Our Camping trip Aug 2009

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

My 29th

I know I don't look that old...My birthday was great this year. I woke up just like a normal Friday morning with my babies all cuddled upto me. Had my coffee and got packed for our stay-cation. Mom got us a room at the Sante Fe Station. Mom took a half day so we could go get checked in and hang out at the pool till Tim got off of work. So that was wonderful we were practically the only ones there. Nice pool, the kids loved it. It was very relaxing I soaked in the sun and read mostly while mom played with the kids. Tim met me at the room with pink roses and LOTS of drinks...Mom took the kids to her house so we could really pretend we were "away". i took a long bath got ready for a nice dinner date and it was great. Mexican with margaritas and late night jacuzzi with Tim. It was wonderful and relaxing. Got to bed by 10:30. Kinda lame, but, that is just what we both needed rest....ahhh! Woke up and just stayed in bed for a while, which was also nice. not to be home where I can always be doing something. Then we went to go see the movie the hangover. It was just as funny as everyone told us. Then we were off to get the kids. We had a great time! Sunday, family day was great we continued to celebrate birthdays for me and dad. Robbie's childhood best friend Derek and his new wife Amanda were in town for their honeymoon and we had a fun time. What can I say it was a good time, with my family and friends...Just a great Birthday weekend.

Leadership Summit 2009

So last year I was honored to be invited to my first summit by our Childrens ministry. Of course I attended and as I told most it was amazing and life altering. So I was really looking forward to it again this year. I wanted to share some of what it was all about. Basically it's a Christian confrence for church leaders all around the world, broadcast via satelite in 54 countries, 28 languages and growing each year. The Willow creek association puts it together and organizes guest speakers some amazing world leaders and christian entreprenuers and even Bono...it's huge! It's such an amazing experience to learn and grow in your faith and business even. Given the tough year we've all had with economic downfall it was such a hopeful breath of fresh air. Such an opportunity for leaders to use innovative creative ways to grow our faith. As Bill Hybels (founder of Willow) said,we are all living in a new reality, normal has left the building. He spoke about our "New Reality" and how you need to fill your life & peace bucket because the new stress most of us are experiencing we need to have "Adequate Replenish strategies", recognizing the "depleaters" (ones who take out of your peace bucket) and Fillers (people or things that fill your bucket back up). This was a great visual for me and so true that you need to come to the table with a full bucket that is the best gift you can give others. Another speaker I had some great take-aways from was Tim Keller, sr pastor and author, he made a great comparrison of Relegion vs. gospel and spoke of the parable of the prodigal son from the book of Luke. How many of us think of God or religion as a "means to an end" I'll be good so I can go to heaven" rather than to live the gospel way. I do good to be closer to my savior the one who gave all for me, to receive more of God. He also made a point on having anger and holding grudges means you feel superior to that person. wow, never thought of it like that before. Anyhow, Jessica Jakely, founder of KIVA.org she was the defintion of a "doer" KIVA connects everyday people in lending to illeviate poverty. Basically allowing everyday "joes" to give small business loans to the poor. Banks will not loan to these people because they have NO collateral or credit. the success and life change it is doing all over the world brought tears to my eyes. She was such an amazing woman and about my age too. Really was inspiring for someone to have this idea and passion to help others succeed. I am totally going to take part in this, what a great thing for us to teach our kids too. All of the speakers were incredible and i don't want to leave anything out. I will just have to say it's a time where you feel and see the capabilities of people "WE" all have the ability we just need to take action. How ever little or big what are you doing to make a difference. What is your irreducible core (As Tony Blair) said. What will you stay true too and not compromise with. Bono called the "church" out on the greatest humanitarian health crisis a couple years ago and followed up with how much improvements he has witnesses in Africa. But, there is still so much to do, and it is so possible cause having Big problems with small solutions shrinks the problem and increases the change. We are all about "CHANGE" aren't we. So I was completly challenged to live differntly. Surround myself with people who are not like me, thats where i can learn and grow from. Failure is a neccisity and a recipe for success. So the more you go out there and fail, the closer you are to greater success. obciously i can be long winded when talking about this 2 day confrence and there is still so much, if you want to attend with me next year or even want to hear more, I'll post the links when they are available.

She escapes!

So little miss Ella-menno-Pea gets outta her crib. I can not believe it! She first escaped a couple months ago, I thought it was just a fluke and maybe her brother helped. She hadn't escaped since. Then last week she started to master the playpin at yaya and papas. SHe would just peek around the corner and smile. It was cute. Noah usually wakes up first, I stay in bed and listen to him and his little feet run down the hall or play. But, yesterday he came running in my room (NAKED) and said Ella's outta her crib and she's standing in the hallway. I was like no way...His voice was just as surprised as I was. So at nap time sure enough I watched takes her like 30 sec to get out. So guess we are on to toddler beds. Just another reminder of how my baby is getting bigger.

Ready to get outta here...

I am the most shocked with wanting to get out of Las Vegas. I was born and raised and really thought I would be here forever. Most of our family and friends are here which is the only reason we are still here. Maybe I just need a vaca but, lately I just want a change. A change of climate, sceneray and grass. It's really Tim's fault for taking me to Washington and Idaho. It really is nice there. Plus he has all these great stories of when he was Noah's age and older playing in his yard/ which was neverending. i would love a much smaller town not as many people. I know that a place where you can leave your doors and windows open is just not out there, but, I have watched Vegas over the last 29 yrs. and it is just not what it used to be. I do not believe we will be here for too much longer. Not that I'm saying you can't raise great kids here because you can, and if we stayed no doubt Noah and Ella would grow up just fine. But, it's the experience of having a large peice of land for them to run in, a little more old fashioned town where you KNOW your neighbors. I want Tim to be in a great place with his career where he can teach others and be the LEADER he is supposed to be and thrive. I want to see and do what ever I can to help him succeed in running his company. I want us to have an enriched life where there are 4 seasons and July isn't 120 degrees and I'm affraid to let the kids out of the house longer than 20 min. unless they're in a pool. I want them to be in a great school where we attend and are a part of church. But, I also want them to have their family all around so I hope we can convience them all to move along with us. Hehehe. This is what I daydream about and see ourselves in 3-5 years or if our prayers are answered maybe sooner. I would love to make this move while the kids are younger so they can adjust and we can start our lives in a new place and raise them into great adults. But, I know the Lord has a plan for us and for now The McGeary's have more to do here in this city and so I will patiently wait.

Noah's 4th Birthday Party

Noah's 4th Birthday Party was a blast! Once again he wanted a bowling birthday so that is what we did. He also wanted a guitar cake, Thanks Robin for helping me make all those cupcakes and talk me thru frosting them all. Birthdays are a big deal to me, I love planning them and what better excuse to have a get together with all the family and friends. Here's some pics of his Party~

Noah is 4!

July 7, 2009

I can not believe how fast the last 4 years have gone. Seems like yesterday he was in my tummy. Anyway here are some things I have to share about why he is so special to us.

I love his passion for his sports, if he's not playing them, he's watching or looking at bowling magazines.

I love that his favorite show is Wipeout.

I love when he makes obstacles and pretends to be a contestant on wipeout

I love when he corrects his sister, using words like obey, not acceptable, danger, time-out.

I love when he tells me when Ella is on his bed to "pretect" (protect) her from falling

I love his greenbean toe (long story)

I love our matching birthmarks on the bottom of our feet (mommy-noah mark)

i love when he asks to be put to bed by me carrying his ankles and dad carry his arms

I love he loves to have "man time"

I love when he plays with his friends he has a plan of everything they will do together

I love his great memory

I love that he "doesn't like clocks"

i love that he reminds me to get my Devit (debit) card out of the atm.

I love that he always says "did you know that"

I love that he makes up things sometimes like did you know, mud is made from wood?

I LOVE his bedtime prayers (especially the one about daddy's bike, or teeball)

I love that he loves all the planet earth series but, caves is his favorite

I love that he knows what stalactite's and stalagmites are.

I love that i had to google what a hi-hat was when he asked Santa for it.

i love his crooked toes

I love that he likes my Desagna (Lasagna)

I love his music talent and stage presence

I love his concerts

I love when he pretends to preach always starts with "Welcome to The crossing, God loves you" I love that he is my boy and teaches me things daily

i love when he pretends to be back in my tummy and i tell the story of him being born

I love that he changes his voice sometimes when playing with the guys.

I love when he lays in bed with me and falls back to sleep

I love that he fights with his papa sometimes cause they act a lot alike.

i love when he comes up with God makes rain by stomping on the clouds

I love to hear him "read" the bible to his sister

i love that when he tells her goodnight he says "goodnight sweet darlin"

i love that he knows right from wrong

i love when he wants to make a tent and pretend we're camping

I love his imagination, creativity, energy

I love that he knows no matter how old he gets he'll always be my baby~

July 7, 2005 @ 6:23 a.m.