Watch out World Here She comes and there ain't no stopping her

Well my baby girl has grown up in it seems like 2 weeks or so and is now in KINDERGARTEN!!!! This house is still in a little shock seeing our baby girl very independently heading off for school!!
Let me fill you in a little. Jacob has been home schooled for the last 2 years and we are Homeschooling this year too, 4th grade. As Brian and I were praying about Jenna's schooling we just weren't sure what to do. Jenna had informed us that she wanted a real bus, a real teacher and a real school building. Now our children are exact opposites!! In a nutshell we felt it would be fine to try our excellent school district out. Just for Jenna that is. So on August 28, our baby became a kindergartner.
We very confidently arrived to school for the 1st day, mommy and Jacob hung around for a few minutes to make sure she was comfortable. She was a little quite and so I asked her if she wanted me to stay longer or go on home. She said "I'm ready for you to leave now" What ??? Thats it!! No hugs, no kisses. Just a very sweet smile and we were on our way. The nerves in my stomach immediately began to churn and continued until she was back safe with me. She loved it by the way and said she couldn't way till tomorrow to ride the bus. Tomorrow has now come and gone and yes she loved the bus too! I can't tell you how proud I am of this little independent girl of mine, WOW she really likes it!!!! I'm so excited to see her learn. Gotta love her she is a go getter~but she will always be my baby girl.

2008_08_29

Click for larger pix:)

The lovely days of flip~flop summer

Summer is a wonderful time of the year~ ice cream, late nights, not much of a schedule, swimming, sunning, and flip flops:)

Sadly most of that is coming quickly to end. Our family usually takes a vacation in the summer, but, this year we didn't. I thought it might make summer feel a little longer however, it just kept on flying by.

Some of my favorite things this summer I mentioned above. Being with my kids and husband is my favorite thing to do and I feel so blessed to have them! They are the people that I live for. Sometime I wish I could just wrap us up in a cocoon just be their for awhile, away from the crazy world we live in, I know......I can't do that. There have been days over the summer where it has just been me and my people as I like to call them. The longer I live the more I learn that precious gifts need lots of love and attention. I consider my marriage to Brian a precious gift, I consider our children absolutely precious gifts!! So, this summer I think we have been able to just chill around home, make quick fun decisions and just be what we are a family enjoying our summer. My children are growing up to quickly and I only have precious little time to try and teach how to live. That immediately puts the spotlight on my ways. I am trying to search myself hoping to find good things to share that will help my little people in life. You know that is what they are doing right??? They are just watching what we do because if they love us they want to be like us...Wow! That is a big job!!!! It is one that I can not FAIL in.

That was maybe a little deep, but its been a little deep around here lately

I said goodbye to a best friend this summer and to be real honest I'm not handling it all that well. There are a whole lot of things you can come by easily but, becoming best friends with someone is something some people never find. I was so blessed to have found three friends De was first about 15 years ago, then came Janie a few years later and then last but not least Stephanie.
We ALL hit it off so well and thus our GNOs. We carried those years through uninterrupted until we said good bye to our De~ in 2007 OK I think I just need to get a good cry out so hang on.......I miss De she is living her happy life in Ireland and doing quite fine. But I was so blessed to have her a half hour away and know that we could count on one another, cause thats what best friends do.
That was last year:
This is this year: My bestfriend Stephanie ~she now lives in Idaho, had to move and I'm still not ready for it even though its done. We were there for each other she taught me things about myself and best of all she loved me just for who I was, just me. I know she cares about me still and we talk or text very frequently. She was just one blessing that God gave to me because he knew she would be a good friend for me. I don't know when it will get less upsetting that she is gone but once again God gave me a friend:) one that I can count on even though the miles are far.
Now I still have my Janie(thank you God) I just couldn't take another move we are getting together next week yep just us 2. I really hope our futures remain at least in the same vicinity. OK this may be more info than you want to know but that's what was on my mind. Feels good to get a little cry out every once in a while.

My sister moved too. This was a happy move for me, she's just 1.6 miles down the road:) YEaH!!

So, I think I'll keep wearing my flip flops a little longer and see what the next week or so of summer brings.

Way behind on bloggin but up to date in life:)

Well let's just say life is very busy and the blogging has taken the back seat. Obviously............I hear Ya:)

So much has gone on since my last post. We are trying to finish school. Jacob and I are both VERY much ready to quit for the summer, just a couple more weeks. We are not positive what we are doing for the next school year, Jenna starts kindergarten. We are leaning very much towards home school. My Jenna is so social and would just love being in a classroom and so it makes our decision a little more difficult. Pray,pray,pray:)

Jacob is halfway into the season of soccer, he loves it and if I say so myself he is doing a great job!! His team is undefeated so far! Today was a close call though.

2008_04_19

Brian's job changes like the wind but, we are very glad he still has it! They have let some people go and are offering packages to those close to retiring.


We have had some nice beautiful days of spring. We worked in the yard and prettied up the landscape. I found a great nursery to buy my flowers. We took out some shrubs under the front window that I did not like and put in some Boxwoods, it will look better when they are a little bigger:)

2008_05_17

Mother's day came and went without any pictures:( I did enjoy being off of kitchen duty and my landscaping was a wonderful gift. I love being a mom!

GNO overnight was an absolutely wonderful time!!! I'm ready for another. Deanna was in from the UK and we saw her as much as we could. Saying "goodbye" doesn't get easier:( I miss her very much!! We stayed at the Embassy Suites in Covington, KY. We ate at the Buckhead Grill, (my first time) it was good. Graeter's of course is delicious:) Then we just hang out at the hotel and gabbed and such:) Love my friends! I just can't imagine not having this wonderful blessing in my life, love you guys!! OH! I almost forgot our great finds at the Gap outlet, had to get some shopping in:)

2008_05_03

My niece Emily went to her Junior prom. We (my sis and me) had so much fun helping her get ready. She looked beautiful! I can't believe how the years fly by. She is my very 1st niece and I have enjoyed watching her grow up. We are good friends:) Love you Emmy!

2008_05_03emmys prom

HAPPY SPRING:0)

click on pic for more:)My Pictures

Finally took the kids to get their pics updated. I think it is a very stressful thing to do............hence the explanation of very behind portraits! Glad its done:) Jenna informed us at the studio that she didn't know how to smile...now you know how much fun that was:(

Lets Go Fly A Kite!!

Our family enjoyed spending the afternoon with Shane, Tamra and kids at a local Kite Fest last Saturday. The weather was a little chilly and OHHHH the mud!!!! I'm talking ewwy, gushy, sloshy MUD!!! But we had a great time, the kids made their own kites and had a fun time flying them. There were a lot of neat kites and some really cool kite flyers (is this a word?) There were synchronized kite teams of four flying to music. Really cool, but hard to put into words to make you picture it.
Jenna and Bryson were too cute!! They are so fun to watch:) The picture quality is lacking in these photos, don't know why?

2008_04_05

My kids have really enjoyed this super nice weather. Of course they now are very interested in flying kites and have a lot of fun! Have you ever tried to capture your child and the kite they're flying in a photo? Not too easy:)

2008_04_07

Finally A Party!!!

We celebrated Jacob's birthday:) I don't think I would have been able to wait when I was his age, but he wanted Matthew to be here. So....almost 3 weeks later we had his party. Wow did he fly through those gifts!! And the $$:) Thank you to the whole family for coming, just can't do it without you:)

2008-03-31

Beautiful Day!

We had a gorgeous day today! Jacob, Sammy and Jenna were enjoying the lovely day outside and I was doing some housework. While passing through the living room I caught a glimpse of something that immediately brought these words to my lips "I can't deal with this!!!" This is what I saw. Thankfully Brian was home to bring a little calm or I don't know what I would have done to these 9 and 10year old boys just enjoying the outdoors:)
So what would you do? By the way this was Jacob's idea.

2008_03_26

Everything is going pretty good here in the Snelling household. Brian is recovering from his surgery last Thur. and so things have slowed down around here. We are really enjoying him being home with us. Hopefully he will be feeling well enough to enjoy some of his time off work very soon! He is scheduled off until April 24.
Easter Sunday was a very blessed day at church and with my family for dinner. Of course the kids love to color and hunt eggs and the candy that goes with Easter.
Jacob is not on spring break this week because Matthew will be here to spend his spring break with us this coming weekend. Jacob's cousins are on spring break so we have been doing school quickly so Sammy can stay overnight a couple of nights:) Jenna of course wants to know when her spring break is:)
I guess we just don't have much going on around here, not much to post. Have a happy week:)

I'm Guilty

I was telling some friends last night that I feel sooooooo...guilty for not having posted about Jacob's birthday. I can't believe the bad feeling I have from not having this done:( So here it goes...
JACOB IS NINE!!!!! March 8, 1999 Brian and I received a special gift, one that has changed our lives. Our precious baby boy was born! That feeling of holding this wonderful little bundle of human life that God allowed you to create is one I will Never forget. And now 9 years later he still has a grip on our hearts:)
Happy Birthday Jacob (posted 3 days late:( We love you and are very proud of you!
Jacob wanted to wait to have a birthday celebration until his big brother could be here. I can definitely tell he's getting older, he has to wait until March 29 for his party:) We took him to Cracker Barrel, his choice, and he did get to have a gift. I just couldn't stand waiting till the end of March to at least recognize his special day!
Now I need to say I love digital cameras!!!!! I was trying to go through albums and boxes of pics to find a picture for each birthday. What a pain! I like the click of a button to view pics. I'm really upset that I can't find his 4yr pic. or party pictures:(
So here is a little walk through Jacob's life.

2008_03_06

click on pic to view album

How can I post for thee? Let me count the ways:)

We have had a lot going on around here, I just haven't had the blogging spirit. So.....I feel it a little today so I better do it:)

First of all we had a wonderful answer to prayer! Brian was offered on Mon-Wed 12hr position. It has almost been a year since he had to take the Thur-Sat 12hr position. Weekends are definitely family times and this shift has totally made his outlook on life(or the lack thereof) depressing. He doesn't know his start date, but just knowing he is going to change has made him relax a little. Thank you GOD!

Miss Jenna lost her first tooth after MUCH DRAMA!!!

2008-03-07

Sammy turned double digits! Wow the big 10:)

2008_02_06

The GNO celebrated Stephanie's birthday! We had a great day, it was on Sat. and we were all free for several hours, amazing! We ate yummy Johny Carino's then shopped, and shopped, and shopped some more! We had to fit Starbuck's in there:) Very bad pictures, but I kind of captured the moment:)

2008_03_01

I definetly didn't cut these fresh from my flower garden!

Oh the beauty of spring flowers, they make me anxious for the season to come! I do like snow, I guess thats good because its just piling up:) Maybe fresh flowers next month.

My Beautiful Sister Had A Birthday

It comes every year March 5 and she get 1 year older:)

First, you'll know what I'm talkin' about if you have a sister, someone to talk to, someone to laugh with, someone to cry with. Believe me we have done all of the afore mentioned and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Sisters in my opinion are one of God's best blessings! Now about 20 years ago we didn't appreciate what being a sister was, but we are now well up to date on our appreciativeness(is this a word?). To a sister you can just be exactly who you are no covers, no facades....just you. Thanks sis for being a great sister! Jenn had some tough blows last year but, she is hanging in there. I'm so proud of her, she has started school to become a nurse and she has not 1 but 2 teenage daughters and a 10 yr old boy, that's a lot if you ask me but she is hanging in there.......GO SIS!!!! So this is a Happy Birthday to you Jenn, I hope this next year brings joy! I love you, Nella

Jenna's Party

Jenna had a great party, she loves sharing it with her family! She kept wondering why she was 5 and still hadn't had a party? She ended up calling it her "birthday week", I thought that was pretty cute:)
So I decided it would be fun to make her a really cute cake.......fun is NOT the word I would call this now that it's done but, she really liked it. I don't know if I see more cakes in my future or not:) I'm so glad she has cousins it makes it so FUN! I took a little walk down birthday lane 1yr....now!

click on the pics to view album

2008_02_01

5 years of smilin'

Yes she has gone an dunnit~turned 5 that is! Happy Birthday to my precious baby girl! What was life without out her? I'm feeling much more rested than I did five years ago today:) However, the tears I shed that day have had some sniffles sharing in with them today, something about 5 just makes me sad! I'm so glad she is growing and learning just like she should, BUT, I am still a little emotional about what this 5 year milestone brings. If you have been there and done that you know what I'm talking about I won't bore you with the details. Anyways Happy Birthday Jenna, I love you! Now I'm back to life, who is that yelling for me? Yep, that's "her" sigh....... I'm so glad she still needs me:)

2008_01_30

I'm not liking this!!!

This is my BABY:( For some reason I ABSOLUTELY am not ready for this. I know I should have seen in coming I mean ~ I've had almost 5years to prepare myself for this. She is just doing too many big girl things. I just want to hold her and hug her and never let that baby go! I love my "Jenna baby" as I have affectionately called her, I'm just wondering when she grew up so FAST!!!

2008_01_12

I just CAN"T

For some reason the creative blogging (or not so creative blogging) juices are just not here, maybe later? I am keeping up on everyone else:)

Merry Christmas from our house to yours

We had a very fun time enjoying our family Christmas traditions! We go to the Duke Energy Christmas Train display and the Krohn's Conservatory and outdoor Nativity. This year we added Don Pablos in Newport:)

I hope your Christmas is filled with JOY as we celebrate the birthday of our King!!!

2007_12_19

2007_12_16

I think this is my blog???

Where have I been? Chasing my tail!!!! We have been so busy! I really need to do just a quick update of our lives.
Christmas time is so exciting! My kids just love it! I have everything except 3 gifts bought. The gifts are wrapped and under the tree.
Since my last post Jacob has started playing basketball. He absolutely loves it and is doing quite well! We have practices every Tuesday evening. His team is the Upward Musketeers. Upward is an awesome group! His cousin Sammy is on his team, that makes it extra fun! These pics are from his first practice.

2007_11_27

My mother-in-law, Gloria, celebrated her birthday): The family met a Brio's Italian Restaurant. Her hubby bought her a very pretty watch! We had a great meal and enjoyed being together.

2007_11_29

We put up our tree of course, I had trouble getting a good pic in the dark. I love real trees! The kids enjoyed decorating.

Anna had her 9th birthday! We celebrated at her house. Pics are in the Christmas tree album.

2007_11_30

We went the Lebanon Horse Christmas parade, it is so beautiful, unfortunately, none of my pictures turned out. It was after dark and all the carriages and horses are lit and decorated for Christmas. They have the parade in the morning too and you can see the horses better, but the night parade is very pretty. My sisters family and our family went together. It was very cold so our seating arrangement was helpful:)

2007_12_01

I hosted our annual GNO Christmas. We were so glad Deanna was home from Ireland, we had an exceptionally great time catching up. Without fail I end my time with my wonderful friends having a wonderful memory and a very full stomach:)! Deanna had my name for our gift exchange, she gave me a beautiful candle light from Europe! I need to take a picture of it with the candles burning so you can see it.

2007_12_03

The kids loved the snow! They played outside almost 3 hours without stopping! Daddy was with them, which made it fun!

2007_12_05

The children had there Christmas program Sunday, they did a great job! Jenna was an angel for the first part and turned into a really cool sheep! Jacob and Nate joined in on the cool surfin' sheep!

2007_12_16

Whew!!! What a quick update! Our family is now off to enjoy some wonderful family Christmas traditions. Hopefully a post will follow soon!

Merry Christmas to all of you! Don't forget to make some wonderful memories! Thank you Jesus for this season!

Caution! If you don't like to smile, go away:)

Before you read this you must know that, Yes, I am trying to raise my daughter to be a lady:) There are a couple things going against me, her two big brothers! Secondly, we loved the Statue of Liberty and it signifies the wonderful liberty of our great nation. With those disclaimers in mind.......
We were on our way into New York and trying to catch a glimpse of Lady Liberty. Jenna, in the backseat of the van proclaims: "Did you know that the Statue of Liberty wears panties.....and she has a wedgee?" I could not believe it, much laughter burst from everyone:) What makes her mind work? I don't know, but I love her!!! Many Smiles:):):)

Home Safe and Sound!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
We made it home last night around 8:00pm. We had such a wonderful time. The kids really enjoyed themselves and we had a great time with Jerry and Gloria! This is only our second vacation with them but we travel very well together and enjoy each other's company very much! Thanks for the invite!
Let's just say we were PACKED as we headed out Friday night. We stopped in Somerset, PA, and spent the night. We headed for Wildwood, NJ, Sat. and made it safely. Wildwood is definitely not "Wild" in the winter, we started to refer to it as a ghost town. There were only a few businesses open. We did go to the beach but, froze and quickly left! They shut down for winter almost completely. We spent a relaxing day on Sunday.
Monday morning we head for New York City. We made it there FINALLY around 1:30 I think. We had a GPS that was very confused and left us feeling very confused but, after crossing the same bridge a couple times and going in circles we finally made it to our hotel "Belleclaire"
I can not put into words what the bustling New York City is. We absolutely loved the experience!!!! If you haven't gone you should go. From the traffic to the subway, the sights to the people, the lights to the sounds, we definitely got the feeling of what life is in the BIG City:) We could have spent several more days there to do all we wanted, however we did not leave unsatisfied! ( I took a lot of pictures I'll post them below, I just do not feel the pictures can do all that we saw justice but I was able to capture some good moments.)
Thanksgiving day took us to a town near Atlantic City, NJ. We ate at a lovely restaurant called Sophia. The meal was very yummy!
Friday took us to Philadelphia, PA. This was a very fun day too! I loved the history in this city. We took a carriage ride and learned a lot of historical facts, it was very chilly!
Now we are home and its time to get ready for Christmas! Busy, Busy, Busy!!!!!

2007_11_24