Our family

The Happiest Place on Earth!!!

2010-07-28T13:24:00.000-07:00

While at Disney I got to meet one of my Bloggy Friends Candy and her friend Alleen! Adoption is a wonderful thing!

Eddie and Elise on their way to the Beach

Eddie seeing the Ocean for the first time!

I thought this was the sweetest picture of the two of them! they love to hold hands!

My Mom and Grandpa

Tampa Zoo on the train!

Animal Kingdom

My sweet Girl Elise

My little Mickey and Minnie!

We made it to the happiest place on Earth in May! The weather was great and we had a wonderful time! Elise and Eddie did so much better this year than last year! We could get away with not giving the kids naps and they were almost human at the restaurants! HA

This year we stayed in the Garden Suites at the Boardwalk Inn and they were awesome! I highly recommend them if you ever go! They were on the ground floor with their own entrance and complementary concierge service, which was really nice! After a week at Disney we traveled over to St. Pete Beach to spend a few days with my Grandpa. while in St. Pete we went to the Aquarium in Tampa and to the Lowery park Zoo, rated the #1 Zoo in the US for children. We also went to the Beach and Eddie and Elise loved it! This was their first trip to the Ocean. I hope this was not photo overload!

Belinda

Back to Blogging.... for real this time.. HA

2010-07-27T17:27:00.000-07:00

So I have abandoned my blog for almost a year and have been a lurker only.... I am going to try to keep up with my blog from now on...
I had several blogs that I have been reading religiously for over year now and never comment just read.. Heck I feel like I know some of these people.. and they have no clue who I am.. so I went down my side bar on my computer under my favorites tab and added all of the blogs to my "following blogs list" I am surprised I remembered my password to get into my blog... so be prepared for picture overload!
Belinda

I have been in a funk...... lets get caught up on the past 4 months of my life......

2009-06-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

Easter... OK so I am doing my Easter post a bit late! This year we actually had 3 Easter Celebrations. One at my Dad's house one at my Neighbors house and one in Indiana with Jeff's family. Here are a few of the pictures...

Jeff and Eddie in the yard hunting for Eggs.. Eddie thought that they were Balls so he kept throwing them when he would find them.

Easter in Indiana. Elise is having her Grandpa Dan read her a book that they gave her for Easter.

After the Easter Egg hunt!

Family Easter Picture

Elise really excited with her Easter basket from Granny and PaPa.

Me and my babies!

Happy Valentines Day!

2009-02-14T19:37:00.000-08:00

Well today was great, Elise and Eddie went over to Granny and Grandpa's house and got some PJ's for Valentines Day and then our friends Kim and Brian called and offered to watch our kids while we went out to Dinner! Jeff and I went out to Dinner to a Japanese Steak house YUMO! It was fantastic... It has been a while since Jeff and I have gone out to dinner alone! so nice! Thanks Kim and Brian!

Belinda

Where has my house gone???

2009-01-29T14:35:00.000-08:00

Awah they are sooo sweet! they love to give each other hugs!

My family room riddled with toys!

Yes that is a tent in my entryway!

The toy room in the basement

Toy room in the basement

Do you ever have one of those days or weeks or you know.. all the time feel like your kids toys have taken over your house! No matter how much I clean my house, it still looks like a Toys R Us store! Once the kids can go up and down the stairs with out help all the toys will be going down stairs to the toy room!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Belinda

My how time flys!

2009-01-27T13:41:00.001-08:00

Elise and Jeff

Elise trying to escape with Edward out our front door.. glad I had it locked or they may have escaped! so resourceful! HA

Elise and I making chex Mix at Christmas time

Elise helping me make Sugar cookies... I will not be doing this again for a while it is harder than it looks....

My poor sick little guy on Christmas morning playing with one of his trucks

Edward December 2007 awah I miss those little chubby cheeks!

Elise December 2007

Elise December 2008!

Christmas card Picture 2008

Christmas 2007 My they have really grown!

OK I have not posted in forever.. Well December 1st to be exact. We have been busy and time just gets away from me! I did not post any on Christmas because I did not get a lot of good Christmas pictures this year as the kids were sick. We ended up in St. Louis at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital on Christmas night with Edward. He ended up having RSV and was given a breathing treatment at the hospital but thankfully we were not sent home with any. It took a good 2 weeks for him to get better and in the process I got really sick.. NO fun! So we are all healthy now. I thought it would be fun to post a few pictures of the kids from last year and this year in December. I cant believe how small Elise and Edward are in the pictures from last year.

Belinda

Forget about Turkey bring on the Kung Pao Chicken!!

2008-12-01T19:37:00.000-08:00

UGAH I always do my pictures on the wrong order.. this was supposed to be at the end of the post just wanted to tell y'all I got my hair cut tonight.... Jeff was mad when I made him take my picture HAHA I wanted a new picture for my face book page...

Ok I am doing a food post... I know my posts are so few and far between... I don't usually have anything to blog about... so I thought I would share my favorite quick food that I love to make for me and Jeffery. It is so easy and simple, just add chicken and BAM! so yummy.. I know some of you may have seen this item at the store in the Asian food section and passed it by.. Not me. I love Chinese food, if I could eat it everyday I would so I challenge you all to go and try it and let me know what you think of it.. I think you can go on there website and get a $1.00 off coupon. The meal kit cost about $4.50 at Wal mart. I do have to add that Jeff and I usually have left overs so I usually make additional rice.. another little secret is to buy Jasmine rice it is just like the sticky rice at a Chinese restaurant.. YUMO I hate how Blogger does my photo's out of order!!!

My "Gotcha" Day

2008-11-23T12:49:00.000-08:00

Me and Jeff and Elise at the Airport!

Me and Elise! Home at last !

Elise is waiting to meet her mommy!

Kim and Elise all ready to come home

Eating Thanksgiving Dinner in Guatemala

Thanksgiving Day last year Jeff is laying down with Elise while she was taking her nap.

Embassy Day, poolside at the Weston in Guatemala

Kim and Elise on there way to the American Embassy

Jeff and Kim had just brought Elise up to the Hotel room.. this picture is so sad to me. If you look closely you can see the tears glistening on her cheek.. She was so sad to have left her foster mother. Her foster mother did a beautiful job taking care of her and I know that she was loved very much in that home.

Jeff Meeting Elise for the first time his "Gotcha Day"

Well one year ago today Jeff and My Girlfriend Kim few home from Guatemala to St. Louis International Airport at 11:00pm. This was the first day that I met my baby Girl! Oah and she was the most beautiful little girl I had ever laid my eyes on! What and emotional day for me and Jeff.. November 23rd the day Elise came home to us! I remember like it was yesterday, Edward and I drove over to my Dad's house had dinner and then I tracked there Delta flight on the Computer until it was time for us to go to the Airport.. Driving to the airport I was so nervous.. was she going to cry when I touched her or would she let me hold her... yes she did actually come to me and let me hold her and she did not cry.. now the next few days were a bit rough but that night was just perfect! all the stress and anguish we went through with our attorney was over and we finally had our baby girl home! she was 15 months old. and the rest is history folks!

Belinda

2008-11-11T12:09:00.000-08:00

Any of you mom's out there that are looking for a Christmas present for your little one.. The new Elmo is great and says a bunch of things and dances ect as you can see Edward loves it.. and Elise is scared of it HAHA

Well I have been absent from blogging for a bit. My mom has been visiting and she just left this morning. The last few days have been busy on Saturday night we went to the Circus with our friends Katie and Terry and There Daughter Avery. The Circus was fun and luckily we had Jeff's works box seats because Eddie would not have been able to sit in a seat for very long. He loved the circus and the lights and music... and climbing up and down the stairs in our suite. Elise on the other hand was scared of the music and lights at first but eventually warmed up to it. She loved the animals. Then last night we went with our friends Kim and Brian to the New Kids on the Block concert. I have to say that they put on a good show.. We did make jokes that they had a chiropractor in the back giving them adjustment in between sets. Since those guys were break dancing and everything. Joey and Jordon also were still able to hit the high notes just like they did when they were 14. Ha I did not get any pictures but it was a good time and we were again in the box seats so we did not have to put up with the crowd and had our own bathroom. Hope everyone is having a good week.

Belinda

Happy Boo to you!!!

2008-11-01T06:58:00.000-07:00

Elise and Edward in there wagon ready for Trick or treating The family!!

Mrs Lynn and Elise's Preschool class

Elise during her costume parade at school

Elise before school

This year was our first year trick or treating with the kids! last year Edward was too little and Elise was still in Guatemala. Gosh we had so much fun today! To start the day off Elise had Preschool and they had a Costume parade at school. Of course I thought my baby was the cutest one there.... then that evening we went trick or treating with our friends in our neighborhood and then went over to a friends house for some more Halloween fun. My mom made all of our matching costumes and I thought they turned out great! what a great time had by all!!

Belinda

Happy Tuesday!!

2008-10-21T19:12:00.000-07:00

Eating lunch at the small picnic table that Dad built for them.

.
Edward climbing the latter to get to the slide
Elise on her way down..
Leslie loves it when I post pictures of her on my blog HAHA look at miss priss in the background with the cutest Halloween overalls ever.
Jeff and Terry with the Big yellow ball.. if you have older kids this is so much fun, the kids get inside it and roll around.

OK well I don't really have a lot to post about... two Saturday's ago Jeff and I took the kids to Nashville Illinois to my Dad and Sharon's camping property for a few hours.. Edward and Elise had a blast on the play set that my Dad built for them and they loved looking at the fish in the pond... We only stayed for a few hours because I was not feeling well and we had a Birthday party to attend.. I did not end up going because of my ear ache so Eddie and I stayed home while Jeff and Elise went. Then this weekend we had a few friends over for Chili the kids had a blast playing in the back yard. I am going to post a picture of the coolest yellow ball thing that you can get in and roll around the bigger kids had a blast in it. My friend Leslie told me that it was in the Target add this past week for $40.00. Our Neighbors Katie and Terry brought it over.. Hope everyone is having a fun week.

Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

Look at me I already am kicking my leg over to get off the bench

Look at how blurry his feet are he is running.. Jeff is not far behind HAHA
Elsie looking cute! but not wanting to look at me....
AHHH the joys of motherhood.....

Well we took the kids to the pumpkin patch on Saturday and Edward was a wild man.. As soon as he got out of the stroller he took off and did not stop running the entire time.. He is so BUSY!! We tried to get him to sit nicely with his sister for his picture and he was not having it!! Elise did not want to pose for me either so this is what we got.. little stinkers!!

Belinda

Baby Abuelita

2008-10-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

I know that I have a few people that read my blog that have Guatemalan angles like me. I was at Toys R US today getting a present for my nephew and of course had to go to the baby doll isle as I am always looking for ethnic baby dolls and look what I found... BABY ABUELITA.. Love the doll she sings about 4 or 5 songs in Spanish, love her!!! she was around $20.00 I can hardly wait to pick up Elise from school today!! If you don't have one you must get one.. I hope I don't love it more than Elise HAHA

Belinda

Outside play

2008-10-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

Well the kids got a new toy for outside and they love it. I thought I would post a few pictures of them on it and then a few of my little Notre Dame baby!!

Belinda

11 Years

2008-09-30T15:29:00.000-07:00

Jeff and I celebrated our 11 year wedding Anniversary on Saturday night.. Wouldn't you know it the entire family was sick.. But we still managed to go out for a nice dinner just the two of us. Dad and Sharon came over to babysit Elise and Edward and we went to our favorite Japanese restaurant YUMO. I still remember our wedding as if were yesterday... Noon wedding on a beautiful fall day with a reception at the Officers Club on Base.. what a wonderful day!! Who knew it would take us 10 years to have children.. We are older and wiser HA HA so I wouldn't change anything!! Hope you enjoyed some of our wedding pictures.

Belinda

amazing photography

2008-09-27T06:56:00.000-07:00

Hello I wanted to post about a lady that does amazing photography.. If you are in the Utah area please check out her blog! http://jackandjillphotography.blogspot.com/ and schedule her to do a family session for your Christmas pictures!

Belinda

I thought taking the kids for pictures was suposed to be fun???

2008-09-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

Well I took the kids to have there pictures taken the other day because I wanted to get both kids in there Baptism outfits and I wanted to get Elise's 2 year pictures taken.. this was not a fun outing and 2 hours later I got one shot of Elise where she was not crying. The one of the them in there Baptism outfits Edward is crying poor little guy... I think next time I will just have my toe nails pulled out and forgo the photo session all together ..

Belinda

This is funny!!

2008-09-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

Edit: This is even more funny when I told my mom to check out my blog she could not figure out why I put my face on her picture.. I tried explaining it to her and she still kept telling me that I never had a hair style like that HA HA

My Friend Candy http://guateawonderfulworld.blogspot.com/ did this on her blog and I thought it was funny so I decided to do a picture of me with a haircut like my mom had and then add a picture of her from when she was younger and Wah laaah you can do it too if you go to this link http://www.yearbookyourself.com/

Belinda

Happy Fall !!!

2008-09-23T12:51:00.000-07:00

Edward is eating the Gourds, several have teeth marks on them!! Little stinker

Well a few of my friends and some of my blog friends have posted some of there fall decorations.. Well I have a few but I also have a culprit that is eating my gourds!! so my fall had to be moved around!! I wonder what my Christmas Tress is going to look like?? I will only have the top of the tree decorated I guess!!! I love September, October and November the leaves Changing and the smell of burning leaves and bonfires and smores yum yum.

Belinda

My Guatemalan Princess is 2 !!!

2008-09-12T20:56:00.001-07:00

I had to post these pictures of what I did while I waited for Elise 15 months is a loooong time.. So I decorated and shopped for clothes...

Referral picture of Elise she weighed 5 pounds and 11 ounces.... Look at all that hair she was about 11 days old in this picture and he one below it.

3 months old

6 months old
Happy First Birthday Baby!!! I wish that we could have celebrated with her :(
Kim Jeff and Elise in Guatemala in Nov ( 15 months ) Embassy Day!!!
18 months
2 years old!!!!

Jumping on her Zebra following her Baptism waiting for the party to start!!!!
Leslie and Miss Priss at the party
Singing Happy Birthday!! She loved it
She got so many presents it took me forever to open all of them!!!
Elise checking out her balloons while eating her Birthday dinner

On August 30th 2 years ago my little princess was born. I don't know much about the day she was born, other than she was born at home by a midwife in Santa Catarina Pinula, Guatemala... I can only imagine what that day must have been like for her birth mother and the day following when she gave her to our Attorney. I think about her Birth mother alot and look at the picture of Elise and her birth mother everyday.. I keep it on our desk in our computer room. I show it to Elise often and tell her who she is and that she loved her very much. Obviously Elise does not comprehend what I am telling her but I know that she will one day. We missed her First Birthday as she was still in Guatemala so this was a very special Birthday for us. Hope you enjoy the pictures and a trip down memory lane with me.

Belinda

Baptized Babies

2008-09-12T20:34:00.000-07:00

I thought that this was so funny.. Both kids screaming while Clark was holding them
Me and Jeff and the kiddo's with my Mom, Brother and his son Brett
Jamie & Clark: Edwards God Parents Jeff, Father Margason, Me, Kim & Tim: Elise's God Parents

Me and Kim and her kiddo's, kale and Zoe and Elise and Edward

Ok OK I know I have been absent from updating my blog for a bit now… My mom is in town and I had to orchestrate getting 2 toddlers outfitted for their baptism and prepare for a 2nd Birthday!!! On August 30th we had both Edward and Elise Baptized. It was a wonderful day and the kids looked like little angels… It was awesome we did not have their baptism during mass we had it with just friends and family and the priest at the church that Jeff and I were married at almost 11 years earlier….Elise’s God Parents are Kim ( my girlfriend that traveled to Guatemala with Jeff in November of 2007 to pick her up) and Jeffrey’s brother Tim. Edward’s God Parents are My brother Clark and Jeffrey’s Cousin Jamie.

Belinda

Easy Peezy Recipe

2008-08-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

Chicken Al LA Ritz YUMO
I forgot to post this picture the other day.. I think we have a left handed pitcher on our hands....

Ok Ya'll I tried a new recipe from my friend Leslie at http://ourcompletefamily.blogspot.com/.. I only had to call her and had a million questions for this really simple recipe... HA HA.. I had to ask her how to cook the chicken.. Should it be boiled?? baked??? nope she said MICROWAVE yep ladies I said MICROWAVE... so easy. I literally started dinner at 4:45 and it was on the table at 5:45... It had to cook in the oven for 45 of the 60 minutes it took me to prepare it... So KIM ( my friend who reads my blog and has only left me one comment ) HA HA I totally thought of you when I was eating my dinner you could totally make this and it is sooooo good and fast too!! I pared it with some steam fresh peas.. OAh so yummy and minute rice... So my blogger friends you have to try this dish. Here is the recipe:

Chicken Al LA Ritz ( doesn't it sound fancy )

4 to 6 chicken breasts...cooked and diced ( MICROWAVE LADIES)

8 oz sour cream

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 stick melted butter30 crushed Ritz crackers ~Layer chicken in 9x11 or 11x13 (depending on how much chicken you use) baking dish~Mix sour cream and soup; spread on top of chicken~Mix melted butter with cracker crumbs; spread on top of soup mixture~ Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes, until cracker crumbs are brown and the casserole bubbles.

Belinda

Look who's a big girl and in Preschool!!!!

2008-08-21T19:55:00.001-07:00

Elise checking out her new Lunch box
Me and Elise before school
Elise and Jeff before school
Elise getting all settled in at school.
Eddie outside playing

Elise started preschool today at the First Baptist Church . She is attending there one day a week from 9:30-2:30. She did really well this morning when Jeff and I dropped her off. She did not even cry. However; when I said that "I wanted to peek in at her one more time before I left", another mom that was walking down the hall heard me say that and she asked me if it was the first time leaving her and I said "yes", and she said " oah you are doing good no tears" well I then turned to walk away and I started to cry... but Me and Edward got through the day. We went to Target and to Wal-Mart and then home for lunch and he took his afternoon nap before heading off to pick her back up. Her teacher said that she cried off and on during the day when other kids would cry ( I guess this was a sympathy cry for her new friends ) and refused to take a nap during rest time, and the teacher had to hold her the entire time through rest time.. but I think for the most part she did pretty well. Her teachers seem really nice and she has a friend in the class, Avery ( my neighbor, Katie's little girl). I have attached a few pictures of Elise looking at her new lunch box and me and Jeff and her before school today. I also included a few pictures of Edward playing in the backyard. I hope everyone is having a great Thursday.

Belinda

Just a little preview

2008-08-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

We are having both kids baptised on August 30th and I just went and picked up the dress from the tailor. I tried it on her and had to take a few pictures because I just could not resist how cute she is in it.. I also have a pair of fancy socks and shoes to go with the out fit but this was just a quickie photo shoot.. I love how she looks is white, I think she looks beautiful!!!

Getty up cowboys and cowgirls

2008-08-15T08:59:00.000-07:00

Elise was really bouncing in this picture you can tell by her hair HA HA
Edward Carline and Elise. I think Elise wanted to know why Eddie and miss C are holding hands.

I thought the kids were so cute on their bounce and spin Zebra’s. They have so much fun riding them. I also wanted to add a few pictures of our last play date at Leslie’s Eddie and Elise have a ball with Caroline ( Edward's futrue bride ) and Bryce. Hope all is well with everyone.

Belinda