Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak of Punky's 3 year pictures...we got a whole CD of them, thanks to our wonderful photographer, Barbie (see link to 1 Thousand Words Photography)!

We think this one looks like Aunt Kare Bear!

A little princess...

Serious...I think this one looks like me!

I think this one is my favorite!

Hopefully I will get some of these developed this weekend and will get them out to family. If you have a favorite that you want, just let me know and I will get it to you.

Poor Punky

This was last night, right after she fell...

This was today (which actually looks better, because this morning it was almost swollen shut).

It never ends...

Unfortunately, Punky fell tonight...not a REALLY bad fall, but what made it bad was the fact that she hit her head on the kitchen chair...right on her incision from her surgery. It broke a lot of it open and now that area is the size of a pretty nice marble. She was not crazy about the idea of putting ice on it, so it has swelled.

She is fine, it just looks really bad (and tomorrow we are starting with a new babysitter!). I am sure she will have a wonderful looking shiner by morning. So, with everything we did to try to reduce the scar, it now looks like she will have one there when all is said and done.

Yikes!

My Baby is Three!!!

I cannot believe my precious little Punky is three...I can still remember as if it just happened when she looked like this...I would love to go back to this moment in the hospital and just enjoy it for 5 minutes...

So today is Punky's actual birthday, and we celebrated with our newest birthday tradition...the birthday girl got to pick where we went to eat and then off to the toy store for her to pick her very own present.

Punky picked Panera for "carrot soup" which is what she calls the broccoli cheddar soup. Most kids would probably pick McDonald's, but my kid picks expensive and yummy Panera. That's my girl!!!

After that we went to Toys R Us and she went from toy to toy wanting it. She finally decided she wanted some sort of three elephant set with kids on them from Barbie Island Princess. The thing was $30 and Hubby and I were trying to talk her out of it (also because it had glitter all over it, and I will not allow anything in my house with glitter on it. It is the worst invention of all time).

We finally went down another row and she spotted a humungo gigantor sized package of play food and instantly wanted that. She gave up on the elephants and went for the food~and it was only $16!!

This little girl is spoiled. I thought about her today at 2 p.m. (she was born at 2:02 p.m.) and couldn't believe it has been 3 years. Time flies!

Birthday Party!

Today we had Punky's official birthday party, even though her birthday is not until Monday. I held back the presents from Hubby and me for then.

Today started with getting up and cooking. I started the cake and the food for dinner tonight. The cake was something...I decided I wanted to try to do it myself instead of buying one, and I really wanted to do a princess/Cinderella cake for Punky, which is what she picked. So, after Punky stirring, me baking and mixing frosting, and Hubby cutting and frosting, our team effort turned out like this:For our first cake endeavor, I was quite proud.

Around 4 p.m., the guests arrived (about 15 in all, including Teeb and Uhcole from out of town!). Punky was wound up and ready for fun and got many nice presents.

All in all it was a good day, and she had fun. Thanks to everyone for coming and being a part of her special day.

Oh, my little Punky...

OK...

Hubby may disagree with me on this, but I feel like I am the parent that does most of the punishing...usually there is always one parent that is the stern one and one that is the fun one. Well, I am the first. Anyways...

Punky was not in a great mood tonight, and she didn't get her way so she hit me. I put her in time out. Finally she said she was sorry, gave me a hug, and all was well...for 10 minutes. She once again did something I asked her not to, didn't get her way, and hit me. I immediately put her in time out again, which she did not like. She would lay there and say "mama" "mom" and I would tell her to quit talking. Finally I answered her and she said "Mom, I have an idea." Now I am the stern one, but this was just getting too cute. Trying not to crack a smile, I asked her what her idea was. She said, "I want to get down!" I allowed her to get down and she said she was sorry and gave me a hug. I asked her what she did, and she said she hit mama, two times.

Oh, my little Punky...she is so darn cute, but way too smart. I am so thankful to be her mother.
"

Catch Up...

Well, it has been a little while since I blogged, so I will give you the run down of what we are dealing with...

• We have a problem. Our roof is leaking...we have known about it for a while, and thought we had it fixed, but no. With this last heavy rain, we had water dripping from our bathroom door frame. UGH! Hubby has gone up into the attic multiple times and can clearly see where the problem is. Shoddy workmanship I guess. We have noticed quite a few areas where our builder (who is now bankrupt) cut corners. If we had known his business situation before buying the house, we never would have purchased it. However, we really love the house and know that God wanted us here for time being. Since our house is only three years old, we tried tracking down the original roofer to fix the problem. They are coming out today to look at it. Hopefully, it will be a small fix so that we can repair the damage on the inside. Just one more thing to deal with I guess...makes life interesting!
• Monday was my birthday (not that I want to remember the big 2-9). It was kind of hard for Punky seeing me open gifts because she knows her birthday is next week, and kept asking to open her presents too (Gma gave in and gave her one small gift on Sunday). I got the final two seasons of FRIENDS from Hubby and Punky as well as my coveted Count of Monte Cristo DVD that I have been asking for for 3 years! I also got a set of pans that I have been wanting for quite a long time. Cooking is now much easier! Punky's party will be Saturday.
• We are trying to book a vacation to Florida~will blog about this once plans are final.
• I have been loving my new treadmill, which we got at the end of December. It is much better for me than the elliptical that we had. Hopefully, I will stick with it!
• We had Punky's 3-year pictures taken this past week. I will try to post some of them soon-they turned out great (see link to 1 Thousand Words Photography).

I am so thankful for the new year...seems like 2007 went entirely too fast, so I am hoping we can enjoy 2008 a little bit more!

New Year's Resolutions

I am a firm believer in NOT doing New Year's resolutions...I would venture to say some 75% of people that make them do not stick with them throughout the year. However, there are some things I have been thinking and praying about that I want to change in my life. Call them resolutions if you will, but here they are:

1. I want to read more. I have always liked to read, but just find that I don't have the time. My goal is to read two types of books...those that are fun and make me wonder off into someone else's life or adventure and those that challenge me and help me grow in my faith. So, if anyone has any good book ideas, I am up for anything. I will post to the left a section saying what I am currently reading. There are a few books I have in mind that I would like to read this year:

• The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
• The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian (I am hoping Hubby will read this with me)
• The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (I have already read this years ago, but it so impacted my life that I must read it again)
• Kingdom Come by Tim LaHaye (last book in the Left Behind Series)
• Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

2. Devotions. I hope and pray that I can take at least a few minutes each and every day to read the Bible and pray. I do it now, but certainly not everyday like I should.

3. Exercise. Really, same situation as above...I just want a few minutes everyday (or at least 4 times a week) with my treadmill, especially in these winter months when I can't get my walking done outside with Punky.

4. Simplify, simplify, simplify. I feel my house is very cluttered, especially with clothes and toys. My goal this year is to organize our closets, dressers, toy rooms, and storage rooms and just get rid of anything that has not seen the light of day in a year. I think if I can do this, then my house will not get as messy and I won't be constantly cleaning and picking up.

So there you have it. My goals for 2008. I hope this new year brings you health and happiness (and good luck on your resolutions!)

Punky's Surgery

Punky was a brave girl today. We had a cyst removed from her eyebrow. Not major surgery by any means, but they still had to put her under a general anesthetic to do it, which scared me.

We arrived at the surgery center and they called us back. Punky looked a little nervous, and when asked to sit in the chair, she immediately took Hubby's hand and wanted him to sit with her, which he did. She allowed them to take her blood pressure and so forth very well. She had taken a few of her My Little Ponies and Princess babies and was very proud to show them to the nurses and tell them all their names.

Then we told her she had to get dressed...they put on a lovely yellow "princess dress" (scrub gown) and "Princess Jasmine shoes" (hospital shoe covers) and a hat (looked like a shower cap). Punky thought she was just the most beautiful princess. She even allowed one of the nurses to carry her away to look in the mirror. Here is the picture Hubby got on his phone...sorry it is blurry...

Then it was time to take her into the OR...she was very brave, said goodbye, and let the nurse wrap her in the warm blanket and take her away. NO TEARS! We were very proud of our little girl.

After the procedure went perfectly, she did cry coming out of the anesthesia, which they said was 100% expected. After a few minutes, she was groggy, but fine. She was very upset about the IV that was still in her hand and kept grabbing at it to pull it out...the nurse finally realized that is what was causing her anxiety and removed it.

We had told her if she was a good girl, she would get a present, which we gave her...a new princess movie. She loved it. Just an hour later, she was back to her old self, minus one cyst, but plus five stitches. All in all, she did better than I ever expected and am so thankful she came through it fine. I thank everyone for their prayers for us. The Lord was with us.

The True Meaning of Christmas

Well, I am still in the middle of Christmas festivities, even though it is December 28th. We still have two more big get togethers we are trying to prepare for. I have REALLY felt this Christmas has not been Christmas to me...we have been entirely too busy coming and going various places and gatherings, buying gifts, making food, and just being busy. I didn't even get all of my Christmas decor out this year. I wanted to go and see the Festival of Lights, but just didn't have the time. I am sure Punky would have loved it. And, to top it all off, Punky got WAY to many gifts...it was beyond too many, it was actually sad. Next year I will not allow this to happen. There will be restrictions people!!! I don't want her to feel the way I do this year...just overwhelmed with STUFF, instead of the true meaning...the birth of our Saviour.

I stole this from a very awesome person (she knows who she is!) and it was just what I needed at this very moment...so, enjoy. It helps my heart everytime I hear it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA