I woke up on Tuesday, June 9th and set out to make Phil a healthy breakfast before his long work day.  Too often he is stuck eating cereal for breakfast which is about as healthy as the cardboard box it comes in… I’m not joking… I’ve done the research!

Anyway, as the kids get up they wish their wonderful daddy a happy birthday.  Phil turned 46 years young today.  I am so blessed to have him as my husband and our children are blessed to have him as their daddy.

Phil is such a godly man and he leads our family with grace, kindness and humility.  He seeks the Lord as he goes about his days filled with work, honey to-do lists and daddy please play with me requests.

He loves the lost and he loves serving those already saved and helping them grow in their faith.  This world is a better place because of him.

I love you Phil.  Happy birthday and I look forward to celebrating AT LEAST 46 more together.

Love,
Gaylene

Phil and bike riding

cutie

Russia… way back when!

Daddy daughter date with Alex.

Russia May 2015

In Russia May 2015

2015

2010 ish

2011

The day Katherine was born.

I remember the day very well 12 years ago!  I remember the ride to the hospital and the fact that my husband was unbuckled the entire ride…  If you know my husband you would understand my shock!  However, in his defense, I had a death grip around him to help with the pain so in reality there was no physical way he could wear a seat belt.  I guess you could say he was buckled by a human seat belt!

Anyway, Natasha entered the world at 4:44pm on Sunday, March 2, 2003.  She is such a wonderful blessing to our family and it is very exciting to watch her grow into a Godly, beautiful young lady.  She loves her brother and sisters, is very helpful around the house, is always wanting to help me cook or bake and is full of contagious energy and joy.  We love you Natasha and we look forward to all that God has planned for your life!

We had My-Hop pancakes for breakfast and Daddy and I took her to Chili’s for her birthday dinner.

I managed to dig up some old pictures and have included some new ones!  Enjoy!  Be sure to reach the bottom for last nights picture with Daddy!

Just a couple days old! 2003

Natasha at her 1 year birthday party.

Uncle Andy came to visit when Natasha was about 5 weeks old.

Natasha and Mikayla

With Aunt Janice in Alaska 2006

Showing her muscles!

Natasha and cousin Jake 2006

Natasha at the counter while Mikayla is in the sink.

Natasha really wanted bangs but almost immediately decided to grow them out.

Natasha with Daddy at her birthday dinner Mar 2 15

I’m a little late with this post but life is crazy right now!

Our sweet Alex turned 6 years old on Monday, August 4th.  I remember heading to the hospital right around midnight on Sunday, August 3rd and my doctor was to meet us there.  Alex was to be my first VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean section) and I was suppose to be ‘monitored’ at the hospital since VBACs carry more risk.  Hospitals are not my favorite place to be and I put it off as long as Phil would let me!

Alex entered the world just after 2am on Monday, August 4th.  We did not know whether we were having a boy or a girl so it was  fun to hear the doctor say “It’s a girl!”  By 8am we were asking to go home.  My doctor saw no problem with us going home although the hospital staff was not happy.  Alex was doing great as was I so we saw no reason to stay and be poked and prodded and asked a dozen times if we know how to care for a newborn.   We were home by 2pm 🙂

Fast forward 6 years and we have a bright, happy, and slightly silly 6 year old who is NEVER at a loss for words!  She is about to start 1st grade and enjoys being a part of the school day with her older sisters.  She takes piano and absolutely loves her piano teacher, Miss Tori.  She is a very good big sister to her only brother Jonathan and her baby sister Katherine.  She brings us a ton of joy and is a wonderful part of our family.

Happy Birthday Alex!

Today we celebrated Belle’s 9th birthday with family and friends.  She asked for a castle cake!  She made a drawing of her dream cake with all the little details right down to the colors of the flowers.  After spending several hours baking, making frosting, rolling out fondant, cutting flowers, decorating towers, windows and doors I was finally done.  And I didn’t forget to put her pony on the top of one of the towers 🙂   What do you think of her cake?

Thank you to my husband who helped get the house ready for this birthday party… I couldn’t have pulled it off without you honey!

And, thank you to all of the family and friends who joined us to celebrate this very special daughter of ours!

Gaylene

I remember May 22, 2005 quite well.  We had to get up early and be at the hospital by 6am.  Miss Belle was breech and I was scheduled for a C-Section that morning.  We tried everything to get her to turn around as I truly did not want to have a C-Section.  But, she was determined to stay put with her head lodged under the right side of my rib cage!  Unlike when Natasha was born I was unable to hold my sweet Belle for two hours while I was in recovery after the surgery.  I remember how upset I was but Daddy stayed with her until we could all be together as a family.

Our 2nd daughter is vibrant and full of life.  She absolutely LOVES anything crafty and has an incredible imagination.  She can see something or read about it in a book and off she goes to try to build it.  It is truly amazing how creative she is and if she sees a need she tries to fill it.  Belle is very sensitive and caring and just adores her littlest baby sister.  She is a big help with the baby and is always willing to hold Katherine.

Belle is doing very well in school and she currently wants to be a pediatrician when she grows up.  We are VERY proud of her and love having her as part of our family.

Daddy and I took her to California Pizza Kitchen for her birthday dinner and then we played a round of mini glow in the dark golf at the mall.  Afterwards, we enjoyed a couple of cookies before heading for home.

Sunday we are having family and friends over to celebrate her 9th birthday.  Wait until you see her cake!!!

We love you Belle!

On Sunday, March 2, 2003, I gave birth to our first child, our daughter Pooh Bear (yes, that’s her nickname!)  For someone who had never wanted children until I became a Christian at the age of 29 this was a BIG change for me!  My husband had to teach me how to change a diaper as I never babysat growing up and for all intense purposes I was an only child.  (I do have 2 wonderful half brothers but I’m 15 and 20 years older then they are!) I never really got all gushy over babies and never understood what the fuss was all about.

But then, on March 8, 2000 I was baptized into Christ and He totally changed my heart around when it came to children!  So much so that we are expecting our 5th any day now!

Anyway, as we brought Pooh Bear home I was terrified!  I was completely clueless to taking care of a baby.  Now, we all know those women who just ooze motherly instinct.  You know the ones that have wanted babies their whole lives and just knew what to do.  No, they weren’t perfect but they just ‘got it’.  Well, I wasn’t and I’m still not one of those women!  For me, mothering has been quite the learning experience.  I wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world but I’ve had to heavily rely on those oozing mothers around me to help me along the way.  I’m so grateful for those that poured into me, especially when we brought our first home.

Pooh Bear is such a blessing to our family!  She’s loves serving others, she is a wonderful big sister, she is helpful and she is full of contagious energy!  She loves visiting a care home we go to and sincerely loves up on the residents and always looks forward to the next time she gets to visit with them.  She’s doing great in 5th grade and works very hard at school.  She has been taking piano lessons for almost 2 years and plays quite well.  She helps her 2 younger sisters with their piano lessons and is an encouragement to them.

Happy Birthday Pooh Bear!  We love you and am so thankful God chose you to be part of our family!