Because Joanna "tagged" me.

So this is a list of top five's -- if a person mentions you in the last list (of those whose lists they would like to see) you are tagged and are supposed to put your list on your blog.Okay, a few of my friends in my homeschooling group tagged me so here I go... (make sure to check the list to see if your name is on it! I want to see your lists, too!)

5 things you can't live without under $5:
1. mint gum
2. black ball point pen
3. 3 generation old blue quilt.
4. My pillow (it goes with me everywhere, slumber parties, the hospital, etc.)
5. chap stick

5 Favorite Movies
1. The Sound of Music
2. Anne of Green Gables
3. Stardust
4. Gilmore Girls episodes
5. Smallville episodes

5 Baby Names you LOVE but won't use Girls:
1. Gwen
2. Julia
3. Madalynn
4. Ireland
5. Charlie

Boys:
1. Ezekiel
2. Noah
3. Isaac
4. Samuel
5. Zachary (Zachariah)

5 songs you could hear over and over again:
1. Amazing Grace
2. Wouldn't it be nice (by the beach boys)
3. The happy song (a worship song)
4. Hungry (falling on my knees)
5. O The wonderful cross

People who influenced your life in a positive way:
1. Jesus
2. Joanna (and Kaleb)
3. Sharon
4. My Dad
5. Andrew

5 Things that stay in your purse at all times:
1. Migraine medications
2. Something with sugar (usually a chocolate bar....in case my blood sugar drops really low)
3. chap stick
4. drivers license
5. cell phone

5 Moments that you knew changed you forever:
1. When Andrew Died
2. My MOm leaving for the first time
3. Talking about Christ with a Chinese girl, in china, at a boarding school, and seeing her pull her bible from a hiding place to show it to me.
4. Seeing my nephew be born
5. Moving out of my parents house the first time

5 Obsessions you have right now: (well I wouldn't call them obsessions, maybe current fads)
1. looking for apartments
2. engaging in more exercise and attempting to get healthier
3. Keeping Caleb "allergy food free" and finding new safe foods
4. Holding and loving babies (especially My Nephew and Gabriel)
5. Taking pictures

5 Places you would really like to go
1. Boston
2. Australia
3. Africa
4. Paris
5. Hawaii

6 People you would love to see their top 5
1. Tatiana
2. Kortney
3. Talitha
4. Alicia
5.Samantha

Tag! You are it! This was really hard for me as I haven't thought about some of this stuff in awhile. Good luck!

We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo...how about you, you you...?

You can come too too too! Were going to the zoo zoo zoo!

With the crazyness of Alex being in the hospital, I really needed to get out of the house and do something fun and somewhat social for me. I called my friend Joanna up to see if a play date for the kids would work on Wed. or Thurs. I was relieved when she said a trip to the zoo sounded good for wed. I thought it was a great idea.

That morning I started singing the zoo song. Caleb would say yell "thoo", (his version of zoo).WHen I said " Are you read to go bye bye Caleb? He said NO! Play! Then I said "Wanna go to the zoo?" He say YAH, threw his toys across the room, and ran to get his coat.

Caleb, Ben, and I loaded up and met Joanna and her 4 kiddos their. It was alot of fun (although I think another hour or so would have been fun to!). Ben and Josh hit it off great. Kenzie was a good sport about not having a little girl friend to pal around with, and she was a great help with the babies. Levi and Caleb enjoyed themselves immensly. We missed out on the baby gorilla her and her mama were hiding but, we did see the baby giraffe. Caleb loved the peacock too. I love gorillas in general so, he put a picture of the sleeping one. It was their dominant female.

Pictures:Ben, Josh, Kenzie, as turtles

Levi climbing, Gabriel sitting so well against the egg shell looking so grown up), Caleb sliding

Kenzie, Ben and Josh in the tree; Caleb and Levi on the elephant statue

Toddlers running away and loving it!

7 months and counting.

My little nephew turned 7 months 2 days ago. I took some pictures but haven't downloaded them yet so....say tuned! Anyway, we have a few concerns about the adorable little guy :( .
He is NO where near sitting up yet. My sister was a slow go-er as a baby too. She has cerebral palsey. Shannon didn't sit up until 10 months and was nearly 4 before she walked on her own. We are unsure as to if Zackery is suffering from low muscle tone like his Mama, or if she just isn't giving him enough opportunities to practice using his tummy muscles. It is likely the latter, or both. We (other family members and I) have noticed she still lays him on his back ALOT for play time. She doesn't like to hear our advice however. We are praying for wisdom to my sister, as well as a change of heart. We are also praying Zackery does not have low muscle tone, and that he catchesup quickly! He is bright eyed and very alert so, at this time we are not concerned about his mental capabilities. In fact he seems to be very bright. Sometime you can just see those things in their eyes!

Your gonna miss this...

Here are the lyrics to a song I really like:
Your Gonna Miss this: by Trace Adkins.

She was staring out the window of that SUV Complaning, saying "I can't wait to turn 18"

She said "I'll make my own money, and I'll make my own rules"Mamma put the car in park out there in front of the school.

Then she kissed her head and said "I was just like you"

You're gonna miss this You're gonna want this back You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times, So take a good look around You may not know it now But you're gonna miss this

Before she knows it she's a brand new bride In a one-bedroom apartment, and her daddy stops by He tells her "It's a nice place"

She says "It'll do for now"Starts talking about babies and buying a house

Daddy shakes his head and says "Baby, just slow down"

Cause you're gonna miss this You're gonna want this back You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast These are some good times So take a good look around You may not know it now But you're gonna miss this

Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater Dog's barkin', phone's ringin' One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'

She keeps apologizin' He says "They don't bother me. I've got 2 babies of my own. One's 36, one's 23. Huh, it's hard to believe, but ..
.
You're gonna miss this You're gonna want this backYou're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast These are some good times So take a good look around You may not know it now But you're gonna miss this"

Whenever I hear it on the radio it remind me to enjoy life while it is happening and not just hope this season ends, not to just sit and wait for what is next. For me, I'm much like the girl in the one bedroom apartment...only I'm not a new bride. I can't wait to have a house, and a couple of babies. But, when that time comes, will I be too busy to really enjoy it?

The words of this song came drifting back to me today as I was riding a bike around my parents neighborhood. A couple houses down and I saw two little girls sitting close to one another on a porch. One was Kaitlynn, a sweet but VERY energetic brunette cutie pie. I use to babysitt for her and her 3 brothers. The other was a cute little red head with a sort of farrah faucet hair do. I could tell from where I was she was missing a bunch of front-top teeth. They were narrating for Kailtynns twin brother Josh who was doing skate boarding tricks in the drive way. I instantly flashed back to when I was about 7. My neighbor (who also happened to be a little red head, 6 years old, and missing her front teeth at the time) and I use to sit on my front porch and narrate for circus's and other shows my litte brother and sister use to put on together in the front yard. All I could think of was "Man, I miss that!" Things were much more simple. I had almost no care in the world! All I had to do was drink my milk, go to school and make my bed. The rest of my days were mine to run around and play with friends. Tiffs with my siblings lasted moments and not days, and pain was usually physical and fleeting, due to a fall off the bike. At that age I hadn't experienced the deep emotional pain that comes from death or harsh words, the kind that still stings years later when you think of the people you have lost. Days weren't consumed with worries about choices my friends, family, or I myself were making.
I need to realize that this season is exactly that, a season. When I think about it, I know that right now all I have to worry about is myself. I need to worry about getting myself through school, paying my bills, and getting myself out of bed in the morning. Someday, I will have to worry about cooking dinner for my husband, making lunch for the kids, getting them dressed and bathed. I will worry about if their is enough $$ after bills to buy them clothes, toys, and enroll them in extra curricular activities. Not to mention scheduling and attending Dr.s appointments, trips to the dentist, and whatever else the kids might need. I pray that when this time comes form me, I don't see it as just those things. I pray I enjoy every minute and live for the hugs and kisses, the learning of new things, the bedtime stories and family bike rides.
For now though, I need to learn to enjoy the life of a single young woman, who can do what she wants when she wants. I need to remember to enjoy that I can go to coffee with a friend any night of the week, and if I am not tired, I can go to a midnight showing of the latest flick by myself without a second thought. I am sure some day I will be a mom of 5 0r 6, in my late 30's or early 40's, on my way to one kid activity or another, and I will see a young woman out the window with her fit figure, going for her morning running with head phones over her ears and I will think "I miss that."

Vacations, illness, and new beginnings.

On top: Caleb. On bottom: Levi

Lots of things have been happening.

Feb. 12-20th I spent a week in Florida. I visited some family (Great Aunts and 2nd cousins).

My mom and I went to the lowry park zoo together where we fed giraffes, rode a camel, and pet sting rays! My cousin, mom, a friend and I spent 2 days in Orlando where we stayed in a REALLY nice hotel and visited Universal Studios as well as Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom. We also went to a Manitee refugee center and to the beach. It was alot of fun.

Upon returning I spent a week VERY sick. I had a sinus and ear infection as well as bronchitis. Ugh. I am all healthy now though.

On Feb. 28th I started an online Psychology program. It is going well and I feel like I am doing exactly what God wants me to do.

I have had a bunch of problems with my taxes this year. That has been stressful. Oh well, life goes on.

Finally, the littlest of the boys I nanny has tested positive for more than a few Allergies. This was no suprise to me as the other little boy I often mention here (Levi) has been diagnosed with many over the last couple years. Caleb presented with increasingly bad eczema (he would scatch his wrists/face/ankles to the point of bleeding). He also seems to get an uncharacteristicly numerous amount of croup like coughs and other respitory illnesses. Both of these are linked to Allergies. Caleb was diagnosed with a SEVERE egg white allergy, as well as: wheat, peanuts, potato, tomato, oranges, corn, and soy (I think I got them all).

If you think that is bad, you should see Levi's list! At about four months Levi was exposed to peanuts on his skin (I ate trail mix and picked him up while he was in just a diaper and he broke out in hives, this happened again with someone else a couple days later). That was the beginning of his saga. Since then he has struggled with vomiting, eczema, wheezing, and coughs. He has been a pretty sick little boy (although suprisingly active for what his little body was handling). Gods hand has definately been on this boys body and life. He has amazing parents who have sought out the best for him and God has been faithful to their efforts and brought them in the hands of an amazing Doctor and delivered much modern information. Levi is severely allergic/sensitive to: Peanuts, Eggs, Dairy, Soy, and Gluten. He also has moderate or mild food sensitivties (basically a delayed allergic reation) these are: Sunflower seeds, potato, garlic, pear, tomato, broccoli, watermelon orange, eggplant, asparagus. He has a temporary ban on: avacado, canteloupe, celery, coconut, cucumber, grapes, lemon, and olive. This kids is going to the kid that says "I'm allergic to broccoli" and mean it! Lucky for Mom and Dad, he is not allergic to spinach (I don't think).

These two boys are SO special in my life. Please lift them in your prayers. Pray for complete healing. Pray Levi does NOT have celiac disease, pray that their parents have wisdom for seeking treatment, pray for safety and protection when these kids are in the hands of others and in public situations where they may be exposed to their allergens, and pray that these kids learn understand their allergies at a young age.

Also, if you have any suspect you or a child you know has allergies, please do some research. If you know I child with eczema, presisting or re-occuring coughs, or any of the other symptoms, check it out. If you are curious about some information friends have gathered check out this book: Healing the New Childhood Epidemics :Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies by Kenneth Bock, MD. I plan on picking up a copy to read myself.

Love,

Violet

Visiting old friends.

For the 2005/2006 school year I was still at Northwest University. I started nannying for the Nelson/Haberl family. This consisted of Rochelle and Karl Haberl (with 2 1/2 year old Gavin and 4 month old Nicole) and Jeff and Jenn Nelson (with their 1 month old Ruby). Jeff and Rochelle are brother and sister. I had so much fun caring for their little ones. The babies were happy smiley, adorable little girls, and Gavin was a bright and spunky guy! When I left Northwest and moved back north I had to stop caring for them. Recently I got to go for a visit, since then Jeff and Jenn have added little 9 month old Davis to the brood, and any day now Rochelle and Karl will add baby Paige! I hope you enjoy these old and new picture of the kiddos! They are just as fun (if not more fun) than ever! The girls still have their great big smiles, and Gavin is smart as a whip!

This is Ruby when I first started watching her!

Ruby and I while I nannied for her

Ruby on one of the last times I nannied for her.

Ruby Today!

Ruby and Violet today!

Nicole the 1st time I babysatt.

Nicole and I While I nannied for her

Nicole on one of the last days I nannied for her.

Nicole today!

Nicole and I today.

Gavin and I when I first started nannying for him..

Gavin While I nannied for him. Gavin and I when I was nannying for him Gavin Today.! Gavin and I today. Baby Davis! HE is adorable
Violet and Baby Davis

Too the Zoo...Levi Turns 2!!!

Today Caleb and I packed up and went to the zoo. HE is so cute. He is starting to get really comfortable with me, realizing I'm not just around so mommy can leave him. He gets really excited when I say "lets go bye bye in Violets car!" He runs and gets his coat.

Joanna and Kaleb invited me on a zoo play date to celebrate Levi's 2nd birthday (I can't believe he is 2 already). I asked if I could bring Caleb since they are so close in age, I thought it would be fun. She said sure, and Trish agreed to let me take him too.
Levi said "Violet!" as soon as he saw me, that smile and hearing my name in his cute little voice, He could probably get me to give him anything! I think it was a little confusing for him that I wasn't their just to play with him! He was a good sport though.

Caleb had alot of fun! He enjoyed the fish in the fish tank inside the zoomazium, the drums, the peacock that came right up to his stroller to steel a piece of pretzel he'd dropped, the birds (or ducks according to Caleb), and the Gorillas. He also REALLY enjoyed the dairy/egg/nut free cupcakes Joanna made!

I had fun too! I chased after Caleb, and pointed out the animals. I also got to spend a little time with Levi.

Hope you enjoy the pictures of the cutest 2 and amost 2 year olds I know!!!!!!