Evan Plays Ball

Water Park

This weekend, we helped celebrate my niece's birthday by taking a trip to our favorite water park. Happy Birthday Jessi! The water park is very family and budget friendly, but most of all, it's fun! Just look at the big beautiful smile on Addi's face!

Evan went down the froggie slide a couple of times, before we moved to the big slides. (Thanks random guy for being in the picture.)

Karsyn was having so much fun, staying still to take a picture just wasn't going to happen. But, this picture makes me smile.

Here's Payton having a great time!

Addi loved the froggie slide too! We loved that Jessi handed down her old life jacket to Addi, it made this mama feel a little more at ease. That's a good thing to feel, when you are at a water park with 4 kiddos.

Finally a good shot of Karsyn with an added bonus of Daddy.

We had a really fun day and it was a great way to celebrate Jessi's birthday!

Splash Pad

At the beginning of the summer, I made a promise to myself that I wasn't going to take my camera to the Splash Pad every time we went. I've been making good on that promise, but I am so glad that I did on our last trip, because check out this cute picture I got of Karsyn and Daddy.

I have been bringing Evan and Payton to this Splash Pad since they were babies and they have fun every time.

Addi makes me laugh every time we go. She's always the last to get her hair wet. She's always so busy and active the whole visit.

We let Karsyn down and she crawled around for a little while. She would have loved to do it longer, but I was afraid her knees would get all scratched up. She enjoyed every second of it.

In the back ground, you can see the new Aquatic Center. It was built last year, and we haven't been yet. Our plan is to go before the end of summer vacation.

This picture just makes me happy.

We do love the Splash Pad. The kiddos love it even more when we get a snow cone afterwards. I just love these summer days.

June Birthday Girlies

This year, we celebrated our June Birthday Girlies in a way we never have before - Chuck E. Cheese style.

Addi is our big 3 year-old! And goodness, can it be true, that Payton is 7????

Most of the time, when we celebrate birthdays in our little family of 6, we have a big shin dig where we invite all of our family and friend. This year was a little different. Just the Grands, along with our friends Mikayla and Ryan joined us. It worked out perfectly, because we had 1 adult for each child and in a busy place like Chuck E. Cheese, well friends, that was nice. The kids were all great, but having a set of eyes on each child makes me feel a lot more secure. Here is our birthday girl, Payton with her friend Mikayla.

Our other birthday girl, Miss Addi.

Evan and his buddy, Ryan. (Ryan and Mikayla are brother and sister. Ryan is on Evan's baseball team and MiKayla is on Payton's soccer team.)

Shortly after we got there, it was pizza time. Karsyn loved the pizza!

Then it was time for a little birthday fun. Pops got really into it. (Umm...Dad, I promised this wouldn't go on facebook, but ummm...well, my blog, it's a different story. No worries, you are only known as Pops or Papa G. on here.)

When Chuck E. Cheese made his big appearance, Karsyn couldn't keep her eyes off of him.

Our birthday girls got a crown and a medallion. I got a little worried about how much Addi was going to like this part and I am so happy to say, she LOVED it! Payton loved it too, of course. Our birthday girls making a wish!

The only part Addi didn't want to particpate in, was the Ticket Blaster. Evan was more than glad to step in for his baby sis. He collected an extra 200 tickets for Addi. Payton aquired the coveted ticket worth 1,000. (Okay, she didn't catch it, the hostess gave it to her, and we're all pretty sure it's because she a cutie pie.)

The girls love openning thier gifts. Payton, in true big sister fasion, got Addi ready for this by wrapping presents in blankets for her to unwrap all week long. Addi was so excited come present time, which was much better than her birthday last year. =) Check out how Payton and Addi celebrated their birthday last year here.

A birthday girl at her birthday party, wearing her birthday crown.

Addi loved playing games with Daddy! She had a blast.

The big girls stayed with Grandma and Nana.

Pops and Papa F. both helped out with the boys.

Karsyn fell asleep in Nana's arms. So sweet!

I don't know how much longer our June Birthday Girls will want to celebrate their birthdays at the same time, but I love that they shared this momment together. If you are thinking about celebrating a birthday at Chuck E. Cheese, I say go for it. It was a ton of fun!

What We've Been Up To

I know, I know, I've been on a little bit of a blogging break here lately. It's not because I've wanted to be, it's been because we have been very, and I mean very busy. (Jeez, I feel like I say that a lot.) But soon, we will be enjoying the Dog Days of Summer, wishing we had something to do....well...maybe. Last night, I was talking to my dad and he asked me how do I find so many different fun things to do. The truth is, I look for them. I love having fun, and doing it with a bargin, for me, makes it even more fun. So, when we found out there was going to be a Free Kid's Expo a couple of weeks ago, we jumped at the chance to go. It was me, the FAB 4, my sister, Ashley, and neice, Jessi. Jessi, Evan, and Payton love spending time together.

Speaking of jumping, the kids were a jumping to pop bubbles. So cute!

The Parks Department set up a rock wall for kids to climb. The goal was to get a picture of Evan, Payton, and Jessi all climbing the wall together. However, Jessi climbed it like a ninja. Evan and Payton were a little slower making their way up.

A little persistance paid off. Payton made her way up...not all the way...but she tried.

The police department had a car for the kids to set up. Evan looks good in the driver's seat, don't you think?

Payton looked super cute!

Addi jumped in the backseat. Being a police officer's daughter, I had to cringe a little. Oh the germs that are in there! I snapped her picture and got her out of there. Hopefully, this was a clean seat.

The following Monday, was Addi's 3rd birthday. I took the kids shopping and Payton got her ears pierced for her birthday. She'd been asking to do it for quite some time, and I think she's big enough to take care of them. I think her little ear rings look pretty.

The week of Addi's birthday was SO busy. We had 3 baseball games, VBS, and a broken down car, that spent some time in the shop. Now would be a great time to say, thanks to everyone who helped us out. We kept the Grands running that week. Here's Evan at his last ball game. He really hit his stride the last couple of weeks of ball. He made base hits every game and scored a few runs. I'm so proud of the progress he's made. It was a fun season.

As I mentioned, it was also VBS week. The theme was Sky. I helped by serving in the nursery. Here's a picture of the kiddos in their VBS shirts and flying goggles. I have to laugh at this picture, because I think it looks like the album cover of a crazy 80's band. LOL!

Here's Addi at her first VBS, 2 years ago. She was just about the same age that Karsyn was for her first VBS. (Karysn wears this outfit all the time.) I think they look a lot alike!

The FAB 4 ready for VBS! It was a busy, BUSY week, but it was a lot of fun. Can't wait to do some more posts soon!

Fashion Star

Payton knew a box was coming from Aunt Becky for her birthday.

She asked to check the mail up to 4 times a day.

She just couldn't wait to find out what her favorite aunt was sending her.

She was so excited.

When the mailman FINALLY brought Payton a box filled to the brim with new clothes from her Aunt Becky, her mouth hit the floor. She was so excited. She loves her "Texas Clothes." But, she loves her Aunt Becky even more.

Thank you Aunt Becky!

Addisyn Hope is 3!!!!!

When I look at myself in this picture, I remember exactly what I was thinking at the time. It was a Sunday morning, we were getting ready for church, and I asked Jason to snap a picture of my 35 weeks and 2 days pregnant self. I might have been smiling, but inside, I was scared. I wasn't worried about adding another child to our family, or what Evan and Payton were going to think....you know, all the things a mama getting ready to have a baby may think. I was terrified. I had known something wasn't right for a while. And looking back, I should have recognized that there was a problem. Not just a problem, but many problems. I was starting to have complications from Gestational Diabetes and though I didn't know it at the time, I was in the early stages of HELLP Syndrome. I was sick, really sick.

We went to church that morning, and I remember it so clearly. I remember where we sat. I remember praying - I needed the peace of the Lord. During praise and worship, we sang, "It is Well With My Soul." The second verse ministered to my heart:

Thou Satan should buffet,

Thou trials should come,

Let this blessed assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

and has shed His own blood for my soul.

I had no idea how much I would cling to those words in the week to come. I haven't been able to sing them since, without getting tears in my eyes.

The next day, I was admitted to the hospital. My body was in starvation mode and my liver had enzyme levels as if I had taken a lot of Tylenol. I was scared. We were scared. The next four days I was on IV antibiotics, had mulitiple blood tests, and had quite a few organs ultrasound. We had to have two different ultrasounds for Addi too.  All leading up to a point where my doctor told me that Addisyn could either be born with brain complications or would not be born breathing. He told us to make a choice. Jason and I prayed as a couple and God gave us peace about having Addi the next day - a whole month early. We weren't given any hope that she'd be breathing on her own. Babies born to Gestational Diabetics have slower developing lungs. We expected her to go to the NICU. Shortly after we had peace about the decision we had made, my doctor came back into my room to tell me that my liver enzymes had shot up again, and that we no longer had a choice, that we were going to be having a baby in the morning. We were moved to L&D for monitoring and to be put on magnesium. Which by the way, is awful. It's terrible. It's bad. I was hooked up to a baby monitor, when Addisyn's heart rate started decelerating. My doctor didn't want me to waste any more time. We were going to meet Addi that night. There were approximately 15-20 people in the room when I had Addisyn. She had a resuscitation unit waiting for her. I had more doctors and nurses there than I could have counted, in part due to the crazy drugs I was given.

At 10:01 p.m. on June 11, 2009, Addisyn Hope was born breathing on her own! To God be the Glory!!! I'll never forget the nurse from the resuscitation unit turning around and smiling at me. She told me my baby girl was perfect.

Here is our tiny 5 lb 15 oz Addisyn Hope on the day she was born.

I think about the day Addi was born just about every day. I think about the miracle God gave us. I really don't think I could ever thank Him enough. I truly will spend the rest of my life thanking Him for that day.

Here's Addi a year later on her first birthday.

I love this picture of her and myself at her Lady Bug Party on her first birthday.

By her second birthday, we became fully aware of her spunkiness. Here she is at 2!

Tomorrow, Addi turns 3 years-old. God puts a spark of life into all of us, but our Addi, he filled with fire. She is so full of life and sass. Addi is the energy in our family. She makes us all laugh every day. She's very energetic and is very sweet. Once you have won Addi's heart over, she loves you unconditionally. Sometimes, winning her heart over takes some work. (This girl is so much like my mom, it isn't funny.) She loves to sing. She loves to swim. She loves to play outside.

Being Addi's mom has is such a blessing. I love this beautiful little girl so very much.

Happy Birthday Addisyn Hope!