Love Hope Believe Dream

To the right on the sidebar is a link to buy bracelets and key chains to benefit Cici and Christian. These little toddlers need all the help they can get. Please visit the links below to see their stories.
http://www.colofisch.blogspot.com

http://www.christiansjourney.org

Jocelyn, Matt and coupons galore!

Jocelyn had her 18 month appointment this week and she weighs in at 25 pounds and 33 1/2 inches tall, still 95th percentile. The bottles have been gone for 2 weeks now and the Binky is next on the list. She is talking more everyday, I love hearing her try new words. She loves Elmo and the Wiggles, M&Ms, Mac and Cheese, tacos, spaghetti and pizza. I can not believe how much I love this beautiful little girl.
Matt had an epidural in his back two weeks ago and it worked! Woohoo!!! He is having so much less pain than before it is unbelievable. The epidural combined with the injections he got in his knees in July have made it so he is almost back to normal. We are so lucky it worked and it is wonderful to have my husband back!
We made our second trip to the grocery today with coupons in hand... the shopping cart was fully loaded and the original bill came to $162.00... after the value card and coupons we spent $50.00 and that included buying diapers and coffee!!! Between this trip and the trip last week our pantry is fully stocked, we won't have to buy a lot of our normal staples for a long time. I am so thankful that Sarah showed us how to save money!

Another overdue update :)

Four generations

Cayden and Jocelyn on the Merry-go-round

Swimming with Marcia

With my Nano

Ready for the road trip (thank goodness for Elmo!)

Jocelyn and I spent last week in Kansas and Illinois visiting my family. It was her first airplane ride and she was fabulous!!! She either slept or was content watching Elmo on the portable DVD player. I was worried about her sitting still since she is normally so active but I couldn't have asked for better behavior!

We spent time with my Nano and family in Illinois and then made the 5 hour drive drive to Kansas to see my Grandparents and family there. Jocelyn got to spend time with Aunts, Uncles and Cousins in both places as well as three great grandparents.

The only downside was Matt not being with us. Hopefully he can come along next time and meet my family.

Jocelyn at her first ball game

Cayden and Max at the zoo

Fun in the sandbox

The fountains at Gateway

Joss' first time bowling

Doane Family Camp Out

Last weekend we went camping at the Sunrise P Ranch in Rupert, Idaho. We had an amazing time! It was Jocelyn's first time camping and I thought she did pretty good :). The ranch was wonderful, right on the river with a huge water slide, plenty of sleeping space, a log roll and playground... absolutely beautiful. We played volleyball, went on a wagon ride, enjoyed fabulous cooking, and most people even sang karaoke.
I am so thankful that Jocelyn gets to grow up with all her aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents close by. I really missed that growing up and I am glad Jocelyn will get to know and experience what being part of a big family means.

Life update

It's been a while since I have posted - it is amazing fast life goes by when you get busy!

This morning Matt, Jocelyn and I, along with the dogs, participated in our first 5k. I am so proud of us! We finished it and weren't last, in fact I think we were in the middle of the pack somewhere. This is huge for Matt who was having trouble even walking a couple months ago.

We also started taking classes last week to become foster parents. This is something both of us have always wanted to do and although it will still be six months or so until we get a child, at least we have started the process. There are so many children in need of a home and we are excited to be able to be in a place in our lives where we can help.

Although I have been anxiously awaiting summer, I was not excited to have to go through another one with no air conditioning in the house - and as of Monday we won't have to! Woohoo! After all these years living without it I am so stinkin' excited that we are not going to gave to spend the entire summer being uncomfortable at home.

Jocelyn is getting bigger all the time. She is starting to talk more and we are at the point in potty training where she is telling us right after she goes (sigh) but there are a few times a week she gets it right and that is so thrilling!

All in all we have been feeling extremely blessed lately. Everyone is happy and healthy, what more can you ask for?

Four wonderful years and counting...

Matt and I celebrated our four year anniversary on Wednesday. I thought it would be a nice day - we'd exchange cards and have sushi for dinner as a treat... little did I know that Matt would surprise me with the most fabulous gift! He made me a book filled with pictures from our life together so far; marriage, friends, vacations, family, Jocelyn. It is incredible! It means more to me than anything else he could have bought or done. If anyone has seen the book Joey made Sarah, it is the same type of thing - what thoughtful men we have Sarah! Thank you Matt for making our fourth anniversary a day I will never forget!

First visit to the dentist

Jocelyn went to the dentist today - thanks Aunt Elaine for getting her in so quickly and being so helpful! Jocelyn was much better than I expected, she cried during the x-ray but that was it! It turns out her tooth is still there... it has just been shoved back into her gums. Dr. Baker said he had never seen anything like it but that it should work its way back down and be fine. If not we may have to have it removed in a year or so but we'll worry about that later. I am so glad that everything is okay!