8.46 am

It's hard to believe that two years ago today, at 8.46 am, sweet Addison was born. Allen and I sat last night and walked through what we did that night before she was born ~ it was a busy night and Addison's arrival was not expected!!! But she came into this world perfect and we wouldn't have it any other way. So today, we're celebrating Addison. If you've met her, you know she can capture your heart with her sweet smile. She's a snuggler and she loves her big sister. Her first word was "more" and she took her first steps when she was 17 months old. She eats more than most adults but never seems to gain weight. She's our adventurer and she only has one volume - loud. Rules don't apply to her, so she thinks, and she uses her smile and her sweet little arms held out for hugs to get her out of trouble. She loves baby dolls and loves to jump and bounce. She carries KiKi wherever she goes. She's our Addison and she is two years old today!

until then...

it's such an exciting time of year for our church as we head into 21 days of prayer and fasting. i think it's a great way for us, both corporately and individually, to grow in our relationship with the Lord. allen and i are praying and believing for some very specific things and we want to start this year by giving Him our best ~ our complete focus on Him. i know it will be an amazing journey, so i'm asking that you pray for us as we travel through it. while our decision to fast and what we are fasting is a personal decision, i wanted to share why i wouldn't be around much for the next few weeks. the internet...facebook, blogs, shopping...takes up a lot of my time each day. time that could be spent with the Lord, better focused on my children and preparing to be the wife my husband needs me to be. so i'm am going to 'log off' of the internet and refocus my priorities. (disclaimer: i will, however, be checking email because i work from home...and if they don't hear from me for 21 days i will lose my job!:)

i will leave you with the two sweetest girls in my world...and we'll see you soon! love you!

with all this rain, they've been excited to try out their new rain coats

addison, not really sure what to thinkavery, trying to catch it on her tonguering around the rosies with daddy

**if you're interested in fasting you can read more about it here

new years rockin' eve

so, times have definitely changed. i can think back pre-kids, pre-marriage, to all of the new years eves spent out very late. this year we didn't even make it to midnight CST. we did watch the ball drop in new york and we did watch robbie maddison jump to the top of the arc de triomphe replica in las vegas. normally when we watch these stunts you realize that while they are dangerous, they aren't always life threatening. but this had the potential to go very wrong. he jumped 100ft vertical, not at an angle, had to stop himself on a 35 ft roof and then freefall down 5 stories, land on the ramp and coast the rest of the way. if you didn't watch it, it's amazing (crazy)...and here it is for your viewing pleasure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL0CJgu6Q0g (note - there is a bit of language used at the end...it was on espn too and i bet the guy didn't know he was live, or maybe he did and just didn't care. both are realistic options.)

BUT, before we settled in for ryan seacrest and robbie maddison we had a fun night out with some of our favorite friends. we went bowling. riveting, i know...but it was so fun and the kids loved it. we were there with every other young family that wanted to be back home by 10pm. :)

allen, because everything is a competition

avery's first try - notice the helpsecond try, with guidance but no helpthird times a charmaddison - eating - but with stylei think they were strategizing how to beat elliegirl talkdon't they look so big??addison wanted a turnshe did it!the whole grouphappy new year!