A smile to brighten your day!

I thought you would enjoy a little glimpse into what I get to enjoy everyday.  My first three were never this happy when they woke up.  Annalyn is such a sweetie and we all love her little smiles and 'conversations'.

Have a great day!!!

Please excuse my mommy voice and the fact that I had a hard time saying "wake up". I'm just weird that way! Oh, and gotta love Jacob's voice at the end too.  

Gotta run!  My husband and I have a big date tonight at the _________! He he he, not telling because I might blog about it L A T E R!

From the eyes of a six year old.

Ever wonder what your child is really thinking about? I wonder that a lot. Especially when I see my daughter pretending quietly with her dolls or my boys staring out the window as we drive down the road.  My oldest son Jacob, who is six, has a huge imagination. He loves to pretend and think up things that I don't even remember thinking of when I was little. And believe me, I had quite the imagination as a little girl! 

So when Jacob asked if he could borrow my camera I said, "Sure!"  Ok, I will admit it, I didn't quite just say sure. It was more like this, "Sure Jacob you can, but be very careful with it and don't let your siblings have it, and don't drop it, and don't push buttons on it that you don't know how to use and don't put your finger in front of the lens and . . ." All you mom's out there are probably chuckling ( did I just use the word chuckling?) right now because you know that you rarely just say; "Sure honey" to your kids right?!

The face behind the camera. Yes~this is a self portrait!

So here is what my six year old saw. . .

First stop: Alyssia's room. She was supposed to be napping! While we are here, meet Frogie!! Yes it is a pillow pet she got from her Grandpa Mansell aka 'Gichan'. She has had Frogie for almost three years now and they are inseparable! And a plus for mommy is that it is washable.

Lys's deflating birthday balloon. I'm sure Jacob took this because he strongly dislikes it when balloons deflate or fly away.

Ah~ moving on to his baby sister, Annalyn, in the swing. Jake loves to make her laugh!

Whoops! Caught Suzie sleeping where she is not supposed to be.

I like the way the ceiling looks from his point of view. Makes it seem like we have vaulted ceilings!

Urrg, yes this is my super dusty router.  I guess he is trying to tell me to dust and to throw away old tags off of clothes!

"Vroom! Vroom"

Thinking back to when he was in mommy's tummy?!

Dreaming about a future date in his life?!

"Hello? Anyone out there? I would like to order a large peperoni pizza."

An imagination at work!

Another self portrait...I just love those freckles!

~ A favorite book ~

~ A favorite past time ~

Wonder what was going through his mind when he took this picture?!

~ The little brother who copies almost everything his older brother does. Scary!!

The kitchen sink.  Hmm, must be getting hungry!

Making a wish upon a star!

So how about it Mom, Dad?  Try giving lending your child a camera and see what he or she is thinking about today.  It may be of his favorite toy, food item, or a picture of a cute face you will want to use as your new screen saver.  At least we use digital cameras right?! 

I love my children's imaginations and it reminds me that I'm not to old to have one too!

A new Appel!

What, Alicia is Prego?! Not hardly, but there is a new Appel. Wanna guess? Here is a hint for you.

Ok, so I guess that really isn't a hint, more like a dead give away. Well now you know, so I would like to introduce to you;

Suzie

She is our temporary dog. What is a temporary dog you may be asking?  She is our foster dog.  Yes, we have officially become foster parents.  We thought to ourselves, "Four children really isn't that exciting so let's just throw a dog into the picture and let things really get exciting."
In all seriousness, we have been desiring and praying for a dog for some time now. After doing some research online I came across several local dog rescue groups that were looking for foster 'parents'.  In fact all they wanted was a family that could love and care for a dog until it's furever home was found. All medical and food expense covered.  Cha-ching!!! Sounded like a winner to Josh and I and well, the kids LOVED the idea!

Sorry about the added girlyness.  Lys likes to have her things look really cute!
I know what some of you are thinking right now.  "Our family will get attached and won't want to give her up." Well with a face this cute,

we probably will get attached and if that happens and we feel like God has it in His plan for us to keep her, then we will. For now  we will love, care, and train her to the best of our ability. She needs a tad bit of obedience training before the next adoption event in a few weeks.  Notice how she loves the furniture?

Well, we are going to have to work on it because we really don't want her all over the couches and chairs. Even though it would give me a great excuse to go out and buy new later! But dogs are not to sit on furniture, so we will be working on that starting TOMORROW!
We were told she was really energetic and playful and she is, but she was no match for my wild animals children.  A few rounds of playing with her new toy, a walk, wrestling with the boys, being dolled up by Lys, and a bath,

she was completely worn out and even before I announced bed time, this little cutie was gone!

So another adventure begins in the Appel home...

The adventure of fostering Suzie!

Stay tuned for more stories and pictures of Suzie's adventures in the Appel home.

For more information about fostering a dog or cat near you please take a few moments to check out http://www.adoptapet.com/

What am I doing and who am I?!

I can't believe I am doing this!  Me, a blogger?! As of right now I feel like I am the "Little Engine that Could".  I am entering the world of blogging and looking forward to it with shaking knees and trembling hands to where it will lead me.
Speaking of me, you might be a total stranger "UFP" (unknown friendly person). So I will begin with a self introduction. My name is Alicia Appel!!! I am 30 years old! Yes I just posted my age. I am not ashamed to say that I am 30 because I am truly thankful for the first 30  years that God has given me and I am looking forward to the next 30 plus years too. My husband Joshua and I met in college and it was sort of love at first sight! Please don't ask him about it all because my version of our dating years is much more interesting and true. In May of 2004 I became an Appel. Yes, a fruit! Believe me when I say that I think I have heard every fruity joke out there! 

Well now let's fast forward seven years and see where that first peck on our wonderful wedding day led us.

Ta da!!!

Jacob Lee arrived on February 20th, 2005

Our first child!

Alyssia Irene arrived on June 24th, 2007

She was so alien-ish  cute!

Jason Kenneth arrived on May 30th, 2009

Third times a charmER!

 

 

 Annalyn Grace arrived March 17th, 2011

Our Saint Patrick's Day 'Green' baby!

 So as you can see the Lord has blessed us four fold. And now that my life is 'slowing' down to the new normal, I have decided to add one more thing to my life. BLOGGING!
So ready or not blog world...

HERE I COME!!!!!!