Florida Fun and 80th Birthday Bash!

Like I said we had a lot of fun while in Florida.  Sam truly enjoyed everyone there.  Such a joy to be around, you just want to eat her up!  Check out those sparkly eyes as she sits on Grandma Hart's lap.

We also were privileged to enjoy the company of Great Grandma Shockey.  Kaylee really took a liking to her and they teased each other the entire time.

While we were there I walked outside to get something out of the car.  As I did so I heard this loud thud, as if something dropped out of the tree next to me...low and behold something DID drop out of the tree...and it was a large something.  So we decided it would be fun to catch and show the cousins when they arrived later that afternoon. 

Andy caught it without any trouble at all.   After a little research we discovered it was a a cameleon, but a species not natural to the Florida area.  Pretty cool if you ask me!

We went to Manatee park and saw a bunch of Manatees which was super awesome.  When ever Tyler sees or hears about manatees he thinks of his buddy Peyton who passed away several years ago.  Sweet Tyler, often thinking of others!

Sam took a real liking to this net.  While we were there she would "catch" anything and anyone...hahaha...it was pretty cute!

We also stole a family tradition for the Harward and Kusilek clans and painted turkey t-shirts.  It was easy and fun and quick, which is a must with my short attention-ed spanned children.  They ended up being absolutely darling.  So darling in fact I want to do a Christmas one too!

I forgot to include the ENTIRE Hart family picture in my last post, so here it is!  I feel like there is so much character in this family!  Love all the cute faces.

We went to a park that was really close to the Hart's home that had these MASSIVE trees.  They were awesome and the kiddos LOVED playing on them (and IN them).

This was under one of the huge branches.  Man those are some CUTE kids.

We also made candy turkey's.  Oreo's, candy corn, malt balls were apart of the needed pieces.  As you can imagine, they were quite a hit.

Then there was the big Birthday Bash! 

Sam was quite the entertainment.  She would run through the room to the outside porch and back again, always in a rush needing something.  I of course had to be holding her hand (at her request) every time she "needed" something, so I got my fair share of spot light time as well.  Gotta love that little one.

The Birthday Boy, Lachlan Blair Hart.  Sure love him.

Thanksgiving in Florida!

This year for we were able to travel to Florida to not only celebrate Thanksgiving, but to celebrate Andy's Dad's 80th birthday!  It was super fun.  I had to take advantage of the fact that everyone was together and got a bunch of family pics :)  They turned out pretty dang cute if you ask me!


Suave Tyler.

Mischievous Audrie.

The clown Kaylee.

The sweet Kaylee. 

Cute Sam.

Gorgeous Sam.

Handsome couple, don't cha think?

My good lookin' hubby.

Random pic of Kaylee that I loved!

My four kiddos.

Our gorgeous fam.

I ADORE this picture of the Damstedt family...it is dripping with personality :)

Rowan Extravaganza: Toledo Bend

Every year Andy's company has this big extravaganza in Louisiana.  We have only been once due to having babies, general conference or other conflicting issues, but we did have fun the time we did go!  We didn't think we were going to make it this time either due to some work issues Andy was having (oh the irony eh?), but it ended up working out (thanks to a husband who worked well into the wee hours of the morning!) and I am so glad we went!
The company put us up in a cottage since we were considered a very large group (HA!).  They kept giving Andy a hard time about it because we are too big for a hotel room :)  It was very quaint, notice the crib in the kitchen!  Very Disneyland-ish in size.  Everything was very small.  The stairs were super tiny which led to the loft, where the kids slept, that was just barely the height of Kaylee.  Needless to say they thought it was the coolest thing EVER!

 The last time we came to the Extravaganza we thought it would super fun to go canoeing.  And we were successful and had a GREAT time.  So we thought we should make it a tradition.  Well our canoe guy was gone on business, and the other options were closed for the season :(  So we explored the Toledo Bend State Park instead.  It was gorgeous.  The weather was nice and the kids had fun despite the setback, which was a blessing in and of itself!

Sam is such a smiler.  I just love the sincerity in her eyes when she smiles, she genuinely seems so happy.  My heart smiles when I see he smile.

They all had to find walking sticks, and even found one for Sam. 

I LOVE this shot.  Can you say FRAME ME? 

I hope these two stay good friends as they venture on through life.  They have drifted a little in the last year or so, but this moment brought them right back.  Love them. 

Our best effort at a self portrait :)  Not too bad eh? 

There was a sweet lady fishing that my children took particular interest in.  She eventually caught a fish and let the kids touch it and throw it back in the water.  Of course they thought that was the best thing ever! (Well, maybe Kaylee didn't...look at that face!) 

Rowan provided some fun games, from their version of the Amazing Race to crafts.  They had a carnival set up and the kids really enjoyed every aspect of it.  They particularly loved the beanbag toss!  Tyler, Audrie and Kaylee really got into it and played for quite a while.  Even Sam had to take a turn eventually! 

 

 

 The main event took place right off the Toledo Bend Lake beach. They fed us dinner and then started a door prize raffle event.  Remember how I said we were considered a very large group?  Well that payed off in this event.  It did the last time too.  We each got a ticket and won several items including a very large, all terrain, wheeled cooler.  The most random thing ever.  It was HUGE.  Still don't know what to do with it.  The funny thing is the last time we went we won TWO small coolers.  So we are set to have all refrigeration in coolers....if necessary...HA!  The best part (according to my children) was when the raffle ticket number for the final prize was called out.  Andy said, "Hon.  That's you, go take up your ticket!"    I wasn't even paying attention to what the item was.  I was more preoccupied thinking about how in the world we were going to get that massive cooler home.  So I walked up to grab the box he was handing me thinking, "I wonder what this could be."  As I walked to my seat I peaked inside the box and was utterly SHOCKED to find that it was an iPad 2!  I couldn't believe it!  Pretty awesome though. 
All in all a great time and I hope we can continue to go these events as long as Andy works there :)

 

 

My Gorgeous Kids

While in Lousiana this weekend we tried to go canoing as we did 2 years ago when attending the Rowan Extravaganza, but unfortunately we were unsuccessful in our endevours.  In stead we found Toledo Bend National Park and made the most of it.  While there I got some really cute pictures of the kids.  Some good looking kids eh?

  

 

 

 

Your Treasure

I bought this picture two years ago when we moved into our home with the intent of putting it up in our living room, but it didn't fit the niche, so it ended up in the game room.  It is a rather large picture and the only one in the entire room.  It has a scripture on the wall right next to it that reads, "Where your treasure is there will be your heart also" Matthew 6:21.  Upon placing the picture there I felt there was great purpose in its placement as I knew this would be the place of playing with toys, watching TV, and ultimately where family time would take place.

This afternoon I walked into the game room and upon entering I found Kaylee, who is 5 years old, staring at this picture on our wall.  She was gazing so deeply she didn't move when I first sat by her.  I interrupted her gaze by gently asking, "Kaylee, what are you doing?" She responded quietly, without breaking her intent thinking and said, "Mom. I miss him."  Quite taken back I said, "You mean you remember Him?"  She said, "Yes, he looks just like that."  Trying not to disturb her thoughts I sat back and watched her look, stare and long for him.  She then said, "I love him and I want him to come back."

It is moments like these that I can only wonder, Why? How? can one not believe.  Children are such a integral part of this amazing plan.  They teach and they KNOW. They know because they REMEMBER.  I don't think the knowledge of the spirit world is taken from them in one moment at birth, but gradually, and every once in a while we get to have these beautiful moments of their remembrance.  Not only to remind them, but to remind US.  He is real.  He is there and He WILL COME.

Parades and Bunnies

The local highschool does a parade every year as a fundraiser.  This year it was mapped to go right in front of our house!!  There isn't much in life funner than a marching band marching on your street.  The kids thought it was awesome and it was!  (Although, Sam was a little scared because of how loud it was)

Then 2 days ago the REAL excitement at our house began.  Bella, our dog would NOT come inside.  She kept hiding behind my rosemary bush in my garden.  I didn't think anything of it until she just wouldn't obey.  So I marched back there to see what the heck she was doing.  She had her nose all the way under my bush, right at the base of the plant just wagging her tale as she poked her head down there.  Then I saw MOVEMENT under the grass.  First thought, RAT, second thought MOUSE, neither of which I wanted to be within a mile of.  So I grabbed a large spoon and pushed the grass to the side to see 4 little, brand spakin' newborn bunnies.

With a relentless dog and these babies right in the midst of my vegetable garden I called several places to see what I should do.  Animal control didn't deal with rabbits, but the Houston Wildlife Rescue offered some help.  They basically said to check all of them and make sure Bella hadn't hurt them and then just tuck them right back into their nest.  Then they said to put baking powder around the nest to see if there are mama bunny tracks in the morning (to make sure she is feeding them).  So after school I took each one of the kiddo's out to the nest (after a VERY explicit lecture so they understood NOT TO TOUCH them ever again, this was a ONE TIME deal) so they could help me "check" each baby to make sure Bella had not harmed them.

So we carefully took each one, put them on a blanket and each child examined "their" bunny.  Fortunately they were all perfect.  So we tucked them back in, put our baking soda down and waiting until morning. 

There were tracks when we woke up!!  Hurray!!  So hopefully these babies are being fed and now we just need to let them grow :)  The hard part is Bella.  She is so curious, so I have to watch her every time she goes out (and I put a fence up that I close off when she's out there). 
The funny thing is I think I am more excited about these babies than my children are!  I'm not sure I could have stood the knowledge of knowing there were baby animals in my backyard without being a relentless pest, HAhahaha.  I guess I should be grateful huh?  Good times for sure.  We pray for them every night :)