Priceless

The time we woke up to start the great competition, I mean adventure...

The fuel that we had to consume to keep up with the other competitors...

The best team players ever...

The fruit of our efforts...

Sharing a wonderful experience, getting a good start on our Christmas shopping, and being back home by 10:30...

PRICELESS!!!

Happy Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving from my little turkey's! We had such a blessed two days celebrating with our families. Thank you to my Lord and Savior just doesn't seem like enough. We have so much to be thankful for.

Hope you had a blessed day!

Wordless Wednesday- Build A Bear Style

Caroline is not in Mother's Day Out yet. She didn't make the cut...she was too young and well, I just couldn't bear to part with her this year. So, we have our own modified MDO on days that Will is at school. We make trips to the mall, we eat Chick-fil-a, we play in the play area, we shop(shhh, don't tell Daddy), and sometimes we sneak in fun things like riding the carousel or making a Build a Kitty! It was her first experience and she loved it. She cried when we had to tear the tags off. The kitty has pretty much not left her side since joining the family:) Thanks Nonni for the free coupon!

See, there I go again, being wordy on Wednesday...

Merry Monday

Mom has assured me I will laugh at this picture one day. I wanted so badly to have a cute picture of the kids with Santa. After four pictures, the photo guy wanted me to get my screaming child off Santa. So, this is the best one. Caroline screaming bloody murder, Will is dazed, and Santa has been hitting the eggnog early. Well, here is to next year.
Amanda

Loved

Today is my 29th birthday and I had no clue just how loved I am.

My sweet husband let me sleep in before he left out for his flight...loved.
My two precious kids greeted me with kisses and hugs and a sweet rendition of Happy Birthday, three year old style...loved.
My dad volunteered to watch my children, so my mom and I could have little shopping time and lunch...loved.
My mom treated me to lunch and told me just how special I am...loved.
My grandparents, mother-in-law, SILs, friends, called and texted me birthday wishes...loved.
My sister blogged about me (probably the sweetest things anyone has ever said about me)...loved.
My parents treated me to dinner...loved.
My husband called to tell me he loved me and was glad I was born...loved.

Wow, it feels so good to be loved. I am so thankful for people like you in my life. I love you too:)

Thank You Aunt Crea!

Today, Jesse's Aunt Crea called and said she had a little surprise for us! Boy, were we thrilled, her surprises are ALWAYS fun. Check out this surprise...


We can't wait to wear them all season!!! Oh, and maybe beyond...Thanks again! We love you!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Third Birthday Will

Will celebrated his birthday on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! We had a blast. We partied with Chuckie and friends. It was definitely an experience!!! Friday, was Will's real birthday and we just partied at home. Saturday, we went to Logan's to celebrate Will's, Trey's, and my birthday and Sunday, we had a family party with a Thomas theme. Needless to say, we are partied out!

First Gift of the Season

Check this out... It is an amazing cause!

Every day 4,500 mothers bury their children due to contaminated water. They are forced to sustain the lives of their family with a diabolical liquid that contains both life and death. This lack of access to clean water is recognized as the leading cause of death in underdeveloped nations. And it just doesn't have to be.
For a fraction of what Americans spend during the holidays, the whole world could be equipped with life-saving, clean water. So we are coming together to trade consumerism for compassion and buy Water For Christmas. And we are starting in West Africa.
We are united simply by a desire to keep our eyes open and hearts soft. We believe that indeed a small group of committed individuals can change the world and in the process we watch our own lives transformed.

All donations are tax deductible go directly to charity: water, who takes 100% straight to clean water solutions.
You can follow our specific campaign happenings at water4christmas.com.

Wonderful

Wonderful...the two pink lines on March 11, 2006
Wonderful...preparing 9 months for your arrival
Wonderful...the doctor saying it is a "boy"
Wonderful...seeing your beautiful face for the first time
Wonderful...nights spent cuddling, as I rocked you to sleep
Wonderful...hearing you speak for the first time
Wonderful...my heart melting when you told me you loved me
Wonderful...the day you became a big brother
Wonderful....holding your small hand in mine
Wonderful...seeing you adore your father
Wonderful...being your mother

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;your works are wonderful, and I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

Will,
You have been a delight. You are wonderful. Happy Third Birthday!
Mommy, Daddy, and Carolin

Happy 15 months Baby

Today marks 15 months for our sweet baby girl. I am so amazed that she is so big and so much time has passed. She has brought so much joy to our family. Here are a few reasons why we like, no LOVE her.

She loves to hug and kiss. It is so sweet.
She loves her brother so much, when she wakes in the morning she is scanning the room for him.
She is so independent. She eats with a fork and a spoon, and I mean, she is good at it.
She loves Baby Einstein movies, I mean, squeals with joy when they come on.


She is a gift, one that we don't deserve. Thank you Lord, for our Caroline!

Tuesday's Top Ten- Big Orange Style

We went to Knoxville this weekend. It was Homecoming and we were itching to go see our Vols play, so we loaded up the car and headed to K-town for a little football fun. Wow, you can learn a lot at a UT Football game...

Top Ten Things I Learned at a UT Football game

1. The Vol Walk is not only for football players. I am really bad at directions, in fact, the big joke in my family is "did you really go to school here?" because I get us lost constantly! Hey, I walked everywhere on campus! We made a wrong turn the other day about an hour before the game. We ended up leading the Vol Walk, no lie, right behind the police cars and right before the players! This picture does not do it justice!

2. I think the University has adopted a fifth color. UT fans have taken our hillbilliness to a whole new level. I am totally not cheering for our team if we bust out camo pants though, completely unacceptable.

3. As cool as it looks, you should not try to get your Christmas card photo at a UT game... you will end up frustrated, covered in popcorn, and the people behind you will not appreciate it.

4. This never gets old. I love me some, runnin' through the power T, Rocky Top singin', Smokey Howlin, VOLS!

5. This is the diet of most of the people at the game...this needs no further explanation.

6. Three years old and fifteen months, is entirely too young to attend a game and have it be enjoyable to the adults and to the adults around us. So, this is what my mom and I did the whole game.

7. It really is possible for two children to run up and down the hallway of the stadium for approximately a whole quarter. One would think that you would tire, but I have the pics to prove it.

8. You may have to leave the game early because of reason #6. It really is possible for two women to carry a two small children on your back and hip back to the car parked 2.8 miles away. Hey, I didn't get to do Jillian this morning, but I sure did get a workout.

9.. This guy is on diet featured in # 5. We saw this guy while performing #8. I was really tired, but not to tired to stop and click a pic. He is actually pretty high (in more ways than one).

10. We had so much fun that we are getting season tickets next year. Who knows, maybe we will take the kids back:)

Favorite Foto Friday- Wish Style

A girl and a boy can dream... The Wish List Book came in the mail.

This post is brought to you today by inspiration from Graham Crackas Wish List. Which by the way is fabulous, I think I will just forward the whole thing to my husband.

Do you know what this is?

When I was younger I used to eagerly anticipate the arrival of this book. I would skip all the way back from the mailbox. My mom would give me a big ole Sharpie* and I would go to town. I would have circles around anything and everything, from Bake Ovens to Barb*ie and her Car. It provided hours of entertainment for me and for my mom. Nonni introduced the Wish Book to my kids. They have looked at it all day.

I still love to Wish. I definitely wish for different things now. I wish for more time, longer days, that I could freeze this time with my kids, that Madelyn didn't have cancer, that my friends would receive their referral for their adoption,that my husband was at home tonight, that every child had food and clothing...

What do you wish for? Whatever it is, I hope it comes true.