Taken in 1998 at Kasana. New Hope Orphanage. 

Why?

1.5 million Armenians. 3 million Ukrainians. 6 million Jews. 250,000 Gypsies. 6 million Slavs.
25 million Russians. 25 million Chinese. 1 million Ibos. 1.5 million Bengalis. 200,000 Guatemalans. 1.7 million Cambodians. 500,000 Indonesians. 200,000 East Timorese. 250,000 Burundians. 500,000 Ugandans. 2 million Sudanese. 800,000 Rwandans. 2 million North Koreans. 10,000 Kosovars. Genocides and other mass murders killed more people in the twentieth century than all the wars combined.

"Never again" has turned into "Again and again." Again and again, the response to genocide has been too little and too late.
Genocide Watch (above quote from this website)

I know I said I wouldn't get into boring political conversations...but I just wanted to share how sad I am after watching Hotel Rwanda. How could a country like ours, as well as others, who pride themselves on helping those less fortunate continue to allow this to happen today!

One of those movies that is so hard to watch, but you know deep down in side you must watch, and hope it changes you. But man, it made me want to go crawl into bed with my children and hold them tight.

The above picture was taken in Uganda at New Hope orphanage. Many of the children watched their parents murdered right in front of their eyes, many others were orphaned when their parents died of AIDS.

Ice Cream anyone? 

BABY DYLAN! My kids have been calling their little buddy Dylan "Baby Dylan" for 17months...that's how old he is now. I am pretty sure we will be calling him that for the next 17 years as well. Every time my friend Angela comes to visit, (which thankfully is often) the kids get so excited and run all around the house with Baby Dylan. I pretty much think he loves coming over to snack on the cherrios that are usually strung out all over the floor from the "Cherrios, sippy of Milk, cartoon" routine we do every morning. It is so fun to see my kids developing friendships. I can just picture Dylan teaching the kids how to ride a horse...or how to work the combine during harvest someday. Thank you Darrin, Angela and Dylan for your friendship!

Tonights Work. I thought I would sit and type a quick entry as I print out these announcements I need to finish tonight. I love how they turned out. The picture of this baby is so sweet. Yes, I do notice the typo...this picture is just my sample, the finished product has been proofed in full!! It's 9:15 and I am still telling emery to get back into bed. Mike is working on his truck...he's is discovering his mechanic side of himself lately. I am still trying to figure out how to wash the pile of motor oil soaked t-shirts. It's new to me. Any way, I am babbiling and boring you all I am sure. Time to go cut and paste!! 

Nap Time...

...a mother's favorite time of the day. I have somehow managed to schedule all three kids to go down at the same time each day for naps. It is awesome!!! Well, most days. Today however is one of those days that my 3 1/2 year old decides she doesn't want to sleep. My fear of her giving up her nap is closely coming reality. (I swear I will force a nap somehow till she is in first grade). Anyway, I hear her playing in her room and I decided I wasn't going to force her to stay in her bed because she was being good and giving mommy some of my own quiet time (which usually means I am playing on the computer instead of cleaning). After about an hour here comes the cutest little blond wearing, count-it, 3 tu-tu's and the cutest pair of glass slippers. If I had a digital camera I would have shared the moment with you. Okay...so that appealed to my girly-girly side and we sat down for some "pretty time". That means she gets to play with my hair and paint my toe nails. Too fun.
And now she is sitting at my desk making invitations, her other favorite thing to do. Like mommy, like daughter.

A Self Portrait by Emery...my little artist  

A wife, a mother, a designer...and now a Blogger!

Okay, I have finally joined the blog bandwagon. Laugh if you must, I too am giggling as I type this.
I started this blog for a few different reasons.
1. Most of my family and friends live a good distance away from me. It can be hard to stay in touch with all of them often thru visits and phone calls. So I thought this blog might be a good way to keep you all updated with me.
2. To share pictures of my kids. Man, they grow so fast. (this may be few and far between till I get my digital camera.)
3. I think my main reason I am doing this is for myself. As most of my close friends know, my memory isn't the greatest. I think if I am forced to sit down and update my blog every day (wishful thinking) then I can use it as a virtual journal of my day to day ins and outs.

So I hope you will all enjoy this blog. I promise these few things
1. I will try not to have a long drawn out one-sided conversation about something boring like Politics. (okay, unless something really fires me up)
2. I can guarantee there will be typo's in every post. Sorry Dad!
3. I will try to make you all laugh with the crazy antics of our little team we call a family.