Whew! We've been busy!

And we are just going to get busier. Next week we leave for Disney World! Yes, yes, yes...crazy. Middle of July, peak park time, WHITE WHITE children, but I'm excited. We went this past December for Little Jon's birthday and he has not stopped talking about it. :o) The pure joy of a child can cure the world of anything-- especially watching it from a mother's eye view. ;o) Then the following week, my Dad's two sisters will be coming down for an extended visit. I'll be taking the kids back to the ranch through the end of the month to spend time with my Dad. For those of you who pray, I am begging for prayers for my Dad. He has been battling a kidney disease and its just taking a toll on him. I haven't been able to post about it or even talk about it because I cry and just feel like I'm in denial about it all. He started dialysis this past week and my heart just hurts to hear how poorly he is doing. So please, if you pray...pray for him. So I may not be able to blog again till we get back. (I know someone has been asking me to blog about my favorite 'green' things, I will *try* to get that together before we leave!)

So here are a few pictures to tide you over till I can... :o) So get ready for an OVERLOAD--I hope you are bored! (These may seem out of sequence, but I'm just going by date.)

Cadi loving her kitty.



Anyone remember the 'Hungry Hungry Hippos' game? This is a scene from that game. LOL! Just toss out a few cheerios in front of 3 toddlers. It cracks me up! :o)



Cadi's first slide experience.



Another good use for a blow up pool is a germ free ball pit! ;o)



This wasn't little Jon's first professional baseball game, but he doesn't remember the first. He loved it! Just sat in awe! A dear friend of mine gave me tickets for my birthday. If it wasn't so hot here, I'd consider season tix. Cadi didn't know what team to root for, she'd clap anytime anyone else did. It was hilarious! Sadly, Momma's Braves lost...but it was still a lot of fun.





The kids first cotton candy...Cadi wanted to DEVOUR it, but little Jon (of course) wasn't too sure...





Cadi and Alex LOVE the inside ball pit.



Addy wasn't as excited about it, but she rooted them on in the background. LOL!



ETA: A cut out of Addy in the back because it totally cracks me up!



Having lots of pillows around is a must with these daring babes! ;o)





Eating one of our favorite Sneaky Chef recipes...cocoa pancakes! SHHHH! Don't tell them there is spinach in it! ;o)







Addy is too classy to get messy with cocoa pancakes, but she sure has a cute smile!



Little Jon is my future musician.



Where I found Cadi...I swear I don't keep her in a cabinet. ;o)



And I realize I don't take many pics of my babies in their cribs...I'll miss that! So I took one yesterday after Cadi's nap...



Thanks for sharing our lives with us! Pray for us in this coming month as we travel and visit my Dad. We'll be back soon...

I've been tagged by my good pal Jana. Check out her blog:

http://www.janasthinkingplace.blogspot.com

Here are the rules:
*Link the person who tagged you.
*Mention the rules in your blog.
*Tell about six unspectacular quirks of yours.
*Tag a new set of six following bloggers by linking them.

Ok. Here goes!

QUIRK ONE:



Everyone knows I'm pretty OCD. I see the world in germs. LOL! I never touch public door knobs-handles-you name it. I use my sleeve or arm and if I *have* to use my hand, I will wash it immediately.

QUIRK TWO:



I'm addicted to kitchen gadgets. I love Williams Sonoma and indulge when I can. I refuse to divulge my biggest expense there. YIKES! I am obsessed!

QUIRK THREE:



I cannot go to bed at night until the toys are neatly put away and the kitchen is immaculate. I don't care how tired I am, I just can't sleep until its done. There is something about waking up to a semi clean home.

QUIRK FOUR:



I'm obsessed with the French language. I will watch Baby Einstein in French to freshen up (LOL!) and own a huge library of French films. I bacame quite obsessed with the language and took night classes for 4 semesters. Jon's family lives in deep Louisiana where the news is still done in French. His grandparents speak it all the time. We've been to France several times and I just love it!

QUIRK FIVE:



Changing tables scare me. I wonder if there is a phobia with this name. Ever since Little Jon's bout with Rotavirus, I avoid them like the plague. I will walk all the way back to my car or throw out a blanet on the floor to change a dipe. My OCD is so bad I blame myself for him getting sick. :o( I carry my handy dandy purse sized Lysol into bathrooms now that he is potty trained. I'm telling you in the word's of Mr. Monk, 'It's a blessing and a curse'.

QUIRK SIX:



I can't drink tap water (without tons of lemons in a pinch). I've always bought distilled. My mother had kidney problems and so she had to drink distilled and so I always have too. I can't even put ice in it because it would contaminate the water. LOL!

That was hard! And you all probably think I'm weird now. LOL! This was for you Jana!

Happy Birthday Cadi Anna!

I can't believe it's been a year. It's so funny because at each moment of the day, I'd think back to what I was going through the day my children are born. I remember I slept with little Jon in his bed the night before and hugged him tight, knowing the next day would forever change our lives. I had so many mixed emotions. My little boy, whom I am so attached to, would never just have me to himself again...I laid there most of the night just watching him and scared. I'd never left him alone to be cared for by anyone else for more than a few hours. I got up and decided to get ready...we took one last picture.



We left for the hospital and once I was all hooked up and ready, I had this huge feeling of peace over come me. It was very eerie, I knew people were praying for me and I think God took over. It was so perfect and the second I saw her little face I knew that things would be just fine.







It's odd to hear people tell you that each child is different. You hear it, but you don't truly believe it. From the moment she was born, she was different. She didn't want me to hold her on my chest to sleep. I can remember trying so hard, but she just bobbed her little head on me until we would lay her down and she'd just go right to sleep. It felt almost 'wrong' not to rock her to sleep at night. I was so prepared to co-sleep again and then realized she just needed her space. From the time she was born, all I had to do was lay her down and walk away. Seriously...if all babies were so easy, I'd have TEN more! ;o)



My sweet Cadi is such an 'old soul'. Her spirit is so amazing and her smile can melt any sadness I have away. And the girl EATS! I can't tell you how that makes me feel after all the heartache I went through with her big brother. Cadi is so very special and God has blessed us this past year. I can't imagine life without her...and even if her little brother doesn't want to admit it...he can't either. :o)



So without further ado, here are some highlights from her birthday party! :o)



Not so sure about this...



Brother helps!



Thanks brother. :o)



Yeah, this birthday stuff isn't too bad!



Silly brother!





And a special thanks to Aunt Kristen for my special cake and outfit!







And to Auntie Amy for all her help!



And all my dear friends who shared this day with me. Thank you for your love and friendships.

Everyone Poops

On to lighter subject matters! Two whole posts in one day for me! Give me something to do hurry! ;o)

OK...so, I am that mother who is encouraging immaturity. Yes, yes I am. I can't help it. Maybe its being the Mom of a boy or maybe I'm just immature, but I'm telling you poop can be funny! I was given this book by a dear friend (Amy) for little Jon when we were potty training him last year. I can't help but belly laugh with little Jon every time we read it! I don't know if its the content or hearing him 'read' and say 'Everyone poops' but it is just funny!

Seriously, it just makes me laugh so hard! What's even funnier is listening to the grandparents read the book. haha! So for this book review, I give it two thumbs up, especially for potty training parents. ;o)

Crunchy hot topic--Vaccines

Since the day my little Jon was born, I question everything I put into my children's bodies. (I swear I'm not over the top--LOL!) I know I'm guilty of over researching. I've always preached, "Parent with your heart and not the 'suppose to'." But from the moment my children were conceived, I began to watch everything I put in my own body as theirs developed in mine. Let me start off by saying, I truly truly believe in the good vaccines have done. I cannot argue that we have wiped out many many crippling diseases. I DO vaccinate my children. I just do it on a delayed schedule...

So, why am I talking about this now? It's coming up on a year for my sweet girl to begin her vaccines. I have never been comfortable with vaccinating the moment they are born...something so pure and clean. I just want their bodies to develop a little before they start to get vaccinated. Our pediatrician doesn't seem to press the issue and told me that since they aren't in the high risk catagory (day care etc.) that it was ok. I just get scared when its time...I worry. I know there is no viable proof of autism being caused by a vaccine. I've read theories of it being genetics and maybe even just the 'window' of time the vaccine is given with the stage of development the child is at. I have a little cousin who is autistic so I've read so much on the issue. Each side has very reasonable arguments.

So I am a not anti-vaccine, more of a supporter of the Green our Vaccines campaign.



A campaign fighting for cleaner vaccines that are toxin free on a new shot schedule.

Since I have family and friends who are Autistic, raising awareness and education about this disorder are near and dear to my heart. It's beyond frustrating to see the number of kids diagnosed with Autism getting higher each year. It makes you wonder exactly what is causing these record high rates. It's also painful to think about the challenges these kids are forced to face.

You'll rarely see me post on 'hot topics' but I just had this on my heart since Cadi will start her vaccines soon. :o( Thanks for reading!

Another weekish...May 18th - 29th

Well, despite being covered in poison ivy and looking like I have the plague...it was a great week. :o) I got it from my Dad's camping chairs, apparently the oil from the plant can remain on fabric indefinitely. I'm just so happy my babies didn't get it!

Here is what's left on my arm, its pretty much healed and almost gone, but I wouldn't recommend this experience to anyone! LOL!



So on to the highlights of our weekish...

Fun times with the twinks...



Little Jon got in trouble for doing something to his sister and got sent to time out. But what good is time out unless you have some company? Cadi was there too, just out of the picture. It was pretty funny!



Mom, I'm thinking a chili crusted lamb chop with a cucumber mint sauce for dinner...



Having fun in the Frio river...



The best money we have ever spent is for little Jon's gymnastics for the past year and a half. He has had so much fun and just loves it! This past week they got to do the 'fun' things though and not so much gymnastics. I love this place and maybe after watching the Summer olympics he'll wanna go pro. ;o)









Picking tomatoes from our little garden.





I count my blessings each and every day. I'm so thankful for the many smiles God has bestowed upon us this week...