Baton Rouge Zoo

We are LOVING Justin's rotation here in Louisiana!  He doesn't have to work any weekends and so we have many adventures planned!  First up was the Baton Rouge Zoo!  Funny story - we were at the window ready to pay and I remembered that with my membership to the Miami Zoo we get discounts to some of the other major zoos, so I showed them my card and asked, and next thing you know we got in for FREE!  Yeah!

My cute kids

This post is just for fun...random pics of my cute kids!

 Luke's new tool set he got from Auntie Kate and Uncle Scott for his birthday

Silly Pa put Mika in a bag

HALLOWEEN

We are now in Louisiana!!!  We will be spending the next two months here with Justin's grandmother - MaMa.

Okay...here is a bit of catching up.  During the month of October I tried really hard to be a good mom and put together craft time for Luke and Taija.  I think we did a total of 7 crafts!  It seems that a craft with a two year old is a bit more challenging than I anticipated!

Spider hats! 

Halloween night was so much fun!  Taija began asking each night for about a week prior if it were Trick-or-Treating time.  And at last it was!  Side -note: Taija was supposed to be Snow White for Halloween, but right before we moved out to Louisiana she informed me that her costume was too itchy and that she wanted to be a witch.  Since I had to make a trip to the costume store anyway for Mika's cat costume I decided Taija could be a witch.  She was so EXCITED!
I made her choose a hat or a broom (since buying both would have been more than I wanted to spend) and she chose the broom, but since Grammy was here several days before Halloween she spoiled Taija and she got a cute hat that matched.  But of course while we were trick-or-treating she ditched both!
Luke was an extremely cute Police Officer!  So many people told me how cute he was - and I TOTALLY agree!

 Sorting through their loot

Luke is 2!

I can't believe it, my little boy turned 2 on the 28th of October!  Life has been such an adventure with this little guy.  He keeps me on my toes that is for sure!  Boys definitely bring with them and added sense of chaos and craziness.  But oh how I love his hugs, cuddles, kisses, and charm!  Luke is such a charmer!  He makes me laugh so hard when Grammy comes as he totally plays it up!  I can't imagine my day without this little guy!  Love you buddy!

We celebrated Luke's birthday the morning we left for Louisiana - it wasn't much, but we sang and ate ice cream cake from Coldstone.

Luke is all BOY!  He loves to run and play!  He idolizes his older sister and it is so much fun to watch them play together.  Everyday he is learning new words and I love to see how fascinated he is by anything new.  Luke LOVES to tell stories with as many actions as possible - we rarely understand all of the words he uses, but he can be very animated!  Happy Birthday little guy!

The Pier

A few nights before we were to leave Justin decided we needed a family night adventure...so we took the kids to the Pompano Beach Pier.  It was getting late, but the kids had a BLAST!  They thought the pier was such a neat place to be - and I loved hearing the waves crash!

Snow White Party

This year for Taija's party we decided on the theme of Snow White (since that is her favorite princess and all).  A few days before the party we thought we had better watch the movie so we knew how it really went. I was worried that it would be too scary for my kiddos, but other than 2 parts with the witch they LOVED it.  Especially the dwarves!  For the party we played Wishing Well (throwing pennies into a bucket), Pass the Poison Apple (the kids weren't too excited about the fainting/sleeping part), and a Treasure Hunt (by far the favorite).

After was LUNCH time - complete with Heart of a Pig (hot dogs), Jello Gems, Poison Apple Potion (apple juice), apples, and fresh fruit from the forest.  We had so much FUN and I hope all of Taija's little friends did too!

My 4 year old

My baby is 4!  How and when did this happen?!  I can't believe Taija is 4!  It seems like yesterday that she came in to this world and I became a MOM!  Crazy!  Well, to celebrate the actual day I decided to make Taija a Snow White cake (I was really just practicing to see if I could do it for her BIG party on Saturday).  Needless to say it didn't turn out as I had hoped, but Taija loved it so it wasn't a complete flop.

Taija was spoiled by everyone in our family - thank you!

6 YEARS!

Okay so this post is WAY out-dated.  Back in August (the 11th to be exact) Justin and I celebrated our 6 Year Anniversary.  Well, I celebrated in Utah and Justin celebrated in Jacksonville.  We surprised each other with gifts, but it wasn't until a few weeks back that we had a date-night .  Justin surprised me with this beautiful necklace that he ordered and had delivered to me in Utah.  The top birthstone (garnet) is mine, the 4 on the bottom represent those closest to me.  Justin (emerald), Taija (opal), Luke (opal), and Mika (aquamarine). Tina also had the book that the designer (Jane Seymour) wrote to go with her Open Hearts theme - such a touching and magnificent work that is a must read.  Thanks Babe!  You did AWESOME!

These past 6 years have gone by so fast with some MAJOR changes in my life.  I am so lucky to have a wonderful husband to be at my side throughout it all.  In the book that I read there was a poem by Rudyard Kipling called 'Thousandth Man'.  It has become one of my favorite


One man in a thousand, Solomon says,
Will stick more close than a brother.
And it's worth while seeking him half your days
If you find him before the other.
Nine nundred and ninety-nine depend
On what the world sees in you,
But the Thousandth man will stand your friend
With the whole round world agin you.

'Tis neither promise nor prayer nor show
Will settle the finding for 'ee.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em go
By your looks, or your acts, or your glory.
But if he finds you and you find him.
The rest of the world don't matter;
For the Thousandth Man will sink or swim
With you in any water.

You can use his purse with no more talk
Than he uses yours for his spendings,
And laugh and meet in your daily walk
As though there had been no lendings.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em call
For silver and gold in their dealings;
But the Thousandth Man h's worth 'em all,
Because you can show him your feelings.

His wrong's your wrong, and his right's your right,
In season or out of season.
Stand up and back it in all men's sight --
With that for your only reason!
Nine hundred and ninety-nine can't bide
The shame or mocking or laughter,
But the Thousandth Man will stand by your side
To the gallows-foot -- and after!

Justin is truly my Thousandth Man!  I am FOREVER HAPPY to call you mine!