A Giant Leap!!

Ok I have finally taken the giant leap to the Blog world. I have really been inspired by two friends of mine, Tanya and Victoria. I love reading about their lives. Since we have moved so far away from very dear friends and family I thought I better get on the band wagon and start sharing our crazy journey with everyone.

I titled this blog Our Dance after a song by Garth Brooks. A line in the song says "I could have missed the pain, but I would have missed the dance." Although my life isn't painful I do believe it is one big dance and I definitely don't want to miss it.

So I am not really sure where to begin. I really want to begin with our move across country but that would require finding all those pictures. Oh I definitely know where they are, but if you know me at all it isn't just a couple here and there. So lets begin with the pictures I just downloaded from Ashlie's camera.

Dalton and Caitlynn were born on July 13, 2007. We were really hoping they would be born on lucky 7-07-07, but God definitely has a sense of humor and instead they were born on Friday the 13th. Dalton weighed 5 lbs 1 oz and Caitlynn weighed 4 lbs 15 oz. They were very healthy and avoided the nursery and NICU altogether. We brought them home 4 days later and since then our live has been one big blur. I try to get sleep whenever I can. Even if that means sleeping with 2 babies in my arms.

The lack of sleep has also affected Rusty

The kids have been a huge help. Thankfully they were home this summer. I was really bummed when they went back to school. But our days go pretty well. We definitely do have those days when we can't wait for someone ... anyone to walk through the door and hold a baby. Caitlynn is definitely the most needy. She always wants held. In fact this is what she looks like when she isn't being held

(Sorry, Caitlynn I couldn't resist)

And this is what she looks like when her sister, Corrie, holds her

They definitely are a joy though. I took them to the doctor last Thursday. They were 10 weeks old and weighed 10 lbs!!! I couldn't believe it. They doubled their weight in just one month. No wonder I feel like all I did was make bottles.

Here they are the middle of August





(Ok trying to take a picture of two babies both looking at the camera and neither of them crying is an impossible task. Just to get this picture took about 10 takes before I finally said. ... Good enough. )


Dalton today 9-27-07

Caitlynn today 9-27-07
Today was a rough day for Dalton. I left about 6:30 to get Austin from baseball practice and get something at the store for dinner. When I got home Jeff said Dalton got upset about something and was crying at the top of his lungs for 20-30 minutes. Nothing Jeff did would calm Dalton down. He cried so hard that finally when he settled down he was completely tuckered out. (Ok the smoke detector going off to say dinner was done didn't help, but that is a whole other story :-) )

Well this blog is suppose to be about our Dance... meaning the entire family so I better get you got up on the rest of the family. I'll start with Ashlie today and tell you about Austin, Corrie, Lauren, and Jeff over the next few days.

Ashlie, my baby, is growing up faster than I really want. It makes me cry to look at this picture. She is quite the young lady.

She is very busy with marching band right now. Her first performance was last Friday at the home football game. This Saturday is the homecoming parade (which she will march in) and the homecoming football game which they will perform in. Next week then starts the competitions. We will make sure to keep you posted on how that all goes. Ashlie's live is also busy with friends and school. I can go on and on telling what's going on in Ashlie's life. I am sure you will find out all about it as this blog progresses. For tonight I will tell you she is my angel. A very deep and spiritual person who reminds daily of God's presence.