A Pirate Life For Me...

Okay so maybe I wasn't really cut out to be a pirate, but I sure do enjoy taking my kids to the pirate ship pool in Deadwood.  So at least for a few hours I can pretend, I mean my kids can pretend that they are little pirates out at sea.

Speaking of the little pirates, Grayson is up from his nap.  2 are still sleeping...so I'll upload the pictures while I can.  Enjoy the pictures.

All My Love

Valentine's Day used to be a day where I mopped around when I was single, then it turned into another reason to go out on a date with my stud of a husband once I got married, and now that I have children it has turned into another reason to show my love to my family and also to make and decorate cookies, make valentine cards and hear my kids laugh over the new discovery of sprinkles hitting a sugar cookie and the plate.  I heart another reason to love my loved ones.

I never thought I could or would love this much.   But God has enlarged my heart and I pray that He will continue to do so.

Here are a few pictures from our fun evening the other night.

Joshua - 3.5 yrs old

Grayson - 22 months

 

 

Saray - 3.5 yrs old

Terry Peak House - Our Surprise Adventure

We had a great adventure at the Terry Peak house this past weekend.  We arrived at 4pm to a very cold, big 4 bedroom house (3 floors).   The furnace was on the fritz, which meant a chilly evening; thank goodness for a wood burning fireplace!  I stayed bundled in my winter coat and hat for nearly 5 hours, while everyone seemed to adjust to the cool indoor temps (the kids ran around til about 8pm, so I'm sure that helped).   I thought for sure that I would be sleeping in my coat and hat under the few blankets on the king sized bed.  But, thankfully the maintenance man was able to repair the furnace just in time for sleep.  Phew!   

As far as sleep went, Josh slept like a rock all night long, but Grayson and Saray played tag sleep; Grayson would cough, which would wake up Saray for 20 minutes or so.  Finally they were fast asleep, only for it to last 30 minutes or a hour until the tag game would start over.   Blah.  At least sleep is overrated.  

The kids had a blast playing in the hot tub outside under the stars with Daddy, Uncle Jesse and Uncle Jansen , Aunt Molly and Brittany (Jesse's girlfriend).  The hot tub was a highlight for the kids, that and watching "Wipe Out" on the TV with the crew.

Overall, we had a blast at the "Terry Peak House" and hope to go back again sometime in the near future (ya know, a year from now.)  

Sabastian - 3 months old (My parents' foster baby - also Molly's half brother.)

My better half.  :)

The twins were so excited to use sleeping bags for the first time.

Grayson, the boy who will eat anything.  He's enjoying Chunky Chicken Chili.

Saray hanging out with Uncle Jansen and Uncle Jesse the next morning.

Hanging around the fireplace, trying to keep warm.

Hot Tub Time!

Grayson and Mommy.

Relaxing after all the playing...watching "Wipe Out".

Uncle Jesse and Niece Torin

A Surprise Adventure

I should be getting things ready as we're headed out for the night, but morning sickness is kicking me where it counts, in the gut and my energy level.  We're getting ready to go on what the twins are calling "a surprise adventure".  My sister and her husband rented a big house just 4 miles from Terry Peak, one of the ski resorts up in Lead, SD (only 30 minutes away).  So my parents, Molly, Sabastian (Molly's half brother - foster baby), my sister Alesha, her husband and her twins, my brothers, my sister Ana and my family will all meet to have a good old family get together for the night.  We're not going snowboarding or skiing this year but we do plan on having lots of laughs and lots of fun in the snow tomorrow morning.
The twins are extremely excited for this adventure, especially since they get to sleep in sleeping bags for the very first time.  Grayson, I'm sure, will be extremely excited to tear apart a new place, I mean explore a new place.  All I am praying for is sleep, especially since my little family of 5 will all be in the same room. 

Wish us luck!   I need to get back to work.

My Miracles

I only have energy to post a few pictures.  I wanted to be in bed 2.5 hours ago (at 6pm), so you'll have to wait for a real update from the Chapeau crew.   Enjoy the pictures of the kids. 

 

Love Moments Like This

 

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Yep, you heard Saray right, a baby is coming around Joshua's birthday (August 29th) and Saray's birthday (August 30th).  My actual due date is August 27th.  Shocked?  So were we, but we're thrilled to be welcoming another member to our Chapeau Family.

5 years ago, after losing Isaiah in our second trimester, and then losing Jayden to our second miscarriage, I never would have thought that GOD would do so much in my heart and our lives.   After our second miscarriage, I knew God was calling me to praise my way through yet another storm.  God truly is the Calmer of the storm, and it truly was life-changing to set my gaze and praise on HIM.  I believe the praise prepare the way for God to do a supernatural miracle in me and our family.  January 2008 we we found out that we were having twins (supernaturally - talk about shock!).  And after losing Jael to our third miscarriage (the twins were 10.5 months old at the time), I continue to believe with all my heart that God was not done growing our family.  A month later we found out we were pregnant with Grayson.  God truly does work in miraculous ways!

Moments after Grayson was born, I knew God wasn't finished growing our little family; so a year & half after Grayson's birth, I stand in awe of God and His faithfulness to fulfill His promises to us.

So there you have it...now you know our 2012 news.  

2011 Comes to an End

I remember 1999 to 2000 being a big year; wondering if Y2K was going to ruin my life and my love for computers and connecting with friends and family via the internet.  The roll over from 1999 to 2000 happened with ease just like any other year. We never went without power and the computers never crashed, but I still remember that year like it was yesterday. (Not really sure why that year is so stuck in my memory...)  12 years later I am wondering how my life will change in the new year; my computer probably won't crash on New Year's Day (please don't crash) and we'll most likely still have power (unless we have an insane blizzard or we trip a breaker) but most of all I pray that my heart will continue to seek God and welcome the change that He brings to my life.
I have never been one to set new year resolutions, because I know by week 5 I will fall flat on my face, but I do pray that my heart would be open to change and that I would strive to live more by faith... to let go and really, really let God move in my life.

Counting all His blessings in 2011: 3 beautiful miracles, my precious gift from God: Jeremiah, a new home, our 3 wonderful families, old friends and new friends, our Bible study group...and so many more blessings.

(Sorry, I still do not have any updated pictures of our house...maybe this Summer)

Jer and His Dad, Jerry

The Pojar Family: Maddie,  Grandpa "Oatmeal" & Grandma Rose

The Culver Family: Paula, Molly, David, Jesse, Ana, Jansen (MIA: Alesha & Gabe and their families)

Representing The McMahan Family: Grandma Fran

Our Friend Amanda Zell