Ugh

We have been sick. I am counting my blessings that it wasn't the flu or H1N1, but it still hasn't been fun. We are finally on the mend! I am going to become best friends with my lysol wipes and the hand soap. Germs are not welcome here!

Three Blessings

Violet after trying lasagna for the first time. What a mess! She was rubbing the sauce all over face. She loved the lasagna but not her bath afterwards. Too much scrubbing.

I can't believe it is only October and we've had to break out the snow boots. Twice!

Zella is going to be Minnie Mouse for Halloween. I have a hard time prying her out of it.

Violet's Baptism

Last Sunday Violet was baptized. It was really special because her cousin Lily (my sister Karen's daughter) was baptized too. We had Zella and her cousin Grace baptized on the same day also. We love that the girls were able to share this together.

We unfortunately didn't get any pictures of the girls together or with my parents (?!?!). We'll have to put them in their baptismal outfits and try to get a few shots. My photos didn't turn out all that great but I'm hoping my sisters have some that did.

Being a goofball for the camera.

Papa and his girl.

Sweet baby Vi.

Our family.

Violet with her godparents, my twin sister Lisa and her husband Chris.

Mama and Vi.

My sister Karen, BIL Chris (Minnesota) and niece Lily.

Not the best picture of Trav, but had to include it because

Violet was waving to the camera with her pinkie. Silly!

The Clendenen family (some of them). Trav's sister Carrie, her two daughters Katelyn and Lauren, and Trav's mom Stacey (otherwise known as Grandma Marker).

Katelyn and Madeline snuggling.

Violet rocking the big bow with her Grandma Marker.

Cousin Lauren and Violet.

We had a reception after church and celebrated with our families and some friends. We wish my brother and his family, Trav's sister Kate and her husband and Grammy could have been with us! We had a great time and are so thankful the girls have so many who love them.

Thanks, mom and dad for all your help with the food. We couldn't have done it without you!


More later,

Guess Who is 8 Months Old Today?

Violet practicing her flirting.

She was saying "Yeah".

Chewing on everything in sight!

"What Mama? I'm busy playing."

Baby Violet is eight months old today. It is unbelievable how quickly she is growing up! She got her first tooth yesterday. That explains why she has been up in the middle of the night again. She can sit up by herself but prefers to stand. She can't stand by herself yet so she demands help!

She started army crawling a bit this week. She isn't very fast at that yet so if she wants to get somewhere quickly she rolls. It is pretty funny to watch. She can say: hi, mama, dada, papa and yeah. She is a very sweet baby but will let you know when she is mad. She gets MAD if you give her a bottle. She even glared at her sweet Granny (my mom) and gave her a dirty look for trying to feed her a bottle. Violet is VERY stubborn when she wants to be (she gets that from Travis). ;)

She loves her big sisters and scrunches her nose and them and smiles. They love to hold her and make her laugh. Vi is a very good baby and we are so lucky to have her in our family. Even if she is wreaking havoc on my back (my dainty flower weighs almost 18 pounds).

Violet and her cousin Lily are both being baptized on Sunday. It's going to be a special day with lots of family here to celebrate. A special day for two special girls.

More later,
Lori

Overheard at Our House

Zella has been hilarious lately. (Or at least I think she's hilarious...I am her mother after all).

Here are a couple of her misunderstood pronunciations:
Chicken pops instead of chicken pox
Corn purse instead of coin purse

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We were snuggling on the couch and she yelled, "I use my arms (shook her arms), my hands (wiggled her fingers) and my quick wit (tapped her pointer finger to her head)!"

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Travis was tucking her in bed and she told him she had to ask a serious question. He told her to go ahead and ask.

"Papa, do you like meatballs?"

Songs in my Head

This song reminds me of my brother. It's one of the first songs he learned to play on the guitar.

A Little Cheese with my Whine?

I have been sick for over a week. Ugh. It started with my left jawline swelling and feeling tender but that was it. Then it turned from a virus into strep throat. It took two doctor visits and a prescription for 15 days of antibiotics before I started to feel better. I am still exhausted much of the time but the fevers and chills are finally gone. (I had a fever for four days straight!) Violet has a cold and now Zella is coughing and not feeling good.

Travis has been great helping with the girls but had to work late a lot last week. He doesn't feel very good either. I have been trying to get my house put back together. It may take years. Every time I clean something two little tornadoes undo it all. Life as a mom I suppose.

Whenever I get crabby I just look at the beautiful peach roses my husband sent me for our anniversary. They are opening up and are gorgeous.

I hope your week is healthy and happy!

Ten Years

Ten years ago today I married the love of my life. It's as simple as this: I started loving him and I've never stopped. Our lives are nothing like we pictured they would be, but mostly because we never could have imagined three beautiful, kind, quirky daughters--our family. We never would have guessed the highs we've reveled in and the lows we've crawled through. But we have always done it together. And even when it gets tough I know we'll make it through because we never give up on each other. Ever.

I have such great memories of our wedding because it was beautiful and we were surrounded by the people we love. Today we will get out the wedding album and laugh at how young we look and how big my hair was. We will watch the tape of our reception and laugh at everyone leaving us silly messages and cry while remembering all the love in that room. We will go on an actual DATE with no children. We will be thankful for each other and all of the great times we've had so far.

We will talk about our vows and what they meant to us. (I meant ever word I promised, Travis.)

And at the end of the night we will fall asleep holding hands (still do that) and wake up in the morning to start our tenth year together as husband and wife.

Happy Anniversary, Travis. I love you.



Come Rain or Come Shine Ray Charles
I'm gonna love you, like nobody's loved you
Come rain or come shine
High as a mountain, deep as a river
Come rain or come shine
I guess when you met me
It was just one of those things
But don't you ever bet me
'Cause I'm gonna be true if you let me
You're gonna love me, like nobody's loved me
Come rain or come shine
We'll be happy together, unhappy together
Now won't that be just fine
The days may be cloudy or sunny
We're in or out of the money
But I'm with you always
I'm with you rain or shine