Happy 2nd Birthday to Belle!!!

Here are few photos from the big party;) Actually I'm rather proud of myself...I didn't go too overboard on the whole thing. However, she is the third child. For Kenny's 2nd birthday we had a huge party and at Matthew's 2nd birthday we at least had balloons and streamers. I guess thats what happens when you come third in line. My fourth child will be lucky to get a cake at their 2nd birthday! haha (p.s. to answer your question....no I'm not):)

Every girl....

needs a day like I had yesterday!!! I literally shopped until I could shop no more! It was so much fun! I went all by myself, because afterall that is when I do my BEST shopping. I was gone for nine hours and hadn't a care in the world. I went to Branson and became a huge fan of TJ Maxx! I found some really great deals there. I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed this place. If you know me well, you know I HATE searching through clothes to find a bargain. I would so much rather pay full price and get on with my life than dig and dig and dig. However, it was totally enjoyable. Maybe because I didn't have three little monsters running up and down aisles or jumping up and down in the basket. I was just able to take it all in. It was wonderful. I then headed to the Landing. I love love this place. Being able to walk outside in the beautiful weather and go into any store my little heart desired was once again....fun! I had no time constraints, no cell phone and no feeling of any responsibility:) About 5pm I headed back home, but stopped for a pedicure, manicure and dinner. Pretty fingers, pretty toes and a full belly! I was ready to jump back into the game of LIFE after a day like that! It's no secret that I adore my husband, but yesterday is a perfect example of why. I obviously couldn't have gone without his willingness to be so selfless. He was genuinely excited for me to have some time all to myself....but then again....maybe his excitement was driven by the fact that he will be off on a hunting trip for several DAYS while I stay home and "selflessly" serve?!

I'm gonna miss them :(

Awhile ago I was able to have Kody and Alli for the day. I played with Alli's hair and painted her toes. She was such a sweetie. I gave Kody hugs throughout the day and he would say "Sunny, I love you". I can't believe how much Allison looks like her mommy. So beautiful. I'm certain that Kody inherited some of his clumsiness from Amanda:) He is such an amazing little boy.  They will soon be moving away. I'm not sure when we will see them again. I hope they will always know how much their mommy loved them. And if they ever forget I hope I am able to remind them. Even if it's through a birthday card or a Christmas package. Amanda had a fierce love for the two of them. Nothing could or would keep her away from them, even her leaving this mortal stage of life. I know she watches over them and I hope they will always always feel her near. I miss her too much for words. She was so much more than a bestfriend to me.  She was a part of my everyday. Even after she passed I still waited for the phone to ring, hoping she would be on the other end. Because I loved her so much I naturally love her babies. I feel like this is another ending...them leaving. Another good bye I never wanted to say. Life will never be the same.

Shoes, Shoes...everywhere!

Some days our shoes consume our home. You can not walk through our front door w/o stepping on shoes. You can not walk through our garage door w/o stepping on shoes. We do have a "no shoe policy" in our home and so of course we dump them right outside or inside the first door we can. However when our shoes become like a piece of furniture or decoration...it's time to do something. We have a shoe box right inside of the front door and yet somehow shoes do not make it into the basket. We have a coat closet where we place our "once a week" shoes and yet we fail to put them there after our one use. We have a rack in the garage for our "outside" shoes (the ones that can get really dirty and it doesn't matter) and then I have a closet shoe hanger to put additional shoes...and yet they rarely make it back to their spot when I'm finished. Until of course I have a day like today and decide to once again take control of our shoes. This may seem like a small task and very unimportant, but for today it's been an accomplishment and one "step" closer to a more beautiful home:)

Summer is coming to a close...

I'm pretty sure that only like two people actually read my blog...even so I feel like I should update:) I can't beat the Hawaii post, however much has happened since then! It's hard to believe fall is in the air, we've past Labor Day and school is in full swing for both me and Kenny! We had a fun summer. Filled with camping (actually we only did that once), boating and just being together as a family. We spent a lot of time in our backyard pool and outside just playing in the yard. Matt's parents have officially moved to Rogersville Missouri and live just a few blocks from us. It's so nice to have Grandparents around. Kenny turned the BIG 5! Do I really have a five year old child?! Matthew has the sweetest little angel voice, but honestly has horns on the top of his head at times. I'm slowly learning how to be a different mom for him than I am for Kenny. I didn't realize that was all part of being a mom...sometimes one child requires a whole other set of rules or an extra amount of love in all situations. It can be quite exhausting. Nevertheless, he is my most cuddly, sweet, sensitive child:) Both of the Boys started soccer last week and totally love it! Belle is just something and has her prefrences about everything and everyone. She loves Grandama Nana (Matt's mom) but doesn't much take to Gpa Jetti (Matts dad) and she loves my dad but doesn't really take to my mom. It's really funny! Anyway I feel like I just wrote our summer Christmas letter!haha Welp that's what we've been up to. Maybe I'll post again in six months:)

Hawaii!!

Thanks to Matt's job we were able to take a nice trip to Hawaii! We had an amazing time and enjoyed every minute. We were able to go to Maui and Oahu. We went snorkeling, horse back riding, had a long spa session (well that was for me while Matt "worked")we also went to the visitors center next to the Temple and visited the Polynesian Cultural Center. In all we were gone eight days. Thanks to my wonderful parents and awesome bestest friend Shannon, the kids had a good time in Topeka. I don't think I realized what I had while I had it! I am still smiling looking back on our week of pure heaven! I can't wait to go back...but I doubt we will EVER get another practically paid trip to Hawaii again!

What we have been up to......

Well it seems like forever since my last post although it's only been a month. A bunch can happen in a short amount of time! I watched Kody and Alli this week. It was so fun playing with them and holding them. Of course it made me miss Amanda all the more:( It was nice just having a little of her around through the kids.

Other than that we've been keeping busy. We took a trip to Nauvoo with our friends J and J Winter. We switched off kids so each of us could go to the Temple. We celebrated Amy's birthday, became FOZ (friends of the zoo), got new furniture and spent time with Gpa and Gma Trusty! Good Times! Hope you enjoy!

Happy Birthday to AMY!!! AMY, J and Me at Outback!

Amy trying her luck at gambling.....she won $18.00 a little less than we had hoped for but hey 18 bucks is 18 bucks!

J being crazy!

Belle loves to play with her big brothers!

Daddy loves to snuggle his little girl!


We love our new furniture!


Belle discovers the INSIDE of the dryer!


Grandma and Grandpa visited!

Happy Presidents Day!!

To celebrate our GREAT NATION and our AMAZING PRESIDENTS....the kids and I made patriotic torches(with not so patriotic colors!)...that have since turned into swords and horns! We may not be able to get dressed by 10am but dang it we CAN make a craft or two!

Twice the Birthday, Twice the FUN!!

SNOW....... FINALLY!!!!!

Ok so it's actually ICE mixed with snow, but hey we will take what we can get! The snow hasn't fallen like this since our very first year of being married. That is like 6 years! After a really really LOOOOOONG day indoors we had to get outside even for a few minutes as soon as Matt got home from work!

LASIK

Matt got Lasik surgery today!! He was totally excited and also a bit nervous but all went well. He has to wear these funny goggles all day and night the first day and then for five nights after to bed only. He will have about 90% of his vision by tomorrow morning and the other 10% after several weeks. His eyes are a little red in some areas but the stinging and tears have subsided. This is truly a blessing for him considering he use to be legally blind without corrective lenses or eye glasses. It will be really fun to see him enjoy this new outlook on life!

Aliens have attacked me!!!

So it was really cold out last week and the boys wanted to ride their bikes. So I decided that if we were going out we would have to totally bundle up. Well their stocking caps wouldn't fit under their helmets. Sooooo I put them over their helmets. I did Matthews first and after I put it on I looked at him and just laughed and laughed. I then tried to do Kenny's and he pushed me away and said "I don't want you to laugh at me." I told him if he didn't wear his stocking cap over his helmet he couldn't ride his bike. He agreed, let me place it over his helmet and then I looked at him and laughed even harder. These are the moments that make it ALL worth it!!

That Belle!!

So I have been in a state of shock for a few days....Belle has decided she LOVES to climb. I'm a bit surprised because the boys NEVER did this! On Sunday morning while Matt and I were getting ready for church I came out of our bedroom to find Belle on top of the kitchen table in her Sunday dress covered in that mornings breakfast. Which consisted of oatmeal, cheerios, chocolate milk and something with syrup. I asked Kenny and Matthew how Belle got on the table and they both told me "she did it". I couldn't help but giggle, but I'm not laughing anymore.....she keeps climbing non-stop! This picture is her on our little craft table (gma's and gpa's) trying to get to the playdough!! I guess I will have to start stacking the chairs ON the table!

Happy New Year!

We had fun bringing in the New Year with the best of friends! 8 adults, 16 children and a ton of food!