Happy Birthday Maddy

Maddy turned 10 today. I am going to steal from a friend and tell you a GOD story about Maddy. Mike and I had been married three years when we found out we were expecting Maddy. We had owned a small trucking company with 5 semi trucks at the time. We were in the middle of going under financially, we were losing the trucks, our home, and this baby was the absolute last thing we needed at the time. We were living in Atlanta, and so we packed up everyting in storage, and I went on the road with Mike for two months and we just worked non stop truck driving. Well because of my husbands effort and drive to support us we were able to wade through losing everything and rent a home in Eustis. Mike left again (I was 6 months pregnant) and ran non stop California and back loads for the next 2 months. When he came home in December (9months preggo, now) he gave up his last truck and went to work for a local truck driving company. Maddy came in January and everything was still tight but settling down. In March of that year Mike was hit head on by a semi truck and lost his left arm and ravaged his left leg. He lost 2 inches of bone in his femur. Worse than all of that was the brain injury he suffered. He literally could not communicate emotionally with anyone. He spent a month in ICU and another month at Florida South Brain Injury unit relearning everyday activities. Anyway the point to this story is that Maddy who seemed like the most ill timed baby ever , was God's amazing blessing to our family. Her sweet happy temperment was the healing balm for my and my husbands soul. She gave him a purpose to not only go on but to be the father and husband he was meant to be. He has never once regretted the loss of his arm, nor did he ever spend any time mourning what he did not have. I believe that without Maddy it would have been quite a different road. So God's timing is PERFECT, and oh what a blessing each child is...We love you MADDY

Crying CoCo Tears

As I type this the thick sweet cloying smell of my Coco Chanel is wafting off my hands. Ethan went in my bathroom and dropped my favorite perfume. Of course it shattered in a million stinky pieces. So my house smells really good, and I am crying because it was a Christmas present and I know I won't spend the money to replace it.. So I guess I better enjoy the overpowering fragrance while it still is leached into my grout. Maybe I could roll around on the tile each morning..hmm?

Sewing...Sewing...Sewing

I finished Liv's Birthday dress. It turned out so cute, as long as you don't look at my button holes. I spent 2 hours today at Joanns. They have all their pattenrs 40% off or Simplicity 5 for 5.00. I think the sale runs through the weekend. Tomorrow Liv is having her school Birthday party, so 40 cupcakes by tea party time~~ugh... it's hard to be super mom =)

Spring Wardrobe

As many of you know, I LOVE handmade expensive ebay dresses. Well this year I have decided to try my hand at making my childrens spring dress clothes. So, here was my first attempt at a sundress I have yet to make the gauchos that go under them. And I have to pull out a basting stitch in the ruffle but otherwise it is DONE!! I purchased this pattern as an ebook that had detailed pictured step by step instructions. youcanmakethis.com check it out

MY NEW VALENTINES DAY BLOG

Back from Maine

Yes I got back Monday from my virtual vacation to Maine. It was sooo cold there. Well we started school Monday and it was a breeze. Ethan was a well mannered 2 yr old who watched Playhouse Disney for 3 hours (yikes). Maddy finished all her subjects and we had time to play outside, go to swim team and I even made dinner!!! Tuesday was fun, we hurried through school to go to the strawberry patch, then off to swim, and a picnic in Mount Dora under the lights. A few homeschooling families met to enjoy "light up Mt Dora" after the holidays to avoid all the crowds. The kids had a blast and the weather has been to die for...




Strawberry Picking

See- Saw









....


And this was my dear sweet hubby's idea for my breakfast nook. He truly thought that a Geotrax village would be our 2008 interior design change. I am sorry kids please eat your food at the grand central station area



Happy 29th Birthday to my best friend!! What's in the cup???

Dreaming of Maine

Strawberry Patch

Oak Haven has been open since December 8th and I think with the weather it is not going to last long into the season. We are going today for a big pick. We went Sunday and the berries were on the verge of getting mushy. They still tasted oh so yummy! So break out your jam & jelly recipes.

CALLING ALL BLOGGERS

Ok, the holidays are over (hear the whip cracking) and it is time to get it back in gear. I want to see posting and comments and all kinds of emails.... Back to the accountability grind, so get busy. Amy has a pass since she is neck high in flooring at the moment. But the rest of you ladies I want some entertainment...

Love Yall
Happy New Year

Catch Up

Ok, so I have not posted since WELL before Christmas. I was too busy to even contemplate typing what wew were doing on the computer. I didn't even check email or blogs for over a week. Well where to start, I finished my Christmas quilt. It is currently on my couch being used by my family.



















We went Christmas caroling and Christmas light looking. That is a tradition in our family to drive around close to Christmas and look at lights. We always go to this retirement community in Tavares that has all their homes decked out. Ethan kept pointing and yelling, "lights" at every house. He also was singing "jingle bells, jingle bells, HEY!" I need to get that on video, it was too cute.

My sister came down to stay for two weeks so she was able to come to Olivia's Christmas play. Liv was an angel, (no laughing please) and a cute one she was.

Olivia and her friends Sara and Joe

This is wrong on SO many levels. Lyndsay this is not the Victoria Secrets "Angel" collection show....

Well we also have our Birthday mania during December and January. Ethan, my dad, Mike, Myself, Olivia and Maddy all celebrate birthdays in a 2 month period. You'd think we could have used a little forethought on the matter.. On a side note Liv and Maddy had the exact same due date just 5 years apart. My aunt struggled with infertility with her 2nd child, and her daughter Sara would pray every night for a baby sister. My aunt said she finally just gave up after 7 years and it was so sad to hear Sara pray every night for a baby sister. Well she became pregnant with Amelia ( a sister) who was born on Sara's birthday. How about that for a birthday present from God!!! Ok, I am rambling....but I love that story. Anyway, Ethan had a rocket Birthday, Mike had a bowling alley Birthday

While going upstairs to check on Ethan I found this sweet picture. My sis thinks he is doomed to be a sissy because he plays with dolls. I think it is sweet, and who doesn't love a man who loves babies???

Preschool had a Christmas party on the last day of school. I was really ready to have Liv home for a few weeks. I am bad about wanting to be on someone elses schedule. I LOVE Ms Shawnie and the school, I was just ready for some home time. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is staying up late with my kids and doing projects and watching all the Christmas specials on the family and Hallmark channel.

Oooh SUGAR

I see London...I see France... I see Livvys underpants (Thank Goodness)

Random Pictures to follow

Guess who was making presents this year...I am sure Michelle's sewing room does not look like Joanns blew up in it...

Peppermint Red Velvet Cake

Christmas Eve, I was in the middle of preparing dinner for some friends when Ethan walked in front of Olivia while she was swinging. Mike was outside and thought he had injured his mouth, as it was the area that was bleeding. I cleaned him up and made sure there was no gashes or teeth missing. Well naptime came and I put him down in my bed. He woke up cranky and of course he just wanted me to hold him. I was at the height of getting the food completed and everyone ready for candlelight service at church, so rocking a baby was not on my To Do list. Well he started vomiting, and Ihad flashbacks of last New Years Eve when the girls had the stomach bug. I put him in the shower and while washing his hair I felt a goose size egg on the back of his skull! Then he became sleepy and was hard to keep awake. So, change of plans, I dress us both, call Mike (who was delivering our friends meal) and get ready to sit in the ER. I can only say, "God bless David" he called ahead and had the ER triage waiting for Ethan. He was still lethargic and vomiting when we walked in the door, so they took him right back. We were in and out in and hour and 15 minutes, CT scan and all!! The staff was amazing, they gave Ethan a teddy bear and worked hard to get Ethan into CT quickly and back out the door so Santa could come. He had no bleeding in the brain, and just a mild head injury.

The kids fell asleep on the couch waiting for Santa. They put Ethan on the ottoman...


























Santa Claus came....

Daddy really like the Geotrax, my kitchen nook has become a train track palace..

After presents were opened we went down to Altamonte to have dinner with my grandmother. She is a fabulous cook and made a crown roast, cranberry dressing, and tons off other yummies. I brought the peppermint cake =) It is her recipe and a tradition in our family.

The next day I took down the tree, and started organizing the house. I love to get the Christmas stuff out, but when it is over, it is OVER. I am then in cleaning organizing mood. So of course I buy a ton of bins and decide which room needs painting...(just kidding, Tiff) Well I did paint the girls bathroom, but it truly did need it. I pulled the wallpaper down and it needed for me to orange peel it and paint it. So that was my Thursday project. 3 cans of spray popcorn, and a can of weathered glass paint later and Voila