Sick days, rainy days

I know that I have not been blogging lately, but for some reason I have not felt like doing it. First of all, my camera is broken and I really need a new one, but not for sure which one to get. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Another reason for not writing about what has been going on lately is because Noah was sick with the flu for a whole week and then it turned into pneumonia. So needless to say, it was pretty hectic around our house making sure he didn't get any sicker. It was sad to see him just lay around and sleep all day not even wanting to drink. We had to force him to take a few sips of something every hour. We were homebound for a little over a week and with all the rain lately, we really couldn't even go outside. After a good week, Noah finally started feeling better and returning to his old playful self. It make me really think about those families who have really sick children at home or in the hospital who go through this day in and day out. I have been reading blogs lately with children who are really sick with different illnesses such as cancer and my heart aches for them and their family. It makes me thank God everyday for how healthy mine have been. I know that life can change in an instant though, just like it does in many peoples lives.

So, hopefully I will get back to blogging about my kiddos. They have been doing some funny things lately. Oh, where does the time go!! Can they really be 3 and 4 already?

Ranch Hands Kickoff Meeting!!

My dear friend Heidi and me!

Some of the awesome members!

How cute are these boots? Thanks Becke for the pics!

I feel so blessed to be involved with a wonderful group of women helping serve a local organization called Soaring Wings Ranch. This is a place for children in need to come and live in a Christian home where they are loved and taking care of. You can read a little more about it at their website. A group of women started Ranch Hands and women pray for the Soaring Wings Ranch, the children and the house parents as well having fundraisers to provide projects for the children and house parents of the ranch. I am so excited to be a part of it! You can too! Just let me know if you feel led to do this.

Happy 3rd birthday Ally!

Ahhhh......I can't believe she is already 3 years old. It seems like just yesterday that I was waking my little 17 month old Noah up from his bed, changing his diaper while crying tears of joy because I knew that day he would not be an only child anymore. I can honestly say that morning I woke him up was a little bittersweet because he was still a baby and had no clue what was about to happen. Who would have thought they would get along so well and love one another so much. They are such good buddies and I am so thankful they have one another. Those first few months were so hard given that I had two little babies at home and honestly it is hard for me to remember Ally's first year. Thank goodness for journals and pictures. Where does the time go? She is 3 years old!! She is becoming a little girl now and not my little baby. I have tears just thinking about it! I am so grateful to get watch them grow up, but I know I will miss these moments. Enough of this sappy stuff, I know.

We had Ally's birthday at Sonshine Academy and the kids loved it. They got to swing, jump, run and even play hide and seek with the lights out. I think that was a big hit. Ally is into Hello Kitty right now so she loved her Hello Kitty backpack and shirt she got. My mom got her a little pink rocking chair and it is soooo cute.

Just a few little things Ally is doing at 3 so I don't forget:
She loves shoes and changes shoes all the time.
She loves to pretend or "lets just pretend momma" as she would say when trying to paint her nails.
She gets on the floor and exercises by doing situps (I wonder where she has seen that before).
She absolutely loves Frodo, our 100 pound boxer and crawls all over him and lays her head on him.
She loves to play with dolls and pretend they are her cousin Ava.
At night, when we are praying she always wants to pray for someone different, but then adds a few more people in there and sometimes it goes on and on and on.

Ally is so much fun right now and I treasure all these moments we are making together and as a family. I love watching her innocence during play and the way her eyes light up when she discovers something new. I thank God for her and I pray I can do a good job being a role model for her as she grows up. I can't imagine the pressures that will come for her and all girls and boys her age. I know that if I can "keep my eye on the prize ahead" and she follows that, then she will be off to a great start.

Fashion Show

Alexis and Ally


Noah and his friend Cole!

Ally walking the stage!

Noah and Ally were asked to be in a small fashion show for Ann's Trendy Kids, a new shop for children in downtown Conway. I was very proud of both of them because they both actually walked out on stage and waved to the crowd. Ally was dressed in a cute little outfit that had ruffles on the feet and big flower in the middle of the shirt. I'm not real great with brands of clothes, so not sure what kind it was, but man was it cute. (I would never pay that price for it though). Noah had the trendiest jeans on with a precious little yellow shirt. They did so good in the midday heat and although they where sweating, they still wore a sweet smile! Mimi, Auntie and Alexis came to watch too. Thanks guys!

Lake Ouachita

Zulliger family


Finton family

Tess, Noah and Cole

A couple of weekends ago we headed to Lake Ouachita for a weekend with some friends. Although Saturday it rained most of the day, we got a little lakin' in. The kids love the tube and and we love the breeze. There is just something relaxing about being out on the lake at sunset. We didn't get out there until about 6pm on Saturday but it was just perfect. Nevermind Todd and I having to jump in with all our clothes on (long story), it was a great weekend. A weekend filled with laughter, riding bumper boats and watching Twilight (my favorite--I know I'm cheezy).

Ally's first haircut!

Before haircut!

Ally in her yellow car (she picked it out).

During the haircut!

The finished product!

Ally had her first haircut this weekend and she was such the big girl! We went to Little Rock to Pigtails and Crewcuts. This is the cutest little salon that has a little car, airplane and train for the kids to sit in. Ally chose the yellow car and sat for the whole time without even a whimper. She enjoyed her sucker that was given to her and sat so still. I debated whether or not to get her curls cutoff since they were mainly on the ends of her hair, but her hair was just getting a little frazzled at the ends. I am praying her curls come back, but if not she will just have to settle for wavy hair like mine (which is not always pleasant). That day was a good day. My mom went with us and we enjoyed a lunch at Cheeburger Cheeburger and did a little shopping. You know we can't remember every little thing that happens with our children, but there are those few that you will always remember and I know this will be one of those. My little sweetpeas first haircut!! What a big girl now!! Sniff sniff!

OT and birthdays!

Heather and Paige

Shannon Y. and Ashley

Krysta and Heather

The OT gang minus Georgia

Every year on each of our birthdays we get together for a nice dinner and lots of laughs. This is a group of girls that I have now been blessed to know for 10 years. We all met around the same time when we were trying to get into OT (occupational therapy) school. God knew what He was doing when he put us all in the same class. (Usually our 7th friend is here too, Georgia, but she couldn't make it). I have been truly blessed by each of these girls in some way. These girls were a huge influence on my becoming a Christian. These are godly women with huge hearts who love the Lord. I always look forward to our birthday dinners (especially when it is mine, Ha Ha) and getting to catch with everyone. I love these women dearly and feel blessed to have known them for a decade now.