Student of the Week - Sora

12/09/09
This year Parkridge Elementary is doing their student of the week a little different. They are choosing students based on character traits. They discuss those traits the week before and the teacher decides which child they feel meets those qualities.

This week was TRUST. Sora's teacher says Sora is a very truthful person. She gives credit to others when they deserve it. She admits when she makes a mistake and tries to do better. All this makes her a wonderful student who can be trusted and who shows responsibility in all areas.

We must be doing something right as parents, right? We are very proud of her.

Students of Honor get to have lunch at the Student of the Week table and they can invite whomever they would like to join them for lunch. Sora asked us and we brought her pizza & cinnamon sticks...ummmmm!


She loves her daddy! And every time we get to spend lunch with her, she'd rather hang out with us than go play with her friends. It's wonderful having children that love to be around us.

Trina's Birthday

12/11/09
Our grand-daughter, Trina, turned 6 this year.

She's such a happy girl...and I love her dimples.

Her blowing out her candles.

Ginger Bread House

Okay so I'm working backwards in time. Being pregnant I haven't wanted to do much so I've neglected our blog site. So I'm starting to get back into the swing...I think. So bare with me.

12/13/09
Dad started out trying to help the girls but handed the job over to me.

Funny thing...I didn't realize I put the roof on upside down until I started putting the icing on top.

It was hard to squeeze the icing out of that tube.

The girls putting the heart onto of the Christmas tree together.

They each decorated a ginger bread man and ate it.


The three of us and our finished product.

The mess.

And there it is. I'm not really sure I like doing this. I don't know why but it was a little hard. Maybe because I'm pregnant and just wasn't in the mood. Oh well we did it and the girls were happy. So I guess that's what matters.

Beautiful White Crisp Morning

Monday, the 14th this is what I saw when I went outside. Just absolutely beautiful. The trees were covered in snow and ice. The sun was slowly rising adding the glow to the top of the trees. Obviously pictures don't do it justice.




And my silly cross eyed cat, X, was following me around while I took pictures and she rolled around in the snow.

Hosting a Cocoa Party

Talking about hosting a party. If anyone knows how to do it . . . it would be my sister. She is amazing! Her and her friends put together a beautiful party. Check it out here Annual Cocoa Party. (Hope you don't mind if I post this on my blog sister)

Official News

We are 20 weeks pregnant!
Many of you already know my history and what I have been through to get to this point. Thus, the reason for holding off on any official notices on my pregnancy.

This pregnancy has been 17 years in the making. I have been through 8 miscarriages and the twin to this baby didn't make it. Making that my 9th miscarriage. But this baby is a survivor and we are so excited and can't wait to meet our baby.

Our baby is constantly moving around, kicking, punching, stretching, yawning, just endless movement. It's so exciting to feel and experience.

There are so many things about this pregnancy that make it a miracle to me that baby and I have made it this far.

I've had several ectopic (tubal pregnancies) in which the last one was so traumatic (my left fallopian tube burst in two places) causing me to be rushed to the hospital and have the tube removed. Fortunately, I survived.

Originally, I found out I was pregnant at the end of August. In my initial ultrasound I was informed that I ovulated from my left ovary (the one that was removed). How does that happen?

When Rocky and I went in for another appointment we found out we were pregnant with twins. So not only did I ovulate from my left tube, there were two eggs that came from my left tube and were fertilized. Amazing!

We also found out I had several uterine fibroids which might cause some complications. Fortunately, no problems so far.

Unfortunately, at 10 weeks we found out we lost one of our babies. Not an easy thing to go through.

Now at 20 weeks, I feel more confident that both baby and I are going to make it through. I'm so elated and excited, words can not define the joy I feel. Thank you to all my family and friends who have been there for baby and me, kept us in your thoughts and prayers. I feel so blessed.

Here is a profile of our baby.

Here is baby's hand.

Here is baby's foot. I know...baby has a wide foot. I thought the baby had six toes at first but the sonographer assured me that it just has a big toe. Those must be daddy's feet.

Another profile of baby.

Just so excited, I can't wait!!!

Colors of Fall

11/01/09 We decided we needed to do a little yard work. And since it was such a beautiful day we took advantage of it and raked leaves.

My handsome husband

Our beautiful Sora

Our beautiful Olivia

Our dog, Saudalor, trying to get in on the action but causing more trouble then helping.

One of our cats, X, we call her that because she is cross eyed. It's so cute. Our other cat is a boy and we call him "O". So we have X and O.

And the beautiful colors of fall

Halloween

Alia helped get the girls ready for Halloween by doing their makeup. I'm so glad this is the only time the little girls can wear makeup. I'm dreading when they turn into teenagers.

Anyhow, their Halloween costumes turned out.


Here is Olivia as a devil.

Alia again putting on Sora's makeup.

Here is Sora as a monster bride.

Pheasant Hunting

10/23/09 Rocky decided to do some hunting this morning. He was able to shoot one of these cocks. I'm not quite sure what type of bird it is, oh yeah I think it's a pheasant. But I sure do think it's pretty. I don't know when he plans on cooking it but it's sitting in our freezer all de-feathered and gutted. He said pheasant tastes pretty good. I guess we'll see.


My hunter. At least I feel confident that would could survive.

Hunting

Yesterday, Rocky & I decided to walk over to our neighbors and find some rabbits to hunt. Our neighbor has about 80 acres so we did a little bit of walking. Unfortunately, we couldn't find the rabbits that were a plenty the other day. Must have been the chicken hawk that scared them into hiding. But there were tons of quail and Rocky wished he would have brought his 12 gauge. Oh well, next time.

Shooting at some quail.

There's just something about this picture that just makes me want to purr. ;0P

No luck today, heading home.

Our Pretty Girls

Couldn't leave the lake without having them pose with Olivia's cowgirl hat.
Sora

Olivia

Summer Fun

August 21, 2009 the only time we were able to make it to the lake with the jet skis. Here we are enjoying the last of the warm weather and the water. Me with the girls.



Dad with the girls.


The girls jumping off the dock with their poses.

I wish it was still summer.