Friday, December 24, 2010

XMAS EVE 2010


Another Christmas I can't believe it. Where did this year go I mean it seriously flew by. What a great year it has been too. So much going on. So much change and progress. We have been so blessed as a family. I'm so grateful for our loving families that have supported our decisions and continue to love and support us. For amazing friends, old and new.. I miss my friends I never see anymore, and I'm grateful for new friends I have made here. What a blessing to have friends all over the world huh? We have been very busy this christmas season, I finally feel like I have a minuet to breathe and blog for a second.
So just a quick update here. We hosted Thanksgiving here this year. It was great fun. Dr.Vans family came into town. That was so nice to have everyone here and introduce them to Asheville. We had a blast with them. So much food, shopping, hiking, ping pong, and just visiting the heck out of each other. Then we hosted 2 parties here. One for the Young Women at church, and another for work. We had so much fun!! Yummy food thanks to "12 bones" and fun games and prizes thanks to Dr.Van. We had a ping pong tournament, connect four tournament and, a plasma car race down in the basement! A special musical number by one of our sweet employees that was awesome! and a few more fun numbers by the entire staff! We partied till almost midnight! These southern folks sure know how to have fun! I'm so thankful to have such wonderful people to work and associate with ( I use the term "work" loosely, because i don't actually work with them as much as I have lunch with them) I guess I'm thankful to have a great bunch to work with Dr.Van. They sure make his life easier, which in turn, makes mine easier, so thankyou. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas Tomorrow and I'm sure I'll blog again soon! Love to all!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

birthday girls....

Coco turned 9. Holy moly. This sweet girl is just that, sweet. She is pretty and funny and smart. She is a good helper and is most always happy. Am I a lucky mom? Yes. I think so. I love you Chloe Darlene.
This Annie Girl turned 5 I can hardly believe she is so big. She is so busy and social. She loves going to pre-school and playing with her "best friends"...though she can never remember their names. She is spunky and full of life and we are so glad she is ours.
I love you Annie Grace.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Carolina Girl

Hey started another Blog! (roll your eyes now..go on get it all out) Just my own personal adventures in NC. To update as often as I like without feeling like a total blogaholic. It's a guilt free enviroment for me..Click on it if you want...or not. Just girl talk and maybe recipes..I'm pretending it's my own personal column in a magazine..so just humor me.

November 4, 2010

So Like a good friend I feel like I can just pick up where I left off and pretend that I haven't skipped a beat in my blogging efforts, and like a good friend all is forgiven. I used to document everything. And I quite enjoyed it, it was a creative outlet and cheaper then therapy. But then I had baby #4. And just like my post baby body, things have never really been the same. Now that's ok, I love Baby #4. He's fantastic and makes me giggle inside when I think about him. The point is I am making an effort now to get back to the things that I once found so much enjoyment in. My new glasses are not one of them. I am really trying to get used to them but it's darn near impossible and I find myself nodding my head up and down looking thur my glasses, not thru my glasses, thru my glasses, not thru my glasses, better, worse, better, worse..etc.. Quite a distraction. Anyhow. I will try to focus on my thoughts( which apparently are all over the place) as I listen to the two small girl voices discussing my big belly when I was preggo with #4 at the table behind me. Yes, easily distracted. I have a headache, but the blogging must go on...

So yes, we still reside in North carolina. North. Not South. Big Difference in the amount of Confederate flags that are flapping in the wind. We still like it too. Our kids miss their friends and so do Dr. Van and I, (that's what I'm calling Bart from now on just trying it out, not trying to sound pompous I'll probably forget and call him Bart Later, just overlook that if that happens) but our quality of life has improved and that's the look we were going for.

Work is busy. The people in the small town of Brevard are great. They have welcomed Dr. Van with open arms and thick accents, canned goods and tales of white squirrels (that are only in Brevard and you cannot kill them they are off limits, but you can kill and grill any black, gray, or brown squirrel. I find this racists and offensive but whatever:)

Dr.Van misses his sand dunes like I miss Nordstoms... But like the song "If you can't love the one you want, love the one you're with", we are embracing new loves, or I guess hobbies is more appropriate,( we still like each other) Dr. Van is constanly surfing the net for a "project car" and is currently building a tree house in the back yard with the kids, while I have discovered the world of Antiquing and Specialty Shopes..Which are many. I am certain I could fill up this big house we are renting in no time at all and then start my own business. Which I just might do someday...Don't tempt me.

I am enjoying the weather immensley. Did you know that there are 4 seasons? Not just hot and hotter. AND..there is a whole big world of color out there? It's amazing I feel like I'm tasting Chocolate for the first time and want to share it with everyone..Ok, lets be honest I don't like sharing my candy and often have private stashes around the house, one of which Annie found today,darn her. But the point is, It's beautiful here. Every 3-4 months the landscape changes. When we arrived and got buckets of snow it was awesome, and then I couldn't wait for spring which was forgive me, awesomer? The blossoms were crazy!! And everything greened up like I swear overnight! Then summer...so lovely. None of this crazy 100degree plus weather. Get this...the kids actually played outside...No joke. And the best part? I could force them outside and they couldn't use that tired old excuse of "it's too hot outside"...

We are in full blown Autumn right now. The leaves have changed everywhere you turn there is gold, red, yellow,maroon, purple..and Flurries of leaves as you drive down the highway threatening to come right thru your windshield! It's incredible. Dr. Van asked me several months ago.."So is all this green just white noise to you yet"..My answer to you Dr. Van. No way Jose. I love it, it's beautiful and it's free to look at. I anticipate each season and look forward to all it brings. I drive slower then I used to, mainly because the roads are curvy and it's dangerous to drive fast, but still, it forces you to look around (carefully, you don't want to end up in oncoming traffic) and just enjoy all that had been given to us. So Winter, your up next...Bring it.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Oliver. 18 months

I could stare at this little face all day. I love everything about him.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010


Yes I am well aware that I have been a not so great blogger for the past...well, lets just say it's been awhile. It's not like I haven't had anything to document. Quite honestly, this past year has been most eventful. The truth is, my heart just hasn't been into it. But I think I am ready to get back into the groove of the ever popular past time of "Blogging". Afterall, it's family history right? No need to feel guilty. Someday, I will thank me.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Be-lated Birthday!

I have been so terrible about blogging our family history lately. I even missed Oliver's First birthday blog!! SO this post is dedicated to our sweet little Oliver.

Oliver we are so happy that you belong to us. You are so loved in our family. You are pretty much a perfect baby. you are always happy and smiling and just all around a good boy. you make your mommy so happy. I love that when I get you out of bed, you are always glad to see me, or when I get home from being gone you act so excited, like you've never seen me before. I love how I can't move around the kitchen easily because you are hugging my legs and threatening to pull down my pants. I love watching you toddle around the house, your such a big boy all of the sudden and are into so much! You love being outside and get so giddy when you get to go out, you love splashing in the toilet too, and climbing up on everything. I love your wild curly Napoleon Dynamite hair..and I love our play time and make out sessions even though you'd rather be off unrolling a roll of toilet paper somewhere...The very thought of you makes me smile and I miss you when I'm away from you...I am so glad you are my little boy, I will love you forever....love mommy
Still in mommy's tummy.....
Our Halloween Froggy...
Dazed and Confused...
Already raising his hand preparing for school!
Little Monkey feet..
Birthday Swing..yes, this is hung in our living room...
Oh he loves birthday cake!
Mmmmmmm....Such a sweet mess..
So Happy to be turning one!
Some big boy toys!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Oliver's contest!


Oliver is entered in a great american photo search for gerber baby. check out the link to cast your vote!! http://gapc-vote.com/?p=2063370

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

just some pics of us...

Annie likes to go on "trips"..alot. She drags a suitcase around until she decides to "come home."
My new cheetah print chair! Grrrr....I've since got a pretty pillow for it!
My new "coffee/cocoa table"...it's huge I love it!!
Another view...recognize the pink chair!
Oliver and me....
I love this face and make out with it 10 times a day!!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Over the River and Thru the Woods.....

Hey Ya'll......We're here! South Ashevillle North Carolina!!! And what a welcome we've received...10 inches of snow this last weekend!! Crazy?? We were seriously snowed in...Ok, mom is a whimp and was certain the whole town shut down and found no reason to venture out. Except when we found out that life goes on and people are sledding!!! What fun we had. No we didn't have the proper attire, but we didn't care...these AZ folks we're just happy to be in the snow! I swear our new neighbors thought our kids jumped the gun a bit when it started snowing and they were trying to make snow angels in 1/2 inches of snow. But as you can see it didn't take long before they were buried!! We love our neighborhood, we've met so many friendly people here. They actually just knock on the door and introduce themselves and hand out their numbers like candy at Halloween...But more of that later just wanted to share some pics real quick...
Coco's oh so sad holy boots
Bartel sledding backwards!! Brave kid...
Annie eating a wintery snack..I hope that's not yellow...
A warm bath after a hard day in the snow.
Bartel...taking a nap..;)
Holy Snow!!! It got even taller then that!!
just beginning to snow..
Asheville High..looks like it should be in a movie!
Our rental....ok fine, it's the Biltmore here in Asheville...
Fall colors picture from our hotel window

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Accidents Happen...

It's crazy when you can look back on a time of life or situation that was probably one of your most trying times, and see all the good things and blessings that came from it. What a bumpy ride we've had these past 4 months. There are things we;ve had to deal with that we never thought we'd deal with. I guess the real test is just how you endure them. Barts accident was a crazy fluke thing, but because of it so many opportunities and insights have come along. It's a bummer when your proved to be mortal. But it's a blessing when you can regognize the Lord's hand in sparing your life. It's a good time to reflect and re-prioritize your life...We've done just that.
Bart's doing great. His hand is healing remarkably his Dr. told us it's nothing short of a miracle that he has the use of his hand at all. He nearly lost his hand, and he is back drilling and filling and pressing on. He is happy and cheerful and enduring physical therapy. I think the most amazing thing to me has been Bart's attitude thru all this. He's such a trooper, so optimistic and as funny and happy as ever. He is such an example to his family.
Bart we love you, we are so blessed to have you in our life, you truly have been watched over, you could have been taken from us but, the Lord knows we need you and your contagious smile and spirit in our life a bit longer....
Bart and Jeff Lewis ready to begin Whiplash 09'
Safety nets and 5 point harnesses
Putting on a brave smile that only Bart can do....
Again smiling for his visitors....
Skin graft from his outer thigh to be put over his wrist and hand.
Incision that went "all the way up" his inner thigh to remove muscle for muscle graft.
Fraken-hand
Looking like his hand was going to fall off...