virtual walk close to my heart

I just signed up for a virtual walk for my cousin's daughter who was born with HLHS.

Here's our team's story:

Our team is - as always - called Hearts for Chloe. We invite all of our family and friends to walk with us to show Chloe how much support she has. 

Chloe was born in 2009, with a congenital heart defect called HLHS: short for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. This is where half of her heart does not work. 

She has already had two open heart surgeries and will have one more to help her heart distribute blood effectively to her body and lungs. She is very healthy and we are so blessed. God has worked miracles in our lives.

It's My Heart is in the trenches, working to make families comfortable during their frightening stay in the hospital and with informational seminars after.

We also walk for our friend Jordan Newton. She also has a congenital heart defect, but is a thriving 5 year old. We met her in playgroup and were blessed to have her mother Julie's support and wisdom during our journey.

Please consider joining me in the fight against Congenital Heart Defects by making a donation. If you cannot make a donation, we would love for you to walk with us. You may even walk virtually, which is free. 

We look forward to a HUGE walking team this year and raising money for this wonderful organization.


Here's our page. Please feel free to click around, and donations are always welcome!

Family Photo Book

For Christmas I made Kimber a family photo book. I figured since she doesn't see all our family on a regular basis that maybe this book would help her recognize them when they do come around. We've been looking at the book every night before bed. I explain who everyone is in relation to her, and to Pat and me. She even gives a select few kisses. :)

The other day we were over at my mom's and Kimber kept wanting my dad to hold her, which never happens. I mean occasionally she'd reach for him but then always want me back. I really think it has everything to do with this book, and even if that's not the case, that's my story and I'm stickin to it!

So there you have it... a way for your kids to not be shy around family they don't see that often :)

Epic Prank

My husband is such a gadget freak! He built his own computer, has a laptop and a netbook... what did he want for Christmas this year? A Kindle Fire, however, he already submitted his Christmas list and the 'big' item was already purchased. I've had to listen to him talk about this stupid Kindle Fire for a month. I was lucky if I made it a day without him mentioning it. I kept reminding him that he didn't put it on his Christmas list so we decided to use Christmas money to buy me a laptop and him a Kindle Fire.

My mom and I actually went in and had already bought him a Fire. I did my best to convince him I had bought him a pair of shoes he wanted, and that was my 'big' gift to him. I mean, I didn't come right out and say it but I had hinted so that he knew he would not be getting a Fire from me. I even went to far as to pick a mini fight with him because I don't have a single computer (hence my lack of blogging recently...) and he has THREE!!!

Christmas Eve we do presents with my family, and Pat had to sit there and watch not one, not two, but THREE people open a Kindle Fire right in front of him! Epic, totally epic. The car ride home was spent explaining to me how it was going to go buy a Fire on Monday, what was my electronics inept mother going to do with a Kindle Fire, and that tonight was totally unfair. I kept telling him our deal was that I had to get a laptop before he got another gadget, he let out a sigh and that was that.

This morning my parents and brothers and sister came over to open presents. Pat opened the largest package and it was a shoe box. He got the most excited look on his face and kept asking "What color? What color? Come on, what color did you get???" I just kept smiling, and as he opened the lid, reached in and pulled out his Kindle Fire the entire room burst into laughter! You see, it wasn't until after my mom and I bought the Fire that my grandma decided to buy 3 people them for Christmas, fully knowing Pat would have to sit in agony and watch and everyone else get his most wanted item!

As if that wasn't enough... everyone finished opening their presents and Pat had a confused look on his face and said that I needed one more present, that I was missing one. He walked in with a decent size box, the contents of which, was indeed, my laptop! Love that we pranked each other! Seriously, our best married Christmas so far!

Life Milestones Captured

It's amazing how one person has captured the biggest moments in my life. I can't exactly put my finger on what it is about her pictures, but I will say that Jodi takes the best pictures I've ever seen!

Engagement Pictures

Wedding Pictures

Trash the Dress Session

She was even there when my husband set me on fire!

Kimber's Newborn Pictures

Family Pictures

Re-creation of our engagement picture!

Like I said, Jodi has captured all our family milestones and I can't wait to see what's next! She was amazing with my strong-willed momma's girl at our most recent session. K was a bit shy at first so Jodi would snap a picture and show K the screen and K thought that was the coolest thing ever! By the end of the session Jodi even got a hug, which of course is K's stamp of approval :)

I'm obsessed with her pictures, so if you're looking for another blog to follow... I'd highly recommend www.jodischlosserblog.com!!!

I know, I know...

Not sure how long it's been since my last post, but a few weeks ago my dear husband made a comment that it's been a while... There's been a lot going on lately so I'll just catch up for now with pictures!

First stop, the pumpkin patch!

We've also taken her to a corn maze.

One weekend we took her to the duck club to see Papa. She loved the 4-wheeler!

Next up is a trip to Boo at the Zoo. We had her all dressed up in her skeleton pj's!

Then it was Halloween, where she wore a home-made ghost costume :)

Uncle Jon and Rae came in town so we hit up the carousel.

The next day we went to the City Museum.

See, we've been busy :) Maybe I'll eventually get better at this blogging thing. I have lots of crafty projects I want to try too, so maybe I'll get crackin on those and share the outcomes... good and bad because I have a feeling not all of them will turn out ;)