THE UPSIDE

Lately I feel like I've been surrounded with a lot of negativity. I don't know if it's just me that feels that way, but it's really been dragging me down. It seems like everyone has something to complain about and nothing to be greatful for. I know life has its downs but it also has an upside. I would much rather hear about your upside.

Here is my upside. I have two healthy, smart, funny, beautiful little girls that love me to death and I wouldn't know where I would be in life without them. I have a husband, who despite all of his downfalls, has been there for me when I needed him and loves me unconditionally. I have a job that pays the bills and I work with some pretty cool people. We have a roof over our heads and we love where we live. We have some of the best family we could ever ask for, that loves us and supports us and is always there for us when times get tough.

Everything I just listed also has downfalls, but I'd rather not focus on how my kids drive me crazy, or how my husband leaves the toilet seat up, or how I'm not particularly pleased with my job or how little it pays, or the seemingly never ending battle we have with trying to pay off our debt so we can own our very own house one day, it's just such a downer.

There has been times in my life that I've felt like I was never going to dig out of the hole I'm in or see the light at the end of the tunnel. But then I realize whatever my issues are, there is someone out there that doesn't have it as great as I do. There's someone who lost their child today, or has been laid off, or evicted from their home, had their car repossesed, and the list goes on. This makes me feel awful that I ever thought I had a bad life.

So instead of focusing on something bad that has happened today, think about the great things in your life that you might be taking for granted.

Almost the End of the Year

I can't believe it's already December! My how time flies when you have busy lives. Last night I was uploading our pics from the year onto our computer and I was just looking through them in complete awe. It's crazy how the kids grow and things change and just how the time slips away. It's almost Christmas then the New Year and shortly after little Miss P turns the big 2!

Since we had some computer problems I haven't been able to do a blog every time something new has happened. For now I'll just have to update a little at a time, and eventually get it all in here.

At the end of August Auntie Amanda came to visit us, while she was here there just happened to be a hurricane come through. We were kinda stuck to the house for a few days. Amanda was going a little stir crazy, but we still enjoyed the visit.

Faith and Auntie Amanda

They just adore her!

Little baby Presley with Amanda

After the hurricane was over Amanda and I went for a drive to check out some of the damage that was done. There were a lot of down trees, the roads were covered in branches and leaves, and there were even electric poles leaning.

This is a tree that was completely split just by the wind.

The electric lines that look like they weren't very stable.

It even moved the stop lights, there was
another one that was worse than this one.

A few days later Faith was starting her first day of preschool. She was too excited to go to school. I was tearing up thinking about her becoming such a big girl, but she didn't seem to mind. She attends pretty much all day. The bus picks her up at 9 am and doesn't drop her back off until around 4:40 pm. She absolutely loves her teachers and she's already learned so much. She's in the beginning stages of reading and she can write her entire name without any assistance.

All ready to go.

Waiting for the bell to ring to go to class.

Sitting at her desk. She was so exicted.

One of her teacher's helping to put her name tag on.

Off to her second day of school. First time
riding the bus. She didn't even look back.

 Miss Presley also reached a big girl stage. She moved up in the world, from her high chair to a booster seat at the table. She was so proud of herself and you can tell she was excited to take such a big girl step.

Both my girls posing for the camera. Don't mind their dirty faces.

Presley's first meal sitting high.

Faith's 4th Birthday Party

I can't believe that my little baby has turned 4 already. We had her birthday party on June 25th. We went with a Tangled/Rapunzel theme. We had the party at our house, which we will probably do it somewhere else next year since our place is a little small for so many people. But Faith had a really good time with her friends over to play with.

My bosses daughter made the cake. Her cakes are so delicious and just gorgeous. She made a tower to go with the Rapunzel theme. It even had a little Rapunzel doll with her hair let down. It was so cute. And it was a big hit at the party. Definitely impressed Faith, she was so excited about it. The picture doesn't do it justice. It was even more amazing in person.

She also got a ton of presents. It was so fun to watch her open all of them. Usually I sit with her and help her open them, this was the first year that I didn't do that. She did not need the help. Once she started going there was no stopping her. She hardly took the time to really look at each present, she was already on to the next one. She got a new princess bicycle from us and a whole bunch of new clothes and mostly toys from everyone else. We did get her Play-Doh, which I have been saying for the longest time I will never do, and I already regret it. Haha, it's already been smooshed into my carpet a couple of times.

Her new princess bike.

One of her several Barbies that she got.

Her Play-Doh

A princess carriage and Presley wanting to help open it.

She was in such a hurry to open all the presents she hardly had any time to take a picture.

Modeling some of her new sunglasses and her birthday girl pin.

And of course Aunt Carolyn  had to give Presley something so she didn't feel left out.

All in all it was a great time, and we are just so lucky to be able to make her feel special on her day.

Welcome to our Site

Today I've started our first family blog. I've been wanting to do this for a long time, but haven't been able to because we've only been using our phones for internet. I'm looking forward to sharing our outings and adventures for our friends and family to have regular updates on us and the kids. I'm not sure if anyone is going to check in often, but I guess it doesn't really matter, I'll always have this to look back on for memories for ourselves. So welcome to our website.