Loving Cousins

Hayley begged me to take a picture with her cousin Mady

Aren't they just so CUTE!!

Our Little Boy is turning 3 today!

On January 27th 2006, our second little miracle was born...
Brayden Scott Marsh
He can sometimes be a handful....but we are glad he is ours! Hard to believe that he has been here for 3 years already!!

Brayden's Birthday 01/27/06

Brayden turns 1!

Brayden turns 2!!

Brayden turns 3!!!

Happy Birthday Brayden!!!

My Letter is "D"

Here's the deal: If you want to play, leave a comment on this post letting me know, and I’ll assign you a letter. You write about ten things you love that begin with your assigned letter, and post it at your place. When people comment on your list, you give them a letter, and the chain continues on and on.

Autumn over at Everyday Moments assigned me the letter {D}

And here we go....

1. {Dad} and Mom {Delores} always there for me and I can't imagine my life without them.

2. {Dreaming} all girls love to dream!!

3. {Dancing} especially with my kiddos...acting silly.

4. {Daisies} He loves me...He loves me not...He loves me!!

5. {Doughnuts} need I say more??

6. {Disney World} have not been there in a long time but hope to experience this in a few years with my kids.

7. {Diamonds} especially my engagement ring..."Diamonds are a girl's best friend".

8. {Designing} I love designing cards and scrapbooking.

9. {Dogs} especially the ones who are in my life now...and have been in the past...

10. {December} such a magical, hectic, lovely, wonderful, month

Thanks for reading my list. Don't forget to leave a comment if you would like to play.

Brayden's Birthday Party

On Saturday, we had Brayden's 3rd Birthday party. He wanted a CARS theme this year...and we did just that! He is such a CARS fanatic and we are actually going to decorate his room in CARS *once Mommy and Daddy get motivated enough to do it :) * There was lots of family and friends around to celebrate with Brayden and us. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives. He, of course, received a lot of great gifts...and I once again had to find a place for everything. It is hard to believe that my little boy is growing up so fast!! His actually birthday is not until Tuesday, January 27th...and that is my LOOONNNGGG day...I believe Scott is going to take them out for a birthday dinner to either McDonald's or Wendy's...fine dining for toddlers.!

........Memories.........

Here is the Memory Box I put together

to remember our beloved Levi.

The poem to the right

is called Rainbow Bridge.

GO EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok...well better luck next year.

At least the STEELERS won!!!!!

LEVI

This past Tuesday, Scott and I had to do one of the hardest things in our lives. Our 13-year-old cocker spaniel, Levi, that we had had since July 1995, took a turn for the worst and we had to make that dreadful decision. Friends and family had told me how hard it was to do...but until your are in those shoes, you will never understand the emotion it brings on. I myself was feeling very guilty because since the birth of our children, the dogs were put way on the back burner. They were more of a burden to me than a pet...and there were many times that I wish they were not here (and I told them that!) I knew that Levi was aware that he was loved but it just pulled at my heart that I wasn't nicer to him over the last 5 1/2 years. We have so many fond memories of Levi....like the day of our wedding when he was just a little pup. Scott accidentally stepped on him and flattened out his butt....well Scott was so frantic that he had displaced the poor dogs hip...but told him, "I don't have time for this now, Levi". (luckily there was nothing wrong with him)Or the time when my brother was going to YTI and stopped over at our house for lunch with Scott. Scott had made pork chops...and sneaky Levi (who always tried his hardest to find and get food)....stuck his snout up to grab the pork chop just as Scott went to stop him...and out flew the meat right on the table and Levi was standing there with the bone in his mouth. The time when Scott and I left him out of his crate in our old house after I had just gone through the magazines to recycle...and returned a few hours later to a ticker tape parade in our upstairs hallway....there was TONS of shredded paper every where! Most recently, after we moved in to our new house...and the house two doors down was being build..and it was extremely muddy and Levi decided to go check it out....mind you, he was white....he didn't return white (Scott took care of that one). There are plenty of other stories..but I do not want to bore you. I would like to try and find some of the puppy pictures..(but back in '95 I didn't have a digital camera...and never got the pictures in albums...so I am going to have to do some searching) to post....He was our first pet together and it is hard to believe he is gone. The kids are doing fairly well understanding that he has gone to Doggy Heaven...Hayley told her daddy, "You won't have to pick up as much poop anymore, and we won't go through as much dog food!!" (she is something else) Brayden doesn't quite get it...in one sentence he tells me that his doggy died and went to heaven and then a few minutes later he asks me if he is going to be better tomorrow. I did get a really good book at the Library called Dog Heaven that is very kid friendly at explaining the death of a pet.

So Levi, WE MISS YOU!! We know you have plenty of friends up there to play with....(Whitney, Maggie, and Tobee)..Hope you are having fun eating all the treats you want and sleeping in the clouds! You will never be forgotten

The loss of our dear friend.......

Levi Garrett

1995-2009

HEAVEN'S DOGGY-DOOR

My best friend closed his eyes last night,
As his head was in my hand.

The Doctors said he was in pain,

And it was hard for him to stand.

The thoughts that scurried through my head,

As I cradled him in my arms.

Were of his younger, puppy years,

And OH...his many charms.

Today, there was no gentle nudge

With an intense "I love you gaze",

Only a heart thats filled with tears

Remembering our joy filled days.

But an Angel just appeared to me,

And he said, "You should cry no more,

GOD also loves our canine friends,

HE's installed a 'doggy-door"!

jan cooper '95

I finally have a spare minute and thought I would do a little update. Hard to believe the weekend is coming to an end. We had a fairly busy weekend. Friday night I was planning on starting to paint Hayley's bedroom but after 9 hours of work....I opted not to start it. That evening, the kiddos wanted me to play Wii Fit as well as Cooking Mama (they love to watch me play; not sure WHY?) Saturday morning...I was anticipating SNOW...but since we didn't get it, I took Hayley to the skating rink for a few hours in the morning. Brayden went with us, but he was not interested in trying to skate. Hayley had a great time skating with her friend Hannah. After returning home, I made an apple pie to take to my SIL's for dinner. It was a great evening with family, food, and football!!
Sunday I painted Hayley's room PINK. I started at 11 am and was not finished until about 7:00 pm. (UGHHHH) that was with two breaks for food. I watched the Eagles beat the Giants as I was painting thanks to my DH who put the TV in the hallway so I could see it. Hayley's room isn't completely finished since we have to put up either a border or chair molding where the two colors meet. I will post pictures when it is finished. But I would have to say that it looks VERY CUTE!!! I am just too tired and lazy to go up and snap a picture now! LOL Back to work tomorrow for a only a three day week!!

Little Ballerina

Thanks to Uncle Steve....he took some pictures of Hayley's Christmas Recital at The Brethren Home on Monday 12/29/08....the kiddos need a lot of work, but they were cute to look at! Especially Hayley!!