Summer fun!

What a great summer we had! Some of our favorites were visiting new parks, Ikea store, swimming at the Grain Valley Pool, doctor appointments, and of course hanging out with our friends and family!

May Memories

I hooked up the bike trailer tonight, took both girls for a ride, what a great time we had. Daddy, and Uncle Caleb also took them on a ride as well. But watching my 70 year old dad take them for a ride on my pink bike was PRICELESS!

Wonderful time at the KC Zoo with Natalie and her friends on her Kindergarten field trip. We got a few sprinkles, it sure was a beautiful day

Getting ready to attend Eva's Early Childhood Program.....Can't believe our little girl will soon be a Kindergartner. For the past three years....we've watched Natalie participate in this program and now its Eva's turn! Can't wait to see her and her friends performances!

Right after leaving Daddy's work, we were right up the street when we heard sirens and a police car go by.....it was Daddy. They girls were quite excited! Natalie shouted, "he's going to a rescue!" This was their first time seeing daddy in action!

Bike Expo fun with the girls! 

Mother's Day was wonderful! Went to church, hubby worked all day, came home and he made mashed potatoes to go with the pork tenderloin that was cooking in the crock pot. It was delicious! We took the girls to butterfly trail to ride their bikes while hubby and I walked along. What an amazing day! So blessed to be a mommy of two crazy, fun, smart, incredible, beautiful girls!

Tonight while waiting for Teeball to start. Natalie says, "I hope we don't have to do push ups!"

On May 14th it was the Last day of school.....both girls got off the bus in tears. They cried because they were going to miss their teachers and friends.

I had a primary meeting this morning, I told the girls that daddy needs to run some errands, and that they are going with him. Eva runs to Natalie and tells Natalie, maybe daddy will get ice cream. Oh the excitement!

May 21, 2015 Today is a pretty awesome day...you know why? Because it has been a complete 365 days since our Natalie has needed to use extra oxygen. This is a HUGE milestone for her!! For the past 6 years, she has needed extra oxygen to use when her sats were too low. A year ago, I wasn't ready to let her oxygen tanks and concentrator go but you know what.....I am ready to let it go! 

Just before bed, Eva asked if she could sleep in Natalie's room because she heard it was going to rain. Natalie wanted to sleep in Eva's room. We told them they could but they would need to work it out. So they decided to sleep in Natalie's room. So I moved Eva's mattress in her big sis 's room. Natalie even tucked her little sis in. Loooove these moments!

Memorial day is usually spent going around to several cemeteries with my hubby, our girls and my parents, sister and brother. Today we are home, Natalie has had a fever off and on since yesterday and a pretty bad cough. Her sats are great! Eva has a cough too but both are enjoying a day of Netflix, play dough, listening to mommy read books.

Eva funny of the day........she just said to me, "Are you going to give us away, and now you will buy new kids!" Not sure where that came from......silly girl! You both are ours forever!

We've known that Natalie has vocal cord paralysis. But today, I found out the real reason why. A few years ago, we were told it was caused from her being incubated for a long time. But that isn't the case. She has this due to her PDA ligation surgery she has while in the NICU. If anyone knows of someone who does voice therapy....we would love to talk with them.

Jolly JUNE 

The girls started attending summer school, they LOOOOOVED it! Hard to believe our Eva girl is going into Kindergarten and Natalie is starting 1st grade. Also in June, Uncle Caleb, Aunt Kristina came to for a visit along with their sweet girls, Katy and Kiley. What a blast we had with them. A week was simply not enough time with them but we will treasure the time we had with them.

Our first haircutting experience....not probably not the last~ Thankfully it blends and you can't really tell she cut it. 

Tonight while at tee-ball, I got to chat with a past co -worker of mine from hv-vee (1995-1998) and I got to see one of my past students who I was a para for....he is now 15! I feel old! I love these moments!

Spent 1.5 hours waiting to see Natalie's doctor to get her MRI results on her shunt, spent maybe 5 minutes with him getting her results, took about 45 minutes to get home. Happy to say her shunt looks great and is functioning wonderful.

Happy Father's Day Erich! Making my hubby's favorite meal.....meatloaf, mashed potatoes with county gravy, corn, cooked carrots and homemade rolls! 

Last night....the girls and I painted our nails. They begged to paint my toes......how could I say no, I now have 10 different colors on my toes! Gotta love hot pink, bright yellow and neon green!

I love how our girls use their imagination when playing......they have played where Eva was the pet dog....ate and drank from a bowl, now they are wrapping a present (toys or books) in tin foil to give to each other.

Can you believe it....5 years ago today we brought a 7lb 11oz Eva Janelle home from a 79 day stay in the NICU. Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about her starting Kindergarten in a few months. Seriously....why did five years have to go by so fast! I love her so much! I love that she makes me laugh, I love that giggle of hers! I love that she is sassy, and stubborn. I love that she helps me to be patient! So very blessed that Heavenly Father gave her to us to be her parents.

Natalie is playing at her friends house, Eva has a friend over, hubby also has a friend over and me, I'm thinking......what can I do????!?

Conversations with my five year old......."I don't want to grow up and be a teenager." I just want to be a mom! 
During night time prayers, she says, "please bless Leanne, watch over her and keep her safe. Let her how much we love and miss her. Please have her come back and be just like us.

What a crazy storm that was!! It was so loud, both girls woke up crying and scared. Hubby was still working, so I tucked them in bed with me. They were so scared, they couldn't fall back to sleep. A HUGE thank you to Chris, for bringing hubby home from work at 2 am. (He rode his motorcycle, due to the storm he couldn't drive it home.) Once hubby was home, we all fell back to sleep and were up by 6:30! Hubby is already at work and the girls are at their last day of summer school. Happy Friday!


July Jingles.....
smile emoticoCan you believe it....5 years ago today we brought a 7lb 11oz Eva Janelle home from a 79 day stay in the NICU. Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about her starting Kindergarten in a few months. Seriously....why did five years have to go by so fast! I love her so much! I love that she makes me laugh, I love that giggle of hers! I love that she is sassy, and stubborn. I love that she helps me to be patient! So very blessed that Heavenly Father gave her to us to be her parent

Today, Natalie had a swallow study done. Its been 3 years since her last one. For the past 6.5 years she has needed thickner added to all her drinks. After her swallow study, The good news is that she passed drinking liquids without thickner but only while using a provale cup. (Very expensive!) If she uses any other cup she still had to use thickner.

After I fixed Eva's hair for church, I told her that she looked liked a princess. She replied, "you must bow when you speak to me!" Looooove her!!

The girls excitedly told me about their party idea.......Eva says to me, "mommy you get your swimsuit on, daddy gets his swim trunks on, and me and nanny get our swimsuits on and we all get in the shower together!!!" It will be fun! Love their party planning skills but no we will not do that kind of party!

Had a fun time at Giggles and jiggles tonight! Thank you, Jamie for bringing sweet Hailey to play with the girls. Natalie and Eva are already asleep. Camping out in the living room on our tent!

 I taught Natalie and Eva to hand crochet tonight! Pictures will be posted tomorrow. Natalie enjoyed it. 
smile emoticon love my childhood memories.

Lunch at Firehouse Sub with our amazing family, swimming in our friends backyard pool, strawberry banana shortcake for dessert. Ending the night watching a Barbie movie with two of my favorite girls!

The girls and I went to the library this morning I went to get something out of the trunk. I, go to get my purse out of the front seat, the doors were locked. Eva says to me, "I locked the doors for you mommy!" Key's, purse, cell phone and spare key ALL locked inside! Thank goodness, Daddy, hubby, Officer Mohler was working today came to our rescue!

Back to school shopping complete! 
smile emoticon I really enjoyed one on one shopping with the girls this morning......I took Eva shopping first while daddy took.Natalie fishing, then we switched kids, Eva enjoyed some park fun with Daddy while Natalie and I shopped! What a fun day!

A VERY LOOOOOONG over due update!

Can you BELIEVE our baby girl...Eva Janelle turned 5 on April 4th! WOOOW! That went by way toooooooo FAST!!. She sure has made us smile, filled our hearts with joy! Happy 5th Birthday, to our amazing, sweet, sassy, funny, beautiful, Eva Janelle! We sure do love you!

sunny playground weather and snow all in the same week!

First we had snow then sunny weather and then more snow again.....can it be SPRING already!!! Pretty please! 

We even went and decorated Leanne's headstone. :) 

My FIRST Kitchen aid mixer!!

I FINALLLLLLLLLY got a Kitchen Aid mixer!! I LOOOOOOVE it! My wonderful Friend helped me find a great deal on newegg for $225. The girls helped me make chocolate chip cookies. YUMMMMY! 

Cheerleading clinic for our Kindergartner

We finally gave in and let her do the Cheerleading Clinic. It was held on a Monday night from 6-8pm.

Our adorable little Cheerleader!

Here she is getting ready to do her routine! 

Then on Friday night, February 13, 2015. She performed at the Varsity Basketball Game!

AWWW! So very PROUD of her! 

I love this picture.....Proud little Sis. 

Our little Cheerleader

Natalie's sweet teacher, Mrs. Herbert. 

Valentine's for classmates!

First, I peeled the wrappers off the crayons......it took forever until I realized that I could slice the wrapper with a razor blade then it didn't take that long. Break crayons up in pieces. 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. 

Beautiful! 

Eva's classmates!

Natalie's Classmates 

Here are their Valentine's Boxes! What fun! 

March madness and updates!

Our computer was down January and some of February. I only had my very SLOW laptop or my Kindle to update. So I just waited patiently to update. It's CRAZY to think its MARCH already. Winter was weird here in Missouri....not too much snow in January but LOTS of it in February. In January, I sat down with the girls and we talked about goals for this coming year. Erich and I shared some of our goals that we would like to work on. Then we had the girls come up with their own. Natalie said, ride a bike with no training wheels, play a song on the piano, count from 1 to 100, and get better at writing stories. Eva said, ride bike, write numbers 1 to 20 by herself, write all 26 letters by herself, and play a song on the piano.

We even came up with a family goal.....memorize all 13 The Articles of Faith.

It's hard to believe that the School year is almost over....Our sweet Kindergartner is doing so well in Reading and Writing. She LOVES school. I've enjoyed watching her grow and mature into a beautiful little girl. Our sassy but cute preschooler Eva, she doing great as well. She loves to count and put things in order. She has progressed in writing other letters besides the letters in her name. She even writes her last name. In just a few weeks, she will have Kindergarten registration.

Hubby is enjoying working on the traffic unit. Its been a huge blessing that he has gotten to work days. Us girls sure enjoy having him home in the evenings. He has worked a great deal on his model train layout. Its starting to come together. It warms my heart to overhear him and the girls playing trains. He recently got asked to go to EVOK training (which is Driving instructor school) and to be a FTO (Field training officer). Recently, he worked three days of overtime doing his first Reconstruction from a Fatality accident. It was a lot of work but very PROUD of him.

Me......In January, I celebrated my 36th Birthday. Crazy! I was totally fine being 30 and even 35. But 36!! Makes me even closer to 40! Can I kick and scream.....so NOT ready for my 40's! But I guess I have to embrace it. :)  For my birthday, I chose Red Robin. Since kids eat free on Mondays. We went 2 days before my birthday to eat a yummy meal. I ordered Banazi Burger!! My favorite! I enjoy and look forward to volunteering at Natalie's school each Wednesday. I really LOVE the school she attends. The Kindergarten team is wonderful! Due to all the troubles, I've had with my back recently, I'm done with my in home day care. I still watch Louis every other Friday. Occasionally, watch a little boy from church. I enjoy scrapbooking and journaling. I really behind but hope to catch up when both girls are in school.

My sweet girl Natalie at Red Robin

Daddy and his Eva girl.

Mommy and her Evie. 

Valentine's Day....I got these felt boards...they LOVED them so much they spent all morning playing with them.

I thought it would be fun to have the girls help me make there Valentine's shirts. Eva LOVED hers so much and Natalie kept hers simple. I think they are both really cute! 

February 18, we celebrated our 9th Anniversary!! 9 years!! Seems like it was yesterday. We took the girls with us to Texas Roadhouse for a delicious meal. Yummmmmy!

awww! My sassy girl...Jellybean

Daddy and his Ladybug. 

 I love this hubby of mine. 

Happy 9 years to us! 

I wouldn't have it any other way..... :)

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas 2014

November 5, 2014
Muffins with Mom with my cute Kindergartner.

November 11, 2014
Last night, Natalie asked if she could see a picture of me with her in my tummy. Well here is the last one we took before she was born. I was 24 weeks.....she came two weeks later. 

smile emoticon I am Thankful that we have this picture.

November 16, 2014 

In just a few hours, our little miracle will be turning 6!!!! what an amazing past 5 years has been. We are so blessed that Natalie is ours! She brings so much joy to our family. Happy Birthday pretty little lady! We sure do love you!

November 27, 2014
Today is the first time in 4 years that Erich has had to work Thanksgiving weekend. He asked me to make his yummy chili with baked potatoes for his squad today. As I am getting it all prepared to deliver to the station in an hour. I am Thankful for all those in blue that have to work today. May you be protected and kept safe to return to your families this evening. Happy Thanksgiving to all my family and friends. May you feel extra loved and Thankful for all you have been given. Happy Thanksgiving!


December 2, 2014 
No more long crazy hair....cute and sassy it is! I love it!

December 8, 2014 
Erich and I attended is Christmas work Banquet. Yummy food! We had a great time! 

December 13, 2014 
I took the girls to see Santa. Since we bank at the Kansas City Police Credit Union, they had a Santa there. It was so nice to not have to wait in line! The girls each asked for Remote Control Cars. :) 

December 15, 2014 
Happy 7th Birthday to our sweet, beautiful little angel, Leanne Marie! We sure miss and love you bunches! 

December 20, 2014 
So proud of our girls! Tonight, at our church Christmas party. They sang a Christmas song in the talent show. They sure put smiles on people's faces! Definitely, brought tears to my eyes! Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2014
What a blessed Christmas! This year, the girls sat by the tree and found their presents all by themselves. Warmed my heart to watch them light up after opening a gift, they would reply, "This is the best Christmas I have ever had!" Or they would say, "this is what I always wanted!" Enjoyed watching them play with their new things, played Trouble and Paw Patrol game. We watched "A Christmas Story" just before going to bed. They loved the movie! Brought back so many memories! Ended the night, watching Mr. Kruegers Christmas with my hubby. Hubby is back to work tomorrow, and the girls and I have a whole day together!

6!! Can you believe it!!

On November 17, 2014....Our Natalie Rebecca turned 6 years old!! Can you believe it!! We are so proud of our sweet girl for all her accomplishments. She is reading, writing, she enjoys coloring, art, barbies, My little pony and really really loves playing board games and  puzzles. Her favorite movies are Frozen and Annie. She is a friend to everyone. Last year, in the program she actually said her part in the past years, she has stood up there in the Chapel but wouldn't say her part. She was sooo proud of herself. It brought tears to my eyes, that she memorized her part and that she said it in the microphone all by herself....Her part was "Heavenly Father directed Jesus Christ to create the earth for us."

Yes! It's 5:30 am!! Happy Birthday beautiful girl!

She LOVED everything! 

6!!! :)

Our beautiful family! 

I made her a cake with a Rainbow and My little Ponies. 

Natalie and her BFF (her mom made this shirt!) Love it! 

We love Home Depot kids workshops....

August workshop was a pencil and paper holder. What fun!

Natalie loves her cool box! 

October class was a EMS truck! We went home and the girls painted them Yellow! 

What fun we had making a really COOL EMS truck!

November class was pallet coasters! Way awesome!