SURPRISE FILM !

A few weeks ago I opened up my old camera case and found two undeveloped rolls of film. I have not used that camera in years because we had bought a digital camera so I tucked my old camera into the back of a drawer and forgot about it. Well, I was looking into the drawer and cleaning it out a few weeks ago and I pulled out the camera and opened the side pockets of the case and found the film. I had no idea what was on the rolls of film or how old they were. I took them in and had them developed and was delighted to find they were from Bailey's 2nd birthday about 6 1/2 years ago. I was a bit disappointed because the color quality was poor since the film was so old. However, I was able to scan them and try to edit and enhance them on the computer. I'm posting my favorites! Boy, I sure miss my babes being small.

PLAYING IN A BOX

THE "FIX IT" CREW

LOVING MY SISTER

HARD KNOCKS OF LIFE

It seems as though lately Keaton has become resentful of the fact that his dad has to work so much. He gets upset when Kev has to sit at the computer and do school work or when he has to work the night job and be gone at night. Kev and I agreed that maybe the night job was becoming too much for him with school and his full time job with Coca Cola. He actually had kind of a meltdown one Saturday with everything on his plate. Together we decided that even though the money from the night job helped a lot it was time to let it go so Kev would not be stretched so thin and maybe spend more time with at home with us. Keaton was so excited when he heard this and kept asking, "When is dad's last day at the night job?" Well, not long after Kev told the kids he was going to quit he decided not to quit so he could help his parents out with some financial help. Isn't he a GREAT guy? Here is is stretched thinner then thin and just dreaming of the day he could quit the night job which he has come to hate, so he could concentrate more on school and then after talking with his mom one day he decides he will stick it out just to help them. Well, when Keaton heard he wasn't quitting he got real upset. It is weird because, normally Keaton is so passive and just goes with the flow but lately he has been craving time with his dad and feels it is unfair he doesn't get it. Maybe it's because he is getting older but dad is his favorite person right now and unfortunately Keaton doesn't understand that life is not always what we want it to be and that sometimes we have to sacrifice things. I try to tell him that life has some hard knocks and we just have to get through them as best we can and be grateful for the things we do have. It doesn't go over very well with a 10 year old and it breaks my heart that Kevan is gone so much and then when he is home he is busy with school when I know Kev would rather be playing with the kids. I know that someday Keaton will come to understand that his dad is the kind of dad that has always worked hard and that he has done it so that Keaton and Bailey Rose could have the things that they needed and then some. I hope he sees the example Kev sets as a hard worker and that Keaton will be a hard worker when he is a husband and father. However, right now my heart breaks for him at his young age as I see him wanting his dad around more. He loves his dad so much and wants him around more and well, it's just not fair when you are a 10 year old!

FIRST SEWING PROJECT

Bailey Rose has been begging me for the longest time to teach her how to sew. I kept putting it off because, I worried about her poking herself with the needle or getting frustrated with it. However, this weekend when she asked I decided I would let her do it. We started with a pillow which is what I think I made the first time I learned but, Bailey Rose didn't want just any pillow she wanted a star pillow. I agreed and then we cut out a pattern from the fabric she chose from my fabric drawer. She amazed me at how quick she picked it up and how much fun she had sewing away. There was no frustration and she only poked herself a few times and then told me she would need to buy a thimble. She is just too cute!!! She was so excited when she finished the pillow and she has carried it with her all weekend. She even took it to school this morning to show her teacher and friends what she did. Good job Bailey Rose! :)

"TAYLEE"

My sweet niece Taylee has become very ill over the last few months and the Dr.'s are still testing and trying to rule things out. Just today colon cancer was ruled out but, now it looks like she may have to have her colon removed. She is only 11 years old. It is hard for me because, it just isn't fair that these very special spirit children who are born with handicapped bodies still have to suffer more physical challenges on top of living a life in a body that is challenged in almost everything they do. I know our Heavenly Father has a reason for the challenges they face and that these special spirit children agreed to them before coming to this earth. However, it is so hard to watch someone I love so much suffer and it is even harder knowing the only thing I can do to help is fast and pray that all will be well. I am grateful for my testimony of fasting and prayer but, how I wish I could do even more for our SWEET Taylee! We love you Taylee!

JUST FOR A LAUGH

My sister sent this to me in an email and it made me laugh quite a bit so I decided I would share it!

BEING SICK

Well, the past couple of days I have been trying hard to do nothing but rest and not get sicker then I already am. I don't do sick very well and since I rarely ever get sick I know when I do it will take me down for about a week. I think it is so unfair for a mom to get sick because who will take care of the kids, cook the meals, get the kids to and from school, pack lunches, do laundry and keep the house from falling apart? I still have to manage all these things and rest and get well. Like I said I don't do sick very well! However, these last few days my hubby decided to join me in being sick and even though I still had to do most everything I do when I am well it was nice to have his company. On Monday I did a lot of sleeping and my body loved me for it until night came and I could not go to sleep. Up all night with nothing to do but lay there in bed and think. I thought about how I was not going to sleep today because let's face it I'm not a young adult anymore and night is for sleeping when you are my age. So today in my eagerness to still rest and try to get well I decided I would pick an activity that would not use to much of the little energy I had so I decided to make a doll dress for Bailey Rose's doll. This was actually what I thought about the night before as I was lying awake. Sewing always relaxes me! I found some unused fabric in my fabric drawer and so without a pattern I decided I would wing it from looking at one of her other doll dresses. It got tricky at times but I was very pleased with the outcome and Bailey Rose was thrilled to come home from school to find a new outfit for her doll. Now I would not recommend sewing doll clothes when your are sick as it was not relaxing for me in the least. I have had a fever and body aches all day and wish I would of just slept since I know tomorrow I will pay for not sleeping. Now I am off to bed!

MY GUYS!

These are my guys and I am so grateful for both of them! I remember the day we found out that I was having a boy so vividly. Kev was so thrilled that when we left the Dr.'s office he yelled out, " WOOHOO! I'm having a son! I remember how the people in the parking lot smiled and giggled at his excitement. These two are so alike in so many ways and so very different in other ways. I sometimes have to remind Kev that Keaton may be his son but he is his own individual with his own likes and dislikes. this is sometimes difficult for Kev because, he wants Keaton to experience all that he did as a young boy. Kev likes to share in all the father& son stuff with Keaton and a lot of the time Keaton enjoys it as well but, there are times that I think Keaton pretends to like the things his dad likes just to make him happy. Kev is a real sports fanatic and Keaton really could care less, but he will go to baseball and football games with Kev although not for the sport itself but just to spend time with his dad. It wasn't until this Christmas that Kev made me realize that even though Keaton doesn't care about the game it's the quality time spent together that they enjoy. I know that Kev makes sure Keaton has a good time. The kids think their dad is a goof anyways so how could they not enjoy themselves. I have made it a goal to try real hard to allow Keaton to go on these outings with his dad when the opportunity arises. Keaton is very much his own individual. He LOVES video games, and drawing, and enjoys playing his trumpet and would like to start taking piano too. He is much more a Smith ( my side of the family) then a Roth when it comes to his interests. Kev is a good dad to always show support and interest in Keaton's interests just as Keaton does Kev's. Although golfing is something they both LOVE and Keaton LOVES to golf with his dad and when they are out on the golf course it is hard to tell just by looking at them that they share very different interests because, when they are together they always have a FANTASTIC time. Yep, these are my guys and I sure do love them a lot!

HEY, IT WORKS!

Over the Christmas holiday my kitchen sink faucet started to breakdown. Well, today it completely broke and I couldn't get any water from it. I thought, " I'm so glad this happened on a day when Kev was off from work." I called to him and told him what my dilemma was and he takes a look and says, "Yep it's broken!" I reply with, "You can fix though, right?" He says, " Sure after I am done with my school work and posting my assignments." Well, hours pass and now it is 3pm and I still have no kitchen sink faucet. I know how busy he is with school and I also know that he has to be to his night job in about 2 hours so at this point I get a bit nervous and very calmly remind him that I CANNOT live without a kitchen faucet. He finally gets the tools and tears the faucet apart only to tell me that he will have to order a part to replace the broken part. Okay, but what am I supposed to do in the meantime? I have to have a kitchen faucet! I cannot function in the kitchen without one and I am not wanting to wait days to have it repaired. Well, Kev is quite a handy guy and I am very grateful for his handyman skills. He tells me not to worry that he will rig something up so that I will have a faucet. Well he did just that! It is not the prettiest faucet but it gives me running hot and cold water. Thanks honey! Now I have to calmly keep telling him that he needs to order the part we need. He tells me he will do it on his next day off. Wait! That isn't until NEXT Wednesday! :)

"2010"

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! It is hard to believe 2010 is finally here and I am just praying real hard that this year will be extremely better then 2009. However, now that all the " HOOPLA " is over I am anxious for things to get back into a scheduled routine. I will be starting a new job and Kevan will be busy still working two jobs and going to school. He has been enjoying his classes and it is good to see him excited about it! Keaton and Bailey Rose start back to school on Wed. the 6th something they are looking forward to and then I think life will get back to normal with work, school and the many other activities that keep us busy. This year we hope to be able to spend a little more time together as a family. It seems that ever since Kev's business closed over two years ago due to the economy all we have been able to do is scramble for employment and dealing with the stress of unstable work. Now we have the stable employment, though it could be more profitable but, we will take what we have been blessed with and make do! We truly have been blessed and we see the Lord's hand in all of our many blessings and feel so fortunate to know the fullness of the Gospel and of our Savior's love. As our family steps into 2010 we do it with positivity and gratitude and if we can keep that mindset then who knows what good things this New Year may bring!:)