Birthday and Anniversary!

B and her new love... Ava. Uncle Lawrence knows how to score big with B! He brought his son and his new puppy!

M and X! She just could not get enough of him! I believe she would have preferred that L stayed with us instead of his mom! He was like this the entire time!

M playing around with her "new" camera!

Right before they were leaving! I though M was going to cry! We are going to have to take a road trip soon and VERY soon! (One that I might add is NOT related to basketball!)

B will always be willing to strike a pose for M!

Ok... so it takes me a really LONG time to make a decision on buying big ticket items! And, a lot of research. Usually on average about a year.. (It drives Derek crazy!). So, I decided that I was going to get a Nikon D80- did a lot of research on that camera and all the lens that you would / could need. Spent many hours looking, reading, and just searching what was out there on the Nikon D80. Well, as luck would have it, I went to the camera store last Tuesday to actually look/touch/shoot the D80. and you will not believe the surprise when the guy said "You will not find a D80 in town- Nikon no longer makes that camera!" What.... a year of research, the nerve it took to actually walk into the store, and no longer do they have the D80?????

Well at that point, I thought it was a sign that showed I did not want need a new camera. Then the fatal mistake occurred... the camera guy actually started showing me the Cannon Rebel .. what is a girl to do??? Of course, I left the store thinking I would need to reconsider this whole purchase.

I talked to some people at church Wednesday about it and wouldn't you know- 1/2 of them were Nikon fans and the other 1/2 Cannon! YIKES!!!!!

So, I did what any normal, careful, considerate consumer would do... I did not think about it at all on Thursday. And then on Friday, I decided to do some really hard price comparison / camera studies... It went on all day Friday....

Finally after talking to 4 camera stores (I wanted the best deal) I decided on the Nikon - So yesterday the fam and I drove over to Regency Mall (have not been there in at least five years!) to pick her up! I was so nervous about the whole thing, I don't even think I enjoyed the process! Derek on the other hand was all over the store.....
Needless to say, we left with all this..................................

Yes, it came with two instructional DVD's and a whole bunch of other stuff. I have played around with it for a little bit, actually read the manual from front to back last night, and will work this week to learn more about all the features. Derek and I are even going to take some classes so that we can both use the camera!

This was Saturday when Lawrence surprised me with his visit! The kids were so excited to see their cousin!

And B just fell in love with this great puppy Ava!

I don't think M ever put this baby down!

Nor did B put this puppy down!

Here is our anniversary gift (NOT!). This is my other year long research project that I finally had installed Saturday. You all know I like to cook, so this should really up my potential! (That is once I learn how to use the ovens!)

These next few shots occurred earlier in the week. Rarely do I ever dress the girls alike, however, a trip to Limited Two, nka, Justice, we were able to get matching sweats for the girls! M is on her way do dance, and B had worn hers to school! I had to do a little bribing to get these shots!

Oh the time flies by as we get older. I know I just said, "I can't believe it is the end of January, and now I CANNOT believe it is the end of February!!!" Where does the time go??

I only have 7 weeks of course work left, and then just the dissertation that I should finish by December! I mean, it has really been a quick three years, and yet sometimes it seems as if time just stood still. I am amazed that this education journey is almost over for me, and YES, I am very excited! There will be great cause for celebration!

Next weekend we will travel to Eustis for another tournament. It should be exciting, and Derek's teams look great! However, I think we will only be taking the 12's and the 14's.

March should be a great month for us. It marks the start of Spring Break and another trip to the American Girl Doll store! M & B have already made their lists! School begins the final 9 weeks, and then off to great summer adventures.

God has been so good to us! I just cannot say that enough! We have not worried or fretted through these troubling economic times- Our faith has remained focused, and our desires are pure.

" The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other thing you need will be given to you. So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries, Each day has enough trouble of its own" -Matthew 6: 33-34

On that note, I did read a great book called the Suburban Christian, it really pointed out where we shift our focus and values. Derek actually read some of it to, and it has helped point us where we truly desire to be! It is a great couples read!

Enjoy the week!