The first month of 2012 has almost come and gone....

So many things for me to consider myself blessed with.  I have an amazing family, we live in a comfortable home.  We aren't rich but we get by with little luxuries.  We are blessed. I hope I never forget my blessings.  It's hard sometimes to remember that when things are bad they usually aren't That bad.  Lisa is still watching her son die.  Today he's doing terrible.  Temperature of 105.2, low respirations, swollen face.  I cannot imagine her pain.  I'm hurting so much for her.  My 9yr old is off at the Cub Scout Derby (unfortunately not winning) and hers is dying.  My 6yr old is playing with his 1/2 brother on the trampoline and building GeoTrax this lovely Saturday morning. My 2yr old is clean, bathed, dressed absolutely adorably and bothering her big sisters.  My house is tidied and my laundry is going. It's a typical Saturday for us.  It's not the possible last day of my child's life.  I am blessed.

I have began my 2012 tax season. I really enjoy my job~! I love being a stay at home Mom but I also love getting out in the real world and being productive. I am finally feeling like I am in my element doing what I do.  The nerves of doing a tax return have finally subsided over the years and I have some confidence! My photography is still growing.  I've been at this for almost a year.  It's slow right now, so hard to go out and shoot families or kids in this cold weather! We finally got some snow last week and man did we get some snow!  Took winter a very long time to get here but I am glad we did get to have some of the white stuff. I'm also glad it's almost melted off LOL  Last weekend we took the kids sledding with Lindsay and her girls.  We went out in the middle of nowhere and the kids had a blast!  It's the small things in life that make the best memories.  I hope that I am always making great memories for my kids to carry with them for life.

Rarrrrrrrrr

White Wash?

Building a fort

Heading off for sledding adventures!

Where in the world is Daddy taking us?

It's kinda scary when he's gotta get out and see if the car is going to make it down the road?!?!?

Heading up the sledding hill!

She's watching the big kids have fun.

Poor Kai guy ended up with snow in his face almost everytime.

Funniest Sledding Run Ever!

Note the faces ;)

Oh yes the snow is flying!

LMAO They left the sled behind! Oops! Lindsay and I gave them a perfect 10 for formation ;)

Where is Syd's head?

He's too cute not to snap pics when he poses for me!

The best group pic we could manage.

Yup there are the 4x4 beasts atop the hill!

She sure loves her Daddy

This sledding run ended in the weeds. Note the weed hanging off the side of her hat? LOL

Thank you Lindsay for taking a photo of our family out having fun!

Snow Angels

Preparing to go down the hill.

Moved to a hill in town on our way home.

Kisses for Daddy

Great job with the camera Steven!  Yes Mommy is at almost all family functions!!! You just rarely see her cause she's behind the camera ;)  Kinleigh and Mom caught some air!

Love my lil girl :)

Fun times with my family

Kaeden took a  moment to pose for the camera crazy Mom

Before we went out sledding I snagged Sydney and made her go out for a practice photoshoot in the snow.  The previous weekend I snagged Kailer and had him be my model to practice finding the light.  I wasn't hugely successful, but I was pleased with some of the photos and Lindsay was pleased with her photos...that's what counts right?

My Dad came up Wed night and brought our spare parts car for the subaru.  It was so nice to have him at my home for once! He has not been to my house in years.  He stayed the night and it was great to be able to visit with him Thursday morning.  I love him and my Mom so much.  It's amazing how we don't realize how lucky we are in life.

Steven is just amazing.....Another blessing for me.  This morning he looked at me and kissed my forehead.  I am always surprised at the love he shows me.  I look in the mirror and wonder why he's with me? I think it is time to get back on the weightloss train.  I am feeling disgusted with myself and feel he deserves more then what I can offer him!  He supports me in all I do and all I want.  He is dedicated to helping me get my photography business up and running. I hope that 2012 brings some success to show him that his support is worth it!

Kinleigh is changing by the day!  The last few weeks she has gone from talking in 2 word sentences to making full sentences by using filler words like it, the, etc.  She's been going to a new babysitter this year and doing great! She loves her babysitter and has not cried one time when I've dropped her off.  What a great feeling to know she's happy while I am working.

I finally ordered up some new pictures to put on my walls and am so pleased with how they turned out!  Now I wish I hadn't procrastinated so long in ordering them ;)   I can see that my photography is progressing because the new photos are much better light/technical stuff then the ones I covered up!

After our crap-ass New Years 2012 is shaping up and I'm ready to take on the year with a positive attitude!

Kaeden's Scout Troop thanking the community for donating to their raffle and blue and gold banquet :)

I promised them they could take a silly photo if they behaved well for a serious one first.

Life is so precious.

Lisa posted on Collin's caringbridge and wants to know how Collin has touched our lives...Here is my FB status that sums it all up.

How has he inspired me and changed my life? He reminds me that every day is precious. That the small things to so many of us are the BIG things. Being healthy is an amazing gift. He has helped to plant the seed of faith back into my soul and spirit and encouraged me to help plant that seed into my children. He and his family have showed me what it truly means to be brave. He has taught love, compassion, strength and so much more to all who he has touched in this life. I pray that he can be at peace and comfortable when he is ready. I am so saddened and hope that he can finally get relief. God bless you Collin as you continue on this journey.

Sadness is what I feel. I have 3 gorgeous children...and when Lisa was at my stage of life so did she. The thought of what she is going through and has gone through for the last 4 years makes me want to vomit. I pray that I never have to walk in shoes similar to what she has walked. Collin woke up blind November 2007 and his journey has been a long one full of some up's and many downs.  

I really cannot say more right now. There are no words.........Here are a few photos taken this weekend of MY 6yr old son who is healthy. As frustrating as he can be and as difficult I am beyond blessed that he is an outgoing healthy little man.  I am lucky beyond words.........I love each of my children to the moon and back. I love Collin for being in my life and I am devastated that he is losing this fight.

Welcome 2012

2011 has come and gone and we're moving onto 2012.  I'm not going to write much about our New Years as it was not a wonderful New Years and don't want to bring up the bad things about the night.

Onto other things for 2012.  Took me a few days to get out of my funk from our New Years but I am much better now. Felt like I was living in 1999 for a few days and it was miserable.  However Steven and I are stronger then ever now and very happy.  I love him with all my heart and love my family.

We're currently on quarantine and battling a stomach bug from hell!~ It has literally hit every single person in this household!  Friday Kai was home after being up sick Thursday night and then was fine all day Friday.  Sat night Kai, Kinleigh and I got hit pretty hard with the throw ups and runs. NOT FUN. Sunday afternoon Kaeden was nailed and then Sunday night Steven got hit by the puke train.  This morning is the first time in as long as I can remember that he has had to call into work due to being sick. At 6am after throwing up all night long he was determined to still go to work, but by 7 and a few more trips to the bathroom he gave in and decided to stay home sick.  Kai Kinleigh and I seem to be doing much better so let's hope this is the end of it once Kaeden and Steven are better! Lindsay brought us a care package thank goodness cause that giant jug of Gatorade has come in VERY handy!

I had my first day of work for the tax season last week and it was great :) I love my job :)  Unfortunately I'll be missing work tomorrow to make sure we're all healthy and better, but I'll be back in the office on Wednesday! Kinleigh did great with her babysitter Kayla and I hope she continues to do so well!!!!

Kai lost his first tooth last week and was so excited to show it to his big brother Kaeden while they were standing in the line for the bus. Unfortunately as he was showing Kaeden the tooth he was hit from behind by some other kids and the tooth was lost in pea gravel at the bus stop. He was pretty crushed!  We wrote a note to the tooth fairy explaining what happened and she ended up leaving him his money and taking the note.  He got $5 since it was his first tooth lost!  He was pretty excited about that and so glad the tooth fairy still came even though the tooth was missing!

Saturday morning Steven went with Kaeden to a scout friends house and they worked on their derby cars.  This year they went with a completely different body shape so we're hoping it will go a little better then last year.  Last year he had the shiniest car, this year it may be the brightest car LOL He chose a lime green paint for it!

My goal this year is to be a little more regular on my blog. Isn't that the goal every year? LOL  Until next time..........

The looks I get when asked to pose....

The little copycat

Getting closer to the shot I was going for...

Oh there it is, there's the missing tooth smile... Took way too much work to get that pic!

Of course NOW he wants to pose for me........With Sally

And if KaiKai is posing with Sally, Kinleigh decides she has to also!

Kai wanted a pic with their heads together so badly but unfortunately this was the closest we got. Kinleigh was NOT being cooperative and wanted nothing to do with having her pic taken with Kai.