Hello Asher!

So Lance gets a kick out of my ADD tendencies when my brain is in overdrive and I tend to spout stuff out that makes total sense in my head but that’s just it, it was a trail I took in my head but only chose to share a piece of it with him. He is always lost and I don’t get why he can’t follow my train of thinking.
Today this very same ADD issue came out in my cleaning. I started out the day with plans to do the normal chores for getting the house ready for company. You know….pick-up clutter, dust, vacuum, change bedding, and of course bathrooms. This is how it went. Pick-up…oh there is that small box of Christmas stuff that never got put away….start looking around for the snowman winter stuff to add to it. Nicely stored in a tub…clean corner by the fireplace…vacuum up wood pieces…sweep out fireplace…vacuum remaining residue of ash. Wow that got vacuum dirty….shake out vacuum chamber….UGH that filter I can’t stand how dirty it gets….get online for an hour searching for replacement filters at good cost…can’t find matching model number…order part that looks right hope it works when it gets here. Clean all vacuum parts, lay them out in the sun….mmm, SUN….cold but nice…the dog needs a moment of my time. Throw the ball with dog to enjoy the sun. Back in to vacuum….move furniture around…nah, I’ll wait for Lance to maybe rearrange our furniture. That plant is overgrown…cut back plant. Think about dead plant on the front porch, go to move it…oh ambulance in my cul-de-sac….keep eye on it to see for which neighbor. Snowman mat still on porch….go to move it…needs to be swept….clean front porch….replace with general Welcome mat. Come in….oh the plant I was trimming. It really needs new potting soil. Replace soil…figure soil is out, kitchen floor is dirty….get other plant trim it down to nothing and add soil. I sweep up my mess and look at the clock 3pm to realize I have not stopped to eat. Fix plate…sit down to think about all I have not accomplished and laugh, “If Lance only knew.” Figure might as well post about it. Surely I am not the only woman in the world who is like this.

Hope this gives some of you something to relate to and others of you something to laugh at….and Honey, you may say, “I told you so.”
OH, and yes through all this I did feed my kiddos, played with them for a bit, and put them both down to nap. BUT have very little house actually cleaned. *SIGH*

I was inspired by a friend.  She posted on facebook a poem she had written for her hubby during their dating years.  Not truly knowing if he was it for her.  I am pretty sure I gave this to mine the Valentine’s Day before we were engaged( February 25, 2003).

Dreaming

Happy Valentine’s Day, Lance!!!

I am very glad that you are what God dreamt for me.

Mommy and Faith

Then

Now

Daddy and Faith

Then

Now

Asher and Faith

Then

Now

Faith

Then

Now

Happy Birthday, sweet little girl!!  We love you!!

As I sit here at 1:30 in the morning, I am disturbed by the memory that a year ago this time I was at the computer reading up on contractions that were coming 15 minutes apart.  A YEAR AGO?  It couldn’t be. What is it about the second child that makes me yearn for more time with my baby.  I remember when Asher hit one…it was a milestone, a celebration.  I looked forward to it as we counted the months and watched him grow and change.  With Faith it has been a struggle to even want to acknowledge that today my sweet girl will be one.  She, too, has grown and changed.  Each month was a new stage of development in her life, but somehow each month felt like a mere moment and this year has felt like barely a minute has gone by.  How did it happen that my little angel baby is now an angel one year old.  Oh if only the time would go backwards or like an old movie I could just watch her movements without sound and distraction.  I could hold onto every second that brought her to this date.  But, alas, I cannot so instead I cry only a few tears for the year that flew by in a mere millisecond; and I look forward to the many more the Lord blesses us with our little angel girl.  Indulge me if you will for just a moment and remember with me that amazing day a year ago when my sweet Faith entered this world and my arms.

My, oh, my she has changed.  I love you my little angel baby!

I know everyone talks about the food when cruising.  They talk about all the weight gain because of food being available 24/7.  It is a convenience thing…you never have to stop doing anything to make a dinner reservation; you always have an option of heading to a buffet or grill.  HOWEVER..the dining room gives you what the others do not, ambiance and flare.  I love pretty food, so yes we actually took pics of our plates of delicacies.

If you gain weight on your cruise, you have no one but yourself to blame.  They portion your dessert quite minutely.   This was a chocolate sampler.

I had to take some pictures of the before, during, and after of my favorite meal on the cruise.  It was sooo good..

Only the lemon wedge was left.

I love dressing up…I love wearing clothes I would not normally get the chance to in my everyday life.  So the cruise offered us numerous occasions to do just that.

Formal Night

Final Night
(I’m eating lobster..mmmmm)

I had wanted to get this post done last night; I tried to work on it today.  Alas, as it is with all things computer related, it is late at night and I am just now getting it done.  If you read this it is probably a day later, so I will point out. November 4th is the day.

Happy Birthday, Lance.  I LOVE YOU!!

I had a friend recently do a facebook status that she added “just keeping it real.” I liked that, so I’ve decided whenever I want to share something that may paint me in less than a glowing light, I’m gonna just call it Keeping it Real.
Tonight I just feel like a Mom….usually the most wonderful thing in the world. But tonight I feel like it is my identity like there is no Sarah just Mom. Tomorrow as I am greeted with morning hugs and cutie grins I’ll feel differently; however, right now I feel like just a mom.

Each day we took pictures of our towel animals and sent them to Asher.  He loved getting the email pictures from us.  Nana and Papa would print them out for him, and he had them up with magnets all over their front door.  Here is your challenge:  Can you identify the towel animal?  Some are easy…some Lance and I are still in debate over.  Help us out!

#1

#2

#3 front

and

back view

#4

#5

#6 front

and

side view

Wow, it is going by so fast I haven’t been able to post for all her months like I hoped.  I can’t believe she is already nine months old.  I don’t have any recent stats because I am avoiding the doctor’s office like the plague right now.   So here are just a few catch up pictures.  This girl is all over the place!!!  She is little Miss Mischief, and you can’t turn your back on her for a second.

Last time she ever sat still.

Pulled up before I’d ever lowered the mattress

Crawling and Climbing

she was already climbing up when Asher decided he needed to take care of her….it was so cute how protective he got

Pulling up and cruising

As much as I am not really ready for it, I have a feeling she is going to be walking in the next month.  TOOOOO FAST!!!  Slow down baby girl.