What Do You Mean Child Labor Laws?

So it looks like the last time I made a post was 11/12, so by getting this up here today at least its not a whole month in between posts! Somehow I feel like I've been playing catch-up ever since I went to California in late October. And we went to South Carolina for Thanksgiving, so of course I'm still trying to catch-up from that trip. Which will take me right through the holidays....I guess at this rate, maybe I'll be back on track by Groundhog's Day! Anyway, this past weekend I was sick (Strep Throat for the second time in a month) & spent most of Sunday laying on the couch. Todd was busy cleaning and enlisted "Little Missy I", & "Little Missy II" to help him with some of the chores! (If anyone is interested, they are available for parties, for a reasonable rate of course and management is not responsible for any broken items). I should note that the dress Samaya is wearing was a souvenir brought back for her from my Dad's mission trip to Honduras last July. She had been asking to wear it all week & had a hard time understanding the concept of "too cold outside," so she was thrilled that I finally agreed to let her wear it in the house all day!

Family Lanes Update

My dad didn't read my post about our flight home, but the next day he e-mailed me this link regarding airport security lanes & the upcoming holiday season. Business travelers rejoice!http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27648265/from/ET/ (this is my first attempt at putting a link in my post, so hopefully it works)!

The Diva Strikes Again!

Well, I could not think of one good reason to tell Samaya, no, when she asked to wear the sparkly purple dress she saw hanging in her closet. So that is what she wore today to go to the doctor to get her flu shot (mist) & to the grocery store. In a way, it kind of worked out because Todd's dad had a doctor's appt. in Columbus today & came over afterward to have dinner with us. So he got to see Samaya all dressed-up. Not to mention, my mom loves to buy the girls dresses, which is great because whenever we a have to go somewhere that requires us to dress-up, I can usually just pull a dress out of their closets. But unfortunately, they often only get to wear each dress one time before they outgrow it. So actually, Samaya may be on to something here! Sometimes it is hard to step back & put myself in her shoes, especially when I already have an outfit set in my mind. But it is so fun to watch her develop her own sense of style & see what her likes are. I hope I can remember to try to go with the flow as she continues to express her budding sense of fashion. Who knows, maybe she will make formal attire all the rage among preschoolers this year!

Ding-You Are Now Free to Move About the Country.

Well, I just finished unpacking the last of my suitcases from our trip to California. Whew! It's not so much the unpacking that takes a lot of time, as it is the making room in the girls' closets for all of the wonderful new items they come home with courtesy of Aunt Melanie, Grandma, & Grandpa. (A wiser woman would've cleaned out the girls' closets when they were in California so she didn't have little hands helping her out)! As I packed up summer clothes & clothes that have been outgrown, I felt truly blessed as I was able to replace those items with winter clothes in each girl's current size--gifts from family & friends. Each season that seems to be the case, & I am so thankful. Because of the generosity of family & friends, I have rarely even had to buy clothes for the girls. And I cannot begin to tell you what a help that has been for us!

Anyway, I just wanted to quickly talk about how great our flight back from California was--no, I'm not being sarcastic, it really was. Now I know a lot of people cringe at the thought of travelling cross country alone w/ a 3 & 1 year old, but when your parents live on the other side of the country you do whatcha gotta do to get the grand babies to them! However,I will admit, although me & the girls have made the trip several times, I was a little apprehensive this time, simply because Aleesha is bigger & much more active since the last time we flew in July & I wasn't sure how she would do in my lap for 5 hours. Also, typically we fly in the evening so at least I can usually count on at least one of the girls to sleep. But this time -thanks to a fare that could not be beat- we were flying during the day. The day got off to a slow start (our flight was scheduled to leave at 6am which meant a 4:30am departure from my parents' house, which meant getting up at 3:30am. Not to mention we left on election day, so I had stayed up late the night before listening to all of the pre-election commentary). But I managed to make it to the airport in time. Now, for me, the two hardest parts of travelling alone w/ kids are getting through security and actually boarding the plane. I had noticed when I had arrived in California (Ontario airport) that they had signs indicating that they were using the coded security screening lines: one line for the expert business traveler, one line for the casual traveler, and one line for families. I had heard a story on the news a couple of years ago that they were going to be doing a trial of such a system in Denver, but I had not yet encountered it at any airports. I thought it sounded like a great idea because getting through security (imagine unloading all of your stuff onto the conveyor belt, getting off your own shoes/jacket, then having to do two more sets, then fold up your stroller & get it on the conveyor belt--all w/ a baby in one arm & while trying to keep the 3 year old contained) is stressful enough w/o having to deal w/ the annoyance of the "expert business traveler" sighing behind you (and we've got it down to a pretty good science). So I'm sure you can imagine my dismay when we arrived to the security area only to find the family line closed (which seemed to annoy the business travelers even more). But we made it through, regrouped & bought our $5 bottle of juice & $10 breakfast sandwich, & boarded the plane. We lucked out & did not have full flights, so I was able to take Aleesha's car seat on board--at least I wouldn't have to worry about trying to hold her. Our first segment was only 1 hour (CA to Las Vegas). I thought eating would take most of the flight, but the girls actually managed to fall asleep after they got done eating. I was not really happy about this, because I was worried it would mean they would not sleep on the next flight--the long one from Las Vegas to Ohio, but I decided they must have needed the rest,so I left them alone (besides, I think the golden rule of travelling w/ kids is not to wake them if they're sleeping). Anyway, they must have been super tired from 3 busy weeks in CA & also from getting up so early because after we boarded our next flight, they were both asleep before the plane reached its cruising altitude & they both stayed asleep for over 3 hours! (They don't even nap that long) They woke up just shortly before we began our descent into Columbus. I couldn't believe it! I mean, usually the girls do pretty good travelling, but this was by far my easiest flight with them. I did not have to entertain them at all, because when they woke up I gave them a snack & then it was time for the plane to land. Samaya asked to watch a movie when she woke up & I hesitated because I knew she would not be able to watch her DVD player long before it would be time to put it away again & in the past she sometimes has had problems understanding this, but I guess I was feeling good because I had even managed to sleep a little so I let her get it out. And I guess she was feeling good from all the rest, too, because she did not cry or whine or complain when we had to put it away. I felt like I had scored another traveling victory as we received a variety of "they were so good!" as people got off the plane. Even the business travellers couldn't help but smile as they exited the plane to Samaya's little voice telling everyone "bye...have a great day!"

Need to post!

I need to get over my need to have pix to go on every post, which has resulted in me not blogging in a month. Anyway, just wanted to give everyone a quick update on whats been going on in our world (other then BARACK OBAMA BEING ELECTED PRESIDENT!!!!!) The girls spent two weeks in California w/ grandma, grandpa, & Aunt Melanie. I then went out to pick them up &b spent a week out there myself. We just got back Tues. afternoon (ELECTION DAY!!!!) & we still are trying to catch our bearings (& unpack). Not to mention trying to get the girls back on Eastern time (& daylights savings) & break Aleesha Mae into the harsh reality that Grandpa is no longer around to rock her to sleep every night! You would think that with two weeks of no children I would have had time to update my blog, right? Anyway, Todd & I were somewhat productive & (w/ a lot of help from his brother & sister-in-law) painted our family room & put down new flooring. Maybe I will get pix up before Christmas, but don't hold your breath. I'll also try to get up some pix of the girls from CA.
Did everyone get to witness Barack Obama's acceptance speech? Talk about a moment in time! I think that no matter who you voted for, you have to feel a sense of pride about the historic results of the election and how much it says about where this country has come. I cannot describe how it makes me feel to know that the girls are going to grow up seeing the Obamas in the White House.......

Aleesha Mae is One Year Old!!!!!

It's been forever since I blogged--hopefully my old readers will find this! Anyway, on October 5 Aleesha turned one! We celebrated with a party in Todd's hometown, Fostoria, OH. Aleesha had a ball eating hot dogs, pasta salad, & of course--CAKE!!! She could've cared less about the presents, but loved going after the candy from the pinata. Aleesha at one is in a word--BUSY! She loves exploring & is into everything. She also loves following around her big sissy, drinking from a sippy cup (especially Samaya's, which she loves to grab & run out of the room), blowing kisses, & throwing herself on the floor when you tell her, "no." I cannot believe that it has been a year already! I can still remember my labor & delivery vividly (after having an emergency c-section w/ Samaya, being able to deliver Aleesha vaginally was one of my proudest moments. And having Todd coach me through labor was such a bonding experience for us). What a joy it is to watch Aleesha Mae grow each day. She has been such a special addition to our family!

Lordy Lordy Guess Who's Forty!!!!

I'd just like to take a moment to offer my condolences to my sister, Melanie, who officially goes "over the hill" today! When I asked Samaya how old Aunt Melanie was going to be, she simply replied, "OLD!" (She is so very wise for a three year old). HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL!!!! I love you!

Love your eternally younger sister, Robby!

Barack Obama Visits Ohio!

Yesterday Barack Obama visited Ohio & I was fortunate enough to get into the rally & witness history in the making! The day started around 12:30pm when me & my co-worker, Jaclyn arrived at Dublin Coffman High School in Dublin, OH (a suburb just NW of Columbus about 15 min. from me). The gates were scheduled to open at 4:30pm & the program was to start at 6:45pm, so we didn't know how early to get there (tickets were free but on a first come first serve basis). Our timing turned out to be pretty good & we actually got there early enough that there was still parking at the high school. We were probably in the first 50-100 group of people there. The weather here yesterday was beautiful, so it was a perfect day to camp out & wait for the gates to open. Coincidentally, Aleesha's childcare provider, Ms. Shalonda & her family were there & in line just a few people ahead of us! I thought the day would feel long just waiting around, but oddly enough it seemed to go pretty quick. I packed lots of snacks & water, chatted w/ others about the excitement of this election, checked out the vendors' Obama gear, & of coursed people-watched. It was also an excellent opportunity for me to get to know my co-worker better. I found out that Jaclyn is extremely passionate about politics & social causes & has been regularly volunteering for Barack Obama's campaign. Around 3pm they came around passing out our tickets & then we all started getting excited! Initially I didn't think that the crowd looked too bad, but at one point, Jaclyn had gone back to her car & when she returned she told me that the police were diverting people to other sides of the school so it wouldn't get too crowded in our area. Around 4pm they started moving us through security & into the gates (my apple got confiscated although my baby carrots & cherry tomatoes made it through). Once we got in the gates it was kind of a mad house w/ people wanting to fill in the front rows of the bleachers (the field was reserved for special volunteers) while the volunteers tried to convince people to fill in the back. At first I didn't understand why the volunteers would think that those of us who had waited for four hours would want to move back & let the late-comers get front row seating. But since I tend to be one follow directions, I paid attention (instead of arguing & refusing to move like some people) & boy am I glad I did. What the volunteers were trying to explain was that we had entered on the opposite end of the stadium from where the podium was set-up (which was kind of difficult to tell at first w/ all of the other equipment on the field for various media) & so we would actually have a better view the further down we went. So although we were a few rows back- maybe 10 or so- we were right on the side of the podium & had a great view! (We also ended up right in front of Ms. Shalonda & crew & I also discovered my doctor two rows behind us). Once we were in our seats, I had a bird's eye view of the crowd & could not believe it. There were four different lines coming into the stadium each with no visible end in sight. We could also see the highway where traffic to exit was at a standstill (& the exit was a good five miles from the school). It was amazing to see so many people come out to show their support for Barack Obama! And what a diverse crowd-all ages & colors! When it was all said & done, both sides of the bleachers were filled & so was the football field. At one point I looked around & everything felt sort of surreal to me as I looked out over the crowd, music was playing, there was a slight breeze, & the sun was just starting to set--I closed my eyes & just took it all in. It was a beautiful moment in time & I will never forget it! The program began around 6:15 w/ the Pledge of Allegiance & then a prayer followed by various local democrats who are running for office this fall. Our Governor, Ted Strickland, was next, followed by our former Congressman, John Glenn (the astronaut), who introduced Joe Biden & Barack Obama! They both came out together, with Joe speaking first. The first thing I was struck by (besides how wild the crowd went when they came out) was Barack's demeanor while Joe was speaking. Its hard for me to describe, but he just seemed so comfortable & casual, like I could have walked right up to him & struck up a conversation. Someone in the crowd waved to him while Joe was giving his speech & my view was so good, that I could actually see him grin & wave back! Although I was there primarily to see Barack Obama, I was very impressed w/ Joe Biden. He also had a very natural feel about him as he spoke. Very charming & well received by the crowd. Of course, though, nothing could compare to the reception Barack received when he finally took the podium! It was so exciting to actually be there in person to see this brilliant man & orator share his plans for our country! It was amazing to see how excited everyone was to hear his vision. (Jaclyn pointed out how much could be accomplished if each person there volunteered just one day). Even for myself, although I feel it is my duty to vote & always do so since so many before me fought for me to have that right, I have never felt what I would consider excitement when it comes to politics. But after seeing Barack Obama (& the whole experience) I have definitely decided that I need to volunteer some of my time for this campaign. He truly inspires hope in others that together we can make great strides in improving our country! In fact, that is how I felt watching him--inspired! I am going to post some pix & attempt to post a couple of video clips that I took w/ my camera (I've never used the video on my camera before, so if I actually figure out how to post it, it will be sideways b/c I didn't realize I had to turn my camera-sorry). And I should add that last night & this morning I didn't have a voice from screaming so loud. "Yes we can!"

Haven't Fallen Off the Face of the Earth!

I've been catching some slack from some people (Melanie) for my lack of posts lately, so here I am. The problem is, I always like having pictures to add to my posts & when we get busy, I tend to slack about uploading pix from my camera. Anyway, here is my no-pix-post! (Hopefully I'll have some up soon). To update you on our family, the rumors are true--Aleesha Mae is walking!!!! A day after she turned 10-months old her child care provider said she took six steps at her house, but we we couldn't get her to show us at home. A day later, the same thing--eight steps at Ms. Shalonda's house. Still nothing at home. But that weekend (three weekends ago) lo & behold Aleesha took some steps at home! The next weekend we were in Cleveland for my sister-in-law's daughter's baby shower & Aleesha started taking more steps (w/out us having to beg, bribe, & otherwise try to coax her). And last week she decided that walking is her preferred method of getting around & started walking all over the place! And lastly, this past weekend she overcame her biggest walking obstacle--the fact that she still could not pull herself up to standing, which met that if she wasn't near a piece of furniture to pull-up on she had to crawl to one & then walk. But something clicked & she figured out out to pull that body up off the ground & now there is no stopping her! It is truly amazing to watch her developmental milestones unfold before our eyes! On a totally unrelated topic,I hope everyone had the opportunity to see Michelle Obama speak last night at the Democratic National Convention. I was completely moved listening to her & feel like the story she shared about how her parent's love & hard work molded her into the woman she is so much like the story of so many people in my family. When they showed her mother in the crowd, you could literally see the pride & love in her. As a wife, mother, & daughter I felt like I could relate. Please take a moment to check out my cousin Kyllan's post on "Cody Report" (link to the left) for more about Michelle Obama.

Aleesha Mae is 10 Months Old!

Yesterday Aleesha Mae turned ten months old! Double digits! I guess we are officially counting down to the "ONE" I can't believe it! Aleesha Mae at ten months old loves: "cruising" around the furniture (& her childacare provider, Ms. Shalonda reports that Aleesha took four steps today!), saying "da-da", "hi", "sissy"(pronounced "da-da"), "hey!", & "ma-ma" (pronounced "da-da"), waving "bye-bye", & of course EATING (& feeding herself)!

Jazz & Rib Fest 08'

This past weekend we went to tha Jazz & Rib Festival held downtown on the Riverfront. Samaya enjoyed being downtown & taking in all the sights and sounds of the festival. She particularly loved wading in the fountain, playing in the children's play area, eating a chocolate ice cream cone, & the balloon the folks at the Smooth Jazz radio station gave her ("Everbody loves my balloon!" she reported to me). I enjoyed playing Wii fit at the Wii demo booth (followed by ice cream w/ Samaya). Todd enjoyed tickling the girls on our blanket under the tree. And Aleesha Mae enjoyed-you guessed it- the eating! She even tried to eat the Barack Obama sticker a volunteer had put on her dress (maybe she's a Republican?). Don't tell her she slept through the ice cream! And we all enjoyed just relaxing together as a family & listening to some great live jazz! I tried to put a slide show of our pix from the festival up on here, so hopefully you'll be able to check them out!

Samaya Cooks Breakfast!

This morning I was fixing breakfast when Samaya came into the kitchen and asked, "Can I help?!" So I told her when her toast was done she could spread the jelly on it. She was so excited to be able to help! She shouted, "I'll go get my stool!" And ran up to the bathroom to get her little step stool that she uses to reach the sink. She came back to the kitchen, parked her stool by the counter, & reported for duty. She was very serious as she spread the jam on her toast teeny bit by teeny bit ("you have to be careful & take your time so you don't spill" she informed me). It took her forever, but she was so proud of herself when she carried her plate to the table. It taught me a good lesson on how having a little bit of patience with your kids can really pay off for them (& yourself when you see how pleased they are with themselves).

Pa-Pa Norman Visits!

Yesterday Todd's dad came down from Lima, OH for a visit. It was a beautiful summer day & we all had a great time! Samaya enjoyed telling pa-pa all about pre-school & her life as a three-year-old. We cooked out, so I'm sure you can all guess what Aleesha Mae enjoyed the most! (green beans, baked beans, banana pudding......)

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY A'TREVIUS KAJINAY!

My niece, Tay's little boy will be one tomorrow (Tuesday)! What a big boy he has gotten to be! When we visited them in South Carolina in May he was already walking & talking! I guess he'll be driving before too long! (Granny Damita better start saving for that car)! (The first pix is of the birthday boy, Tre' & his mommy (Tay), Aleesha planting a wet one on Tre (or is he planting it on her?) Definitely "kissing cousins!"

Afternoon Fun!

I forgot to mention, there is something that Aleesha Mae enjoys as much as eating....swimming! Or anything water related for that matter (baths, sinks, flushing toilets). Today when Todd got home for work, we went for a walk around the neighborhood. Before we left, he got the pool all ready, so when we got back the pool was ready for the girls to dive in! Samaya needed a couple of reminders not to splash Aleesha Mae, & Aleesha needed a couple of reminders not to eat the grass, but otherwise everyone had a great time! (I think the picture of me w/ the girls does a good job of capturing the love between Samaya & Aleesha Mae. One of the joys of having a second child has been watching the interaction between the two of them. Samaya is such a great big sister! She has pretty much always found a way to work her way into our bed by the morning. So of course w/ Aleesha Mae I was pretty adamant about not letting her sleep in our bed to avoid the same battles we go through w/ Samaya. However, ever since we got back from Florida, Aleesha has not got back completely into her old sleep routine & I discovered that I could sneak in a couple of extra hours in the morning by bringing Aleesha to bed & nursing her back to sleep there. I was not sure what Samaya's reaction would be to this, because w/all the attention a new baby can get, being able to sleep in Mommy & Daddy's bed had remained one area that had not been affected. So, my heart was so happy this morning when Samaya woke up & the first thing she did was state, "I wanna come lay by Aleesha." I told her OK, & she climbed over me to go snuggle next to Aleesha, giving her a couple of kisses on the forehead along the way! And Aleesha just beams when she sees her big sissy! My hope is that they will always have this special closeness w/ each other).

Pre-school Update

Samaya's teachers report that she is doing great at school, and Samaya also says that she really likes going to school & seeing all of her friends. Samaya did tell me, however that she did not like the part where her teacher told her not to put food in her milk!

Drinking Popsicles, Magical Dragons, & a Brawl at the "Sunshine" Corral!

The other day Samaya asked for a popsicle. When I went to hand it to her she began to cry (very dramatically the way only a three year old girl can) & stated "Mooommy, I wanted a drinking popsicle, not a licking popsicle!" (As you can see, I was able to quickly put away the popsicle on the stick & replace it w/ a freezy pop, making Samaya a happy camper!) Who knew there was a difference?!

Yesterday Samaya was in the bathroom & had been in there for a while. I peeked my head in & she was just sitting on the pot, happily chatting up a storm. I said, "Who are you talking to, sweetie?" And she replied, "The magical dragons in the bathtub--see?"

This past weekend, Samaya was following me around playing "mommy" w/ her baby copying whatever I was doing w/ Aleesha. When I changed Aleesha's diaper, she changed her baby's diaper, when I gave Aleesha her binky, she gave her baby its binky. So of course when I said it was time to feed Aleesha I guess that meant it was time to feed the baby to. I was completely shocked when I turned around from fixing snack to find Samaya's baby in the highchair complete w/a bib on! (And in case I haven't mentioned it, Aleesha Mae LOVES to eat, so she was not so down w/ Samaya's baby trying to bogart in on her lunch! It was a knock down, drag-em-out, but Aleesha prevailed. Don't mess w/ her food!

To Sequel or Not to Sequel?

Todd went to see Hellboy 2 yesterday. To be polite, I asked him how the movie was (even though its not one I'd want to see) & he replied, "It was alright." He sounded kind of ho-hum about it, so I asked him was it because it wasn't as good as the first one? Which got me thinking about that ongoing debate about if a sequel can ever be as good as the first movie.......I'd like to hear what others have to say on the topic. In general, I tend to say no, however, I'm not the biggest movie buff in the world so I am not an expert in this area. I tried to think of some examples of where the sequel was just as good, if not better. I came up with Back to the Future II & Terminator 2. Which led me to another question: if the sequel to a movie was just as good or better than the first one & they make a third one, can you think of an example where the third one met the same expectations? This one has me stumped. In my earlier example, I never saw Terminator 3 so I can't say (although that I'm inclined to think that if it was that good, I'd have seen it) & Back to the Future III was pretty good, but I think you could make a definite argument about how it compared to the first two. What other examples can you think of? (Oh, & by the way--Todd said he would not recommend Hellboy 2).

Thanks For Checkin' Out My Blog!

I've been having so much fun blogging & sharing our world with you! I hope you all enjoy it! Thanks William for convincing me I should do it!

Aleesha Mae's 1st Bike Ride!

Samaya is Officially a "Pre-Schooler!"

Samaya started pre-school last Tuesday! She will be attending on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. No stranger to school, from attending Mother's Day Out programs this past year, you can see she was extremely excited to be going to her "big girl school!" After dancing around singing, "First day of school! First day of school!" Samaya stopped and asked me what must have been the pressing question on her mind....."Mommy, do they have a potty at school that I can go pee-pee in?" (By the way, Samaya's teachers reported that she had a great first day! Guess she found the potty!)

A Three Year Old's Interpretation

A little while ago Todd said he was going upstairs to take a power nap before we go out to dinner. After I was done getting Samaya ready, we went up to her room to get some shoes & she saw Todd laying down on our bed & stated, "There's Daddy taking his strong nap! Why did he have to take a strong nap?"

Aleesha Mae is Nine Months Old!

Can you believe it? On the 5th she officially turned nine months & this past Thursday we went for her nine month check-up. She weighs 20lbs11oz which put her in the 75th percentile for weight (she was in the 95th percentile for height)! Guess she's gonna be tall like her sissy.

What a joy it has been watching her grow & learn & fall in love w/her big sister! Aleesha Mae at nine months old loves eating, crawling, pulling up, saying "dada", eating, clapping her hands (a trick she learned while we were in Florida), saying & waving "bye-bye", eating, laughing, playing w/ big sissy, playing the moroccos, oh-did I mention eating!

Laundry Update!

While tackling all of my laundry from vacation, I've discovered something: when dealing with young children, there is a direct correlation between how dirty there clothes are & the amount of fun they had! Case in point I pulled out one of Samaya's outfits that was covered on just about every inch with some type of dirt or stain. My immediate thought was, "what was she doing on the day she wore this?!" And then I remembered she had worn it on the Fourth, the day we had a family cookout at my Aunt Betty & Uncle Williams' house. Well, Samaya spent pretty much that entire day outside w/her cousins playing, digging, running... basically having the time of her life. Thank goodness for Stain Stick, bleach, & Shout!

Fashion Diva!

So yesterday as I was finishing typing my post, Samaya told me she was going upstairs to "get dressed." I was curious to see what that would entail, because Samaya has never really picked out her own clothes before (& isn't totally efficient at dressing herself yet). When I saw her outfit I had to get a pix (before trying to convince her that it was too hot to wear her fleece pullover). It took about 20 minutes of negotiating, but I finally managed to get her into a T-shirt & shorts. And so that age old clothing battle that occurs between mothers & daughters I guess has officially begun for me & Samaya!

Typical Day

Good Morning! It's Friday & I'm putting off running my errands, so I decided to make a post. Me & the girls are going grocery shopping today. It's a much needed trip since I haven't gone since before we left for Florida last week (more about that in a later post). Grocery shopping for me usually means stopping at two or three stores so I can take advantage of the sales & my coupons. Luckily I live w/in about a five mile radius to all of them. I also need to hit the bank. Then back home to do laundry (which has not been done since we got back from Florida earlier this week). I know, its a glamorous life! But in all honestly, I wouldn't trade it for anything (well, maybe the laundry), because I forgot to mention the part where me, Samaya, & Aleesha Mae spent the morning cuddling in bed! Or the part where me & Aleesha Mae shared applesauce for breakfast. Or the part where Samaya & Aleesha Mae are currently chasing each other around the living room giggling up a storm! Speaking of giggling, I'd really better try to get out of the house while everyone is still in a good mood! Have a great day!

My Dad's Honduras Trip

My dad left Monday on a mission trip w/ his church to Honduras. They will be building a church while they are there. The mission team has blog I thought folks might be interested in checking out. Of particular interest is the daily devotional they're doing each day which is included in the blog. I know they would appreciate your prayers!

Well, here we go!

So, with a lot of inspiration from my cousins Billy (William) & Nikki (Andrea), I'm attempting to start a blog! Billy says it's really not hard at all, but we'll see. Anyway, my main goal is to have a format for my family and friends to share the happenings of our life, in particular, my two little "angels" Samaya & Aleesha. With any luck, maybe I'll actually be able to add some pix, too...but let me not get ahead of myself! So welcome to my blog--may it live well & prosper!