Talli's "Tat"

This is a recent picture of Talli. It think she would say her life is good, not perfect but good.

This is a picture of Talli's new tatoo. Disclaimer: I DO NOT LIKE TATOOS! But I do understand what her tatoo represents. She struggled in her teen years. One of her struggles was self injury. The word hope sums up alot in her life. Through all the nightmares she went through by the grace of God she saw the light at the end and her light was "hope." Hope that there was a better way, hope for a healthy life, hope for healing. She has dedicated her life to serve in the field that helped her find hope when all her hope was lost. In turn she gives her patients hope they need to make it though just one more day, the hope for a better tomorrow and the hope for a better future.

She is amazing, beautiful, and my sister!

I love you Talli.

If you know anyone or you yourself suffers from self injury click on the link selfinjury.com for help. This is the same program that gave her hope.

Wordless Wednesdays

The "Hair" Department

We all know the story as why Brylee is lacking in the hair department......and if you don't I will give you a clue......she has a big brother who got a hold of some scissors....Well is is just getting long enough to pull the front back.
But as you can see she pretty much sees this as a form of torture and forgot that she used to love her hair pulled back.
Ahhhhhh.....much better

Snow Forts.....

designed by one cool Dad!

A Beautiful Spring Day in Kansas....

filled with sleet, ice, and snow. Guess I should of put the hose away......

Happy Spring!

She must really love me....

that is my friend Tina, because she brough me over a jar Dark Chocolate Dreams made by Peanut Butter & Co. It really is a dream! Brylee has been eating it by the spoonful, so this morning I gave her some strawberries.... you know that makes me a better Mom because I served Strawberries with her breakfast :)

Thank you Tina...you are now my new Best Friend!

Entrepreneur at 8

He did it again....the kid made more money at school selling things out of his desk. This time it was an eraser. Not bad for a days work!

A Brettism

"Brett I can hear your tummy rumbling, can you hear it?" "No Mom, I have way too many thoughts in my head."

I love him so!

The daily "school day" count down.....

Yesterday Brett went back to school after spring break. The count down begins right after the bus leaves. "Mom how many more until Brett comes home." And no I did not leave out the word "hour" from his sentence.
Still waiting!

Brylee what are you doing? Her famous answer, "nutting"

For the love of Brett

Run Brett run! I went outside with my camera thinking I don't have enough pictures of just Brett on my blog. I want a picture of Brett on Spring Break, just Brett..... this is the reason I don't have many pictures of "just" Brett. He has two fans. They are named Brylee and Jacob.

Brett is very popular.

Even when the camera is not watching they are right beside their Big Brother.

A Cracked Heart

This is Jacob keeping the kitchen floor clean. He made a promise.......that he would always keep the kitchen floor clean. Because he is so mature and knows that I need the help.....of course not! Please..... he is four and he wants something! This is day 3 of keeping his promise. Notice he is not thrilled about his promise.
Jake what is wrong......"My heart is cracked from all this work." Can you believe he does so many chores that his heart cracked? Poor soul!

But then I remined him why he keeps the floor clean and he felt better. This is a picture of the prize he works so hard for. Some mornings he comes downstairs and cleans the kitchen floor all by himself. What a sweetie!

Hot Dogs and Lip Stick

I know, I know she has lost her clothes again. The girl loves to be naked! And she also loves to use her play kitchen hotdog as lip stick for her dogs. Ahhh, how cute is she?

P.S. Notice the beautiful hair clip Jake put in her hair....

Note to Self:

Having Fruit Chews in the house, makes for lots of begging and very angry children when they are told they can't eat 300 packages of fruit chews in one day.

My Week with my Mom

Thank you for.....

taking Jake to speech (even if Brylee was not strapped in her carseat :)

filling the fridge 5 times

taking the kids to the school carnival

celebrating my Birthday 3 times

pampering us with haircuts

being my Ebay assistant

cleaning my house

doing my laundry

making the kids laugh until they cry

making sure Brett had camoflauge for his party

being my Mom

praying for us

loving me unconditionally

We miss you!

Thanks Dad!

Thanks Dad for the card and the generous check! Brylee has taken the card over. She is certain that you have made a mistake sending it to me. Can you believe you have a daughter that is 30?

What you can do when you are Laid Off.....

For all those who know Bryan, he has a hard time doing nothing. So last week he took a trip to Oklahoma to pick up wood with his Dad. Check out Tom's website, he is an amazing carpenter!

Thanks for the Birthday presents!

Round Two

This a picture of Round One 2008~ notice he is not in the water.....

We attempted swim lessons 1 year ago. Did not go so well! He spend the whole time watching from the wall.
But do you see the beautiful, brown eyed girl? This is the love of Jacob's life. Really just last week they talked on the phone for over an hour. He will do anything to be with her. Jacob is now a fish in the water. Thanks Eliana!
He likes to give her a call early in the week to make sure she will be there. See you Thursday Eliana!

But she has me for a Mom.....

Good Moms love to cook and bake for their family, right? Well poor soul, Brylee, who loves all things girly, got me for a Mom! Fun does not include spending time in the kitchen. What is wrong with me? I come from a long line of great cooks. Who knows?

Well Brylee loves to spend time in the kitchen. So for the love of Brylee and my husband I pull out the ever so handy "Joy of Cooking" cookbook.
Good thing the girl has Grandma's to teach her!

Yes she loves to be in "her" kitchen.

Look we did it! Maybe we will do it again next year!