Ode (of sorts) to the Self Portrait

I'm sitting here just contemplating

Why our husbands just aren't aiding

Us in all our blogging needs

Don't they know the crave it feeds?

We love showing off our kids so cute

And check out my husband, he's a hoot!

Here's our vacation to the zoo.

I loved reading Twilight, how 'bout you?

I found a new recipe that my kids love.

I hate it when they push and shove!

Does anyone know how to get out pen?

Here's some photos from way back when!

Here's pics of my kids playing outside.

And more of them on a pony ride!

Here's my hubby looking so debonair!

Here's him with the kids throwing them in the air!

Here's my mom and my dad and my brother and sis,

Here's the dog, here's the cat, our snake and our fish!

Here's my neighbor, my friend, someone I don't even know

Where's me? you keep asking, well, I just don't know!

I think I'm behind that old camera of mine

I just seem to be taking pictures all the time

Because I've a blog that I must illustrate

Besides I'm a mess today, pictures can wait!

Well, all of my friends have a portrait of them

Guess I'll hold up the camera and put on a nice grin

Don't you love how I'm leaned back, oh well, it's okay

Looks just like my friends' pics of themselves anyway!

Like Leah, and Lisa, and Rebekah, too.

Where were your husbands to take pics of you?

And what about all of you pregos out there?

Since they made you like that I think it'd be only fair

That your husband take a moment and help document

Your cute little belly, instead your time's spent

Balancing a camera on the dresser and then

Apologizing it's crooked and you barely made it in.

I don't even think I've seen Nika at all,

or Krissi, or Erin, we're dropping the ball!

Where's Lindsay, and Juli, and Natalie, too

I love seeing your kids, but I want to see you!!

I got a new haircut about a month ago,

But no one has seen it, of course, don't ya know

Because the last picture of me taken by Ryan

Was 14 months ago and I'm not even lyin'!!

What happened to the times when I was in every frame?

Like when we were dating? Guess times aren't the same!

So, ladies I'm challenging each one of you

To go ask your husband to take a picture of you!

Not just a snap shot, after you get back from a jog

I want it to be the best pic on your blog!!

Put on some makeup and do up your hair.

Put on a grin and go get some air.

Especially if you haven't showered in days

Make time to do it, and you'll be feeling great!

See, we are still young! And the picture will prove!

Like before we had kids, husbands, laundry to move

And if you don't feel you can do it today

Then we can wait until you're dressed up anyway

But don't take too long because I'm going to bug!

Take some time for yourself!! Here's a virtual HUG!!

9-28-2008 Week in Review

First of all, I must say.........

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jymn!!!

My little brother is turning 30 today!! Finally, someone to be OLD the same as me!!

Okay, now on with the weekly review!

Ryan spent the weekend white water rafting the Gauley River in Virginia with his brothers, Mark and Scott, and a good friend of theirs, Matt. They had a fabulous time and are already looking forward to next year!

Yes, that's my hubby there on the left, then Matt, Mark, and Scott.

I spent most of this week catching up on house work. Is it possible to actually ever catch up?? Wednesday was a big day for Corben. He got his BOBCAT!! It's his first badge in Cub Scouts. He was so excited! I wasn't able to make it due to my photography class but my mom was right there and took some pictures for me. None of which I have and she's in Utah for a week. Oh well. Thursday was extra nice. The boys both had early release and so it felt like the afternoon went on and on. It was so nice to not have supper, homework, baths, and playtime all shoved into the normal 4 hours between school getting out and bedtime. I loved it. Friday, I had RJ over and we headed out to the local fire department to have a fun day with some friends and see the trucks. I felt a bit crazy with a double stroller and one on a harness, but we survived! RJ was SO excited! I think they all had a great time! Saturday was a bit busier. The congregations of our church have been growing so large in our area that the Church built a new building right across the street from Corben's school. We were one of the lucky groups to get to move into it this Sunday. That meant that it needed a good cleaning before it's first use and so Ryan (who is in charge of the facilities and keeping them running) and Dade headed over early Saturday morning to aid in the clean. They finally made it home around noon at which point the house cleaning took over. (Corben and I had been working while they were gone but we shifted into high gear once they were back.) Finally, around 4pm we headed out to a friend's BBQ. They went all out, there was even a band! Ella and Sylvie LOVED the music. Ella was running all over, dancing like crazy. Sorry, the pictures are terrible. I'm still working on understanding the ins and outs of photography beyond Auto Mode (something I'm not allowed to use while I'm taking this photography course) and unfortunately my pictures at events lately have been a little rough! After we left the party, Ryan dropped me off for a Women's World Wide Broadcast for the women of our church. It was so nice to have a peaceful, spiritual experience to end my week! Sunday we headed out to the new church building. To celebrate, the girls and I wore green. (The carpet and upholstery at the church are all done in green.) It was odd being in a new building. Dade faced one of the biggest dilemmas. He and 5 other boys his age, pass the sacrament to the congregation every week. They've had a certain way they've gotten used to passing but this new building has more pews and a slightly different set up. They practiced for a while on Saturday and did pretty well today. They did run out of water, though and Dade had to head back up to the sacrament table and have them bless some more water. Sylvie was screaming his name the whole time! He handled it all very reverently and everyone was impressed and thankful. The only other problem we ran into is the fact that the handles on the door in the nursery are the kind you just have to pull down to open the door. Our sneaky Ella escaped 3 times!! Luckily the nursery leaders are quick! I guess Ella felt inspired because when we got home she walked right over to our side door and opened it right up!! NOOOOO!!! Guess it's time for those silly white knobs to be put on. STOP GROWING!! Anyway, now everyone is down and it's quiet. I just made yummy, yummy cookies and can now call my day complete. YEAH!!

Bye-bye, Baby!

Every night before putting Sylvie to bed we stop at my mirror and she waves to the baby and, as of last week, gives her a kiss goodnight.  That was until Thursday night, when everything changed.  She looked right at her own sweet little face in the mirror and with a grown up grin said, "Bye, bye, Baby!".  Her first "sentence" and I think she summed up how I felt pretty well. -- Bye bye, my little baby!!

FINALLY!! Gas I can afford!!!

They finally did the election....

So, I somehow get to carpool early yesterday and give myself the opportunity to contemplate the election results and every possible scenario for almost 15 minutes prior to pulling up to the front.  I inch forward trying to evaluate his expression and don't find him looking overly excited.  I prepare myself for the worst.  "Mom," he says, as he climbs into the front seat, "I'm not the Class President.....".  He pauses and I try to give a kind, loving expression.  His face is expressionless as he looks up at me, then suddenly he exclaims, "I'm the VICE PRESIDENT!!!!  Oh Yeah!  Oh Yeah!!"  I was totally caught off guard!  "Reid won, but only after we had to have a run off because there was a tie!  And if Reid is ever absent or if he goofs off and loses his job then I get to be President!!  I think wearing my Vote for Corben shirt two days in a row caught me some votes!"  My son cracks me up.  This morning he announced, "I'm off to school for my first official day as VICE PRESIDENT!"  He makes me so proud!

Election update....

Despite the most AWESOME homemade T-shirt made and worn today by Candidate for Class President Corben L......there was no election.  There was a substitute today.  Yet ANOTHER day of carpool angst to go!

      Will this election madness ever end??!!

9-21-2008 Week in Review

After last week my plan for this week was to take it easy!!  So, I have little to report this week.

First of all, several of you are wondering how the class elections went for Corben...well, his teacher keeps forgetting to do the election!!  Does she not understand the emotional roller coaster carpool is for me this week?!  I'm sitting in line anxiously waiting to hear the results.  I spend most of the time slowly moving forward praying I'll react properly if he tells me he didn't win.  I worry how he's going to be feeling and at the same time excited that he may have won!  I finally pull up with butterflies in my stomach trying to evaluate the look on his face as he gets in the car only to have him say...She forgot again!  3 days in a row I've gone through this and now I have to do it again on Monday!  Aaarrgghh!  It doesn't help that in these past few days more kids have decided to run for a total of 8 kids out of 24 running for the same position!  And Corben was too shy to read his speech so he just read his poster and hopped up and down on one foot to make everyone laugh.  There was even a kid running that promised no homework and parties every week with cupcakes!  So, I guess I'll have to wait at least another day.  I'll let you all know as soon as I know.

Wednesday night I had photography class and finally grasped the concept I'd be struggling to get for the longest time.  YEAH!  Now, the test is if I can put it to use!  No more auto mode for me (teacher's rules) so we'll see how many pics I'm posting as I learn to figure out how to coordinate all of the settings on my camera.  Thursday I went and got my hair cut.  It was mostly a trim though I got a few more layers and some bangs..sort of.  I loved it after she styled it but this morning it was looking more like a mane than a cute hairdo.  Guess it's going to take some work to figure out.  I'm definitely not a naturally stylish person.  If anyone has some cute pictures of things you think I could do with this hair, please email them to me, I need help!

Friday was the family birthday party so we met over at Heather's house to celebrate 3 birthdays.  I love getting together with Ryan's family.  They are so much fun.  I have to say that Ryan's brothers married the most amazing women and his sister might as well be my own.  I love them all so much!!

Saturday morning Ryan and his brothers headed out to Virginia for a long weekend of white water rafting.  Our community holds a big festival every year so all of the sisters (in-law) and Ryan's dad came down and we spent a fun morning seeing animals, playing on inflatables, riding ponies, listening to music, racing RC's and just having a wonderful time! 

Corben had a great time going down this slide.  It was SO high!!	There were a ton of animals to see and pet.  There were turtles, rabbits, birds, lizards, snakes, a wallaby, skunks, opossums, and tortoises.   The kids were fascinated!
Racing RC cars.	Ella in the jumping maze.  She was so excited!  We did have to send in Aunt Jamie and Aunt Rachel to fetch her, Nathan, and Xander out!
Sylvie was SO excited to meet this bear until he touched her foot and she decided he was creepy!	Ella went on the ponies twice.  The first time we had to hold onto her and the pony so she'd feel comfortable.  The 2nd time she did great on her own!
Corben on the rock wall.  He didn't get far, they put him on the harder side and he couldn't reach all of the hand holds.  He felt it was discrimination against shorter people and was not happy at all!	Hanging out afterwards eating Nachos and listening to Bluegrass!

 

In the evening the sister-in-laws gathered for a nice night together at Erin's house.  I was a bit late with my kids because of this!

Dade and a friend were in the woods across the street from our house and found this on a path frequented by teenagers.  It was buried in leaves beside a tree.  You can't tell here but that is almost a 12 inch blade.  We called the Sheriff's department to come and get it.  It's funny how much they hate to do paperwork.  He took one look at it and said, "Well, there's no blood on it and we haven't had any knife murders lately."  I mentioned that it's washable and that even if he hadn't heard of one, it doesn't mean they couldn't find out about one later or that it was hid there for a future crime.  Besides, I didn't have a safe way to dispose of it and with over 15 young kids on our street I just wanted it gone.  He finally offered to take it for me but had to label it as evidence and fill out some paperwork.  I offered to take it to the dump if it was going to be too much paperwork for him but he said he'd be fine.  Honestly, I don't know why you'd hide a knife like that back in the woods unless you were going to need it for something.

So today is Sunday and I just managed church on my own with 2 small kids.  The kids kept telling me that Ryan got them to church 30 minutes early when he did it on his own last week but Ryan can just get up and put on the one outfit he always wears to church and he's done!  I have to shower, shave, coordinate an outfit and accessorize, pick out shoes, blow dry, style, and do makeup!!  I sound like such a girl, but it's true!!  So I get mostly ready and the girls are all ready and every one is fed thanks to Dade and his mad waffle making skills, when I look up at the clock in the kitchen and it says that it's 10:25 meaning 10:20 since it's usually 5 minutes fast.  But my clock upstairs had said 10:35.  I ask Dade and he says it's 10:31 but the microwave says it's 10:46!!  I ran and checked the computer and it was actually  10:42 which meant I did not have time to do my hair or makeup (thus the mane) and we had to go right then!  Now, I won't go so far as to accuse my husband of changing all the clocks before he left but it's mighty strange that all the clocks were suddenly so wrong!  Anyway, we made it on time and the boys and I managed the girls on our own, much to my surprise.  So now everyone is quietly reading in their room and I'm going to go and do the same.  (Corben just finished the Harry Potter series for the 2nd time! - if anyone has any good suggestions on his next reading endeavor, please let me know!)  Have a great week!!

So that's what I look like....

Ella was in the living room last night playing with her dolls and I thought to myself, "This all seems very familiar..."  Then it hit me...that's ME!!  Diaper bag on one arm, one in the stroller, one in the carrier on her other arm....yep, totally me!  If you're wondering about the outfit...she was in her diaper so I drew some clothes on her.

Vote for Corben

Corben got in the car after school yesterday and said, "Mom!  I need to write a speech!  I want to run for Student Council and Kaitlyn already has posters up and flyers with frogs on them!"  It seems that the 3rd grade is having each class vote on a representative to join the Student council.  Corben had mentioned something on Monday about it but hadn't gotten really excited until he saw Kaitlyn's posters and realized he was going to have to campaign.  Voting is today so we had very little time to get ready.  Being the mom that I am I immediately went into Campaign Manager mode.  I started dreaming up amazing posters and flyers and imagining the latest TV characters endorsing Corben.  (I did a campaign poster for my sister in Elementary School that had the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles voting for her.)  Corben said the TMNT were too old but he and Dade suggested some Nickelodeon characters or Disney Channel.  I could just see Phineas and Ferb deciding that Today they were going to Vote for Corben!  And Spongebob and Patrick claiming Corben was Da Bomb!  We thought about having a picture of Corben doing Tae Kwon-Do and saying Vote for a Champion!.....In the middle of all my hard work, Corben announced that he thought people (kids) would want to vote for someone who was hard working and creative, not someone who was Lazy and used a computer.  He then began work on his very own flyers.  It took him 3 tries and he finally figured out that it was easier to do in pencil first and then color.  He spent quite a bit of time coloring in all the letters.  Here's his Campaign Flyer:

He then began work on his speech.  He worked on it for sometime before coming to me and mentioning that he wished we had a book on How to be a Good Leader so that he could read it and be ready for tomorrow (which is today).  Anyway, luckily the internet is just a click away and this is what we found:

From http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Leader

How to Be a Leader

Want to know how to be an awesome leader that people can look up to? Here's your chance to find out.

Steps

1. Be very dedicated to what you are doing. Being a leader is a lot of responsibility and hard work, and you have to be up to it. Truly understand the field in which you are leading and be willing to spend a lot of time with whoever you're working with.

2. Help out others as much as you can. Spend quality time with those that need you.

3. Know right from wrong. Be cooperative as much as you can but also realize when you need to be assertive. Let people know when they are doing something that is not right.
4. Lead from the front. Put yourself on the front lines with your people, instead of trying to lead by just barking orders.
5. Be a good role model. Support the people you are working with and do all you can to show people the strength of your group.
6. Have confidence and be positive. A good leader never lets their team down. The meaning of the word team is Together Everyone Achieves More. Work with everyone you can and have a good attitude.

   

   Be a good role model

7. Lead by Example Rather than just barking orders, LEAD. Give the kind of effort you want to see given by your team. Have the kind of character you want your team to have. Follow and keep your eyes on the mission you want your team to follow.

Tips

• Give everything all you've got. Just remember that people are relying on you.
• Encourage those who follow you and build alliances.

Warnings

• Don't get too carried away. Being a leader doesn't mean you need to be cracking a whip over people constantly.
• Don't be overly critical, but constructive.
• Remember to take time off when needed. Being a leader is a demanding position to be in. You will become ineffective if you burn out.

 

Corben found this all very fascinating and read over it several times making notes and asking me to define words he didn't know.  He then set out to rewrite his speech and then asked everyone to come to the living room so he could practice because he gets very nervous speaking in front of groups of people.  (Obvious to any of you who have heard him speak in Primary but not obvious to any of you who saw his star in the lead role of the school play last year.  He's funny like that.)  Here is the amazing speech he came up with:

I mentioned that maybe he should throw in a Corben Rocks! there at the end but he felt that that would be Bragging and that no one would want to vote for a bragger.  I mentioned that he had to talk good about himself in order for people to know why they should vote for him.  He said that he had already done that a bit in his speech but that you had to make sure you didn't do it too much.  Bragging's not cool.

So there you have it.  Corben's idea of a campaign.  Honest, hard working, creative, and humble.  I can only hope that 3rd graders feel those are the characteristics they're looking for in the classmate that will be in charge of taking out the recycling everyday instead of just falling for cute flyers covered in frogs.

Go Corben!!!

9-14-2008 Week in Review

This was about the craziest week I have had in a LONG time!!  I am so glad it's over!!  Most of the week was spent in the endeavor of scanning family photos in hopes of finishing several hundred of them by Saturday when I was heading to Maryland to meet with family and try to figure out who some of the people were in the pictures.  Of course, my scanner started to struggle and so I began scanning pictures at my sister-in-law's house in N. Raleigh.  They're so wonderful to help me but I always feel bad going to someone's house with the kids knowing I'm going to be busy on a project and that the kids are going to be going nuts.  Yet, this was a week it had to be done!  To top that off the most crazy things kept happening to me all week.

 

Let's see, Tuesday I had an appointment that I had to drag the girls to.  Sylvie was great since she was stuck in the carrier (I know she should be out of it but she's still under the weight limit and I needed her held!).  Ella was going nuts and kept running off and winding her way through back hallways in the building.  She's so  fast!!  Finally, after almost 2 hours there we were almost done and I just had to sign some paperwork.  Well Ella wanted no part of sitting there with me so she started flipping out.  To hold her and write at the same time I had to pin her in my lap, facing me with each arm pinned under mine and my left hand holding her head onto my shoulder while I wrote with my right.  She was wiggling and screaming and then it happened....I paused and said, "Did you just...????".  I was cut off by the lady at the desk who stood up and looked over and said, "Yep, she wet all over you!"  Ella's diaper had slid just enough to have her leak all over my lap and since she was sitting the way she was it hit me right where it would look like I WET MY PANTS!!  I was mortified.  There was no way to hide it so I just tried to keep my eyes straight ahead as I headed out of the packed waiting area with a screaming 2 year old on one hip, a baby carrier on the other arm, and soiled pants....so much for the rest of my errands!!  It was  Sylvie's birthday so I was working hard to get a lot of things done.  Corben had a doctor's appt in the afternoon so I checked him out early from school and zoomed to N. Raleigh for his appt.  After over an hour we find out we were sent to the wrong sort of doctor and so, frustrated and lacking for time, we zoomed back home stopping at the store to pick up a cake mix for Sylvie and another gift.  Sylvie's birthday party went well.  My mom came by and we just had a simple little party.  Sylvie loved her gifts (so did Ella).  I can't believe she's 1 years old!!

 

Wednesday I was supposed to go back over to Jamie's to scan pictures but as we were heading out the door to take Corben to school I realized I couldn't find my keys!  We searched for HOURS.  I attempted to  call a few people to see if I could get him a ride but as luck would have it both house phones had dead batteries and wouldn't keep a charge long enough to get through a call.  Apologies to all who were hung up on!!  I kept trying to let the phone charge up so I could attempt another call but I kept getting calls from a local religious group who have taken up telemarketing.  Since I don't have caller ID I'd answer and they'd start suggesting scriptures for me to read and sharing their message.  I was trying to be polite and didn't want to just hang up on them but their calls were preventing my phone from charging.  (When  I asked my sister what excuse I should put on the note to Corben's school in regards to his absence, she suggested that since the religious calls barred me from being able to call someone to get a ride for Corben she felt I could list "Religious reasons"...she's so funny!)  Anyway, finally after it was too late to take Corben to school anyway, I got a hold of my mom who mentioned that a certain random drawer that she'd looked in the night before had been overfilled and that she hadn't been able to get it open.  Maybe, she suggested, someone was cleaning up and swept my keys in there.  Sure enough, there they were.  A certain child of mine who did the cleaning claims he always puts my keys there....though I couldn't imagine why or when they've ever been there before.  Oh well, at least I have them!!

 

Wednesday night I started my photography class through Wake Tech's Continued Education program.  I'll be taking classes for the next 2 months every Wednesday night for 3 hours.  I'm really excited.  The class is focused on my particular kind of camera so maybe now I can figure out what all these settings mean.  In the past I could read a book and then tell you anything you wanted to know.  Since having Sylvie I've found that facts and things I read don't stick in my head AT ALL.  I read things over and over and still find it hard to grasp.  I've wanted to improve my photography skills and since all I was reading wasn't sticking I decided a class was what I needed.  Finally, I'm doing something for me!! YEAH!

 

Thursday I headed over to another friend's house to scan in family slides.  Did I mention I hate having to take the children on ventures that are going to require a lot of my attention?  Well, things went kind of crazy.  My kids were crying, her kids were crying (probably because of the wooden house that fell from the door frame and hit one of them in the head when Ella knocked over a tv stand and shook the room).  I finally had to go and get the girls home since they were getting overly tired and my friend so kindly offered to keep some of the slides and work on them for me.  I was really frustrated, though, at the lack of things I was getting done.  After more scanner trouble at home and after the boys got home I packed everyone up and headed over towards my sister-in-laws to scan more pics.  On the way I decided to run in to Best Buy just to see what my options were on a new scanner....I will never shop there again...

 

So I drag 4 kids into the store.  I realize as I'm unloading them all that Ella has a stained shirt on and that Sylvie doesn't even have any pants on.  Typical.  I head to the computer section were there are rows and rows of scanner/printer/copiers but no scanners that are just scanners!  So I wait for an associate to help me.  I waited with crazy kids for almost 15 minutes before someone got to me.  The young man simply showed me that I was in the wrong section, walked us over to the photo section, pointed to the one scanner that they had that was out of box and one other scanner then promptly walked back over to the computer section and began helping another customer.  Well, one of the scanners didn't do what I needed it to but the one that was out of box was exactly what I needed and it was marked down.  Problem was, the attachments and the box were missing so I tried to find an associate.  Several walked by and told me they'd be with me in a moment.  After almost 10 minutes I announced loudly that I was leaving and not shopping at this store.  As I was headed out the door I stopped at customer service to let them know of the situation.  I was kind but let them know that their service was lacking and that I wouldn't be shopping there.  The manager insisted we go look up the scanner and that maybe she could cut me a deal...that being the magic word.  So we then go and travel from kiosk to kiosk in the store as she tried to look up the scanner and couldn't get any of the computers to work.  Again, almost 15 minutes later she gets it to work and says that if she can find the missing pieces she'll   give me the $300 scanner for $150.  In the mean time, one of the girl's diapers has leaked all over my shirt as I was trying to hold her still and keep her from getting away.  Ah, the joys of parenting.  Well, over 10 minutes later she comes back with the 2 gentlemen helping her and announces that they have searched the store over and can't find the slide tray.  They start trying to see if they can get one from another brand that will fit but no luck.  I tell her what it looks like and that I know because my friend has one just like it.  She suggests I borrow the slide tray from my friend and that she'll order me one.  She has me call my friend from the store to see if I can do it.  As I'm making the call I think the manager realized how crazy this all was and came up with another plan.  She finally offered me a VERY expensive scanner/printer/copier for the discounted price I would have paid for the out-of-box scanner.  I decided that was a deal I should not pass up since if it didn't work I could easily resell it and make quite a profit.  All in all I spent almost 2 hours in Best Buy which means the wait times I gave you were pretty conservative since I was there so long.  Though the manager tried so hard to make my experience worth the visit it was still terrible enough to keep me from ever going back.

 

Friday Corben wasn't feeling well and stayed home from school.  We had RJ over and I was working hard to get at least a few more pictures done before the weekend.  It took me most of the morning to figure out the bells and whistles on the new scanner.  It's slow but works.  I love going through all the old photos, it's so fun to see my mom as a kid and to try to figure out who everyone is.  The pic to the left is me and my great aunt.

 

Saturday I headed out with my mom to Maryland to talk with my Grandma about all these photos.  Ryan kept the kids so mom and I got to actually talk about grownup things the whole way!  We sat down with Grandma and a few  of my aunts for what turned into 12 hours of family history work.  We labeled almost 400 photos and got some great stories.  It was well worth the trip.  Sunday after church and a visit with my Grandpa we headed home.  I was really missing my babies!

 

So, there's my crazy, crazy week.  Ryan and the kids seemed to do fine while I was gone.  Ella was sure hugging me pretty tight this morning, though.  It's nice to be missed!

It's Your Birthday!! (w/1 Year Pic)

Happy, Happy Birthday my sweet, sweet Sylvie!! I cannot believe that a year has gone by. Sylvie is growing so quick. I think with Ella around all the time she feels she's falling behind somehow and tries to keep up. She is such a joy and has the sweetest personality. She's my first baby who likes to cuddle and will just sit with me sometimes for no reason. Sometimes she's so calm and other times you have to look out because she's trying to tackle you! We're so blessed to have her in our family! Here's a little year in review...picture style!

Happy Birthday, Sylvie!!