Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited their doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes: I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.
I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.
If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.
If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.
It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.
> Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back.
Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet. (you promised me last year you would lose some weight with me so next year I could be a cute size two blonde...ok, some requests go too far, but none the less.....)

Yours Always,
MOM...

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children, healthy, safe and of course, young enough to always believe in Santa.

Seven Wonders of the World

Watch this video--it is so true. What we take for granted and don't take the time to actually sit and think about. "Thank you dear Lord, for everything you have given to me and my family. We are so Blessed! Amen."

Family Time in Camo in the Leaves

Look at that Family!
This is what its all about!
Walking in the leaves! (Don't be fooled--Daddy is NOT having fun!):)LOL
Family Time is priceless--Mommy and Daddy look on as the kids play with the leaves!
Now, if she isn't the cutest thing you have every seen!:)

Happy Belated Fall!

Mommy and Taylor pose for "Camo" Pictures! Gavin, Taylor, and Mason pose for Pumpkin Pictures. First weekend of October and it was 87 degrees out. Gavin, Taylor and Grandma Albright walking in the leaves. Taylor throwing the leaves. The last picture says it all--Okay, we're done posing, Grandma! Ooopsy Daisy!:)

Halloween!

Okay! I know it has been too belated, but here are our halloween Fairy and Boxer! We had two harvest parties and way TOO much candy!

One gigantic slide, a moon walk, hay rides, carving punkins, and pony rides! Mommy is beginning to think Halloween CHAOS is way over rated. Is it really worth all of it? Not sure?!?!?!?!

My kids love it though! Baby Mason was adorable!

Taylor was beautiful and even wore makeup! Gavin had a black eye, but if you asked him, he said, "he came out on top"! LOL!!!!!:)

Mommy and Daddy were dressed as chaperones--oh wait --that doesn't take a costume--that's just how it is!:) LOL!

Another Reminder to be Thankful for my Family!

Todd and the kids were in an accident yesterday afternoon. He was in Perry driving home and saw a lady coming off the exit ramp--flying, not stopping...he stopped abruptly and she swerved and slammed into him--head on! Everyone is okay! Taylor actually slept through the whole thing. To make a long story short, she was drunk, unmedicated manic depressent, on Suicide Watch b/c she had already threatened to kill herself and her kids (who were in the car with her). She was arrested-duh!:) and Family had to come get her children. She was so intoxicated, she thought she was in Imlay City! She had some verbal rage she lashed out at Todd, threatening to kill him and kill our kids. Gavin only knows that "the lady had to get handcuffed because she was nuaghty and mean to the policeman." Thank the Lord that is all he knows--that is enough in itself!

The EMT's checked Todd, Gavin, and Taylor over before they were allowed to leave.

As Todd and I were talking last night about the whole incident, I was flooded with emotions.
I know as soon as I heared about it my initial reactionw as PANIC> is everyone okay, where are you, the kids? Are the kids okay? Then I moved to EMOTIONAL WRECK>I need to get home and kiss and hug on them. I did! I gave them each a kiss and hugged and squeezed--and held on tight! and told them how much I LOVE THEM! Then I moved to ANGER> what was that woman thinking--she not only jeopardized her own life, but her kids, MY kids, and MY husband! OH the nerve! and more ANGER b/c by the sounds of it, the police knew there were issues with this woman, and yet she was still allowed on the road, and possession of her children.
Then I moved to PRIDE-I am so proud of the way Todd handled the whole situation. At first, she was trying to give him her wedding ring, checkbook, anything to get him to not call the police. He tried calming her down, telling her not to talk of killing herself, that she needed to check on her kids. etc. He was paying attention too--right from the beginning. He saw her coming and stopped to lessen the impact! Then he said, he felt bad for the two small kids, but he is glad she was stopped then and not 70-80 mph on the freeway killing everyone involved! How TRUE!
Then I moved to THANKFUL!-I don't think I can say it enough, I AM SO THANKFUL FOR MY FAMILY!!!! I am still htere...I am so thankful for Gavin, Taylor, and Todd! I love them all so much!
I told Todd, I want to go out and buy a huge bed so that we can all sleep together and I don't ever have to let them out of my sight--He chuckled and then said, yeah, but then you wouldn't be trusting the Lord to take care of them either! Hmm! More praying and thinking to do~

This is How I Feel!

I got this attachment on my email the other day. I was laughing so hard...not sure if it was because that is how I really feel or b/c of how silly the video is..check it out--you tell me?!
You at least have to smile after watching this video--if you don't you have serious issues! LOL!!!:)

Update~

Okay I decided it has been awhile since I last gave a narrative update!:) So, here it is!

I cannot beleive it is already the end of October! Time is FLYING!--almost literally, I think!



Todd is laid off and eagerly searching for a job(I don't know if eagerly really fits, but it sounds good:) He has had a few prospects, but nothing solid yet! Friends of our's (names not mentioned) had to go out of state to find work. He left his family here and he went to work 6-10's lots of hours away from home. Prause the Lord he has been able to come home and has a job back here now. Michigan is crazy. I thank God for my job. I am also thankful that we have not had to make such a sacrifice as our friends'. We have gone back and forth what the sacrifice would look like if we had to move to get a job. We don't know--we alwasy come up empty handed--but someway, somehow, we are ALWAYS BLESSED!--No guessing there--PRAISE THE LORD!!



Todd continues to hunt every chance he gets. He got an 8 pt. (buck) a couple of weeks ago and now says, he is "waiting for the monster"! We'll see:) Gavin is a mini-me of his dad! Todd's sister, Danielle and I always tease Todd that he has become a redneck (not really, but kinda--Love you Babe). Anyways, last night as we were driving we told Gavin to look for deer. His reply was that he hopes we got one so he could "cut 'em in half and hang 'em on the wall"! Oh my word, I told Todd he has made a little redneck hillbilly out of my son!LOL! If you know Gavin and his stories--it was cute to hear him say this phrase. It really sounded just like a little hillbillly boy talking about huntin' stories!



Gavin is in preschool (pics soon, I'll try). He absolutely loves it. I think his teacher makes it sound better than we see at home--or maybe it's that he works better for her than us. She said he is reading words already--I am not so sure, but maybe! He is learning and catching on super-fast! I am glad.

He is hyper and crazy a lot of the time. (I think he gets that from his Dad):) LOL!
He is giving us a run for our money--STILL! Ya know, I thought we learned everything (mostly) after having the second one, but I gotta tell ya, we are still asking each other what to do with certain situations Gavin puts us in. --Or is it us that puts us in our situations? Not sure!

There is a certain farm that we pass everytime we go out to Todd's parents' house and Gavin will always say that that is the Farm he is going to take Grandma Bishop to when he gets older. (Is it the funny farm?!) Just kidding!:) We love you, Grandma! Gavin comes up with the cutest phrases--he keeps us on our toes.

Gavin loves his new cousin, Mason. We don't get to see him very much, but both of the kids love and kiss on him every chance they get!



Taylor is a BRUTE!~ that about sums it up with no other words needed! I always prayed for a little girl after having Gavin. I even "bargained" with God, that if he had us have any more kids, PLEASE, PLEASE let it be a girl!:) Well, I got the "desires of my heart"...and she is a brute! I was thinking, ya know, cute, cuddly, girly, frilly--yeah right--only when Mommy makes her:) Although, I will say she has the shoes and I have not pushed that. She could play all day with just shoes--different pairs--of everyone's--just trying them on and off! She says "Mommy" in the cutest voice--there is no other thing so sweet--I don't think! She says a few other words too--oh and Daddy has gotten to her too--her new word is "buck!" --Thanks a lot Daddy! :)

She is very interested in going potty in the big-girl potty--so we have bee trying--no success yet! (it's still early). She brings us clean diapers/ pull-ups as soon as she has tinkled in her diaper or messed in another way!:) I think she is ready, what do you think?!:)

Taylor loves playing with her brother and jumping off her big brother's bed:)--not that Mommy and Daddy like it --or let her!:) She also knows how to push gainv's buttons. She knows that if he is picking on her or not sharing with her, she can bite him and have him at her mercy!--And she does! YIKES!



Mommy is CRAZY! --Busy-that is! Between working, taking classes, and keeping up at home--I feel like I never stop. I will say, though that since Todd has been home laid off, he has been AWESOME about cleaning the house for me. :)--(most of the time). Love you Honey!

My day usually starts at school about 7am. I work on my grad stuff until about 8:30 ish. School starts at 9:10 am. I run all day between the different classes I work in -break for lunch and do it all over again for the afternoon. Then about 4:15, I hop in my car and unwind for 23 minutes on my drive home--before being bombarded by another JOB!
I think Todd has rubbed off on me a little too much:) Ya know, I used to like sitting at home and enjoying the peacefulness and was perfectly content with it. Now, if we are home longer than a few hours, it's like BOREDOM sets in. Yikes--what shoud we do now?!:) Sunday, we had no plans and after getting home from Todd's parents in the afternoon, it was about 5:00--it was like "what now?!" Oh my word, I never used to be like this! And now posting it--I cannot even remember if we did anything or not!:) CRAZY, I know:) LOL!

"Life is Life" continues to be my motto. We are in the situationss we are in for a reason. We meet the people we meet for a reason. God is always at our side--we have seen that countless times over and over. We pray that our children grow up with that knowledge and strength.

We are truly blessed as our family of four!

Todd has fun at GiGi's too!:)

Todd could barely drive this old go-cart --let's just say he has grown a little since last time he has rode it. The throttle was stuck open, and it had no brakes. I was almost rolling on the ground watching him ride this thing! HAHAHAHHEHEHEHEHEH!:) Maybe next time he should ride something his own size!:) LOL!

Fun at Gi Gi's House!

Gavin's friend, Grant got to sleepover and we went to visit GiGi (Grandma Kreider). Here's some pictures from our day! Grant and Taylor
Best Buds!:)~Gavin and Grant
Great Grandpa sharing rides on one of his tractors~
Wagon rides too! (Grant and Taylor)
Great Grandpa has an old three wheel peddle bike--with a basket on the back. The kdis love having rides! (Grant and Taylor's turn)

More Pics of Mason John

Mason John...

...was born on Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 1:55 PM~ weighing 7 lbs. 4 ozs.~19.5 inches long~He is so handsome!!!

Mommy and baby are both well. Daddy--I think was wide awake all night--not sure he slept a wink! Daddy changed the first poopy diaper Sunday night.

Mason has dark curly hair and has his Mommy's lips, and Daddy's nose:):):):)

I am finally an Aunt!!! Woohoo~

Mommy and Taylor Time!

I love having a girl so much. She loves shoes and well--not so much about the shopping--but we still are working on that!:)

She has just learned how to pose for pictures and do a cheesy smile (like her brother knows all too well)!! I love my kids, what else can I say!

Taylor's Owie!

Taylor fell into a 2x4 board. She hit it right on the bridge of her nose. It seems like whenever we have a big event ocming up our kids go calamity crazy! My borther is getting married this weekend and she is one of the flower girls! So far we don't have raccoon eyes! We keep praying not! We'll see!

Date Night

Daddy and Mommy got to out on a date! I can't remember the last time that happened. Thanks to a girlgriend at work, we were given tickets to a Tiger's game. The weather was iffy and we did have a rain delay (pics of tarp on the field), but it was fun and nice to get away even for jsut a few hours:) Pluse the kids got to camp out and Grandma A.'s house:)

Gavin's Tooth Getting Pulled

Gavin started out by watching Scooby Doo. Actually I think he got to watch it the whole time. HE was really good. HE got laughing gas--he acted kinda silly, but he was a great patient. He is recovering just fine. He will be toothless in that area until he is 10 yrs. old or so. (until his permanent tooth grows in). He got to bring his tooth--in 2 pieces--home in a treasure box for the tooth fairy--I think he might get something extra for it being in two pieces!--what do you think??!!!!!:)