Memories of 2008

My first great memory is the birth of our son in June. He is the best little boy ever! He's so smiley and a tad on the spoiled side - thanks to mommy :)

Our daughter turned 3 and started preschool too.

We were able to see quite a bit of family this year! My parents stayed for last Christmas and the beginning of this year.

My sister came right after the birth of our baby boy.

Tamara (SIL) and Connie (MIL) came to visit this past summer. Then Tamara was SO helpful when Shawn has to go to China on business. THANK YOU again :)

We went to visit my parents in AZ.

A lot of our friends in NJ had babies! More are on the way too!

My niece turned 18 - WOWEE! Where did that time go? I was 16 when my niece was born - so hard to believe she's 18 now! I'm so proud of her - she's such an awesome contribution to society. So beautiful and academically focused. She's going to be the best adult ever! I love you Rachel.

I have to get caught up on posting pics - so here ya go!

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

The Wild West

So we're in Arizona visiting my parents, I've never been here before, and it's kindof funny...
This area plays up the "Wild West."
I remember when I first moved to the East and someone asked me if the West had cowboys and open fields everywhere. I said, "um, no." Well I guess I needed to visit Arizona...because YES the West still has cowboys, cattle/horse ranches, and the occasional cow skull. I think they still pan for gold too...
It's neat to see though and the Grand Canyon was amazing! It's a different landscape then what I'm used to seeing but it has it's own beauty. We're going to Sedona in a couple days and I'm really looking forward to seeing the "Painted Desert." I'll post pictures when I get home.
I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! Here's a yummy casserole recipe for leftover turkey.
1lb turkey
2 cups cooked rice
2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar or monterey)
1/4cup red onion
1 can evaporated milk
2 tblsp butter
2 eggs beaten
Mix everything together in a 2 qt dish and bake at 350 for 40-50 min

Fads...

I've been reminded of fads today... I guess I temporarily forgot...silly me...

We went to an 8yr old birthday party and this girl LOVES Hanna Montana. Seemed so funny to me - but I remember way back when all I wanted was Strawberry Shortcake stuff. Then it was Cabbage Patch kids. Then I collected stickers and categorized them in my sticker album (puffy ones, scratch n' sniff, sparkly ones, animals, etc.) Then came the clothes. Anyone remember Normandy Rose jeans, Lawman jeans, Guess jeans, Francois Girbaud jeans, Bum Equipment?
Remember roller skates with the big puffy pom-poms tied on them? LOL!
I thought I just HAD to have it all to be "cool."
For some reason, tonight, I'm annoyed at how people prey on other people to make more $$$$.

To say all that, I'm not saying the party wasn't fun because it was. Sarah especially LOVED the pony they had there.
But children are so impressionable. How do I show my children what is really important in life without being a total Scrooge? I hardly want my little ones idoling a teenager that acts like a spoiled rotten brat. (I've only watched one Hanna Montana show so maybe on the other shows she runs charitable events, speaks about beauty coming from the inside, treating people with respect, using manners, and includes God too?)
I know it's our jobs, as parents, to teach them the things we think are important and we do. But are we, also, responsible as a society to teach our children moral values as well? Seems our society has dropped the ball with this one...but does it come back to the parents taking a stand for morals and we've dropped the ball?

Should be sleeping...again...

So I didn't feel too hot and went to bed early...now everyone else is sleeping and I'm not.

Oh well...

So Friday was fun with taking our little cowgirl Trick-or-treating. She wanted to go again on Saturday. HA!

She's not a huge candy fan but does like M&M's. Now I carry a little pack in my diaper bag for any occasion I might need a bribe. Yeah I've heard it's not good to bribe and bribe with candy no-less but sometimes I just want to survive and not have to crouch down on my knee to be at her eye level and try to reason with her. She's a good girl but reasoning with a 3 year old only goes so far sometimes.

I can tell, since she's been going to preschool, that she's starting to mature a little more. She LOVES preschool. There's something magical about Mrs. S and Mrs. Brooks and how well she listens to them!

I never thought my child listened to anyone better than me...um YEP she sure does!

My little guy is such a sweetheart. We took him out on Friday too but not for candy just to show him off in his adorable cowboy hat!

My big guy is a sweetheart too! :)

So elections are this Tuesday.

Seems everyone I talk to has already made their mind up.

I do know one thing...whoever is elected will be because God wants them to be.

That's why - it's important to pray about who God would want you to vote for. Not to sound so cliche but WWJD? Seriously... what attributes, in a person, are important to God?

Okay nighty night now... :)

Need to blog...

So I'll get some things out before bedtime (kids are sleeping so why am I not sleeping?)
It seems like everytime they're in bed I try to get stuff done - it's my free time I guess. Then I get so tired during the day because I haven't got as much sleep as I need to. It's a vicious cycle... waaaaahhhhh!
I had a ladies tea at my church tonight.
I think it went pretty good. I did a devotional on Fruit of the Spirit. I think it's pretty cool that when I start doing a study to "teach" other's - I learn new things myself.
I sometimes wonder if anyone gets anything out of them or are they just meant for me!
My latest discovery on the Fruit (found in Galatians 5:22) is that I don't need to strive to be "good" - I need to strive to be like Christ and natural results will be fruit.
Seems so easy when I see it typed out...
I also found The Message translation on self-control particularly interesting:
“A person without self-control is like a house with it’s doors and windows knocked out.” Proverbs 25:28
I have never thought of self-control in this manner before...
With this translation it seems that when I don't practice self-control it leaves me vulnerable and open to the outside world - anyone could come and steal something from me.

So all in all I think everything went good. Of course, after I'm done, I always think of something else I could've done or not done but I prayed about it and I'm leaving it there.
Although I do want to give my husband kudos for his help with everything - he's so supportive when I do things like this. He gave me my centerpiece ideas as well! I'm so proud! My years of watching decorating shows is paying off! LOL!

Okay I'm exhausted....goodnight...

A new part of being a Parent

Well we've definitely embraced parenthood before today but last night was a new thing.

We had "Back to School" night at Sarah's preschool. It was so cute and fun! We feel authentic now. LOL!

Kids weren't suppose to come, it was just for the parents, so we had our friends parents watch our little ones.

Our baby boy is turning out to be a stinker for everyone! He cried almost the whole time...ugh... poor Mrs. H - especially with 3 other kids to watch.

He's a mommy's boy right now - so is an absolute angel for me. I'm not just saying that because he's my child - I know when a kid won't stop screaming...

Sarah was the same way, and now is so independent so I'm sure our little boy will change too...

Shawn went on a field trip to a farm with Sarah and her class today - so I had to attach a picture of the cute overalls her Grandma made her.

Our beautiful little boy...

Almost 3 years later we were blessed with another child.

This past June we welcomed a little boy into our family.

He was born at 38 weeks - 9lbs 7oz 23" long.

He is the absolute sweetest little baby. He loves to snuggle, cuddle (is that the same thing?) and always ready to give a smile!

He'll be 4 months old next week - wow - 4 months have flown by already!

He rolled over the 1st time on Sunday Oct. 5 and hasn't done it since.

Not worried though...life is a little easier without him mobile right now!

Is it just me or does everyone always seem so curious if you breastfeed your baby or not?

Anyway, life has gotten a bit busier and I definitely have days that I look like a worn down SAHM. Maybe when I get to sleep through the night I can start getting up and getting ready each morning. He's not sleeping all the way through yet...and maybe you guessed it but yes I nurse my baby. Exclusively right now. It's just something I want to do for me and him but I'm not a nipple nazi to whomever chooses different feeding sources. That being said...he wakes up 2 - 3x a night for feedings.

I'm so glad Shawn helps out as much as he does! Except for the feedings (unless I pump.) I'd pay some good money for him to be able to help out with that though and to experience that vice grip latch every feeding time :) LOL!

Our darling daughter

Our beautiful girl was born after we'd been married 4 years in August of 2005. It seemed to be the hottest summer ever - maybe because I was big as a circus tent! But to my defense - she was a pretty big baby... 10lbs and 23" long. My sister came for her birth and we were on TLC's "A Baby Story."

I was so amazed at the love I automatically felt for her. I had never experienced that kind of love before. Made me understand (a tiny bit) how much God loves us.

She's absolutely beautiful and has such a joy in her eyes.

It's been so fun, joyful, exhausting, and every other emotion too, these past 3 years.

We still managed to travel a bit after she was born. We visited family in the NW, family in Kentucky, we got to tag along on a business trip with Shawn to Switzerland and Italy, and Shane took us on a really nice cruise to the Caribbean.

Lately she says, "Mommy, you're my best fwend."

I love it!

Our lives before children

We first moved to NY after we were married with Shawn's job (OP's Man) and I worked p/t at RIT. It was good for us to be away from any family but I think 3000 miles away was a bit too much! Although, now, that seems so long ago.

I do have to comment on Lake Ontario - the BIGGEST lake I've ever seen in my life! I couldn't even see the other side - looked like the ocean minus big rolling white waves. It was really neat - especially when Shane took us out on his boat.

After 5 or so months we moved here to an apt. Which had the BIGGEST black 1000-legged bugs I've ever seen in my life! I still don't even know what those things are called but they were black/brown with about 50 legs on each side, 3" long and about 1" across. UGH!!! I just got the shivers...

Shawn stayed with his company and I started working at Princeton University. Met some great people there! We also found a great church and made friends there!

Then we did a little bit of travelling...before children.

Went to Niagara Falls. - yep, it's awesome.

We took a trip to Bermuda! So pretty and such a beautiful color of turquoise water along with a pink sandy beach. Met some cool pirates!

Went to Disneyworld - so fun staying at the Dolphin and visiting different parks each day. Although we're partial to Magic Kingdom...definitely has a bit of "magic." Shane was the BEST host ever!

Went to NYC many many times...novelty has definitely worn off by now! But it's always fun to hop on the train and go to dinner and a Broadway show.

Saw the devastation of 9/11...on 10/11...absolutely heart wrenching seeing all the candle vigils and pictures of missing people. My sister was with us visiting...

Went to Wash. DC. and got to be in the same room when the House voted on the war in Iraq.

Went to see how the Amish live in PA. Very interesting, I thought.

This all seems so long ago...before children.

How we started...

There's a number of reasons I've decided to start a blog...

It seems that time/life really flies by so fast and I forget day to day all the little happening's that I'd like to remember and more or less cherish (or not) LOL!


First, I want to tell my family how much I love them. I don't want life to pass me by and wish I had told more people how much I cared about them.

My loving husband - you are so much more wonderful than the husband I prayed for. Thank you for all of your love.

My daughter, you are so beautiful, smart, and full of spunk! I love everything about you.

My new little boy, you have absolutely melted my heart with love for you. I love your sweet smiles and how much you love to snuggle.

Shawn and I (Kathy Wells) were married 7 years ago on the West Coast. Where we're both from. Right after that, we moved to the East coast with Shawn's job.

Did a bunch of stuff that newlyweds do! Travelled, made new friends, lived in an apt. then another one, bought a house - fixed it up - sold it, bought another house and here we are.

Four years later - our beautiful little girl came along (with a long labor that I would, of course, do 10x again:) and almost 3 years after that our beautiful little boy came (with a much faster birth than his sister - thank you God!)

So now you're up to date!