To My Brother.....

My brother and I at his wedding, August 2002
Chad & Joy


Dear Chad,
It seems that my big brother is turning 30..... I cannot believe it. It seems like it was just yesterday that you were tying my shoestrings together while I slept so that when I woke up, I would fall on my face. Or do you remember the time that we were racing Caite while she was learning to crawl, and I got carpetburn all over my knees and Mom had to stay up all night and blow on them? I'll never forget riding in your big blue truck everyday to freshman year of highschool, only to smell like diesel fuel when I got there..... Or what about all those times when you called me "4 eyes" and "pepperoni pizza face?" And then those times when I broke up with my boyfriend and you called me to make sure I was okay.....?
Those things are seemingly a distant memory, but they have certainly not faded from my mind. The truth is, Chad, I have not spoken to you in over 7 years. You chose not to come to my wedding, you haven't met my girls or heard them ask about Uncle Chad. And I've never gotten to meet your little Justin..... It's amazing to me when I get to see Da'Montae, and am overwhelmed with this sense that I love him like my very own, yet you also have a son that I have never gotten to meet, and he started Kindergarten this year.....

And yet, I love you just the same.

I don't know what has happened in life? I don't know what went wrong. I know that you were raised in the same family that I was where love was abundant, forgiveness was taught, and unconditional love was the underlying message to each and every lesson. And I still know that God is continuing to work in EACH of our own seemingly separate lives.

I think of you and your beautiful family everyday, although it would be easier and less painful to write you off.

And though we can't be an integral part of each other's lives right now, I am blessed to call you brother.

We all love you and pray that His light shines on you everyday.

Eva--Almost 18 Months.....

Our Baby Girl is almost 18 Months (September 3)--it seems that it's time for an update!

Here are some fast facts about My Little Cupcake:

~ She gives us a run for our money. We thought Emma was a handful? We thought wrong.....

~ She has an extremely strong pesonality, and while she barely gets a word in edge-wise, she somehow controls most situations.

~ She has an incredibly LOUD scream, which she has a reputation for. You literally have NEVER heard anything like it. It sounds like she is screaming into a megaphone--literally.

~ She looks adorable while standing in the corner.

~ She loves bananas, grapes, and mandarin oranges. She dislikes meat.

~ She JUST got off the boob.....

~ Yes, she has blonde hair and big, bright, blue eyes. No, she is not the mailman's daughter.

~ She is usually happy as can be at 7:59pm, but when 8pm rolls around, she wants her bed NOW.

~ She sleeps until 9am most days, and wakes up incredibly happy. Her cutest moments are from 9-11am.

~ Eva gives the BEST kisses.

~ Her favorite word is "Mama"--she says it at least 100 times a day!

~ She has the most confident "strut" that you have even seen--arm swing and all!

~ Her first instinct in EVERY situation--happy, mad, surprised, etc.--is to SCREAM.

~ She is very squishy, although weight-wise, just average. Check out her kissable cheeks.

~ Eva LOVES to read books. Alot. Don't get upset if she chucks a book at you, she just wants to read.

~ She wants to eat first thing in the morning, and likes to eat standing up.

~ While there are days that her strong personality is alot to take, we cannot imagine life without her.

~ I have never met anyone quite like Ev.....except myself. ;)

Montae's 1st Birthday!

Birthday Boy and Emma hiding in MooMoo's cabinet!
Reunited with our girl!

Birthday cake! Yum!

Montae and his Daddy

Check it out--it's my first birthday!

Can WE have some cake too?

Birthday party fun!

Bring on the cake!

This stuff is GOOD!

YUMMY!

I LOVE cake!

Do I HAVE to stop, Mommy?!?

FINALLY, I get some cake!

The aftermath.....

Get this blue stuff off of me!

Can you find me in my presents?

Partied-out girlz!

Eva's Independence.

Eva drinking Mt. Dew Ultra Violet ON the coffee table.
Eva surfing on the coffee table with said Mt. Dew.

Eva STANDING on the coffee table.

Em is gone this week..... Within the first hour of being the only child, Eva decided to display what she would do if there was no big sister around to torment her and keep her in line. ;)

The 2 Faces of Eva.....

Happy. Very happy.
Mad. VERY mad.

And folks, we don't have alot to offer besides that.

TWINS Game 2009!

I'm Just Trying To Get ONE Good Picture.....

Em, stop squeezing Ev and hold still.
Eva, get back over here.....

Guys, look over here!

Emma, sit up.

Eva, stop wiggling.

Cute, now Ev, get over here.

Oops, did Eva fall off the bed onto the nasty hotel floor?

Girls.....look at the camera!

I guess this will have to do.....