Magnum P. Daddy

Every year Shane grows out his facial hair - either a goatee or a beard. And every year when he goes to shave it off he leaves just a mustache to see if I notice or not. Of course I always notice - there is just something wrong with more hair on top of your lip than on your head! - but this year, I got PICTURES!! These are soo wrong.....but hilarious. Enjoy!!

And since my Beefcake is being such a good sport for letting me post these, I'm throwing in the Bo Derek for him. Feel free to have a good laugh....I do every time I look at it!

Merry Christmas......

from our house to yours!

Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below

with tiny lights, like heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear

for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear

but the sound of music can’t compare with the choir up here.

I have no words to tell you of the joy their voices bring

for it’s beyond description to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart

but I am not so far away, we are really not apart.

So be happy for me, one and all, please know I hold you dear

and be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I send you each a special gift from my heavenly home above.

I send you each a memory of a child’s undying love.

For after all “Love” is the gift, more precious than pure gold.

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

So please love and help each other, as Jesus says to do

for I cannot count the blessings or the love He has for you.

So have a Merry Christmas and let your hearts feel God’s cheer

for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I can’t tell you of the splendor or the peace here in this place.

Can you just imagine Christmas with our Saviour face to face?

I'll ask him to lift your spirit as I tell him of your love

so then pray for one another as you lift your eyes above.

Please let your hearts be joyful and let your spirit sing

for I am spending Christmas in Heaven and I'm walking with the King.

Author Unknown

Introducing Rain and Stormy

It's official.....the animals now out number the humans in this house!

Rain and Stormy

Rain after her first bath

Stormy before her first bath

Oh, HAPPY GIRL!

WHY GOD ALLOWS PAIN AND SUFFERING

The closer we get to Christmas, the more I am reminded of what this time last year was like for us. Thoughts of Shane's job, moving, and having a very high risk pregnancy make my mind all fuzzy to this day. This year we are supposed to be getting ready for a fun and exciting Christmas with more babies than we know what to do with! Instead, our little ones are celebrating with the Birthday Boy himself.........and in that, I find my comfort.

Below is one of the best explanations for why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen.

WHY GOD ALLOWS PAIN AND SUFFERING

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:

'I don't believe that God exists ...'

'Why do you say that?' asked the customer.

'Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children?

If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.
I can't imagine loving a God who would allow all of these things.'

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and un-kept.

The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:

'You know what? Barbers do not exist.'

'How can you say that?' asked the surprised barber. 'I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!'

'No!!' the customer exclaimed. 'Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.'

'Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me.'

'Exactly!'- affirmed the customer. 'That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.'

Pink Pillow Patch*

Hugged, Thrown

Cut, Sewn

Oh, my Pink Pillow and me!

Kissed, Cuddled

Drug through puddles

Oh, my Pink Pillow and me!

Worn almost through

Mommy fixed it anew

With a horse patch, you see

My best friend

To the end

Oh, my Pink Pillow and me!

* Disclaimer: I nor Mommy claim to be expert poetry writers. Therefore, the line breaks, sectioning, punctuation, etc. may be a little off. In fact, we don't even know if this is an "Epic", "Sonnet", "Haiku", or just "A No Name" poem.

We just like to rhyme!

The Way We Were

Shane and I decided to get a new Christmas tree this year and sell our obnoxious 12 foot tree from our last house on Craigslist. As I was digging through our pictures to find one of the tree to put in our ad I found our disk of pictures from our honeymoon.

OMG! How we have AGED in the last nine years!!

We got a kick out of looking at them and I've since been running around the house calling Shane my little BEEFCAKE! I'm sure he loves me telling you all. I will, however, spare (wink, wink) you the picture of me with my Bo Derek hair "DON'T". Yes, it always sounds like a good idea to get your hair braided on the beach, but never feels or looks like a good idea........right ladies???

An Angel for my Angels from my Angel!

Yesterday Brinn's preschool class went to Firehouse Pottery and Art Studio to make a Christmas gift for their teacher. This place is so cute!

After the kids finished the project for their teacher, we stayed after to make an ornament. I took Brinn over to pick out an ornament. There were angels, snowmen, gingerbread men, stockings, Santa Claus, etc. Brinn said, "Mommy, I want to do an angel for your babies." OMG! So many times Brinn has been my bright light this year, without even knowing it. This was something that I definitely needed to hear, especially because it was a year ago this week that all the craziness really began - we were given the option of taking a severance package or moving, and Angel stopped developing.

Such a sweet little gesture, but it meant SO MUCH to me. Thank you my little sweetheart, you are an angel here on Earth. I love you!

T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L

I meant to make a list of what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving last week, but got caught up in getting ready to go out of town and never got around to it. We had a nice Thanksgiving weekend back in Kansas but of course didn't get to see nearly everyone we wanted to see! Since we've been back we have been dealing with the "crud" that is going around. It really is pathetic to see us all not feeling good together and wondering, "WHO is going to take care of WHO?"

We had a nice time relaxing with our families and got to sneek in a few other things too. Shaner got to meet up with the guys for dinner one night, and breakfast another day. We all got to go see Jen and Jake's new baby, Carter Joann, who is only 3 weeks old. Congratulations Jen and Jake. She is beautiful!! Thanks for letting us come love on her for a bit.

Here's a picture of Jen at her shower. Isn't she just the cutest little pregnant thing you have ever seen?! Baby Carter. And here's Brinn and me getting our baby fix!



Brinn also got a nice treat from Aunt Sami - horseback riding! One of Sam's friends, Karen, has two horses and invited us out to go riding. I HATE cold weather and it was freezing out, but anything for the kids, right??? Brinn enjoyed herself thouroughly. Thanks Sam and Karen!

Here's Sam and I getting ready to brave the cold for the kiddos. Actually, Sam doesn't mind the cold as much as I do. She is just as horse crazy as Brinn!
Brinn all ready to ride! The two horse nuts - Aunt Samantha and Brinn. Cousin Nick on Ranny.
Brinn on Adidas.

So, now on to my thankful list. After all, any day is a good day to be thankful, right? Even in light of the very challenging year we have had, and although I do get down from time to time, I do realize we still have A LOT to be thankful for and I try not to forget it.

T = TIME. I am thankful for time because I do believe that time helps ease the pain of all wounds. Although I don't think I'll ever be completely "healed" from losing all our babies, I know that I am much better than I was six months ago. I can now stop feeling sorry for myself and think about the beautiful little souls they are and look forward to being reunited with them one day.

H = HUSBAND. I am thankful for my husband because he truly was my PARTNER this year. It is easy to be together when times are good, but when you feel like you are loosing everything you find out the true character of your relationship. Throughout this last year we found that we can support each other and be strong for one another when it really counts. Minor things that used to "ruffle our feathers" don't even make us blink now.

A = America. I am thankful I'm an American. Even in times like now, I believe we still live in the best country imaginable!

N = Naysayers. What? I'm thankful for naysayers? Sounds strange, but yes I am. Anyone who goes through fertility and gets pregnant with high order multiples gets either direct or indirect comments on what they should/shouldn't have done, what the should/shouldn't do, what kind of person they are/aren't. Hearing these comments gives us a chance to evaluate our own convictions. It allows us to either change our actions or stand by our beliefs and say, "Thank you for your thoughts, now off you go."

K = KIDS. I am thankful for each and every one of my kids because they have each taught me valuable lessons. Angel taught me every life, no matter how small, counts. Owen reminded me that when all odds are against you, fight fight fight. He hung on so much longer than any doctor told me he would. Andrew and Hope reminded me that sometimes life isn't fair, no matter who you are. They were developing perfectly, their water wasn't broken, no one purposely ended their life, they didn't just stop developing, and yet they still are not here. Sometimes there aren't answers to the question, "WHY?" And of course, Brinn teaches me something everyday! I love the way she so innocently looks at life with new vigor each day. She has taught me to love deeper than I could ever imagine. There are just no words.

F = FAMILY and FRIENDS. I am especially thankful for my family and friends that really stood by us this past year. Every once and a while you will have a situation occur in your life that really defines your relationships, and this was that year for me. I am so thankful for all the people in our lives that prayed for us, took care of us, that were really concerned about our emotional well-being. There's also those strangers that heard of our story and reached out to help us and pray for us, that I now consider friends. Thank you so much!

U = UNDERSTANDING. This one kind of goes along with the one above. I am so thankful for those who truly understood our situation and empathized with us this past year.

L = LORD, OUR SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. I am thankful to Jesus, who has been my rock this past year. I know He has a plan for me and there is a reason this year has unfolded the way it did - although I'm not sure what it is yet (I'm just going along with it)! I am thankful that he gave his life for my sins so that I may see my babies one day again.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Watching Hanna Montana made Brinn's inner performer come out. And another beautiful outfit creation!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Tony Orlando Christmas Show

Shaner got free tickets to the "Tony Orlando Christmas Show". So, being the perma-vactioners we have become, we trotted on down to Branson Friday night to watch the show. Well, let me just say it was completely different than the first concert I went to - the "Dirty Dancing" concert in my teeny bopper stage, different than the Reba McEntire concert during my country stage, and soooo different than the Metallica concert I went to during whatever stage that was! If you are like me you are saying, "OK, so who is Tony Orlando?" He had hits such as Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree and Knock Three Times - songs I actually recognize a tad bit. So, the three of us went down and decided to eat at the All-You-Can-Eat Tony Orlando Buffet before the show. We felt a bit out of place when we realized we were the youngest people there by at least 25 years!! However, everyone was so nice. They all stopped by to say hello to Brinn and admire her hair bows. One lady mentioned she doesn't even have grandchildren that young anymore! Yes, we were a bit out of place.

The concert started out a little slow and cheezy, but picked up as the night went on. During the intermission more women came up to Brinn to talk, which prompted Brinn to exclaim, "THERE'S A LOT OF GRANDMAS IN HERE!" The second half of the show Santa Claus came out and performed with Tony. By this time Brinn was bouncing on Shane's lap and clapping to the music. The Santa was wonderful. His voice sounded like the Santa in the movie The Polar Express - just like what you think Santa's voice would really sound like.

Beside being so cool as to have Santa Claus on his show, throughout the show we also discovered that Tony is a very faithful and patriotic man. All in all, we had a good time. Just another one of life's lessons to be open to whatever comes your way!

Tis The Season At Bass Pro

Last night we went to Bass Pro to see Santa. Boy, they go ALL OUT! The set up is amazing. Last week we went for the official turning on the lights and they had Santa pulled up in a sleigh by two huge horses. Brinn didn't get to see him that night because all the tickets were gone by the time we got there. She did get her time with him last night though. She asked him for a "Giddy Up -N- Go Pony", a "FurReal Kitten", and a "Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker". She said he was a very nice man! Check it out!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Budding Gymnast

My new project has been trying to figure out how to post videos to this blog and, by golly, I FINALLY figured it out! I have been trying to post one since Brinn's gymnastics class last week and could never figure it out, and as it turns out it was too large anyway. Here is one from today. I think she has her mother's sense of balance.

I hope you all are enjoying your week!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Election Day

CHERISH our freedom.

HONOR our freedom.

PROTECT our freedom.

Happy Election Day!

Little Black Cat

Happy Halloween! Hope everyone had a fun, safe evening.

Nick and Kelly's Barn Bash

Every year our friends, Nick and Kelly, have a Halloween party. This is one day out of the year that Brinn always goes to spend the night at her Mimi and Poppi's and Shane and I don't worry about when we're coming home. We always have a blast! Nick and Kelly live on farmland and have a barn that is only used for the Halloween party. There is always a bonfire and, most years, a live band. Then, of course, there is alway the witch's brew and Kelly's famously strong jello shots! Shane and I take turns every year where one of us gets to "let loose" and one is the designated driver. Last year I was the DD since I was four weeks pregnant. (You can kinda tell in the pictures which one of us is letting loose!)

The only problem with these parties is how pathetically bad Shane and I are at coming up with costumes. What makes it worse is that most everyone else that comes is so clever at putting together their costumes. One year Nick and Kelly came as Shrek and Fiona and walked into the party with a donkey. I love it! And one that always makes me crack up is when Ben and Meaghan came as Dr. Evil and Mini Me. I wish I had the picture. Someone please send me one! Another good one was when Tommy dressed up as Nick, and Holly dressed up as a pack of cigarettes and they came as "Nick's Bad Habit". Ha!!! Shaner and I always wait until the last minute and never seem to come up with anything spectacular - like the year we decided the only way we could have a good costume was to go to a professional costume store. Of course it was last minute and the only 2 matching costumes were skunks. So we went as "Two Little Stinkers". Ugh! Or how about the year I went as the blonde girl from "My Name is Earl" and I looked exactly like........Robin. Every year we leave the party and vow to each other that next year will be different. We will think of something so undeniably creative we will for sure get our picture on the invitation for the barn bash next year!

Oh well, no matter what we go as, we do always have fun. Unfortunately I won't be able to go this year because I will be on my way to Illinois. My sister and I are starting the process to move my parents, who are ill, down to Kansas. So, have fun everyone! I wish we could come. I can't wait to hear all about it and see the pictures!

Here's some pictures from last year. We were bouys along with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Carla and Rick. Shane and I liked this costume, although we can't take credit for the idea, it wasn't ours!

Me and Carla after we finished taping ourselves up.

The bouys - Shane, Robin, Carla, Rick.

Me and Shane.

Carla, Tim as "The Retired PE Teacher", Rick, and Samantha as "The Crazy Cat Lady".
Shane, Tim, Jarrod as "Macho Man", Rick.
Shane and Tim.

Lots of Projects and One Whiny Babe

Shaner and Brinn went back to Kansas this weekend so Shane could go to the K-State football game with some of the guys. Brinn got to spend some quality time with her Mimi, Poppi, and some of her aunts and cousins. That meant I had the whole weekend to work on PROJECTS!! I still feel like there is so much to get done until we are settled so it was nice to have a whole weekend to dedicate just to trying to get some of it done. I have been refinishing some furniture and, ugh, trying to find drapes for the living room which I can't seem to do for the life of me. Brinn also just got a new "big girl bed" and Shaner hung her chandelier the other day, so I finished getting her room together. Someone did tell me, "Don't you know you get two years to settle into your new house?" I thought, sure I'll use that and then some. Are we really EVER organized???

Meanwhile, as I'm trying to get as much done while I've got the time, I have a Babe.....(Babes...aka our dogs).....whining constantly in my ear. Sadie is such a Daddy's girl that whenever he leaves it doesn't matter how you try to appease her, she whines. Do you need to go potty? Whine. Would you like your breakfast Sadie? Whine. Do you want to go out on the deck and sun yourself Sadie girl? Whine, Whine, Whine. Eventually she had enough and decided to take it out on Sage. They wrestled for a good 20 minutes straight. I even got a good action picture in. Thank goodness Shaner will be home in a few hours.

Field Trip to the Farm

Brinn got to go visit a farm with her preschool class. She was so excited to see the horses and even more excited when they were the first on the list to see! There were two miniature horses, one brown and one paint. Brinn and her two friends from school, Carley and Kayla, ran over and started petting them. Then us moms told them to turn around so we could take a picture. Brinn was holding on to the wire fence and the little paint one came up and bit her finger! He actually drew blood. I thought for sure this would now turn her off horses. Wrong! As soon as we got her finger cleaned off and the band-aid on, she wanted to go pet the brown horse. My little cowgirl.