I have been WAY WAY WAY behind on blogging.  Maybe its cause I have 3 kids...  Its been the most crazy, most fun, most exhausting most rewarding time.  Faith is approaching 9 months and I really can not believe it!!  She has a tooth now, and the older she gets, the less and less she looks like a carbon copy of her older siblings and more like her own person.  She is a complete joy to have, and a blessing to our family.

We had a little "mishap" with our camera... i.e: everything expensive that I own should be covered in bubble wrap, but all is well now and I am back to taking pictures and actually getting them off the camera and on to the computer.  (now if I could only get them from the computer to a scrapbook right!?)

One thing I have noticed, and I credit it ALL to prayer, constant prayer, is that my kids seem to all love each other very much.  Lori has been enamored with Faith since she met her in the hospital, stuffed (finding) Nemo in hand.  David was your typical boy not very interested in the baby at first.  BUT he came around quickly.  If asked, "Is that David's baby, or Mommy's baby?", he would often respond "ummm.... that Davey baby"  He also was kind enough to bring her to me when she was 5 days old after I had put her on the floor by the window (needed UV rays) in her room.  David brought her out to me by the arm, as if she was a stuffed animal.  "Here Mama, Here baby!"  I didn't want to get mad at him or startle him so he'd drop her... so I just very slowly told him thank you and asked him to not pick her up again.  Eeps.  I guess its survival of the fittest when you are the third.

Since then as she's been growing up, I've noticed that Faith just lights up when David is around.  She follows him around, when possible, and just loves to be near him.  She loves her sister too, and I still pray that they will be as close as my sister and I are, but there is just something so neat about their little bond.  He also will sometimes go wake her up cause he's giving her a toy or bottle he found around the house.  Its so sweet. 

Here are some pictures I took of David and Faith doing what they do.  

 Playing with the iPad

 Sharing toys

 Holding hands watching T.V

sweet faces

Having a tea party

TUB TIME!

 Not to be forgotten... SISTERS!!!

All three "crazies"!

Now that Blogger changed the way I can post pictures, I think I will be blogging WAY more now!  So get excited!!!!

Dear Dad,
I love you.  You have been and always will be my hero.  The strongest, bravest, funniest, most cleaver man I could ever imagine when I was growing up. You taught me about God, and about his never ending love for me.  You made me the tomboy that I am and I couldn't be prouder of that fact.  I've always wanted to be like you!  Because of you I can tell each member of the Beatles apart by their voice alone and tell you WHY they sound different, I can play harmonica as well as Alanis Morissette, I can use a power tool just about as good as any boy on the block, I can also retell several interesting stories and facts about the Civil War that your average history book doesn't tell us. Because of you I can sing any Peter, Paul and Mary song ever written, (in harmony if needed.) You gave me a love and respect of music of all kinds.  There is something about music that stirs something deep within my soul, and that is something that you gave me at a young age.  But most importantly, because of you I knew just what to look for in a husband.  (and I found him!)  I knew to find a gentle and kind man,  but one who would stand up to me when needed, and love me enough to not let me walk over him, a man who melts at the site of his little girls and loves to be silly with all his kids.  You showed me what it was like to be loved by God, and because of you, referring to God at my heavenly FATHER has never been difficult for me.  Thank you for loving me always, even when I'm tough to love.  Thank you for buying me Fantastic Four comics and letting me drive with you all the way to your harmonica lessons.  Thank you for giving me your middle name.  Thank you for driving with me and the kids to Chicago and Memphis.  I will treasure that trip with you and the memories from our time there until the day I die.

Favorite picture of my dad EVER!  *He looks like Jesus!!!

 Thumbs up for dad!

Father Daughter dance.  Great fun.

Memphis trip.  Treasured memories.  

I love this picture of Lori on your shoulders.   Something so sweet and special about it.

I love you dad.

Love,

DB

p.s: I apologize for any grammatical errors and/or run on sentences, of all the things you taught me, proper grammar, particularly of the written variety, is the one that hasn't stuck.  hee hee

Dear Mom

I got on facebook today to write my mom a Happy Mother's Day greetings, but as I started writing I realized that it was more of a blog post then a "wall post".  I wanted to do something to publicly honor the woman who taught me everything about life.  So here is my message to my mom, I hope she will read it and know just how special she is.  I don't like it when people say "Happy Mother's Day to the best mom out there" cause frankly, how can one gauge that?  My mom is the best mom FOR ME.  I have not been an easy daughter, not by any stretch of the imagination but whether she realizes it or not, she knows just how to reach me.  She is a Godsend, MY Godsend. He knew what He was doing when He made her my mom.

Happy Mother's Day!  Thank you for all you've done for me and continue to do for me everyday!  Thank you for believing in me and supporting me all my life.  You've been my biggest cheerleader and one of closest confidants for as long as I can remember.  I wouldn't be where I am with out you.  You held me when you needed too, cried with me when I needed you, and disciplined me when you had to.  Even though we live far apart now I feel like we're getting closer everyday.  I have not been easy to love by any means, I've been, and still can be quite difficult, but there has never been a doubt in my mind that you love me just the way I am.  (or despite the way I am, I'm not sure which)  I love you more than I could ever express.

another Wisconsin Wedding

On March 1st we headed up to Wisconsin for a wedding. The bride, Kellie, is more like Jorge's sister than anything else. I met her almost 11 years ago, right after Jorge and I started dating. We hit it off right away, and as weird as it sounds, I have been looking forward to the day she and her sister get married for a very very long time! I was "HUGELY" pregnant so I had A doctors note so I wouldn't be kept from flying, cause let me tell you... NOTHING was going to keep me from this wedding! I just LOVE this girl to bits, and would never be able to forgive myself for missing the biggest day in her life.


"HI HAIRPLANE!!" I swear, I've never heard "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy! HAIRPLANE." so many times in my whole life.

Lori and I sat together, and David and Jorge sat together. Divide and concur. We wont be able to do that for long. :/


After 8 years of visiting Chicago and the Chicago area I finally got to IN and sit and eat, usually we just pick it up and take it to our friends' house. It was DELIGHTFUL! Immediately following taking the picture of Lori and I eating out pizza, Lo burned her mouth. Poor kiddo!


I got to spend some of the early afternoon with Kellie and the bridesmaids. I painted their nails, and got them their lunches from the church kitchen. It was a complete joy to be able to help them that way. Anything I could do for those sweet girls was a delight.


First things first, family picture... it will soon be outdated as we will have a new family member VERY shortly, BUT I wanted one regardless. I was super excited about my dress. :) (15 bucks CLEARANCE! I mean, how awesome is that!?)


Father Daughter dance. I balled! It was to "Cinderella" by Stephen Curtis Chapman, and if you haven't heard that song, go listen... unless you have children and are in public, then I would recommend waiting until you are alone, so that no one sees you cry like a little school girl. Its a very very sweet song!!!


Most of Jorge's High School youth group. I LOVE that after 20 years (TWENTY YEARS PEOPLE! HOLY MOLY!) We still make a point to get together and see each other when we go up to Chicago/Wisconsin. My prayer, among many, for my own high school girls is that they will wanna get together like this in 20 years, and that they'll be invited to our kids' weddings. How special is that!!


One of Jorge's buddies, wanted to get a belly comparison shot... I think its a draw.


The way they did the garter toss was pretty neat. The groom took the garter off the bride, put it on a football and then tossed the football in to the crowd of guys. WELL... The brides brother, John just happens to be a high school football STAR! (Our words, not his!) His varsity football team just went undefeated all the way to win the Wisconsin State football championships. With John scoring the GAME WINNING and ONLY touchdown! Yay Bradford Red Devils! Needless to say, John caught the garter!


Brother and Father of the bride gettin' their groove on.


Two very special people to us!!! Steve (our best man) and one of Jorge's best friends since High School, and his mama, Connie, who I call Mom Con. We love them very much and hate that we live so far from them both.


This is my beautiful friend Bre. We've not been close long, but we've gotten really close really fast!! She is a sister of my heart! I was so excited to get to spend 2 days with her helping out with the wedding prep. When I count my blessings in life, I count her for sure!! "Depth of friendship does not depend on length of acquaintance."


Amy, one of Jorge's fellow youth groupers and Tammy, mother of the bride.


The sweet couple! Mr and Mrs David Johnson!


Another group shot! (I was chasing after David...)


The past year or so has been REALLY hard for all of us, with the loss of several people who we love. This wedding was in some ways bitter sweet, for the Myers since they've lost 3 family members! Tammy's sister Bonnie, (brides Aunt) our dear dear friend Mike, and then just before Christmas Tammy's mom Dee. As a gift to the bride I made 3 charms, with a picture of each lost family member that the florist put in her bouquet. Its not a great picture but you get the idea...


Me and sweet Kellie! She is such a fun "sister-in-law". What a blessing to me and my family!


David (Brides older brother) and Amy, got married last year. They were the reason for our road trip up to Wisconsin last May.


Lori hittin' up the chocolate dipping station. (Note: chocolate on shirt. ha)


David helped himself to some wedding cake but was having issues cutting it, so he just picked it up with the fork (which he stole from a friend of mine) and took a bite. Nothin' can get between this boy and cake!


The day after the wedding we got together with some more of the youth group. As always it was a great time. It had been YEARS since one of them had been around, in fact, I hadn't ever met him and I've been coming around for over 10 years! Roger pulled out the old scrapbook from the youth group days and they had a good laugh at old hairstyles, mustaches and memories. It was fun to watch them all reminisce.


Peter, David, John, Jorge (lookin' good I might add) Chad and Ryan... or is it Ryan and then Chad... no that's Chad THEN Ryan. Yeah, I'm sure...


Never a dull moment...


Lori and "Uncle" John. She LOVES him and keep asking me to call him mom and ask her to have him come down here. :)


David is a breakfast cook at a great restaurant and so on our last day there we took the kids, ours, the Myers and their foster kids to see him and make him cook for us. :) It was good food! Well done David!


Jorge and Roger. Love this guy!


Koral (youngest Myers and SWEETHEART who I love SO SO much!!) Tammy, Me, and Jessica (Myers' cousin.) These girls are so dear to my heart! They are such a blessing and encouragement to me in all things. I LOVE THEM!


Leaving the Myers' house we took a picture of Lori in the snow.. .yes, she has not jacket on (it was in the car)... mom fail.


Lastly, we stopped in Chicago visit with Jorge's dad one last time. Man they look a like!