It is so Fun having aTwo year old in the House!

After Kamber passed away our house was soooo quiet. The laughter and excitement that Kamber created was gone. I think a lot of that had to do with Kamber's age. I love it when my kids are 2 years old. They are so funny and vibrant. Everything is so dramatic and over the top.

Brookie has surpassed Kamber's age by a few months and is now getting closer to 3 than 2, but she is still a bundle of joy. The laughter and excitement is in our home again and sometimes I love just sitting back and listening.

This picture above is one of Brookie's favorite things to do. She has surround sound headphones on and is watching How To Train Your Dragon on the DVD player in Ethan's office. She has become addicted to that movie and I have to admit it is one of my favorites too!

Brookie loves yogurt and this time I wonder if she got any in her mouth. To have a face like that, it must have been really good!

Here is a picture Ethan took of Brookie. She like Kamber loves to wear other people's shoes and on this day she choose daddy's flip flops and helped herself to a cupcake.

We love this age and sad that soon it will pass with our Brookie girl, but I know there are many more things she will do that will be so fun as she grows up. We have learned that from Tayler and Kylie. Our girls make us so Happy!

Frustrated!

Where do I begin? Life can be so crazy and hectic sometimes. I know as a mom I sometimes feel like I never get a break. I hear my name all day long, I drive kids all over most days, there is always something to be at or doing, there are always things I could be doing better. I know there are many times I just fall short. But then I hear of all the sadness in the world and I am glad to be right where I am at.

About a year ago we started our non-profit Kamber's Kaskets. This came after a lot of thought and prayer. Then M.I.S.S Foundation offered for us to team up with them. We are separate nonprofits with the same purpose. If you haven't lost a child there is good chance you haven't heard of them. They support families after the loss of a child. I actually got a folder with their information when I left the hospital without my Kamber. They do everything from helping with the funeral costs to therapy and camps for siblings who have lost a brother or sister. It is a great foundation that was started by a mother here in Arizona and it is now international.

I posted a year ago about the 5 caskets that we had started. These were funded by ourselves and then we have received a few hundred dollars at the beginning which helped with some of the costs. I don't know if it is the economy or what, but we still have not been able to raise enough money to fully finish even one of the caskets. Our cost to build one of these beautiful caskets is close to the cost of buying one of the white caskets from the funeral home. I don't want to offend anyone who has had to buy one of these for you children, but these caskets at the funeral home are disappointing. You would think that a casket for a child would be the most beautiful. It saddens be to see what most of us have to bury our children in. That is why we started our nonprofit and what a blessing it would be to have one donated when we are blindsided with the loss of a child and the cost of funeral expenses.

Since a year ago I have had about 6 people contact me looking to see if we could donate. That is one every two months and is only from people that read my blog. There is a great need! I have heard of many more instances that I wanted desperately to contribute to but couldn't. It literally rips into my heart each time I have to turn someone down. And one of those days was Wednesday of this week.

I'm not asking for my readers to donate money. But I am asking for you to keep us on your mind. Talk about Kamber's Kaskets, maybe someone will hear about us that can help. Maybe someone looking to sponsor a nonprofit will hear of us. If you know of successful fund raising that we could do let us know. We have done a couple boutiques that were to raise money and when it came down to it the people decided not to give the money. So, those make me nervous. I do not want Kamber's name to be used for some one's benefit and own profit. So keep us in mind and hopefully soon we can finish these 5 caskets to be able to help someone in need. Who knows maybe someday we can be helping throughout the country to families during their darkest hour and they will know that they are not alone.

Thanks again for all the love and support that all of my readers have given. You truly have played a positive roll in my life!!!

Visit Kamber's website http://www.kamberskaskets.com/ and the M.I.S.S. Foundation website http://www.misschildren.org/.

Only Boy

I guess this is what happens when you are the only boy among sisters. This made me laugh and realize we really might need to try and add another boy to our home. Sorry Max, but you'll have to wait a while- mommy's not ready yet.

Are You Ready?

I have some updating to do, so I will do my best to keep it short and sweet.
In November soccer ended. The girls had a blast playing and did very well especially with it being their first season.

Tayler scored 3 goals this season and Kylie scored 1. They both really enjoyed the positions they played and Kylie was even told she might be too aggressive for her age group. Kylie was never mean out on the field but she was going to get the ball if it was coming her way. So this season she is playing on a team with boys and girls. Kylie has a boy that is 5'3 and Kylie has no problem going up against him during practice. She loves soccer and now says she wants to be a professional soccer player when she grows up.

Tayler did very well but isn't quite as aggressive but can definitely hold her own. She says soccer was fun but volleyball is what she really wants to do. So this winter season she is playing volleyball and her first game is Saturday. She did a great job at her first practice! She serves over the net and can bump the ball very well. We are excited for her!

Thanksgiving came in a flash. We did dinner at my home with my side of the family. Ethan made an awesome turkey and it was a nice relaxing day. I did make Kamber shirts and with family and friends did the Turkey Trot in the morning. I shaved almost 10 minutes off my time and it was a lot of fun this year!

Before I knew it Christmas Eve was here and I of course was not prepared with presents wrapped. My family comes over on Christmas Eve and we do dinner and they stay the night so they are here when Santa comes. My mom always gives pj's and a toy to the kids on Christmas Eve.

As I was wrapping presents I found a gift bag that was for Kamber on her last Christmas. It broke my heart. Tears welled up in my eyes. Here I am two and a half years later crying over things that we miss with her being gone. I didn't have the heart to use that bag, so I set it aside, sucked it up and even said THIS SUCKS! and continued wrapping gifts reminding myself that she really is still her with us.

Christmas was a good day. I enjoyed my time with all my family. We meet with the Larsen side at about noon on Christmas day and have dinner with them and then head to the cemetery to see our little girl. Believe it or not the cemetery is a beautiful place to be on Christmas. It is what Christmas is all about. What another great reminder of Christ's sacrifice for us. Because of him we get to be with our loved ones again!

Max and Brookie fell asleep in the car so we just let them sleep. It was quite the crazy day for them. Hope everyone had great holidays!