The Strout Family

Be Still

2010-12-04T19:17:00.000-08:00

Suprisingly, It has been a year since my last post. As if I do not have any time to update what is going on in our crazy life... I don't!! We are always doing something. Until tonight. I am feeling awfully sick, cozied up on the couch in my comfy sweatshirt, drinking a cup of coffee (that my amazing husband prepared for me).

I love every second that I am able to spend with my beautiful girls, but I look forward to the hour that I am able to sit down, prop up my feet and call it a day. It's funny... even if we had more time in the day, I think I would still feel rushed and overwhelmed. I need to learn how to relax. I love to be on the go, and I have seen that I have taught Tristyn that if we are not out of the house then we are obviously not doing anything fun. I really want to change that. When we wake up in the morning and when we go to bed at night the first words out of her mouth are what are we doing today?, or what are we doing tomorrow? Just once I want to say, absolutely nothing!!!!! I know that would not go over to well.

The Lord tells us "don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:25. "Be still, and know that I am God..."Psalm 46:10.

I guess the truth is that I LOVE BEING BUSY!!!! I do not like to be lazy. I love to be productive with my day. Get up, work out (when I can), get ready, get the girls ready and move'm out.

It is time to be still. Time to slow down. I need to Take a much-needed break to reflect on God and His greatness, His love and His power. My relationship with the Lord and my family is so worth being 'lazy' once in a while.

We wish you a Merry Christmas!!!

2009-12-20T20:42:00.000-08:00

So Christmas is 5 days away, and I can't believe it! Of course, once again it has been forever since I have posted ouur last blog. Can I say CRAZY????

We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!! We love you all!!

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-30T19:10:00.001-07:00

We took the girls to a pumpkin patch last weekend. We bought a pumpkin and Tristyn helped me clean it out. She was both disgusted and fascinated at the same time. Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

Cara's 3 month pictures

2009-10-12T17:46:00.000-07:00

So I took Cara to get her 3 month pictures taken at JC Penny's. They do such a good job. Thanks Liz!! Liz has been taking our pictures since Tristyn was a newborn. cara was such a good girl during the shoot. My friend Jaci made the blue tutu and both headbands. Check out her website at trendytykesboutique.com. She is very creative! Here are the many faces of Cara.

2009-10-06T19:57:00.000-07:00

Yes, we are still here!!! We have been super busy over the last 2 months. I can't believe it has been that long since I have posted. Well, Cara is 3 months old, and growing like crazy! Her last doctors appointment she was 12lbs. 4 oz. She will be going back in a week or so for her 3 month check up.

Cara was dedicated on the 27th of October and cried through the entire thing. That's my girl!! Tristyn is being such a good big sister. She is very helpful for mommy and daddy. Yesterday she started to interact more with Cara. She laid on the floor with her and was talking to her and playing with her toys. Today she was using Cara as a patient and giving her pretend shots and listening to her heart beat, and taking her blood pressure. I wonder if we are going to have a doctor in the family!

Life is great with two children. I am totally blessed. Of course we have difficult times, but all in all we are loving every second of it!

Tristyn drew me and grampy all by herself!

Cara's baby dedication

What a doll!

Cara 1 1/2 months old

2009-08-02T18:51:00.000-07:00

Cara is 1 month old! I can't believe it! She is holding her head up very well already, looks right at you when you say her name, she started playing on her play mat and has even grabbed the toys a few times. She sleeps a lot during the day, and she is a hungry little girl all the time!!!

Today we had our family pictures taken. We planned on getting a lot more pictures of just Cara and a few of the girls together, but Cara was very frustrated near the end of the shoot. Hear are a few of them.

We tried to get this picture while she was sleeping, but this is when she woke up and the shoot went downhill from there. She was not happy after that!

Cara Brielle Strout

2009-07-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

God has blessed us with another beautiful little girl! Cara Brielle Strout was born on July 1st at 10:42 am. She was 6lb. 10.7 oz. and 18 1/2 inches long. Such a little one! We are taking are time adjusting to everything at home. Tristyn had a difiicult first two weeks, but it has been getting better. Talk about the blues! I had to get out of the house last Sunday. I felt trapped in here!! So, John and his mom took the girls and I to Chili's for lunch. My doctor said I was able to drive on Wednesday, and of course I did!! I went to Target with my friend Amber and we had lunch. That was my first time out alone with Cara. It went well. And I know it will get a little easier too. Well, I hope so. Here are some ppictures of the new little princess.

The night before the c-section.

Happy parents!

Tristyn is a proud big sister.

Our first family picture

Cara Brielle Strout

And by the way...

2009-05-26T19:01:00.000-07:00

I am having prego brain so much lately! Three posts in one night. I think that is a record. Today I had my 34 week appointment. I have been feeling so much pressure, and have been a little nervous since I dilated 6 weeks early with tristyn. My doctor said that my cervix is very soft and she is head down and very low. She said by this time, if I go into labor or start to dilate they will not try to stop anything. She estimates that Cara is around 5 pounds right now. Her room is coming together. I do not want to put the final pics up until it is finished... completely! But everything is going smoothly. I think that's it. i will post Memorial Day pics up later. I think 4 posts would over due it for tonight.

Sorry mommy!

2009-05-26T18:59:00.001-07:00

Here is your Mother's day Picture with tristyn... I didn't forget about you. Love ya!

Busy busy!!!

2009-05-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

On Saturday (the day before Mother's Day), we took tristyn to Universal for the last time until Cara arrives. I was technically supposed to sit in a wheel chair the whole day (doctors orders since Cara is so low), but you know me... I am stubborn. I just cannot take this heat and walking around for 6 hours. She of course enjoyed herself!

Mother's Day ...

This is our Mothers Day picture that was taken for us at Church. It turned out great!

Tristyn's finished product.

She looks so thrilled to take a picture... yeah right. (She was very tired)

For Mothers Day we invited our moms and my Grana over for a BBQ lunch (thanks to Sonney's). We had a great time. It was very relaxing, but of course my mother was in the kitchen the majority of the time cleaning. She is a sweetheart! I made each of them a piture frame and Tristyn helped me by dipping her little fingers in paint for the butterfly, and caterpillars on the frame. Tristyn decorated her first cake with pink icing and red heart prinkles on top. I was so proud of her. I have got to say... this is the way to go. I think mext year we may do the same thing but the day before Mother's Day... we will see!

We had a small party in tristyn Preschoool class on Friday before her Birthday Party. Tristyn's first bite of jello cupcakes (I attempted to try and make them). they turned out good... I think!

Tristyn is 3 years old! I can't believe it... Even though sometimes she scts like she's 6. These three years has gone by too fast. It feels like yesterday when I was holding her in my arms rocking her to sleep. Such a precious little girl she was ans still is!

So, for this years big celebration, she wanted a Princess theme. That was easy enough. I made the cupcakes and the cake myself, and put together all the decorations. Can you say PINK!!! that is just about the only color that was in my dining that day. She was such a proud little princess.

The sweets table (yummy)

Tristyn showing off her princess outfit and mommy blocking her with the prego belly. It seems to be getting in the way a lot more lately!

Blowing ou her candles all by herself!

Princess in the making!!

Birthday Princess enjoying her cake

Titi and Tristyn

Tristyn and her cousin Brandon

Baby Shower and much more!

2009-05-02T18:07:00.000-07:00

Today was my baby shower and Tristyn's first time at the nail salon. I let her get her fingernails and toenails painted. She chose purple with sparkles. What a sweetheart she was!

I am going on 31 weeks (on Tuesday). Time is flying by. My doctor officially scheduled my c-section for July 1st, which means I will be coming home from the hospital on the 4th of July. What a celebration that will be! With our new baby girl at home. Lots of adjusting to do, of course.

I am so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. Cara got a lot of cute things today. Wash cloths and towels, cute clothes and bows, a high chair, two baby slings (one maya wrap and the other my friend Amber made), diapers and wipes and tons of other things! we are so thankful! The only two things that we need before she comes is the dresser and the baby bedding. Of course the baby bedding is not a necessity, but it is nice to have. I'm all about decorating her room.

After the shower, my mom took a few maternity photos of me out in our backyard.

Here are a few pics of the day.

Easter 2009

2009-04-14T18:10:00.000-07:00

We had a great Easter! First we went to Cranes Roost for our Church's Easter service. It was very hot, and of course I am 7 months pregnant and wearing a dress that does not breathe... at all!! I was hot! But, It was a beautiful day... I shouldn't complain. It was so amazing to see so many people come together and worship God, thanking Him for showing his love towards us. We did not deserve the gift that He gave us, yet it is free. Thank you Lord for your unselfish love!

The family with Nana, Papa and Titi

Since we did not have the oney to drive to St. Augustine to see John's family, after the service we came home and my amazing mother and grandmother cooked a ham and a tom of yummy other things for us. We colored Easter eggs with Tristyn, which was actually our first year doing so. She enjoyed it so much! She kept wanting to mix all the colors.

After that we had an Easter egg hunt and Tristyn found all 32 eggs! Somehow the egg hunt turned into a water balloon fight between Tristyn, John, my mom and sister. They really had fun! I hid on the porch. I was having a good hair day, and that does not happen to often these days.

7 months (28 weeks)

Tristyn showing off her Easter baskets

Water balloon fight!!

Tristyn and her Grana

To end the night we all played a game of Apples to Apples (such a fun game!!). Overall it was a great Easter!

Here are some pictures of Tristyn hunting eggs with her friends at school.

Tristyn spent the Saturday before Easter with Meme and Grampy.

We will remain faithful!!

2009-04-06T19:13:00.000-07:00

Today was an exhuasting day! I didn't think that anything else could go wrong. One little thing after another, and one BIG thing on top of it all!! But... I still can't complain. I am healthy, I have a great husband and a beautiful, intelligent little girl and a precious one on the way, we both still have a job through this economic mess, and we have God by our side. What more can I ask for? It is so difficult to see the whole entire picture, but He does, and that is all that matters. Through it all we will remain faithful!

On a brighter note... here are a few pictures from the past couple of weeks. It is getting a little more difficult updating this thing.

Tristyn as Kaia

Daddy and Tristyn playing on the water at Universal City Walk.

Look at her cute face!

Mommy and Tristyn

Tristyn has finally learned how to ride her bike without asking for help from momy and daddy. I am so proud of her!!

26 weeks

26 weeks

So much to say!

2009-03-17T19:41:00.000-07:00

Where do I begin! I am 6 months pregnant. Things are going great! I can't believe we have just 3 months to go. This is going to fly by so fast! I think we have decided on the name... Cara Brielle Strout. We have already pulled everything down from the attic that we packed away after Tristyn. My mom was so nice to come over and help me was all of the clothes and put things away. The office is being transformed into the nursery... finally! We still have to move the desk out and sell it. We got a smaller desk at Big Lots that we put in the family room. John put the changing table together, and was going to put the bed together, but we have lost the screws. I am in the middle of trying to get the company to send me the parts. This is a little more difficult than I thought it would be. They were supposed to call me in 5 business days, but that has turned in to like 8. I guess I should try to give them a call back.

We took Tristyn to Disney one more time before Cara comes. We went to Epcot and MGM. God has truly blessed us with the opportunity to go to the parks all three times with out having to pay to get in. Thank you Lord!

Tristyn had her tubes put in her ears a few weeks ago. I cried my eyes out when they wheeled her away in the hospital bed. She looked pitiful!! They put her under, but it was only for 15 minutes. When she got up, she was a little fussy and was a bit out of t. But, we went to grab breakfast at cracker Barrel, and as soon as she was given orange juice and a ring pop she was very happy!! The first thing she told me when we got in the car was that her ears were breathing. It as the cutest thing! She said "mommy my ears are not supposed to breath, my mouth has to breath." She is such a sweetheart. We have to keep ear plugs in her ears when we bathe her her and when she swims, but other than that she is doing great!

My girlfriends had a baby shower for Heather and I. It was so much fun!! Thanks girls!! Cara is a spoiled little girl already! I am so thankful to have such close friends threw the years. They all mean so much to me! I don't know what I would do without them.

I had a doctors appointment today, and they are going to wait till my 39th week to have the C-section. 1 more week! I guess that is not so bad. I am just getting anxious. John and I are going to West Palm Beach this weekend. I got my first maternity bathing suit. I can't wait to wear it, and get a nice tan!

The Secret is out!!!

2009-02-22T17:04:00.000-08:00

It's a GIRL!!! Another little princess! We are so excited! We had our sonogram on the 17th and it was so hard to keep a secret!! Our little princess had her legs crossed the first time we went in, so they wanted us to come back in after my doctor saw me to do another ultrasound. This time you could tell that it was a GIRL!! John was so closed to the monitor... it was really cute. After the news John took Tristyn and I to Kobes to celebrate.

Waiting patiently!

I am a proud mommy! Our little GIRL! (I think I have the picture upside down)

At Kobes to celebrate. Tristyn is eating a birthday cupcake that was given to her by the lady we were sitting with. She loves her cake!!

On Wednesday we told my parents and sister. I had cupcakes made at publix with pink icing. On three cupcakes it spelled out "It's A GIRL!!". My mom was a little confused at first, because she had the cupcake that said GIRL. We had told everyone that we were not getting our sonogram done until the 24th (I had to lie to surprise everyone).

Picture before we anounced the news.

It's A GIRL!

Papa and Nana are so proud!

Today, I threw a surprise party for John's 25th birthday with the family. I had Tristyn bring John a pink gift bag and he read the card out loud. It was from the baby. When he pulled out what was inside, everyone knew!!! It took Meme (John's mom) by surprise though.

It was a pink outfit that said I love my Daddy!

Tristyn with Meme

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Tristyn and her cousin Brandon

I love him!

Me and my sister-in-law. We are 3 months apart. (21 weeks pregnant)

Pictures!

2009-02-10T17:12:00.000-08:00

Tristyn at her friend Jenna's 3rd birthday party

My little princess

18 weeks

16 weeks

Tristyn wanted to kiss the baby

Just a short update

2009-02-09T09:14:00.000-08:00

Sorry this post will not contain any pictures. Although, I do have a few I will try to put up tonight. We are going to find out the sex of the baby in two weeks! We are so excited! John is literally counting down the days... no joke! Tristyn is completely convinced it is a girl, and of course we know what John thinks. He is ready to paint the room blue and orange (for those of you that have already heard that funny story). Well, tomorrow I will be 19 weeks along. I am half way there! I have felt the baby move a handful of times so far over the last couple weeks. I don't think I sit still long enough to try to feel anything. Always on the go! This weekend we hung out with our friends Tiffany and Bobby and their two boys. They invited us over for dinner on Saturday night, and we joined them on their boat on Sunday for a couple of hours in Mt. Dora. It was Tristyn's first boat ride. She will not stop talking bout it. Unfortunately I forgot my camera, so I have to get a picture from Tiffany. Saturday John and Tristyn rode around on a 4 wheeler (I could not watch). kept telling myself to go out and take a picture, but of course forgot! We had such a great weekend. We are so blessed to have friends like them. God is good!

4 Months on Tuesday!!!

2009-01-17T11:47:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I have been meaning to post a new blog now for a couple of weeks. Still way to busy to keep up with everything. We had 12 people over our house for Christmas this year. It was a lot of fun! I didn't stress at all!! I think my mother stressed for me... like always. John got me a Wii for Christmas. Or should I say he got 'us' a Wii for Christmas. I think he plays it way more than I even think about playing it. But it is a lot of fun! Especially when we have family or friends over. Tristyn's BIG gift from us this year was a doll house, which is almost twice her size. Funny thing is she is barely playing with it. I guess she will grow into it. She is in a stage right now where she wants to do everything mommy is doing. If I am blow drying my hair, so is she!! I do not have my quiet time to myself anymore when I am getting ready. I love every second of it!!! Okay, not always!

Tristyn hanging her ornament on Christmas eve.

Daddy got mommy Christmas pajamas!!!

Tristyn's opening her doll house.

My sister rubbing the baby bump.

Merry Christmas!

I will be 4 months pregnant on Tuesday. I am very excited! We had a sonogram at 14 weeks. I am still very tired, but I am not sick at all so I can;t complain. I still do not like the smell of fish or eggs. Which makes me still wonder why my darling husband decided to cook fish and lobster tail at 9:00 at night a couple nights ago... I still ask why! Our next appointment is on the 27th of this month, and I am going to try to get an appointment for the 13th of February so that we can find out what it is! Tristyn comes into my bedroom every morning now after she gets up and gives my belly a kiss and says "I love my baby". It is adorable!

6 weeks and already showing.

11 weeks

15 weeks and going to the gym

14 weeks sonogram (spine)

14 week sonogram (profile)

14 weeks (tiny face)

We have started a "Biggest Winner" Challenge at our Church this past week. Of course I am not going to loose any weight, but I am trying to eat better and exercise more. I do feel a lot better after going to the gym. It gives me another jump start and I am not as tired as I was before I walked in. John is very determined in this challenge. He has been eating super healthy and is working out every day. And going to school and working on top of that. I am very proud of him!Hopefully I post again soon! Or the next one might be when we find out the sex of the baby! We'll see.

Christmas time is here!

2008-12-17T16:50:00.000-08:00

So, am I the only one that feels like this year has flown by entirely too fast? My little girl is going on three and we have another little one on the way, which means these next 6 1/2 months are going to go by super fast! Slow down!!!! I managed to get a few pictures up from the past couple of weeks. I never thought that would happen! Lately I have been so fatigued. I constantly want to sleep, but of course that never happens, so I just feel even more tired. I need a time out... a vacation. That sounds good right now! Tomorrow is my last day at work before Christmas, and then I have off until the 29th. Hopefully I find time to chill.

Christmas card 2008

Tristyn hanging one of her ornaments.

Tristyn and Santa. She looks so grown up!

Family of three... going on four!!!

2008-12-06T10:52:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to announce that we are pregnant! I am 9 weeks along... 10 weeks on Tuesday. We are ready for another new chapter in our life. We can't wait! We had our first sonogram last week and everything looked good. Here are a few pictures from when I suprised John and from the sonogram.

We're pregnant!

John opening his first card from Baby Strout. At first he thought it was from Tristyn.

John told Tristyn that she was going to be a big sister! She was excited!

Time to relax...

2008-11-15T19:04:00.000-08:00

I finally can relax! These past couple weeks have been so CRAZY!!! So much going on and so little time to sit back and just rest. But, hopefully the craziness is behind us. Everything is settling well in the new house. We are still looking for a breakfast table on Craig's List. I have found some amazing tables lately, but every time I call, I am too late. Someone snatched it up already! I know God has a great "cheap" one waiting for us somewhere. I have to be patient. After getting things together in the house, I am debating on painting. I really want to, but that is a lot to think about. I still have to buy some pretty curtains for a couple rooms. We will see. It will all come together! Pictures of the house will be coming soon. Here are a few pictures that I have not had time to post yet.

Trick or Treat!

2008-11-04T20:48:00.000-08:00

On Thursday night we took Tristyn o Journey Christian Church fr their Fall Festival with her friend Asher. They both had a ton of fun! After getting everything for Tristyn's Dorothy costume, she decided that she wanted to be Snow White. Of course,we didn't have a Sow White costume, but thankfully I was able to find one!!! So, I surprised Tristyn that afternoon before we went out. She did not wait to take the costume off when we go home. She was so adorable it it!!

Fall Is In The Air

2008-11-04T20:31:00.000-08:00

We took Tristyn to a pumpkin patch at Sanlando United Methodist Church on Wednesday, and I have to say, that it was the best one that we have seen so far (in the 3 years that we have been going to them). There were a ton of pumkins and plenty of cute things for kids to do. I snapped a few pictures of Tristyn as she was in search of a pumpkin to take home.

Go Seniors!!!

2008-10-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday Tiffani had her PowderPuff game at Apopka. Of course the Seniors won... they ALWAYS win! It brought back so many memories. I can't believe that it has been 6 years already since we graduated. It has gone by so fast! I can honestly say that I do miss the amazing times I had with my friends in High School. Tristyn had so much fun too! She was dancing to the music and cheering for 'Titi' (aunt Tiffani). We took a couple of pictures from the game.

Our Little Princess ready for the big game!

Mommy's little girl

Catch the ball!

Already a Senior!! She is growing up so fast!

Nana and Tristyn

Tristyn's first trip to Disney

2008-10-23T19:55:00.000-07:00

We took tristyn to Disney for the first time ever! She had a blast! We got there at 11am and did not leave until 10pm. It was a long day, but it was so worth it. Just to see Tristyn's face light up on every ride made John and I both so happy!

We have moved!

2008-10-19T19:04:00.000-07:00

We officially moved into the new house Saturday. We were up last night until 3:30 a.m., and we are still unpacking! I cannot wait untill I can relax! We went to Disney last weekend. It was Tristyn's first trip there. I have not had time to post any pictures, but they will be comming soon. I will also post plenty of pictures of the house when I am finished. Time to unload another box!

Tristyn's trip to the dentist

2008-10-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

Tristyn went to the dentist this week, and was such a good listener! the doctor and I were very impressed! I brought the camera along with me, because daddy could not make the appointment. Here is our little princess at her first appointment to Dr. Bishop's office.

We're moving!

2008-10-04T13:16:00.000-07:00

That's right! We are signing the lease on October 7th, and getting the keys to the house on the 15th. We are so excited! I guess I should also tell you that we are not moving to the house in Errol. We didn't even put in the application. We found out that another couple put in their application at a higher price than we would have even thought about paying for it! Honestly, I just felt like giving up at the time, but my mom is such a blessing. She continued to look for us every chance she got. She's amazing! So, I will say that mom found the house for us. It was priced a little higher than we wanted, but my mom talked them down! They didn't even want pets in the house, and I basically had to "sell" my dog to them. I made him sound like the best dog ever! Maybe I exaggerated a little, but they excepted! Praise God, He is great!

It's a God thing!

2008-09-23T18:51:00.000-07:00

John and I have been looking for a house to rent for the past month now. Well, I have been looking for the past two months, but thats another story! So far we have set appointments with four different agents to see houses. The first one we saw smelled like indian food. The second one had about ten birds in a cage, and reaked of an aweful smell throughout the house. The third house was not in a good neighborhood and the master bedroom was small. But, the fourth house has deffinately grabbed my attention. Three bedroom, two bath, breakfast nook, dining room, living room, and family room. Fenced in yard, and a community pool and tennis court. It is located in Errol, so it is a great neighborhood for a family! Okay, so the asking price was $1,230 a month. $30 dollars over what we wanted to spend. But, I went to look at it anyway, and I love it! I took John to see it today, and he pointed out a few things that he thought could use some touch up. But over all I think he liked it! He just did not think it was worth the price. When we got home John called on the house to see what all they were going to fix up before they moved the tenant in, to see how much he could ask off of the price. After getting off the phone, I told him to go onto the rentals.com website to see if anything new was available, and as we were scrolling down, we saw the house in Errol listed at $1195. WHAT!!! Just this morning it was $1230. That's it! I said . This is the house. We were praying for God to show us that this was the one, and that was written right in front of us. We are going to put in a application tomorrow!! I will keep everyone posted. Here are a few pictures...

Little 500

2008-09-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

So, we took Tristyn to the Little 500 the other day, and I think I may have had more fun than she did. She rode with daddy first, and then again with mommy. I was brave enough to let her take the wheel, which almost took us for a spin... literally! I would totally recomend going if you have a little one, 15 minutes, and $5 dollars. It was alot of fun! Maybe because I was a little competitive on the track.

Playground fun!

2008-09-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

First, I thought I would share something that happened this weekend. Friday night, John and I went to TJ Max, and I saw the comforter that I had been wanting for a while now. There was only 1 King size left. It was such a great price, but we still could not afford it. John decided that he would work on Saturday, so that he could bring in some extra money, so that I could get it. He knew how badly I wanted it! Well, on Sunday, after Church, John called me while I was out with my mom, and told me that he felt that God was laying it on his heart to give the money as an offering to the Church. I sat there for a minute, without saying anything, and started to cry. Not because I wasn't getting the comforter, but because I saw the work that God was doing in my husbands life and our life as a family. I didn't hesitate to agree with him. Of course I wanted the comforter, but I wanted to honor God even more with our money, and that is what mattered most! I know that God will honor that.

This is the comforter set. Isn't it gorgeous! But, God may have something better picked out. We'll see!

We went to the playground today and had a blast. Exept for the fact that I brought along the dog and he decided to bark at everyone that walked by. That is so embarrassing! I was so ready to leave, but tristyn was having so much fun! I love it when she is happy. She scares me on the playground, because she thinks she can jump off of everything and she even tries to cross the monkey bars! Here is some pictures of our fun day!

Surprise!

2008-09-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

We threw a surprise party for Nana. She was definately shocked! Tristyn and I made the cake, which turned out pretty good!

2008-09-14T18:50:00.001-07:00

I finally put our family vacation pictures on the computer. It's about time! Here are a few...

I'm on a tight budget!

2008-09-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it! I went grocery shopping tonight, and only spent $60 dollars ($40 dollars under what we budgeted for this week). So, we treated ourself with a movie and some yummy candy. Don't ever rent "Miss Conception". I was extremely bored the first forty minutes of the movie. John didn't even last through the first five minutes! Next time he gets to pick the movie. I tend to have bad luck!

Our little Princess

2008-09-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

On our vacation to Pompano Beach, we went to a studio and had tristyn's pictures taken. Although we spent a little more than we wanted to, we were happy with the pictures. Take a look at our little princess...

I put this collage together myself!

And this one!

Let's try this again!

2008-09-09T18:11:00.000-07:00

So, I have not posted in quite a few months now. I will get into the swing of this soon... I promise!
Well, God has definately been working in our lives the past couple months.

We are starting to look at places to rent now. Our lease is up at the end of October, and I am getting very excited to see where God will place us next. Tristyn is going through a rough time... I am just calling it the "terrible two's", which means that it will not last long... hopefully! She is loving her new Preschool teachers, Mrs. Nutter and Miss Melita. She has made a couple new friends since the summer, Maddie and Annalyn are the two I hear about alot... I mean ALOT!! John is still in school full time. Only one more semester of SCC and he is done! We can't wait! I am not taking any classes this semester. Taking a litttle break. It was so stressfull with the two of us working full time, going to school and taking care of Tristyn. Way to much for us! But still, there is never a dull moment in our lives!

Over the past three months, John , Tristyn and I have been visiting First Baptist of Altamonte Springs Church. Yes, I still work at Trinity, and I love my job! But, God has been laying it on John's heart for a long... I mean LONG time now, about seeking out another Church for us as a family. Of course, I never agreed with him. I was stubborn, and very comfortable where we were at. I mean I have been going to Church at Trinity since I was 14. I wasn't ready to switch Churches!! A few months ago, I really felt it laid on my heart to start praying about the situation. Week after week, my heart softened to the thought of visiting another Church. The first Sunday at First Baptist Altamonte, God was speeking directly to John and I! Everything that we as a couple had been praying about was directly right in front of us. Week after week, we would continue to ask God to guide us where He would want us to go, and shut doors that He did not want us to enter. But, it was week after week that another door would open. More opportunities for John and I to serve, and to be apart of a Couples Life group (which is amazing, I might add), a men's bible study for John and a women's bible study for me, Awana's for Tristyn on Wednesday nights... the list goes on and on! And not to mention how many friendships we have made in such a short period of time. This goes to show us that we are exactly where God wants us to be as a family. We are so happy, and we are growing closer to God together, which is what we have been needing for a long time now. God has us right were He wants us!! Thank you Lord!

Here goes...

2008-06-22T18:12:00.000-07:00

I am probably a little crazy for deciding to start a blog spot, but I figured it would be a great way to update family and friends about our exciting life. John and I are working full time and going to school... yes, I sometimes can't believe it either! You can definately say that we are always busy. There is never a dull moment! But, through all of it, we are enjoying life. We are constantly amazed with Tristyn everyday. She just celebrated her 2nd birthday on May 16th.

Tristyn started swim lessons two weeks ago, and is loving it! She asks to go under the water now. I thought I would never here her ask that! She is also in gymnastics. She is such a busy girl!