Home Stamp Home!

Well, I have returned from yet another AWESOME year at Stamping' Up! Convention! It amazes me with all the new ideas & techniques that I learn each year.

I have recently signed 2 new stampin' fanatics so I am really excited about this next year. I have been a glorified hobbyist for some time now, but with a team under me, I am really pumped!

Many of you asks what I do with the kids when I am gone......Well, that is where their daddy comes in! Billy took off work to stay with them all week. Man, can I just tell you.........

I arrived back home on a Sunday. At the bottom of the first set of escalator, my family was there holding this huge sign that said, "WELCOME HOME MOMMY!" I started crying right there. They were dressed to the nines as they had come from the 8:15am service. We we got back to the house, it was clean. Oh thank goodness cause I was not really looking forward to cleaning & unpacking!

The kids told me about all the things they did with Daddy....park, swimming pool, 2 birthday parties, walks & bike rides. Man, did they have fun!

Oh yea! Did I mention that we have 4 kids between the age of 6-1? My husband is AMAZING!!!

Potting Training.....a boy! :)

Well, we have been thinking about potty-training AJ.

Keyword: thinking!

AJ has decided that he want to go in the big boy potty.This is a good thing as far as I am concerned, less diapers to buy, less diapers to change, you get the picture.

Wednesday we were at the zoo & we decided to take a potty break. We all went into the girls bathroom, (Billy was at work) & I announced that EVERYONE needed to go potty. AJ said that he did not need to go. I explained that we were not leaving the bathroom till everyone went potty. "Okay" he relunctly said!

As he is sitting on the potty he announced, " Mommie, it's not working!" Ladies in teh bathroom look at me & I explain that we are potty training. All the sudden, AJ yells "It's working now, Mommie!" He was very proud of himself....

We have been 8 days with only one accident...not on my watch, though...:)

Hopefully we will soon be only buying diapers for Avery!

Yea!!!!!!

Avery's 1st Birthday!

Tuesday was Avery's 1st birthday! My baby is 1! We had her party yesterday with a few friends.

Her friend Joey from church was able to make it along with his folks, Josh & Laray. Tisha, Hannah, & Ian came as well to celebrate the day with us. Alana, our babysitter, was back in the USA so she came along with Miss Lila, Gillian & Sage.

We had hotdogs & brats & then, CAKE!

Avery ate a hot dog, bun, & some chee-tos....by the time we got to the cake. I think she was a bit full! Joey decided he could help her out..... betweent the 2 of them we had cake all over the place!

After cake, she open presents! She loved opening her presents. I think she enjoyed the wrapping too. She got some really cute outfits, a talking piggy bank, an extremely soft plush lion & a book, and some little people animals. She has spent the morning playing with all of her new toys.

Avery is standing & holding onto things now & taking a few steps. Before you know it, she will be walking everywhere. She loves her sisters & brother & they play well together! Even AJ is really gentle with her. (thanks goodness!)

PRAISES!!!!

In April, my dad was diagnosed with melanoma, skin cancer! To say the least, I was a bit caught of guard. See, my Dad is the healthy, strong guy who very rarely needs a doctor. I am so thankful that it was caught early!!

My dad is currently at Shannon Hospital in San Angelo recovering from a second surgery. The outcome: lympnodes were clear. He has some recouping to do at home for the next few weeks but he will be up soon chasing the grandkids all over the yard!

Thank you God!

Easter Sunday

Sunday morning started out with the surprises from the Easter bunny. Each kid had their very own basket protecting their very own chocolate bunny. Little did we know at this wee hour of the morning, that a bunny snatcher was among our midst. We headed out the door for services, followed by class, & then on to hunt Easter eggs...The kids had a lot of fun. After that, we meet some friends at the park on base for a cook-out & another egg hunt. By time the weekend was over, we had 3 Easter egg hunts...Boy, do we have lots of candy!

Dying Eggs

While we were coloring eggs on Saturday evening, the kids were really getting into the whole process.
While AJ diligently balanced his egg on the "spoon" to dip the egg into the coloring dye, it suddenly slipped off & plopped into the dye. He exclaimed "Whoop-ee!!!"