Almost DONE!

I love my brother. I love my brother for lots of reasons. One of my most favorite things about him is how much he loves his wife and family. He has always been like that. We are different is so many ways, (for example, I hike in flip flops and he thinks I am retarded) but when it comes to family we are the same. Tonya's radiation treatments are almost DONE! She just posted on fb that she has 3 more. Of course, that inspired a blog from me. :) 3 more....it has been a LONG year for them. They will tell you that they will take one really crappy year for many more years together. So, as they begin a new phase, I ask for your continued prayer. Pray that it stays away. Pray that God has truly healed her entire body and rid it of all of the cancer. Pray that these two get to spend a long, happy life together. It is my prayer everyday. I know He hears us and I know it is in His hands. Here's to being DONE Aunt Tonya! :) You truly are a survivor.

A Walk Down Memory Lane.....

4 short years ago I looked like this......

It is hard to believe it has beenf 4 years! Greg just found these pictures and of course I had to share. She's changed our lives forever. Here are some of our first moments together. My precious Kennedy, you are such a blessing. You've made my house a home. You've made it a very busy home, but a home none the less. We love you so very much!

My new life. :)

LOVE this one! I loved her all bundled up. :)

Learning how to be a daddy. He did such a good job. :)

I love this one because it is such a memory for me. From the moment they placed her in my arms, I instantly took the role of being her Mommy. I have always been independent and wanted to do things on my own. I was never scared or doubted myself in anything I did with her. It just came to me. I love that moment. It was what I waited for my entire life. A little girl of my own, all dressed and perfect. She truly is a dream come true.

Meeting Jen for the first time!

And one of her most important moments in life. The moment she first met Drew......1 day old! :)

Our new little family.

Going home!

And love at first sight....

We love you, Kennedy Susan Olliff. We love you very, very, much!! Happy almost birthday! :)

Fa La La La La!

I adore this time of year. I love the magic of Christmas. I have always loved it, but when you have a 2 and a 3 year old, you see it even more sweetly. It is almost better than being the child with the gleam in your eye. You get to know the world, and know how truly sweet it is to have that innocence. They love Santa. They love to hear about how he is going to fly and land his reindeer here. They love their elf, Sheriff. I caught Whit standing on a chair yesterday yelling to Sheriff, " I want some robot train tracks, Sheriff!" Kennedy loves to hear about baby Jesus. She also knows about grown up Jesus, but she said, "I really like baby Jesus better. Grown up Jesus helped those people and that was nice of him. " hahahaha! LOVE it! I hope, hope, hope, that as we walk through this Christmas that I forget about the drama, the worldly things and focus on the true meaning of Christmas. For me, that is the fact that God sent His son for us. And all that I have is owed to Him. My little miracle turns 4 this month. 4????? I can't imagine a day around here without here. As I always say, it is all about Kennedy and Jesus in December at the Olliffs! Here's to one of my most favorite months and making memories that this sappy mommy will hold with her forever!

SAY CHEESE! yeah right.....:)

I have never had a Christmas card with just one baby. Kennedy's first Christmas was the announcement of the future arrival of Whit! So, I don't know what it is like to take just a precious pic of your one baby. I get the bonus gift of trying for two smiles. It is more the stress of having them do this on a day that I have them dressed in the perfect outfits. I have learned that it takes a long time to capture that perfect moment. So, now, I just snap pics all the time and keep my fingers crossed. Stay in suspense for the one I chose. I won't share it until you get it in the mail. :) Here are a few of my "Christmas Card Gone Wrong" photos. The first one is the best one.

Tongue out, being bossy....yep that is Kennedy.

Then being sweet. Yep, still Kennedy. After this, Whit is screaming, "SHE KISSED ME!!!" while rubbing his face so hard I made him stop. Disgusted! ;)

Loud? That doesn't even describe her adequately.

I named this one victory and defeat. He totally shoved her off of him.

Merry Christmas! Christmas cards are printed, they just need to be addressed and mailed. I am working on birthday invitations and those are next! Lots to celebrate in the Olliff house this month!

Let Baby Season BEGIN! :)

One of my dearest friends in the world, Sarah, is having her baby this month. It is the beginning of baby season around here. I have been surrounded by pregnant women for months and months. I went through a brief baby envy phase and it has quickly left me. ;) I am being a bit nostalgic tonight, so please forgive me. You should know I get that way sometimes. This one is about Sarah because she is just really on my mind tonight.

Sarah was the kind of friend you just need when you walk through what I did. She and I spent hours and hours rocking in my rocking chairs on our front porch talking about life. She was just such a good listening ear for me when I was trying to get pregnant. She and I walked this neighborhood a million times just talking. Then she rejoiced with me when I found out we were having K. Right before Kennedy was born, Sarah lost a baby. I don't think I'll ever forget how strong she was when she showed up in my room at the hospital the day Kennedy was born. I knew that pain. I knew how she felt. I also knew how incredibly hard it was for her to come and smile and see my precious miracle for the first time. She was just that friend. I have a picture of Sarah and J (with his pink shirt for Kennedy on) that means so much to me from that day. It is the true testament of a friend. I am so thankful for grown up friendships. I have dear, dear friends from my childhood. As you get older, it is harder to become good friends. We met them as adults and I feel like we have known them our whole lives. God's blessings are wonderful. Friendship is such a blessing.

So, my fun friend, I look forward to the beginning of my baby season. I look forward to rejoicing with you as you welcome your second child into this world. I look back on our history with fondness because we are stronger because of it. I am thankful that when I had no words for you I knew what to pray. I prayed for a hold it baby for you and He answered with Banks. What a time of rejoicing. I think it is very fitting that Eli is due around Kennedy's birthday. It was a time when you stood strong with God holding you up. You stood there with me only by his grace. And now, you will be in my place, there holding your son. What a good God we serve!

Let baby season begin!!!!!!!

Oh, and Jen, yes, there is a future sappy blog about you too. :) Waiting on cupid! :)

Good Tidings of Great Joy!

I adore this time of year. One of my most favorite things this year is church on Sundays. I love Christmas music, but there is just something about singing a Christmas song in God's house. Today, we all made it to church without a single grumble from anyone. It is always a fight to get them dressed and out the door. Today, it was wonderful! I sat in church with my husband and sweet babies at my side and there is nothing better.

I was pregnant with Kennedy and due right around Christmas 4 years ago. Greg said today that I might as well call her 4 already. I snapped back, I know for a fact that she was not born this time 4 years ago. I wanted her out SO badly!! :) I think about that Christmas now so much we when talk about Mary and how she traveled before Jesus was born. I am thankful for that year. I am thankful that my very first miracle was born around the same time we celebrate our world's greatest miracle. So, this Christmas season, through the busyness and shopping, I hope I take time to stand still. I hope that even more than on Sundays, that I stop and thank our God for the things He does for us. For it is because of Him, that I have this joy. It is because of Him that I hold my sweet miracles each day.

Luke 2:10 "Behold, I bring you tidings of great JOY, which shall be to all people."

Merry, Merry Christmas!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like CHRISTMAS!

Well, she was all talk. She couldn't wait to get there. When it was time to talk to Santa, she said, "No thanks!"' I ask Whit if he wants to go. His reply, "YES!" He very bravely goes up to Santa, gets really close and clings to me for dear life. Santa asks him his name and Whit tells him. Then Santa asked, "Well, what would you like for Christmas, Whit?" I feel him let go of me, relief washes over him, his eyes lights up with truly the joy only a child can have, and he says, "I want some train tracks!" Oh, dear lord, I love the magic of Christmas. It is moments like those that I will forever see when I look at him. Kennedy quickly felt left out and decided maybe she would at least talk to Santa. She very bravely told him her name. She said later that she forgot to tell him what she wanted. She did put on a brave face and smile for a photo. I love Christmas. I always have. I love it even more now. It truly has brought back the magic having these babies to share it with. I love it!

GSU had the lighting of the tree and they had SNOW!! It doesn't snow ever down here in the boro. We only have the kind of snow the machine in the background makes. hahahaha!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!