Five Years

Wow, five years already. I know that 5 years is a drop in the bucket compared to eternity yet, wow! Last night as we were having appies after watching a movie (something we rarely do these days) we talked about how fast the past 5 years have gone, and how great they have been despite some of the obstacles we have had to work through and face together.

I can honestly say that I love Jeral more and more as time goes on. Maybe it is that our love is maturing as we age and spend more time together, and also intentionally choose to spend time apart doing the things we love. I do not know. What I do know is I feel incredibly blessed to fall asleep in his arms at night and wake up next to him in the morning and then do it all over again.

These past five years have been an adventure and I look forward to the many adventures we have a head of us in the years to come!

Christmas 2011

Jaris First thing Christmas Morning!
Kenzie say already mom I so do not want the camera in my face!

Opening the first of the gifts!Daddy lending a helping hand

Yeah a building block table!

Seriously the cheapest toy got the most attention for the first little while

Daddy reading the instructions as how to put the toy together. Daddy is way better than mommy at this as I would just start putting it together with out even looking at the instructions.

All the above pictures were on Christmas day at our home

Christmas #2 at Uncle Mark and Auntie Jodi's

Kenzie with her fabulous Auntie Jodi

My Amazing Husband of almost 5 years!

Strike a pose for Grandma and Grandpa K.

On the computers yet again. What would we do with out social media?

Awww look at you two so adorable!

Opening Gifts!

I love all the random posing!

Brother and sister! This is what Kenzie and Jaris have to look forward to in the future!!!

More posing with Christmas gifts!

Jaydn's turn to opened her stuff

One of Sarah's beautiful gifts

Josh the scarf model

Josh's turn!

Kenzie rubbing her face with the wrapping of sorts! She seriously was rubbing her face and liking the texture!

Josh allowing Kenzie to rub his face!

Christmas #3 with my family! Kenzie opening her Birthday/ Christmas Gift from Uncle Chris and Auntie Jocelyn

Jaris just wanting to play with the balloon from his sister's birthday still!

My adorable niece Maddy opening her Christmas gift!

Tyson and Kenzie looking a little over whelmed with all the gifts!

Jaris playing with toys on his new table made from Uncle Chris!

Kenzie chilling while everyone is hanging out!

Jaris hanging out in his tent from mommy and daddy

Tyson chilling in Kenzie's tent!

So we have had all of our Christmas gatherings. We had a lot of fun hanging out with family over the holidays! And we were blessed to get to have them all here. I think the pictures say it all.

There is one picture I do not have and wish I would have taken. This year we got to bless my mom with a gift that she needed, and i love that we could do it. I think this will always go down as a Christmas when I got to give much to those who needed it and I love getting to do that!

My greatest Christmas gift was that of getting to celebrate the holidays being pregnant. Today I say my doctor and there is some concern about my hormone levels so we are doing blood work and I have to wait for an ultrasound until Jan 10th. I know this baby is in God's care and God will decide whether or not we get to hold him or her in our arms in August. The hormone thing could be nothing right now just a difference in the time of day thing, or it could mean Jesus is bring this miracle to be with him. The truth is I really hope we get to hold this little miracle in August. With that being said Jeral and I decided that this is it, if we loose this miracle. My heart and body do not want to keep going through this. Either we will have three children (praying for that outcome) or we will grieve the loss of another miracle and then enjoy the bountiful blessing of the two miracle we have been given.

My Christmas Gift

I think that the picture says it all!!!!! This was my Christmas gift from God this year. I am only 5 weeks or so along however we decided that since we have miscarried 2 times in the past 18 months or so that we were going to celebrate this pregnancy and let others celebrate with us too. Plus the more people praying for us and this little miracle baby the better. However long we get to love this little miracle for and dream about his or her future is a gift to us, and we hope that come August 29th or so we get to hold him or her in our arms.

When we lost baby Annabelle, back in July it crushed us, and I wanted to go right to the fertility clinic and try a few IUI's. However as we prayed about it and I actually was quiet enough to listen to God I knew God was asking me to give him until Christmas. Not what I wanted, yet okay. On Friday December 23rd Jeral and I were talking in the morning about our wonderful miracle family and he told me he was really happy just the 4 of us. I started crying, not because I am not happy just the 4 of us. I cried because I still have moments of grief that pop up here and there from miscarrying. Fast forward to the evening as I was driving home from Vernon. I told God I just wanted a clear answer about having more kids. I was tired of being told we have a choice. I know we have a choice. I just want a yes more kids, or no more kids. When I got home I decided to take a pregnancy test. Fully expecting it to be negative. Imagine my surprise as I watched it before my very eyes turn positive. I ran down stairs to show Jeral. Well the next day I just wanted to see the word and not a symbol so I asked Jeral to stop and pick up a digital pregnancy test. To see the word PREGNANT wow. I guess I got my answer!

This all feels very surreal right now. We are choosing to celebrate and enjoy this knowing our baby is God's and God can bring him or her home before we ever get to hold him or her. Our hope and prayer is to get to hold him or her at the end of August. So when you think of us we would love and appreciate it if you would pray for our family and the baby I now carry.

I have pictures of the kids from today, however we still have a few more days of celebrating with Jeral's family and my family so I will wait until after that is all done! Blessings and Love to all!!!!!

Two Years Ago

Two years ago today the most amazing little miracle was placed in our arms!

This time of year is filled with great joy for our family. Not only is it the Christmas season when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Our family celebrates the birth and coming home of our daughter. Along with this great joy my heart also aches for Kenzie's birth mom. It is a reminder to me that some times the greatest joys are brought about by the greatest sorrows. In many ways this is what God did for us when he sent Jesus to be with us. My life will never be the same because of God giving us Jesus and because a woman carried a little miracle baby and then placed her in our arms. We have a lot to be celebrate!

Happy 2nd Birthday Kenzie

My attempt at a Birthday Cake! I am not my mom, yet I am happy I did not through this away and that we used this to celebrate my miracle daughters birthday! I have many more years of practicing making cakes!
Blowing out the candles on the cake, and Kenzie was not sure what to do and a little over whelmed. So cute though!!!!

Attempting to get a picture before she grabbed at the candles I think.

Just chilling on the counter with the family!

Opening up Birthday Presents in the morning. She definitely got the ripping the paper thing down this year! These go with the birthday present from Grandma J. and her soon to come birthday/Christmas present from Auntie Jocelyn

I love the smile under the soother!

Playing with toys in the morning! I knew that certain toys would be fought over so Jaris also got some toys to open up today.

Kenzie loves playing with her babies so we got her some toys that will aid her baby play!

Jaris was whipping around the house today pushing this. Good thing there were two different ones so they each had one to push!

Putting the baby in the High Chair

Kenzie decided it would be fun to climb into the dolly play pen.

It is hard to believe that 2 years ago today one of our two miracles was born. We had no idea she had graced the world with her presence yet. I still vividly remember the phone call we got on December 22nd from the social worker asking me if i liked pink? I was trying so hard to to jump up and down and run around screaming for joy (being 6 months pregnant hindered those two things). I went out to the shop to tell Jeral and we went shopping for little girl clothes. I felt like I was walking in a dream. On December 23rd we got to bring out little girl home. I remember holding our little girl for the first time and i remember the joy on Jeral's face and what a proud papa he was and is.

The past two years with MacKenzie have been filled with so much joy (her middle name). She has a smile that captivates everyone. Her smile is as huge as her personality, which is pretty big. She is a creative go getter. She knows what she wants and will often enter into a battle of the wills with her mommy (that is me). I still get my desired outcome most of the time, yet I know that will change one day. I have laughed my head off as I watch her play and act like a goof ball. I have tried not to laugh when she comes and gives me a hug and big wet slobbery kiss in an attempt to get her way. I have also had my moments when I have wanted to rip my hair out because she has bit me or Jaris yet again (those times are getting fewer and far between though. However I did get bit really good today when I tried to see if she was teething her two year old molars. That will teach me for putting my finger into the mouth of a teething 2 year old). I have also been tired with some of the long nights, however I would not trade on of those nights of snuggles and cuddles because I know those night will get fewer as you grow up my little girl. My heart has broke as Kenzie has cried because I am leaving to go to an appointment and she wants to come with me. These two years have been amazing, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kenzie.

Daddy and I look forward to many more years of celebrating many more of your birthdays. We pray that God guides us as we parent you and the He watches over you and protects. You are a miracle my little girl and I love you just because you are you!

Playing in The Snow

Playing in the snow. They do have snow suits yet it was not really cold outside so I let them play in sweaters and vests. Kenzie in typical fashion took her mitts off!

Helping mommy with the snow man!

Giving mommy the stare!

Mommy it is wet, how can you sit in this stuff?

Hmm, what is this and why is it on my thumb?

Today the kids and I went outside to play in the snow for a bit and we made our first snow man of the season. I have not made a snow many in years and I sort of forgot how much work they are or maybe just how much work they are for an almost 33 year old!!!!! Still I had fun playing with my kids outside!

Life around here lately. Well nap time has been instituted. The grumpies can to play so nap time at about 3 pm is back. As much as I was hoping for an early night with out the naps, Kenzie still did not want to go to bed until 9 or 10 pm, so I will take the 2 hour nap in the afternoon. Both kids are growing up so fast. I can hardly believe that in 6 days I will have a 2 year old little girl. We taught her how to say that she is 2 years old. When we ask her how old she is, Kenzie will say, "Me TWOOO" So darn cute! We are working on getting Jaris to say that he is ONE. Still a work in progress.

We are still waiting for our new Love Seat and Ottoman. Once everything is here I will take pictures and post them. I love my new couches just frustrated with the Brick and the service so far. Normally we have loved the customer service at the Brick, alas this time round not so much. We have also bought a few more pieces for the house from Homsense.

We moved other furniture to our other living room and I love having furniture in there. For the past almost 5 years that room was empty. I think I am going to enjoy having two living rooms fully furnished! I could spend way more money there than I have, and trust me I am tempted too. Our next project will be to redo our master bath. It will be our special project together.

Well there you all have it life around here lately! I am looking forward to Christmas, Kenzie's birthday, and our 5th Anniversary all in the next 2 weeks and a bit. If I do not post until after Christmas then Merry Christmas to everyone!