Pictures of the boys

Here are the newest pictures of our boys. I don't know how we got such cute kids! The baby in the picture is Gavin. Aren't they sweet!?!? Just had to share!!!

It's the little things in life!

As most of you know, I am horrible in the kitchen. I have a handful of dishes I make well, but the bad experiences outweigh the good by far! So, a couple of weeks ago I successfully attempted 'pigs in a blanket.' We sat down for dinner around the table, Aiden said our prayer and then he took a huge bite of his 'blanket.' He turns to me and says, "Mom ... you are a great cook." What he doesn't know can't hurt him ... right? The very next day I decided that I wanted a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I began making one and Aiden asked if he could try one. (History: Aiden never liked peanut butter - so I don't think he has ever had a PB&J). I made him a half sandwich (cut diagonal ... the ONLY way to cut a sandwich). He took one bite and said, "Mom ... what do you call this and I will eat another one if you will make it for me!" I felt so proud! A couple days later Marcus was asking what they would like to have for lunch. Aiden replied, "My mom makes this sandwich on bread and cuts it. It has the brown stuff on one side and the purple stuff on the other ... do you know how to make it too Dad?" Took Marcus a second to figure out he was talking about a PB&J, but from what I hear, Dad makes a mean PB&J also.

See ... it really is the little things in life!
Have a wonderful weekend ... get that shopping done!
Carrie

Aiden's Issues

Good afternoon!

I've yet another funny Aiden story:
The boys haven't been in the greatest of moods in the mornings. For instance, Logan was having a 'bad case of the Mondays' on Monday. Cried about every single thing. I hear that lasted well into his time at the sitter's. We made it through Monday, just to enter into Tuesday. Tuesday Logan woke up in the best of moods ... whew! He was hugging me, kissing me, laughing ... we woke up on the right side of the bed. Aiden however ... not so much. He was your basic whiny four year old for the first few minutes, then it all went to - well, you know. He asked if he could take a Hot Wheel to the sitter's (something we have never let him do). So I replied, "No, Aiden. If you take it there you will forget it and then be sad. Let's just wait until we get home tonight to play with it." He did not like answer. He threw the car across the room followed by throwing himself onto the floor crying like a baby. I then told him to pick up the car and hand it to me because he now lost it for the evening. I proceeded to tell him (calmly I might add ... I was very proud) that he was having some issues and needed to get it figured out so that he could have a much better day. His reply through his tears was, "What are issues and why do I have them!?!?!" It was all I could do not to crack up in laughter! It sounded like a woman if you want to know the truth. AHHHHH! I calmly (again, proud of that fact) told him that issues were problems and he needed to figure out why he was having a bad day and fix it. From what I hear, he figured out his issues within minutes of being at the sitter's and had a good day. Another crisis averted!

Wednesday

Hello! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. On to the next one!
Above is a picture of my grandparents that were visiting all last week from Missouri. They held Gavin until he couldn't be held anymore. They are wonderful grandparents and even more wonderful as great grandparents to my boys and I know they will be to Gavin also. I am so thankful to have a relationship with them. I am also thankful that my boys have the joy of knowing all 8 of their grand"folks!" YEP ... I said 8!

Anywho! It's been a week at our house. Last Wednesday evening Aiden told daddy to come into the laundry room. He did so just to find a leak in our ceiling (ok, another leak in our ceiling). Aiden bluntly said, "Well Dad, tell people not to buy this house ... it drips!" Guess we shouldn't have him around when we put it on the market! So, tomorrow Marcus will have the joy of putting new shingles up. I know that is exactly how he wanted to spend one of the four days he has off. He did have a great day yesterday - he (we) bought a 2003 Chevy truck. For those of you who know us well, you know what a huge thing this is for him. He is on cloud nine! And nope ... I've yet to have permission to drive it. :0)

I'll close by asking you all to say a prayer for my Aunt Leslie and her family. They flew down to Houston, TX on Sunday (maybe Monday) for more testing and such. They also took the three boys and her parents. Please pray for the dr.'s that are treating her and pray God's blessing on her family as they spend time together as well as safe traveling home. I hear that the boys are getting to go see the ocean! How fun!?

Have a wonderful week,
Carrie

Sleepy Heads?

Thanksgiving 2007 has come and gone ... whew! I am not one that loves to go out the day after for the sales, so most of the day yesterday was spend sleeping in ... love that so much more than any sale! Last night my parents kept the boys so I ended up heading to Kohl's at 10 pm since they were open until midnight. It was nice to have some time to myself and getting a little bit of shopping done. Thanks mom and dad!!! :0)

Today both boys are really struggling with the cold/flu bug. We ate dinner with the family but then headed home for baths and what I thought would be an early bedtime for all ... WRONG! I even tried the "Sleepy Head" pj's along with the nighttime cold and flu meds ... no luck. Both boys are laying down but are trying to out do the other by singing. In one corner we have a very off tune, but cute, version of "You Are My Sunshine." In the other corner is Logan attempting to sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." Basically I hear, "Don't take my Star what you are away" over and over. It's cute now, but in about 15 minutes not so much.

I am so excited! Last night I got to spend three hours with Gavin. Just me and Gavin (ok, Nick and Jamie were there too, but let's just pretend it was just me and Gavin). Anyway, I got to hold him, kiss him, I even taught him the "Skidda-mer-inky-dinky-dink" song ... motions and all! He is just so sweet and I could have held him all night.

Hey ... if you haven't already - check out my slide show below. I cannot figure out how to put it on the side so that it is always present. If you know ... let me know please!

Have a great Tuesday.
Carrie

Friends

I know that this is the season for giving thanks. I know that I do not do this enough for all I have been given. I am so very thankful for my family and their support, but today I have been thinking a lot about my friends. It's probably because I am heading to Chuck E. Cheese tonight with some of my closest friends and their children. We have done this twice already (we use our kids to get in if you want the truth!) and it's been a blast each time. The pizza makes your stomach gurgle, but to see the children laugh and have fun with each other at the same time the adults are ... it's just priceless. So, as I am gearing up all day for the fun evening ahead, I am reminded of my closest friends. Although I don't see you all as much as I would like, please know that I love you all and pray for your families often!

So, as my heart was open to being thankful for friends, something else happened. An older couple that use to play in my parent's euchre club stopped in to my office. I know that sounds dull, but stick with me. Don and Jan have always loved on my boys as if they were their own. They are two of the cutest and funniest couples Marcus and I have ever met. We only would see them every six months or so, but they welcomed us with hugs and laughter every time. Five months ago Don experienced 2 heart attacks and 2 strokes along with something else that has made him lose his memory and speaking skills. The dr.s had once said that his brain was 'mush' and he would never walk or move his right arm again. Well ... I am happy to say that Don WALKED into my office using only a cane and even remembered my face. He wanted to see pictures of my boys and hugged me many times. Jan says that the dr's obviously didn't know "her Don" but more importantly, they didn't know "her God" because Don is a walking miracle.

I just want to thank God for my family, for my friends near and far, for Don and Jan and the miracles that they have experienced in the last few months. Maybe throw a prayer in there for my stomach at Chuck E. Cheese's tonight too! ARG!

Have a wonderful weekend all!

Carrie