R.I.P Grandma Van Auken

Last night we got word that Grandma Van Auken finally took her last breathe. It is such a bittersweet goodbye. For the last month or so she has been through so much pain and seen so many dr.s then I can ever imagine. We are so thankful we got to see her in July before she turned for the worse. We said our goodbye's then because we just didn't know when God was gonna take her.

I am so happy she is with Grandpa Van auken now. Those two were such an amazing couple and loved each other deeply. I loved watching them laugh and smile together years ago before Grandpa passed away. She was such an amazing person and had the most beautiful personality I have ever seen. we will miss her dearly and I am thankful to have another guardian angel to watch over me and my family.

Love you Grandma and Grandpa Van Auken!

Our wedding/5 year anniversary

Grandma's birthday 2010 with Blane and Maddie

Katlyn Marie

My little sister's water broke Monday night which was very exciting!! Our new neice was born August 24th at 8 am. She was 8lbs and 1oz and is so beautiful!! Blane and Maddie just adore her and I can't wait to hold and snuggles with her every day this week!! :-) She will be my cure to my baby fever lately. lol


Katlyn Marie



Uncle Blake "Spikey" holding Katlyn



Maddie wouldn't share her




They now want a little brother/sister....uh-oh lol



Blane and katlyn

Volunteering for Numana = Helping Haiti

So this morning I decided to take the kids to the El Dorado Civic Center because Numana is down there doing a food packaging event for Haiti. At first I though it was going to be kind of boring but wanted to teach our kids a good lesson out of the field trip. To my surprise the place was PACKED with a ton of people from miles away. We had to park 2 blocks away because there were so many cars. When we walked in there was a sign up booth so we signed up and got in line. We got out fun hair hats and aprons and on we went to packaging food.

Here is their website: http://www.numanainc.com/

It was truley the most amazing experience. Having my children help and see them having fun with it and learning has been the best experience thus far! When we left to eat lunch they asked to go back and my heart just melted! I have to most loving and caring children ever and so proud to be their mother.

Here are some pictures I took with my phone.

Blane and Maddie with Grandma



Packing the food

Too cute! :-)

Blane and Madyson with their cousin Taylor

Goodbye 2009....Hello 2010

So another year has gone and I can't believe how fast it went. My babies are getting bigger before my eyes. I don't know it if my eternal clock is clocking away or a severe case of baby fever but I have this mental and bodily erge to be pregnant! Maybe by March we will make a final decision on if we are for sure done with baby making. lol

Alot happened last year and here are my top ten favorite moments from 2009

10. The birth of our first neice

9. My job promotion and raise

8. Blane starting kindegarten

7. Purchasing our first business together

6. Our healthy family and friends and their happiness

5. The road trip with my mom and sisters for my mom's birthday

4. Our vacation to Florida and the Bahama cruise

3. Madyson turning 3 years old

2. Blane turning 5 years old

1. Our 5 year anniversary wedding/vow renewl in Feb.


I am ready for the new year with new memories with our friends and family. But most important another year with my amazing husband and beautiful daughter and handsome son! :-)

BLESSED!

So for the past few weeks I have been posting things I am thankful for everyday and it really has reminded me how blessed I am!

I am so thankful for my husband and children. Being their mom and his wife has brought the best out of me and brightens my day everyday! This is why God put me on this earth, to take care of them and brighten their days.

I am so thankful for my sisters. We have had some amazing times together creating amazing memories. Have 3 sisters to share stories with as we get older is a great feeling. When we all get together it's hard to part and go back to our seperate lifes because at one time we shared EVERYDAY together.

I am thankful for my parents. My mom and dad has taught me how to live life to the fullest and be a hard worker. How to love unconditionally and how to be the best parent I can be to my children. I enjoy seeing them and talking with them everyday.

I am thankful for all of my fabulous and good friends. They certainly are the greatest people to hang out with and laugh and share life with. It's nice to get with them and leave all our worries at the door and enjoy life and be reminded how great life is.

We are truley blessed in life and I am very thankful for that.

Family Pictures 2009

I am so blessed with my family. My husband is the best husband because he loves me unconditionally, he helps me around the house all the time, he is a perfect father to our children, I enjoy it when he thanks me all the time for my hard work and the things I do for our family and he is truley my best friend. Our kids are so precious. We love just spending time with them at home and playing with them. They make us laugh all the time.

My favorite time of the day is when we all sit down and eat dinner together. For 30 mintues no one exist but us four and it never fails that we always end up on the floor rolling with laughter over something the kids said or something they did.

Without these 4 people in my life I would not be the women, wife or mother I am today!

Life....

This semester my classes are kicking my butt! I was stupid and took my comp II class (english) and college algebra! I feel like I am doing homework at least 5 out of the 7 nights I am home! I just cannot wait until this semester is over so I can enjoy my evenings and sundays with my kids and hubby again. On top of this rough semester I also got a promotion in Septebmer which requires me to manager 5 stores as an Area Manager. I try to help my husband out at his business too. Being a mom and wife is the best gift I have been given. I love making dinner for my family, i enjoy doing the laundry for my kids and husband (besides putting it away), I love helping my son with his homework and I love layong on the couch with my husband and just cuddling.

As stressful as my life is right now...I still LOVE MY LIFE. I have the best husband in the world who loves me unconditionally. My husband is my best friend and when I am away I can't wait to get home to him and share all of my stories with him from that day. He truley completes me and the women I am today.

My kids...wow! I could go on and on about them. My son is the sweetest boy I have ever met. I love his hugs and kisses and I love when he comes up to me and whispers "mommy, let's watch a movie and snuggle" just makes my heart melt. My daugther is the craziest little girl I know! She is a handful but we love her the way she is. I love how she always wants to help in the kitchen or help me fold clothes. I have the best kids any mom could ask for.

All in all...I could not imagine my life any other way!

Christmas

All I have to say is

I AM SOOO READY FOR CHRISTMAS! I WANT TO DECORATE MY HOUSE NOW!!

Life just get's crazier and crazier....

I has been nearly 10 months since my last blog... :-( So much as happened!! I don't even know where to start.

My husband and I celebrated out 5 year anniversary with "the wedding we never had" then went to florida for a week to Disney world and then a cruise to the bahamas. Out son turned 5! yup...5! He is my little man and is getting so big. He is in kindegarten now and loves it! our daughter turned 3 and is getting more and more beautiful every day. she does have a diva attitude though, lol. My sister, Laura, had her daughter so I became an Aunt to my first niece. My nephew Benjamin turned 1 and Karson turned 2.

My husband and I invested in a donut shop and bought the local donuts shop here in El Dorado with some really great partners! We are currently remodeling it

I can't belive the holidays are around the corner...but I am truely lookin forward to spending time with family and stuffing my face and SHOPPING on black friday again.

Here are some pictures from the last 10 months... ENJOY!




Mom's 'GIRLS ONLY" BDAY



Grandma's birthday



Disney World-2/09


Blane's first day of Kindegarten-8/09

Maddie-summer 09

Brady and I-My little brother in law

Blane's 5th birthday party-5/09

Bahamas 2/09

wedding/annv. 2/09

blane's preschool graduation 5/09

Santa came early

Monday we added a new member to our little family! Her name is Zoey, she is 8 weeks old and we got her at the local Humane Society. She is such a joy! She is so playful and loving. She just loves Blane and Madyson and they love her too. Wish us luck as we began this new journey in our lifes with a new puppy and all the joys it comes with the first year!

Blessed

This past weekend we went and got our family pictures taken. It is crazy how fast times fly by when you are having fun!


Our precious children


Madyson-pure beauty


Blane-such a handsome boy


Love of my life!


My blessings......

Laura's Baby Shower

Mommy and Daddy to be


Opening presents


She's so cute


Big sis giving instructions to one of the games we played


My beautiful sisters and gorgeous daughter!
Our family is powered by strong women and I love it!



I cannot wait for baby Taylor to be here! My first niece....I love being an Aunt!

Pictures from Thanksgiving

My mom's house....

My mommy and me


My little sis and me


My big sis and Tracy



Blane, Madyson and Aunt Kera



Our Thanksgiving with Blake's family

mmmm....look at that turkey!


My beautiful children


The girls


My mother in law, debbie
My sister in law, Andrea
and me


Blake and Brian (his brother)