Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

Image from tvdownload.info

America's Funniest Home

There are very few shows I make time for on TV right now. It's partly because of my work schedule and partly because I don't like watching shows week to week just to be let down when the full story isn't revealed (watching LOST killed me after we got caught up on seasons 1-4 before staring season 5). My lack of patience and pure dislike of being "left out" of the loop create poor TV show loyalty.

However, AFV is the one show that I make time for. It's one of my favorite things about Sunday. I try to plan dinner a little early so that preparing dinner doesn't get in the way of me watching. I'm not all that good at scheduling it quite right but I still get to watch the majority of the show. If I'm being honest, when we are invited to a friends house for Sunday dinner I'm always a little bummed because I know we're going to miss the show.

The funny thing about my AFV obsession is that the show is only REALLY good when it's watched on Sunday. Out here it plays Monday through Friday at 10am and I just don't have the patience to watch it then. I think it's partly because it's tradition to watch it on Sunday and partly because no one else isn't making time for the show either. I'm so grateful that Paul has given in and will sit and watch it with me (he was a little resistant when we first got married) and actually enjoy it. Now Riann will even sit and watch it with us too. She doesn't focus for the whole hour but she does seem to enjoy a lot of the clips she catches in between playing with her toys.

I love watching the show because I get to do it with family and because those watching it with me are always laughing. It's a great way to end a Sunday, even if you're actually laughing at someone else's pain.

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been close with for the longest.

My Mom

I wouldn't say that my mom and I have been close FOREVER but over the last 8-10 years I've felt like we've found a relationship that was hidden behind the expected child/parent drama. I know I was tough on my mom growing up and there were times that I'm pretty sure she didn't like me but she always loved me. I guess that can be expected from most relationships like ours but I'm really grateful she stuck it out with me.

My mom has really helped me develop as a mother and she has taught me to care for other people in a whole new way. I'm also incredibly grateful for the love she has for my children. As I've seen with some of my friends grandparents they can be present in their grandchild's life but not really "be there". That is not my mom. She works as hard as she can to be involved although they are 800 miles away. She is a great support to me and teaches me new things every day.

Although she probably doesn't know it my mom has helped me through a lot. I know that she thinks there were a lot of times that she wasn't getting through to me when I was a pain to be around but she did. My mother has always been a good example of right and wrong and through the experiences she has had in her own life I have learned how to better mine.

I'm grateful for her friendship and for the love that she so selflessly offers me. I'm excited to make my way back home so that we can be closer and spend more time together, instead of over the phone.

I love you mom!!!

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.

(I know it was probably supposed to be a picture of just me but I don't have any of those anymore...)

My 15 Facts

1. I prefer to drive without the radio on. Unfortunately for Paul, I find that music is just noise and a quite car is where I find the most peace. That being said, I do enjoy a great beat and a fun song. I love dancing although I can't keep rhythm and really don't have any moves.

2.When no one's around I like to pretend I can sing opera. I am a Child of God and High on a Mountain Top are two of my favorite songs.

3. I'm a commit-a-phoebe. I struggle with plans and have to be reassured often that things will be okay. I'm good at spur of the moment ideas but often freak out once a plan is made. Don't even ask me how I got married...

4. I miss throwing (track) and playing volleyball and sometime wish I would have tried harder in high school to be better. I remember one throw AFTER a meet, while frustrated that I didn't do better, that was my best and farthest throw and I really think if I could have gone to state had I had that kind of focus the whole time.

5. I water down my juice on purpose and my favorite drink at a fast food restaurant is water with a "splash" of lemonade. I'm always grateful when they pair up the water with the lemonade so I can sneak it in.

6. I get WAY too wrapped up in love stories and chick flicks. I love reading and watching them, even the super cheesy ones, but always get depressed when they're over because I know it will never happen to me.

7. I have two specific reoccurring dreams and they scare the heck out of me. One is about tornado's and the other is that I'm not actually married to Paul but someone else who I haven't seen in years. In my marriage dream I'm always engaged to Paul when I find out that I'm already married to this other person but I can't ever remember getting married and when I go to fix it we can never find him. The small details in both dreams change often but the theme and the basic idea... and the feeling I have when I wake up... is always the same.

8. I'm a self-diagnosed hypochondriac. Paul is always rolling his eyes at me because I'm worried about some new kind of sickness.

9. My favorite holidays are the 4th of July, Halloween and Thanksgiving. My least favorite holiday is Christmas but as my family is growing and getting older I'm finding a new joy in that season that is pushing out the bad memories.

10. I'm chronically late. It doesn't matter how well I plan it is almost a guarantee that I'll be at least 5 minutes late to any given event and if I pray to be somewhere on time, I'll be at least 30 minutes late.

11. I swore up and down that I would never had a girl and now that the Lord has laughed at my determination and has given me Riann, I would NEVER give her back. I always said that I wanted all boys but now I'm praying that the Lord blesses me with another girl somewhere down the line.

12. Even thought I get SOOOO sick, I love being pregnant and feel great it my last trimester. My body is showing signs of giving up before I do but I do hope to be pregnant at least one more time before all is said and done.

13. I love driving fast. I've gotten in trouble with speeding multiple times... I've had five speeding tickets on my record at one time, two of which I got on the same day. I love feeling the car "get up and go" and hearing the engine purr. When people used to ask me why I had so many tickets I would answer, "I'm training for NASCAR".

14. I devote too much time to television. I have very few "releases" and love just vegging in front of the TV. I'm working on fixing this and try to turn it off when I catch myself doing it but could probably put a little more effort into it.

15. I love swimming but hate being in a swimsuit. That being said I'll rarely turn down a chance to hang out by a pool or a lake. I have a hard time not getting in the water, even if it's just dipping my feet.

60 Day Photo Challenge

I'm going to do it. I'm finally going to commit myself to this. I don't know how I'm going to do it as I don't get on the computer on a daily basis, although I do facebook more than regularly, I'm going to try to at least post one photo a day. I think this would be fun to do on facebook as well as our blog. Let's see if I can actually do it.

Here's the challenge:

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.
Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been close with for the longest.
Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.
Day 04 - A picture of your night.
Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory.
Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.
Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item.
Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh.
Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.
Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with.
Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.
Day 12 - A picture of something you love.
Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.
Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.
Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.
Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little.
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.
Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.
Day 25 - A picture of your day.
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of.
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile.
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.
Day 31 - A picture of a tradition you have.
Day 32 - A picture of a crazy night.
Day 33 - A picture of the house you grew up in.
Day 34 - A picture of your currently most played CD.
Day 35 - A picture of your favorite place to eat.
Day 36 - A picture of your ‘other half'.
Day 37 - A picture of the people you spend most of your time with.
Day 38 - A picture of the best part of your day.
Day 39 - A picture of your favorite movie.
Day 40 - A picture of your favorite Disney character.
Day 41 - A picture of your pet.
Day 42 - A picture of your dream house.
Day 43 - A picture of something you can’t function without.
Day 44 - A picture of someone you’re told you look like.
Day 45 - A picture of your room.
Day 46 - A picture of where you wish you were right now.
Day 47 - A picture of your favorite place to shop.
Day 48 - A picture of your favorite actress/actor.
Day 49 - A picture of where you live.
Day 50 - A picture of your most frequented place.
Day 51 - A picture of your dream car.
Day 52 - A picture of your favorite sport.
Day 53 - A picture of someone you think is hot.
Day 54 - A picture of the one thing you would bring if you were stranded on a deserted island.
Day 55 - A picture of the last movie you saw in theaters.
Day 56 - A picture of something that makes you happy.
Day 57 - A picture of your favorite holiday.
Day 58 - A picture of your favorite animal.
Day 59 - A picture of a random item that you own.
Day 60 - A picture of something you’re excited about.

Wish me luck!!

Siblings

I can't express how blessed we've been that Colby and Riann have hit it off since day one. It is so much fun to watch Colby follow Riann and to have Riann play and show concern for Colby. Anytime Colby is laying on the floor and Riann walks into the room he is instantly fixated on her. He follows her every movement and lights up whenever she is around. Riann loves to get down on the floor and show Colby how to play with his toys and help with diaper changes and picking out his clothes. She loves to talk to him and gets very concerned when he cries. She also loves checking on him while he's sleeping and loves to wake him up whenever we're not watching. Her new favorite game is pushing Colby in his walker around the front room and even tries to sneak him back into her bedroom so that she can read to him. Colby likes to sit in his walker most of the time but LOVES it when Riann is willing to push him around and help him spin his toys. Riann also loves to introduce everyone to Colby. I doesn't matter where we are she always announces to everyone who says "hello" to her that "this is my brother Colby!!!"

I love watching these kids together. I pray that they will always be close. I know that there will be a time when all they do is fight and I know that as Colby gets older and is more interested in Riann's toys that time is coming sooner than I would like to think. But for now I'm happy to just enjoy how much they love each other. I am amazed at how much you can see it on their faces.

Here are a few fun pictures of them together over the last little bit. Can't wait for the many fun pictures we'll get over this summer!!!

Riann and Colby together for our first attempt at "Christmas Pictures". Riann loved holding Colby at the very beginning. He was pretty happy to just be held in the beginning. Even if it was a little uncomfortable.

Riann and Colby dressed up on Colby's blessing day. Riann was such a sport that day. She was a little unhappy after church but was very kind to me and patiently posed for pictures.

Riann and Colby playing together at Grandma and Grandpa Vreeken's house.

I have a few more pictures on our Mac that I will get together and add soon. I love these kids!!!

Solids

We've been working with Colby on solids for the last few weeks. He's been getting better and better at eating off a spoon but still makes a bigger mess than he eats. I had forgotten that feeding a diapered baby was MUCH cleaner than a clothed baby. As you can see from the pictures below his first time was a messy one.

We started at the beginning of the month, about a week or two after he hit 4 months. The first time we fed him cereal he slept for 8 hours straight that night. It was a great night!! We haven't gotten as lucky the last few times he's had cereal but I can tell a difference on the days he eats it. He seems to like the Oatmeal cereal better than the Rice cereal but the Oatmeal seems to make him gassy and a little bit cranky. He is a VERY hands on kid so often it's a struggle to keep his hands out of the way in order to get the food into his mouth. I think if he could hold the spoon and do it all himself already he'd be really happy.

I love seeing him sit up in his highchair. It's fun to see him change and get older each day. I'm sad that he's growing up so fast but he's such a fun baby and the older he gets and the more he interacts with me, the more I get excited for him to do more. I think I notice his changes more than I did with Riann because I know what I'm watching for. It's amazing how fast these kids grow up.

Riann amazes me everyday when we have a full conversation about real life things. I'm excited for Colby to grow so I can hear what he sounds like. He's a very talkative kid now and I have to laugh every day at the many stories he tries to tell. I wish I could understand his grunts and happy screams because he'll talk and talk for hours. He's great at making "O" sounds too. I think that is my most favorite thing right now. He makes the best O shape with his mouth. I haven't been able to catch it on camera yet but as soon as I do I'll get it up.

I love my kids so much and love watching them grow. They are so amazing and I know the Lord saved them for this special time in our world. They really are a chosen generation. I just hope I can help them grow up wise and strong.

Fun in the Snow

Riann has had a hard time this year being locked up inside when there seems to be perfectly good snow outside to play in. We've had a hard time explaining to her that the snow we've got now isn't actually any fun because it's all iced over. Well the other day I had put Colby down for a nap and wanted to go get the mail and she asked if she could go with me. "I thought why not? It would be a good idea to let her walk outside for a little bit to and from the mailbox." Neither of us had gotten ready for the day yet and I wasn't planning on her being out for very long so I had her put on her coat and didn't bother having her change the rest of her clothes.

Unfortunately I didn't account for the fact that Riann struggles to (or just flat out doesn't) listen and wouldn't be satisfied just going to the mailbox and back. By the time I was at the mailbox I noticed that she was no longer behind me and was actually out in the yard jumping on top of the snow. I just had to laugh because she was having such a great time. After watching her I split off into the house to drop off the mail and grab the camera. It was fun watching her get stuck in the snow because it was about three feet deep and when she would break through the top layer she would struggle to get out. At the very end she lost her shoe and I had to go save it. It was SO hard to get out to her and I actually lost my shoe at one point. We had a great time through.

I'm glad we spent a little bit of time out that day, even if we weren't dressed for it.