Halloween!!!

So, yesterday was halloween!! The kids had SO much fun. We took to the Fall Festival at our church for jumpers/games/pony rides... they were in Halloween Candy Induced Highs lol.. They had a blast, here are a few pics!

The dream team, Buzz and Woody

I don't know these people, but I thought it was such a cute photo op lol..


Along came a spider, named Lily

Alexxa on the slide!

Isn't this a cool pic? She had a blast.

The Marker girls... too cute for words!

Big sis and Little Bro

The beautiful, "Fairy Princess Butterfly" Alexxa. She got SO many compliments, just for being her.

Prayers Please!

A friend from highschool/cheerleading who just had twin boys of her own (only a couple months ago) is now going through a difficult time as her sister just gave birth to a baby Girl, Teagan, at 28 weeks gestationally. Please keep her in your prayers as often as you can. Here's her story:

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Sweet Baby Teagan
As most of you know my sister Vanessa gave birth via emergency c-section on Thursday October 23rd at 10:55 pm. Teagan Kyla Kubas weighed in at 2 pounds 14 ounces and she measured just about 14 inches long. The doctors say she was a good size for her gestational age, 28 weeks 5 days. I took my sister into to Labor and Delivery Triage at about 8 pm that Thursday because she was having strong contractions...she was in a lot of pain. The nurses gave her two different medications to try and stop them, with no luck. Little Teagan was not reacting very well to the medications, her heartrate was all over the place. After the c-section was over they found out Vanessa had had a placental abruption and was actively bleeding into her uterus. It is a good thing they did the c-section when they did or else Vanessa and Teagan may not be with us.
Teagan is currently in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where she will remain until her due date, January 10th, 2009. She is in critical but stable condition. She is on a ventillator, has suffered 2 brain bleeds, and has a hole in a valve in her heart that did not close. They are continually turning the settings down an her ventilltor and monitoring her brain and heart. The hole is already closing in the valve and we are hoping the bleed in her brain subsides soon. All the nurses say that she has attitude and they can tell she is a fighter.
This is an extremely difficult time for Matt and Vanessa and I would like to thank you all for your prayers. I would like to ask that you all continue to keep Matt, Vanessa, and especially baby Teagan in your thoughts and prayers. Feel free to steal my blinkie(it's my main profile picture) and post it on your page or as your picture. Also here is there address if you'd like to send them letters, cards, etc. to let them know you are thinking of them.-6212 Elm St. Abq, NM 87113. Again I would like to thank you all for the prayers...keep them coming!!
Much Love to all,
Lindsey
9:04 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos -

I miss my Dad.

I have to say, I'm surprised I'm not used to seeing my dad for long periods of time by now. He's worked overseas and for long periods of time for the majority of my life. It was just how my dad's job was... but with everything going on, and all the times I really needed advice and reassurance, it's been hard not being able to just call him.

I have an AWESOME dad. Like, the coolest dad ever. Before Brian and I cared about anything but ourselves, especially God, my dad was the only one concerned about us. My dad has had a thick skin when people degraded him, talked down to or about him because of his Faith in Jesus Christ and there were so many times when I felt like screaming, "He's MY DAD! Stop talking about him like that!" But he didn't care, he'd pray for the people that talked poorly of him.

You know, I'll be the first to say there were times when I just didn't want to hear what he had to say, and I think everyone with PARENTS could say that... but the fact that my dad was able to forgive me for things I did as a teenager, help me as a young adult and counsel Brian and I in our faith when we felt like we had no where else to turn, I will always be grateful. I remember a night when I was pregnant with Caleb that Brian and I were so angry with eachother we were throwing around the word "Divorce," and my dad was ready to leave work after working 14 hours and drive an hour to us at 11PM to come help us through it. Because that's the type of dad I have.

I admire him for his ability to give and give and give in the name of the Lord. My dad's sole ambition is to Glorify God. As Paul the Apostle awaited sentencing in prison in Rome, he said "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain," and I truly believe that my dad could say the same thing... For, to many people, they'd have to change the word "Christ" to "Money," "Cars," "Status," etc... and knowing my dad, he lives to spread Christ's love and promises to the world... and I hope to one day do the same.

My dad has given me advice that I couldn't get from anyone else. In times that I was in the wrong, my dad gently aided me and helped me to see what Christ would do in my situation. He's told me he was proud of me for doing the right thing, when I felt like I was often doing thankless actions... He is a helpful grandpa when he's around my kids, but allows me to be the parent. He has forgotten my birthday, I know... but he's never neglected to pray for me, which I couldn't appreciate more... He makes me feel sane when I feel under attack by people trying to make me feel like believing in Christ is like I've "bought into the hoax."

If you get a chance to read this dad, I miss you, I'm praying for you while you're in between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and I look forward to your safe return!

Love, Sierra "CB"

thinking aloud..

You know... sometimes, I really consider packing bags for everyone, calling Brian to come home from work to come with us... and just driving FAR far away... I don't have a destination in mind... I just want to be anywhere but "here."

I'm convinced that even if Brian and I moved to South Africa we'd have the same relationship with our friends and family that we have now... which makes me sad. Somewhere along the road, between moving 30480409 times and having children, Brian and I lost a lot of important relationships. I miss them. I miss the people that helped shape me and support me through some of the hardest times in my life. Times when I felt like utter dirt, but knowing I had "them" I would be alright. They still love me... but now, I feel like even talking to me is a chore. I am very thankful for the people that check on me, make sure I'm doing okay, appreciate me checking on them... I'm so thankful for my parents, they help me and care when I'm going through a hard time... and I know a lot of other people my age can't say that.

I make sure to send Christmas cards to everyone in my address book. If I don't have the address for someone I want to send a card to, I call them! I want them to know that even if we don't talk as often as I wish, I still miss them. I don't know why, because October is my favorite month, but I always get a little bit nostalgic... One of the worst days in my life happened on October 2, 2001. Hard to believe it's been 6 years... and though I have accepted that lesson and learned from it, I still get an overwhelming feeling... a feeling hard to describe. Sort of a mix between saddness, enlightenment, fear, accomplishment, and "kicked-in-the-stomach-ness," (sorry, I couldn't think of a better way to describe it.) Which always lead me to prayer, my only retreat away from the things of this earth that I just want to run away from... which I'm so thankful for.

This was random.. I know. Sometimes I'm just scatterbrained and feel the urge to write... I've just been thinking lately about relationships and I'm so disappointed in the ones in my life right now... I have a great family, and I guess I just feel a little lost because holidays aren't the same anymore for reasons that people cannot change, and I'm having a hard time dealing with the fact that life has changed so much in the recent years and there's no going back... I'll be cooking for Thanksgiving, and I have no idea how... I'm scared and I wish I was more prepared for this. It's like everyone is going in different directions and well, I just don't handle changes well. I'd be lying if said I had it all under control... I'm just not sure how to "cope" with all the changes.

Guess who got engaged??

DeAnna!!!

We all went to dinner at Seasons. It was Me, Megan, DeAnna, Sean, Kater & Rick (Sean's Parents), Krystal, Justin and Sheena (Sean's brother and his wife.) It was such a cool restaraunt, and really relaxed... He waited until dessert time to finally propose! I got a video of it, but first some pictures:

DeAnna and Sean

DeAnna, Krystal and Megan

Justin and Sheena

The ring

SO! The moment we've all been waiting for *You can HARDLY hear anything* but get ready!

The Birthday Party at Wagner's Corn Maze!

So! WE had the girls' birthday party celebration yesterday! Lily's Birthday is Oct 8th, Lex's is Nov. 8th, so we decided to do it somewhere in the middle on a weekend we had Alexxa. We took them to Wagner's Corn Maze. First we did the corn maze, then we checked out the petting zoo, then we took a hayride to the pumpkin patch where Mercy bought Alexxa a "perfect" pumpkin. After that, we went to our FAVORITE pizza place EVER, Village Pizza! Then we went home for cake and opening gifts and best of all, BEDTIME! After the kids went to bed, my mom came over and watched the kids so we could go to a haunted house with DeAnna, Sean, Krystal and Megan. It was REALLY scary!! Well here are some pictures of our BUSY day!

Lexx and Lily, the birthday girls! In their birthday outfits!

The birthday girls and Daddy

The Birthday Girls and Mommy

All the Markers!

Brian was in charge of ONE task, the candles, of course he got the magic candles that NEVER blow out lol, Alexxa was astonished.

Never in my life have I seen a 1 year old on their FIRST venture into "cake obsession" demand a FORK and eat it WITH A FORK, this is seriously as messy as she got, LOL! Only my prissy girl would do that.. lol!

At the Maze!

Lily on Daddy's neck!

Alexxa wasn't sure which way to go!

Miss Mercy and the kiddos, she came to celebrate with us, she rocks!

Ergo'ing with Lily!

The petting zoo!

On the hayride!!

At Village Pizza, mmm..

Brian and Caleb!

A few gifts from Mommy and Daddy!

The girls LOVED their gifts. Alexxa's favorite gift was the camera Mercy bought her! She loved it, she also got a scrapbook kit from her and she was IN LOVE, and "Olivia" the book, which is one of my FAVORITES! We got her a barbie guitar and Princess Bible, she loved those too! But the biggest hit was by far was the "Baby" book Lily got, she was cracking everyone up. She kept kissing all the babies in it, I'll upload the video later! :)

Overall, we had a GREAT time and I'm so glad we were able to celebrate their birthdays with such success! :)

Painting Pumpkins!

Since the kids are still too young to carve them, we decided to paint them! The kids loved it, and it was WAY less messy! So, here are a few pictures:

Miss Alexxa, painting "Mrs. Blueberry"
Caleb chose all fall colors, go figure!

Birthday Girl(s) Outfits!! :)

Here they are! I think I took these pics on the wrong setting because they are SUPER bright, but you get the idea and you'll see more pics after I put them on them! :)
For Lexx I made Denim Pants with the Cupcakes fabric as a border. I made a matching sash and bought a white turtle neck and appliqued it with a number 5!
For Lily I made a wrap skirt and appliqued a number 1 on a white onesie! I thought the onesie was a long sleeve, but it turned out ot be a short sleeve so I'll put a long sleeve underneath this shirt to keep her warm!

I just snapped this pic of them while I was taking pics of the outfits, they're so festive haha!

Longies!!

I'm making longies for Lily and Caleb to sleep in. They are both SUPER SOAKERS when they sleep, and with Cloth diapering, that just WON'T work! So I did some research and people use Wool for a cover at night because of it's natural ability to absorb LARGE amount of water without "feeling" wet. I didn't want to buy any knitted-wool pants because they are averaged at about $40 a pair! So I bought some wool sweaters from a thrift store and made them myself. Here's how they turned out!

I forgot to take before pictures, but they looked just like this with sleeves LOL

The finished product!!