My first little girl

She was born early on the morning of Christmas Eve 2002.

She stole my heart even before that wonderful day.

I remember being in the hospital with her. Just me & her. Watching "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" and eating cookies.

They brought her to me in a little red stocking. She was the best Christmas present I had ever received.

We came home on Christmas Day. It was truly magical!

Meeting you for the first time

I love you Ashton!  Happy Birthday!

Little One at 16 Months

Little one isn't so little anymore.

She turned 16 months old yesterday.

She weighed 22.0 lbs and was 30 inches tall!

Her doctor was very impressed with how alert she is and how much she knows already.

*If we tell you to go brush your teeth, you run to the bathroom sink and try to get your toothbrush!

*You love to tell Runt he is "bad, bad, bad"

*You love shoes. We can also tell you to get your shoes and you run to the closet to get them.

*You picked up a coat hanger the other day and tried to put it in the closet too, I hope this means you will be neat and clean unlike your sister!

*We took you to see Santa this week and you freaked out.

*You love to look at books and you love to watch Tate & Ashton go to the bus stop.

*You can say "school bus" BUT NOT mommy????

Happy 3 Years blogging to Me!

Wow. 3 years! So much has changed! 
In the 3 years since I began my blog I have lived in Kernersville, Richmond and now West Virginia!
I have lost 2 very dear men, my sweet Papa Bud and my father in law, PawPaw Hanson.
I have given birth to my 5th child! Karsen Rylee is a light in my life.
Thank you followers for joining me in my journey!

Christmas Cookies

Ashton and I always make and decorate Christmas cookies as part of our holiday tradition. This year, being in West Virginia and close to our family, my sister in law Barb, decided to make it a big family cookie decorating party. We had so much fun. We used my mother in laws sugar cookie recipe and it was soooo good! We also celebrated our family's December birthdays. It is wonderful being close to family again. We also paid a visit to PawPaw's grave to decorate it for Christmas. It is so sad not to have him here to join in on the fun. He loved having all the family together.

I Didn't Know

*that over two years later and I am missing him even more

*that when he visits me in my dreams, its like he is really there. Its his voice even.

*seeing his name on his grave is still soooo bewildering to me

*holidays without him make it hard to celebrate the holidays

*how hard life would be without him. I imagined it, I thought I would know, but it is harder than I ever thought.

*hearing his voice on my cell phone makes me smile, then cry

*living so far from home is sometimes a blessing. It would be even harder being reminded of him and the many places I have memories of him if I was in Kville.

Dear Papa,

Another Christmas season without you. This one finds me in West Virginia. So far from home. I miss you so much. This world isn't as fun without you in it. But I am trying my hardest to be strong and to enjoy the many blessings I have. Would be nice if you would give me this weekends lottery numbers. =) I would buy us the nicest Cabin Crusier I could find.

I love and MISS you SO much it hurts.

#1

Recap

The last few weeks have been really hard.  The fiasco with the Nancy Ann dolls has basically blown up into such a disaster that I am walking away from ebay for a while until I can regroup. It is crazy how some of these women act over a doll. =*(

Despite the baby doll drama, I had a really good time in North Carolina. Raini and I thrift shopped our hearts out and we had a great time and found a lot of cool things. 

I love going to antique stores during the holiday season, so many shiny brites and santa's!

Gracie Turns 5!

My sweet little Gracie turned 5 last weekend!


She is such a little priss pot!


So much like Ashton. =)


It was so much fun to help Raini plan her party.


We used a vintage Strawberry Shortcake theme and I found her a vintage Strawberry Shortcake miniature set for her birthday.


We made a cake shaped like Strawberry Shortcake's house and even the paper gift boxes were shaped like strawberries! 


We all had a great time!


Raini even made all the little girls matching t shirts, hair bo's and tutu skirts.

New Nancy Ann's Just Listed in my Ebay Store!

My Japan sold, then the sale had to be cancelled. Then she was sold again, but the first buyer found out about the second sale and was so infuriated that she contacted and convinced the 2nd buyer to cancel. It is now a big old mess. I now have had several women from the NASB doll forum sending me the meanest emails telling me I am dishonest and will never sell another Nancy Ann doll again. It has been so disheartening as all I want to do is find good homes for these dolls and what I make barely covers the expenses of listing them. I am trying to keep my head up but being cyber bullied by the Golden Girl's of this club has not made for an easy week! I will put my hope and my faith in God that they will sale to the right buyers. Whom Shall I Fear? Psalm 27:1 has been my verse this week.

Little One at 15 Months

15 months have flown by.
I love you so much!
You are such a silly little girl who loves to be on the go.
We love watching you toddle around.
You are still Mommy's girl and you love being with me.
You still won't say "Moma" but you do say "BAD" for Runt when he is acting crazy.
We just got back from a visit to N.C. and everyone loved seeing you.
You are my special baby!