happy leap day???

I'm just wondering if there are people who celebrate leap day? What about people who have a birthday on leap day? Do they celebrate on March 1st? Just a thought I was having... :oD

Now I have to spill the "beans"...I drank a cup of coffee for the first time ever. Though I love the smell, I have never had any interest in drinking coffee. As a matter of fact, I have always said that I will NEVER drink it. I know many of you love it, but to me, it has always seemed like something the "older" people do...like my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles...you know, people who are "grown-ups." I guess, despite the fact that I have worked at the same job for 15 years, have been married for 11 years, and have 3 kids, I still feel young. So I should NOT be drinking coffee.



On the other hand, I adore chai tea. I grew up in the South where drinking hot tea is not normal. I remember making plenty of sun tea in my day (now I sound like an old person). :) Ringo grew up in the North where drinking hot tea is the norm and no one even knows what iced tea is! Sad, really. Anyway, a couple of years ago Ringo's mom and sister took me to a tea room and introduced me to the world of hot tea (though I haven't found any place around here that makes really good chocolate tea.) So now I'm hooked on the chai tea latte at Starbuck's and at Panera. Mmmm. But who wants to pay almost $4 for one, right? Recently, I noticed as I walking down the coffee aisle at the store, there was a chai tea latte mix (for less than $4). So I decided to try it, although I figured it wouldn't be that good and would be a waste of time. I can't believe it myself, but I actually like it better than Starbucks! We've gone through a lot of it the past few weeks. :)

Okay, let me get to the coffee part...the other day, I was picking up a new package of the chai tea when I noticed they also have flavored coffees, which Ringo likes to drink. So I got him a package of the french vanilla. When he had his first cup, it smelled so good I did the unthinkable: I tasted it. I was surprised it that good, so I made myself a cup. And I think I would go so far as to have another cup some time. Really though, it doesn't taste that much like coffee...maybe just a distant relative; so technically, I don't think it could be classified as coffee...right??? I'm just not that old, YET! =D

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If you think about it, please pray for Bella. She came home from school halfway through the day today with a fever and a sore throat. I guess next week it will Braden's turn. :) I just hope I don't get a turn! Have a great weekend!

odds & ends...

Wow, this year is going by so quickly already...hard to believe it's almost March! Spring is my favorite season of the year and I can hardly wait for the feel of the warm sun. I can feel it in the air...I am being realistic though, cause I know that big snowstorm is coming. :o}

I have been busier than usual with work, helping with some things I am not normally involved in. And then of course, there has been a lot of sickness. I feel that I have hardly been to church this year. February has been better than January though. Being a SAHM and being at home most of the time, it feels like I never get out of the house when the kids are sick and I don't even get to go to church.

The kids were out of school on Monday for teachers clinics, then Braden was home sick on Tuesday. The kids were extremely excited when school was called off on Thursday and Friday because of sickness. Well, Braden was excited, but Bella is pretty bored being at home. I think the teachers were the most excited though. :) Braden's teacher was VERY happy when she told me about it on Wednesday night. After having them home on Monday (and Braden on Tuesday), then working all day on Wednesday, going to Braden's ballgame, and then to church...I have to say it was not all that thrilling for me to hear that they would be out of school for two extra days. I was looking forward to being home, peace and quiet, catching up on things around the house. But we ended up having a good time and enjoying the break.

Poor little Evan has had a rough couple of days. He has had a runny nose all week, but other than than has seemed fine. Then on Thursday he began wheezing and we had to start him on breathing treatments during the night. By Friday morning, I knew he would have to see the doctor or we would end up in the ER. The breathing treatments were only helping for about 30 minutes. Then for the next 2-3 hours, he would beg me for another one. It was a long day. He finally was able to see the doctor yesterday around 4:00. He had an infection affecting his lungs. His body often reacts to that kind of thing with an asthma attack. He usually only has one this bad maybe once a year, if that often. We are grateful that the Lord led us to a doctor who can really help, and that he is as healthy as he is. I know it could be so much worse. After a few hours on the medicine the doctor gave us...and a double breathing treatment, he perked up, ate dinner, and played until bedtime. He slept all night without a problem, then woke up bright and early ready to play some more. Praise the Lord for answering our prayers...those few hours before dinner were scary, and I was just sure we would end up at the hospital. Only a few people knew what was going on at the time, but we thank you for praying for him.

This seems like old news now, but I am including some pictures of Evan on his birthday. He had a fun day. Then on the Friday after his birthday, school was out (because of competition) so we went to Chuck E. Cheese with some friends and did a little celebrating there. I wish I had taken a picture of all the kids together. We always do that, but somehow we forgot this time. I thought it was so cute when we sang Happy Birthday, he hid his face because he was so embarrassed. He is a bit socially-challenged, so I think it was good for him. :)

Oh, I forgot to include this one on Evan's birthday...his hospital picture. He looked like a little football player. He weighed 8 pounds (2 weeks early...thankfully;), and was 21 inches long.


Opening his gifts...


Blowing out the candle...


Having fun at Chuck E. Cheese...


This monster truck is Evan's favorite thing at CEC. It was hilarious when he climbed in, then Maddie started to get in...she asked if she could ride too and he said, "Yes, but I'm driving." How typical.


Evan with his little friend Joseph...


I guess he's going to be one of those guys who HAS to be the one driving...


One more thing: Please pray for my grandmother and family...my dad's sister passed away last night. She was diagnosed with cancer maybe six months ago and decided not to have treatment. She was a wonderful Christian lady, and by her own testimony was ready to meet the Lord. She is now in Heaven and we will see her again.

I hope you all have a wonderful week next week...hope to see you again soon! :o)

happy birthday to evan (slideshow)...

Today our Baby Evan is four years old! Hard to imagine that four years have passed already. In another year, we will be preparing for kindergarten...unbelievable!

Here are some of his birthday pictures...we did these at the library a few days ago. These are some of my favorites...you can see the rest in the slideshow.










He lasted for about 10 minutes, then we started to get these looks...


This is what I got when he didn't want any more pictures :)...


I can't imagine our lives without little Evan. He brings lots of joy and laughter into our family...he's always clowning around. Although he has been our most challenging child (to say the least:), he is also our sweetest. I've never seen a child so loving, sometimes a little TOO loving. :) (I'm sure this would be very difficult for his SS teachers to believe, but it's true!) He is also that kid who gets into everything the other two never bothered. And I'm sure that persistent nature that gets him into so much trouble now will be a great quality when he's older. He's just a sweet little ornery rascal and we are blessed by God to have him! :)

Hope you enjoy this slideshow of pictures from Evan's life.

Click here to view the show

We are looking forward to partying with the family later. Evan picked out an M&M cake...it looks like a huge peanut M&M (but of course without the peanuts!:o) Thanks for stopping by...hope you enjoy Evan's birthday. :)

time to start celebrating...

So Tuesday is the big day around here...Evan's FOURTH birthday! I canNOT believe it's been four years since our baby was born. I've got so many pictures to share that I have to start today. :) Make sure to check back Tuesday for the actual birthday post!

Here he is just a few hours after birth...


He was about two months old on his first Easter...


His first Baby Day parade when he was around two months old...


His first birthday...


Grandma was here for his second birthday...


His third Baby Day parade when he was two (I left the picture of his 2nd year at Baby Day at a friend's house when I was scanning pictures)...


Last year on his third birthday...


This past spring~his last year in the Baby Day parade...


Birthday pictures...1st birthday taken at Portrait Innovations; 2nd birthday taken at Master Portraits; 3rd birthday taken by Mommy; 4th birthday taken by Mommy (that's your sneak peek...more to come on Tuesday!!!)


You've probably noticed I like sweater vests ALOT!!! How funny is that? :D Hope you all have a wonderful week. Hope you can come back on Tuesday!