Zoe

So a few weeks ago a friend of mine got some horrible news that her sweet 4 year old has a tumor behind her eye. It has caused complete eye sight loss in that eye and that they had 3 options to consider...they decided to go with chemotherapy that will start this week and they will have to do for a whole year!

As I have thought so much about my friend April and her little girl the last couple of weeks I just wonder why some people have to endure these horrible trials and others don't.

I can't even imagine having a trial like this and pray I never will. I am always so amazed by the strength from these parents as they go through these things.

I feel like I have never taken my health or my children's heath for granted I am grateful every single day for our health.

If you would like to read sweet Zoe's story you can follow her mom's blog she started by going here... http://z-o-e-thegreekwordforlife.blogspot.com

Conwey- January 15th

So today was Conwey's Birthday. It was a crazy day full of basketball games...probably just how he loves spending his day, which was probably good since I was feeling a bit yucky...

We made him breakfast in bed, gave him his presents, and then he was out the door...

Sienna was excited to bake him a cake with blue frosting because that is the color of his basketball team he coaches...(the Tar Heels) We all went to dinner at one of his latest favorite restaurants The Dock...then we all watched a movie together.

So just wanted to do my 10 things I love about Conwey before his birthday is officially over...and it is 11:59 p.m. right now!

1. He loves his kids and family more than anything in the world....I love how much he loves his family...his dad...they have a special relationship...neither of them talk too much but they understand each other (because they are sooooo much a like) it's very sweet.

2. He is a great provider.

3. He is an awesome coach...parents and kids just adore him. (with a undefeated team so far!)

4. He is an Amazing Sunday school teacher...kids fight to get in his class...some sneak in and have to be escorted out.

5. He is very passionate about sports...

6. If Conwey is your friend he will do anything for you. He will give you the shirt off his back.

7. He makes THE BEST guacamole in the world.

8. When Conwey starts laughing you can't help but laugh..and when he and his brother Nico start laughing (especially in movies) it just makes you laugh. (even if it is the dumbest movie ever!)

9. Conwey is very quiet (I know so opposite of me right...guess opposites did attract) unless he is comfortable with friends or family and then he gets on a roll and has everyone laughing...

10. 20 years ago I met a guy named Conwey (weird to think I was only 3 yrs older than Hunter is now when I met him!)...I hadn't ever heard of anyone named Conwey..(except Conway twitty) something about him intrigued me...he wasn't like all the other guys...little quiet, kinda kept to himself...beautiful blue eyes...ambitious...smart...nice...AWESOME athlete...had amazing legs...(first time I met him he was getting ready to go for a run) The first time I had a chance to really talk to him we talked all night long...(who knew Conwey could talk all night long??) ended up being my best friend the rest is history...20 years and 4 kids later...

Happy Birthday Conwey!

**So we have very few pictures together...I am always the one taking the pictures...but we got this one last summer at a beach wedding we went to...It was a great time with good memories so I like it...

The January Blues....

I think I have the January Blues...it always seems to happen.

There just isn't much to like about January...I take my Christmas decorations down and everything seems bare. I find myself looking for new decorations all the time because I feel like my house seems so blah...

It's so stinking cold outside I have to make myself go places because it just hurts to walk out....

There just isn't anything to look forward to..(besides Merry's Birthday celebrations :) and Conwey's too...)

The gym is insanely crowded with all the new years resolution people who take all our bikes, equipment, car spaces and then they are all gone by February...not to return till next January....happens every year!

The kids faces are all so pale that they look almost sick....

I get spring fever and then realize I have like 3 more months!

Tell me what is there to like about January? I would love to know....

I think I need to figure out some fun January traditions to make the month a little more fun....anyone have any suggestions out there?

I defiantly have the January Blues....

Christmas Morning-2010

The brutal waiting on the stairs to come down.....

Hunter, Coop, and Jackson's big present this year is that they are getting a sports court put in the back yard. Can you think of a more perfect present for them? They are all just a tiny bit excited.

Sienna's present from Santa...I think I am having more fun playing with the cute pieces than she is!

Sienna got her long awaited Easy Bake Oven from Grandpa Vic...I soooo remember making cakes in mine when I was little. So funny they are still such a hit! I think Cooper has had more fun making cakes in it than Sienna...he's an expert now.

My favorite part of Christmas morning is all the hugs! We hugged after every present when I was growing up and thank heavens Sienna is keeping that tradition going strong....

I love watching the kids shop for each other...thinking of the perfect gifts, then wrapping them, and the excitement as they watch each other open them.

I also loved each of their sweet gifts they gave me. Coop gave me a cute silver heart necklace, Jackson gave me some awesome pajama pants that I love, Hunter gave me a ton of my favorite gum and Sienna she gave me a really awesome bench from Anthropology...hmmm not sure how she pulled that one off since Conwey and I agreed on no gifts this year for each other!


Sienna loved her pizza making Barbies from Holly and Little Jackson....

Hunter actually gets harder and harder every year. He had no list for me this year...I had to guess on everything he got. And fyi because of the sports court we weren't going crazy on the gifts so it made shopping for Hunter nearly impossible...but I think he was pleased...mostly with his 20 bottles of hairspray he got..or maybe his zit medicine Jackson gave him! Ha! I love funny gifts.

J-man's comment to me on Christmas afternoon was priceless to me. He said

I LOVE my life...I have everything I could ever want. Wow...after a month of stressing over Christmas I was pretty happy to hear that one!

Hmmm Coops gifts look strangly familiar...like exactly what he wanted last year...just a different name on the back. He was very happy to get his Rondo jersey.

Jackson was dying for a pillow pet this year....Conwey was like I don't think my 11 year old son needs to be a getting pillow pet...so this was the next best thing. He said he actually likes it better...phew!

Sienna has been longing for these dress up high heal shoes...her 2nd cousin has them and she wears them every time she goes over. I had a heck of a time finding them but finally tracked some down on ebay...phew again! She hasn't really taken them off since.

My sister Rach gave all the kids really sweet and thoughtful gifts...they all loved everything she gave them. The fake blow up tongue was actually fought over...strange. :)

Grandpa Vic sent the perfect gifts for everyone! Just how he knew exactly what they all wanted I will never know! ;)

Really one of my favorite parts of Christmas is going to the mailbox every single day and getting all your cards. I hope this tradition never ends in the electronic world we now live in!

So even though I felt very overwhelmed this Christmas for some strange reason I really really love Christmas time. I love the gift giving...I love the daily thoughts that somehow always turn to Jesus birth...I love the Christmas music...the lights that decorate all the neighborhoods...the baked goods that show up on your doorstep....and just the magical feeling of Christmas Time!
So here's to 2010 Christmas! Till next year....peace out.

(Don't know why I just typed that but I am keeping it in because it made me chuckle.)