Our Little Princess

 How can you look at this picture and not smile.  Doesn't she just warm your heart!  When I think about Kyla my mind immediately goes to how blessed we are to have her.  After a very sad and trying time in our lives and the thought that we could no longer be able to have any more children...God heard our prayers and gave us our sweet little girl!

Let me just take a moment and say...Where has the time gone! I can't believe my precious baby girl is going to be three this spring.  Something you may not know about our blue-eyed beauty...Kyla means crowned and lovely.  Also her middle name, Suelyn, is after her grandmothers.  Sue is for my mom and lyn is after Greg's mom, Linda.  I think it fits her very well.  Original and one of a kind!

Kyla is spunky, lovable, sweet and carefree. She loves to dance, dress up, play in her kitchen and with her dolls.  However she also loves to play trains, go outside and get dirty, and wrestle the boys. Kyla reminds me of myself when I was little...she is a tomboy at heart, disguised in a dress.  One minute she is putting on lip gloss, the next she is playing in the dirt.  Love it!

She is a daddy's girl.  I'm trying not to take offense.  I did birth her and all, but whatever!  I mean she loves me and follows me around throughout the day, but if daddy is home, it's like "Mom who?"  Mom will do, but if she is sad, hurt or scared, she prefers daddy.  I'm glad they have that special relationship, but come on, throw a mom a bone here! 

She is little miss independent.  We constantly hear her say, "I can do it myself."  Just an example, she potty trained herself this past summer.  When she puts her mind to something, nothing is going to stop her.  I think this will be a blessing or a curse come teenage years:)

 

She adores her big brothers. She calls them "my boys." When they are at school, she is always asking, "when are my boys coming home?" She just wants to do what they are doing, which usually is received well, but sometimes not. She can also hold her own and if the boys push her down she comes up swinging!

 

Sigh.  Love my girl.  Blessed beyond measure.  My heart is full!

A Decade of Love

Greg and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary by going to Florida last week.  It was wonderful, relaxing...and WAY to short!

 

Our first day we went to Siesta Key beach and walked for hours.  The weather was perfect, not a cloud in the sky. It couldn't have been a better day!  As we were walking the beach Greg said, "I wonder what time it is?"  And I replied, "Does it matter."  I think that is what made the day so great.  We had no schedule, no need to rush anywhere or get anything done.  We rented a convertible for the week, so we also enjoyed driving around with the top down, soaking up the rays!

 

That night we got dressed up and went to a local and fancy place to eat on Long Boat Key. It was called Dry Dock Waterfront Grill.  It was SO good. The picture doesn't compliment the place, we took this to show the kids all the boats it held, the restaurant was beside this, hence the name.

 The next day we deemed as a family day!  We traveled around the state meeting up with our loved ones.  Our first stop was Greg's Uncle John and Aunt Carol. They took us out to eat and then showed us around their condo complex.  As we were walking around we came across this alligator.  I think it was Greg's highlight of the week. I see where I rank next to an alligator.  As we were leaving we told Uncle John and Carol...as they are celebrating their 9th year of marriage...that if they need any marital advice, to just ask.  Seeing that we are a year ahead in marriage and are dripping in wisdom (cough-cough)!

Next we traveled over to the middle of the state to see my grandparents!  My grandpa is a huge car guy, so we put the top down and went to dinner.  I love watching them enjoy life!  I can only pray that we are just as happy and healthy as they are when we celebrate our 65th anniversary!

The next day (our anniversary day) we went over to Anna Maria Island for the day.  We met up with one of my MOTTTS leaders and her husband for lunch and then we drove around the island together checking out all the sights.  Afterwards we headed back to the beach to relax and find some shells for the kids.

 

That night we got dressed up and went on a sunset cruise around the bay.  It was a bit redneck and cold, but I was with my man and it was wonderful!  The next day we packed up and headed home.  Our theme song since our plane touched the ground in Indiana has been, "Back to life, back to reality!"

 

A few things I loved about our trip

-I did my hair and make-up every.single.day.

-When eating at a restaurant I didn't have to take anyone to the bathroom.

-I saw the sun every day.

-I didn't have to cook or wash a dish.

-I love my kids, but it was heaven to have a fews days off from bedtime routine.

-I never woke up before 8:00a.m.

 -I read a book.

 TEN years and we still got it babe!  Love and appreciate you more everyday!  Thanks for choosing me and giving me an incredible life of three amazing children, your spiritual guidance, your hard work that gives me everything I need and more and the fact that I get to spend every day with my best friend!  Love you!