Dreams

So we have this little piece of land that we have been dreaming about for several years now...dreaming of someday raising our kiddos on it with all the trees watching them grow. There is a perfect little creek that runs right on the front side of it, a beautiful hill on the backside that grows green, green grass in the spring and summer...it backs up to someone else's country little barn and lake...complete with an old horse that's probably been there for years. We can see him from our treehouse. We bought the land before there was a Shaelyn Jade or a Jude in the world, but honestly, we knew that someday they would run its hills and wade its waters and climb its trees. I remember when we bought it, we walked through the trees and said that "someday" we'd build a cool treehouse on it. Before the treehouse, Rich and I would drive his truck out there and lay in the back with pillows and blankets and look at the stars...and dream our dreams. Then a Jadeybug was born...


...and even though she was too young to enjoy a treehouse yet, her Daddy knew that "someday" was coming quick, so he built our treehouse for her first birthday. Lots of love hammered into it he says. And it is cool. So we started going there, to our treehouse- our family of 3, and laying down blankets and pillows and looking up through the tall, tall trees that have been there hundreds of years longer than the old horse...and dreaming more dreams together. Of living there on that land. Of more children, a house, a dog...maybe even a horse of our own. And then there was a Judeboy...

(driving that same ole truck)
... And a family of 4. And more love than I have ever even dreamed. And "someday" is here. And we have this land, this treehouse, these children...and more dreams. So we spent another dreamy day there Saturday, our family of 4...doing the things we are doing on these "somedays" lately...

Swinging...

Pulling up like a big boy...

Making music (this crew loves a good sing along!)...

Soaking up every minute we can get with Daddy...



And I told Rich as I sat atop those trees in my little house that I have to be the happiest girl in the world. God has blessed me beyond my WILDEST DREAMS- with these two little people...

...And this handsome man...

And someday, I hope we can spend every day right there in the middle of those green fields, but until then...our dream days in the treehouse are enough.

"Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue...And the dreams that you dare to dream REALLY DO come true!"

Dream...BIG!

2012 so far...

Well here I am already at the end of January and can't figure out where it's gone...must have been busy. Yes. Very busy. Between Rich's parents moving here, his birthday, and the 4 teeth growing in Jude boy's mouth that keep us all up at night...I have simply lost a few weeks in time! But it has been good. All good. We are so excited that Rich's Mum and Dad and little sis, Hosanna, arrived safely with no troubles at all on their 3000 mile journey. They arrived one day early on Rich's actual birthday- such a nice surprise, and we celebrated him and them with cake and ice cream in their empty house. Now it is already full of all their things and already "smells" like their home, I realized today...which made me smile. As I have mentioned before, their homes are always so "homey"...as I hope mine is. Hosanna starts school on Monday- 8th grade, which I know is both daunting and exciting for her...say a prayer for her if you think of it Monday morning. She is working over and over again on the "perfect outfit" to wear...big decisions, indeed! And I am so happy to have her here---to get to know her better, for real...and love on her. So fun to have a "teen" around to keep us in the swing of things. And Shae Jade just adores her. Hosanna "this" and Hosanna "that" all day long, now...and when she first gets around her, she is shy. So cute. Just tonight after we had dinner with them and Sweet Cece's we said our goodbyes and it was weird- us AND them both going to our homes here in lil' ole Spring Hill. Just crazy how it all happened so fast---we have prayed for them to be closer for so long...and it seems like all of a sudden, they are HERE. We are excited for all of you to get to know them...they are as GREAT as Rich!!!! :) :)

A few of our favorite moments from these first few weeks of 2012...


My BFF, Kathryne, and her hubby Jon and baby Charlotte came over for dinner one night and look who we found holding hands!!!! :) Charlotte is our pick for Jude's marriage arrangement someday...

Jude boy hammin' it up for Kathryne...

And Jadeybug feels like such a big girl around all these "babies"...made sure she got some good Charlotte snuggles that night!

Rich's best buds all showed up to surprise him at Cheesecake Factory...

These three pics are in order--- Rocky sneakily sharing a plan with Drason...

Me getting my pic of the handsome birthday boy... Say "Cheese...CAKE!"

Plan carried out. Nice Rocky.




My real gift for Rich was his first good night's sleep in about a year...so I took him a schnazzy room with a big, comfy bed...and honestly---a solid night of sleep is weird when it's been that long! WEIRDLY WONDERFUL!!!! :)

Our view from the top floor of the Renaissance Hotel...not something you see every day!

And while the cat's away...these little mice played at Nonni's! This was my first night away from my little man and I felt so good knowing he was with my Mom...Thanks Non for making Rich's birthday surprise happen!


This was Rich eating his real birthday cake the he made a wish on once his parents arrived...in their NEW HOUSE! :)

And as Rich said, this was is BEST birthday gift...his Dad, HOME AT LAST, in TENNESSEE!!!!

Highlights from the end of 2011

Instead of a post about a list of resolutions that should have (but actually do not) this year...I wanted to end my 2011 blogs with a post about how we ended it! Here are some of our highlights...


This was, perhaps, the BEST gift of 2012...seeing sweet Tiff with her baby girl at last. This little lady was long awaited and SO, SO loved!!



Here is our crazy crew after our long plane rides across America...but we made it to San Francisco!



On one of those long plane rides, Jadey girl had some fun "holding" her little brother and helping him look out the window. Let's just say he was less than thrilled... :)



The city of San Francisco is so huge! Here seen from the Golden Gate bridge...

Alcatraz also from the bridge...





We had never walked across the bridge on any of our visits before, so we did it this last time!





We also took our favorite hike up in the moutains behind Nanma and Grampy's house...it is quite exhausting on those steep hills, but the view makes it all worth while!


My Christmas girl in her homeade reindeer shirt from school that she was so proud of...and her Christmas hairbows. I hope I never forget how she looked this day!!!

Snuggle bugs that slept most of the nights with us in Emily's bed (thanks for giving us your room, Em!!!)

Grampy and Jude had fun getting to know each other better...Jude loved all of his animals!



And Daddy and Jude boy also spent lots of time together...so nice having Daddy with us every day all day long!!!


Jude had to get ear tubes early the next morning after we arrived home from Cali...he was a sleepy boy as he waited for them to come get him!




And we spent New Year's Eve with some of our fave friends having a slumber party with all of our new baby "Boys Of Summer" (Bayo wasn't here yet when this pic was snapped!). The attire for our party was undecided- whether fancy or sleepwear...so Jude did both- bowtie with pjs...Cash was dressed to party!!!


At midnight, we cooked a big breakfast to kick off the new year...here are the chefs!


And here are the non-chefs...sleepy boys awaiting their meal! (PS...Bayo tried to hang, and outlasted the others...but finally crashed right there in the middle of the action!)


Finally feasting...we hope to make this a New Year's tradition!

And last, but CERTAINLY not least...me and my man ringing in 2012 the right way! They say whatever you're doing at midnight you will do all year, right???? :)

Certainly the best New Year's Eve yet...a wonderful end to a wonderful year. We are so THANKFUL to God for all of the many blessings he bestowed on us in 2011 and look forward to seeking Him even more in 2012! That is our only resolution. What a MIGHTY GOD we serve!