The Stinker aka Devin

Remember how I couldn't get any good pictures of him? Well I decided to try and get something on my own... now I don't have the skills or equipment like Cameron, so I guess this is just the best I am going to get for now.

Here is how we started out:

I got several of these grumpy pictures!

But then I told him I was going to tickle him:


And I got the right picture:


It may have been the right picture, but it was the wrong photographer, because Cam's got mad skills, and I am just a mommy that likes to take pictures of her kids!

The whole process took less then 30 seconds, why couldn't he have cooperated for 30 seconds last time? Rrrrrr!!!

Oh well, maybe next time we will hide my sister's cool train and he will actually sit happily for a picture!

Family Photos

My sweet nephew took these pictures for us. Devin was an absolute pain-in-the-you-know-what, but they still turned out cute, despite him being annoying.








I really LOVE the ones of Ally!!!

Blessings Coming... Ready or Not!!!

There is big news at our house:

Our family will be getting bigger... I don't have any fancy way of saying it, just: I am pregnant.

I have to mention this is a big surprise for us... um, I mean a HUGE surprise for us. First of all, we had decided about 6 months ago that we were done. I didn't want to do foster care, I didn't want to adopt... life was good, perfect. I love my two kids and everything was perfect and we decided that was enough...

But someone else had other plans for us. Heavenly Father decided that our family was NOT complete, and if I wasn't going to do anything about it, He was. So, the girl who is really not supposed to be able to get pregnant, is now 9 weeks pregnant.

I had my doctor's appointment and we heard the heart beat, and everything looks good.


Am I still in shock a little? Um, yeah. I have to admit the thought of sleepless nights, going through another c-section, possible bedrest again, and did I mention sleepless nights?, (this is one girl who loves her sleep!), is completely scary and overwhelming. But am I excited for this new little life? YES! And while I am still feeling overwhelmed and a little nervous, I am also feeling extremely blessed. This is going to be one very special little spirit that needs our family, and I can't wait to meet him/her!

Fireman Devin

Devin was a lucky little boy last week. His Uncle Dave is a firefighter and brought the fire engine home with him one day to make something for it... of course that meant Devin got to see it and even take a drive!

He happily tried on the firefighter costume and proudly wore it!


Uncle Dave even let him sit in the driver's seat.


Even though she was too "cool" to admit it, Ally thought it was pretty cool too.



He even let them hold the hose and pretend to put out a fire. Devin loved it!!!


Wearing that heavy hat and carrying that hose was just too heavy... so he took off the hat for a few minutes to really get the work done. And he was so proud of himself!




Then it was time to take an actual drive in the fire truck. I will let this picture tell you how Devin felt about that:


Thanks Uncle Dave! Your the coolest firefighter we know!!!

10 Candles on 11/11/11

That's right, my little girl proudly announces she is double digits now... 10 whole years old.

Birthdays around our house seem to last around a week or so... trying to squeeze everything in.

First we celebrated with my side of the family the Saturday before her Birthday.





The next day we had Alex's parents come over to celebrate with us.


We also gave her our presents that day too.


Her main present was a karaoke machine. The kids LOVED it!


Even Grandpa Sam got in on the action.


For her actual Birthday she invited 8 friends over for a party and a sleepover... this will be the last time I ever have that many little girls sleep over at my house! Can I just say it was CRAZY!!!




Happy Birthday my not-so little girl. I am so proud of the amazing, sweet and beautiful young woman that you are. You bring me so much joy watching you. You are so alive, outgoing and fun to be around. You have a sweet, sensitive side that makes sure no one is left out and always included in your fun. I love who you are and am so proud and awed by how incredible you are. Heavenly Father truly blessed me in allowing me to be your mother and watch you become who He wants you to be. I love you!!!

Devin's Halloween Preschool Party

I didn't take this picture, his teacher emailed it out. But here is Devin's cute class dressed up in their costumes:

Happy Halloween! - 2011

How can it already be the end of October???

We watched The Addams Family (the newer version with Cristina Ricci) about 6 months ago... and that is when Ally decided that Wednesday Addams was her costume. Amazing, that 6 months and she never changed her mind... unlike her little brother.

Doesn't she make a VERY convincing Wednesday?

Devin started out wanting to be Buzz Lightyear... crazy me, I bought the costume over a month ago. He changed his mind so many times... but mainly wanted to be Mario. Well, he got to be Buzz anyway. :o) And he really loves his costume so much that he wore it for 4 days straight... the only problem was getting him to take it off for church on Sunday.


We did our annual pumpkin carving...



Went to Ally's school Halloween parade...


Trick-Or-Treating was a lot of fun this year. This is the first year that Devin wanted to participate. In fact, he wanted to go again the day after.

Hee Haw Farms

Before Halloween my friend, Brandy and I took our kids to Hee Haw Farms. It was really cute and a lot of fun.

There was fun slides and tunnels to crawl on.



There was a petting zoo that the kids loved!





They got to ride on little animal cars pulled by a tractor.



We bought our pumpkins there.


We took a hay ride pulled by a tractor.



There was a huge corn maze, but it was getting dark and cold so we didn't attempt it. I don't think the little kids would have made it anyway!