One Year

It's been one year. One year since Matthew started down the spiral path of Asthma. This week we are celebrating all week with cakes, parties, and homemade "survival" T-shirts for my dear Matty! 


Asthma is serious. A serious disease that can kill. We are so blessed to have wonderful doctors, working medicine, and a wonderful God, all working to keep Matty alive and healthy. It's been a battle, this past year, to fight for Matty's life. He's had his ups and downs, and we aren't done yet--- BUT--- he is alive and he is breathing. I am thankful to everyone who have helped us this past year, who have guided us, and who have loved us! We appreciate everything. 


Looking at the picture above is so hard. It was so hard. So hard to see him suffer and struggle. Tears fill my eyes, as I type this, realizing how close we came...how close. I am thankful to have more time with my boy, and I can't wait to see what he does with his life. I can't wait to see what God has in store for this mighty fighter. 


We love you Matty! Keep fighting buddy; we are all fighting with you!

Breathe WELL. Breathe STRONG. Breathe FREE! 

9 Month Chloe

What can I say? She truly is our little princess. I couldn't have imagined, in a million years, the impact my daughter would make in my life, in just 9 short months.

Nine! nine. NINE!

Actually, I can't believe it's been nine months. Where have these months gone? How is it possible that her little life is THREE short months away from being...being....ugh...I can't even say it. You know what I mean.

But really. Nine months ago, Chloe Danielle entered our lives and changed us....our whole family.... for the better. I am so blessed to be her Mama. So honored that God trusted ME to be her Mom. Mommy. Mama.

I can't wait to see Chloe grow, learn, and become a girl and a woman. She already has quite the personality, and it is only getting stronger and stronger as days go on.

Chloe is feisty, but laid back.

She is excitable, but tame.

She is giggly, but quiet.

She is curious, but content.

She is wide eyed.

She is huggable.

Loveable.

Adorable.

And she is the best thing to happen to us, in the past nine months.

Chloe D, Chlo, Princess Girl, Miss C, Missy, Sissy, Sister, Sister Bear.... you make our family complete. We all love you!

Happy NINE Months, Princess!

Summer's End

It's that time of year again: APPLE picking time! For the 5th year in a row, we've picked apples with Blueberry and her family! And over the years we've kept adding kiddos to the trip... We started with two little babes, 5 years ago, and this year we had FIVE kids between the two of us. It was a good time, making fun memories, and spending time with GREAT friends! :) Here are some of our fun photos:

And just to show how far we've come..... (2007)

A Camping We Will Go

For labor day weekend we went trekking through the woods and camped with our kiddies. It was quite the adventure. We saw many (creepy) bugs--I even showered with a wasp (seriously)-- and many cool bugs, too!  We hiked. We made fires. We sat (and relaxed!). We climbed. We biked. We visited an abandoned town and a haunted rail tunnel (separate post to come, on that) We enjoyed being a family! It was the first time, in a long time, that we were able to relax as a family (of FIVE!), without distractions, with little technology, and just US. It was amazing!


Here are some of my favorite photos, from the trip (I took over 200!):

This is "Sherman" the giant caterpillar

My girl smiled the WHOLE time! She loved being outside!

I love this photo! :)

(This is our second ever family of 5 picture!)

Matty and Daddy! Matty loved climbing the rocks-- alllll of them!

Adam and the sign. He had to sit with the sign! 

I can't believe how big my babies are getting! These pictures are just proof that they really are growing up!