Our Miracle-4 years later!

Can you believe that our little Libby is 4 today? I can't. She has blossomed into an amazing little girl. She has a huge personality in her tiny frame. I think it's easy for us all to forget just how unlikely her arrival was. But God was faithful. He has pulled her through years of therapy, 2 surgeries, a month of casts, and dealing with a baby brother who is bigger than she is. She laughs a ton. She loves to make silly faces. She has such a sweet and thoughtful heart. We love you baby girl!

Birthday season

I know everyone is going to say "Where are all the photos?" And my response is "On my mom and dad's camera because ours died right before the party." However, I wanted to update everybody and PROMISE to post photos soon.

Last weekend we had Joe and Libby's birthday bash-Yo Gabba Gabba style. The kiddos had a blast and were thrilled to have some of their friends and most of their cousins in attendance. Everyone ate and enjoyed-the kids played outside and entertained all the guests.

We got to celebrate another very special girl on Saturday too. Ainsley Reese turned 3, and Corey and Scott smoked three pork butts to celebrate her arrival on this earth! It was a great weekend filled with friends and food and all kinds of fun. Corey and I even convinced Scott and Danie to add 3 hours onto their 7 hour trip home - and Monday we all piled in a car and headed to IKEA and the mall. It was a great trip ALL around.

Again, pictures to come!

Another month!

Our lives are super busy-between work and kiddos, we have had our hands full. But Joe turned 2 today! While the festivities are not until next weekend, we did have a fun weekend all together. Yesterday, the whole family piled in the car and we made a day of shopping, dinner out, a trip to the park and all rounded out with Dairy Queen. The kids (and grown ups) were exhausted by the end of the day.

The last month has been fun! We have found out that Joe has a LOVE of the water. Be it the pool or the tub, he is all in all the time. We took a trip to my grandparents in Charleston, and he was delighted to roll around in the kiddie pool all afternoon. A couple weeks ago, we visited my mom and he jumped into her pool with all his clothes on. He is talking up a storm and able to say clear words--his favorite phrase being "It's Stuck."

Libby is also growing up. She has a love of dancing and caring for her babies. She has started to want to watch full length movies (fun for us) and sings the songs for hours (not fun for us). She is a very loving and caring child. She is always concerned about others-especially her brother.

What's been going on...

Well, a lot has happened since my last post. I finished my first year of law school (YAY)! Corey and I went on a cruise (YAY)! Kiddos both got sick (NOT-yay). I started my new summer job! My best friend got married! LOTS OF STUFF!

Me and Melissa at her Bachelorette Party in Deep Creek!

Melissa in her BEAUTIFUL dress. The wedding was wonderful!

We have been doing so much, and I am so glad to be a little more boring now! Libby is completely better now - she just had a virus of some sort; Joe is on the mend. He got an infection and ended up needing IV antibiotics and a couple nights in the hospital. Meanwhile, I was starting my job--needlesstosay it was a little hectic!

But that being said, Libby and Joe are great. They are learning and growing and doing SO many new things. Joe can count to 10 (it takes forever, but he gets there). He knows all kinds of words and has conversations (and I can understand a few words). Libby has become a kid. No longer a toddler. She has Corey's sense of humor and laughs alot. She is learning some letters and loves to play pretend. This morning she sat in a chair and rocked her baby who was "sick" for 10 minutes.

All in all, we are great. Transitions are always tough, but we are together and that is what matters!

Outside and Easter Fun

Spring Break arrived last weekend, and Corey and I took a nice trip down to Knoxville to visit Scott and Danielle Taylor. One of the highlights was getting to watch the Mountaineers defeat Kentucky! We were the gold and blue in a sea of Orange, but I think a lot of the other people were rooting for us too!

Once we got home, the weather was too wonderful to keep the kiddos inside. They love the great outdoors, and we have enjoyed letting them run and dig and play. Joe is fast. He runs and runs until he is exhausted. Libby likes to draw with sidewalk chalk and collect sticks. She is more deliberate with her energy.

Easter was also a lot of fun this year. Claire hid eggs for the kids to find after dinner, so we all watched as they wandered around. Two of my friends from school came to dinner too--they helped the kiddos find the eggs and tried to keep Joe reined in. It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon!

Brittany , Joe and Lindsey celebrating finding an egg

Grandma and Libby having a nice hug (Libby is wearing her new PJs with a tutu)

Libby loved hunting for eggs-this is her and Lindsey with her loot

Joe found an egg "all on his own"

All in all the kids are great-we are great-school is stressful and so is work. But only a few weeks until my first year is over and I am so looking forward to summer!

An actual nice hug between the siblings

This is what most hugs look like-Libby tackling Joe or vice versa

Oh so verbal...

Libby has always been very verbal, but Joe is joining the conversation now. He can say all sorts of things, and it is fun to hear his voice. Surprisingly he is extremely soft spoken and quiet. He has his moments of LOUD, but generally he talks softly. He can say "Neigh" and "Moo" and "Dada" "Mama" "MeMe" "Bibby" for Libby "fish" "waffle" and more. He is good with names -- one of his favorite people is our friend Stu-"Du" to Joe.

Besides the talking, the kids are growing. Libby has become quite the little girl. She loves all things princess! Everything she does now is so grown up. Her vocabulary is great and so is her sense of humor. She is just like her Daddy. Libby loves to help-cook, clean, discipline Joe (she is not allowed to do this, but occassionally she puts him in Time Out). The other day, she wanted to help our friend Becki with her baby Ella. So Libby held her. It was super cute! Ella was not very amused when Libby was trying to give her a kiss

Apologies for the hiatus

I know that it has been awhile since we posted. January has been a busy month. I am getting back into the swing of school, and unfortunately our family has also been plagued with viruses. Two weeks ago, we all (minus Corey) got a stomach virus that knocked us pretty hard. Libby had to go to the hospital to get fluids and medicine because she just could not stop throwing up. Then this week everyone decided to get colds. So Libby and Joe are both coughing and snotty.

Despite the illness, the recent snow was too good to pass up. This morning we bundled them up and let them loose. Libby made a snow angel and Joe "shoveled" with daddy. Once inside, Libby had some hot cocoa and then passed out. She wore herself out!

family cookie making-Libby is quite the helper and Joe is quite the eater!

Kids having a movie night with Daddy. Libby is finally able to sit through a full length film, her favorite is Tinkerbell (thus the costume). Joe likes the popcorn!

Christmas 2009

We started our Christmas Journey at the Bozics house December 23. We let the kids open their gifts and the fighting commenced. Libby got a piano and Joe could not understand her reluctance to share. The result was the Libby and the piano went in one room and crying Joe went in another.
Christmas Eve morning the kiddos woke up to their surprise from us: a tent-complete with sleeping bags and flashlights. Libby loved it. Joe just wanted Goldfish crackers. Later that day we went to my parents house. We had a relaxing afternoon before the chaos began. Everyone arrived for dinner and presents. I ducked out early to hear Corey play drums at church and then tucked the kids in bed after a long day.

Mom and Sami cuddling

Christmas Day, Corey had to work so I took the kids back to my parents' to play with Sami and Claire. It was great to spend an entire day in PJ's! When Corey got off work, we packed the kids in the car and went to Webster Springs. The dual DVD monitors from Gramma and PawPaw made the trip easy as pie (both ways).

Webster was relaxing. The kids had plenty of playmates and new toys to keep them entertained, and the rest of us took turns taking naps. Libby got fun toys-her favorite being her hopscotch rug. She loves to throw the "stones" and jump up and back! Joe got a drum set so he can be just like his daddy. It is the most adorable thing. He loves it. So does Libby!

We got home and quickly prepared ourselves for a "Very Merry After-Christmas" with our best friends, the Taylors and Jabbours. It was great to hang out with everyone. We did brunch with 6 adults and 5 kids ranging from 5 months to 3.5 years. Later on, we went to the Mountaineer basketball game - which was awesome. The Taylors returned with us for late-night gaming and fun.Adults relaxing while kiddos take naps
Ainsley making a silly face

Now we are picking up the house and figuring out where all the new toys belong. I still have a week and a half off so I'm trying to be a bit lazy!

6 Years Later

I can't believe that Corey and I have been married for 6 years. And we have done a lot in that time. We have finished 9 semesters of college; obtained 3 degrees (working on the fourth); had 2 children; 4 surgeries (2 for me and 2 for Libby); 1 apartment and 2 houses. We have made wonderful memories.

In other news, I have finished a semester of law school. After 2 weeks of the most intense finals I have ever taken, I am so excited to spend time at home with the hubby and kids. I will hopefully be able to update the blog more!

Joe and Libby are still great. Joe is into everything-his favorite thing is Corey's drums which he is absolutely not allowed to play with. But every opportunity he gets, he runs into the drum room. Libby always lets us know when he is in there. She is quite the informant. Everyone has been enjoying Christmasy things. The kids love the tree and Libby adores Christmas lights. Promise more later!

Thanksgiving 2009

I've been on break all week-but it is a working break. I have used the extra time to get myself ready for finals. But I have also spent a lot of time with the kids! Libby and I decorated MeMe and Pappy's Christmas Tree. She loved it! She put all the decorations in one spot. Joe was really good too, he didn't touch the tree (except with the fishing pole Deb and John got for him). Thanksgiving was spent with the Bozics! Libby and Joe were great. They loved the people and the chaos-and they slept through the entire meal which was nice for Corey and I. Here are some pics from the day.