Thoughts

As I was laying in bed this morning trying to wake up I started thinking about all of the changes that have been going on in our lives.

Dyllan just celebrated his 2nd birthday.....I know it's hard for me to believe as well. He is an amazing little boy, fun of fun and sweetness. He loves to laugh and his giggle is one of the most wonderful sounds in the entire world.


Ryleigh....where to start? She started pre-school on the 9th of Sept. and she is so incredibly excited about that. She didn't even cry which made it even harder on me. My first thought was she didn't need me anymore. Then I realized how silly that was and that I should embrace the fact that she was confident enough to enjoy the amazing adventure she was starting.

Kaleb, well he started first grade this year and is enjoying the new challenges. He got a 100% on his first spelling test and was go happy. He is changing from the mouthy kid he was over the summer into the nice and polite boy that Kels and I have worked hard to raise. That is one stage I hope his sister and little brother skip!

Kelsey and I are in a great place. Incredibly happy and blessed with our children and marriage.

More times than not I am too busy to stop and savor the small things that are going on in our lives. I often find myself saying I should write that down or make a layout about that but often I do not get to it and then forget to go back and do it. I am trying to find a happy balance in my life among the craziness of everyday life......maybe someday I will.

Independence Day!!!!

Today is a day of celebration to me and my family. We always have a fireworks display, big or small. and hang out with those that we love. It is a day to say thank you for all of those who have served and made it so that me and my children can live in a country that is free; where we have the option to make our own decisions.

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

Something from Nothing

I just had to share this with you all, Ryleigh and I made her first dress from nothing! She was so proud of herself; as you can tell. It was a super simple pattern and she has already commented that she needed to make another one.

Babies, so much fun!

Ryleigh is an absolute perfect mommy...she treat each and everyone of her babies as if they were a real baby. I took these photos the other day and thought they were too sweet not to share. If only real life child rearing was always so sweet.

Mommy Ryleigh, 2nd row Hannah, Arianna,

Addison, Katie and Lily 3rd Row Lizzie, Eliza

and Olivia! Hard to keep them all straight:)

Mile Stones!

So, Kaleb lost his first tooth this past tuesday! He was so excited....and the tooth fairy visited as well. Here a few photos with him and his toothless grin!

Something to think about....

Carrots, Eggs & Coffee!

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil.

In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked,' Tell me what you see.'
'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. You can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.