aEsAkA7iNsf8oFEHAWoByh-TKNW1NTP5NenGxJBDOtAUqckLvQGQvRq0mXVjKqnv7N44L8LjcAoiFcg0OwMp5eWbZF5lDB12y5tM1CyneEU8SbIHhr2Vbve-iPdg_ZmWwuox5u_C3g/s320/WESTDYK_CARYN_5.jpg" /></a><br />He truly is beautiful already. What a blessing to experience this as a family.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0K2aqrS85jGrNCBxcwzH1yAv6-zQA32cOGr5OreSCMvvYUG_msYqrx7H5L5M4WbJNj9z7HW_V10y9fdPWTir_3A75iUXA1Rkt9o4Pk_7bJ3z024QM0mpeIA9Dl_gqSbN2L1UoiNVNu6s/s1600/WESTDYK_CARYN_8.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460557386331273682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0K2aqrS85jGrNCBxcwzH1yAv6-zQA32cOGr5OreSCMvvYUG_msYqrx7H5L5M4WbJNj9z7HW_V10y9fdPWTir_3A75iUXA1Rkt9o4Pk_7bJ3z024QM0mpeIA9Dl_gqSbN2L1UoiNVNu6s/s320/WESTDYK_CARYN_8.jpg" /></a><br />And once again, I have a thumb sucker in the womb. Neither of my children suck their thumbs now, so we will see if this one does. We are still deciding for sure on a name, but will let you know once we make the final decision.<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-32805181506563566932010-04-05T06:07:00.001-07:002010-04-05T06:31:28.254-07:00Spring and Easter!First of all I really need to start posting more than once every couple of months, so I don't have 20 pictures to upload each time I post! Now that I am in my second trimester and have my energy back, I am hoping to be a little more consistent. But who am I kidding? In 5 months, I will be adding a THIRD child to the mix! Who has time any more?! Spring is in the air, and boy have we been enjoying our beautiful Texas weather! We really need to take it when we get it, because before you know it, it will be in the 90's and shortly after that in the 100's, so we are definitely enjoying the 70's and 80's while we can! We kicked off our Spring season by going to the Dallas Arboretum with some of the other Mom's and children from our sunday school class at church.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DzcJ4hNLYlx4yUrCn3mon2Lk0rZKKIoS0IiuTa47pEvTsw8bVLmj2FHjDZ5ScnqhReNZOEVvcpUWth_dwDdKBLwRJgWMZSOOsWOTGAjReUUqHCAbJs0nBTEHzdwENR5a1bmetkAEtaA/s1600/IMG_5314.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456641370035566674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DzcJ4hNLYlx4yUrCn3mon2Lk0rZKKIoS0IiuTa47pEvTsw8bVLmj2FHjDZ5ScnqhReNZOEVvcpUWth_dwDdKBLwRJgWMZSOOsWOTGAjReUUqHCAbJs0nBTEHzdwENR5a1bmetkAEtaA/s320/IMG_5314.JPG" /></a> Carter loved the little petting zoo they had!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HZPrZX935JkEYcKV08VnC_sgtu5RbAEUnDa0sC7HgTfigE64ZFab8VEktlHYMIsydaRSlkc2uUpyF44MSQ4xvugOeHaaudwoqqApXapIt5cYGcFw_qhb3DhY2jwhDr97Iyo2eldYbxs/s1600/IMG_5318.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456641365785620658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HZPrZX935JkEYcKV08VnC_sgtu5RbAEUnDa0sC7HgTfigE64ZFab8VEktlHYMIsydaRSlkc2uUpyF44MSQ4xvugOeHaaudwoqqApXapIt5cYGcFw_qhb3DhY2jwhDr97Iyo2eldYbxs/s320/IMG_5318.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Sydney wasn't so sure...</div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbhPZ1JgMLkmhcSBSjHCFWjNNp80vvpsxmuTLypFVm6tceSy5Hjh7_bUuowB8PoDCiL1_mnEluFgQDYhPfU-RZhaL6R56ZiRLsJ7DI9wbvF3xGSAQx8u7vS-LfPAkYQSWdbHTaKc1n50/s1600/IMG_5326.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456641357878982034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbhPZ1JgMLkmhcSBSjHCFWjNNp80vvpsxmuTLypFVm6tceSy5Hjh7_bUuowB8PoDCiL1_mnEluFgQDYhPfU-RZhaL6R56ZiRLsJ7DI9wbvF3xGSAQx8u7vS-LfPAkYQSWdbHTaKc1n50/s320/IMG_5326.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NLH71FolJKlUMicaCtNTRJ3Ke2JfUUqUYL6DFdDtQaPFSP5r6R56a9GryzH0y3V9EfcjQp0H9UoeGfAsHihfXFmqU_QcX-60S-qAVb2IVnIJBo2JHHXC9SeiH3BGsnvTQpVFXE45OJA/s1600/IMG_5338.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456641349578883810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NLH71FolJKlUMicaCtNTRJ3Ke2JfUUqUYL6DFdDtQaPFSP5r6R56a9GryzH0y3V9EfcjQp0H9UoeGfAsHihfXFmqU_QcX-60S-qAVb2IVnIJBo2JHHXC9SeiH3BGsnvTQpVFXE45OJA/s320/IMG_5338.JPG" /></a>The flowers were gorgeous and so was the day! Perfectly sunny and in the 70's.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIyG9qMgHLm_ljX7lMjpC2cL1F6Oi52lbelNXeCTNBrf_XMdiVjf5-ihnkXuUQ6LRJjYcPcOyne42HFgfda6lVzEPzu0WBhZRJ3htHW8uuvL8V4YetRnjCrq41aXSep0QaYgHxQiZxHQ/s1600/IMG_5342.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456640894417306818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIyG9qMgHLm_ljX7lMjpC2cL1F6Oi52lbelNXeCTNBrf_XMdiVjf5-ihnkXuUQ6LRJjYcPcOyne42HFgfda6lVzEPzu0WBhZRJ3htHW8uuvL8V4YetRnjCrq41aXSep0QaYgHxQiZxHQ/s320/IMG_5342.JPG" /></a><br />My precious little girl is not so much an outdoorsey kind of girl (ahem, just like her Mommy!) I'm lucky I got this shot of her on the concrete in between the grass and the flowers.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomggaFF1iZYbqZ8jXVIaXr1Y0xtG3zwyFhgySoXtRBqVd99NlbGiV9d2puVkxdDCi7IgVW6T6CUWo4GTo9g2oCd5NvZ9qACCL_ZwWuK1bv3R98v9DOxUfwiSqOoL2-K4G62MYavAKVSo/s1600/IMG_5344.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456640883798087522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomggaFF1iZYbqZ8jXVIaXr1Y0xtG3zwyFhgySoXtRBqVd99NlbGiV9d2puVkxdDCi7IgVW6T6CUWo4GTo9g2oCd5NvZ9qACCL_ZwWuK1bv3R98v9DOxUfwiSqOoL2-K4G62MYavAKVSo/s320/IMG_5344.JPG" /></a><br />Soon enough she was crying for Mommy to come pick her up again!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgTzb4hgez1Il2DkW9vOAXLFPZSGtrH0Z8Q1pvvn46Xx0t0X146a3Jvp8updPOtHZrRujD6yoj_mvVps3CIVa7s7NJP_oc2K3_0XrJ7jo88CYPna3-bWPzLGlJ6EvFPa8c-Ywb-tmV58/s1600/IMG_5345.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456640870338511586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgTzb4hgez1Il2DkW9vOAXLFPZSGtrH0Z8Q1pvvn46Xx0t0X146a3Jvp8updPOtHZrRujD6yoj_mvVps3CIVa7s7NJP_oc2K3_0XrJ7jo88CYPna3-bWPzLGlJ6EvFPa8c-Ywb-tmV58/s320/IMG_5345.JPG" /></a><br />I think Carter is trying to convince her here that the outdoors isn't so bad...</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8WUzMUczlppljqHCQEumGMmldNFf7I6U2PgVuDb3CvT5viOEWGMroSdIURi8gX8kG4KghTpfyudteIVMGGnqkM2xEpVocX6bOA2QAh8gF0aN0uj7IPw_RdykFFEWMhULoHKvslnWUSs/s1600/IMG_5346.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456640862479669954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8WUzMUczlppljqHCQEumGMmldNFf7I6U2PgVuDb3CvT5viOEWGMroSdIURi8gX8kG4KghTpfyudteIVMGGnqkM2xEpVocX6bOA2QAh8gF0aN0uj7IPw_RdykFFEWMhULoHKvslnWUSs/s320/IMG_5346.JPG" /></a><br />.... but then he gave up and just decided to look cute!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uoy8HAmHB2mPjpQ-0nwBXYlbPgFQeFUkiI0AhupxqMo8lej2hmhugOK1W9kmPdck0rwxU0oTJ59SblZ4kcTPhhw7YjICAAJ9CYq4xZu-GC4ZTw8Eevi8pTYjt_wFEPURnEptYJq1Rjc/s1600/IMG_5347.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456640857085299266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uoy8HAmHB2mPjpQ-0nwBXYlbPgFQeFUkiI0AhupxqMo8lej2hmhugOK1W9kmPdck0rwxU0oTJ59SblZ4kcTPhhw7YjICAAJ9CYq4xZu-GC4ZTw8Eevi8pTYjt_wFEPURnEptYJq1Rjc/s320/IMG_5347.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Here is Carter with one of his best pals Alex.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjI2bOy7jui0favrt8kdmQzGhDSnjCYV_a54k-GaPtvSNTSf4_S7vfl5ft0qtwtPgNfPNc2H4uVxxjnS8frCE5bG9SCjQ84m1L1iD0X3B7GuoRswX_je1b6L15u7mdGFFMRrTR2c0Ano/s1600/IMG_5354.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456640450546951954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjI2bOy7jui0favrt8kdmQzGhDSnjCYV_a54k-GaPtvSNTSf4_S7vfl5ft0qtwtPgNfPNc2H4uVxxjnS8frCE5bG9SCjQ84m1L1iD0X3B7GuoRswX_je1b6L15u7mdGFFMRrTR2c0Ano/s320/IMG_5354.JPG" /></a><br />Here is looking more adorable than ever...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubMyFtC-s5H0yVNZVU6Wdd7_akE8aYLi-gnW3k99axfC2DOPLFgeaqU-h3I_Sojcvk1SgT3TY7QWBi1PcJsLvkvS9XEbTM6JP9NW3Ic0pKEqQKzHep46W-wPcLs3or5Chf3j581eHNzg/s1600/IMG_5356.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456640446470948018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubMyFtC-s5H0yVNZVU6Wdd7_akE8aYLi-gnW3k99axfC2DOPLFgeaqU-h3I_Sojcvk1SgT3TY7QWBi1PcJsLvkvS9XEbTM6JP9NW3Ic0pKEqQKzHep46W-wPcLs3or5Chf3j581eHNzg/s320/IMG_5356.JPG" /></a><br /><br />... and here looking as serious as his Daddy!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0RcF9y7CsJ2ZcRseobyUGT6HMQeBjsIxQaWKBxDCCHDOpTmHpQpBxDk2j5AXpnQfET66MQwwjNwUNNTsBc0vcyW227MVVbEnWK7I6vUwzjjTH7x6QEwfFRGfWGZnzZzwP4TXrsaj6-g/s1600/IMG_5360.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456640444010177090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0RcF9y7CsJ2ZcRseobyUGT6HMQeBjsIxQaWKBxDCCHDOpTmHpQpBxDk2j5AXpnQfET66MQwwjNwUNNTsBc0vcyW227MVVbEnWK7I6vUwzjjTH7x6QEwfFRGfWGZnzZzwP4TXrsaj6-g/s320/IMG_5360.JPG" /></a><br />And in other news that I somehow forgot to share... I am now 17.5 weeks and starting to look quite pregnant finally. We found out at an early ultrasound that we are having another BOY! Steve was shocked because he was certain it was a girl, and I couldn't have been more excited! We're on a roll with the back and forth genders... We will of course confirm this at my next ultrasound which should be April 13th. We found out at 14 weeks, so it's always possible they could get it wrong, but we found out that early with Sydney too, and our little boy was pretty convincing on the screen!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJ1du4M5KcikNJX_RWP3j8umdP84Vez0t_INDxRmYru0PyDQ3tLSdp9-E1HOVfWt0W1oEpV06yL7v0x9kvUvHWtYQSw6cijUvx9KkEsyNGqGRPPsUo05ZWHHFoTXvRoi_NgntC3JfVpM/s1600/IMG_5302.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456640438506052450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJ1du4M5KcikNJX_RWP3j8umdP84Vez0t_INDxRmYru0PyDQ3tLSdp9-E1HOVfWt0W1oEpV06yL7v0x9kvUvHWtYQSw6cijUvx9KkEsyNGqGRPPsUo05ZWHHFoTXvRoi_NgntC3JfVpM/s320/IMG_5302.JPG" /></a><br />Our sunday school class had an Easter egg hunt for the kids last weekend. Unfortunately the weather wasn't as great that day! We had unbelievable winds that were up to 40 mph at some points. The eggs were flying all over the place and we were all freezing!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirU8mk0EQT73g6azmL5soeoB-TQJnJwj35aBT0bU8kQt3ooGnaq4yNbQh3w-IKEZtovDox83ZrezPpwLHqCdOIvmuiUg_d8OWL0EUtvGXE2N_1x-VtQJggrDV1Hrvm1KaSuLQc_WQCBSE/s1600/IMG_5305.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456640435365566402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirU8mk0EQT73g6azmL5soeoB-TQJnJwj35aBT0bU8kQt3ooGnaq4yNbQh3w-IKEZtovDox83ZrezPpwLHqCdOIvmuiUg_d8OWL0EUtvGXE2N_1x-VtQJggrDV1Hrvm1KaSuLQc_WQCBSE/s320/IMG_5305.JPG" /></a><br />But Sydney really enjoyed picking up the eggs and putting them in the basket. One of her favorite things to do, pick things up and put them in something else...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSZVKlX800ZHbhrKIjjdLprSw6pV1JkCK6wxhsPG-jbntEEcdzWFXWqG40TD63yfI3D7ULkJbmnNnAWVvUK6aoV5xe6p9hS2VyqP7ZAzJK6NZCA4iXFI8r-lPbywO6CI9cfVtdcDlrSk/s1600/IMG_5310.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456639878986613810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSZVKlX800ZHbhrKIjjdLprSw6pV1JkCK6wxhsPG-jbntEEcdzWFXWqG40TD63yfI3D7ULkJbmnNnAWVvUK6aoV5xe6p9hS2VyqP7ZAzJK6NZCA4iXFI8r-lPbywO6CI9cfVtdcDlrSk/s320/IMG_5310.JPG" /></a><br />Oh the love...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41moE3SU1N2YzYouNafhjnJr291Ne3TyAFSH2-mPUFtx565YuNmeZBDrsnSEMUwo2WYT00W3R2Aa9yod1OVjOUZRw9Nomx_ziq7XoZvdoqWAtyKjAEm8BC4ayokbFcBClq_DbWfHuEto/s1600/IMG_5363.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456639867886191954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41moE3SU1N2YzYouNafhjnJr291Ne3TyAFSH2-mPUFtx565YuNmeZBDrsnSEMUwo2WYT00W3R2Aa9yod1OVjOUZRw9Nomx_ziq7XoZvdoqWAtyKjAEm8BC4ayokbFcBClq_DbWfHuEto/s320/IMG_5363.JPG" /></a> </div><div>And then there was Easter! My little guy is getting so handsome and so big! It's hard to believe he is already 3 1/2. And boy are we having our challenges with the three's... but that's a whole other post in itself! :) Carter got to go to "Big" church with Mommy which was such a treat! Daddy was singing in the choir, so it was just Mommy and Carter. He was SO well behaved!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXopiKlaf_1f3gHd5nvD3M__foPwvhKcd6ngg_ewzzB5Sap3qLhuKUWua7VtbJgYKQ6JPTN6WbMmdG6eH5M0yeZ677CHP9ePHmx2TzMAvdzDFAsNP5Ng924PdsZDVN1iR7lWD5k8Gs6rs/s1600/IMG_5364.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456639856971986994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXopiKlaf_1f3gHd5nvD3M__foPwvhKcd6ngg_ewzzB5Sap3qLhuKUWua7VtbJgYKQ6JPTN6WbMmdG6eH5M0yeZ677CHP9ePHmx2TzMAvdzDFAsNP5Ng924PdsZDVN1iR7lWD5k8Gs6rs/s320/IMG_5364.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Sydney was so precious all dolled up in her Easter dress!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4G5PZHwKYSi0iGCkndO3u2U1g1ctgFgRyX7FVUHUs1UScwUj-D7hoP4y-_-NbxjqcGbjvZGyNHFReFY2BsFYvhEe1hBjBhAaaZZv1gQW83nHR0m3XnllFyUDakJbUVj4Vou7SMd7GWc/s1600/IMG_5367.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456639855818887154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4G5PZHwKYSi0iGCkndO3u2U1g1ctgFgRyX7FVUHUs1UScwUj-D7hoP4y-_-NbxjqcGbjvZGyNHFReFY2BsFYvhEe1hBjBhAaaZZv1gQW83nHR0m3XnllFyUDakJbUVj4Vou7SMd7GWc/s320/IMG_5367.JPG" /></a><br />Shots of the kids together sure are hard to get!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCae_eLkdWtjlCU3DDYc_gQQ9Zh0u5rta_VOZiw1VHDwZBl7Fsl55Z35FHOT-LkaRv85K0Q-Iqw2SaCEyX3ErCWZpURwcOzbWj0etwKnqteIhSZAaUmiZJWD_awsQhtB4Ya7awFdCFhWY/s1600/IMG_5368.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456639847635980322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCae_eLkdWtjlCU3DDYc_gQQ9Zh0u5rta_VOZiw1VHDwZBl7Fsl55Z35FHOT-LkaRv85K0Q-Iqw2SaCEyX3ErCWZpURwcOzbWj0etwKnqteIhSZAaUmiZJWD_awsQhtB4Ya7awFdCFhWY/s320/IMG_5368.JPG" /></a><br />As you can see!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-28864074520151453572010-02-23T14:01:00.001-08:002010-02-23T14:25:34.167-08:00They say three's a crowd...So I realized it's been awhile since I have posted about the family and thought of three things to share with you. Two good, one not so good. Can you guess?<br /><br />1. SNOW!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAM2GURIGwiGtrAQt7EY19CVlmNNVFwovwq2Yky1V1ZW-u2fjtHrVL3DUkIVh5i82cuOaKO6Ix2JksGaQQrKqB-ASovk1G7Ag_m877MVlg9cCdoa3BP8QMABXQhifmVMbUjaF6I_irAQI/s1600-h/IMG_5097.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441564685465379522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAM2GURIGwiGtrAQt7EY19CVlmNNVFwovwq2Yky1V1ZW-u2fjtHrVL3DUkIVh5i82cuOaKO6Ix2JksGaQQrKqB-ASovk1G7Ag_m877MVlg9cCdoa3BP8QMABXQhifmVMbUjaF6I_irAQI/s320/IMG_5097.JPG" /></a>Yes, this was the sight we woke up to one morning! My first real snow since I've lived in Dallas! They had gotten snow once on Christmas day, but since I was in VA with my family, I had missed it. And it didn't just snow...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIcIcIPdAtZFA7VpgnMGKAyFXuevvcaJlxXzM66KPD57yJkzcGCQwlBcKhcEHJoo_HXNIU6yOxiIyFoUKsXv_SefhdrIssStSHbAI_K-l8teUKsvR0nIgZzxC_B2TChZl68mYXVX34hc/s1600-h/IMG_5101.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441564678661961458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIcIcIPdAtZFA7VpgnMGKAyFXuevvcaJlxXzM66KPD57yJkzcGCQwlBcKhcEHJoo_HXNIU6yOxiIyFoUKsXv_SefhdrIssStSHbAI_K-l8teUKsvR0nIgZzxC_B2TChZl68mYXVX34hc/s320/IMG_5101.JPG" /></a> It snowed....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbK9dpfUUekJEPu5YYblrx5m6je5dFlhsQmDYHdqgrehKpVBtkeOIbhQcv3BaNMXk-2DNNKHkJDo_1Smp54j5gSsrJZz7lFSAx2aSB6YUHQPi-5nJ0Lzdn-5iamH68GczKrV8Buix1-Y/s1600-h/IMG_5110.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441564676867594914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbK9dpfUUekJEPu5YYblrx5m6je5dFlhsQmDYHdqgrehKpVBtkeOIbhQcv3BaNMXk-2DNNKHkJDo_1Smp54j5gSsrJZz7lFSAx2aSB6YUHQPi-5nJ0Lzdn-5iamH68GczKrV8Buix1-Y/s320/IMG_5110.JPG" /></a><br />And snowed... all day and night. In fact, it turned out to be the MOST snow Dallas has EVER gotten! Woohoo!! About a foot total. In Carrollton I think we got about 10 inches, but it was close for us.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6u3MaMzA3MJdlCy7UW9hW4hujU7H8z75g0yivq6ymX4k_1w27Z4IAKDnS9rmDMn3urpiqKtpEzDGj_nfbGJFmWYRRXFnoLzc5u2z58_T0HRN9DaB4MlNB-At44Ui1kjQjZ3SInHUdNo/s1600-h/IMG_5115.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441564668767884562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6u3MaMzA3MJdlCy7UW9hW4hujU7H8z75g0yivq6ymX4k_1w27Z4IAKDnS9rmDMn3urpiqKtpEzDGj_nfbGJFmWYRRXFnoLzc5u2z58_T0HRN9DaB4MlNB-At44Ui1kjQjZ3SInHUdNo/s320/IMG_5115.JPG" /></a><br />This is what we woke up to the following morning.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEt5DNi6ZwzWJ3oI6dVizUoLHkQU3jJSIBDjYkJJdzQJt0Q8w4V7rusrkGPQ7vf9Tn4WNAR-sII8_8zmvg3Liubq6RCl40McAE5NQ3x2oT3bB6cMuaqvcvIyhNxpFdc_qacVWdtDB4ivc/s1600-h/IMG_5120.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441564669612299554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEt5DNi6ZwzWJ3oI6dVizUoLHkQU3jJSIBDjYkJJdzQJt0Q8w4V7rusrkGPQ7vf9Tn4WNAR-sII8_8zmvg3Liubq6RCl40McAE5NQ3x2oT3bB6cMuaqvcvIyhNxpFdc_qacVWdtDB4ivc/s320/IMG_5120.JPG" /></a><br />So we decided it was time to let the kids go outside and play in the snow. After all, when will this ever happen again? When they are teenagers? Sydney was not too happy about being bundled up! We usually can go out in sweaters and a hat and just be fine. But not on a snowy day like today!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFeK4CldLICBqkOablH3-yVWkizO6DedtxE3b2gg8O6Ax-YNaODMz6uHhoKjlojgaBNguDCJ_DuHE0xWozzfY-1kDEMnwcKkN7F9DAEytr33Y2WN1NLMyiE18tr1wHzn3ES7F7SUDMLA/s1600-h/IMG_5129.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441563999411646514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFeK4CldLICBqkOablH3-yVWkizO6DedtxE3b2gg8O6Ax-YNaODMz6uHhoKjlojgaBNguDCJ_DuHE0xWozzfY-1kDEMnwcKkN7F9DAEytr33Y2WN1NLMyiE18tr1wHzn3ES7F7SUDMLA/s320/IMG_5129.JPG" /></a><br />Here I am with my two little snow bunnies!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji14RtgL96q7DV5ccBsqXLX4gDkaWB7o2-mZ3LKsssyNCVolZljn7ffYdbzvyi5g_LDUbPhOynwvxHT50UqLtn3qYmaN1ZY0F57xvuoW8PbKgI3h3FEVcCooyRw6C2m9INWdRGy1dHO3A/s1600-h/IMG_5151.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441563996663709250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji14RtgL96q7DV5ccBsqXLX4gDkaWB7o2-mZ3LKsssyNCVolZljn7ffYdbzvyi5g_LDUbPhOynwvxHT50UqLtn3qYmaN1ZY0F57xvuoW8PbKgI3h3FEVcCooyRw6C2m9INWdRGy1dHO3A/s320/IMG_5151.JPG" /></a><br />Sydney didn't like the snow when I first put her down in it, so we stayed on the porch area. But she got close and started to think that maybe she would give it a try...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXT9SPkx9GWp0n_knyBKEbU4pdmQ-ONKRBDbFwI_79fD93obx5STVn_mkCrsP_45L-Z4G9RVgTRGu7zFojINjKWXXkLo0Na90j61M3NFjayE7ayoNKqyoIEn472c6ETCRxeMsT4eCvuc8/s1600-h/IMG_5142.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441563990946842626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXT9SPkx9GWp0n_knyBKEbU4pdmQ-ONKRBDbFwI_79fD93obx5STVn_mkCrsP_45L-Z4G9RVgTRGu7zFojINjKWXXkLo0Na90j61M3NFjayE7ayoNKqyoIEn472c6ETCRxeMsT4eCvuc8/s320/IMG_5142.JPG" /></a>Sydney and I watched on the porch while Daddy and Carter made a snow fort that ended up turning into a snowman.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsE1mXRVrFbMUBR1TroFGk0BJqTeK90Z8ZN33n8C5SVoGZfHy08f0l0aNFNT-eJ8JSGV-mgTQmGC6zNT_P9cfJ5lbdiI-2hrvD-UO06LCuI8QovsmfS1gj1Im0iglMBFIhcWVMPrxMwig/s1600-h/IMG_5156.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441563988042017202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsE1mXRVrFbMUBR1TroFGk0BJqTeK90Z8ZN33n8C5SVoGZfHy08f0l0aNFNT-eJ8JSGV-mgTQmGC6zNT_P9cfJ5lbdiI-2hrvD-UO06LCuI8QovsmfS1gj1Im0iglMBFIhcWVMPrxMwig/s320/IMG_5156.JPG" /></a><br />Carter definitely didn't mind the snow at all!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFp57QI3Em_eHRX4Ry_If-SYhENfOJs8c7NHN9iGAwE6Yx3mdNzASCVr4OwEgHr3DSi8ih-tEBMd6GT1GmzGnGx3M25tw43QZ_bAJR3z6A5vkF_V8GHa-vyAyTC_nwgHnaLXxwgWQZvU/s1600-h/IMG_5162.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441563980940935026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFp57QI3Em_eHRX4Ry_If-SYhENfOJs8c7NHN9iGAwE6Yx3mdNzASCVr4OwEgHr3DSi8ih-tEBMd6GT1GmzGnGx3M25tw43QZ_bAJR3z6A5vkF_V8GHa-vyAyTC_nwgHnaLXxwgWQZvU/s320/IMG_5162.JPG" /></a><br />Yes, my son is wearing two different gloves. We couldn't find the match to either, so we used them together! And here, Sydney actually ventured out into the snow finally!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_1bRY6XfnQjIYcGyhGseQRa26yx8dry7davxLGZ2_u4RQX4y4ysXmpXcN3_MK1tbNjhM2iLjERhmKWXQjUqbjm8vlPfjF3tCRUKK9vz0L6rBin8Vi0FpOdPkE8yGHsCic10eJKcKpUQ/s1600-h/IMG_5169.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441563538584195298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_1bRY6XfnQjIYcGyhGseQRa26yx8dry7davxLGZ2_u4RQX4y4ysXmpXcN3_MK1tbNjhM2iLjERhmKWXQjUqbjm8vlPfjF3tCRUKK9vz0L6rBin8Vi0FpOdPkE8yGHsCic10eJKcKpUQ/s320/IMG_5169.JPG" /></a><br />And here we have the finished product...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWC5YwvcIH_UesRbv-UbvR79qbMH4LQX8e14xhBWvvSMYM_MmxqqoLjSjsjTBYXxzXekasn8B3-6K9nQE6E8aTPHmOMusN6mUYqBxm4tzqP5a7oKIazckkSGkzfFyAZuRCol3XJqcBnTU/s1600-h/IMG_5170.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441563535026202482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWC5YwvcIH_UesRbv-UbvR79qbMH4LQX8e14xhBWvvSMYM_MmxqqoLjSjsjTBYXxzXekasn8B3-6K9nQE6E8aTPHmOMusN6mUYqBxm4tzqP5a7oKIazckkSGkzfFyAZuRCol3XJqcBnTU/s320/IMG_5170.JPG" /></a><br />The world's weirdest looking snow fort that turned into a snowman!<br /></div><div> </div><div>2. Lice!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tYYRY_aJGsa1GGSEWwYFvAXZqzupCMPWvBZMM0lwpfYMxdbYMcbZm_CzQZh7yOOj8sRx7vrYoEnqm8YyaI7HOgVG60IvhNuI-0x21bqky2YY_JCnq_I79P2xR5J9PkCDRqXSihYklEw/s1600-h/IMG_5173.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441563531212854834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tYYRY_aJGsa1GGSEWwYFvAXZqzupCMPWvBZMM0lwpfYMxdbYMcbZm_CzQZh7yOOj8sRx7vrYoEnqm8YyaI7HOgVG60IvhNuI-0x21bqky2YY_JCnq_I79P2xR5J9PkCDRqXSihYklEw/s320/IMG_5173.JPG" /></a>Yes you heard it right, the not so good news was that Carter came home with an awful case of head lice! Here I am working hard to get it out of his hair. This was probably the longest night of my life. It took several hours to work on his hair... and then we had to worry about our own! I had a very slight case and lucky Steve had none! Sydney didn't have any until several days later we found a few. So we had to treat her too, which was pure torture! But we are finally lice free, and happy about that...</div><div> </div><div>3. Did you guess right? Well yes, they say that three's a crowd! So I guess in September we are going to find how crowded it is going to be! Presenting... baby Westdyk #3!!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3rveusKPEhtlX57UM3bsAHosF2FDXHW_gtQUDLlmotwcAfnG5_L9RtjJu9RG9FYdmpc9JuiAFpwxi0OglcxGvIItPLDxmShHNJSGqU3QnDk_kB6qR1DCdn7SlaTQRhfVqoR_O0LBYC4/s1600-h/l540406512.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 293px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441563521399664066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3rveusKPEhtlX57UM3bsAHosF2FDXHW_gtQUDLlmotwcAfnG5_L9RtjJu9RG9FYdmpc9JuiAFpwxi0OglcxGvIItPLDxmShHNJSGqU3QnDk_kB6qR1DCdn7SlaTQRhfVqoR_O0LBYC4/s320/l540406512.jpg" /></a><br />We are very excited about this new addition!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRei_4ORtch6_43VRBoT7syD3Ezr5ejwlUauKXuP897GIaDbZcdA98F2KCMs3ePLQ_FO6e9DQ2uSYfMG-CPO-WLq8b_ZindQXWgxoNKHiosJl7lfUVBJRmnY4ElCFF8w64SBWlIMo13X8/s1600-h/IMG_5095.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441563519764107154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRei_4ORtch6_43VRBoT7syD3Ezr5ejwlUauKXuP897GIaDbZcdA98F2KCMs3ePLQ_FO6e9DQ2uSYfMG-CPO-WLq8b_ZindQXWgxoNKHiosJl7lfUVBJRmnY4ElCFF8w64SBWlIMo13X8/s320/IMG_5095.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Now that I am almost 12 weeks, we are finally letting the world know! My due date is September 9th. So far this has been the sickest and most tired pregnancy, but I guess that just means that things are going well so far! Now we can't wait to find out in a couple of months if we are having a boy or girl!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-53429095802039223122010-01-25T17:05:00.000-08:002010-01-25T17:29:48.637-08:00From earthquake to blessing...I don't know all the answers to complex questions like why are there natural disasters and tragedy in the world, but I do know that God is greater than those tragic events. Now I have seen that first hand in a very real way that has changed my life forever! A couple of years ago, friends of ours from our church here in Dallas, Jason and Sarah Hyatt, went on a mission trip to Haiti that changed their lives forever. I knew the instant they came back that something was different, and then soon after, they shared that they would be adopting two children from Haiti. So the long process began... they sold their home in Dallas (at a time when real estate was plummeting and we were going into a recession, it sold almost immediately!) to move back to Louisiana to live with their family so they could save money for the adoption. Steve and I were humbled by their decision to do this and were excited to see things unfold for them. It was a long hard couple of years. They were matched up with an orphan immediately, but nothing seemed to be happening. In fact, everything was at a stand still. Laws were suddenly changing that were making it next to impossible for them to ever bring home their sweet Naomie. But God is bigger than that.<br /><br />As we all know, there was an earthquake in Haiti just a little over a week ago... I can imagine how our friends must have felt: fear, uncertainty, panic. Just to name a few emotions. They learned that Naomie's orphanage was fine, but the children were having to sleep outside due to damage and the after shocks were making it unsafe to be inside. Many adoptive parents were wondering if they would ever be united with their children, for fear that their adoption papers were lost in the rubble. But God is bigger than that.<br /><br />Many of us watched their blog and twitter updates on the edge of our seats, wondering what was going to happen next. They were literally working around the clock to find out the status of Naomie and wondering how they could get to see her again. They didn't get much sleep, their whole life was revolved around somehow getting Naomie back into their arms. Then it was announced that orphans in Haiti were being brought back to the US under Humanitarian Parole status. Could this be the hope they were waiting for? The adoption that was once at a stand still and they had been preparing to wait even another year, could it really be that they could immediately be united with her? The first flight came, and Naomie was not on the flight. She was held back because she did not have travel papers. Road block. But God is bigger than that.<br /><br />Naomie did not make it on that first plane, but another surprise did: a 5 month old named Amalia! They had initally said they would adopt two and were only matched with one. But now, here was their second daughter that they were adopting! A blessing yes, but what about Naomie? Jason was asked to fly down to Haiti as soon as possible to help assist with getting the rest of of the orphans out of the country, including Naomie. Through an unbelievable series of events, it was orchestrated that Jason would be on a flight next tuesday to do this. But then, a change. Yesterday he had word that he should fly to Orlando and that Naomie would be on a flight there on Monday. This morning, they were united! Their blog is titled 4 to 6 (their family of 4 becoming a family of 6) and this morning they finally became 4 to 6! I can't even describe the emotions I felt when I saw the picture of Sarah embracing her little girl. It's beyond comprehension. And I'm just watching from afar. Just imagine what they must've felt! The post was titled "Now my soul can rest." And now it can...<br /><br />For those of us who wonder the "Why" questions... somehow it all just comes together. And I believe that is because of God who orchestrated it all from the very beginning! It's just so very amazing to me and I feel forever changed and humbled by having the opportunity to witness this miracle.steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-66843051174033783092010-01-12T12:48:00.001-08:002010-01-12T13:28:01.220-08:00Ice at the Gaylord!On New Years Eve, Carter and I had the opportunity to go to the Gaylord Texan to see the Ice exhibit with my father and mother in law and Steve's brother Kevin and his daughter Emma. It was -5 degrees inside the exhibit (yes that is fahrenheit!) so they give you these huge parkas to wear while you are inside. Every year they do a new theme and this year was the Grinch.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85w1Bd-MVDa3vWEojmZAPpdtDhI7MrxLdlARJImC47CvvXOAatcaRWD3qOKmgcRFm0h4S_YpxXO8xYGdLY2tu18IVRikT_dUq51sJuVhv00CjfWFYfp3qfBgai3iNj1e7EhdZE8jeeFk/s1600-h/IMG_4891.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425959873743563970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85w1Bd-MVDa3vWEojmZAPpdtDhI7MrxLdlARJImC47CvvXOAatcaRWD3qOKmgcRFm0h4S_YpxXO8xYGdLY2tu18IVRikT_dUq51sJuVhv00CjfWFYfp3qfBgai3iNj1e7EhdZE8jeeFk/s320/IMG_4891.JPG" /></a><br />This was the entrance with the Grinch himself sitting on the ice!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJWvcXLt8EHgeXkMcMzMwRrvXqyPMC_gAZGhhem_EntiXy2YVHbm624S5dqc5sXw3hJ2Z7PTAnS_eM10ywmm1lHsbrudoYu5o8Q02bYWU3NySyTMhmB0Hj9cdrp03ajjYix4xD6QVkZc/s1600-h/IMG_4893.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425959706553888114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJWvcXLt8EHgeXkMcMzMwRrvXqyPMC_gAZGhhem_EntiXy2YVHbm624S5dqc5sXw3hJ2Z7PTAnS_eM10ywmm1lHsbrudoYu5o8Q02bYWU3NySyTMhmB0Hj9cdrp03ajjYix4xD6QVkZc/s320/IMG_4893.JPG" /></a> Carter and I in front of the Grinch.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFmbLZ7CqhYm1Nrrq7tZPcWiAKzTt2mUOVmOBlLTQnzhzGIoWmBtF2ViMREi0G0MCeVNofsfrczCN5cmu9Yv9P-L7K06tWcstxxf2BnQIeP58iGiPBZofMp-2NDJInpwdoVeWVeLHg40/s1600-h/IMG_4896.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425959698848120658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFmbLZ7CqhYm1Nrrq7tZPcWiAKzTt2mUOVmOBlLTQnzhzGIoWmBtF2ViMREi0G0MCeVNofsfrczCN5cmu9Yv9P-L7K06tWcstxxf2BnQIeP58iGiPBZofMp-2NDJInpwdoVeWVeLHg40/s320/IMG_4896.JPG" /></a><br />Emma (3), Kevin, Grandma and Carter in front of the Welcome to Whoville sign. They had a huge ice slide in the next section, but unfortunately do not have pictures of it. Kevin and I were too concerned with whether or not Emma and Carter were going to go down the slide (they ended up not going down!) that we forgot to take pictures.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguznmrFxnxUP5X2wSaOgIGXOecL93_7aJXxdXVchZQ_gigQ7j7XPHfSIPCfzgPSk4OeUSZNteyE-XIpnarfU9pI_mfzXMvidoFoAVqa_XJSZmOET0PR4FpH__tTlf5pFBNGEjsgvdt_8/s1600-h/IMG_4899.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425959695603580050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguznmrFxnxUP5X2wSaOgIGXOecL93_7aJXxdXVchZQ_gigQ7j7XPHfSIPCfzgPSk4OeUSZNteyE-XIpnarfU9pI_mfzXMvidoFoAVqa_XJSZmOET0PR4FpH__tTlf5pFBNGEjsgvdt_8/s320/IMG_4899.JPG" /></a><br />Carter in front of a Who resident at the feast table.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgdzoDLI7dzR_g9sNxCNRypwAg20B-TaZZSa3AUxBC71JWtEJkX6hkRCj0tnvuocpbXh7nhw7paSSvf-BYybIl79HdlsmZ_xntyu4cAZ7RYXTdgatRs-AJ4fSQ75DYZDzhsLTn9ZUH5o/s1600-h/IMG_4900.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425959689789700770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgdzoDLI7dzR_g9sNxCNRypwAg20B-TaZZSa3AUxBC71JWtEJkX6hkRCj0tnvuocpbXh7nhw7paSSvf-BYybIl79HdlsmZ_xntyu4cAZ7RYXTdgatRs-AJ4fSQ75DYZDzhsLTn9ZUH5o/s320/IMG_4900.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Whoville feast table.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJXEGsK75gTxmwdQmh9VJsIK-hLZP7HTtqf2wqHAuFTO-HPgja08P41B8pSc8Qe6NYWy5QekewhuYl10VktMOzlhBGxZE8S1jEeZ9XoRR1ItpS1EJBHNjvtoRMfaOqAXQXydMvJo5QcQ/s1600-h/IMG_4903.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425959688151920450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJXEGsK75gTxmwdQmh9VJsIK-hLZP7HTtqf2wqHAuFTO-HPgja08P41B8pSc8Qe6NYWy5QekewhuYl10VktMOzlhBGxZE8S1jEeZ9XoRR1ItpS1EJBHNjvtoRMfaOqAXQXydMvJo5QcQ/s320/IMG_4903.JPG" /></a> Carter and I in front of the roast beast.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9a4zXYwlR-EJIaLhreot_-_PMHG5XCNlL4Kqt2Gq7ITGDjQc_mGqLtzeQAa4CEyBbjTIBY9cmNLV9RR9wJmcShxVT22KHzM-CwtzUtdnKlFiapjW1LQCefrA60YwHWJqnpya0Z4tRE4/s1600-h/IMG_4905.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425959031650857522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9a4zXYwlR-EJIaLhreot_-_PMHG5XCNlL4Kqt2Gq7ITGDjQc_mGqLtzeQAa4CEyBbjTIBY9cmNLV9RR9wJmcShxVT22KHzM-CwtzUtdnKlFiapjW1LQCefrA60YwHWJqnpya0Z4tRE4/s320/IMG_4905.JPG" /></a><br />Grandma in front of the Grinch's dog.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVphXjscRMlMWLNQuUNstqhaT3aUwN2STy6AZAySWCXgkJz06lav3WJOEAeSLOMQE0EC4WDBaASLLe7g1BQUVOTIRx_MfNMDHzoKY4-IMDRBZyWQiNfLNYXfpoEV1xf20Lgp6sUqblc2I/s1600-h/IMG_4912.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425959026269592018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVphXjscRMlMWLNQuUNstqhaT3aUwN2STy6AZAySWCXgkJz06lav3WJOEAeSLOMQE0EC4WDBaASLLe7g1BQUVOTIRx_MfNMDHzoKY4-IMDRBZyWQiNfLNYXfpoEV1xf20Lgp6sUqblc2I/s320/IMG_4912.JPG" /></a><br />Merry Christmas! Carter looks a little bit cold.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_DMfljva5xiBHjERSAj3WxpKc0hLxrTMfJh3bLTnY_92HSWBQ0xWd-qSmvn5v-6MZH36lp7N_MRTBjdQwud2Rs7qY-Sp_6fMMfclGH6VXChPpFEMkQ5BtJKP4GCNsO3_oKHkNGMvNxQ/s1600-h/IMG_4913.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425959020486100498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_DMfljva5xiBHjERSAj3WxpKc0hLxrTMfJh3bLTnY_92HSWBQ0xWd-qSmvn5v-6MZH36lp7N_MRTBjdQwud2Rs7qY-Sp_6fMMfclGH6VXChPpFEMkQ5BtJKP4GCNsO3_oKHkNGMvNxQ/s320/IMG_4913.JPG" /></a><br />Emma and Carter, once we got warmed up outside of the exhibit.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzqzD8i20RWcOS_BXzMFRgAhPfXRvCr4lQ9G3Uxv02789i-T9CYN9A_2_eVeFiL9BvYRlhyphenhyphenvKiyKwb8aYj5mT_orAmZ4TSI9-8uWgl-QaXdwP7oid53L3pxyY5tFR3hb8RMjTs2CohaM/s1600-h/IMG_4915.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425959019080509778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzqzD8i20RWcOS_BXzMFRgAhPfXRvCr4lQ9G3Uxv02789i-T9CYN9A_2_eVeFiL9BvYRlhyphenhyphenvKiyKwb8aYj5mT_orAmZ4TSI9-8uWgl-QaXdwP7oid53L3pxyY5tFR3hb8RMjTs2CohaM/s320/IMG_4915.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Emma and Carter on the train.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Rf2-d78sfp_xNoFDbFFbxgMFxTpOMoBv5beWgjoIGpz7xO_giH_41ZEKpE4-8hTmYa4voQdin9CRUsgB0ln_S6aNFpQDIfAifu4ig6JMkDBGg-xDe8Mz5r5Taw3IxovviTe9pgVKPa4/s1600-h/IMG_4945.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425959017694806066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Rf2-d78sfp_xNoFDbFFbxgMFxTpOMoBv5beWgjoIGpz7xO_giH_41ZEKpE4-8hTmYa4voQdin9CRUsgB0ln_S6aNFpQDIfAifu4ig6JMkDBGg-xDe8Mz5r5Taw3IxovviTe9pgVKPa4/s320/IMG_4945.JPG" /></a><br />Emma and Carter in front of the Gingerbread house inside the hotel.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-41733230772204976672010-01-08T10:27:00.000-08:002010-01-08T10:36:07.650-08:00Meeting a Babyfit friend for the first time!About 4 years ago when I first found out that I was pregnant with Carter, I joined a website called Babyfit. It's a website that promotes a healthy pregnancy and also provides an opportunity to meet other Moms who are pregnant at the same time. I had no idea that joining this site would give me the opportunity to make many wonderful and lasting friendships! I joined the October 2006 Moms group and made some amazing friends. We are all very good friends to this day and have now become friends on Facebook too, so we all keep in touch on a daily basis, sharing stories about our children, asking each other advice and so on. Some of us have already had our 2nd and 3rd children together. On our trip back from VA, we had the opportunity to stop in Knoxville to meet one of my best Babyfit friends, Kristen and her two little kiddos.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeo4htQsjtt6zknGs9i8O5C2Jzc-wlCrocojP-4z53VYLMS6rcQXjQ2WM-sN90B7y-0NIV3dYZkxlRcN0kGR2yrmnbCsN-N0853cQpg6B2umRgw9ApEamsSzfrIz0DXiJcGtzYU83bz4/s1600-h/IMG_4864.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424437901160558642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeo4htQsjtt6zknGs9i8O5C2Jzc-wlCrocojP-4z53VYLMS6rcQXjQ2WM-sN90B7y-0NIV3dYZkxlRcN0kGR2yrmnbCsN-N0853cQpg6B2umRgw9ApEamsSzfrIz0DXiJcGtzYU83bz4/s320/IMG_4864.JPG" /></a> Here we are with our kids: Kristen with Will (6 months) and Lexi (3), myself with Sydney and Carter. The fun thing is that Lexi and Carter are the same exact age (Lexi is a few weeks older) and Will and Sydney are only 6 months apart.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaIdgiz-64Cpw6W5p4ObN0gSVJ7hVi04xH3Pw_l_iiPhP2PjgA_HiadclEr948tLJIwVBmDjMEu9RmBNqXtfz-50R0f50tbh_nkZ5SWQHlANcj7_opazMvHdzaiuGRCFXL14Wy-i2sIU/s1600-h/IMG_4867.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424437894372685634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaIdgiz-64Cpw6W5p4ObN0gSVJ7hVi04xH3Pw_l_iiPhP2PjgA_HiadclEr948tLJIwVBmDjMEu9RmBNqXtfz-50R0f50tbh_nkZ5SWQHlANcj7_opazMvHdzaiuGRCFXL14Wy-i2sIU/s320/IMG_4867.JPG" /></a><br />Carter and Lexi had a blast playing together in the McD's playground! It was a fun little stop for us. For anyone who is pregnant, I highly recommend this website, I seriously don't know what I would do without it. It's so valuable to have other women there by your side who are going through the same things at the very same time!<br /><div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-5814467893260784182010-01-08T10:01:00.001-08:002010-01-08T10:26:40.594-08:00Christmas with the BlackburnsThis year, in order to save money, we decided to do the unthinkable: drive 18 hours to VA for Christmas with two little ones! Thankfully, we had friends to stay with in the Nashville area both directions, so it made it much easier. We left around 2:15 a.m. on the first day of driving (in order to allow for the kids to sleep for half the trip) and arrived in Smyrna, TN around 2:30. We had the opportunity to visit with my dear friend and college roommate, Jen Brand Warneld and meet her kids for the first time. Upon arriving, we learned that the biggest blizzard in 10 years was approaching the east coast, so the Warnelds graciously allowed us to stay one extra night so we wouldn't have to drive in blizzarding conditions. Luckily, the Warnelds are also big gamers like the Westdyks, so we played lots of games while the kids had fun running around the house together.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFhddOgcHbj39NTozk4_43UrEFNA-_6zwVFrAYiaKeeflmEYEKypoEW7Q3QiwHzDO_dqmTl5i-eTO7vJfg91h5MqwS7zjJFHm9HJM199Tu_qf9E3VY4bE28byZa06x_hL01ET9tdhbA0/s1600-h/IMG_4687.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424433697207476338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFhddOgcHbj39NTozk4_43UrEFNA-_6zwVFrAYiaKeeflmEYEKypoEW7Q3QiwHzDO_dqmTl5i-eTO7vJfg91h5MqwS7zjJFHm9HJM199Tu_qf9E3VY4bE28byZa06x_hL01ET9tdhbA0/s320/IMG_4687.JPG" /></a> Once we got on the road again two days later, there was over a foot of snow on the ground, but the highways were crystal clear. The kids were very excited to see snow for the first time!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRD4se0DMDKGzBefQzcIc0U6BhqD4n6luatvWqLHEtJdeyyiHHOk495wPCOP9gOng4UKDpCsADbrJBF1JCjSChQDxDfDl76g6qw1FcI-imMBRPNV9Io95ZfMKpJ7wi4sh9oX0X0OxWLOg/s1600-h/IMG_4694.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424433569518035730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRD4se0DMDKGzBefQzcIc0U6BhqD4n6luatvWqLHEtJdeyyiHHOk495wPCOP9gOng4UKDpCsADbrJBF1JCjSChQDxDfDl76g6qw1FcI-imMBRPNV9Io95ZfMKpJ7wi4sh9oX0X0OxWLOg/s320/IMG_4694.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4nbMbUjqhm4Hp83fdeEama31UCQxnmfqVOB9mEqSPZwpZW6IUedXkxvet9PuLVNZsriJNsbrTznnhQ3pyqfxu9EJUPhETXfWdfbGpJzWDXa_FzYOdBnLY_8Xf4bm6xFwahyphenhyphenQpa0J6d0/s1600-h/IMG_4695.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424433565157185074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4nbMbUjqhm4Hp83fdeEama31UCQxnmfqVOB9mEqSPZwpZW6IUedXkxvet9PuLVNZsriJNsbrTznnhQ3pyqfxu9EJUPhETXfWdfbGpJzWDXa_FzYOdBnLY_8Xf4bm6xFwahyphenhyphenQpa0J6d0/s320/IMG_4695.JPG" /></a> Steve and my brother Joel offered to shovel the snow from around the mailbox so the mailman would actually deliver the mail!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9UC6OHeIXGoH7wg6sgO-wLP96lvEH-wEo1IqCpBh-r_54d8x4lAHRZmU5vGuLIsfjGayNe1lQFqzaY7OFb2aCcXJJ0p8fX2UiPzpDQ8K8H9XexZfVBkIZJeK4gGJkLQs7XQi5dZmeTg/s1600-h/IMG_4703.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424433278445482514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9UC6OHeIXGoH7wg6sgO-wLP96lvEH-wEo1IqCpBh-r_54d8x4lAHRZmU5vGuLIsfjGayNe1lQFqzaY7OFb2aCcXJJ0p8fX2UiPzpDQ8K8H9XexZfVBkIZJeK4gGJkLQs7XQi5dZmeTg/s320/IMG_4703.JPG" /></a><br />Me and my little snow bunny. She really wasn't a big fan of the white stuff actually and wouldn't let me let go of her.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesm0r-ZIpSuVKnKapnjvkmhKDciMdgEHkK8_e7_l2s3Jlg0uS5J2CNszbHT5idsWa5gjsC5IwtAZSPia4IOOrecsRohFP1fqw677HsQEBFUqE9bS3ri7j2hLxy2BgYNC8xSO8smHfzUs/s1600-h/IMG_4719.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424433271506024914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesm0r-ZIpSuVKnKapnjvkmhKDciMdgEHkK8_e7_l2s3Jlg0uS5J2CNszbHT5idsWa5gjsC5IwtAZSPia4IOOrecsRohFP1fqw677HsQEBFUqE9bS3ri7j2hLxy2BgYNC8xSO8smHfzUs/s320/IMG_4719.JPG" /></a> It was such a joy to have my Mom play the piano for my kids. They loved listening to her play!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODel_vSYnNtH4VC5sWAwyEvGV9PjEpFd8Vh5aXOwiFHFmhDCpzlgfU6kJ3PYDA1Fg4GOYo9QZ1pYOEfjxdplQPxFcEddydTb0Ev164vZj97oDCdRnr1bifZiNHG0gV4yMJRLclytanus/s1600-h/IMG_4741.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424433274910860962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODel_vSYnNtH4VC5sWAwyEvGV9PjEpFd8Vh5aXOwiFHFmhDCpzlgfU6kJ3PYDA1Fg4GOYo9QZ1pYOEfjxdplQPxFcEddydTb0Ev164vZj97oDCdRnr1bifZiNHG0gV4yMJRLclytanus/s320/IMG_4741.JPG" /></a> Sydney had a love interest in their dog Becca the entire week! She loved to pet her, squeeze her and hug her. Thankfully, Becca is a very sweet and loving dog and took the abuse graciously. Sydney also took off with the walking thing while we were there that week. She also learned to climb steps quite well.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7owdE16CMWAVsg2-Om3Hb-BHMxENcv8noaBXM8svvUZhMVVMXtyplKNCKbDzMCkFV7YVDV_-TCCPBQUREadjRWUSKCY_hrVWetdjuqdh-Cj97x3_szYZz4uQWIRYRIPCifevUtmPqta4/s1600-h/IMG_4765.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424433269399610834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7owdE16CMWAVsg2-Om3Hb-BHMxENcv8noaBXM8svvUZhMVVMXtyplKNCKbDzMCkFV7YVDV_-TCCPBQUREadjRWUSKCY_hrVWetdjuqdh-Cj97x3_szYZz4uQWIRYRIPCifevUtmPqta4/s320/IMG_4765.JPG" /></a><br />It was great to have Joel and Angela spend some time with us from Phoenix, although it was way too short. Since Angela had to work on Christmas day, they were only able to be with us for a couple of days. So we celebrated with them on Christmas Eve Eve. Sadly, they spent all of Christmas Eve in airports and didn't make it home until after Midnight on Christmas day.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9wvEt3Y_nKwDSA1SkfRm5n2EDqFcN0VZ-iynulwy4I8tidjZCwD7HSQLrDM7kAOwhycGr80smZKJ9mbEHnHu0yTt18Swrj0fQSWip7fUztPbS5fYFl9vVEtm3M9SEHL9ri2ne4HGbXs/s1600-h/IMG_4775.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424433261658572658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9wvEt3Y_nKwDSA1SkfRm5n2EDqFcN0VZ-iynulwy4I8tidjZCwD7HSQLrDM7kAOwhycGr80smZKJ9mbEHnHu0yTt18Swrj0fQSWip7fUztPbS5fYFl9vVEtm3M9SEHL9ri2ne4HGbXs/s320/IMG_4775.JPG" /></a><br />It was great to have the WHOLE family together for once. Pictured: Steve, myself, Sydney and Carter, Angela and Joel, Dad and Mom, Alanna (13 almost 14), Tyler (11), Amy, Caitlyn (9), Emily (7) and Walt, and Becca the dog.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJs_OYnyTV5euQ-YvFS7PRbymExiLYFTz5XGtSqtbUifiQup1hxxRp6PjFUPgMe8u7jTam7izll_UzfXPdoWw9zv83JVyG0XU2LIL5RoSRMrpccZ9gevDzAvsq99k9kZqwEVtCldLsD0/s1600-h/IMG_4798.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424432053939736018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJs_OYnyTV5euQ-YvFS7PRbymExiLYFTz5XGtSqtbUifiQup1hxxRp6PjFUPgMe8u7jTam7izll_UzfXPdoWw9zv83JVyG0XU2LIL5RoSRMrpccZ9gevDzAvsq99k9kZqwEVtCldLsD0/s320/IMG_4798.JPG" /></a><br />On Christmas morning it was fun to have all the kids together!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjPKTA_ANaUwpr6MycgtXTog3YzMO64SDpCN1imkTU-WabZY8FBdFkXWtcRRFyns4j8FacoM48-77UbRqRId08B33bUTpSgnlidt1UrNtze-SGC1LH7F4duKmQx9LAUbxdnJCj7xDc-o/s1600-h/IMG_4800.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424432047276619810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjPKTA_ANaUwpr6MycgtXTog3YzMO64SDpCN1imkTU-WabZY8FBdFkXWtcRRFyns4j8FacoM48-77UbRqRId08B33bUTpSgnlidt1UrNtze-SGC1LH7F4duKmQx9LAUbxdnJCj7xDc-o/s320/IMG_4800.JPG" /></a><br />And it wouldn't be Christmas morning if we didn't have our traditional picture coming down the stairs to open the presents! Except this time there were a few more people in the picture than normal...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBO029yeqKv4fc8kc9wAO2rHKxcBOmCS9-PBCmxu7D9lCOOxtiorN1VQhZTthTigUy4DGQYkCKa8jHWWOyKavGmnGl2w_sntsLh4FTU7us-xLCZcJWu33IAglTaFPakR6gbPfjT2uLXs/s1600-h/IMG_4837.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424432045232494194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBO029yeqKv4fc8kc9wAO2rHKxcBOmCS9-PBCmxu7D9lCOOxtiorN1VQhZTthTigUy4DGQYkCKa8jHWWOyKavGmnGl2w_sntsLh4FTU7us-xLCZcJWu33IAglTaFPakR6gbPfjT2uLXs/s320/IMG_4837.JPG" /></a><br />Carter and Emily spent a lot of time reading together. I think Carter really misses his cousin Emily!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2YOu7lckUqHM4UOoAmYKpZyeixuO_suhw80vPFSr2bKI7OL3Q6xa1fgphx7YRzwdK70NGwzkt6OPDkaf52h1I09GENH2y3axktl8iwpPwiPCF0O3i3zFyD52ZF7iPBnIWdG96IDb314/s1600-h/IMG_4845.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424432041476244210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2YOu7lckUqHM4UOoAmYKpZyeixuO_suhw80vPFSr2bKI7OL3Q6xa1fgphx7YRzwdK70NGwzkt6OPDkaf52h1I09GENH2y3axktl8iwpPwiPCF0O3i3zFyD52ZF7iPBnIWdG96IDb314/s320/IMG_4845.JPG" /></a> On our last full day together we went to my Dad's church. Here we are with my parents in front of the church.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLxS4TVgfLCbXrZ21qhmBsvOXsge8xizFQ8HRqJd7JkXsCXTxDwUv2ptV0mfNIPvbmjsjUxUj1w8-k52kEiAOtbfJbUMBoFNwcu771RSNy7AhvMNazTPWkPHckLXyw9ffOGk042C_Kz4/s1600-h/IMG_4847.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424432035206399458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLxS4TVgfLCbXrZ21qhmBsvOXsge8xizFQ8HRqJd7JkXsCXTxDwUv2ptV0mfNIPvbmjsjUxUj1w8-k52kEiAOtbfJbUMBoFNwcu771RSNy7AhvMNazTPWkPHckLXyw9ffOGk042C_Kz4/s320/IMG_4847.JPG" /></a><br />Amy and the kids headed back to Pittsburgh just after this picture was taken!</div><div> </div><div>On our way back the next day we were able to stay in Clarksville, TN with our friends Vincent and Ingrid Luttrell. Vincent is an Army Chaplain on the base in Fort Campbell, KY and is deploying next month. It was great for Steve to visit with his Seminary pal. Since there was ice/snow supposed to be coming to Dallas the next day, we left at 1 a.m. to miss it. It was great to be home again but we really enjoyed spending time with family for the week.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-27638822648291329592010-01-08T09:52:00.000-08:002010-01-08T10:00:58.341-08:00Christmas with the WestdyksSince Steve's family lives close by and my family is far away, every other year we have to celebrate Christmas early with Steve's family before we go out of town to see my family. This year was really early since we drove to VA to see my family and left earlier, so we celebrated on December 13th with the Westdyks.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhai6hHH9w-j0HbJFPaR4yY_xfK_jmnshNfop_oPvGfB-j7X9dsNcuucxXUze9_nA9bULfWGEfp2kh6zzL54DJuBWrkQCqzCL11UPF-RSPEpH4Q1Ur7B8ELmRz7D_ALHFUlNt7gkz6xYZQ/s1600-h/IMG_4652.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424429731765206962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhai6hHH9w-j0HbJFPaR4yY_xfK_jmnshNfop_oPvGfB-j7X9dsNcuucxXUze9_nA9bULfWGEfp2kh6zzL54DJuBWrkQCqzCL11UPF-RSPEpH4Q1Ur7B8ELmRz7D_ALHFUlNt7gkz6xYZQ/s320/IMG_4652.JPG" /></a> Grandpa and Cooper who is a few weeks older than Sydney.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiml1kMqwevk01PdWkE45eySuP49mjWyOc5OMR0w7D9iNbfw5zlYPOLLXIUUEVxF-HuBwr7YtTKZlj5R0qQ9JWn8BgBWGnTa6sVCW3lp9Du_3THTHD1kl6Lq962t6mtoxqS0gCl0h4ZeT8/s1600-h/IMG_4656.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424429724376390114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiml1kMqwevk01PdWkE45eySuP49mjWyOc5OMR0w7D9iNbfw5zlYPOLLXIUUEVxF-HuBwr7YtTKZlj5R0qQ9JWn8BgBWGnTa6sVCW3lp9Du_3THTHD1kl6Lq962t6mtoxqS0gCl0h4ZeT8/s320/IMG_4656.JPG" /></a> Carter getting his new leapster which he has loved playing with!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FWihq6daQmwz-lpWOSU2QKiknCdWan8an1HLUY2UE6zRaNk4fUxRJiVM7WYhYAE3xbJqer6v7SkK0_yLyDTwfEc1XLQzbk8sMTPYLVA0jv6Efob9d75XOeaIZJnUagQxihjObXLJ0x0/s1600-h/IMG_4665.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424429716858523090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FWihq6daQmwz-lpWOSU2QKiknCdWan8an1HLUY2UE6zRaNk4fUxRJiVM7WYhYAE3xbJqer6v7SkK0_yLyDTwfEc1XLQzbk8sMTPYLVA0jv6Efob9d75XOeaIZJnUagQxihjObXLJ0x0/s320/IMG_4665.JPG" /></a> Cooper and Emma (age 3, almost 4)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgLBChfLxRYQUcHAT9at-3iLZgwzYRNT5UWVG8O3hKMV0hH3ip-d1oCAB-RhfzczvECfqyLss0kaUPHgvvt70K8P0SOsIGVcbMxgUMxhSuW8HAAJ0G_ce97dwHiIaiJrVcX_Pr5m7k54/s1600-h/IMG_4663.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424429716195416370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgLBChfLxRYQUcHAT9at-3iLZgwzYRNT5UWVG8O3hKMV0hH3ip-d1oCAB-RhfzczvECfqyLss0kaUPHgvvt70K8P0SOsIGVcbMxgUMxhSuW8HAAJ0G_ce97dwHiIaiJrVcX_Pr5m7k54/s320/IMG_4663.JPG" /></a> Me and my cute kiddos!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRvI5-lc6MO5HwN4KkpHCdm3RpM9zrutf848A2xapK8_aRux1vkdVmyD1Uzc4Dswld9aMmk0bOzJCSTOv_gipH4MEi4nexm5Ysmt0qfkC2F3nMI_5hoFJrJDT5QUxT55K6dVnZRHDQQY/s1600-h/IMG_4671.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424429708008563426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRvI5-lc6MO5HwN4KkpHCdm3RpM9zrutf848A2xapK8_aRux1vkdVmyD1Uzc4Dswld9aMmk0bOzJCSTOv_gipH4MEi4nexm5Ysmt0qfkC2F3nMI_5hoFJrJDT5QUxT55K6dVnZRHDQQY/s320/IMG_4671.JPG" /></a><br />Daddy and Sydney. Sydney enjoyed ripping the paper so much!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-78190388901894639812009-12-14T10:18:00.000-08:002009-12-14T11:02:02.614-08:00Allergic reactionIf you know me well, you know I have suffered with allergies my whole life. But this past weekend I learned I had an allergy I never knew about! It was the night before Sydney's first birthday party and our friends were over playing games with us. During our game I was feeling like I needed to be doing something to prepare, so I got up to find some balloons and started blowing one up. The instant the balloon touched my mouth, I knew something was wrong. My lips started to tingle and get swollen. In the midst of all this, I had rubbed my eyes because they were itching like crazy. Not even realizing that there was a direct correlation to the balloon, I got up to take some claritin thinking my allergies were just bothering me for some reason. I sat back down and just felt awful. In between plays, I sat with my hands in my head because I was getting a headache and was having difficulty breathing. Meanwhile, Steve and our friends had no idea what was even happening to me. My friend said she looked at me and saw that my eyes were a little red but didn't think much of it. She looked down at her cards to make her play and within only 2 minutes when she looked back at me, I looked completely different. My eyes were completely swollen, red and watery, my mouth was swollen and my hand had welts on it!<br /><br />Steve immediately went to the computer to look up latex allergy once we realized it was from the balloon (not sure why it took me that long to realize it!!) He said I needed to take Benadryl immediately. Of course we didn't have any, so our friend ran down the road to his parents' house to get some from them (it was 10 pm at this point!) Once I took the Benadryl, I began to feel a little better, but for awhile there we were certain we would be making a trip to the ER. Turns out, from what Steve read online, a latex allergy is developed over time, which is why I had never reacted in the past. It's also very serious!<br /><br />The picture below doesn't do justice to what I looked like when it first happened, since this was post Benadryl, but you get the idea:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghG6s4lq20raVvoR9M1ZGazIanYRf31LsAv_XkIZMMwz2ZMQPmJiVSOwEQToAEQc7yZJC784MZaapt8GeyZtR86JG2fZKOsWfjk8gBnVhTiUOKTAYBv-g4pLxmMPO_8Rt4qmWNx-Mqs-c/s1600-h/Caryn%2520Allergy%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415159325693920338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghG6s4lq20raVvoR9M1ZGazIanYRf31LsAv_XkIZMMwz2ZMQPmJiVSOwEQToAEQc7yZJC784MZaapt8GeyZtR86JG2fZKOsWfjk8gBnVhTiUOKTAYBv-g4pLxmMPO_8Rt4qmWNx-Mqs-c/s320/Caryn%2520Allergy%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br /><div> </div><div>I'm just so thankful it happened when our friends were around, who so kindly stayed until after midnight just to make sure I was okay. We played one more game and let our boys watch TV (they were happy!) and they also helped me put together the goody bags for the party the next day. So now I have to go get tested to find out for sure about this new allergy!</div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-38441752126932480932009-12-14T10:04:00.001-08:002009-12-14T11:22:07.234-08:00Sydney's First BirthdayIt's hard to believe it, but Sydney Nicole is One! I remember that day so clearly a year ago. I was sitting at work that morning, feeling a little different than normal. I had a headache, and felt like I was getting a fever. But I didn't feel like I was getting sick, I just didn't feel right. I went into my co-worker/friend's office to talk to her. Immediately she knew I wasn't right either! She said I looked flushed in my face. I decided to go to the local grocery store to take my blood pressure to see if it was elevated. Sure enough it was! Knowing that my OBGYN had told me at the previous appointment to call if my blood pressure went up, I reluctantly called. I was not ready to have this baby yet in my opinion, and I was hoping to have a VBAC instead of a c-section. Of course she told me to come in to see her. After checking my blood pressure at the office again, she told me she felt it was best to go ahead and have the baby that day. Of course secretly I was excited because I was just so ready to have this baby and meet her! A few hours later, Sydney Nicole was born, and we were never the same again...<br /><br />So this past weekend we celebrated her birthday and had such a great time! Aside from my allergic reaction the night before, everything went off without a hitch!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GTMMDdxKCaUqpA8hbxwZ6iZRPPxklTbZFghi16PFuETdjZKUz9zvfsbcoJw-aauQUw2FTsFHuVAUjkUjQM8bTMILvo8IuKSCboaxB7ZiziPk1eS0mkAoFdPKF2lZgjZfQsb9N5jgcI4/s1600-h/IMG_4444.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415157780565835250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GTMMDdxKCaUqpA8hbxwZ6iZRPPxklTbZFghi16PFuETdjZKUz9zvfsbcoJw-aauQUw2FTsFHuVAUjkUjQM8bTMILvo8IuKSCboaxB7ZiziPk1eS0mkAoFdPKF2lZgjZfQsb9N5jgcI4/s320/IMG_4444.JPG" /></a><br />We had a Christmas/Gingerbread theme, so when the kids first arrived, they decorated Gingerbread cookies.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIr566KOvmKSBcIcWxHJL5wgFtvW_m6MaZXnKF8BWZDRWsuRLszZuL3TqsdzeTLhh01JHLczQlVEHWEHLSbRF_XFs9X6YWmiJA1thjdjG9e2Ewjkz6XtwxvxGopaNmDq8VQ9G-dDcFPc/s1600-h/IMG_4450.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415157775893913058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIr566KOvmKSBcIcWxHJL5wgFtvW_m6MaZXnKF8BWZDRWsuRLszZuL3TqsdzeTLhh01JHLczQlVEHWEHLSbRF_XFs9X6YWmiJA1thjdjG9e2Ewjkz6XtwxvxGopaNmDq8VQ9G-dDcFPc/s320/IMG_4450.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jC_tE_q1EAbP_6cIzEMk-a_CEGH_J7t3dCEtxsfjUl8-ZTB2Rqq4GqUv-YE9_30GNW8fYpmryEzwaiUAZH9JtHYPzX6Vp-GrtEY5BD-xd3_e4UdU4mPSlD4iBplFpozM_M6DIzQ5h64/s1600-h/IMG_4453.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415157770750010130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jC_tE_q1EAbP_6cIzEMk-a_CEGH_J7t3dCEtxsfjUl8-ZTB2Rqq4GqUv-YE9_30GNW8fYpmryEzwaiUAZH9JtHYPzX6Vp-GrtEY5BD-xd3_e4UdU4mPSlD4iBplFpozM_M6DIzQ5h64/s320/IMG_4453.JPG" /></a><br />I had also made a Gingerbread train for the centerpiece on the food table. Those things are not easy to assemble, but it turned out great!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Wt4b0AOuOYde5fDhHBvDfHKxgjR1NIvXDs55XXBQI4ymTr6XhOgkpjc5NneLpdvZEOnXXRWPHJ_fglgstX9g2h00GXKhkPB3XdixVEgoSCvNIoNzvFfhj3VwL-dx6lhfB-nkzzTIfLw/s1600-h/IMG_4441.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415157770498658402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Wt4b0AOuOYde5fDhHBvDfHKxgjR1NIvXDs55XXBQI4ymTr6XhOgkpjc5NneLpdvZEOnXXRWPHJ_fglgstX9g2h00GXKhkPB3XdixVEgoSCvNIoNzvFfhj3VwL-dx6lhfB-nkzzTIfLw/s320/IMG_4441.JPG" /></a><br />We had chocolate cupakes with Gingerbread men on top!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YMVBjDFRWthKvS_IOMo0NgIdbj8sZqiDWc6fyvNfbLoImnAD3I34UjZNjO5qTgcVnrHTBJLIEv6j8utxu03jZscv49_uluJLr0THhPh1FA8a1MkjpBi_5gP_I7tovVyKorVDd_0VrME/s1600-h/IMG_4475.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415157764233517090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YMVBjDFRWthKvS_IOMo0NgIdbj8sZqiDWc6fyvNfbLoImnAD3I34UjZNjO5qTgcVnrHTBJLIEv6j8utxu03jZscv49_uluJLr0THhPh1FA8a1MkjpBi_5gP_I7tovVyKorVDd_0VrME/s320/IMG_4475.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDJgLtStzthEZ6GbFLsCxE9KaZP6FAC61i9ePT7SbttlRr3Qmtdgr3JgCkzF5Jq-U8XMAZCZKPTF7l1ziR2bm_CILUqYVppTyoIAl2TwAL475rZ0HtbEnriP-qQEcL5AuouO4xMumiZ0/s1600-h/IMG_4481.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415156891462926978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDJgLtStzthEZ6GbFLsCxE9KaZP6FAC61i9ePT7SbttlRr3Qmtdgr3JgCkzF5Jq-U8XMAZCZKPTF7l1ziR2bm_CILUqYVppTyoIAl2TwAL475rZ0HtbEnriP-qQEcL5AuouO4xMumiZ0/s320/IMG_4481.JPG" /></a><br />I think Daddy was explaining to her here that she was supposed to blow out the candle now, and she was saying, "But I can't do that Daddy!"<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBj8Mamh9fVoEskR4d6q6OaKqXcTxeA0ARga91wr2DafaS4QAvi5i78p2KValP8XDY4vgee_Ve574qlDTYbndhrC3tJfBPJpMA8QDHNh12fpgeVqev7pLD_xlkaq6wU1hAIPGmTi-kL-c/s1600-h/IMG_4505.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415156881026013106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBj8Mamh9fVoEskR4d6q6OaKqXcTxeA0ARga91wr2DafaS4QAvi5i78p2KValP8XDY4vgee_Ve574qlDTYbndhrC3tJfBPJpMA8QDHNh12fpgeVqev7pLD_xlkaq6wU1hAIPGmTi-kL-c/s320/IMG_4505.JPG" /></a><br />This was Sydney's first experience with cake and icing. It's amazing to me how different our two children can be. On Carter's first birthday, he cried uncontrollably because he didn't like getting icing on his hands and face! So we braced ourselves to see how Sydney would react...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqgQnFh_WmQ1xy6ZmtBUFXM_IElqeUBwKk9LtZIU0OA3n5n6OypTYYc93E08lMTa4ZJDuDjbLsbZ93cupLU3yf-qi3jLRHIN90znXGEczOirLBh8dL9gyWVkpRTKyCw_SnzA25LtoIp8/s1600-h/IMG_4516.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415156880204565538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqgQnFh_WmQ1xy6ZmtBUFXM_IElqeUBwKk9LtZIU0OA3n5n6OypTYYc93E08lMTa4ZJDuDjbLsbZ93cupLU3yf-qi3jLRHIN90znXGEczOirLBh8dL9gyWVkpRTKyCw_SnzA25LtoIp8/s320/IMG_4516.JPG" /></a><br />It was a success!! She loved it!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaScLzysxoU5Rnd6j6RvEQg_ycYYT0RXmxhMIG-PWJ98BElha1snGNx15LjeulB23jbWoM_6b3X_yUF9r7U2kzGUFjl1luzi9OtRKnLBWVx5sTEuw3VOD2vl3AlJnn-6lqLjfDRwgsaoc/s1600-h/IMG_4519.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415156872379582898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaScLzysxoU5Rnd6j6RvEQg_ycYYT0RXmxhMIG-PWJ98BElha1snGNx15LjeulB23jbWoM_6b3X_yUF9r7U2kzGUFjl1luzi9OtRKnLBWVx5sTEuw3VOD2vl3AlJnn-6lqLjfDRwgsaoc/s320/IMG_4519.JPG" /></a><br />She was also very willing to share with everyone!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXE0oiPMtShEgbhDEvf3pUkcrmavO3fgYaSFeMRISzuczEcoRdr3XJGO3ANEIs-P0XOWWyzc__cluS3o861H9ubNpsz5XGIEQN8Z2GiDoKHUYoaVC74LtDOdBCYXA4rbsRDiYh_oIa3dE/s1600-h/IMG_4540.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415155635568793826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXE0oiPMtShEgbhDEvf3pUkcrmavO3fgYaSFeMRISzuczEcoRdr3XJGO3ANEIs-P0XOWWyzc__cluS3o861H9ubNpsz5XGIEQN8Z2GiDoKHUYoaVC74LtDOdBCYXA4rbsRDiYh_oIa3dE/s320/IMG_4540.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsISwlvOg8Z_EiAAQX2xOakF8h4KNFWdfVpa1fd2_8BJ2QXVEWT49GqKfHVfmw4ZeyKZ5ayY5ES4FUFWessft-_rhzuYINOfq0Bb6IlpmKr0jfON8KkCs5UXK5sINCXtCAXP7wz7NQyz8/s1600-h/IMG_4556.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415155632510922354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsISwlvOg8Z_EiAAQX2xOakF8h4KNFWdfVpa1fd2_8BJ2QXVEWT49GqKfHVfmw4ZeyKZ5ayY5ES4FUFWessft-_rhzuYINOfq0Bb6IlpmKr0jfON8KkCs5UXK5sINCXtCAXP7wz7NQyz8/s320/IMG_4556.JPG" /></a> Sydney also loved opening up the gifts! She got such fabulous gifts from her friends and family!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcKwIQ9hnBSolnTgwjiTjbGKdzCKhPPAuxsWdOkNtY1TuVCXpEzZeOJMqzwVDjewJOTZeKMJ_L_U7Pn2IwcQZYi5NjamnLlEh1ua-egYo8fb0EY3P-bD4eb5ceOAfSKmgG89rzxSe7Os/s1600-h/IMG_4568.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415155626725055666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcKwIQ9hnBSolnTgwjiTjbGKdzCKhPPAuxsWdOkNtY1TuVCXpEzZeOJMqzwVDjewJOTZeKMJ_L_U7Pn2IwcQZYi5NjamnLlEh1ua-egYo8fb0EY3P-bD4eb5ceOAfSKmgG89rzxSe7Os/s320/IMG_4568.JPG" /></a><br />Daddy did a great job helping her along.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASGHL8g0T3K1FfhJBvWhKmUX_W1YMITUmnCqPu-JJGvyciUjVOeH9NlnALgENce26UZOaW3ZPqeyupNrW-h3JGEMQz7n5MDjA5O_9Gl1YbSdYm4JRDu2SBdxipcjGLe2lpBTqsBByxMs/s1600-h/IMG_4615.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415155626233647218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASGHL8g0T3K1FfhJBvWhKmUX_W1YMITUmnCqPu-JJGvyciUjVOeH9NlnALgENce26UZOaW3ZPqeyupNrW-h3JGEMQz7n5MDjA5O_9Gl1YbSdYm4JRDu2SBdxipcjGLe2lpBTqsBByxMs/s320/IMG_4615.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AG5nuUh0sILT5jr3nyUVnyyyuuhXsrKWiZrZDIRVaCULg47BGaXAqAr1REMXjElyTnKubkQT329WjzUfiCFEX5ZrDJzP1wwxpfZzdgs16eXhv64WBGYUZThFR2JgjskyHBhhpd-Kn6E/s1600-h/IMG_4626.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415155620891127906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AG5nuUh0sILT5jr3nyUVnyyyuuhXsrKWiZrZDIRVaCULg47BGaXAqAr1REMXjElyTnKubkQT329WjzUfiCFEX5ZrDJzP1wwxpfZzdgs16eXhv64WBGYUZThFR2JgjskyHBhhpd-Kn6E/s320/IMG_4626.JPG" /></a><br />A year later, we are so blessed by our sweet Sydney Nicole! She brings us such joy every day and couldn't imagine life without her!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-85078281232520298162009-12-09T17:07:00.001-08:002009-12-09T17:14:48.731-08:00Ages 6 and up...That's what the outside of the box of this 100 piece puzzle said. Carter has become obsessed with puzzles (just like his Daddy and his math mind) and can put the 48 piece puzzles together in his sleep. We had a puzzle contest between Carter, Mommy and Daddy the other night. The three of us started the same type of puzzle at the same exact time. Of course Daddy finished first, but guess who got second? Carter beat Mommy by a landslide! So he borrowed this 100 piece puzzle from his older friend who is 5 to see if it would challenge him more. After a few tries, he put it together all by himself within 30 minutes, no help at all! Can you tell I'm proud?! :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi498Dfm5IfLXotnki0VB3J1cPw3JoENg7BfsyQIzzg6DoyoIRQO_6kU1KcMQdAH2MugCwR4Zbn4h7nRQjQa5wFkfZwFxIt1DHgQqtlBC6qB7GkdrGbZS6IyApOqm9C6QgLnqrUu3UHY8/s1600-h/IMG_4369.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413407999487849090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi498Dfm5IfLXotnki0VB3J1cPw3JoENg7BfsyQIzzg6DoyoIRQO_6kU1KcMQdAH2MugCwR4Zbn4h7nRQjQa5wFkfZwFxIt1DHgQqtlBC6qB7GkdrGbZS6IyApOqm9C6QgLnqrUu3UHY8/s320/IMG_4369.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-28065152266657553672009-11-21T18:50:00.000-08:002009-11-21T19:11:11.391-08:00Thanksgiving FeastFor those of you concerned that my children will not have enough socialization, being a homeschooling family, here is the proof that they will be just fine.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBLNGQa_hfn5rcLgyq5Z3QQlKDVXjFspxZkOtYI3KszakgMQ0kgz3-QeuxjP6rEnr5e2OyY72UKtxqnbUpTf7ukQHMZp4uUP9E3qWVzMHuwVDgxjWvUmivUM7VjY8hfUcRucZas-2a3g/s1600/IMG_4235.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406757716844422594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBLNGQa_hfn5rcLgyq5Z3QQlKDVXjFspxZkOtYI3KszakgMQ0kgz3-QeuxjP6rEnr5e2OyY72UKtxqnbUpTf7ukQHMZp4uUP9E3qWVzMHuwVDgxjWvUmivUM7VjY8hfUcRucZas-2a3g/s320/IMG_4235.JPG" /></a>Every other Thursday we get together for a science day with other homeschool kids. We actually meet every Thursday. The mothers meet for prayer time and the kids get to play with each other. Then every other Thursday my friend Shannon leads a science day. She is a former teacher and does such a fabulous job teaching the kids! We usually have between 8-12 kids. This week we had a Thanksgiving feast! Shannon read to the kids about Squanto.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdt07QwhFgRHvKvW95u1PjrLuJjOBoRBpeEzcRkBETJGIJGCFhmVfhreEmz-Iy6lg9Gn2gH_KXpZRvwesfvzUgde3O4rk_w-47ikH-G3lfZtoieK0ee79kVgJgN-_LZzxK2XdZb6VHh0/s1600/IMG_4239.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406757716790554482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdt07QwhFgRHvKvW95u1PjrLuJjOBoRBpeEzcRkBETJGIJGCFhmVfhreEmz-Iy6lg9Gn2gH_KXpZRvwesfvzUgde3O4rk_w-47ikH-G3lfZtoieK0ee79kVgJgN-_LZzxK2XdZb6VHh0/s320/IMG_4239.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNzDPcaxfexo-R5pBfUmiTVkAX9QOHhqgwxNvPGswi6p_uSnB4yyrB_H0w83AcPueTpakY7CzT30ihiuA9GdgThPP1HMh9nSNw-BTR3Sm6i5mRZ-QX8Jowf6px0rXD3e9zsffmSRe6jk/s1600/IMG_4240.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406757377687210194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNzDPcaxfexo-R5pBfUmiTVkAX9QOHhqgwxNvPGswi6p_uSnB4yyrB_H0w83AcPueTpakY7CzT30ihiuA9GdgThPP1HMh9nSNw-BTR3Sm6i5mRZ-QX8Jowf6px0rXD3e9zsffmSRe6jk/s320/IMG_4240.JPG" /></a> Then they had a relay race where they had to balance a cranberry on a spoon across the yard without dropping it.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PnIZu20UrgS9kfstftkQE5D9yghu5pjIxyOwlMzBj-T6Ke2CYtrzVcogZ94__NH9rYij5mmYJln8o42UFU5oTBZ-bS5eQyLLcFgrnayOx1rd8Ge5Q446rVY0ppTX0oX6GCY-abfC6_w/s1600/IMG_4243.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406757374363647250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PnIZu20UrgS9kfstftkQE5D9yghu5pjIxyOwlMzBj-T6Ke2CYtrzVcogZ94__NH9rYij5mmYJln8o42UFU5oTBZ-bS5eQyLLcFgrnayOx1rd8Ge5Q446rVY0ppTX0oX6GCY-abfC6_w/s320/IMG_4243.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxWXz37k2RrOZlXWvqKPwQVEcgJ90KN5AfurK8k633TYQJ0Np-0zej_S4fALfK_WgAxwg90TG-NonRxEMWli4OsKc-qEhRt5MGEjjvywS3Pkn1ufuS606GB8GUKK7YqraIuouOtwJRHA/s1600/IMG_4246.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406757370708534290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxWXz37k2RrOZlXWvqKPwQVEcgJ90KN5AfurK8k633TYQJ0Np-0zej_S4fALfK_WgAxwg90TG-NonRxEMWli4OsKc-qEhRt5MGEjjvywS3Pkn1ufuS606GB8GUKK7YqraIuouOtwJRHA/s320/IMG_4246.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotIfC7XK49W4LpeNIaHUUbGyCT5XgYA_UHC1vT7jRVaJpL2tCeatTD9uEQRYio0Am6uQMjTa5BM8e7r5KIElvIX9lrsdUU8Gy1iG3ddUL1gXSNtIOA7Bl7bZkAqgg8ZNua_oWB5W0ZQg/s1600/IMG_4248.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406757363433878274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotIfC7XK49W4LpeNIaHUUbGyCT5XgYA_UHC1vT7jRVaJpL2tCeatTD9uEQRYio0Am6uQMjTa5BM8e7r5KIElvIX9lrsdUU8Gy1iG3ddUL1gXSNtIOA7Bl7bZkAqgg8ZNua_oWB5W0ZQg/s320/IMG_4248.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The kids all had a fabulous time!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSQzuNKJSB7J6X12l7hy1JARtv8oDOqEW8SYaUsB6mT-0eBUGHcN9JfvcxzjXbAQH_VKZK1J9U-U6SImYhHIxrzP6pWFcAUHoZMufdS1yrQ9RGvNY7SQjMkH34PgAR10DWj2HHs8Qyv0/s1600/IMG_4253.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406757363304050546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSQzuNKJSB7J6X12l7hy1JARtv8oDOqEW8SYaUsB6mT-0eBUGHcN9JfvcxzjXbAQH_VKZK1J9U-U6SImYhHIxrzP6pWFcAUHoZMufdS1yrQ9RGvNY7SQjMkH34PgAR10DWj2HHs8Qyv0/s320/IMG_4253.JPG" /></a><br />Carter did a great job, even though he did have to hold his spoon a little bit! Shhh, don't tell!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzshaYUlKfRt9zTc5YyCwhoOoRqdJyD4Bf9S8EJpVULF6I3nJJOGEpZf8pogTyTeGKiMllNoRNkfY4WYGh5pTIAfTuc0VwxKDa7Q5zNisOt3pSkNeLod1W0V8dH1GA8HFENDa2ktVSWU/s1600/IMG_4255.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406756591073866562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzshaYUlKfRt9zTc5YyCwhoOoRqdJyD4Bf9S8EJpVULF6I3nJJOGEpZf8pogTyTeGKiMllNoRNkfY4WYGh5pTIAfTuc0VwxKDa7Q5zNisOt3pSkNeLod1W0V8dH1GA8HFENDa2ktVSWU/s320/IMG_4255.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzF4CC6VgRA-VgJfw8q-z5o_a6n2dZQFhdHqc2KTDJNP56XvUjK2m4nYGg09BkoRShnLYmpFSL2eB1rqik1bdkPyRpZ0x-Km_2Sz4UT-z1-Iz0mRFtSBg-k1wWkFbj2wRsJzkb1J5lqs/s1600/IMG_4259.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406756587130323330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzF4CC6VgRA-VgJfw8q-z5o_a6n2dZQFhdHqc2KTDJNP56XvUjK2m4nYGg09BkoRShnLYmpFSL2eB1rqik1bdkPyRpZ0x-Km_2Sz4UT-z1-Iz0mRFtSBg-k1wWkFbj2wRsJzkb1J5lqs/s320/IMG_4259.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Then they made their own little "pumpkin pies."<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISbO1cL6pfSEkUo3MhoSOoVz1prMkYQcYIqv2orL5sYobw9X3GnJxeWeJ1Im02-LfoWpiOHSbP97Tnusmqh6YmCg57fnCvmajn_6OfAu06WrBj4ZARbO2Ao05Xy4Mr6poSVegw1iPPVA/s1600/IMG_4264.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406756583845124418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISbO1cL6pfSEkUo3MhoSOoVz1prMkYQcYIqv2orL5sYobw9X3GnJxeWeJ1Im02-LfoWpiOHSbP97Tnusmqh6YmCg57fnCvmajn_6OfAu06WrBj4ZARbO2Ao05Xy4Mr6poSVegw1iPPVA/s320/IMG_4264.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwityRdDLkyyIvAxgsEmzPwOnUe3qpHi2Ra_WBWzzY2VGIwqqoKXAkUWQVUXe9fI_0jLF1-57Qd4UnHhW-BheWuQg82lg1jk9ZaonhaDZQU4Kv7QylvBWhogN7iGm84T81A0QgYXJPqHA/s1600/IMG_4266.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406756580371159090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwityRdDLkyyIvAxgsEmzPwOnUe3qpHi2Ra_WBWzzY2VGIwqqoKXAkUWQVUXe9fI_0jLF1-57Qd4UnHhW-BheWuQg82lg1jk9ZaonhaDZQU4Kv7QylvBWhogN7iGm84T81A0QgYXJPqHA/s320/IMG_4266.JPG" /></a><br />Their final activity was to put pretzel sticks around the perimeter of a house. Carter loved this, because it was just like putting together his puzzles!</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXHUu9_VFTaOGbXelzx4dzmBeCoV0onwkkVcwm-tyV3m-SjP6DRQFJ75OPsuXpr-LNS30xEPlVujytW-44ys5phqsseZWXFhX-9nOElegucua-A24bJDNGTqJ4lx4BCSYq0gheaG2kHg/s1600/IMG_4277.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406756579798791506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXHUu9_VFTaOGbXelzx4dzmBeCoV0onwkkVcwm-tyV3m-SjP6DRQFJ75OPsuXpr-LNS30xEPlVujytW-44ys5phqsseZWXFhX-9nOElegucua-A24bJDNGTqJ4lx4BCSYq0gheaG2kHg/s320/IMG_4277.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLeCxJkvmJueX-TftS5_Vgwzhyrlu2yoF-i9mjU3pdJRYgXbCgQSoXRAO9oWLLxQ_UlRzerreRMqO5jvmDFqNFsM9PNBQivXHgEnWmX3cw8hSDDjz4_Tf5wRimtig161rnlxd_xyFiCU/s1600/IMG_4280.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406755629125338786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLeCxJkvmJueX-TftS5_Vgwzhyrlu2yoF-i9mjU3pdJRYgXbCgQSoXRAO9oWLLxQ_UlRzerreRMqO5jvmDFqNFsM9PNBQivXHgEnWmX3cw8hSDDjz4_Tf5wRimtig161rnlxd_xyFiCU/s320/IMG_4280.JPG" /></a><br />Then they put pretzels on the inside of the house to show the "area."<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaS0KGYfE_fgWHis7MXUo0F0WPmHil4RVg3s8jha-GciNVmN1XIcwo9I_lraN_glhUCmxm0geb57f8bL7FInrZzeyg83QgF_XKi87Xm3-6gMDGD-W83HwqatDECSS2vKMqtMfpDSPTds/s1600/IMG_4281.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406755626725695266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaS0KGYfE_fgWHis7MXUo0F0WPmHil4RVg3s8jha-GciNVmN1XIcwo9I_lraN_glhUCmxm0geb57f8bL7FInrZzeyg83QgF_XKi87Xm3-6gMDGD-W83HwqatDECSS2vKMqtMfpDSPTds/s320/IMG_4281.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnd98UP_EaS7nXsJLs6HI9v6XjtgE36M4hda56m8BVr9Yd-5zNbgi2Gl4Ih3wsEh5bARkoWNo9ScIwFP-ktKMzMJeWczGzMRL4ZSaYbJ8h6wr1SVba-_7t4QGaKwyNQy85KR9Tvlee7c/s1600/IMG_4282.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406755623881707250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnd98UP_EaS7nXsJLs6HI9v6XjtgE36M4hda56m8BVr9Yd-5zNbgi2Gl4Ih3wsEh5bARkoWNo9ScIwFP-ktKMzMJeWczGzMRL4ZSaYbJ8h6wr1SVba-_7t4QGaKwyNQy85KR9Tvlee7c/s320/IMG_4282.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCNVOHmtJYhAILqiDyiGPcK9EjjE2ND33JFQmtYnHfHIoP-esqCUHoMAk97DRc6Z09fPvmEH4zQ5c-MdR6MiLhq1QAfCtcQd2p0oZ7Awm37AJY33du1e9sbUvj9Ajd1u80yg0ocI7L_A/s1600/IMG_4284.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406755618649856738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCNVOHmtJYhAILqiDyiGPcK9EjjE2ND33JFQmtYnHfHIoP-esqCUHoMAk97DRc6Z09fPvmEH4zQ5c-MdR6MiLhq1QAfCtcQd2p0oZ7Awm37AJY33du1e9sbUvj9Ajd1u80yg0ocI7L_A/s320/IMG_4284.JPG" /></a><br />Sydney had fun too with the little boy who is just a few months younger than her! Soon enough, she'll be our little scientist too!</div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbL2V8NKQrowUL_tkhA3lkchv-CfpU4vx9hCX7VTPdXJokZr4Kh3MKWbANRFwwtPzD1eD08VL_DbLkuBHvz5LtsnJ_zlUJjO4YLs6GnHuRwdytBG2cZQHH8m0iherL7TNMe3Rrj1iZI8/s1600/IMG_4286.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406755617691745858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbL2V8NKQrowUL_tkhA3lkchv-CfpU4vx9hCX7VTPdXJokZr4Kh3MKWbANRFwwtPzD1eD08VL_DbLkuBHvz5LtsnJ_zlUJjO4YLs6GnHuRwdytBG2cZQHH8m0iherL7TNMe3Rrj1iZI8/s320/IMG_4286.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-53891808197264181752009-11-02T18:47:00.000-08:002009-11-02T19:02:14.244-08:00Fall FestivalFirst of all, we are not against Halloween or Trick or Treating. We just haven't actually taken our kids yet. Our church every year has a Fall Festival that is huge. Thousands of kids from the community come to the Festival where they have bounce houses and different games set up with candy at every game. It really is like trick or treating minus the walking from house to house and actually saying trick or treat! Carter doesn't know any different yet, and we figure as long as he is having fun with this, we'll stick with it for now. Maybe in a couple of years we'll venture off to our neighborhood as well, but the Festival really is a great time. Plus he also gets to see all of his friends there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkU_QFEUibJfFbJ44WxGqIbK2_f49faaVKcNnsTRpIrtHm0uaq_2f7uZS0HC2NxMhdzzlY-sKfUAywhaqnBwbSNzWui9KtAiStpJmbdUDtQsNzx4XixR-D55IO3dnTtTqrhO95Y4Oxlcg/s1600-h/IMG_4147.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399705424627650066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkU_QFEUibJfFbJ44WxGqIbK2_f49faaVKcNnsTRpIrtHm0uaq_2f7uZS0HC2NxMhdzzlY-sKfUAywhaqnBwbSNzWui9KtAiStpJmbdUDtQsNzx4XixR-D55IO3dnTtTqrhO95Y4Oxlcg/s320/IMG_4147.JPG" /></a>This year Carter was a pirate and he sure was the cutest pirate I have ever seen! One of Carter's favorite things on Dora are the Pirate Piggies, so I thought it would be fun for him to be a Pirate.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOLBfyQAe-BJwruYSs8hejorv9Zekbppta3FC94abgODTgpPsqQb22hJEnqh5eCZNJ3F6ldbtoMWaN_Gp8SG_4ufCKqglHWD9-Wt0ER03zzBzEM5g2hsRz_H39tmf6UkM4Wig0YdC1LY/s1600-h/IMG_4150.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399705422232493234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOLBfyQAe-BJwruYSs8hejorv9Zekbppta3FC94abgODTgpPsqQb22hJEnqh5eCZNJ3F6ldbtoMWaN_Gp8SG_4ufCKqglHWD9-Wt0ER03zzBzEM5g2hsRz_H39tmf6UkM4Wig0YdC1LY/s320/IMG_4150.JPG" /></a> Sydney was a cute little pink ladybug. And of course she was the cutest ladybug I have ever seen!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgua6hMiMZCJurbh7OdmRyauQnAbdlDlXhh5Z97Y7c0-6mTS3ZTR2AoW1qNVkYqW769V7zIN13d5cdzMfktAbOpEr7YDP4MMQP6-MZCFqwmCAsGRAL69uXGfo6jALu797ZWT5uz8aeq-74/s1600-h/IMG_4152.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399705419457216866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgua6hMiMZCJurbh7OdmRyauQnAbdlDlXhh5Z97Y7c0-6mTS3ZTR2AoW1qNVkYqW769V7zIN13d5cdzMfktAbOpEr7YDP4MMQP6-MZCFqwmCAsGRAL69uXGfo6jALu797ZWT5uz8aeq-74/s320/IMG_4152.JPG" /></a> And together... well you know... I'm a little biased!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9S2VIxx8Q9sVyCzWFgWvAPgotfF2y0QBkXGEh2o0Eda2EWXBfJNTcWj0zBnWEtaMJEnnQ0_vjyL2UurTg7p9oWlcD-593BXRbov4XunOdvW2RCBRAD3j8qfSy01gCpXyxB-lJDFyCfvM/s1600-h/IMG_4154.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399705059322985266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9S2VIxx8Q9sVyCzWFgWvAPgotfF2y0QBkXGEh2o0Eda2EWXBfJNTcWj0zBnWEtaMJEnnQ0_vjyL2UurTg7p9oWlcD-593BXRbov4XunOdvW2RCBRAD3j8qfSy01gCpXyxB-lJDFyCfvM/s320/IMG_4154.JPG" /></a><br />I love this picture. They seem to be looking at each other saying, "What are you??"<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf_uh1jh1vgwTiRheqpc06pGk2uE1nsVTSen0K3CD-DGJVLNL_cUcI0dlx6gS2wFjeamWAHQ6KggqYoWZlmZDPea_2fGHMxJ5OmeuKsk-byIdPAe_mB67KYYr6iFGbALvLszHzeljrcg/s1600-h/IMG_4155.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399705051358732978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf_uh1jh1vgwTiRheqpc06pGk2uE1nsVTSen0K3CD-DGJVLNL_cUcI0dlx6gS2wFjeamWAHQ6KggqYoWZlmZDPea_2fGHMxJ5OmeuKsk-byIdPAe_mB67KYYr6iFGbALvLszHzeljrcg/s320/IMG_4155.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0KjEb01NEW8AcIMzrBMYckb58LIK8FNQn7VqdPykOLYtlh_WltJPTAqPkPgUKdwGkyFCGGOk8L_vS_ab28hMeHP7sgcqWbzxkhyphenhyphenx5xyQrB9UopzOQZY4AvU0acVw0pNd3NCZz36Vgu4/s1600-h/IMG_4159.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399705052013143954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0KjEb01NEW8AcIMzrBMYckb58LIK8FNQn7VqdPykOLYtlh_WltJPTAqPkPgUKdwGkyFCGGOk8L_vS_ab28hMeHP7sgcqWbzxkhyphenhyphenx5xyQrB9UopzOQZY4AvU0acVw0pNd3NCZz36Vgu4/s320/IMG_4159.JPG" /></a><br />This is our best pal Alex. He absolutely adores Sydney. And the feeling is mutual!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2s0DqIDSPJELp0XOmBpsn1kX95mH_Kq_IHTU2VC1dj8fDOVqNjZtQTsYvt5hvSNo8RVLtDi60_IL2JgWGxuRssZvRiZWX2ooDL3RT6cm0ikps277Ky_5F6OZO150MoFmnnyqLDLtAfk/s1600-h/IMG_4167.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399705047742399986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2s0DqIDSPJELp0XOmBpsn1kX95mH_Kq_IHTU2VC1dj8fDOVqNjZtQTsYvt5hvSNo8RVLtDi60_IL2JgWGxuRssZvRiZWX2ooDL3RT6cm0ikps277Ky_5F6OZO150MoFmnnyqLDLtAfk/s320/IMG_4167.JPG" /></a><br />He and Carter are best pals too!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJ3yZh2mShQxRd11_t2MPSm0HCGfOiHuHE62COdR_BbYLfsNUr_phuBh-MhmIidKJ9QSSUUPm3sdirm0pjh7ECRudAweMOk_mXrFH4xbW_7sAEgaUobL8xPClcauPc1aELJHSynBdSfU/s1600-h/IMG_4169.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399705042333937282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJ3yZh2mShQxRd11_t2MPSm0HCGfOiHuHE62COdR_BbYLfsNUr_phuBh-MhmIidKJ9QSSUUPm3sdirm0pjh7ECRudAweMOk_mXrFH4xbW_7sAEgaUobL8xPClcauPc1aELJHSynBdSfU/s320/IMG_4169.JPG" /></a><br />Daddy's little girl!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHOv_yVk-yWSLKRMyvAaXWI44fHxGpnhyphenhyphenwNzNwwgCpDRnV5pOl_lvYtuYr91i5c6nQYncX_B0ZWVbFn0dx-sry7RXf92yf_C1No_UF-4F3aQar52OsVAyFAomKEcDXBCEKqFzoUe9MO0/s1600-h/IMG_4170.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399704343206988114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHOv_yVk-yWSLKRMyvAaXWI44fHxGpnhyphenhyphenwNzNwwgCpDRnV5pOl_lvYtuYr91i5c6nQYncX_B0ZWVbFn0dx-sry7RXf92yf_C1No_UF-4F3aQar52OsVAyFAomKEcDXBCEKqFzoUe9MO0/s320/IMG_4170.JPG" /></a> Sydney wasn't too happy after about 30 minutes of being there. She was ready to go home!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSYR1GGYSGcGx7YpoxatKUyKGFLJJrZE3ML7nVHUV9B5EFLxOl8dRlTNNrIKHMTz-pqUp7gjNEYnPFPY3MHHJMU80ieOt0FnsKXdPUuXFSc3GXEP6usQI9cMbxd9simVErfOsHjwhARI/s1600-h/IMG_4173.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399704340120104594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSYR1GGYSGcGx7YpoxatKUyKGFLJJrZE3ML7nVHUV9B5EFLxOl8dRlTNNrIKHMTz-pqUp7gjNEYnPFPY3MHHJMU80ieOt0FnsKXdPUuXFSc3GXEP6usQI9cMbxd9simVErfOsHjwhARI/s320/IMG_4173.JPG" /></a> But once Daddy let her out of the stroller to play a little, she was happier.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tWP6HnkpHwta-nhIF1Bf-HNtaxc35WSdI4hw_t0jxSMBdOwF5pdrUo-LXY8vFPskSsP9l6G7FN7RR62GDzsSP317qz3EfZ5fDT_fHxfIz59S06OvNUH-1HVrtYAaoX9ZSKb-Nfxi_Ok/s1600-h/IMG_4178.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399704331505296578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tWP6HnkpHwta-nhIF1Bf-HNtaxc35WSdI4hw_t0jxSMBdOwF5pdrUo-LXY8vFPskSsP9l6G7FN7RR62GDzsSP317qz3EfZ5fDT_fHxfIz59S06OvNUH-1HVrtYAaoX9ZSKb-Nfxi_Ok/s320/IMG_4178.JPG" /></a> </div><div>This was the first year that Carter really got to enjoy the games. He loved playing baseball just like he does with Daddy!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCD5WkwDVLoUfwz3TVoaop0tb61eDGvF5MZP6Gs4Ma9ETIdaf_jOoHs4XOcX8EQ5mHywTXTlWKlAEkJ3p5GNYa_bmxyPTu986j37ZAw5Z0Ww2X5UJH6DwIBU_h3Sk6XQ29mqi_HExbauw/s1600-h/IMG_4180.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399704327849145042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCD5WkwDVLoUfwz3TVoaop0tb61eDGvF5MZP6Gs4Ma9ETIdaf_jOoHs4XOcX8EQ5mHywTXTlWKlAEkJ3p5GNYa_bmxyPTu986j37ZAw5Z0Ww2X5UJH6DwIBU_h3Sk6XQ29mqi_HExbauw/s320/IMG_4180.JPG" /></a> We had a great time but were exhausted by the end of the evening. Thank goodness for the extra hour of sleep that night!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfqsyQNraB10WpBTIL7w2MuUY2ZdT67uIDZTLQ8y240y6rgMNG2cpOJhyphenhyphen9NJUVoNDWgKZoirNrsA-7ZS0n2a7-mDNxMbSxh48VIbAtGiZBavOV8k5HjnPP9EuVHXZXcTNA1lP4PgFN0E/s1600-h/IMG_4184.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399704330178849538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfqsyQNraB10WpBTIL7w2MuUY2ZdT67uIDZTLQ8y240y6rgMNG2cpOJhyphenhyphen9NJUVoNDWgKZoirNrsA-7ZS0n2a7-mDNxMbSxh48VIbAtGiZBavOV8k5HjnPP9EuVHXZXcTNA1lP4PgFN0E/s320/IMG_4184.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-34470543728684839412009-11-02T15:23:00.000-08:002009-11-02T16:07:44.826-08:00Camping is not my friendI know many people who love to camp. I am not one of them. It goes back to my high school years with several "bad experiences" I'd like to call them. My best friend Tiana and I tried to "camp" in her back yard a couple of times and had bad experiences both times. Enough to scare us away from camping forever! The first night we had a "visitor" in a drunk man who wobbled down her street just feet away from us which led to a 3 am visit from the cops... the second time we heard a coyote outside our tent and then spent the rest of the night in search of Tiana's cat for fear he had escaped and had been eaten by the coyote. We found the cat safe and sound inside. Then a couple of years later I was camping with my youth group and a friend and I were up late talking and had an unexpected visit from pepe le pue himself! But it's been about 7 years since I have camped and I figured I could handle it this time. After all, I've lived in Africa with snakes and other critters. I can handle the outdoors! It was a beautiful October weekend, the perfect camping weather in Texas.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcfHEqXneqaFZ2fPL72gKzADHH-_i6sS7B6cRCIxpUlR_3HFTyCafhdsfcvL95_wrhDPA_B6q8OI0w-B5qKrZBa9km5Ef_RBt4PWjRfHjjlMpb_2DCt4hrJx4PT0qkAr2XYI1SG97SRg/s1600-h/IMG_4105.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399654816781077170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcfHEqXneqaFZ2fPL72gKzADHH-_i6sS7B6cRCIxpUlR_3HFTyCafhdsfcvL95_wrhDPA_B6q8OI0w-B5qKrZBa9km5Ef_RBt4PWjRfHjjlMpb_2DCt4hrJx4PT0qkAr2XYI1SG97SRg/s320/IMG_4105.JPG" /></a> We found this caterpillar after it either stung or bit one of the kids camping with us. It was a rather interesting little thing and of course we had to take a picture.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW4r-vVCSrF31WXIUrz-LMFgB12mGNKvLONjcuRhl67Gl_2nHs7buMUWfXTC99W2BpO0yIhxKQpe4TcMrCI8560jhH-j9aMkuDPnbYfhkY05G8YqcUo89H5cgq3Gbmv9U3ZJssqVxueY/s1600-h/IMG_4112.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399654813002651522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW4r-vVCSrF31WXIUrz-LMFgB12mGNKvLONjcuRhl67Gl_2nHs7buMUWfXTC99W2BpO0yIhxKQpe4TcMrCI8560jhH-j9aMkuDPnbYfhkY05G8YqcUo89H5cgq3Gbmv9U3ZJssqVxueY/s320/IMG_4112.JPG" /></a> Sydney isn't actually walking yet, but oh so close. Poor thing didn't have furniture to cruise around while we were there. So she was confined to her Mommy and Daddy the whole time. I think she still had a fun time!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYIo_dmsdsNZGVypYLUwfHNAaadrv1bpzNhb0Hx4UgxGXA_mFuYTQcN0U-2Niap6LUX-ccZ5i4GgIvyvLXHmxOPrqdc9oUa0HQlLn8bWpe5SaoF7Q3uN2lzbJ-Od50RYZ4PmRHDB83qw/s1600-h/IMG_4115.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399654813246219842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYIo_dmsdsNZGVypYLUwfHNAaadrv1bpzNhb0Hx4UgxGXA_mFuYTQcN0U-2Niap6LUX-ccZ5i4GgIvyvLXHmxOPrqdc9oUa0HQlLn8bWpe5SaoF7Q3uN2lzbJ-Od50RYZ4PmRHDB83qw/s320/IMG_4115.JPG" /></a><br />Carter of course enjoyed himself as any three year old would!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-vLMfAP5v-EZOtVhZ-cm0IUhtBgqr0gTqbIpgMSuTLDqWeUYhF9O_T8Pf4cggdcvSBo9A89gBpW3QrfZi4pE1EhUGGDBvpaVQidSBnzi0SYBXxLWeEfo7viCK-sqb96wiR9M8sBFMkk/s1600-h/IMG_4119.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399654806657248658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-vLMfAP5v-EZOtVhZ-cm0IUhtBgqr0gTqbIpgMSuTLDqWeUYhF9O_T8Pf4cggdcvSBo9A89gBpW3QrfZi4pE1EhUGGDBvpaVQidSBnzi0SYBXxLWeEfo7viCK-sqb96wiR9M8sBFMkk/s320/IMG_4119.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdj9Tge61H5bv_-lwnrdkDD6ceZRvdWrZtqhP6X6wubhl0qjwnQ8nEDSh2OEQKZOXxMwGsPJbf_nMD_wKyDrjqNJ-XuGlqDErTzaiCD6RlELjvCFKrUcTFu4Fqn9zi41CST28BHQuB0M/s1600-h/IMG_4120.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399654802285023506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdj9Tge61H5bv_-lwnrdkDD6ceZRvdWrZtqhP6X6wubhl0qjwnQ8nEDSh2OEQKZOXxMwGsPJbf_nMD_wKyDrjqNJ-XuGlqDErTzaiCD6RlELjvCFKrUcTFu4Fqn9zi41CST28BHQuB0M/s320/IMG_4120.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSSNFGuivn-CVK_P0TJsE1bGWKqPeigsK8QTwlOQbyDtDxr1Icb_miSX1d9pcBb04dlDUWFkD0cYMgGS46W4b4rVNyGs-2k5pMNgDKwdm4-kuDnquKkM2yYyhbQ6GKJerijcVi22w-Wc/s1600-h/IMG_4121.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399653189076490546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSSNFGuivn-CVK_P0TJsE1bGWKqPeigsK8QTwlOQbyDtDxr1Icb_miSX1d9pcBb04dlDUWFkD0cYMgGS46W4b4rVNyGs-2k5pMNgDKwdm4-kuDnquKkM2yYyhbQ6GKJerijcVi22w-Wc/s320/IMG_4121.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhEghq8WSJNSzN6n9Fb0rFUTMTD0ua_T3oSXq0cSzV_-M3ut0eF324FAnqu8T9Z1GPeEPPKeuLB0dBfBukpFTM8_EzbfK2KNHidnFZaRy3sHG8wLmlYUrT6A0VFDs2CPMi1asXrQ7ZUE/s1600-h/IMG_4122.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399653184533020658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhEghq8WSJNSzN6n9Fb0rFUTMTD0ua_T3oSXq0cSzV_-M3ut0eF324FAnqu8T9Z1GPeEPPKeuLB0dBfBukpFTM8_EzbfK2KNHidnFZaRy3sHG8wLmlYUrT6A0VFDs2CPMi1asXrQ7ZUE/s320/IMG_4122.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiis6Kbc5y39UUZzdidNqhZIgB8mqtM22h1G-sWtNPqawKhUaOi2Bl-anwmt6i1YBeII2R1qXpu-p9XsGIzDdZ9M6YZ9LjljdcsupCIY0C-QX6Db20QE2vt1C46KX2CklAtwdM0Zl7AX_M/s1600-h/IMG_4126.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399653179466904594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiis6Kbc5y39UUZzdidNqhZIgB8mqtM22h1G-sWtNPqawKhUaOi2Bl-anwmt6i1YBeII2R1qXpu-p9XsGIzDdZ9M6YZ9LjljdcsupCIY0C-QX6Db20QE2vt1C46KX2CklAtwdM0Zl7AX_M/s320/IMG_4126.JPG" /></a><br />Here was our tent, courtesy of the Murrays. Okay, so we didn't rough it too much on this trip. We had running water AND electricity! We also got to park right at our campsite. The woman were thrilled with this, but the men grumbled that it just wasn't quite camping enough for them! Oh well, the women won out on this one! We actually had a space heater at night which worked out quite nicely for us!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2O6eu7Ztp88m5uTtu5132iafOMUWtnwPbqU_aAysRNdsK4CbrMU-0quFL8Xs-AuM9ThvRvelu5rN3TtseTysbIwmefmz6foqCj7bFXTXJjL8m0iumjuAPwiqkDonAWAz9htFB8CWF6sU/s1600-h/IMG_4129.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399653178597279586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2O6eu7Ztp88m5uTtu5132iafOMUWtnwPbqU_aAysRNdsK4CbrMU-0quFL8Xs-AuM9ThvRvelu5rN3TtseTysbIwmefmz6foqCj7bFXTXJjL8m0iumjuAPwiqkDonAWAz9htFB8CWF6sU/s320/IMG_4129.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNHyVkm7WWEngERbrWlG70lUaoHw_B2YiHMjxTIY7HAv0_YXhwzqbzSq7FsRd7smC7hr2kn2HcGo3Y4AYhzTMdP3dW5lWba1Z5RzhN8RGzxBHLQzMmX-mGvF34Y-9MMxwwrHffjCztNk/s1600-h/IMG_4131.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399653178011617330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNHyVkm7WWEngERbrWlG70lUaoHw_B2YiHMjxTIY7HAv0_YXhwzqbzSq7FsRd7smC7hr2kn2HcGo3Y4AYhzTMdP3dW5lWba1Z5RzhN8RGzxBHLQzMmX-mGvF34Y-9MMxwwrHffjCztNk/s320/IMG_4131.JPG" /></a><br />It was an okay camping experince for me over all. No major camping catastrophes. I didn't sleep much at all. I lay awake hearing every single noise around me: coyotes in the distance, a raccoon rummaging through our trash, the wind blowing up against the tent. Reminded me of the days long ago...</div><div></div><div></div><div>Just thankful my husband doesn't want to camp all the time!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-74499342301246503422009-10-17T18:54:00.000-07:002009-10-17T19:16:14.678-07:00Carter is Three!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv8j0y0LGET37_YzD11w4WfRKs12LjjRRbjUnPUYue0BdTC7vCId4zaxWBlJYWWeZP_NnUH4E6zHeNiIEpm948oWAzlZxK8tPOfQVH2Dypp4tHh4O3aqsb5CMhhAGbBOf0wf_8hniFZ8/s1600-h/Carter+baby+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393754031516279506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv8j0y0LGET37_YzD11w4WfRKs12LjjRRbjUnPUYue0BdTC7vCId4zaxWBlJYWWeZP_NnUH4E6zHeNiIEpm948oWAzlZxK8tPOfQVH2Dypp4tHh4O3aqsb5CMhhAGbBOf0wf_8hniFZ8/s320/Carter+baby+1.jpg" /></a> Someone please pinch me and tell me it's not true that my baby boy (above) Carter Jackson is not really three! Well okay, I guess for two more days he technically is not, but say it isn't so! It seems just yesterday that he was born, and now he is a preschooler? How is it possible for time to fly that quickly?!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59_a7IoSnptoXqEvv4dv0FSYAvo_A3-1Zk2kPFoYBLMey9d0lI6z73e17-jIepZCEJwl9A1YVaQ9HBMqAyUXEEzs0ULHT5yer6ne1iFGizW7EbZ62onI1VRP5DdX_MZccQlaHb6S07xM/s1600-h/Carter+baby+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393753938119910642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59_a7IoSnptoXqEvv4dv0FSYAvo_A3-1Zk2kPFoYBLMey9d0lI6z73e17-jIepZCEJwl9A1YVaQ9HBMqAyUXEEzs0ULHT5yer6ne1iFGizW7EbZ62onI1VRP5DdX_MZccQlaHb6S07xM/s320/Carter+baby+2.jpg" /></a></div><div>We had a great party today. There were 16 kids in our little house, but we had a blast! For those of you concerned that my child will miss out on socialization because he is homeschooled, here is the proof that we won't have any problems in that area! We are blessed to go to a large church and have many friends!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBaFlBCT3UMXiSQi-3yJJPul38CreGEo4oIhu_hgcP4r9Wx_vBbWwBCexE2rQoUc2ElsLjtsybt74jrFQ7xG0fr5dhvucS9_6ZQmggjygLg_do9NV6_xOdkfNHSfvMXgJFvKt01IbbL0/s1600-h/IMG_3957.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393753934137054658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBaFlBCT3UMXiSQi-3yJJPul38CreGEo4oIhu_hgcP4r9Wx_vBbWwBCexE2rQoUc2ElsLjtsybt74jrFQ7xG0fr5dhvucS9_6ZQmggjygLg_do9NV6_xOdkfNHSfvMXgJFvKt01IbbL0/s320/IMG_3957.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sSkDkLABD9NgzK_jz7jlRhn2vzttiBezzYutGmayMEYA1FtoHfpiowrrOOZE5cC6PVcu5dJAZN0bJLl6IIVUhtF32GfRkPMgtWS_dKfHgvDpMSnsOoiB_bfm7R7MCNL19khFtG4UVFo/s1600-h/IMG_3963.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393753927457512082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sSkDkLABD9NgzK_jz7jlRhn2vzttiBezzYutGmayMEYA1FtoHfpiowrrOOZE5cC6PVcu5dJAZN0bJLl6IIVUhtF32GfRkPMgtWS_dKfHgvDpMSnsOoiB_bfm7R7MCNL19khFtG4UVFo/s320/IMG_3963.JPG" /></a> We started off with lunch: soft tacos, hot dogs, chips and salsa, pumpkin dip with apples and gingersnaps (yummy!) and cheetos.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHBjUkJWYUFK_6QbICDNKYzL3AsoZcRIIQsVdSWjMSTmY2GaCyNGDbBaEcfrxZkJjmGujfGXVEZ9psTyFgU09iWuooWSmXEw1NjpHh__B68kJQUl7S5zGrPR9TonNpJ_467BRBb44DN8/s1600-h/IMG_3979.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393753922173194322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHBjUkJWYUFK_6QbICDNKYzL3AsoZcRIIQsVdSWjMSTmY2GaCyNGDbBaEcfrxZkJjmGujfGXVEZ9psTyFgU09iWuooWSmXEw1NjpHh__B68kJQUl7S5zGrPR9TonNpJ_467BRBb44DN8/s320/IMG_3979.JPG" /></a><br />Gramma and Grampa Westdyk were there as always! I'm sure Mama and Papa Blackburn were there in spirit... Mama sent presents earlier in the week! I know they wish they could be there.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVWJm_5fr-UiDkIuAcNiAvBoOq-539nzWVpV_-CLMn8Uht-oehMlSQT2KeZLTb7FDVoswyKrlKDHER8xAwPEUV4QqzfhEZk7jKpLaO4AZ8PLbYwK4rEdREi3mzD9WAVFSt3w9bqFt2Mk/s1600-h/IMG_3982.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393753912722716066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVWJm_5fr-UiDkIuAcNiAvBoOq-539nzWVpV_-CLMn8Uht-oehMlSQT2KeZLTb7FDVoswyKrlKDHER8xAwPEUV4QqzfhEZk7jKpLaO4AZ8PLbYwK4rEdREi3mzD9WAVFSt3w9bqFt2Mk/s320/IMG_3982.JPG" /></a><br />There was ONE thing that Carter asked for his birthday: an ice cream cake. I wish I had taken a picture of the awful creation that I attempted in making my own ice cream cake, because it would've been a hoot to post it on here. Since it was the one and only thing Carter had asked for, Daddy went off two hours before the party in search for an ice cream cake. It was pricey, but worth it for our little guy. And it was yummy too!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmILN6I-kgEppuPzL0a_FymYkdE8Zm8cnBr4JBUmRvYeyWyQsLjzmZg0gi3KKreZ08QgK810dkjHeWtTeXf0M-_hpysh9xZ2HkWHB8G_ESwFUwqxhHwk-apCQ8Qd8MOPSJXbwZc8Myjhw/s1600-h/IMG_3993.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393753338853452162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmILN6I-kgEppuPzL0a_FymYkdE8Zm8cnBr4JBUmRvYeyWyQsLjzmZg0gi3KKreZ08QgK810dkjHeWtTeXf0M-_hpysh9xZ2HkWHB8G_ESwFUwqxhHwk-apCQ8Qd8MOPSJXbwZc8Myjhw/s320/IMG_3993.JPG" /></a><br />After food, we made little pumpkins that I had gotten from Michael's. If you notice, Carter's little green stem that is supposed to be on top of the pumpkin is actually sticking out of the pumpkin's mouth! My little creative guy he is!! I think his pumpkin is missing a nose too...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Mft9wD3r6i8Ed-YuJib5yEMkhk7Dd3EQwptMqmDxNGJKO80NEBFg9eHnwg5DFiGDLXfnGvOMG179KwsaHUMSEj8WHLUsUwKWHzYdW5nmOrCXRDeIpyuh6fKChq83v5g2NWO1v64d450/s1600-h/IMG_4002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393753328835469074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Mft9wD3r6i8Ed-YuJib5yEMkhk7Dd3EQwptMqmDxNGJKO80NEBFg9eHnwg5DFiGDLXfnGvOMG179KwsaHUMSEj8WHLUsUwKWHzYdW5nmOrCXRDeIpyuh6fKChq83v5g2NWO1v64d450/s320/IMG_4002.JPG" /></a><br />Then we went outside to our "pumpkin patch" and the kids all picked out their own pumpkin to take home with them. They played outside for awhile then too. The weather was absolutely perfect. Sunny and 70 degrees with a nice breeze!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZ6111R40UDaKxvTakV8r2I5cEzomnujEUs3kd5xoO6gj1T8HLBUMe7DITzIKi91QBvfKE5jxVxD8C68ekPFjSqBfWHOmEXAHbFzhEWr3-WtajAj6v8YPP79pHzsaZFvQqz-UeJnVqNA/s1600-h/IMG_4033.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393753325709799970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZ6111R40UDaKxvTakV8r2I5cEzomnujEUs3kd5xoO6gj1T8HLBUMe7DITzIKi91QBvfKE5jxVxD8C68ekPFjSqBfWHOmEXAHbFzhEWr3-WtajAj6v8YPP79pHzsaZFvQqz-UeJnVqNA/s320/IMG_4033.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H60ZTON2AwBibsR4mdEaC6Oxk-dxGpJMS3lR_xQM3UsqgK_su1lfBg2fSM9Mrda-BXUfjwVr6En1KAeknJkIGw_OBk0ivTtIMwY7mXcgVjesA3j09a2F60A9RlzGQozeGvxW7QXCcwo/s1600-h/IMG_4035.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393753315007976802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H60ZTON2AwBibsR4mdEaC6Oxk-dxGpJMS3lR_xQM3UsqgK_su1lfBg2fSM9Mrda-BXUfjwVr6En1KAeknJkIGw_OBk0ivTtIMwY7mXcgVjesA3j09a2F60A9RlzGQozeGvxW7QXCcwo/s320/IMG_4035.JPG" /></a>At the end of a fun day, Carter opened his gifts. He got lots of fun things!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WJjmP7YbSBH7CTofRQjyE2DXHIyGm0Z6R22mcSK-Q2UEyqDPp-nJgpfS4-vfn1vGAS2YNTiiqXVyquA7mwpYHh21fCHCLrx-1sItVIgwDy4GAyeRjI0p5zSv6Ova5wk3yrxJdYCUPpQ/s1600-h/IMG_4060.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393753312369458610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WJjmP7YbSBH7CTofRQjyE2DXHIyGm0Z6R22mcSK-Q2UEyqDPp-nJgpfS4-vfn1vGAS2YNTiiqXVyquA7mwpYHh21fCHCLrx-1sItVIgwDy4GAyeRjI0p5zSv6Ova5wk3yrxJdYCUPpQ/s320/IMG_4060.JPG" /></a><br />At the end of the day, we were exhausted, but it was tons of funs! So thankful for wonderful family and friends! Love my precious little boy...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-68404393702607732732009-10-09T21:00:00.001-07:002009-10-09T21:15:00.875-07:00Standing with support!It's amazing how time can fly by so quickly. I realized I hadn't blogged in about a month and decided it was time to post. Really there hasn't been much to blog about that was major exciting. We have exciting moments every day though, and why shouldn't I share it? I am so blessed by my two beautiful children and want to share the joys I get to experience on a daily basis!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMQ2DXVXMZHoQFDNaOOknAJk2cJZZtUs0MjZY62yMXaJodFmMX2Bl2Eym1VJuir4leHFjFGSWa-CJR-jzxTTumXZ9P7Ztt4lZWcfHiCyRTB9gdkW9a83YjMcN-1xlAxQATZMdo0dWamQ/s1600-h/IMG_3838.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390817508883099682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMQ2DXVXMZHoQFDNaOOknAJk2cJZZtUs0MjZY62yMXaJodFmMX2Bl2Eym1VJuir4leHFjFGSWa-CJR-jzxTTumXZ9P7Ztt4lZWcfHiCyRTB9gdkW9a83YjMcN-1xlAxQATZMdo0dWamQ/s320/IMG_3838.JPG" /></a>Carter and Sydney are starting to really become "friends" now and it is such a joy to watch! Sure Carter still gets mad when Sydney takes his toys and slobbers all over them (he points and says, "It's eating my block!") Yes, *sigh*, he calls her "it." We're teaching him that she's a "she," not an "it!" But he really does love her. They'll chase each other around the house and Carter will yell, "Sydney's trying to get me!!!" As if an almost 10 month old could possibly hurt you Carter??!! Too cute.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOrIAeJXjOHToPwLxrMgjgqUAwilxDr2Gk165mLyCH5EDGwbRbEw-aDNyAdB6c_Bz8pirqPjsA-kQcRT_LzUDP9EEwoovIpQpVu6Xwg59VJpJGG4EpWgp2uBUXqq4zdG4Vwltx1eCAxc/s1600-h/IMG_3855.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390817501570064498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOrIAeJXjOHToPwLxrMgjgqUAwilxDr2Gk165mLyCH5EDGwbRbEw-aDNyAdB6c_Bz8pirqPjsA-kQcRT_LzUDP9EEwoovIpQpVu6Xwg59VJpJGG4EpWgp2uBUXqq4zdG4Vwltx1eCAxc/s320/IMG_3855.JPG" /></a> And speaking of my almost 10 month old, she is now standing with support. On pretty much anything you can imagine. She just loves to stand! She is cruising along quite nicely on the furniture. This is her favorite spot, on the coffee table in our play room. She is also working on a few more teeth all at once. The joys of being a toddler!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcOlUgPmfFND-36Y1_v6V9x31fi0PwUFBx1rjmdjOQYxLHpLwN1psu_QBnnAgwkdDCfPDoUBZ_Pexhr3SWZgVdwbxUAseaufw1EtBWUXOSSx_SGEgbHpfjm2Uo7PYBaeqNMZjBVjrUuw/s1600-h/IMG_3860.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390817074593597698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcOlUgPmfFND-36Y1_v6V9x31fi0PwUFBx1rjmdjOQYxLHpLwN1psu_QBnnAgwkdDCfPDoUBZ_Pexhr3SWZgVdwbxUAseaufw1EtBWUXOSSx_SGEgbHpfjm2Uo7PYBaeqNMZjBVjrUuw/s320/IMG_3860.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLvgZk-6niKJ3c3n8a2QWthw5P_CP0dS13DO4qs1tswgSPLJ-zLXPH7OtslhXR6t9gtCXJLH4xiKDGmXDoQcQh27Tolx2sdpTcYTTSIiKX0w3Vfg4YQc1U86pcHfS5BFgAbciOg7i5iA/s1600-h/IMG_3867.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390817066319561538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLvgZk-6niKJ3c3n8a2QWthw5P_CP0dS13DO4qs1tswgSPLJ-zLXPH7OtslhXR6t9gtCXJLH4xiKDGmXDoQcQh27Tolx2sdpTcYTTSIiKX0w3Vfg4YQc1U86pcHfS5BFgAbciOg7i5iA/s320/IMG_3867.JPG" /></a><br />She is such a joy, always smiling and laughing. Except of course when her teeth are bothering her or she has a 102.7 fever like she did the other night... aside from that, she's a pretty happy baby!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ2bCSkpOhridZ2V43YFnDA6hlhEO7TOvpmlmiGnkBrsemJUWhc3c9NA_dGP1nfbEGaMUXix5Eqnk1xjkS5otvgGsSz1YjxaL65aH4L3hjMclhqskUMwFAASzWMI0U-UOEirqJKprc-4/s1600-h/IMG_3869.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390817061836237474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ2bCSkpOhridZ2V43YFnDA6hlhEO7TOvpmlmiGnkBrsemJUWhc3c9NA_dGP1nfbEGaMUXix5Eqnk1xjkS5otvgGsSz1YjxaL65aH4L3hjMclhqskUMwFAASzWMI0U-UOEirqJKprc-4/s320/IMG_3869.JPG" /></a><br />Oh we're going to be in big trouble in about 15 years with a smile like that.....<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkd2a1u7_JKaAClMv254EStRQyoS3RnRDz62Qy48Y4YBPUYFBKuXMqzYyd7nOZq5GowhD-db5JXeQ9p37D1CcoHpmVnOgUGFE4g3MoejkRWOZDw5T7fdeHMWi_dqGYBmz9Olcam6XjPPg/s1600-h/IMG_3872.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390817055398296002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkd2a1u7_JKaAClMv254EStRQyoS3RnRDz62Qy48Y4YBPUYFBKuXMqzYyd7nOZq5GowhD-db5JXeQ9p37D1CcoHpmVnOgUGFE4g3MoejkRWOZDw5T7fdeHMWi_dqGYBmz9Olcam6XjPPg/s320/IMG_3872.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Daddy was having fun the other day holding Carter upside down and Sydney was so amused....<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSTX70XA2jJrSucSzLV8at6YFpBrv4ZlPtCq4lxSMdqn_XTu1nkEbv_Es6pgRUYmSEFQw6MgTbxYYagV1ipHVSYeuRubzTEV15wM7FPdwkkY7dHOrsv2pTC1j1iXNddtlUrLaZBYqulc/s1600-h/IMG_3875.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390817049774486450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSTX70XA2jJrSucSzLV8at6YFpBrv4ZlPtCq4lxSMdqn_XTu1nkEbv_Es6pgRUYmSEFQw6MgTbxYYagV1ipHVSYeuRubzTEV15wM7FPdwkkY7dHOrsv2pTC1j1iXNddtlUrLaZBYqulc/s320/IMG_3875.JPG" /></a><br />she wanted to do it herself too!</div><div> </div><div>Next post will be Carter's birthday party. Can't believe our little boy is really turning three!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495541479331456440.post-2422884116700878442009-09-09T14:06:00.001-07:002009-09-09T14:43:44.974-07:00To address or not to addressI've been thinking a lot this week about the big hooplah over the President addressing our children. Just thought I would share some of my thoughts on that. I will be the first to admit that I was initially outraged by it. Why? Because I was being told things like, "No President has dared to do this before..." and "As parents we should be able to control what our children hear when they are in school." Of course the icing on the cake was the list of questions that was being presented to the children to think about while they were listening to him speak and after he was finished. Questions like, "What is the President trying to tell me?" and "What is the President asking me to do?" Of course it was all over Facebook. Conservatives posting polls that the President shouldn't be allowed to speak to their children... Liberals posting that prior Presidents actually did speak to the children but never had to get permission to do it... it all began to make my head spin, and I actually forgot why I was upset about it to begin with!<br /><br />Then the address to the students came and went... no big deal. I actually read some of what he said, and had no problem with it. And it made me wonder, why are we freaking out about these things? Don't we have much more important things to worry about? It also got me thinking about the reasons why many Conservatives and Christians were in an uproar about this. We don't want Government sticking its nose into our lives... into health care, religion, etc. But why do so many people send their children to public school if they don't want Government involved? It is a Government institution isn't it? I personally, had nothing to worry about, because my children are being homsechooled. This isn't a post to convince everyone that they should homeschool. But it makes you think. Yes I consider myself a Conservative. But it bugs me that so many Conservatives spend so much time complaining about Government getting involved in things... yet they send their children to a Government run institution. Doesn't that seem like a double standard? We are upset because we want to be able to control what our children hear at school. But do we honestly believe we have any control right now over what our children are hearing at school?<br /><br />I'm not trying to stir up controversy, it just really got me thinking. When did our country become so split? Why are we fighting among ourselves? We talked about this briefly in my Bible study this morning. We don't need terrorists to come and fight us. We're doing a fine enough job fighting on our own. We are no longer a united country. When did we get labeled, "Conservative" and "Liberal"? It really saddens me.<br /><br />This doesn't mean I'm not going to stick to my moral standards and convictions. I believe what I believe for a reason. But I'm not going to change someone else's mind until I start living out my convictions. We think we're going to change each other's minds about things but all we do is go in circles and bicker amongst ourselves. It's very ineffective. To reach other people they have to see something different in our lives. Not the same bickering they see from every other person. I just feel sometimes I am quick to jump on the Conservative band wagon and get upset over things just because everyone else is and that bugged me.<br /><br />Maybe that was a ramble, so I apologize. But it was on my mind and I just thought I would share. I'll close with the number one reason I choose to homeschool my children:<br /><br />"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. " Deuteronomy 6:5-9<br /><br />I can't control what Government chooses to teach my children. I can only control what I teach them. And that is what I have chosen to do!steveandcarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487368243922788112noreply@blogger.com2