Jaxson's Baptism

                                      This is who all the fuss was about!

                                                      Two bow tie guys.

Grandpa with Walter and Zalen.  (Sorry about the blurry picture Kurt.)

Cupcakes and Hair Accessories

I made some delish cupcakes for Jim's co-workers. Here are some pictures of them. I plan to make similar cupcakes as these for a bake drive I'm have for Alpha House (a shelter for homeless families). I also made some hair accessories to sell.

Downton Abby

What about lastnight? Even more sad than when Sybil died. RRR!!!

a little bad news

(Mom, I tried calling you but I got the answering machine)

So...the kids and I were going to come to MI at the end of March while Eric is in Kirksville testing all week, but...because we had to replace two tires and pay for a tow (that was about 2 weeks ago) we simply cannot afford it anymore.  Wouldn't you know that two tires and a tow cost almost exactly what gas to MI and back would cost?  Anyway, we are sad...very sad.  But still excited about coming camping in June-that is still a go.  Also, Eric is looking into doing his audition rotations in August now, so there is a good chance if it all works out that we will be there for almost the whole month of August.  And if anyone wants to make a trip to beautiful PA for the last week in March, we would be MORE than happy to host you and show you the sites-Hershey is only 40 min away and tons of fun-because it will be just me and my somewhat crazy children all alone for almost an entire week.  Anyway, that's the bad news.  Just thought I'd shoot everyone a heads up that might have been affected by that.  Still love ya!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Birthday Merrit!

I can't believe how old he is now! He's had a pretty good birthday so far, so school due to the snow. And tomorrow he gets to go to his first church dance in Westland. Now how's that for a great birthday! He's such a great kid. We are so blessed to have him in our family.

Babysitter Mommy

I have decided to start babysitting!!! Although I guess I already babysit if you include me playing with Zalen. The reason behind me wanting to babysit mainly has to do with me wanting to be a help to Jim. He works two full time jobs and does classes online, and somewhere in there he tries to squeeze in family time. I LOVE being a stay at home mom but I also want Jim to get time to relax and see Zalen grow up (He does new tricks and sounds every day it seems). To come up with a way that I could remain a stay at home mom and help with income I decided to Babysit. I've babysat in the past over the years. I started when I was 13 and did it on and off up until about the time I got married to Jim. Since I'm still fairly new to the area I'm having trouble getting any contacts to touch bases with. I've made a blog and Facebook page to try and get my name out there in hopes for networking and connections through people I do know in the area. I came up with the name Babysitter Mommy by making a Gmail account. It was the only name available that had babysitter and mom in it, so I took it and then I started to like the name so I used it as my Blog name. I could really use your help to get my name out there. Please, if you know anyone that live near me that would be interested in a babysitter refer them to me. Thanks so much!!!

                                                        Here is my Blog! Check it out!!

                                       www.babysittermommy.blogspot.com

Guess who's 35?

Hint: It's Hillary.

Happy Birthday!

Did anyone else cry when Cybil died?

few random pics

I know we have been the WORST bloggers in the family, and it's mostly been because we've been so frustrated that our USB cords don't work, but we can do better!  Now that I know I can use my SD card to transfer pictures (thanks Kari!), I will just have to figure out how to do it.

Anyhow, thanks to all of you who are keeping our family blog going!  I love that we've had it for so long, and I hope it will continue to go on for many more years.

Lovin' the bald friend behind us

So glad my kids all love spending time together

Great Dad, big pacifier

Here are a few pictures that uploaded via Photo Stream from Jason's more fancy iPhone.  These will have to hold you over until I figure out how to get my own pics on here.  We were celebrating at Red Robin Saturday night...celebrating our better-than-expected TAX RETURNS!  Huzzah!  Oh, and my amazing baby slept through the whole thing...I have a blessed life. *smile*

North American Auto Show

Jim and I went with some friends to the Auto Show in Detroit. It was a lot of people, vehicles, and fun!

Our Trip to Jana's

 This doll is in the Fredericksburg Museum.  I saw it on the show The History Detectives on PBS.  They think it was used to smuggle medicine into the South during the Civil War (the head is hollow).

 This is the house that Jana and Jason are planning on buying.

 Addie dressed up in period clothing at the Fredericksburg Museum.

                                          Dad holding Sawyer.

                                          Dad and I in Culpeper, VA

                                        Jana and her kids in Culpeper, VA

 Macie eating an ice cream cone.  She eats as slow as Chelsea does!

A beautiful sunset out in the country where Jana lives.

Contact Information

So I thought it might be a good idea to update our addresses and phone numbers as well as list birthdays and anniversaries if you want. I'm not saying do it on here because I think this is a public forum but we could do it through e-mail. The only way I know it's someones birthday is if I see it on Facebook, which I'd rather it not be that way. Let me know what you think and if it's a good idea.

Jana had a baby

Jana, who lives about 4 hours south of us, decided to expand her family this past week with the addition of her fourth baby.  Lucky for me, she asked me and my kids to come and be the first to welcome him into the family.  We got there on Monday, expecting her to go anytime, but had to be patient-she had him on her due date (how often does that happen for real?) on Thursday.  While we waited, here are some of the fun things we did.

Puzzles,

 fed baby goats (aka kids), 

 slept, 

 made masterpieces, 

and went outside-Noah practically lived out there.

And then on Thursday, little Sawyer William decided to join us.

 He was so wrinkly and cute. 

 And immediately he received the love we had been waiting to share...

Hello!