Happy Birthday Noodle!!!

15 years ago today my beautiful niece Shayna was born... and I had the honor of being in the delivery room when she took her first breath.  Talk about a powerful moment.  She had the honor of being in the delivery room when my sweet baby Gage David was born... I hope she felt just as honored as I did experiencing her birth.  I have a special bond with Shayna... she has brought so much joy, fun and goofiness into my life since she was very young.  I am extrememly proud to be her aunt and I hope she knows I am always here for her. :) :) :) 

I love you Noodle... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

me holding Shayna Louise @ 2 days old!!!

 

 

Shayna - "I Hope You Dance"

 

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance...I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance...I hope you dance.
I hope you dance...I hope you dance.
Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

Dance...I hope you dance.

Stationery card

Colorful Joy Christmas Card

Send Christmas cards personalized with your favorite photos.

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Stationery card

Colorful Joy Christmas Card

Make unique Christmas cards this year at Shutterfly.com.

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come on kids... just sit still.

I posted our Christmas card - sorry those that receive it won't be surprised - but shutterfly was giving you $10 for sharing it on your blog.  Duh!  Ten bucks is ten bucks!!!

 

I tried a few different times to get a good shot of all the kiddos together

but this is the best I got...

 

My niece also got some funny ones for me that I considered using...

(yes, Gage's hat is on backwards - so is Gavin's - cracks me up!!!)

but for several different reasons I decided to go with the navy card, which I LOVE!!!

navy is my favorite color.. enuf said ;)

Stationery card

Crayon Christmas Wishes Christmas Card

Make unique Christmas cards this year at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

cell phone pics.

My kids hate having their picture taken.  Doesn't work real well since I am obsessed with taking pictures of them.  Lately I've had to bribe them with various things just to get a photo of them.  Usually they are somewhat open to taking pictures with me but don't want to cooperate when i want a shot of just them.  I guess I shouldn't complain... at least I have some photos of my kiddos and me together!!!  

Who has suggestions about how to get kids to cooperate with the camera?!?!?!

I sure do love my g-cubed :) :) :)

and holy smokes... I think Jay.Leno might be my dad... look at those chins...

I've mentioned before my desire to do something with fashion and/or fitness here... I truthfully have no clue what that looks like but I'm sure I will figure it out along the way.  I've found some great blogs recently that mix the two very well, so I have some thoughts in mind.  I just joined a gym... so I'm sure I will be sharing about some workouts and maybe a little about my half marathon training.  yep, I said it.  it's a major dream... hopefully I will get there.

{yes, I'm a nerd, I took a photo of myself, in my car}... but don't pay attention to me... check out that necklace!!!  I got it at a flea market... and I love it!!!

 

ever since I saw this pin on pinterest...  (follow me here)

 I've been searching for a 'statement' necklace and I am very happy with what I found!!!

friday's letters. {& photos.}

dear meatballs: can't we all just get along!  please. please.
dear running: I miss you... I promise, it's not you, it's me.  I'm working on a plan for us to get back together, very soon.  this meeting at 1 a.m. stuff just isn't working well for me.
dear coworkers:  you girls (and guy) are pretty stinkin' awesome... I am blessed.  Very very blessed.
dear scale: stop going up... it's not okay...
dear pants: stop getting tighter... it's not okay...
dear stupid baby fever:  you're welcome to go away anytime.  there are no more babies in my future.  what the heck is my problem!
dear dude that hit my car today:  thanks a bunch... now my poor Blair has a yucky bump and she is not very happy about it.
dear shutterfly: I am loving all your new Christmas card desings... now, if only I could get one, just one decent photo of my 3 meatballs together I'd be super happy :)
dear blog: thanks for being my outlet, my stress reliever, my photo album, my journal, even when what I write is useless and meaningless... it still feels good to write it.
dear Olivia (the sweet girl my family sponsors through Compassion): THANK YOU for our letter :)  it couldn't have come on a better day!!!
dear old school Mariah Carey music: thanks for being my guilty pleasure, my 'just need to act like an idiot for a few minutes' escape!
dear trick.or.treat candy: thanks for giving me something to bribe my kids with - safe to say, more dinner is consumed with you in the house :)

disney on ice & skinny jeans.

check two more items off my 30 before 30 list :) :) :)  [insert silly happy dance!]

20. buy and rock a pair of funky skinny jeans. [they always look so cool!]

22. take Gabby to Disney on Ice.

okay... #20... tougher than I thought... I don't have the right body type for skinny jeans, they just don't look real good on me... so buying a 'funky' pair was not a wise fashion choice for me.  Instead, I opted for a very dark denim pair instead of the coral or mint colored pair I really wanted.  (and they were only $9.99!)  I really just wanted a pair "skinny" enough to wear with my boots.  Gavin told me I look like a pirate!!!



#22.  Disney On Ice... SO SO SO much fun!!!  I felt like a little girl again.  Beauty and the Beast and The Litttle Mermaid are two of my most favorite Disney movies.  I was singing along and knew all the words - it was great!!!  (Brave and Tangled were also there but I'm not as familiar with those movies - and actually we haven't even seen Brave yet)  The kiddos were so good the entire time and they all had a ton of fun.  I took a total of 365 photos that afternoon... yikes!!!  This list item was MUCH more fun than silly skinny jeans!