Such a long BEAUTIFUL DAY!

1st - Hi Sheena! thanks for your comment. I don't have any pictures right now but I will try to have my nephews send some to my email by tomorrow, okay!

Such a long-long-long day... It was good though!
So, I have to be honest and admit, I hit the snooze button and fell fast asleep til 7:45 a.m when 'Si[who NEVER sleeps past 7:00] walked into our room.

I guess last night Steve & I were so wound up we had a hard time falling asleep. We were tired but just couldn't fall asleep and about 1:00 a.m I heard , "mommy" it was Kay telling me she had a sore throat and a dry stuffy nose. We put some vicks baby menthol in her nostrils and tucked her back in and then, I guess she was wide awake because from then on for about the next 30 minutes the three of us were giggling, talking and carrying on about silly stuff. At 3:00 a.m I heard another, "mommy" it was 'Si. Steve got up and found monie & tucked him back in. I was wide awake, so I decided I might as well take advantage of the time and jumped in the shower. Needless to say, by the time i got out and back into bed. I was out cold whenever the alarm came on at 5:00, so I slept in (accidentally)

I felt horrible. I was supposed to be at moms to help Beth get dressed at 8:00!!! I woke up at 7:45 ( I know, I know how awful of me) NO WE DID NOT MAKE IT ON TIME! no - not even to the wedding!!!
We had the groom with us and he arrived at the church at 10:01 and Beth got there at 10:35.

The wedding was just precious. I carried Moriah in. Cindy & Daniel sang, 'From This Moment' by Shania Somthing... ... oh my goodness - we were all balling (I don't think there was a dry eye in the house). Cindy had to wipe my tears cause I was holding Moriah - She was part of the wedding party (too cute - can't wait to get pic's to post)!!

Wedding was over at 11:30. Reception was very nice. quaint. Simple but lovely. Served finger foods & cake. Cleaned up & came home @ 12:45 rested for about 1 hour and then packed up the bows. We were all a little on the grumpy(tired-grumpy) side for about 20 minutes, while we packed up & drove. The kids were tired & no my little 'Si did NOT get a nap - poor guy.

As soon as we got there the Christmas spirit hit us & we were okay except that IT WAS COLD!!! cold- cold- cold!
It was so cold that only half the regular crowd showed up out there & some street vendors left early because of the cold.

We still haven't really counted how much we sold but I know it wasn't that much - At 5:00 mom packed up & left, We stayed for about 20 minutes more. We were trying to brave the cold & wait to see the actual tree lighting ceremony but it was too cold so we packed up & got ready to go.

Fowler is such a small close knit community and lots of people know us from all the years I lived in Fowler plus all the parents & children who know me from when I worked at the school district. Kayla is known there too - It's like our home town :)

Our booth was right next to my x-neighbor. She said a cheery, "hi Kayla" & Kayla didn't remember her. Kristen had to remind her- she was mommy's neighbor!

We were just about ready to leave when one of the little girls came up to Kayla & offered her two gold fish. *aye!!*
So of course being the little pet lover she is, Kayla squealed with excitement as Samantha's mom asked Steve if she could have them. Seeing Kayla's expression we said okay(reluctantly). None the less we now have two new additions to the Douglas family. She named them, Sherbet & Turquoise, Gem, Onyx, or something like that.

Now we were really getting ready to leave - Steve was actually loading stuff when Kristen comes to her booth with two toddler size bicycles (raffle prizes) a pink one and a blue one. She has a niece but no nephew. YUP! you guessed it!!! She gave it to 'Si !!!! WOW what a BIG day for the kids! Free pictures with Santa ('Sia had to be bribed by Nino Jonathan) & Kayla took three pic's with Santa!!! The fish & the bike - Both kids had a smile that lit up brighter than the tree ceremony!!

We rushed home & cleaned up our messy living room & dining room. Jonathan & Olivia were the first to get here for the 'after party', Then Beth's friend Becca, then finally Beth & Tony arrived with mom & 'Riah. The pizzas arrived - more guests arrived. The music started at about 6:45 p.m and we mingled a little -for about an hour and then the bride and groom had their first dance. It was beautiful. After that it was on - we had our humble but extremely fun family dance. We had all the girls dance first and then the kids joined in and then it the guys started acting silly & joined in. Then Steve took me into the center of our living room and we danced and laughed so hard when he dipped me & every one clapped![Cindy got really good pictures - I will ask her to send them to my email so I can post some]it has been a while since Steve & I danced & had such a wonderfully FUN evening like that (*sigh* BIG- SMILE*) . He and Kayla had a father-daughter dance and she got teary, my precious girl - it was just so precious to see her in her daddy arms all teary. 'Siah was sweet on one of the 19 year old girls (*Aye*) he danced with his nina Cindy - Cindy danced with Kayla & Kayla pulled me out a couple of times to "teach"me how to dance, She said, "come here mom - look- just follow my lead" I am not a dancer but her & Selina were sure having a blast teaching me or most likely laughing at me!! It was so much fun!!! Our house finally started to clear out at about 10:oo and Mom & Moriah are spending the night so Kayla & Steve got their fill of Moriah without 'Si hovering over them.

Mom & 'Ri are sleeping over in Kayla's room (Mr. & Mrs. Dews are celebrating their marriage tonight - no baby!!! & momma is having baby with drawls). Kay is "camping out with 'Si. Moriah fell asleep at 11:00. Kay fell asleep at 11:30 and 'Si fell asleep at 10:50 ( he was so tired).

Oh and we just remembered we have Kito-Ben's 20th birthday celebration after church tomorrow.

I am T.I.R.E.D!!!

Cherishing the moments

I am a very strong believer in cherishing moments. I was thinking about how time just goes so very fast. Kayla got home today and we dashed out the door to go pay the rent and pick up some stuff at the store real quick. Real quick took forever and it was dark by the time we got home.

We got back and changed for the reahersal and out the door again... We practiced walking in, standing, walking out and did this over and over til it was just right. Josiah is not very interested in this ring bearer business.
Practice started at 6:00 and we left at 9:30. We set up , decorated, ate and then our family had to leave. We came home and without any discussion to be had between us & the kids - "camp douglas" was not on the itinarary for this Friday night. THe kids are so involved with all we are doing they didn't seem to mind.

We all walked in the front door and Kayla went straight for the shower. I changed 'Si into his jammies, Steve did some packing and arranging of our sale stuff.

Everything seemed to be functioning just fine. 'Si was looking for his pillow to lie down, Kake is showering, Steve's packing and it hit me... ... ... "CHERISH THE MOMENTS" I knew I had lots to do. I am or should I say we are all so tired. Just then Kake comes out of her shower and I think "cherish the moments-this here and now moment".

I grab a blanket throw it down on the carpet and tell the kids & Steve well we aren't doing "camp douglas" be we can always make time for family cuddles!
So, we all piled in cozy, cozy, comfy, comfy (as 'Si says it) and had the most wonderful cuddle time together. I started singing worship songs to them and every now and then 'Si & Kake would join in and as I rubbed my finger on her forehead; Again, Ithought "cherish these moments". 'Si was holding my face as I sang to them and Kayla cuddled close between us daddy & her were making ~cricket feet~ (it's a thing we all do to eachother when we are laying together. We rub our feet together till we fall asleep).

Kake was facing me and when I winked at her she squeezed my shoulder. We were singing different worship songs to our "precious blessings from heaven". In that very moment Steve & I knew this moment is one our children will cherish forever. We too cherish these moments and we tucked them in and the most precious sight to see is Kake holding 'Si while they sleep.

I had some one write to me and ask me how Kay & 'Si get along. I said they get along like all siblings do, why wouldn't they? They are both my children. My sweet girl just has a first mommy & I am the second.

Lately Josiah has been trying to grasp the concept of why sister has two homes and today he asked her, "tister - you first mommy she say yes? (kake (we) had no idea what he was trying to say) I asked him her mommy say yes for what? and he said, "her first mommy say yes to tister(sister) to she eat candy with me?"
He was asking if her first mommy would let her share one of his candies :)

On this busy day I have been so blessed to take the time to cherich the fleeting moments in our sometimes chaotic life schedules.

We will be at the wedding at 10:00 :) Beth & Tony are so exausted! They just left the church at 11:45 p.m tonight.

I better go sleep for a few hours before we hear that alarm clock at 5:30 a.m

I will try to ask Kito Ben to send me some pic's from the wedding