Just so you can't say I didn't tell you.....

OK, so this isn't a picture of our Van. It is the same make and model, but right now the front drivers side of our van is mashed up and waiting to be assessed by the insurance people. And it is all my fault.
I'm 36 years old, and there are a few "firsts" that I am still waiting on...getting my first cavity filled, going to the ER with one of my kids for the first time, and until yesterday, causing an accident. I can mark that last one off my list, now, and gratefully, there was no injury to anyone, just my car and the car I hit. You know, it could have been way worse, the Lord was really looking out for me. I had no kids in the car (which very RARELY happens...I was on my way to go pick them up from theatre class), the guy I hit was alone in his car, too, and he was as nice as the angels. Other drivers have been very rude to me when I've just changed lanes, but this guy was super kind even though I hit his car. And you know, there's nothing like a little bitter to remind you how sweet life really is! After we got home from all the police report and insurance calls (Brian came and rescued me ) we gathered the children around and knelt in prayer thanking Heavenly Father for his protection and blessings. He doesn't stop bad things from happening, but He shows us His love and direction in the midst of them, and I am very grateful!
I am really truly fine, and we hope our van will be soon, too!
A silly side note...more than a couple wonderful people have offered us the use of their vans over the next couple of weeks, while they are out of town, etc. I remind them that I just crashed our Van, are they sure they want to loan us theirs? They have happily agreed..how amazingly trusting is that!?!?!? So now that's what I need prayers for....:)

Arrow of Light!

(Ok, these Sunday night postings get shorter and shorter, but I'm trying to catch up.....)

Congratulations Christian, Arrow of Light Scout!


"Pinning" mom!


Receiving his official "Welcome to Boy Scouts" neckerchief!

The "Arrow of Light" is the highest award a cub scout can achieve, and we are so pleased for Christian and his good work and diligence in completing this wonderful goal! Great job, Christian! You are a wonderful example to your brothers, and we are so glad!

Thumbs up to Indy...and OUT, too!

There it is, friends...that's the thumb that has been sucked on for seven plus years....we even saw Indy sucking his thumb in utero during an ultrasound before he was even born! But NO MORE! That's right, after a trip to the dentist where they showed Indy the "appliance" they were going to put in his mouth to help him stop sucking his thumb, and told mom it would cost $550 (which was a real bargain since without our insurance it would be $1130), I did what any mom would do in a similar situation....I bribed him. He had two weeks to stop sucking his thumb on his own before the "appliance" was scheduled to go in, and if he could break his in-utero habit, we would have a "thumbs up pizza party" and he would be able to pick out any dragon toy he wanted (up to $30, a considerable savings to mom and dad verses the dental bill!)! Well, two weeks are up, and this amazing guy did it, with lots of prayers from the whole family, sleeping in a winter glove the first little while, and replacing the sucking habit with a new "wiggling" habit! Our soon to be 8 year old still had all his baby teeth save two, and they needed some extra help getting motivated to come out! Notice I said HAD all his baby teeth save two. In the past 2 weeks, he's wiggled out 2 more, with another 2 on the way!
Yesterday was the big "Thumbs up" party day! We ordered "pizza that the man brings", sang our own arrangement of "For He Doesn't Suck His Thumb" (some of you may know it as "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow), and we are now searching for the perfect dragon toy! Great job, Indy boy! We just hope that the new "wiggling" habit doesn't end us up footing the bill for dentures!!

What's in a name?

It's happened with all our cuties...even though we don't mean to, sooner or later they are called by a sweet little pet name that becomes a special term of endearment. Kamberlynnie-loo-loo, Bucky Boy, Jonah-bagonah, Indy-boy, Bekah-boo, and now, Briella has her very own, too. It just sort of happened, and we think it is as cute as she is! Aunt Amber even found a shirt that shows just how adorably they fit together!

Ellie

Now we don't call her "Elephant Ellie", but we do call her all sorts of other combinations....
Ellie-belly, Ellie-baby, Ellie-belly pudding and pie ( I have no idea, it just came out!)... A special side note is that my Maternal Grandmother's name is Eldwina, and you know what she has been called throughout her life? Yep, you guessed it...Ellie! Our Ellie would be blessed to follow after her great grandma's example of developing wonderful gifts of determination, ingenuity, and creativity! Here's to having wonderful family traits passed down through the generations!

Music to my ears!

It really is wonderful to have children who enjoy the same passions as I do! Kamberlynne has been singing and playing the piano for years, but just over the last year or so has really taken off! At only 12 years old, she is playing and singing stuff I couldn't till I was 16! OK, so this blog is totally bragging about my cute girl, and I know I am biased, but isn't she pretty good?!?!?

Here she is, making her World Wide Web debut, singing and playing "The Call" from the movie "Prince Caspian"....



Coming to a concert hall near you in the future, but for now, enjoy the preview!

She Speaks!!!

Oh, those first words are so darling!


Isn't that the sweetest little voice?!?!?

I love to hear children laugh!

Fighting the winter blues, eh?

It's just so exciting!

"Can you see anything different about me, today?" Briella asks. "Something extra adorable?"


"C'mon, look closer..."



"Ok, just a little closer...."

"Yep! There it is! My very first braid!"

"Isn't it just so exciting?!?!?"

"Golly, I'm so cute!"

We clean up pretty good, don't ya think?

Every now and then, Brian has a work dinner where we put on our Sunday best and get fancy free food. But Saturday was an extra fancy "Black Tie" Award Ceremony for Excellence in the Construction Industry, and I got to oggle over my husband in a Tux, which I haven't done since we were married over 13 years ago! He looks pretty amazing, if I do say so myself!

We were thrilled to find out that one of Brian's jobs he superintended from beginning to end when he still worked in the field won top honors for Construction Excellency. He has won three other "Merit" awards in past years, but has never gotten top honors for "Excellency" until now! And to add to the fun, The project manager on the team working with Brian was his Dad, so they got to share the honors together! Isn't that neat?

Since Brian was moved out of the field and into the office, he now is a project manager, like his Dad, so winning this award on the last project they worked on together was really special! And you know what else, this big banquet just announced the winners...the award ceremony is in April! Ooooh, maybe Brian will dress up in his Tux, again!?!? Ahhhhh, he's so handsome! And super talented, too! It makes an adoring wife's heart happy to see her husband's hard work, God-given gifts, and diligence recognized and appreciated by others. But always remember, my love, no one loves or appreciates you as much as I do! Congratulations, baby!

Go #22!! No, this isn't about the Super Bowl...

It's about our amazing superstar Dad!
With all the demands on the father of six, serving in the church, and providing for our family, Brian doesn't get to do many of the things he loves, so when basketball season rolls around, he digs out his shoes, pops a few ibuprophin, and it is GAME ON!

Going for the rebound!


Taking the ball down!

Making the shot!

Now alot of Dad's games are after the kids are in bed, but this past week, Brian had an early game, which means he had his own Cheering Section! Take a look at these adoring (and adorable) fans!

We were all pretty excited to see that in all honesty, our dad was the absolute BEST!! He made so many amazing plays, we were cheering and yelling so much, Briella finally had enough, and spent the last part of the game like this....!


Way to go, Dad! Thanks for the front row tickets to an amazing game! You are undeniably our MVP, both on and off the court!