Five Years

Hannah Grace Born Still December 22, 2004
Winton Jacob Born/Died December 23, 2004

Why is that certain years hurt harder than others?
This is one of those years.
Five years, five years, how does that happen?
Where does time go?

It was five years ago that we lost a piece of us.
It was five years ago that we thought our dreams could never come true.
It was five years ago that everything changed.
It was five years ago that I truly felt my heart break.
It was five years ago that my strength was tested.
It was five years ago that I held you in my arms for the first and last time.


It was five years ago that something bad happened to us, but its not still happening.

Jaidyn's 4th Birthday

Four years old!
Four years old!
Can you believe it?
Can you believe it?
MOM- can you even believe I am four years old!

I can't, I can't believe my little baby is becoming a girl now.


For Jaidyn's 4th birthday we had a flower party! Jaidyn wanted the whole party to be about flowers. The decorations, the cake, her dress, other peoples dresses......
It was so cute. She had it planned for a whole month. I kept asking her is there anything else you want- Dora or something? and she just kept telling me "mom. we already talking about this!"

The party turned out amazing. Every seemed to really have a nice time. I loved watching the kids play and just relaxing with all of our wonderful family and friends. It really couldn't have gotten any better.

And as I tucked Jaidyn quietly into to bed, she looked up at me with her big eyes and said:

"Mom- I can't wait till I'm five"

Jaidyn Preschool

For Christmas at the daycare they celebrate the week before. Santa comes and visits and the kids have a small little singing concert and than a little party. Last year I didn't get to come so I was very excited to join the festivities this year.



Jaidyn very much enjoyed seeing Santa, although the next day she said, "so...that was a different kind of Santa" He was very tall and skinny. It was super funny. I of course just changed the subject!!

Lincoln of course had no idea what was happening but he enjoyed it just the same. The kid loves school so it was just like any day!

Jaidyn's Birthday Dinner/Santa Visit

Last year we started a tradition of taking Jaidyn to see Santa and going to dinner for her birthday. Last year she was scared to death of dinner at Rain Forest Cafe and Santa. This year she was thrilled with both, her being four and all! Jaidyn loved it but Lincoln was so scared he wouldn't eat and he screamed every time the gorillas made noises!
We went on a wednesday which was kids days so dinners were only 1.99 and I had a coupon for $10 of a $25 purchase. We made out like bandits for dinner, it was great.

So after dinner we went to see Santa. I was feeling great about all of the money we saved and than I had to pay $20 for one picture with Santa. But you got a free ornament also. All I had to do was go on line pick whatever ornament I wanted and than upload a picture and it was here in two days! and it is soo cute!!

The Santa at Great Lakes Crossing was so great. He was wonderful with the kids and he looked so real! He even made me cry, but who am I kidding......I am sap I cry at everything!

Christmas Pictures!

Christmas Card Photo Shoot
I am very lucky to have a "live in" photographer.
Dave is very talented at capturing the kids personality's in pictures!
Jaidyn was of course very excited for the Christmas card photo shoot. She gets very excited every time we take pictures of them!


At first Lincoln was too involved with the tree to get him to cooperate but eventually Jaidyn gave him a toy and it worked out better!

Jaidyn of course did great! I love this picture of her! She is growing into such a big girl!

Both Dave and I are so lucky to have two beautiful children!

Hanging Up the Tree

Every year the day after Thanksgiving we put up our christmas tree. Jaidyn absolutely loves doing this. She thinks it is so fun to look at all the ornaments and talk about who got them for us and why.
Lincoln was very into putting up the decorations also, although for different reasons. He kept grabbing everything. It was very cute. This year we decided not to put up the snow village since Lincoln is into everything!

Even Sage got in on the fun!

After the decorating fun Jaidyn showed us all of her dance moves!!!



I really enjoyed decorating with my family and love doing it every year!

The Flower Girl

For Jaidyn's Birthday she wanted to have a "Flower Party"
She specifically told me she wanted everyone to wear flower clothes and celebrate. So for her invitation she wanted to take pictures in her beautiful dress to use. So Dave set up the living room for a photo shoot and these are the amazing pictures that developed!