Prince Charming

For those of you who don't know, this is my prince charming (yes, I know you know him, but this sounded better than here's Dave). Let me give you a little of his history...

He started like this.


on the right.

This makes me melt.


Went through some interesting stages.

Like this. not sure who the woman are.

and became this.

He has rescued me from a lot of things... having a house that is falling a part, having to cuddle with my sisters every night, all the crazy things that go through my head, having a jungle in my front yard, having a sissy son, not being able to have perspective on things, not having any dirty laundry or dishes to do, and much much more.

Together we get to talk about everything you can think of, test jokes, test recipes, makeout, raise an adorable kid, build and create things, be goofy, be sad, travel, learn more about the Lord and talk through things we are questioning, and dream about all the things we will one day do.

This man is my life here on earth and I could not have been more blessed.
He is strong, loving, caring,
hot, positive, encouraging,
talented, hard-working
a man of faith, an amazing father
that is teaching our son to be a man,
and a great friend and husband.

I love ya, pookie!

Sugar and spice, snakes and snails

This was my first week watching sweet little Carson, and it was awesome. As I told both her parents she was not a problem at all, it was the little stinker that is part me that was the problem. After spending 10 hours with them I got to see very clearly some of the differences in boys and girls. I thought I would share some of those "differences" with you.

While I was painting (yes, I realize this is probably not age appropriate, but I will probably do it again) with the kids
Carson- sat perfectly in the seat, followed the directions, and didn't get a drop of paint on her.
Judah-Was on top of the table within seconds with paint all down his arms.

Judah has at least 5 new bruises from tackling the ground (also known as falling)
Carson did not fall once except maybe when Judah took her down with him.

When playing with the ball
Carson carried it around and said "ball"
Judah immediately threw it to the ground and flung himself on top of it.

Carson is fine playing by herself and also really good at sharing
Judah wants to do everything Carson does and have everything Carson has (he got that from me)

When I took them outside to blow bubbles
Carson smiled and said "buddles"
Judah (who has never seen them) said "wooooow, wow, wow, wow, wow, woooooow, wow, wow, wooooow" while crawling after them like his life depended on it.

It is just crazy how at age 1 they are already so extremely girly or extremely boyish. Carson was so dainty and sweet and polite. She enjoyed reading book, doing puzzles and sitting in my lap. Judah is so wild and crazy. He enjoyed climbing on stuff, getting dirty, and tackling things. I know some of it is personality, but I think a big chunk of it is boy and girl differences. Both of them are so sweet in their own way.

He can be calm for about 2 seconds while sucking his thumb.

This is the biggest smile I have gotten on camera.

Sharing. I love it.

Ames

Just wanted to wish my friend, Ames, a very Happy Birthday!

She is a deep deep thinker,
a friend through thick and thin,
a forgiver of everything,
an easy laugh:),
Beautiful in and out.
I hope that you have a fabulous day and that someone shows you just how special you are!
Love ya

Here are some photo's from her and Micah's visit.

Some stuff went down at the Gunter household last night. This is probably the kind of stuff you are not supposed to blog about, but I can't help it. I am traumatized.

It actually started a few weeks ago when Dave casually mentioned "Kace, I think we have a mouse". and then I said "excuse me? come again? I cannot have rats in my house." and then he went on to explain that it wasn't a rat just a "little" mouse. Harmless, even cute. In my eyes a rodent is a rodent, but how did he know it was just a "cute little mouse"? Well it had chewed into the flour bag and its teeth looked small or some crap like that. Time went by and I didn't see or here anything else, so I forgot about it.

As you know I was dog sitting this week and while I was gone Dave said they were back, so he set traps. The trap went off while I was gone, but nothing. of course because it must have been too small is what he said, the mouse not the trap. So the next night, last night, he set two traps.

We went to bed kinda late and after crying through "off the map" I really had to pee. being the brave lady I am I turned all the lights on (waking up Dave) and scared myself to DEATH with a dying balloon in the bathroom. Since I woke Dave from his beauty sleep he decided to check the trap (he actually asked me, but I said something like "hell no").

A few minutes later I hear "Kace, come here, hurry" (why he asked me to hurry to see something that is obviously not going to be moving anytime soon, IDK). So I run into the kitchen and what is in the freakin trap??? A RAT. a huge gross rat. This was my thought process. "he lied to me. that is not a mouse. that is a rat. he can never be trusted again. That is so gross. gag. who know what its touched. gag. how many more are there. gag. don't throw up. gag. is Judah safe? should he sleep with us? will we be eaten alive by rats? how did they get in? poor rat. did it have a name? did it have family? did it die a painful death? I hope it died a painful death. I hate him." and on and on.

I went to sleep praying that the rat was a lonely, old rat with NO family that came here to end its days. I definitely slept with the covers totally covering me and I made Judah breakfast in underwear (usual) and cowboy boots. Final thoughts AHHHHHH.

Out of respect for the rat, no dead rat pictures.

the little bite marks???

On a good note. Judah is learning to eat with a fork.

I have been dog sitting this week and had entirely too much time to think. It has been nice to just stop and really spend time with Judah. I tend to get really busy doing things and the whole day has gone by and I have barely even stopped to look at him (that is a mild exaggeration). But then because I have so much time to think I just get really depressed about the fact that I don't spend more quality time with him. I watched eight kids and did laundry, housework, and ran all there errands for about 5 years. I should be able to watch one kid, get all my stuff done, and spend quality time with him, right? God is slowly teaching me that I just have to let go of all that crap. I have to let go of the laundry, the dirty dishes, the dirty car, the dog hair everywhere (this will be a long process because I like tidiness). Or some days I might not spend as much quality time with JD because I have to get something done. I am having to just pray that in the end Judah will know that we love him, that Jesus loves him, and that I won't have a nervous break down from my messy house. Oh well, what do you do?

Three of the eight + JD

Shower time!

My friend Tammy is having her first little boy in April and we are so excited. Judah and Levi are already best friends, they just don't know it yet. As James Taylor put it "Shower the people you love with love show them the way that you feel", Her sister and I threw her a shower. It is so exciting to see someone else going through all the different pregnancy stuff and get all the cute baby stuff, but not have to be the actual person. It is also fun to have it happen so close after I went through it. Anyways we had lots of fun celebrating the new little life that is inside her and I cannot WAIT to meet him!!!

How cute are these pacifier mints! The only thing that ruined it was me yelling every few minutes "Don't eat them, they were made with super glue"

I found lots of cute and easy party ideas at "the hostess with the mostess"

Its true, we do.


Thanks Jenna for doing the beautiful flowers.



The guest of honor. Barely showing!

All the yummy food courtesy of Katie.

yum yum!

Thanks to friends and family she racked up on lots of great stuff.

Deep in thought trying to figure out celebrity baby names.


Tammy and Katie.


She was really enjoying herself. This is her 3rd cupcake.

Her sister, not so much.

She had lots of help opening presents.


We ended the day with the boys giving each other lots of hugs and kisses.

My little people person

Speaking of never leaving the house. Judah does this thing whenever he is left alone he freaks out. It is very unfortunate in the fact that it makes it really hard to get things done when your kid is at his baby gate screaming at you the whole time. But I was thinking about it and I was thinking this could work for me. Maybe he will never want to leave me and go to college, maybe he will never get a girlfriend or get married, or move far far away. Maybe he will always be my big baby that cries whenever I leave the room. Don't worry I know I don't really want a big baby that never leaves home and by the time he is 18 I am sure that I will be begging him to go to college and get a girlfriend and move away, but just for a second I had that thought. It wouldn't work anyways because he could care less if I leave the room if someone else is in there. He is not a momma's boy. he is just a people person.