Valentine's

Aaron I love you so much. You are an amazing man. I enjoy every day I have with you and I hope we get thousands more together.
Thank you for working so hard and making this family as wonderful as it is. And thank you for our four babies, I couldn't have done it without you :) Ha!
I love you!

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On another note, last night we had our Valentine's mission trip banquet for the youth group.
I was in charge of decorating the tables, so I cleared my house and brought everything I had to church.
Here are some of the tables


Aaron and I were also a couple playing the newlywed game. We got last place, but let me tell you why..... Some of the questions were asking the negatives of our spouse like worst meal I made and worse repair job Aaron did. The truth is we are perfect and have no mistakes.....ok huge lie!!! We are far from perfect and speaking for myself I have made some horrible meals in the kitchen. One meal I thought i had down was meatloaf, but if you can see the writing on the card, it says meatloaf! Ha! My Face says it all.

It was fun, embarrassing at some points, but I love games. Just wish we would have won. I would actually like a rematch if we could.

7 months

Alayna Jane you are 7 months today. My little Valentine :)

You change and grow everyday and I am soaking it all in. You are beautiful and such a happy baby.

You love to play with your toys, especially your little giraffe Shopie.
Your favorite songs are patty cake and I Got Rhythm by George Gershwin. I love to sing to you.

You enjoy your baby cereal and fruits and vegetables. We are also trying to get you to start a bottle, but you aren't having it. Either am I. If daddy is feeding you you'll cry and look at mommy, as if you're saying what in the world is this thing daddy is trying to get me to drink. Sorry sweety, but it's time.

You now weigh 22 pounds and your 26 inches.

You sit by your self, you roll over once and a while. You will stretch really far if there is a toy out of your reach and you'll get it.

You have been getting up more at night, but you're still a good sleeper. You like naps, you'll take one in the morning, one around noon and one in the afternoon. This is you right before bed.

You love to lay in your bed and have stories read to you. You just smile :)

Your mommy and daddy love you and we are head over heels about you. I wish you could stay this age forever. I do look forward to watching you grow though.

Weekend plans

I really can't imagine life better than this. I have daily complaints, but when I look at Aaron, Taylynn, Preston and Alayna I realized how great life is, no how GREAT God is!

We have pretty much been trapped in the house. I took Taylynn out of Preschool to save some money, plus she wasn't get much out of it. She'll start again in the fall. We also disconnected the cable to save money, but really we just need more family time and less distraction.

Preston is doing great potty training, really he's not training he is a full time BIG BOY! He really did great from the beginning, he was just ready. I think in a month he had four accidents from the day we started him in undies, so that is pretty good. He even stays in his undies during nap time.

Alayna is loving life and me :) This morning she was up at 6 to eat and we were having a hard time getting her to go back to sleep. Aaron took her for a while and I got up and went to get something to eat and when I walked away she got so sad and started crying :( I came back and she stopped. I took her and sat down and she laid her head on my shoulder and fell asleep, so sweet.

She has been getting up all this week at 2 and 6, not sure what's going on. She does have a little ear infection, but other than that I am not sure. We are trying to get her to take a bottle, but were not having any luck.

I still tuck everyone in and night and pray for them. I am at the point where I hold Preston and really can't figure out how and when he got so big. I guess it's just proof that we are loving life and enjoying it all because it's really flying by.

Aaron is busy working, but I am looking forward to time with him this weekend. We have a date planned Saturday, we are the entertainment for our youth valentine's banquet on Sunday (we're a couple in the Newlywed game) and Monday were making cheese and chocolate fondue for Taylynn and Preston as a Valentine's treat.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day, remember the greatest love of all comes from above.

John 15: 9-10
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.
Now remain in my love.
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

Florida here we come!

My parents and grandparents rented a penthouse for a week this summer. We we are headed to Florida. I am already packing in my mind and dreaming of adorable summer clothes to buy. I really love these swimsuits for the girls.

Here are some pictures of where we will be


And here are some of the penthouse

Alayna

Alayna is changing everyday. A few weeks ago we started giving her little puffs that she can feed her self. And the following pictures will explain her feelings:
They are a bit different than anything else she has ever tasted before. She has grown to like them.

Today Alayna has her 6 month appointment, yes she is almost 7 months, but I forgot about her last appointment so we had to reschedule.

We have lots of snow here, Taylynn keeps asking to play but with the windchill it is negative here.

Random

So it has been freezing here and I haven't really had a reason to post any pictures. We did go to Kansas City last week to do Alayna's 6 month pictures. Once I scan them I'll do a post about the pictures.
I really can't believe she is 6 months, now 10 days away from being 7 months. Preston is going to turn 3 in April, we are planning a pirate party, so it should be fun! Preston wanted a pure skeleton party, but I missed the boat on getting the after Halloween sales. Its probably better for a three year old to not have a creepy skeleton party.

I thought I would update my life now that I am not doing labels and that life has finally calmed down after the holidays. I am still a busy mom, I seem to never have enough minutes in my day and I cannot get finished all the things I start. But, I do play with my kids more, I spend more time just holding Alayna, I don't have the stress, I get to read more blogs, I spend much more time in the evening with my husband rather than the printer. Life is great. God knew what He was doing when He gave me the chance to have my own label business and He knew what He was doing when He wanted me to give it up. If you missed that post go here.
God is great and beautiful!

I plan on going to Bentonville, Ar to see Angie Smith speak at my parents church (did you read about it on Kelly's Blog?) I am really excited. If your in Topeka and need a ride, let me know! I know the way.

This really is a random post, but I felt like I needed to make sure you knew I was alive.

This weekend my best friend is moving to Colorado so I only have a couple days left with her. We are planning a fondue party. I might just take pictures and post them, but don't get your hopes up.

Also this Friday, Taylor, my friend my youth mentoree (is that a word ) is up for Queen of Courts at Washburn Rural High School, so I am cheering her on this weekend!

GO TAYLOR!!!!!

Tables

I wanted to add these picture from a couple dinner parties I had. They are only of the table before the parties, I guess we just had too much fun to stop and think to take pictures.
This one was for two couple friends. I got some new dishes on sale after Christmas so I wanted to use them. You can't tell but it was real sparkly.

This one was pretty sparkly also, I love the glitz!

I had my youth girls over for dinner and for our Christmas Party. It was fun; we ate, had a gift exchange, watched Christmas Shoes and played some games.
I decorated the table and made place cards for each girl.

This was hanging from the candler.
I love these girls. We are a group of 9 and they are all High School girls. I spend every Wednesday night with them and I mentor one of the seniors in my group. It's just great walking through life together and helping them get through the hard and easy trails of life.
We were discussing age last wed and some of the girls thought I was 21...... AWESOME! I am not! I am going to turn 28 in March. It was great to hear I look that young though.