Prayers and Positive thoughts....

It has been a rough week. But we shall persevere.

Our house is old. We know that. And old houses need new things.

Right now. It is a sewer line.

And we need it in a bad way.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy resolution to this mess (and I mean MESS).

I am ready to get on with the rest of our lives and this mess is ruling our lives right now.

Girls are healthy. Jobs are going well. Just this mess is rocking our little, old home.

Summertime is upon us!!!

Well....summertime is here, at our house, for sure!

The girls are out back, with a friend, having a water balloon fight. Allison has sidewalk chalk all over her bottom (a diaper-free, big girl panty wearing bottom....yay!!!)

I love this time of year, when there is no schedule...only things that you want to get to...eventually.

I would love to add a photo...but the camera dock is dead. And it is the only way to charge my camera. Seriously. I already checked with Kodak. And the funds are not there right now, to get a new dock. So...the camera sits. I have a disposable on hand, just in case of something extraordinary....but today is just ordinary. And that is great!!!

Eric and I are on a purge and simplify kick right now. And it is SOOO needed!

I am hoping to do a scrapbooking RAK this summer. Get some of my loved, but no longer needed scrapbooking stuff a new home.

Eric's mom got some good news this week, regarding her health. And for that, we are so thankful.

Can't think of much else right now. But we are all here. Where we shall stay....

Because gas is $4.19/gallon. Unbelievable.

...and a belly button, too!!!

Well...Allison is well on her way to a career as an artist. Her artistic skills rival those of her older sisters, when they were 2 (almost 3) years old.

As you see here...this is a person. Complete with arms and legs....and a belly button, too. She was quick to point this out to us. The stuff at the top of the person is it's hair. She must be basing this look on her mom's hair-do (or don't) first thing in the morning.

When Katie and Emily drew these...we called them "potato people". Can you guess why? :)

If she draws something for you, someday. Save it. It will be worth millions. Eventually.

Well...at least to her dad and me...lol

Have a wonderful day!!!

RAK's Rock!!!

Um...yeah...dorky title. But they do...RAK's rock!

A RAK, you ask? RAK stands for Random Act of Kindness. These can be in many forms, but the RAK's that I see most often are scrappy stuff. Scrappers who want to share their bounty of scrappy awesomeness. And I appreciate that. Seriously.

Last week, I found out that I had won a RAK from this fine lady - Leah... http://lifeaslou.blogsome.com/. Her scrapping style is one that I find difficult to copy but VERY lovely to look at. Very vintage-y and shabby chic. She is the designer of a kit club's kits (http://www.myscrapbooknook.com/store/pastkits.shtml) and the club wanted to share May's kit. I left a comment on her blog - telling what I thought of the kit - and I won.

And today...I got the kit.

It is lovely. That is a picture of some of the items, in the picture above. Old fashioned flowers on paper that looks as if it has crackled paint. These are colors that I think that my mom would like. So...I am going to scrapbook a baby picture of her. Hopefully, it will turn out nicely.

On another note...my camera dock is broken. (So, no new pics of the kids. Can't wait to get some new photos. They are growing so fast. Especially that baby.) It has hit the floor too many times to recover (don't ask). So....we are waiting to stimulate the economy by getting a new one...hurry Uncle Sam. Our stimulus check should be mailed soon.

I also need a new dryer. And a new alternator(sp?) on the van. And some new summer clothes, haircuts, shoes for the girls. Hurry up, Uncle Sam. Write that check...lol.

Happy Mother's Day to you!

...and me!!!

Terrible of me not to have a more recent photo of the 3 of them together, but my camera has been on the outs (well...just the dock, so I cannot charge it or download it for right now).

These 3 make my days and nights as a momma complete. And I think that it is totally appropriate that they are all 3 looking in different directions...the photo is blurry because of the motion. Yeah...just like everyday.

I may have my good days and I know that I have my bad days...but when I lay me head down at night, I am thankful for the fun, joy, stinkiness :o, chaos, love, hugs, kisses, questions, headaches, exasperation, elation and EVERYthing that these girls give to Eric and me.

We are blessed. This we know for sure.

Happy Mother's Day to all...and to all a good night's sleep...lol

Happy Birthday, Kathryn Lynn!!!!

Happy Birthday to my first born.

Katie Lynn is 11 years old today.

Where does the time go?

It seems just like yesterday when the doctor announced...

"It's a girl!" (Her gender was a delivery surprise...)

Katie was born at 5:31pm. After many (36) hours of labor.

She was determined not to come out. After the forceps and vaccuum didn't do the job...she changed her mind and came out.

I was a very exhausted momma. The happiest, most tired momma in the world. I couldn't believe that God had blessed us with such a beautiful baby.

When I first layed my eyes upon her, I was struck by her dark eyes and black hair. I thought that she looked just like her daddy.

Kathryn Lynn Diekemper.

She weighed 8lbs 9oz (and would be the smallest of my 3 babies).

I have been the momma of Katie for 11 wonderful years.

Katie is sweet, sensitive, caring, thoughtful, intelligent and quietly strong.

Our lives have been blessed with our daughters...

But it was Katie who made us parents.

Happy Birthday, Katie. We are so glad that you are here!

Happy Birthday to Emily!!!!

Wow! Our girls is 7 years old!

It is so hard to believe that Emily is 7 today!

It seems just like yesterday that our sweet baby was being born.

At 7:43 a.m. - Emily was born after 24 hours of labor. Although her labor was LONG.... when she was ready to be born...she decided to come out so fast that the nurses had to grab ANY doctor from the hall...Emily would not wait for our doctor (who arrived just minutes after Emily came into the world).

The nurses were telling me not to push...and I was not. But Emily had other plans. She couldn't wait...just like now.

So...at 7:43a.m....I became the momma of another sweet, baby girl.

Emily Lynn Diekemper.

Her middle name is the same as her big sister (and her mom). We let Katie choose the middle name. So Katie picked the best middle name that she could think of. Her own.

Emily weighed 9lb1oz. And was 19.5 inches long.

Little did Eric and I know, the awesome ride we were in for.

Emily is so sweet, genuine, caring, smart, sensitive and loving.

Happy Birthday, Emily! We are so glad that you are here!!!