Bailey turns 4!

Today we celebrated Bailey's 4th birthday. She has come to the age now where she knows that having a birthday means cake and presents and was very excited. The day started with Aaron taking her out to IHOP for breakfast. Then after lunch she got to go shopping and spend her birthday money from Papaw and Grammy. She REALLY enjoyed that!! Then after dinner she had cake and presents.

It is hard to believe she is 4 already. She is quite a special little girl and we can't wait to see what God has planned for her. 

Bailey with her cake. She loves pink!

What she bought with her money from Papaw and Grammy. She picked it out all by herself and was very excited!

Bailey opening her presents. She loved her puzzles. She is very good at them. 

Well we got back from Florida safely just in time for a winter storm. We got a lot of ice yesterday and a lot of people lost power. Anyway, it is good to be home and I thought I'd share some pictures with you. Enjoy!

Arica, Carter and Bailey ready to head to Disney World

Meeting Mickey Mouse

Carter gives Buzz Lightyear a hi-five

Hugs for Tigger and Pooh

Pictures with Cinderella

Fireworks by Cinderella's castle

Pa paw's little princess

Dolphin show at Sea World

Merry Christmas from our family to yours

I just wanted take a minute to wish all of you a Merry Christmas. We had a very enjoyable and relaxing day as a family topped off with a wonderful service at church. The kids were a lot of fun this year as we had Carter put on his santa hat and hand out the presents.
The kids sang in their choirs on Sunday night as part of the Christmas Cantata and watching Carter be able to actually sing "Away in a manger" brought tears to my eyes. It was the most wonderful present I could have been given.
The kids are all growing up so fast as you can see by the pictures I've posted for you to enjoy. We hope you all had a very blessed Christmas. Have a wonderful New Year.

Playing in the leaves

Today was a typical breezy autumn day and was the perfect time to play outside. Saturday and Sunday were very warm and then the temperature started to fall again. It seems like overnight our yard and driveway were covered in leaves. Carter and Bailey had a lot of fun playing outside today. Here are a couple of pictures for you to enjoy.

Happy Birthday Baby

This post is for two things.  One is to say Happy Birthday to my wife. The other is to share this poem I wrote. This poem was to be for our anniversary last April, but it took me a long time to finish it. The poem has now become a birthday present, but was written to celebrate our ten year anniversary. I hope you will enjoy it, and help me wish Jessica a Happy Birthday!

Ten years down the road

Oh how time goes by

Three children later

For you all I would die

Ten years down the road

Since we first said..... I Do 

You took my last name

We became one, no longer two

Ten years down the road

Since our first little place in Marquette

We've moved around a bit

To Portage, to Berlin, then to Texas we went

Ten years down the road

We found a church and got involved

We built our home

We've kept our resolve

Ten years down the road 

We've had good times and bad

We've had joy and grief

But in each other we've always found sweet relief

Ten years down the road

And all will agree

That I must praise God

For you and our three

Ten years down the road

We look not only back, but ahead

To twenty, thirty, forty more

As by God we are lead

Carter Had A Big Day

Our day started early as we got all the kids up at 4 am to head to Dallas.

We had to be at the Hospital early to do all the pre op check in before surgery.

We always stop by our special tree.

They did a quick check up on Carter, then marked his eyes for surgery.

Carter thought it was rude that they wrote on his head.

Carter gets to play for a few minutes before they call us back.

Carter was very excited to get a Mickey mouse robe to wear.

Then we wait......... and wait....... and wait!!!!!

When they brought him back to us he was quite out of it.

Carter is the strongest little boy I know . He does not always know what is happening to him but he takes it as well as any grown man could. 

We are very grateful to the staff at Children's Hospital, they really know how to take care of the patients and the family.

Thank you to all who pray for us and Carter, we don't always know who you are, but we know you're out there and we thank you from our hearts.

A special thank you to Randy and Chrissy Cronin and to Rick and Jill Story. They teamed up to watch the girls so we could be free to focus on Carter.

Again I want to thank you all for your love and prayers. THANK YOU SO MUCH! 

A Carter update

This is just a quick update on Carter's surgery. He will be having eye surgery on October 22nd around noon at the Children's Medical Center in Dallas. It will be for both eyes and will be an outpatient procedure. Please pray that everything goes well and for safety as we travel. We will be leaving at 5:30 that morning as they will be doing measurements and all pre-op that morning. I will probably post more that day or the next. Thank you to everyone who prays for Carter. I know that he would not be doing as well as he is if there were not people praying for him. God's hand is very evident in Carter's progress and we are very grateful.