Happy Easter!!

 

Thank you Easter Bunny!!  Bak!  Bak!

 

 

Levi, Ben and Ede posed for a picture outside before getting in the car.

 

 

We love traditions here at our house.  A new Easter tradition...... Easter Egg Eclairs.  Yummy!

 

The whole family.  All dressed and ready for church.

Benjamin is 6 years old!

 

Happy Birthday Ben!

Ben turns 6 years old today.  He is the only one of the three that has a birthday during the school year.  So last night I let him choose what he wanted for breakfast.  He kept it simple and chose eggs and bacon, which is what they have on a regular basis.  Haha!  Then we all came into the living room and he opened one present.  He is on a Ninja Turtle kick and picked the present from his Grandmother and Grandfather that was in the shape of something he had asked for.  He was right!  He got the Shellraiser that he wanted.  Thanks Grandmother and Grandfather!!  I am taking cupcakes to his classroom this afternoon.  He should have a good day, even if he had to go to school.  We will have a family party this weekend and we will go on the 18th to the circus, which is Ben's birthday tradition.  Sounds like he gets a birthmonth instead of a birthday.  Haha!

Ava Kaye Blanton

 

 

January 7, 2006

To my first baby girl:

  I have accepted that some questions will not be answered for me in my life, here on earth.  I have accepted that my family appears smaller to everyone than it really is.  I have accepted that I will have to wait to hold you again.  I have accepted that there will be constant reminders of you not here with me.  I have accepted that my life did not end with yours.  And until my time here on earth is done, you should know that I think of you always, I speak of you often, and I will love you forever.

  

Happy New Year and Happy 14th Anniversary!

From our family to yours.......

Happy New Year!!!

 

Est. January 2, 1999 



And from me to Jeff..........

Happy 14th Anniversary!!

You accept me with all my flaws.  You make me strong when I feel weak.  You are my best friend.

I love you!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Blanton Family!

 

We have had an interesting couple of months.  We have been able to overcome some personal struggles.  Nothing so huge that anyone should worry.  But I am able to see how important my family is to me and how blessed I am with the love and patience we are able to share with each other.  And the balance each person brings to our family is wonderful!

We had a house full for Thanksgiving!  It was so much fun to see Jeremy, Ranee and their girls.  Mom and Manfred were here too and are such a huge help while they are here.

We are more than ready for Christmas.  Bobby the elf has been here since December 1st.  The house is all decorated.....inside and OUT (Thanks Jeff!).  The kids are counting their presents under the tree.  We keep it pretty modest with the gifts.  The kids are always very happy with what they receive.  We went to Myrtle Beach State Park and got the picture made.  They had games to play for the kids and we bought one ticket each for the cake walk and with the odds on our side......WE WON!!  We won fresh baked pastries from Tofino's and decided to go there for lunch afterwords.  It was a fun day!

We wish Everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Back to School!

 This morning on the way out of the door.  Benjamin is not used to eating on a schedule so he had to finish his breakfast in the car.  Ben was so happy to be dressed just like his brother!

 I love the look on his face.  Benjamin is standing beside his book bag hanging on his hook.  He made sure that I didn't hang it there, he had to do it.  He is such a big boy!

He went straight to his seat.  He still wanted to kiss and hug me before I left.  At least he isn't too big to still show his mother some affection.  Levi would not let me take any pictures of him in his class.  Ede cried because she wanted to go to school too!  It didn't take her long to get over it though.  I will be staying at home this year and starting more classes on-line so we are all excited about the new schedules ahead of us.

 

P.S.  I didn't give Levi his medication all summer and since this past May (3 months ago) he has grown half an inch and gained 12 pounds!!  You should see him standing beside his classmates.....he is HUGE!



New Flooring

My mom and Manfred came to take the kids on a "Stay-cation" so that Jeff and I could spend the weekend working on the floors.  They all stayed at Ocean Lakes Campground and had a very good time with their Grandma and Grandpa!

Ice Cream, games, swimming and the park!

We had some great friends come over and help with the heavy lifting and back breaking jobs of getting out our furniture, the old carpet and the tack strips that held down the carpet.  Thanks to Jennie and Tyson!  It was a huge help.

I kinda-sorta flaked out at the beginning and forgot to take the "Before Pictures".  So the WOW factor will be missing.  Take my word for it.......the carpet was pretty bad.  So here are the pictures of the living room after the furniture and carpet had already been moved.

And a picture of Jeff with the work in progress.  I also decided to paint the wall on the left side of this picture which is a very high wall and we put some wide bead vinyl Wainscot in the area where the clock is.

And here are some pictures of the final product with most of the furniture back in it's place.

AND

The area that now has the Wainscot has been a challenge for us to figure out what to do with it.  But I have had this in mind for a little while now and we are so happy with the way it turned out!  The living room now has all the furniture back in it and we have an area rug in front of the couch with the coffee table back in place.  We love the new flooring and are already trying to prioritize our project for next year.  :o)