Mimi and Papa Jacques

Well, I don't have any pictures at the moment, but we have been enjoying a visit from Erik's mom and step dad the past few days. The kids will keep "enjoying" them as we head to CA for our anniversary trip tomorrow.
Yesterday we had a nice little BBQ at my parents house while the kids ran in the sprinkler (yes that violates the water ban) but they had fun. After a long afternoon, we took the kids to the pool for the first time this season. It was pretty cold, daddy (Erik) was the only adult to brave it for their sake. They didn't want out which means they still love swimming.
Today Alexia and I went out and got our nails done. She has been asking for time "without Caleb" so I figured we should do something before we left. She got cute little flowers on each finger! She went to the pool again and got too cold and came home, bundled up and requested "warm water" to drink- yuck!! But she drank it!
My brother came home yesterday from Iraq which was an appropriate day to return. He will once again be home for a month before returning again. sigh...
It's going to be hard leaving my kiddos tomorrow - Alexia has already guilt triped me and Caleb doesn't know what's coming. I keep having to tell myself "It will be fun!!" More about that later when we return...

10th Anniversary

- Get Your Own

WOW! It's been ten wonderful years of marriage as of today! It's an understatement to say I can't believe it's already been that long. Here's a recap of the years for all to see...
1st year - We were SO young - Erik wasn't even out of college yet (yes folks, I'm the older woman).
2-We moved back to Atlanta, made some good solid friends and I think we felt very grown up living in a little house with our new dog.
3- Lots of transition including a move to Europe. We were preparing for many exciting things in our future.
4-I wish I could erase this year totally except that it provided so many crazy, hilariously, unbelievable stories!! We drew on each other for LOTS of support.
5-Things were well, we had a good ministry year (our work at the time) and we also welcomed our daughter Alexia to our family.
6-We moved back to the states and reverse culture shock blindsided us like a Mac truck. Once again, with each other's support, we gained strength and courage.
7-Finally!! We bought our own house! We feel very blessed by so many things - Jobs, home, church, neighbors, and family.
8-Minor changes this year, Alexia brings us much joy and we were awaiting our 2nd.
9-We decided on adoption for our third child. Not many other major changes again - Are we settling into LIFE?
10-This has been a good year of spiritual growth and inner reflection for both of us. I think we have both grown a lot as individuals which has helped in our marriage.

I couldn't have picked out a better spouse - He's a keeper!!

6 months down

We are celebrating for another reason today. It's our LID-versary. We have 6 months down, are we 1/3 the way through with waiting? I really hope so.

ABC's of Me

In honor of my son's FAVORITE song, here are some of my ABC's!

A - Accessory I can't live without: Watch

B - Best Friend: besides Erik and my sis, my girls are Dana and Maggie

C - Cookies - Chocolate chip

D - Drink: Diet Cherry Coke

E - Embarrassing moment: Still too embarrassing to share publicly 16 years later!

F - Flower: lilies-all kinds

G - Game: – Sequence or Mafia

H - Hometown: Atlanta GA – I’m a rare native!

I – Instruments: I play piano and flute (not well anymore) but I love the strings.

J - Juice: Cran-cherry

K - Kids: Alexia and Caleb!

L - Last place I ate out at: PF Changs
M - Man: Erik -for over 12 years!

N - Number of siblings: 2 awesome siblings and a few great in-laws as well

O - Occupation: cardiac nurse

P - Phobias: small elevators

Q - Quote: In this life, we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. –Mother Theresa

R - Relaxation: A quiet moment with a White Chocolate Mocha

S - Season: Summer -is here!!

T - Thankful: for my friends and family that love me.
U - Unforgettable moment: too many! But the first I can think of was when I got engaged.

V - Vacation: I’d like to go anywhere in the world I have not been.

W - Worst Habit: interrupting

X - X-rays I Have Had: my teeth just the other day – no cavities!

Y - Yummy Food I love: any summer fruit or veggie

Z – Zoo Animal: tigers

Mother's Day Weekend

Overall it was a great weekend. You know it was good when it got kicked off with a date night to PF Changs! Meanwhile the kids munched on chips and queso with the grandparents at the local Mexican joint.

Saturday consisted of a family trip to Home Depot. This is actually quite a fun place for little ones. Out in the garden center there are always lots of little puddles for stomping in- not to mention the fountains and display ponds. There are a mulititude of flowers to sniff (and grab-oops!) Both Alexia and Caleb love being outside.

Later on we had a fun BBQ at a freind's house with LOTS of kids and a moon jump to assist in wearing them out. A few minutes of rain didn't do much damage the party kept on going. Thanks Michelle for always being the social butterfly to keep so many of us interacting!
On Sunday, Erik made us all pancakes before we headed out to a great church service. Each week I have fallen more in love with our "new" church - I have learned so much this past year. After that, we went around the corner to my mom and dad's house for a nice lunch with them and Erik's step-mom and grandma Judy. Mom (deservingly) took off of making her own fried chicken, but Publix steped in and it was a pretty good meal!
** side note** Alexia and I were eating leftovers this evening when she asked "how it gets to be fried chicken" I respectfully answered that the chicken has to first be killed when she interrupted "I bet the chicken doesn't like that" - hahaha I love kids!!
Back to Mother's Day, the kids were whiny and tired at the end of a long weekend. That can be trying, but a bath and early bedtime for them always fixes it up! I had to post some pictures of our recent photo shoot. Who wouldn't want to be the mom to these cute little angels?

Around the World

Here is a fun little post I got from my SIL site. We love to travel and explore new cultures. I felt like I had been a lot of places until I saw how many places in the world there are yet to go. (This map does not include airport layovers.) A least I will have China checked off in a year (or two). Where have you been? - Go to this website to get your percentage checked!

Happy Nurses Day!

I know, for most of you, one of the more obscure holidays that is celebrated. But, nevertheless, a happy day for us nurses to be recognized by our employers for a tiring job well done.

I can't complain though. Out of all the nursing jobs, mine ranks up there with the cushiest! I work in an outpatient cardiac setting. No nights, no weekends, no holidays or call. Our patients for the most part are very kind and sweet. We are thanked - so I can't say I am in a thankless job. Not that I haven't been. I have worked in units where you work your can off just to have a patient - (or more often family member) bite your head because of their displaced stress.

I love my job even though I actually work very little. I am thankful to God for throwing it in my lap when I wasn't looking!! I loved my nursing school. I love the options there are in my field. It is truly a GREAT profession to belong to. So, to end, I would like to shout out to all my co-workers, all my other nursing friends and to my relatives that are/ have been in this field as well - Happy Nurses Day - to my MIL -Nancy, Grandma Brown (who always has awesome stories of "back when", Grandma Judy, and Uncle Roger.

Referrals for May

The Chinese stork has landed and brought matches for the applicants logged in through Nov 1, 2005. This included our new friends that waited 18 months to get their little girl - yippee for them!! She is a cutie! Only 388 log in days until they get to ours. Maybe I could count out the weekends! It will look shorter anyways right? I like 278 days better - no one check my math please.