The Princess and the Frog

This last weekend our family went to Boo at the Zoo, we had a great time. Their were some great areas to take pictures so I took a lot. I am going to make this post into a fairy tale to go along with their costumes

Once upon a time, their was this handsome prince named Preston. He was so kind and sweet to everyone, his biggest flaw was that he was so shy. One day while walking past the goat farm he decided he would stop by and pet one of the goats. He got pretty close, then all of a sudden this goat licked him.
Prince Preston, thought nothing of it and continued on his way back to the palace, when all of a sudden he started hopping and making a croaking noise.
He was not sure what to think. He looked down at his hands and feet and realized they were green. Since Preston was so shy he ran off and hide form site, hoping no one would see him.

In the mean time their was a princess name Taylynn. Who spent most of her time alone. She was the most beautiful girl in the land, but she was missing someone, someone who could be her best friend. She decided to look for a friend outside of her kingdom and wondered off into the woods.
When all of a sudden she backed into something.
To Princess Taylynn it was a frog, but this frog was no ordinary frog. It was Prince Preston who ran away to never be found.

They were both startled. Preston thought of hopping away, but they both just stayed still and looked at each other. Taylynn broke the silence and said "Hello Mr Froggie, what is your name." Preston quietly said, "I am not a frog. My name is Preston and I am a prince." Taylynn jumped back with shock.

Preston explained what happened and the both began to ponder.
Taylynn had an idea that maybe she could turn him back into a prince, so she tried some magic spells to see if he would turn back.
Preston got scared and wanted to leave. Taylynn pleaded with him and convinced him to sit still.
She tried again, but nothing happened.

All of a sudden Preston had a marvelous idea. He told Taylynn that she needed to kiss him. Of course Taylynn said "No way, that is yucky." Preston said it could be the only way and if she kissed him, then he would be her best friend for life.

Taylynn agreed to try, but she was not happy.

She kissed him once and poof, his crown appeared in his hands.
She tried again, this time believing it cold really work.
And with a poof and a ball of smoke, frog Preston was no longer there. Taylynn looks far and wide. For Prince Preston promised he'd be her best friend.
Princess Taylynn was said and heartbroken. She began to cry, but she felt a tap on her shoulder. It was the prince he came back and he was his self again.

The two lived happily ever after.

THE END......

When your father and I began dating

Taylynn and Preston,
I hope in the future you are reading this and learning more about your parents when we were younger. I thought it would be fun for you to know how God put the two of us togther.

This was a long time coming for me. I was dying for the day to come where your dad said he loved me. I just didn't know what it would take for him to get to the point or just realize that he had loved me all along.

It was fall of 2004 and after almost three years of friendship, walking with him through his new relationship with Jesus, and your dad helping me develop and stronger relationship with God, we knew each other inside out. I always wondered why it took three years for our friendship to become more, but now as I look back I know. God was preparing us, and molding us into the people he wanted us to be for each other.

I must admit I was in love with your dad, but I also didn't know what the future for us held. I knew he was graduating from college in the spring and I thought he was going to move away and work for some computer company. I was on the search for the man of my dreams and began going on a couple dates. I was set up by a couple from church and I went on a date with someone I didn't know. The date went well and it was fun, I probably would have gone out with him again.
Something happened that night while I was driving back to my apartment. I called your dad and told him that I had a great time, thinking he would be happy for me and not really care that I went on a date. He said, Caroline I can't do this......................I love you. I was in the car at the time driving, yet tears began to roll down my face.
-I was safe don't worry kids. Probably by the time you are reading this cell phone will be outdated, but they were these little phones you could take anywhere and talk to anyone.-

From that night on we were together and we both knew this was serious. We didn't just date to see if it would work out. We dated with plans to get married. When I look back on it, it was like a courtship. We were friends and we knew EVERYTHING about each other. God began working in both of us and he developed something beautiful like He always does. I hope that you understand how much God was apart of our coming together.

I spent my first year of college praying for your dad, who I called future husband when I talked with God. My faith was strong, stronger than it have ever been up to that point. I surrounded my self in the Word and because of this God gave me your dad. Next to God sending His son to die on the cross for us, your dad is probably the biggest blessing I'll ever receive.

I will say it was hard waiting for your dad to come around, but in Romans 8:25 it says: But if we hope for what we do not have yet, we wait for it patiently.

Most of these pictures were before we began dating, but some are during that time too.

Oceans of Fun 2003

Dave Matthews Concert 2003Colorado 2003

My 21st birthday- 2004Aaron's 22 birthday 2005

Hip to the Hop

This weekend our youth group had a Halloween party. Aaron and I have been working with the youth for a few months, but we have made a great connection with them. We decided it is time to bring out the moves, and do it in disguise.


Ok so they found out it was us, darn. We had a great time with them. I think they were pretty confused when this old couple showed up to a youth event. That old mans a pretty good dancer though huh?

Holiday confusion

I love dressing the kids up for holidays, all the way down to their pajamas. Here are the kids in their Halloween pj's.

And now here they are in their Christmas pj's.

They have to be totally confused, I bet they think Christmas is coming first because we have been listening to Christmas music since the middle of September and watching Christmas movies all through the month of October.

Our favorite Christmas CD is Broadway Kids Sing Christmas, it is great.

Taylynn wants to watch the Grinch with Jim Carrie everyday, so yesterday I went and bought the Santa Claus, maybe it will be her new favorite.


We are having a Halloween party on Halloween, but this is also the same time I begin planning for Taylynn's Birthday party. We are also planning our Thanksgiving vacation to Colorado. Along with Chritmas shopping and planning.I am confused so I know Taylynn has to be pretty confused. I am going to try to confuse you too. :)

Here we are making our Halloween inviations

And here is Taylynn Birthday invitation it's a rough draft, but it gives you the idea of what I have been working on.In the meantime I have been making holiday shirts, just to add to the things to do.
Confused yet?

When your father and I were friends

Taylynn and Preston,

So now you know how I met your dad and about our "first date" but let me back up a bit.
So I met your dad the end of December and yes I was in love. I left for Colorado for a missions trip about 5 days after that, knowing your dad loved Colorado and he loved to snowboard. I got kinda crazy and bought a bunch of snowboard stuff for him like posters and key chains. I even got him a guitar pick. It was way to early to be obsessed, but I was. I am not sure what your dad thought about all that, but he stilled talked to me.

Your dad and I both went to the same college. I lived in the dorms and he lived at home, about 10 minutes from the school. I remember your dad asking me one of the first few times we hung out if he could hang out with me on Tuesdays and Thursdays between his classes because he had and hour or so to waste. I am glad he wasted that time with me. That gave us the opportunity to see each other twice a week on a normal basis and this is how our friendship really grew.

Your dad asked me to go to Colorado with him and his family that spring break, I thought about it, but once I found out he also invited another girl I decided it's a no go. Ended up that other girl didn't go either, I hope he learned a lesson after that, ha!

Our first kiss happened sometime in the year 2002. You dad was the one that kissed me, he was lucky I kissed back. It was something I'll never forget, we were watching Three Company, an awesome show on TV and he turned my head around and just kissed me. It was totally out of the blue, and so wonderful. But no, we were still just friends!

The rest of the school year flew by and summer time came. I moved back home for the summer, but we still hung out as much as we could.

When school started back up it was August of 2002, we had some great plans in the future like a Dave Matthews Concert, trip to Colorado and much more for next time :)

Soccer

This year Aaron was a coach for Upward Soccer, it is over now but I did get some pictures. We only went to one game because I have both kids in dance class on Saturday.
Aaron is a big soccer player so this was fun for him, although I still think he wishes he was out their playing. I guess that wouldn't be fair though, ha.
Let me just say Taylynn is already pretty good at soccer, she is definitely not scare of going after that ball.

Show us your life- What do you make?

This week Kelly is hosting what do you make. Although most of you know I make labels, some new visitors don't.

I started an etsy store in April of 2009 selling hand painted letters and tutu's. I really enjoy art project , it seems to give me a calmness.

I have moved on to waterproof labels. I design them on the computer, which I am thankful I learned some special computer tricks while in college
These labels are great for bottles, sippy cups, day cares, really anything for your kids.
Please check out my shop at abivens2.etsy.com

How I met your father

Taylynn, Preston and any other children we may have........
This post is for you. I thought you might want to know how I met your father, so here you go:

It was just about 8 years ago today that we first saw each other. I was cheering at Washburn University and we were doing a performance for college night at the Topeka Scarecrows Hockey game.
We had a place to sit while the game was going on and we were to take pictures with kids and they would be posted on the internet for them to view and print off. Capital Journal (our local newspaper) sent a guy from their IT department to take our pictures, his name was.............Aaron.

I remember thinking he looked so cute and sweet. I could tell right off he was shy and nervous, because he didn't really know what he was doing. He works with computers not cameras. I remember hi being confused about something and left to go ask a question, I was afraid someone else was going to come and take over his job. Lucky he came back.

I didn't talk to your dad, or even get his name. But his face stuck in my head. I ran into him again on December 29, 2001. This was on of those moments when you see someone you recognize, but can figure out how you know them. Your dad was wearing a hat, which threw me off. I was with a friend from work who yes liked me, but I felt otherwise. He took me to a small party where all his guy friends were hanging out and that is where I saw this familiar face. I asked this friend of mine to go ask that guy how I new him. Yes, immature I know.
So this "friend" who didn't like me talking to other guys looked at your dad and said "Hey Aaron" then this friend looked at me. I was stuck I guess I had to ask how I new him. So I did, "Hey, don't I know you from somewhere"? your dad said "Yes, I took pictures of you at the hockey game" Right away I new that was the same guy. Ok obviously not right away.

We spent that night talking at the party and we exchanged numbers. It was a great night, but I wasn't going to just let him go that easy. The next evening I was work and thought why not just call him and see what he is doing on New Years Eve, which was the following day.

When I called him your Oma answered the phone and I could feel the question in her mind of who this girl was calling her son. I was nervous to talk to your dad, but I new he was shy and I had to take the first step.

We spend that New Years Eve together watching Dave Matthews Band on DVD. I remember wanting to hold hands with him, but that didn't happen. It was still a good night and one step closer tio knowing him better.

Something different happened between your dad and I, we became really good friends. We told each other everything without holding back or trying to impress each other. The first "date" your dad asked me on was through email, ha! He asked me to go to a John Mayor concert. I loved John Mayor and it was before he was popular so I was surprise he was coming to Kansas. The concert was April 15, 2002. It turned out to be great. Your dad was a great date. We weren't automatically dating after that. We continued to be friends and we did kiss once in a while, but our relationship just seemed to grow really close as friends. I did love your dad and I told him often.
We spent almost all of our time together, and who knew that he was the guy I would spend all of my New Years Eves with.

New Years Eve 2002

That is how we met, but I have more coming.

Giveaway winner

I couldn't get a hold of the winner for the labels so I am looking for a new winner. 4TORock if you are out there. I'll still send you some labels.

OK so the new winner is.........

Here are your random numbers:

15 

Timestamp: 2009-10-10 19:57:11 UTC

Jenny, congratulations you have won 2 sets of labels. Contact me and we'll workout what labels you would like.

Ghost of Halloweens past

We have celebrated two Halloweens with children so I thought I would show some past Halloweens today.

Two years ago, Taylynn Rae was 10 months old and she was an adorable witch. I made her costume, but she is what made it so cute. This picture actually won a contest that my mom entered on an Arkansas new show:Here are some other pictures from that day

Last year was our first Halloween with Preston. He was 6 months old. I decided to dress them up to match while they let me. So they were Raggedy Ann and Andy.

Aaron and I also dressed up last year. Can you guess who we were?


John McCain and Sarah Palin playing the Wii

Aaron's hair was to be more white, but the spray we bought didn't work.


This halloween is going to be a fairytale......hint hint