We wish you.....

...a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We were incredibly fortunate to have a beautiful Holiday this year...Great family get-togethers, gifts under the tree, a tremendous amount to be thankful for. And let's always remember why we celebrate this time of year - the birth of the Savior of the World, Jesus.

As I listen to my children play in our house full of new toys and gifts, I think of Mary (from one Mom to another) and how she snuggled and cuddled with Baby Jesus. In his human form, He was probably this beautiful, bubbly, chunky baby that giggled like Izzy or a busy crawler that got into everything like Sophie. But in his infinate Glory, he is our Savior, our Redeemer, our Friend. Remember that in the low times, rejoice in that in the high times and know that no matter what, He loves you and wants a personal relationship with you.

New Year's RESOLUTION TIME!!!

I hope that during this busy season, we got to see all of you at least for a few minutes, but in case we didn't my new resolution this year is to visit more, to communicate more. I have been so blessed to have so many wonderful family and friends help out in this last year of "the Babies." From helpful hands, to prayerful thoughts and phone calls - and I am purposed to sit and visit, drop an email, drop a line or just drop in to say Hello! Expect it soon!!

Finally, this year is going to be a huge one for Chris and myself: Alexander is turning 4 and going to "big school like Landry and Caleb;" Isabella and Sophia will be turning 1 and taking over the house as toddlers; we will be welcoming a little girl, Mary Elizabeth, for Josh and Ann; and just watching all of the other nieces and nephews grow up another year older. What a legacy our families have!!

We love all of you and pray that this year is one of great blessings and purpose!!

C & L

Walking in a Winter Wonderland....

Today was a cold, blistery snowy day with snow falling on the ground in big flurries almost 3 inches thick!! Did I mention we live in Baton Rouge, Lousiana! What a nice surprise to wake up this morning and have a blanket of white on the ground! We were so excited, we tried to wake Alexander but he was having none of it for a while!!! When we finally woke him up and got him dressed as appropriately as possible (who has snow clothes for their 3 year old in south Lousiana?) he got outside in the snow and didn't want to come in! Enjoy the shots! More about the girls 1st Christmas later....

I think I'll dream about....

So, Alexander has been coming into our room consistantly around 3 a.m. telling us he's scared and has had a bad dream and there's a monster in his room. What parent can say they haven't lived this scenario?
So I've been praying with him before bedtime and it goes something like this:
Mommy: Jesus, please be with Alexander tonight. Help him to sleep good and have a restful night in his big-boy bed. Help him to have sweet dreams, help him to have good dreams about tractors and golf carts and swimming and...
Alexander: No, no, Mommy, we already prayed to dream about tractors.
Mommy: Well, you don't want to dream about tractors tonight?
Alexander: ummm, no. I dreamed about tractors last night.
Mommy: Okay, what do you want to pray for to dream about tonight?
Alexander: ummmm, ummmm, (are you noticing the stall tactic, yet?) ummmm, coloring, watching TV, riding my 4-wheeler, oh and my sisters!

Oh, if it were that easy!!

Been A While...

Wow, where has the time gone? Seems just yesterday I was bragging on our Son and chatting about our Girls and actually we've gone through the entire summer, two hurricanes and are now entering the Fall and a new chapter in our lives.

Well, this summer has been great! HOT, but great! We made it through with minimal sickness and a great adjustment to new day cares and back to work.

During hurricane Gustav, we lost power for seven days and were blessed enough to stay in Grosse Tete at Mr. Jimmy & Mrs. Kay's house. They had an enormous generator that allowed a/c to run all day and night which was a help because Gustav came on the heals of Izzy having a small respiratory infection needing breathing treatments.

Fall is here!! Can it get any prettier these last few days?!?! I am so excited about this time of year!! I can already start to smell the cold weather coming - well, as cold as it can get in South La.

After many weeks of prayers and decision making, Chris & I have decided that it would be better for our family if I were to stay home with the kids instead of having them in daycare. I had my full support from my Mom and Dad at work and my Mother-In-Law and Father-In-Law in the babysitting department. I think I am going to take Mrs. Kay up on her offer to keep the kids on Tuesdays & Thursdays so that I can work part time when needed. My last full day at the office as well as the kids last day at daycare will be October 24th.

I am excited about being able to have fun days with the kids and do things with other Moms that are fortunate enough to be able to stay home. Who knows, we may pop in to visit with the lots of you who read this post:-)

Well, the kids are getting so big!! Alexander slipped up and let me catch him reciting the "Pledge of Allegiance." Once I knew that he knew it, he got shy and wouldn't say it until I bribed him with a green popcycle - ha ha ha!! Isabella and Sophia are getting bigger by the day! Chris & I swear they grow over night and look bigger every morning! They are totally infatuated with their Daddy and don't hesitate to call out to him any and everytime they see him!! Of course, this has him like putty in their hands - oh, he better look out in 15 or so years!!

More later... Linz

Yesterday...

Well, I know that he'll never toot his own horn, so I have to brag on my husband...
Yesterday was my birthday & he made it very special for me. He didn't have a lot of free time during the day, but he came across the river to meet me for lunch. We went with Mom, Dad, Bailey & Melanie. It meant a lot to be able to get out of the office for a while because yesterday was also my first payroll & I was stressing! Payroll went well & I ended the work day like a champ - thank goodness!!
So, Chris had told me we were going to dinner at seven but didn't tell me where. So when we pulled up to Mike Anderson's, my Parents, Mrs. Kay, Liz, Jeremy, Josh & Ann & the kids were all there to surprise me for my birthday!! I was surprised to say the least! We had dinner & Liz baked me a red velvet cake for dessert - my favorite!
Thank you, Lord for such a caring family & devoted husband!

Starting Daycare

Well, this morning was the 1st of the Daycare days for the girls. I dropped them off early & before I could get her out of her car seat, Sophie started grinning & cooing @ Ms. Evie. That made it so much easier for me! Izzy was her usual giggly self, so they both were pleasant when I left.
I don't know if I should feel guilty or not, but I didn't cry this morning. I was so pre-occupied with having so much work to do at the office that I just went through the motions. But now that I look back, I did get a little emotional last night at the 10 o'clock feeding. The girls were just sleeping on the boppy pillow having just finished eating. They were just so peaceful & the house was all quiet & it was kind of one of those moments that you just want to put in your memory bank & never ever forget it....
On another sweet note, I had a pretty bad migraine last night & when I was laying down with Alexander to put him to bed, he leaned over & said, "Momma, close you eyes. I tell Jesus to heal you head." He laid his hands on my head & prayed for me right then and there. My head ache was gone in a few minutes & I was able to sleep well all night. Thank you Jesus for that Little Boy's heart!