The middle of S. 57th

rub-a-dub-dub all 3 kiddos in the tub

2012-02-08T22:24:00.003-06:00

all 3 kids in the same tub at once kinda not kinda completely grosses me out but no worries they all were scrubbed prior to soaking/playing....anna was over the moon being in the "big" tub and giggled while splashing with her older brother and sister!!

2.4.11 saturday snow storm

2012-02-04T10:48:00.010-06:00

we were awaken at 2:30am to a loud crash....a huge tree branch landed on our roof..kevin and i got up and with alot of effort pulled it up and off the gutter and roof....then

we woke up to this pretty site at 7:30 am

then the kids wanted to go and play while kevin started to scoop snow...

then after being outside there was another large cracking noise and crash...Shirley our next door neighbors huge ceder tree went down..... missing the truck but on part of her front roof...so....

saw saw saw sawing saw saw sawing and more sawing.....

then a bit later....

no images...

2012-02-02T13:58:00.005-06:00

i'm so bummed our camera is forever broken....and so until i have it replace you'll have to picture what ever it is i describe in your head...."mom i'm a hipper!" what is that? "a person who makes skirts" what? "see i'm wearing a skirt" as she goes skipping off saying hip hip hipper hip....what ever...it's a funny day here...laundry in the washer and dryer a rufus dog at my feet...kate is skipping again now with a guitar in her hands singing hip hip hipper hipper hip....not funny with laundry that's normal i just feel different...weather is changing so maybe that's it...anxious for real winter.....if i remember right when we lived in tuscon i felt like this....so we'll see.....images of snow falling a warm blanket a warm drink and a book....awww

finding joy

2012-01-23T10:49:00.004-06:00

joy.......a dictionary defines it as
1. the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation: She felt the joy of seeing her son's success.
2. a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated: Her prose style is a pure joy.
3. the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaiety.
4. a state of happiness or felicity

really...joy....I was reminded that we for the most part mistake joy for what really is happiness....eating grandma's apple pie brings me joy for the sake of being with her...seeing anna sky's toothless smile brings me joy....but what happen when grandma is gone and say when anna is gone...of course sadness but i will still have joy...lots of people would say really you'd still have joy....yes because joy isn't based on earthly terms...but that we have joy because Jesus came to be our 2nd adam....teaching 3yr old sunday school makes it easy for me to realize that Jesus came in a fashion we could never truly imagine...a manger...a feed box...now i don't know about you but i've seen cows eat (thanks to kevin's family being in the cow business) these animals aren't concerned about manners!! they stink...they slobber they drop half chewed food out of their mouths....Jesus came into humanity...humility to be man to dwell with us...our stinky selfish selves and live a sinless life to die...so we can dwell with Him forever....that is joy.... when all is taken we still have joy because it not what we have or who we have but because of Jesus! this life may be full of troubles and sorrow but because of Jesus there will always be joy!!

More similar pictures...help in the kitchen...

2012-01-16T22:18:00.002-06:00

kate, ezra and anna

looking out

2012-01-16T14:46:00.003-06:00

--kate,ezra and anna similar pictures i recall...

Anna Sky 8 months old!

2012-01-12T15:30:00.005-06:00

my anna sky is 8 months old! wow! she is able to sit up on her own, able to clap her hands, can give her "baby" a kiss, she has 2 bottom teeth as seen in bottom picture, she is able to get on her hands and knees rock back and forth and then she lowers herself to the floor on her belly and is able to scoot backwards doing so....she's continues to be a happy baby enjoying her older sister and brother at times...she also enjoys seeing the kitties and dog!! She truely is a blessing and brings a happiness to me that is hard to explain!!
pictures taken by anna's momma

tricycle riding

2012-01-08T15:56:00.006-06:00

January another year i say i'm going to lose weight going to read more yell less sing more yada yada yada....come December we'll see how this goes....to be continued... seriously can you believe the weather?? goodness me thank you Lord for the warm winter weather!! my kiddos can be outside and not freeze or come close to it!!

Eve of Christmas eve....@ The Ahls

2011-12-28T15:31:00.004-06:00

Tim (my dad) Nancy, Ron, Grandma, and Bert

tasha,john,tim,steve,seated is jeff and grandma,uncle bert,adam,aaron,ben kneeling matt uncle steve aunt nancy and uncle ron

pat,tim,uncle steve,aunt nancy,grandma,uncle bert,aunt carmen,aunt gail and uncle ron

kate ezra anna and grandma

grandma and anna sky

we celebrated with the ahl's on the eve of christmas eve (23rd) it was so so so good to see my dad's side of the family!! we really only see them once a year!! sad thing is we all live in the lincoln area!! my anut nancy is my dad's sister, she has 2 boys which have three children each....my uncle bert is my dad's brother he has one son, my uncle ron has three boys which two are married the other isn't....it was really so good to see them all!! and of course i enjoyed seeing my grandma j who was there for a short period of time...she got to meet anna sky for the first time!!

christmas morning....

2011-12-28T15:26:00.003-06:00

I wanted to get a picture of all three in front of the tree (of their faces) but they didn't want that....of course wanting to get to the presents!! this is as good as i could get!!

dpp#24

2011-12-24T11:26:00.001-06:00

Anna wishes everyone Merry Christmas eve.

dpp #23

2011-12-23T10:04:00.002-06:00

mannheim steamroller christmas celebration fills the house this am...

happy winter!!

2011-12-21T23:41:00.004-06:00

it's the shortest day of the year!! that means tomorrow is one day closer to spring and daylight savings time.....oh how i long for some snow!! i'm dreaming of a white christmas goes through my head!! please oh please let there be snow!! agh once again use your imagination (no camera was used again today) but i made some tasty treats barking candy canes....a thin layer is more better than a thick layer...more better is that one for an english teacher...better than a thick layer...any english teacher would throw up reading this possibly having a heart attack due to the miss spelling and lack or proper grammar and punctuation....any way today is the 1st official day of winter...so Happy Winter everyone!!!

12.20.11

2011-12-20T22:14:00.002-06:00

if you can picture it then your doing fantastic.....why because the camera is not being used....LAZINESS...but picture in your head a double boiler and melted chocolate and 2 bags of pretzel rods being glazed with the chocolate....that's all the more "baking" i got done today....and also a cutie and 4 bananas glazed with chocolate...see it's healthy!!

Dog food??

2011-12-20T15:48:00.003-06:00

Ezra and Kate found nuts I'd placed in a dish and asked "mom why is there dog food in here?"

dpp#16

2011-12-16T14:09:00.002-06:00

This is all that remains of our snowman.....it's cold the holiday season is upon us but no pretty snow to make it feel more like christmas.

in the zone dpp#15

2011-12-15T16:37:00.003-06:00

After a morning and early afternoon of play at the wittman's house kate is zoned on the couch watching a movie for quiet time....

dpp....#,#&# what number are we on?? 13&14??

2011-12-15T16:11:00.008-06:00

cookie night at church instead of awanas the kids enjoyed a movie and cookies!

oatmeal is yummy and enjoys a oatmeal facial as well!!

Tuesday tried a new cobbler recipe...it wasn't the greatest.....

dpp # 12

2011-12-12T22:37:00.000-06:00

warmer out so time to play at the park!! woo hoo!!

12.11.11 dpp 10 & 11

2011-12-11T12:58:00.005-06:00

she's playing and i hear "charge it!"

drinkin' hot chocolate on a cold saturday am!!

ddp 7,8 & 9

2011-12-10T13:48:00.008-06:00

just to clear things up...this isn't i love your face....this is get your face out of here!!

anna getting to try and enjoying puffs and cheerios!

anna enjoying freedom to look at tree with no siblings around......

12.6.11 oh those kittens!!!

2011-12-06T20:31:00.003-06:00

agh!!

12.5.11 Nathan

2011-12-05T22:44:00.002-06:00

over at the henrichs house found all the presents wrapped and under the tree...wow i wouldn't be able to stand it!! "if you touch it, it goes back to the store" that's the policy....

12.4.11 sweet potatos

2011-12-04T16:07:00.004-06:00

she likes them!!

12.3.11 she's a beauty!

2011-12-03T17:07:00.005-06:00

She's a perfect fit for our family and house this year!! She'll be dolled up soon!!

out in the elements, cut and now gracing us with her beauty!! and may i just add that her perfume is amazing!!

12.2.11

2011-12-02T09:35:00.002-06:00

#2 dpp....I find this most mornings!!

12.1.11

2011-12-01T23:47:00.004-06:00

i almost forgot to get a picture blogged to start the dpp....and i was wondering throughout the day what i would photograph....well earlier this evening i heard faint crying and went to find out what happened....and this is what i found....

ezra was downstairs and had got stuck in the sink...he couldn't get out!! (this cracked me up)

Anna is 6 months old!

2011-11-21T11:28:00.003-06:00

My little Anna Sky is 6 months!!! she's a happy thing!! always smiling, chatty at times in the middle of the night!! she's a true blessing to our family!!
pictures taken by anna's momma....

on your mark get set GO!!!

2011-11-18T17:26:00.002-06:00

so right here the middle of s. 57th the DPP will start in a few short days!! December first...mark your calenders!! woo hoo!!

cowboys an a indian

2011-11-14T12:49:00.001-06:00

halloween ezra and kate cowboys and little anna our indian!

Giddy up partner

2011-11-04T16:02:00.002-05:00

halloween...candy and costumes....thanks to friends for letting us borrow a few items kate and ezra were cowboys.

what are you doing???

2011-10-26T15:21:00.003-05:00

cleaning cleaning....being over taken by dusting spray fumes....i take break....and guess what i find??? kate meradith.....agh!!!

Bernice and Francis

2011-10-26T13:03:00.004-05:00

i love cats. always have. had a cat named pedro, which i gave away, in a crazed hormonally challenged state of pregnancy with kate....kevin had told me not to do it...but why would i listen to him?? was always told by kevin never again would i be allowed to have a cat in the house do to all the cat hair and of course the litter box.....aww little did kevin know that wouldn't stay that way....we got the privilege to get 2 farm cats from a co-worker of kevins....rita and hellen...which after trying to litter train with no luck.....were sent to be "outside" cats....which rita lasted a week before being found in the street.....and hellen is still MIA or presumed dead.....which made for a sad kate...i'd be lying if i was telling you i was also sad.....but was relieved to be done with kittens....heeheeeheee or not....a friend had posted something on face book about these kittens from the next door acreage.....and of course i was thrilled to take a try at these little beast again.....after the 2nd day of them being here they went missing.....i was so so sad!! but was over joyed to know the neighbor 2 doors down found them running and put them in their garage.....after that well short story...they are now inside....they don't like rufus...but are so so tolerant of kate and ezra!! and they have litter trained with no NO accidents!! oh bernice and francis your a joy to have and please forgive kate and ezra for their craziness!! kate kittens do not go in the icecream bucket!!! (but it was cute)

5 months

2011-10-17T20:54:00.004-05:00

Anna Sky is a little over 5 months now by 5 or 6 days. She started "growling" if you can call it that. she likes to stand, likes rice cereal, rolling onto her tummy and started her in the exersaucer.....

Ezra's 2nd birthday!

2011-10-17T20:34:00.004-05:00

10.07.11 ezra's 2nd birthday went like this.....capital air and heating guy at our house pretty much all day...9-4:30ish....so we went to supersaver and got donuts it was very windy and had donut picnic in the back of kevin's truck....came home....ran a few other errands....went and had lunch....naps....park....grandma and grandpa javorsky and uncle john, aunt nichole, abby and baby maisey lou came for supper and cake...classic pizza and salad and grandma javorsky made ezra's birthday cake a train cake.....ezra really had no idea what was going on however did get pretty excited when it was time to open gifts!! here are a few pictures from that evening....

no memories...agh!!

2011-10-04T14:17:00.004-05:00

my boy, ezra george, is turning 2 this friday!! i have tried hard to go and look at pictures from his past two years and sadly i have no memories of it...is that normal? or is that because he is the middle child?? i'm so so sad that i can't recall any of his mile stones...did he grow up and i not pay attention?? what kind of parent are you if you have no absolutely no memory of a child!! know this, you ezra george are such a boy...with a sweet temperament..however you do mimic your older sister alot...which isn't so grand at times...you are loved deeply and you have a heavenly father that knows you prior to your birth....and loves you more than this forgetful mother ever will!

4 Months

2011-09-16T22:21:00.003-05:00

Anna Sky is now 4 months old! She is now attempting to roll, she is grabbing at objects while playing. She carries on a conversation in baby gibberish quite well with good facial expressions. She is so very very loved by her brother and sister. They want to help but also get so excited at times that its to much and gets a bit rough!!

Anna's baptism 8.21.11

2011-08-22T13:31:00.005-05:00

Our little Anna Sky is now marked as a child of God!! What an amazing thing to see your baby "washed" baptised and hear the sweet words of redemption for her!!
My heart is full of joy for Anna and my prayer for her is that the Holy Spirit would be at work in her heart as a infant. That one day she can say for herself that Jesus is her only hope and her salvation!! Kevin and Abby Webben are Anna Sky's godparents

Maisey Louise Webben

2011-08-15T13:10:00.004-05:00

I am a proud "aunt" (actually 2nd cousin) to announce Abby and Kevin Webben had their baby girl on the evening of August 10th weighting 6lbs 4oz and 20.4 inches long!! She's a beauty just like her momma!!

Anna @ 3 months

2011-08-15T12:55:00.002-05:00

pictures by anna's momma

my anna sky is just a wee bit over three months now. she has grown longer, can now smile and coo which, is pretty sweet to hear and see!!

All of us ---The Ourada family---

2011-07-27T15:43:00.005-05:00

Over the 4th of July weekend our family traveled west to Kearney where Kevin's folks live. There we joined all of Kevin's siblings and their families! Greg and Zandra with their two girls Bristen and Elizabeth where home from Hawaii. Greg is in the Army and received a new position in Washington State. We are so glad we got to see them and also glad they are back state side!! Brenda, Kevin's only sister the youngest of the bunch was back from Georgia. She works with John Deere as a product sales manager (not sure what her title is but something like that) She travels pretty often for her job and learns the farmers and other clients about the new products and tractors. We were glad to spend time with her especially Kate!! She talks about her Aunt Brenda often. Jeff and Christine along with Alex, Aiden and baby #3 coming in Oct were there. They live here in Lincoln but funny enough we rarely see them. Dave and Angie with their 3 kiddos Morgen, Tyler and baby Luke were there living in Amherst we only see these guys when we are back in Kearney or sometimes when Angie visits her family in Weeping Water. Ron and Connie are extremely blessed with there 5 children, 4 daughter-in-laws and their 10 almost 11 grandchildren!! It was great time had by all of us!!

Two months

2011-07-27T15:34:00.002-05:00

pictures by anna's momma!

One month

2011-07-27T15:02:00.004-05:00

Anna Sky's one month pictures done by Nellie Smith Photography

5.12.11

2011-07-24T19:29:00.006-05:00

Anna Sky Ourada joined our family on the 12th of May in the middle of the afternoon. She was 6lbs 8oz and was 19 and 1/4 inches long. She has medium brown colored hair not alot but some. Her eyes a pretty blue color. She had a medium cry nothing piercing but a cry then she was quiet very peaceful. Anna came early at 36 weeks due to her momma's blood pressure issues. My pretty Anna Sky healthy and small.

Where did the Author go???

2011-07-23T17:49:00.004-05:00

I've not blogged for a very long while...which seems to be funny to me...reason being that i've read other folks blogs and anxiously await for a new post from them....and here my blog sits with no posts....so you say what's been keeping me....well lets see... oh yeah life....believe it or not it still happens even when the blogging doesn't life continues....and anxiety...I've sat down before and think i'm going to post something fantastic and then it happens i get overwhelmed and it just doesn't happen.....and of course i think whoever reads this will be crazed by the end for the lack of punctuation and spelling errors...don't get me wrong if i took time to do that it would be a smooth read....but typing... agh!! I pretty sure that's how my brain works...one long run on sentence or not even a sentence a phrase?? seeing that i've not post except this i'll fill you in on the upcoming posts....hang on to your pants your about to experience about 4 months....a crazy ride you'll be taking as you read...

Confessions....our not so fabulous life

2011-04-05T19:41:00.002-05:00

was at the park with our friends the morehead boys and their momma renae when she stated yeah you haven't blogged for a while and i replied because i have nothing to blog about she said sure you do your fabulous life.....well sure i have a fabulous life....heeehee it makes me laugh just thinking of a fabulous life.....just like my lack of capitalization and punctuation so is my life.....i've got one kid in bed after a bath with bubbles prior to that he was eating supper when he decided to throw his food on the floor...ezra please don't do that...he continues....EZRA please don't do that.....still continues......EZRA NO NO!......still continues...fine are you ready for your bath??....yep fabulous i tell ya....earlier my kate....taking her self for a walk away from where we were playing.....kate turn around and come back.....she continues.....KATE STOP turn around.....she continues to walk away starting to run.....KATE there's a bear and he's going to get you....still doesn't stop....Renae say's she can still see her..i go over to that area and tell her to come.....and she does after a while......yep fabulous my kid doesn't listen....why oh why don't they listen.....fabulous i tell ya.....sitting in my kitchen the supper dishes piled in the sink not done...a floor not so messy now that Rufus our yellow lab has cleaned up after ezra's throwing food....fabulous i tell ya..............but such is life and that is that fabulous or not it is what it is

mo hawk baby!!

2011-03-27T12:24:00.006-05:00

ezra had his first hair cut...he's hair finally took off growing and oh how it grew and finally it was time....time to chop of those baby curls and get a "manly" cut...and why not a mo hawk?? kevin just about had a hard attack when i told him what type of cut ezra got but soon settled down after hearing it could be styled a different way...if you don't know kevin he's very "clean cut" no whiskers no long hair....and no mo howak....here are some pictures of the event...

I'm the mother of a 3 year old...

2011-03-14T22:00:00.004-05:00

they say that three is by far worse than two.....not encouraging folks...but oh how i've already seen the difference....she's got an attitude....she's wants so badly to be independent...changing outfits throughout the day...telling us how things go....and as always picking on her little brother ezra!! aww i'm sure things will get better....i love the snot out of her!! here are a few pictures from nellie smith photography......my beautiful kate meradith 3yrs old

Jesus in her heart?

2011-02-05T21:28:00.005-06:00

we had are ultrasound with the "fetal specialist" dr malee....and our little baby anna sky is "normal" no cysts were seen on her brain!! so i'm so thankful for this answered prayer for her health!! the doctor is concerned with her growth...apparently she is little for 22wks and they'd like to do another ultrasound in two weeks.....which i suppose is ok....while the ultrasound was going on we clearly saw anna sucking her fingers....which i believe she could be a piano player!! her fingers are so long!! praise Jesus for healthy organs of our baby girl!!! we were able to see her 4 chamber heart clearly....i almost asked the ultrasound tech if she could see Jesus in there but i decided to be quiet....this is my prayer that one day little anna sky will have Jesus deep down in her heart!!

no writing

2011-01-17T12:07:00.002-06:00

i have a few prompts to write about but i really don't feel like blogging.....lot on the plate as i'm the "lead chef" for the zion women's banquet....team leader.....the captain of the kitchen....hhhmmm for all that read this be warned if you come to the banquet this year you won't be impressed.....i'm following in the foot steps of the amazing talented kelli kerns.....which is pretty much setting up to fail.....so if you come don't have to high expectations....then i have this baby in my belly....she's half baked...little anna sky....my mind wonders about her health....and hope for her to love Jesus...and also what "kind" of baby will she be.....my 1st is wild and loud.....my 2nd is serious and easy going most of the time...both were spitters.....not just a little burp and mouth of spit we're talking having to burp a kid over the sink because they'd spit half the milk back up not just once but several times....nice thing is this little baby will be a late spring early summer babe and we can be outside....anyway...wondering about a possible trip to new york to see my sister and if i go how all will be...my parents....they have no interest in my children....they suck at grand parenting to be blunt.....it's upsetting....my daughter is starting to ask questions about grandma and grandpa....christmas eve service my daughter was crushed that grandpa didn't set with us....how do you explain that to a 2 yr old kid.....they are crap!! i know i'm suppose to respect my parents but seriously they suck....my father ....(maybe i should tell them all this) my sister was in omaha for 2 weeks with her dying mother....did my dad bother stopping to even say hi just a least in the lobby of the hospital....nope....my sister was crushed to say the very least....it's a great thing that our heavenly Father is so much more....and i'm reminded often about His never failing love!! well enough for now....need to finish up laundry....

Reflections 1.6.11 ramblings on all

2011-01-06T20:09:00.003-06:00

homemade, singleness, disappointment, fashion, scripture, this is quite the mixture of prompts.....however i think i can hit on all of these things from being at mom to mom this morning.....and a recent coffee date with a friend of mine.....over a cup of coffee we talked and laughed about the men in the starbucks we were at.....being married and speaking to a single gal....nothing is more fun then this....aww to be single again....of course when i was single all i wanted was to be married....but i encouraged her that there would be someone out there that was made just for her! homemade...at mom to mom our "mentor mom" wanted us to give a memory of christmas from our childhood...mine was the smell of homemade poppy seed bread...my mom use to bake several loafs of this bread during the holiday season for family and friends....aww the smell is heavenly....disappointment....the subject of mom to mom this am was financial...which is clearly a disappointment seeing we owe alot of money to banks......but hopefully we can change that this year....fashion once again we talked about fashion sense when i complimented someone on their sweater and someone on their socks!! they both were suprised and embarrassed of their choice of clothing.....maybe i don't have a sense of fashion.....oh well as long as i have clothes covering this body that's really that all that matters.....scripture....psalms 119:105 thy word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path.....guidence plan and simple....

Reflections 1.3.11 -Moment-

2011-01-03T19:40:00.006-06:00

Stillness, laughter, moment, compliments and marriage.....reflections of....2010....it's hard for me to remember things.....i have many things i could write however i'm not sure if any would be worth while for anyone to read....who reads this stuff anyway!? Moment i'd say is probably something is worth writing.....the reason for me being stuck in time in may....mother's day weekend....that friday night my husband and i went to the olive garden and to the lincoln symphony which was very enjoyable...my phone was put on vibrate due to being in the symphony....my sister called but didn't leave a message.....the next day (saturday) i'd planned on going and getting flowers to plant and spending the day outside....little did i know that my sister had called again and left a message...again not realizing my phone was still on vibrate....and later got the message.....my biological mother was at the university med center and kelly had flown in from new york....(not good to find out on a message) side note...my sister held a relationship with my mother i did not....i held a mother daughter relationship with my step mother.....however my sister is my sister and i'd do anything for her.....i called her back and she was in omaha with priscilla (mother) who was in surgery.....i asked her if she wanted me up there and she said yes...so i drove to omaha.....and this is were i'm stuck.....when i walked in the room i saw a critically ill lady whom i didn't recognize hooked up to a ventilator, several lines hooked to a pic line to an arm, a chest tube with two bottles of drainage, a cathater, telemetry and my sister who was scared... over the next week and few days i went to the hospital everyday for kelly...i did visit with priscilla however she was in a medically induced coma...who knows what goes on in the mind while in a coma but i did get the chance to share with her what i felt was necessary for her to hear...she passed away the later afternoon on the 18th with which there was a beautiful sunset that i'm still thankful for....there is much that isn't sweet about death unless you know for sure someone is dancing on golden streets with Jesus....but to see a sunset after a death is for me peace......i may not have peace with all of this but it is a moment i'll remember forever.....

January...new project...Reflections

2011-01-03T11:44:00.003-06:00

New project....seeing i did such a fabulous job with the december photo project i looked on my good friend renae morehead's blog site and found this new project which i'm looking forward to..it's like a new adventure!! .....as for now i have two children that are transitioning into bunk beds that are messing around instead of napping so wish me luck!! I'm going in with the wooden spoon......

dec 22nd wednesday..

2010-12-22T09:49:00.004-06:00

I can't hardly believe it's almost christmas....i'm sure we have all heard this one before but no really i'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the idea that this year is almost over.....why is it this way?? 2011 hhhmmm that's so foreign...when it was 1995 to think of 2011 was space age like..and now it's almost here!! and to think there still is no snow covering my yard....how do the folks in arizona do it?? we celebrated one christmas down in tuscon in 2006 it was ridiculous!! going to get a christmas tree in shorts....and blue skies and 78 degrees...and cactus.....not my kind of christmas

...give me snow and cold and a hot cup of something yummie... is it because i'm a "grown-up" now?? i have children of my own?? I'm not so much in to the gifts...although i'm anxious to see what my husband got me...but just the joy of baking, telling kate about jesus being the reason....NOT SANTA....although she saw a picture of him on a christmas card and knew who it was ..."that's santa claus" and i reinforced that he wasn't for real just pretend and the whole reason we celebrate christmas is because of....waiting or her to answer...her having a strange look on her face while looking at the santa on the card.....Jesus kate christmas is about JESUS!! anyway....christmas is only 3 days away and i am just thankful that jesus did come on christmas day as a babe to grow into a man to die for our sins!! thank you Lord for your amazing love and reminding us through the season on advent/christmas every year that your love is an every lasting unchangeable love!!

monday dec 20th

2010-12-20T15:29:00.004-06:00

well i've not kept up with the whole picture every day....but oh well....this weekend kate was hoping, along with momma, that we'd get some snow...alas we did not...

DPP #16

2010-12-16T19:44:00.004-06:00

12.16.10 she made me crazy today but she's still a princess, a child of God! And i'm truly blessed to have kate meradith as my daughter!!

sanity!!

2010-12-16T19:39:00.001-06:00

what do you do when you are at your wits end and ready to scream?? call up your friends and see who's available to help out....and i did just that this evening...kate had pushed me to the end and thankfully karisa came to my rescue!! aww what a relief to go out for 15 mins for a brisk walk with the dog!! oh how i'm fully restored now!! thanks karisa your a life saver!!

Ezra's one and has been for 2 and half months....

2010-12-16T15:15:00.005-06:00

i've not got many post on mr ezra.... what kind of mother doesn't post one year pictures of their children?? i'm sure i'm not the only one....so here to my little man ezra george love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!! i hope you grow with up and love jesus with all your heart!!

DPP #15

2010-12-15T20:27:00.002-06:00

12.15.10....."don't write on the window....don't i'll have to clean it"...this is what i heard growing up...but it's so fun to make designs on the condensation on the windows....so here are our hand prints

thoughts

2010-12-15T08:42:00.003-06:00

12.15.10 it's unfortunate that i can't take a picture of my brain and then look at it to settle all the thoughts that are going on in there. i have many things going on such as why can't my kate go back to bed after going potty at 4:30 in the morning...every morning that is when she wakes up and goes potty....don't get me wrong i'm glad she's staying dry and potting (potty training) but why oh why does it have to be "momma i want cereal" why can't she just go potty and go back to sleep? oh well i guess it's all good as she's goes in the toilet and not in her "dora" pants! Why can't ezra figure out how to go back down the stairs once he gets up them?? we've tried many times to show him -turn around on your tummy- go down that way....he insists on trying to go front first and again this morning he was leaning clear over about to somersault down the whole flight! agh!! child listen and learn...and then i think you suppose that is what God thinks when we sin?? child listen and learn!! why can't we be more content? kevin is so hooked on material things....well i am too to a certain extent....but why can't we just sale our things and live simple....it might help get us out of debt faster....we could live in a "hole" of an apartment for a few years....no need to have friends or family into our "hole" while we figure things out....kevin isn't on board with this at all...really the huge tv down stairs i'm sure would bring a few hundred dollars....and our treadmill that's practically brand new....come on kevin...and it's always...no....so that again i why he works two jobs....which then i feel guilty for quiting my job that i worked at for only a few months...but how i didn't not like leaving my kids at someone else's house and not seeing my husband till the weekend...working momma's outside the home are wonder women in my eyes!! i wish i could find a job such as medical transcripting....i'd be good at that i think....being a nurse i've got medical terminology down...spelling on the other hand isn't very good....but that would be great!! why doesn't my mother tell me what is going on for the holidays?? i talked to my brother and he said she had called him and told him the plans.....why not us?? sometimes i feel that since i'm not "her" child that i'm not part of her family anymore...oooh i love this song playing on pandora right now!! oh come little children oh come one and all....i love the tune...i which my family enjoy more classical music like i do....why must my husband instist upon the whole santa claus thing...again last night he doesn't EXIST!! and christmas is about JESUS!! and no it has nothing to do about a bad santa experience...this third child i'm expecting is this baby going to be healthy?? i'm still taking the medications that i did prior to being pregnant...is the baby a girl or a boy?? we have names...ivan for boy and anna for girl...regardless i remember paster ghormley saying that children are already screwed up (because of sin) so hey no problems there..january 5th we'll find out if it's a boy or girl...i believe i'm further along then they think...last check up doctor thought this too...or is it a huge baby again???? Rufus our dog...ugh again i'm feeling that he really belongs with another family....three young children and a dog....my husband knows i'm going to go crazy...why doesn't it just snow already...i'm so ready for more than a "dusting" of snow....it's only 9:30 am??? good heavens it feels like it should be noon...and again my brain is still going with so many more thoughts....

DPP #14

2010-12-14T19:04:00.003-06:00

12.14.10 mode of transportation

DPP #13

2010-12-13T11:56:00.003-06:00

12.13.10 I was given strict instructions, from my daughter Kate, that baby was in the basket sleeping I was not to disturb her and I had to be quiet.

12.12.10

2010-12-12T20:10:00.002-06:00

DPP # 12.......Ezra doesn't want a ride!

saturday....dpp #9,10 and 11

2010-12-11T11:02:00.005-06:00

12.9,10,11.10 So i've fallen behind with posting my dpp blogs our camera had a dead battery and needed some rest and fill-up of energy...however i did take pictures just didn't post them.....

12.11.10
trying to take a picture for our christmas card...obviously the kids aren't "in" to doing this...

12.10.10
spaghetti kate apparently isn't hungry....good thing we have a rufus dog!!

12.9.10
playing with blocks

DPP#8

2010-12-08T10:42:00.004-06:00

12.8.10
Christmas past

amazing what happens in 5 years... i was trying to find a picture from our first christmas but i wrote a letter with no picture....so the the oldest picture is from 2006 and the next 2007 and the next 2008 and the most recent or top pic was 2009 we'll see what comes next.....

DPP#7

2010-12-07T19:48:00.000-06:00

12.7.10 niece and nephew blurred decorating tree

December Photo Project #6

2010-12-06T20:23:00.004-06:00

Christmas means presents and santa claus…..my niece morgan who is now 5yrs old told me this when i asked her. Hhmmn…deep down I was sad to hear this and not Jesus….I told kevin this and he said there is nothing wrong with that….i replied there is everything wrong with this…..santa doesn’t exist!! kevin told me not to spoil it for the other kids and that i should let our children enjoy christmas with santa claus he said they deserve to be happy…..Hhhhmmm……i then said if kid deserved to be happy then what part of christmas does Jesus come into play……if it wasn’t for Jesus we would get what we deserved…..HELL!! Jesus is the SOUL purpose for christmas….to come as a babe to live the life of a man to fulfill the scriptures to be our 2nd adam!! He came so that we might LIVE eternally! why do i want to tell my children a lie??? Kevin told me i must have had a bad santa claus experience…..no it’s just the Christmas is a season that need to be focused on Christ……
in all of this we where at walmart and a women with a camera came up to us and asked if we’d like our children to have a picture with santa claus…..well of course (underneath my breath i was saying what a bunch of crap this was and that this man was a FRAUD!!) i later told kate the man in the red suit was someones grandpa dressed up for pretend……who knows if she got it…..

Santa Clause?

2010-12-06T10:22:00.005-06:00

12.6.10
we all celebrate Christmas a little bit differently. it's no surprise that when you marry and have children this subject of celebrating holidays such as Christmas becomes sometimes a battle....example Santa clause....he's a man in a red suit who drives a sleigh with flying reindeer and brings gifts of toys for "good" boys and girls...He knows when your sleeping he knows when your awake he knows if you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.....CREEPY!! Kevin and i have talked several times about the subject...Kevin's says it's ok and the children deserve to be happy and enjoy the fun of Santa clause...and i say...if kids deserve to be happy and get what they want.....whats the reason for Jesus...if Jesus wasn't the SOUL reason to celebrate Christmas we'd all get what we deserve....HELL! eternal damnation!! so maybe that's a bit dramatic but it's the truth!! and also why would i want to lie to my children?? The whole reason for Christmas is that JESUS came humble himself became man so that HE could die for us....cover our sins with HIS blood...and that we may not experience eternal damnation but the glorious eternal life in heaven with our LORD and SAVIOR.....and this is how it goes every Christmas since the birth of our children....
so trying to let Kevin have a little fun with his kids we where at walmart and there happen to be a man dressed in a red suit SANTA CLAUSE!! as we walked by a lady with a camera asked if our children would like to visit Santa and tell him what they'd like for Christmas...and they'd get a picture as well....(underneath my breath i was saying what a bunch of crap and that he was a FRAUD!) never the less the picture was taken, Kate wasn't for sure what it was all about...then i was also wondering....how would this man in a red suit get in our house to deliver toys....we don't have a fire place.....

December Photo Project #5

2010-12-05T14:25:00.002-06:00

12.5.10 home-y, that's how I'd describe my living room during the Christmas season!

December Photo Project #4

2010-12-04T20:45:00.001-06:00

12.4.10 cold day to pick out Christmas tree!!

December photo project #3

2010-12-03T11:56:00.003-06:00

12.3.10 many thanks to my mother-in-law, Connie, for the delicious snack of homemade chex mix!!

December photo project #2

2010-12-03T03:43:00.004-06:00

12.2.10 mom2mom table decor....beautiful!!

December Photo Project 2010

2010-12-01T19:25:00.002-06:00

12.1.10 ezra george with messy messy face after eating his supper!!

Thanksgiving....what are you thankful for??

2010-11-25T10:11:00.002-06:00

I woke this morning and asked Kevin what he was thankful for....he said family.... I'm thankful for that as well but I've most thankful that Christ came and became man and died for us!! I'm thankful for Jesus and family too!!

Give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever!!

Clearing the camera

2010-09-06T10:46:00.003-05:00

So today is a laid back kind of day....clean the bedding, organize the toys, and hey why not just clear the camera as well? So I went and got the camera and downloaded all the pictures to the computer, it took me a while but got it all figured out and now the camera is cleared and the computer has a million and five pictures that I'd forgotten about.....I'll share a few of them with you enjoy!

Wishes

2010-08-21T22:22:00.005-05:00

Quick post to celebrate my cousin's boy's 1st birthday!! I remember the morning with a quick trip up to Colorado to meet the little babe....and well tomorrow the 22nd he'll be one!! Little Garrett Dean Jarzynka happy first birthday!! May you be blessed beyond measure as the next year takes place!! And enjoy that cake!! We love you little guy!!

I think my brain needs some quite!

2010-08-04T16:40:00.002-05:00

maybe it's just me but i think my brain is on crack some days.....a million and six different things run through my mind.....surely most people are like this!! but really why today...it makes me anxious....maybe to much coffee?? i only drank a cup and a half....first let me tell you this i got a message about a bible study fellowship group meeting starts in September and will be studying Isaiah so i thought I'd read it not the whole book just the first few chapters 1 and 2....it started here....my mind running that is wondering about the words i had just read and it occurred on me i needed to reread it because i couldn't make anything of it.....so i read through it again..needless to say I'll be going to the study in September if things work out....then i was pondering a conversation i had with a friend about working as a mother...it's really a shame that the folks at church see it as a sort of bad thing to work outside of the home.....or look down on you if your a mom and work...or make someone feel that way....why is that?? then other things like decorating paper sacks....what to put on them for designs for center pieces for mom to mom which is coming up....getting a table out on Sundays for mom to mom sign up....why is Kate playing with the good utensils out side?? why can't she use the crappy ones?? is Ezra going to grow up to love Jesus...or is he going to be a hoodlum like other boys i see?? see just a few of the things that go through my mind in a matter of a few minutes!! and again being thankful that Jesus is in control....

Pie night

2010-07-15T18:41:00.002-05:00

My grandmother passed away a few years ago. She was a lovely lady. She made the best pies ever. A few nights ago we celebrated her with the last of the pies she had made that had been frozen. There was apple, blueberry and rhubarb. My cousin Abby hosted pie night and with smiley face button that sang you are my sunshine that started the evening event. Here are a few pictures of the festivities

This pool is to small!

2010-07-15T18:29:00.002-05:00

It's hot....this means pool time!! however the pool we had was a bit on the small side as you'll find here in the pictures....they did have fun though!! We did purchase a big pool seeing Kevin thinks he should be able to wade as well!

Bed time stories

2010-07-14T20:27:00.003-05:00

This evening after the kids were bathed, pj's on and teeth brushed, they headed into Kate's bedroom for a bed time story. I was folding laundry, when Kevin called me into Kate's bedroom. I found Kate and Ezra, both tucked in under the blankets with books in hand. I had to go fetch the camera to get pictures!!

overwhelmed

2010-07-13T13:26:00.002-05:00

i don't understand what it is or why it is or how it is!! i think to myself wouldn't it be nice to blog today...then i decide why yes it would be and i open up the blog and i get so overwhelmed with the templates offered and start rearranging items and agh!! i can't handle it!! i'm so anxious now over something so ridiculous!! i can't explain why...but i'm so anxious i have to step away from the computer and breath for a few minutes!! holy moly!! the world is coming to an end!! agh!! i think to myself of what i want to blog about then it happens again!! i want to post so many things.....and what order what pictures!! agh!! then i think just start at where you left off which last post was of the marathon...but so many things have happened since then.....do see my problem!! if your reading this i apologize....i'm just so overwhelmed....check back later to see if anything has been posted that's worthy of reading or looking at!! agh!!!

half marathon (may '10)

2010-06-06T02:44:00.003-05:00

It was a lovely day for a nice stroll...a 13.1 mile long journey....Angie (sister-in-law) and I decided to sign up and walk this together, it would be our goal, after much planned training.....(no training was put in by either of us) Angie did however walk a 5K the week prior....I had walked a few miles a month before with a good friend in the evening.....however all in all we finished while encouraging one another along the way, having our personal fan club follow us and keep us mentally focused......and the official time....4hours and 11 seconds....woo were we slow!! but we finished and that was good enough for both of us!! Hey Angie next year maybe we should be part of the fan club and eat donuts on the side lines too!! :)

Ezra's six month pictures

2010-05-05T14:46:00.004-05:00

Here are Ezra's six month pictures. We decided to do some pictures in grass which Ezra had never experienced grass before.....here is his reaction in the picture

Photos taken by Nellie Smith Photography

easter

2010-04-26T13:43:00.005-05:00

Little behind with "blogging" events....our Easter was pretty layed back....church with fancy dress for Kate(however forgot to get a picture of it) a handsome Ezra...
we dyed some eggs and hid them along with plastic eggs....Kate had fun finding them after she caught on to what was going on....

When they sleep it's peaceful here

2010-04-09T16:44:00.004-05:00

Little Ezra George decided to try a different schedule then what I'm use to today. Meaning no nap, no nap until just now....at 4:35 after playing and playing and wanting extra hold time, being outside in the fresh air, rocking. Now my boy is peacefully asleep and aww I can now hear the birds singing.......

Picnic

2010-04-01T15:33:00.003-05:00

The day started with a phone call from our good friend Renae. She had said the previous day about going to the park in the morning and my thoughts were "picnic". I informed her I'd pack a picnic for us and then go....and oh the fun we had!! Kate was very much excited to have her picnic in the park!! A picnic with Renae, Simon and baby Ian, Rebecca and Livia....who could ask for any thing better than that??

Wonder what he's thinking...

2010-03-25T11:54:00.000-05:00

asleep after an early morning (3am) session of happy playing

something about a sleeping babies hands

aww sweet baby

My little Ezra George woke early. He didn't sleep but maybe two hours last night. So, I got up with him at 3am and we started our day. He was crying out and fussing prior to getting him up. I'm not sure exactly what his problem was, he wasn't happy nor sleeping so I went in to get him up and oh what a GRAND smile I received!! (which makes getting up at 3am worth it) I changed his pants and rocked him thinking surely he'll get sleepy and go back to sleep. Nope that didn't happen he coo-ed, babbled and had a few high pitch squeals...wonder what he was thinking or trying to say?? I placed him on his play mat and left to make a pot of coffee, seeing that this would be a long day. While in the kitchen, I could still hear him babbling. I went back in his room and again babbling and huge gummy smiles....I figured I might as well go see what the news has to offer. I took Ezra into the living room, put him on his play mat and he continued to be happy playing, babbling and kicking his feet. I went to the kitchen poured a cup of coffee retirned to the livingroom to find my sweet baby was sound asleep.....(at 5:30am)

What's for lunch?

2010-03-17T22:45:00.000-05:00

What happens when you give your two year old a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and Cheetos for lunch??? If you'd ask me this prior to having kids I'd say a very messy but, happy kid. No not my kiddo, I turned around to see my Kate making a beautiful sculpture... I asked her what in the world she was doing she smiled and seemed proud of herself for making something so great. Here are the pictures I captured.

Kate's two year pictures

2010-03-12T13:49:00.000-06:00

Here they are....Kate's two year pictures...A few that I thought captured her personality perfectly!!
(pictures by Nellie Smith Photography)

"Cake, cake!"

2010-02-21T06:21:00.000-06:00

"Kate how old are you going to be?" I've asked my daughter this several times over this last week and the response I get was sorta a blank look...."Are you going to be two Kate?" I tell her again... "Kate your going to be two!" still a blank look however, a bit of a smile..."Kate are you going to have a party and eat cake?" and the answer I get this time is "Cake, cake!" We had a party with family and friend saturday the 20th for Kate. I think timing wasn't the greatest seeing it was prime nap time...and of course that makes for great behavior...but then again she is TWO...made for interesting present time...one gift opened, two gifts opened, third gift opened...A DOLLY! forget the rest of the gifts...Kate was done at the dolly and really didn't want anything else....the rest of the presents managed to be open with much struggling on Kate's behalf.... Thank you to all of you who came and gave Kate a great birthday celebration!! (she later saw her gifts at home and was extremely excited for all of them!) FYI our camera was dropped and so we were unable to get pictures of her with gifts and such...did get a few pictures of her and cake prior to the camera dropping....enjoy.....

New friend...Rufus

2010-02-11T04:32:00.000-06:00

Rufus is our yellow labrador. Kevin and I got him when he was a pup a few months prior to our marriage. He was born may of 05 and ever since he has been my faithful friend, MY dog. Kate came into the picture and Rufus was second best being the dog and all. Recently Kate has really gotten attached to him. She'll lead him around the house holding his neck, tease him with food, and sit on him like he's a horse. Of course being the calm laid back dog he is he'll take it all from Kate. Good dog Rufus!! Here are a few pictures I've got from Kate and Rufus playing together.

Bible study in the middle of S. 57th

2010-01-27T21:50:00.000-06:00

South 57th Street is the meeting place for bible study...Carrie is holding Ezra, he seems very interested in what we were talking about.....heart of worship being surrender.....

The Ourada family photo

2009-12-29T17:47:00.000-06:00

the offical ourada family photo....pictures where done by nellie smith she had to work for her money with kate!! enjoy!!

Dec 22nd (DPP)

2009-12-22T10:24:00.000-06:00

I've gotten behind with this whole December photo project blog thing but hey i think for having a 22month old and a 2 month old i should get a break!!

it's 3 days before Christmas and i have got absolutely no baking started!! ugh!!

Dec 15th (DPP)

2009-12-15T11:56:00.000-06:00

Oh what fun it is to ride in a one man pulled sleigh....kate and ezra enjoyed a wagon ride down stairs from their daddy as I rearranged the basement getting rid of my red couches....

12.13.09 Ezra's Baptism

2009-12-14T12:52:00.000-06:00

The 13th December we had our son Ezra George baptised. What a merciful and loving God we have that he would bless us with a son, which ultimately belongs to God, however is given to us. My hope for Ezra is, when he's older, to one day proclaim with great joy that God is his Savior!! Enjoy the pictures...Kevin and Abby Webben are Ezra's godparents....

dec 12th (DPP)

2009-12-13T01:06:00.000-06:00

kevins work party was down at the cornhusker hotel fancy fancy so we went and thanks to my mother in law connie we could go as she was gracious enough to come from kearney and watch our children!!

december 11th (DPP)

2009-12-11T19:20:00.000-06:00

and the mail men still have to work??!! BBBbbbrrrr!!!

Dec 10th (DPP)

2009-12-10T13:07:00.001-06:00

finally finally FINALLY my kate fell asleep after a struggle to fall asleep!!

december 9th DPP

2009-12-09T14:04:00.000-06:00

let the pictures tell the story...it's cold and hot coffee is called for especially when the pilot light goes out in the furnace!! brrrr (kevin came home from work and fixed it thankfully)