This is the amazing journey of our two miracles. John Craig was born on November 30, 2005 at 24 weeks and 5 days gestation. He weighed 1 pound 8 ounces and was 12 inches long. John is a true miracle and an inspiration to all that meet him! Hope Amanda, our perfect little girl, is currently recovering from two brain surgeries to remove a 6cm mass from the center of her brain. Hope represents everything good in this world and she too is an inspiration to all.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29.11

Thursday, May 26, 2011

It's Official

We officially have a Kindergartner in the house!  

My little boy is growing up way too quickly.  I told him tonight that I was going to stop feeding him so he wouldn't grow any more:)  He giggled, wrapped his arms around me and said, "Momma, that would be so silly!"

I did good at his performance and graduation (only because his AMAZING teacher is moving up to Kindergarten next year and John will be in her class) but the tears came today when he said to me, "Momma, after school I am going to be a big boy because I am going to be in Kindergarten."

Wow!  I just can't believe that in a few short months my little man will be off to full day Kindergarten.  It seems like yesterday I was praying over his isolette...begging God to let him live.  We have worked so hard to get him where he is today and I could not be any prouder of him (or his baby sis.)




She is so ready for preschool!


My little graduate!

Excuse the naked baby Hopie is holding up:)


This is the best family shot we got.....at least one out of the four of us is looking at the camera!


Hopie thought she was part of the program too:)


Freeze dance


Best teacher EVER!!!!!!

There is nothing better than a good teacher who truly loves and cares about her students.


Cookie decorating time!




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Sunday, May 22, 2011

Under The Weather

One of these adorable kids has a 103 fever and the other wants to be just like her brother!

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Saturday, May 21, 2011

Gone Camping

Johnny (as Hopie calls him....and I love it) has been camping out in his room!  He thinks it's the greatest thing in the world.....I over heard him talking to himself and he said, "This is the GREATEST camping trip ever!"

We gave him the option of keeping his bedroom furniture or giving it to Hope and he could pick out new stuff.  Of course he voted for the new stuff....and insisted he get a blue bed with yellow sheets:)  

Anyhow, in the mean time Papa pitched a tent in his room as a special treat.  But now I think our furniture shopping is put on hold....I am never going to get him out of that tent!!!


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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Just Like Us

John and Hope remind me SO much of my brother and me when we were little.......I wanted to do anything and everything he did, followed him everywhere and cried when he got in trouble:)

 This picture cracks me up!  John was sent to timeout for pushing Hopie.......so she decides to put herself in timeout too (so John doesn't feel sad.)  

Of course I had to take a picture:)  I tiptoed over to them but they both heard me and immediately turned and said, "cheese!"



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Monday, May 16, 2011

RIP Ronan


Last  night John and his BFF, Lily, released balloons up to Heaven in honor of a courageous and brave little boy who lost his life to Neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer.  They both kissed their balloons and watched them float up to Heaven......and then proceeded to pick all the flowers out of the neighbors yard:)


Love these two.  
They have sooooooooo much fun together.


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Friday, May 13, 2011

Happy Hour

Friday night happy hour isn't what it used to be.......but honestly, it's a lot more fun!


John and his favorite girls!!!!

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Haircuts!

Last week Grams and I took the kids to get haircuts.....it was Hopie's first!

John was an old pro....walked in, picked out his movie and sat nice and still for the entire cut.  Hopie didn't do too bad either.  However, she preferred to stand the entire time and continuously yelled, "Help! Help!"....as if she were being tortured:)


My handsome little dude!


The before shot


Yelling for help!



Both of their cuts turned out super cute.  Unfortunately, little miss doesn't sit still for long....and I couldn't get an "after" picture.

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Monday, May 09, 2011

All Aboard!

Love, love, love my little boy and little girl!

Today Johnboy put on his conductor hat and said, "Momma!  All aboard the Polar Express!!!"

Now sissy keeps saying, "Choo Choo!  Ah a bow!"

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Sunday, May 08, 2011

Perfect Mother's Day!


Today was perfect!  I got to sleep in until 8:30am, went on a family jog, swam and played in the backyard for two hours and had both our parents over for a Mother's Day and Papa's Birthday BBQ.



For some reason Hopie has banned shirts:) 


John swam (in the real pool) with his cousin Ashley for two hours.  It was super chilly...hence the blue lips.


Cupcake frosting moisturizer?


Little girl ate the frosting off two cupcakes and then ran in circles (literally) for thirty minutes on a sugar high!


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Saturday, May 07, 2011

Summertime!

As much as I LOVE Christmas time.....I think I might just love summertime a tiny bit more!

Swimming all day and night, BBQ's and watermelon and afternoons at the fountains with our BFF's.....what could be better?






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Mommy's Helper!

Hopie LOVES the mini grocery carts at Trader Joe's!


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Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Easter

We had a wonderful Easter....woke up to baskets and an egg hunt, went to church with both sets of Grandparents, followed by lunch at my parents and another egg hunt!


My pretty little girl.  She loved her Easter bonnet.



Hopie and Papa


Grams with two out of three of her grand babies!


My handsome man


Mommy with her favorite little man


Papa wearing John's tie!!!!!


Grammy egg hunting with one of her eleven grand babies!



We had M&M's EVERYWHERE. 

 I guess that's what happens when the Easter Bunny brings you candy dispensers:)


Egg hunting and candy eating is tiring!


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