Off to build a shed

We bought a 10 foot by 14 foot shed that we are building upstairs on the deck. I will fit perfectly into the corner and we will be able to put all of our stuff away into it. We don't have any room to really store stuff that isn't accessible to little hands. This will solve that issue. So off to build!! Will come back and post pictures when I am done!!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas 2006!!!!!!!

In Elmore tradition all the kids got new pj's for Christmas and then headed off to bed to await Christmas morning. Rod had duty the night before so once they got up we waited for him to get home. This is the whole family on Christmas morning.

I think the kids were excited about what they got.

Taniyah liked her new baby. She layed there with her arm over the box for quite a while because Rod wouldn't open it for her.

The last picture is one of my favorite pictures.

Happy Birthday Taniyah!!

Today my baby turned TWO!! Two years ago today I was in the hospital having her, Ahma & Poppa had arrived late the night before and the kids were all home with them. I was SO ready to have her after making it all the way to 39 weeks! The longest I had made it up to that point! Here she is at two hours and 4 minutes old.Boy has she grown in the last two years! She may never be a towering giant but.......she's still cute and such a blessing to us! She's funny, smart, loving, kind and is very much a Momma's girl! Here she is with her present from Destini!

She has really gotten into role playing. She loves to play with babies and kitchen stuff so for her birthday we got her a Dora kitchen. She loved it.

And last but certainly not least. She is such a girly girl! She LOVES the color pink, dress up shoes, purses, necklaces and frilly dresses that she can spin in. It's no suprise then that she LOVED the new blanket set that Ahma and Poppa got her for her birthday! She promptly took it out of the package and needed her picture with it! She kept posing in front of it and then running to look at the picture, before running back to pose again!

Makkiah's Awards Assembly

Today Makkiah got an Academic Award at the awards ceremony. He got it because he is reading at the level that he should be at when he leaves kindergarten. I am so proud of him. Before the assembly started he wasn't so sure why he was sitting up on the stage, he looks kind of scared!

I had to go up on the stage with him when he recieved his award so I didn't get any pictures of him getting his award. I had to take it when we got home this evening.

GO MAKKIAH!!

Kindergarten Christmas Program

The two kindergarten classes (both am and pm) did a little Christmas program for all the parents tonight.

They sang a variety of songs and said several cute little poems. It was really nice.
Made me think about the Christmas programs I did when I was in school!

Afterwards Rod took pictures of Makkiah in his hat outside of the school.

And Taniyah in Makkiah's elf hat.

Angie's Memorial Service

Angie's service last night was beautiful. When you first walked in the door there was a beautiful collage of pictures that showed her at different stages in her life.

As I walked down the hallway Angie's birthmom came out and hugged me. We stood for several minutes, two mothers feeling each others pain at the loss of this innocent life. No words needed to be exchanged as the message between us was clear.

She introduced me to more of the family and to her friends. I was so glad to see so many people there. Angie's teachers from Headstart, people from our church who had been a part of her life, her family, people who loved her, even the detective who sat by her bedside the day that she was in the hospital. I would say that there was at least 80 people there. The seats were filled, the back of the room was filled and there were people standing out in the hallway and foyer. She was defiently a very loved little girl!

Rod did the opening prayer and the first words to the family. I also got up and spoke about Angie. It was not easy but I had prayed all the way there that God would give me the strength and He is ever faithful. I went up to speak and her birthmother joined me at the podium. I let everyone there know how special she was and told them not to let her memories fade. She touched each person in the room with her life, although short, she had an impact on them. Her birthmom spoke after me and even introduced me to everyone as Angie's other Mom.

I am so very thankful that God gave our family the opportunity to share in her life. I am blessed that He allowed her to stop bu our house, to touch us, to impact us, to be a part of who we are. I am thankful that Our Father in heaven chose our family to care for one of His special angels. We love you Angie. You will live on in our hearts, our minds and our lives forever.

Funeral services have finally been scheduled

Featheringill Mortuary

6322 El Cajon Blvd. 92115

December 11, 2006

6pm