Family Pictures

Who knew that finding clothes for 5 people for family photos could be so dang challenging. The worst part was the kids clothes were bought by a family friend for their birthdays...so I really just had to find clothes for Scott and I. I had a certain look I was going for and it was a challenge to find that look. I *think* I have finally accomplished it.. Then throw in the fact that I want pictures of just Scott and I, and each child individually.

We are trying a new photographer this time and I am very excited about it. Plus we are doing outdoor pictures this time as well. I am looking for Creative, Fun and Unique. Hopefully we can accomplish that and the weather is nice.

We haven't had family pictures taken since 2008, and it is time to update them. As soon as they are done I will be sure to post my favorites here for all to see.

July

Well we are 11 days into July and having lots of fun. We spent 4th of July weekend camping at the cabin. The kids love it there. We have a private beach, a big ole swimming hole, fishing access, swing set, paddle boat and a whole woods to explore. The best part is that it is 3 miles from home so when we forget something we can run back home for it, when we run home to feed the dog. It is heavenly.

We spent this past Friday there as well with my Aunt Terrie, her grandson Jared and his friend Lane. The kids had a blast. They went fishing and caught a bunch of fish, they got to swim and just have fun.

Saturday, Makenzi was able to spend the day at her best friends house. She had a blast. They went to the store, went to the park twice, got ice cream and played with all of her toys. The rest of us headed to the race track to watch my brother race. Braxton loved to watch the cars but wasn't so fond of them starting up right next to him when he was expecting it. Arianna also enjoyed watching the race cars. She would scream go, go, go when they were staging. It was so cute to watch. What they enjoyed the most though, was playing back at the motor home with all the kids.

Scott goes back to work for 5 days and then he is home for 10 days. We can't wait. We are having a staycation. Trying to plan lots of stuff to do during that time. The kids have VBS that week in the evenings, with the big end of the year party on Thursday. We are having the Triple Birthday Bash on Saturday so that will be fun. Otherwise we are going to be relaxing and enjoying time as a family.

July is turning out well...although I don't want it to go by too fast, because I am not ready for the school year to start yet.

Goodbye June, Hello July

June sure flew by and I don't have to wonder why. Every weekend we had something going.

The first weekend we spent at Covenant, the second weekend I had a bridal shower and lots of stuff to get done around the house, the third weekend I spent Saturday and Sunday in Chicago, and this past weekend I spent the weekend at my best friends wedding.

The wedding was beautiful, and the rain held out for the ceremony and the pictures. Congratulations to Kristi and Kyle P. Thank you for the wonderful time and I am glad I could be there for both of. It was an honor to be your Maid of Honor!

I spent 2 nights a week at the ball diamonds watching Makenzi play t-ball. They are so much to watch at this age because they really have no idea. T-ball ends on Wednesday.

July should be a fun and relaxing month. Lots of camping is planned. Scott has his week long vacation coming up and I can't wait. The kids have Vacation Bible school that same week and they can't wait.

Not much else has been happening around here, just going day to day. I keep hoping our luck is turning around and then something else happens. The first 6 months of 2010 have been rough, so I am hopeful the next 6 months are better!

Begging and Pleading

with all of you who read my blog. Please share this post with anybody and everybody you know.

If you read the story below this post you will know more, but I have been trying to figure out why or how this happened to us. Having a child fall out of a window is something that *most* of us never think of or never think will happen to us.

I honestly never thought of it. I have heard of it happening to other children but I always assumed that it was out of old windows or windows that had no screens. Well we put brand new windows in, in September of last year.

I can try to figure out how it happened with some speculation, but I do know why it happened. It isn't because of some faulty window/screen, or my child not having supervision (since I was in the same room), or anything else that I can think of without believing in higher powers.

I HONESTLY believe the reason this happened to us, and had such an amazingly positive outcome. It is so we can save some other child out there. If I can share my story and prevent one other fall or close call I will be happy. I live in a awesome community and word has traveled fast and it doesn't bother me at all. I have had so many people tell me that they have checked their windows/screens and rigged them up so their children can not fall out. I had nurses and staff at the hospital tell me they ran home after their shift and checked their windows.

PLEASE check your windows, call the manufacturer and ask if they have window blocks that make it so they only open so far, or rig it up yourselves. I don't care if you have 1 story, 2 story, live in an apartment, rent a house or whatever! Take action and check it out.

When we came home we rigged ours up but I called today and was informed that yes they do have this device that only lets them open so far, so a child can not fall out of the window...oh how I wish I knew about that when we put them in.

Had my daughter fallen out of any of the other upstairs bedroom windows she would of had serious medical issues or we would not have our daughter with us anymore. She would have hit cement, the deck for sure, or a bunch of rocks.

Guardian Angels

I believe in Guardian Angels and Miracles.

I received a miracle yesterday that I will never forget or take for granted.

Arianna fell out of the second story bedroom onto the ground beneath. She missed the deck and the row of rocks. She crushed part of my peony plant but we know that is what helped break her fall..although I am certain she had guardian angels holding her back to slow her fall and break her fall as well. We rushed her by ambulance to the hospital, where she was awake and crying the whole time and moving all 4 limbs.

A quick scan was done along with a head to toe cat scan. Not a single bruise, cut, scrape, or major injury showed up. She had no injuries at all. She was admitted to be watched though but she is perfectly fine and should come home within 48 hours after the accident.

Here are the photos of the recreated accident scene.









PLEASE CHECK YOUR SCREENS, CHECK FOR WINDOW SAFETY FEATURES, TEACH YOUR KIDS TO LEAVE THE WINDOWS AND SCREENS ALONE. LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES. THE THOUGHT OF WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED IS SO SCARY AND NERVE WRACKING, I NEVER WANT ANYBODY ELSE TO EXPERIENCE THIS FEAR, PANIC AND UNKNOWN.

The family is growing...

Not by any new feet though...just in inches and years.

May has been a big month for us! Our baby turned 2 years old and along with it came the awful 2 year old attitude. Arianna is a piece of work. I can say that she makes us laugh every day though!

Braxton graduated his first year of preschool today... It has been a bitter sweet moment though. He is very excited to be done for the summer but at the same time he is very angry with me. I am switching him to a different preschool come fall (just for convenience for myself) and he is not happy with that at all. Braxton loves his preschool teacher and all the friends he made and he doesn't want to have a new teacher or school. He is okay with making new friends though. He told his teachers today that he is mad at me and that he will miss both them. He also asked if he could come back and visit them...they said of course. I really hope he forgets soon and goes on to enjoy his summer and his new school.

It also hit me that Makenzi is going to be a big bad 1st grader come Fall. Where has the time gone? I already miss her being a little toddler. She was such a sweet little baby/toddler that has grown into a very sweet little girl.

Our lives are changing and are actually becoming easier as our children get older. It is a fun journey...that is always changing.

2 years ago today

After 22 hours of labor at 3:18 pm Arianna Mary Tallon joined our family. Arianna joined our family 4 weeks early due to medical complications of me and her. We had to have the NICU present for her birth because of her being a preemie. They suctioned 10cc of fluid off of her lungs at the time of her birth but then she did great. Arianna weighed 6lbs 11oz and measured 18 inches long.

Here is Arianna right away:





1 year old:


2 years old: Check out all those curls on her head! I love them and was so hopeful she would have some curls since the other two didn't.