Testing blogger from my phone

Spooky Buddies

Space Buddies, and Santa Paws are 2 of Alanna's FAVORITE movies.  She watches them about every chance she gets.  Now that a new "Buddies" movie is coming out thats all she can talk about.  Look for the movie in a store near you September 20.

For a goulish good time, catch Rosebud, B-Dawg, Buddah, Budderball, and Mudbud in their all-new Halloween-themed movie! SPOOKY BUDDIES continues the overwhelmingly popular franchise that features the adorable talking puppies, with action, laughs, and fast-paced adventure.

so in love

I've never given a photo canvas much thought, until recently.

I was asked to do a review for EasyCanvasPrints.com.  The ordering process was as was as 1, 2, 3...literally!
1, you select your canvas size, 2, you select your picture, and don't worry about your picture having poor quality, because they tell you if your image has poor. medium or good quality, then you pick your border image, and 3 you basically add it to your cart.  SO.EASY!

I received my canvas very quickly in the mail and was very impressed with the quality.  The colors are so bright and the picture is beautiful.  I have the perfect place on my mantel over my fireplace to hang my gorgeous picture, but now my problem is that I want to redo everything on my mantel.  You know to update my living room {grin}.  Everything must change and revolve around my new canvas!

I don't have a picture of my new canvas just yet, but I'll give you a sneek peek of my picture

Check out Easycanvasprints.com now, they are offering 25% off all canvas and FREE standard shipping! 

feels like heaven

Things are getting checked off our summer to do list left and right around here. 

Three kids went to the dentist today and three kids walked out with clean, cavity free mouths.  Today was a routine check up for the girls.  The usual comments:  Their teeth are so beautiful, great job girls, and remember to sign up for our cavity free club.  I'm so proud of them.  Brushing machines they are and they take pride in there pearly whites.

For Ben, this was a big deal.  It marked his first dentist visit, and he did it like a pro.  Xrays, brushing and flossing...no big deal! 

After the dentist, I thought I would reward my awesome children with a trip to the beach.  Sun, and Sand filled our afternoon.  We walked along the shore, collected sea shells, and slashed in the waves.  It was a fun time just me and my babes.

Now the babes are showered and sweet smelling, watching a movie and cuddling.  This peace we have in our house feels like heaven..

The last days of summer

The weeks before school starts are becoming less and less.  The talk of back to school shopping and schedules I'm hearing more and more.

The lazy mornings and late bedtimes will be put away until next year and out will come busy routines and homework.

This school year starts a new chapter in our family life.

All 3 of my babes will be in school some sort of way.  This school year you will find Hannah in middle school.  Switching classes and lockers fill her fears, but the excitement of a new adventure holds her grounded.  Her biggest complaint right now is her bff is not riding the same bus as her this year, like they did last year...oh the simple complaints of an 11 yr old.

1st grade is screaming Alanna's name..loud and clear if you have ever met her, you know what I am talking about.  {grin}  Shes excited to be in elementary school on her own this year, meaning no more big sister to shadow.  Her biggest accomplishment this summer was that we found a puppy backpack and "THATS EXACTLY WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED MOM"


My baby (can you believe I am already talking school and Ben in the same sentence?  I mean it was just last week that I announced I was pregnant and yesterday my baby turned ONE) (sorry about that I'm still having trouble handling all this grown up-ness) who is now an independent 3 year old   little big boy who sleeps in a big boy bed and is potty trained. He will start a wonderful "home base" pre-school program in a few weeks (the same one Alanna started with..LOVE IT!!).  His teacher will come to our house once a week and work one on one with Ben for a few hours, then every other Friday he will ride a BUS and socialize with the other "home base" kids in school, eat lunch and will come home to his weeping happy as can be mommy.

So for now I am trying to cherish these last weeks of screaming, fighting wonderful, blissful moments with my dirty, sweaty clean and yummy smelling children.

A lesson in friendship and greatfulness

Things are slowly starting to feel normal around here again.  I know I haven't talked much about it, but Chris was laid off in January and just recently in July got a job.  It was a rough 6 months, but we are slowly beginning to stick are heads out from under water.

We used up all our savings, and plus some.  Let me tell you, you really learn what friends and family are when you almost lose everything you worked so hard for.  These past few months have taught me a great deal about friendship and who is meant to be in our lives and who isn't.

What I want to come out of all this is a lesson to the kids about wants and needs.
The kids can sit there all day and say they want things, but learning what you want and what you need is a hard lesson.  I hope this helps them see how fortunate we are to have so many people around us who care.  And as they get older I hope they choose the people that will have lasting friendships.

I sure hope these faces tell how grateful we are to be on our way, catching up on bills, paying off debt and being able to support ourselves again! 

For those who have helped us along the way (and you know who you are) I want to give a special {{Thank you}} and {{HUGs to you}}  We couldn't have done it without you and God will bless you as you have us.

Silver Lake, camping fun

 Playing at the park

 Shes so brave

 mystic fire

 park fun

 waiting in line with Uncle Larry for the go carts

 Ben waiting in line with Aunt Pam for the go carts

 Hannahs getting ready

 Alanna and Uncle Larry getting ready

 Ben and Aunt Pam

 Go Alanna

 There goes Ben

 and Hannah

 racing Uncle Mike and Matthew

 zoooooooom

 eating lunch before we head home

 giggling Ben

 Hannah 1 and Hannah 2

 What a cute name for a restaurant :)

Ben and daddy waiting for lunch

Silver Lake, Lake Michigan

Last weekend, Chris and I took the kids camping in Silver Lake, Michigan.  Its a beautiful setting with the sand dunes and Lake Michigan practically everywhere you look.  Chris' brothers and sister and all their families shared the amazing adventure with us.  Below are just a few of the pictures from our trip to the beach on Lake Michigan.

 the "small" sand dunes

 playing in the waves

 beautiful light house

 the "big" dunes

 sand dunes

 a little blurry, but more "mountains" of sand

 Alanna says it looked like a desert {grin}

 more of the light house

 playing in the sand

 concentrating on the sand castle

 family swim

 trying to bury Jack the dog

 still trying

 guess the dog wasn't working, so they buried Uncle Troy

 Sand Castle, Uncle Troy

 trying to get the kids sleepy, so they take a nap later, LOL

 Ben and Daddy in the lake

three

This boy is so amazing

 He is the "son" in my shine (sunshine) :)

 He leaves me breathless

 and speechless

 I am so proud to be called his momma

 He is growing so fast

Happy Birthday Benjamin!