Special Birthday Blessings

Our little guy turned one on Friday! I know I say it over and over, but I can't believe how quickly he's grown. He's got the most charming personality. He's a wonderful child. So content in whatever situation and he loves to snuggle. That's my kind of lovin'!! He loved his birthday cake, so much in fact he cried hysterically when we took his plate away!! Because of all the storms and chaos, we haven't had his birthday party yet, so that will probably take place next week sometime. Special Blessings to you sweet boy on your happy day!! May you continue to be blessed and may you rest in the love of your family, friends, and your Lord. We love you!!

The Post Storms Update

Well, we've officially recovered. Well almost. The church is still without power so there's no daycare so I've had to get home babysitting for a few days. Not a big deal since it's my brother's girlfriend, but just the same the kids are at home :) Our boil order has been lifted and most of the people I know in the north part of the county now have power. Our hotel has ended but now we are cooking meals for people who had to throw out all their food. So, what a summer!! My sister flew up for the weekend, but not a lot to do, since everything was pretty much closed. We had a great time hanging out and catching up! So tonight, my husband is taking me out to dinner. And the kids too of course. We are driving out of state to go eat some great Italian! (It's really only 25 minutes) Thanks to all of you who prayed for us and for thinking of us. It's really been a time of reflection for Richard and I and how selfishly we rely on things so materialistic. As well as this has been a great lesson for the kids. Love and miss all of you!

Can't Find Water

Well we're okay, but I'm having the hardest time finding water! Who would have though that it would be hard to buy water? We have power so we still have A/C, but two houses down is where the line is for no power. We've been very fortunate. Anyway, I have to run open the Wiginton Hotel! Love you all!

Back to Normalcy

Well after an amazing week we are back to normal. Or what our little family calls normal. Great friends came to see us for a whole week! We loved every minute of our time together. We got to go eat at great places, the zoo, the Magic House, a Cardinals Game, catch a movie, play with the kids at the playground, etc. Too many things to try and name them all. I so wish I could have pushed pause on so many occasions. I am definitely looking forward to the next visit! Is it too early to start planning one?

Random

This blog is going to be very random! Sorry if it confuses you, but I sometimes forget or don't have time to blog about everything I want to, so I'll just summarize and save myself!!

Braden has two teeth! Yea!! He's 10 months old and finally has teeth! They are so cute. Like little chicklets!

Church had a musical and we loved it. We saw it twice and can't wait to get our copy on DVD or as Carter says, "DBDBD"
During the musical which was "Fiddling on the Ark", Carter says, (outloud for those rows all around us to hear)"that is NOT Nowah! Ms. Wanda said he's up there (heaven) AND he's in a dwess."

Ashlyn is registered for Kindergarten. We are still a little up in the air on which school she is going to. Lines are being redrawn and she's at one school for KG and then will transfer to another for 1st grade, so we are going to appeal and see if we can get her to the one she'll be at for 1st through 6th. I really like both schools, I just want to save ourselves and mainly Ashlyn from starting over at 1st grade.

Our great friends are coming tomorrow! I am so excited! They will be here for a week! It's truly going to be one big slumber party! Can't wait to squeeze those kids! And my kiddos are really excited about all the fun stuff we are doing! Can't tell you Jacksons! Its a surprise! And shouldn't you be packing?

Ashlyn's dance recital is this upcoming weekend, she is adorable! Just a little diva!

Our young marrieds got together on Friday night and played the Not So Newlywed Game and had a great time. We got done early and since we all had babysitters we decided to do something else. So we turned off all the lights in the church building and played hide and go seek. We freaked each other and ourselves out and had a blast! Who knew there were so many good hiding spots in the building? Some were so scary (at least to me and a couple others!) we couldn't even go and try to hide there!

Hope you have a great week!

TA DA!!

Okay folks! Here it is! A very sinful cookie!


Frosted Double Chocolate Cookies

2 Cups ( 12 oz package) Semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter (no substitutes)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg

Microwave 3/4 cup chips in small microwaveable bowl. Zap until melted. Cool to room temperature.
Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Set aside
Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla in large mixer until creamy. Beat in melted chocolate and egg. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in 3/4 cup chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto cookie sheets. Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 7-9 minutes. Edges will be set, but centers will be slightly soft. Let stand 3 minutes and then remove to wire racks! I know it's tempting to eat them now, but I promise it's worh the wait if you use the icing!

Chocolate Frosting:
Microwave remaining 1/2 cup chips and 2 Tablespoons butter until melted. Stir. Add 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar and 2 Tablespoons milk. until smooth. To get frosting consistency, you may need to add more pd. sugar or milk!

Let me know how they turned out!!

Memorial Day

What a great day! We took the kids to a park out by my mom and dad's and had about 20 people join us! We BBQ'd and played all day. The weather was warm but a really nice breeze. Richard came for half the day and then had to work. The kids were so dirty!!! They had so much fun playing in the dirt!! They wanted to stop for icecream, but since you couldn't see but their eyes and teeth(for all the dirt) we just went straight home and into the bathtub! What a great way to kick off the summer! I hope all of your memorial day celebrations were just as nice!

Chocolate and Cowboys

Well catchy title huh? Anywho, last night was our Dessert Auction at church! What a fun time! They raised over 5K and yes I mean thousand! The teen group is going to Mississippi for the summer to help with Hurricane Katrina rebuilding! So I made a yummy chocolate cake and it sold for over $200! I was really excited about that. I did get an order and another on the way for making some for a couple folks. And on to the Cowboy! Well our cowboy turns three on Wednesday! What a fun little boy! He truly thinks he's a cowboy and has been heartbroken that he's outgrown his boots. So his ranchhand(me) has bought him a new pair to surprise him for his birthday! And yes, we are having a roundup on Saturday! Can't wait!

It all started...

about 4 days ago. I took a whirlwind trip to the Big D for a momentous occasion. My great friends celebrated a graduation! Not just any graduation, but the first time Shannon Jackson walked to receive his diploma. I am so very proud of you Shannon, and for Danna as well. I'm so blessed to have your family in my life! Thank you for all you are! Congratulations!!

I know, I know...

I know. It's been a while. It's just that sometimes I get so busy and life just flies by. But I do need to sit down and relax and update all you impatient people!! Our big news is.......Ashlyn is 5! Yes I know this is hard to believe. 5 years ago, God blessed us with the most joyful child. She is truly a wonder to watch grow and mature! I can't wait to see how God uses her in her new arena known as Kindergarten! Watch out school, she's a preacher! Her birthday party was great! Of course hectic, but what do you expect with 12 little four and five year old princesses running around! But the day is over and we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of school. I'm dreading it while she's already planning what to wear and when she can invite friends over! It's going to be a very short summer :(

The Long Road Home-Our New Home~!

Well, what a quick little trip we had!! Our little family left Wednesday (a big thank you to my boss who gave me the day off) and drove to Tulsa OK! We attended the International Soul Winning Workshop! We had so much fun reconnecting with friends and lots of people that we only get to see there! And the shopping! Loved it! Lots of new books that I am really excited about getting to read! One is called "A Promise Kept" about a more committed marriage relationship! And another is called" I love You Unconditionally, on One Condition". So if you' ve read these and have any comments, let me know! A Huge thank you to my funnel cake and Farkel friends! I really needed those laughs as well as the great conversation! Love you to death, and hope to see you in May! The kids did great, but they were definitely tired! Between In-Laws, Two 6 hour trips, workshop hours, different beds, and lots of other things, they really held up well, at least until the trip home! We hit rock bottom. I was travelling with them by myself(hold all comments here please) and was probably two hours from home! Life was sweet. They were great! Then it happened. Road construction. Not just normal construction. Two miles an hour with 10 miles of one lane blocked construction. Yes. we missed church. Yes, I had to feed Braden on Interstate 44 with no way to pull over. Yes, Carter got out of his seat to potty(please don't ask how we completed this feat!) and Ashlyn helped me get extra clothes for Braden out of the suitcase since he pottied through his diaper. Believe me when I say there wasn't even a shoulder to pull over on and so the kids sang, drew pictures, I started a new book ( A Mother's Heart) and lots and lots of fruit snacks and water. We finally made it home and took the kids to see the newly painted house while we waited for pizza! It looks amazing! Richard and my dad did such an incredible job! And so tomorrow is our much anticipated move in day! I have lots to do today! Wish us luck!

We Have Keys!!

Well, so far so good!! We've started the painting process! We really wanted to get this done before we moved in three really boisterous kids! So, three rooms down! Only three more rooms and a whole basement to go!! The kids haven't seen it yet. We want to get their rooms done first and surprise them, so we'll see how it goes!

A Cute Conversation!!

Yes, I know that this didn't post, so I'm going to redo it!! Okay, Ashlyn had a really hard day on Sunday and of course had to get a spanking for her attitude. So, after her spanking we prayed about it and we tucked her in for bed. Yes this was an all-day-a-coming spanking! So as I lay with Ashlyn for a few moments she says:

Ashlyn: "Mom, I'm sorry I had a bad attitude"
Me: "Ashlyn, we just need to pray a lot and think about what we are going to say and
how we say it"
Ashlyn: "but, Mom, it's hard to do that when it just comes out of my mouth"
Me: "Ashlyn, that's why we pray for us to be able to control what comes out of our
mouth and how it comes out.
Ashlyn: "yeah, you know what else is hard?"
Me: "What's that?"
Ashlyn: "It's hard getting spankings"
Me: "It's hard giving them too"
Ashlyn: "Yeah, but not as hard as getting them"

Oh, reasoning with a four almost five year old!!

A very cute conversation!

On the Mend! Finally!

First and foremost, let me thank each and every one of you for your prayers for Braden. After a very nasty viral infection and five days in the pediatric wing of the hospital, we are now home. Braden is almost back to his usual self. We are working on his diet and him sleeping without being held, but the most important thing is he's healthy and happy! So, thank you for your kind thoughts and telephone calls, the food, and the cash for vending machines, etc. You made a very stressful time so much easier! Some really amazing things happened while we were there, we really got to witness to our roomates (our hospital didn't have private rooms unless you were in PICU-which thank God we weren't) and not only did we get to witness but many of you who came to visit and pray with us were also an example to them. They left us on the third day and left us their number so that we can give them more information on church and our young marrieds! God is so Good!! I'll update more later, for now, I'm really tired and while Richard is watching the kiddos, I'm taking a nap!!

The Road to Recovery

Well, we've definitely had a very eventful two weeks. We've been sick, sick, sick! All of us that is except Richard and Ashlyn! I've truly never been that sick in my life! But, I am finally better, and before you ask let me just say, no, there is no baby on the way! We're edging closer to closing on the house! I cannot wait! I'm at work, so I'll have to blog more later!

Some new developments!

Well, our little family has had a very eventful week! Our poor little Braden is sick! Well, he's getting much better every day! He was extremely fussy for two days in a row! For Braden this is very wrong, since he never cries. By this I mean never. He is the most laid back baby. Smiles all the time and just is not a cranky child. So I knew something was not right. So off to the Dr. we go and find out that he's had an ear infection for a while and his eardrum actually burst and is now draining and trying to heal on its own. What a kick to the mommy ego. I didn't even know he was sick! :( So, now we are on a ton of medication to prevent infection! But through it all, he still smiles!!! That's my boy! Carter is now potty trained. We are on the lookout for orange underwear(if you know where to find some, please let me know!!!) since this is his favorite color and the underwear he requests every day when he puts on a new pair. And since he does not own any orange underwear this is especially tramatic to his new potty image!! Richard is now on midnights and is doing great, well except that yesterday he locked his keys in his car! Oh, how I love to tease him on this!! Ashlyn is battling a little congestion. Our weather here has been so up and down. We have really cold weather of 15 on Sunday with snow and then yesterday 65!! And it's supposed to get really cold again today! How do people stay healthy up here? Today I go meet with the house inspector for the new digs!! I'm so excited, I've already been to Lowe's for the umpteenth time to look at paint samples. Ashlyn wants a pink and purple room(feel free to share any ideas, but we dont' like butterflies! Sorry to you butterfly fans!) and the boys ( I just love saying that!) are going to have a cowboy room. Well, old fashioned cowboys room! And I'm still debating on ours. What I picked out Richard says looks really sissy, so I'm up for suggestions on that as well. I'm really looking forward to Richard's days off coming up. I need a break to go to the gym!!!

We Close in March!

For those of you who have purchased a home before, you know what this means!! Yep, I found one!!! We found a very cute little house and we presented them an offer and they took it! Yea for us! Ashlyn just wanted a room with a window and is so excited that she gets one!!! Well I'll post more about it later, just wanted to share the exciting news! Our official move in date is March 18th!!

A Fun Night Out

Well Tuesday night my hubby took me out for my birthday! We tried a new little Mexican restaurant and were so pleased ! It was great! Let me just say that I have never seen my husband ask for a to go box and he filled it! So much food! But the conversation and time alone made for such a great evening! And then last night we took the kids to see Hoodwinked. It was cute but not a see again movie. At least not for our family. It was a lot of fun to take all three there! And not one had to get up to use the restroom during the movie(mommy and daddy included)!

The Perfect House

Well we found it. Or should I say, I found it. The perfect house. Ready to move right in! It was even yellow! Just like my dream house. Well it didn't have a wrap around porch and four acres and a little pond, but it's pretty darn close. So I found the house, took Richard for a second look ( He told me to house shop! Pretty smart man!) and we made an offer. Now for the bad news. It was also someone else's dream house and they made an offer a couple hours earlier than us, and the seller took it before seeing ours. Boo hoo. I know God has a home for us, I just want him to show it to me now!!! I am so impatient. So off I go again today! Let's see if we can find one today!