Rocker Makeover

I got an old rocker for $15 at a garage sale some time ago and this is the ugly fabric that covered the cushions. (Sorry for those of you who like it...just not my style :o) So I gave it a makeover...

and this is the finished product... I love this fabric because it's neutral, it has some texture to it, a little shine, and best of all the fabric was from a friend :o)

Now, it is a great addition to my bedroom...and no one is allowed to sit in it :o)

I Was Surprised!

So, this is the little lady, Maria, that made me believe we were getting away for a little treat at Dairy Queen until....

we pulled up to Cindy's (below) barn where many of my friends were waiting to surprise me with a baby shower!

These are a couple of the sneaky ladies that helped make the surprise happen....my sweet friends Heather and Darinda.

Darinda's little princess, Lacey, graced us with her presence too...

Miss Mary and Abby were in on it also...they had my girls with them so that they would be at the shower ;o)

Here are some of the other sweet ladies that came...Andrea, Janie, Lis, Crystal, and Dana....

Sharon Denise and Mary...

and last but certainly not least....Laura who knew just what a pregnant girl wanted...

yes, she did.....she got me my depends I was needing....that was just as great as my husband buying me my feminine products....your jealous aren't you :o)

Of course...my beautiful and most delicious cake! I can't begin to tell you how great it was!

Me and my little mommas...love them so much!

Here are the little ladies that blessed us with their help and their giggles...Madison, Emma, Abby, and Elise.

It was my very first "surprise" party of any kind and a great one at that! I actually had NO CLUE...they were good sneaky friends! A memory to go down in the books!

I must mention Cathy...she wasn't in any of the pictures because she was taking them all! She did a fabulous job! So thankful for ALL of you!

Avrie - A Fellow Blogger

My sweet first born, Avrie, has started his own blog called Building Up Knowledge. I invite you to follow him and encourage him as he shares what he is learning in life.

Here's the link: http://avrie-buildingupknowledge.blogspot.com/

Summer Fun

So what do we do when it's over 100 degrees for 40 + days in Texas and it finally decides to rain? That's right...we play in it...fully-clothed...well, all except Oliver that is :o)

Emma Lou Hoo at the pool in Missouri...gotta love the freckles and missing teeth!

Travis with all the kids...we're not sure what he's doing...what he's looking at...no telling that's for sure...silly man.

Travis getting the tandem ready for a ride. The boys are all ready in the buggy.

So stinkin' cute! Love them!

Catching Up

Well, I must say it has been a while since my last update. Much has happened. Back in June I made a trip back to Indiana...mainly to visit my Aunt Bonnie who's been battling cancer. And it just so happen that Travis' cousin was getting married during my time there, and I was able to attend the wedding and visit with his family. I really enjoyed my visit...I was smart this time and didn't try to schedule my time away, but just went with the flow and trusted that I would get to see whoever the good Lord wanted me to see.

My Momma and Ira...I miss her!

This is my Aunt Bonnie...I love her and wish I were closer, but grateful my parents helped me fly back to spend some time with her.

My Daddy-O and niece, Raeni...love, love, love him and her...miss them both!

My sister, Kerri, and my nephew, Caslin...love and miss them too...(love his hair...Ira is on his way to looking like that :o)

Raeni with her corn-dog that looked like a bird...a woodpecker to be exact :o)

Dear dear friends of ours...Jacob & Sydney Cross...enjoyed visiting with them...they have grown so much!!!

Alicia...their momma...my sweet friend from childhood...love and miss her so much! (and Knuckle John too)

Here's Grandma Rosie (Travis' momma) and me in her b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l. garden!

My sweet, dear friend, Laura and her babies...Owen and Lilly...so glad I got to see her...never enough time though...

My long-time friend, Angie. It was so good to see her and spend time with her.

One of my favorite people, Travis' brother, Todd with his son Bailey. Always good to see them...very entertaining ;o) I didn't get a picture of Tanya and Alix...that stinks!

The lovely Sprinkle Clan...Jake, Mallorie, and Ben...always a hoot!

And of course Travis' sister, Lori and her super-special-always-glad-to-see-me husband, Tracy. Loved seeing them all!

Pictures of Eleanor Roselind

Grandma Rosie holding Eleanor shortly after her birth.

Here is one after we got home that day.

And an up close blurry one of the little sweetie.

Update - It's Been Awhile...

It certainly has been awhile since my last post.  What have we been doing this whole time?  Well, since the last post, Ira and I made a trip back to Indiana to visit my Aunt Bonnie and other family, my belly and butt continued to grow with the progression of the pregnancy, we suffered through a scorching HOT summer (40 days consecutive of 100+ temperatures with a total of 70 days of triple digit temps over the whole course of the summer), God graciously blessed my husband with a new job!, we ended one year of school and have started up another, I worked on different sewing projects, Emma lost three more teeth, Ira's hair has grown very long and he now looks like a hippy dude, Oliver has continued to keep us entertained, Elise's legs have grown longer, Avrie has blown us all away with his growth and abilities on the piano, Winston made a new friend - Rico - and made a world record for the number of burs one dog can get in a short time outside in the backyard, we haven't mowed our grass since June, the three oldest children went back to Indiana for a 2 week visit and I realized what big helpers they are to me, we changed the school room upstairs into a play room and moved all the school stuff downstairs, Travis repaired the tandem and now we go for bike rides, we celebrated our 11th year of marriage, and yesterday we became a family of eight.  As Travis put it, yesterday morning at 6:11 a.m. Eleanor Roselind Latta was ushered into our presence by grace for His glory and our overwhelming delight!  She was 7 lbs. 1.5 oz. and 20" long.  Head full of dark hair and beautiful skin.  She is simply amazing.  She took her time getting here, but we are so grateful for the gift that she is from our Lord.  The Lord answered prayer by allowing us to have another good birthing experience.  The only complications we had was me hemorrhaging about a liter of blood after delivery, but it was eventually gotten under control and I was able to go home with strict orders to be on bed rest for three days.  I was so blessed to have my midwives and birthing assistant at Inanna Birthing Center once again be a part of the experience, I am so grateful for each of them!  Now, for the first time out of all six children I've had, I am actually sleeping when the baby sleeps...except for right now because I can't, I think I'm on a sugar high.  I will post a picture soon of the little beauty...  Thank you all for your prayers and I ask that you continue to pray for healing.  Love to you all!