I know it's so annoying when people brag about how cute their kids are, but I just can't help myself! I picked up Marley's 18 month pictures today. I just have to say He is so stinkin' CUTE!!!! Plus, he's a great little boy too, so we feel blessed.

Male Nurse

I just want to say congratulations to my amazing husband! He received his letter of acceptance to the Angelo State University Nursing program Fall 2009. Yeah!!!!! We are very excited and he is studying like mad to pass his microbiology and math classes. They are tough! I really appreciate the sacrifices Douglas has made for our family! He's working so hard to get a great education and prepare for the future of our family. On the day Gracie was born he finished his last prerequisite for the nursing program. He got accepted to the Westminster College bachelors of nursing program. But, life changes and the Lord had a different plan for us. He walked away from the program and we moved to San Angelo, Texas to open Wingstop so that he could provide for our family while he went to school and I stayed home with Gracie. Once we sold the restaurant he had more time to focus on school and he's been working so hard to prepare for the program. We're so excited for what the future holds and I know he'll make an excellent male nurse:)

Marley Hayden

Crazy static hair

New shades for Easter. Thanks Grandma Darlene!

Such a sweet face

Watching "melmo"

On Saturday Marley turned 18 months old. This is such a big milestone because now he can go to nursery! Yeah!!! We are very excited to experience sunday school again. Marley really enjoyed nursery on sunday in Odessa. He didn't hit anyone and he shared his toys. He loved snack time and he was so happy to play with all the trucks. So far so good. We're hoping that this continues.

He's such a fun little boy and he has a great personality. He talks all the time and surprises us with his new words everyday. His favorite words are nack (snack), dog, truck, ball and outside. He loves working with Douglas in the garage and playing outside. He loves coloring on the walls and dumping out anything he can get his hands on. He keeps us busy! We can't believe a year and a half has already gone by. It's been wonderful. We're so glad to have such a sweet boy in our family. Love you Marley!

Last Tuesday night Anita shaved my head and I shaved my goatee into a handle bar. So Wednesday morning the kids got their first look at the new stylings. Anita was showering so I was taking care of breakfast. I was still in my jammies. I put breakfast on the table and asked Gracie to say the prayer. I stood and tried not to bust out in laughter during her prayer. After her usual intro she said "Thank you that Daddy's in his Jammies" then she paused. I knew she was looking at me but I couldn't look at her because of the huge smile on my face, continuing she said "and thank you that Daddy's got a cool new moustache." I was so close to loosing control I had to cover my face. She finished her prayer in the usual fashion. She really made my day. I think it's a cool 'stache but it makes it so much better that Gracie approves too. She's a good judge of fashion!!

(I insisted on posting all these pictures of Douglas. I just love all his different faces. I have such a handsom eternal companion! Oh he looks mean, but don't be fooled! He's really sweet and funny. Don't tell anyone.)

Gracie is 4!!!

Our first family picture with Gracie

She was 2 weeks old

Gracie wearing Grandpa Sessions wedding ring on her wrist. Tiny!!!


3 weeks old and fighting.


10 months old and healthy!

Happy first birthday!

Birthday chair

Hitting the piniata at her 2nd birthday

I love her pig tails!!

She's three!

New Easter outfits for Gracie and Marley

Happy 4th birthday Gracie!

4th Birthday pictures

Sweet girl

It's amazing that Gracie is now 4. She is such a beautiful, sweet daughter and such a blessing in our family. She had a rough start, but she's a fighter and now she's healthy and happy. From the moment we saw her kicking her legs in the ultrasound we loved her. That love grew when we saw her for the first time and finally got to hold her. She's been a bright light in the world since she arrived and we love her more every day. She is an excellent big sister and a joy in our home. I'm so grateful that Heavenly father blessed us with her and let her stay. She is a miracle!

Thank goodness for diet soda

Today I'm very grateful for diet soda. For the past few weeks Douglas and I have been trying really hard to lose some weight. We've been doing the South Beach diet and man it works well! Douglas has lost 15 lbs. and I have lost 9. We're eating lots more vegetables, less fast food and we're happy about the changes in our bodies, minds and attitudes. We have more weight to lose, but this is a great start. Our sanity during these no carb, no sugar days is diet soda. Diet sunkist and diet A&W rootbeer specifically. What a difference they make!
We're working toward our goal weights before the end of May in anticipation for a romantic weekend in Dallas. No kids!! We're going to the No Doubt concert which I am SO EXCITED for! It should be really fun, so we're working hard!

Gracie's 4th Birthday Party

Grandma and Grandpa Williams and Uncle Leroy came for the weekend to celebrate with us.

Marley's having a blast!

Gracie recieved so many nice gifts! Thanks to everyone!

Blowing out the candle (that wouldn't stay lit)
Gracie wanted an Ariel cake and I wanted to make an Easter egg, so we compromised

and had a cute Ariel candle on her Easter egg cake.

Gracie and Macey running to find eggs!

Marley wasn't sure exactly what to think until one of his eggs broke open to reveal candy. He immediately started saying his favorite word "Nack! Nack! Nack!" Which means snack. Mmm!

On Saturday April 11th we celebrated Gracie's 4th birthday with an Easter party at the park. It was a little windy and cold, but we still had a lot of fun! All of her friends came and we ended up having about 15 kids. We had an Easter egg hunt which turned out great! The hardest part was keeping the other kids at the park from picking up the eggs. The cake and ice cream of course was a hit and then Gracie opened up her many great gifts. She definitely got spoiled by all her friends. Thank You! It was such a fun day and Gracie was so polite and happy. She's such an amazing girl. We're so happy to have her in our family!

This afternoon we picked up Douglas from school. We were deciding what needed to be be done tonight and Gracie said the cutest thing. She said "Dad, I have a really good idea! If you be really good and do all your studying, then we can go swimming, okay?!" She spoke just like a parent and was very serious. I wonder where she learned that?

7th Anniversary

March 15th, 2002

Dancing the night away

We celebrated our 7th Anniversary on March 15th at Fogo de Chao

Seven years has flown by and we've grown a lot and become even closer. We had such a beautiful wedding day and a fun reception. Marrying Douglas was the best decision I've ever made. He is my best friend and such an exceptional husband. We have such a great life and I appreciate that he puts up with me through the good and the bad. Douglas, you are my perfect match and I love you!

Anita