How does one follow Bob's post...with a 1st Haircut!!

After Bob did the last blog post, I really hated to post again. First off, everybody seemed to LOVE Bob's post, plus I kind of liked to have it be the first thing up on my blog too! However, I am so far behind in what all has gone on in our household, that it's time!

Ella finally got her very first haircut. Really it was a trim to define some bangs, but a haircut nonetheless!

I wasn't really sure how she would do because she does not handle strangers well at all. However, she did so well!

Sat very still in the chair and let the stylist work her magic!

She looks like she's completely bored with the process in this picture. But in reality, she loved to watch what was going on in the mirror. She loves to see herself!!

The "after" picture...

My baby is starting to look more and more like a little girl! (Sniff, sniff!)

The Story of Us

Well, as you all know, this blog is usually Lisa's forum to keep everyone up to date on the comings and goings of our family. But today is special. It is 12:45am and it is officially our 11th anniversary. So I decided I should take the reigns for one blog and look back over this crazy, wonderful, and often times, loud journey that I have been privaleged to share with the most beautiful girl I know, my best friend, the one and only Lisa Marcum...

So where to begin, well as these stories often do, ours begins with a boy and a girl...

Lisa and I have known each other for years. We've gone to school with each other since the fifth grade, although as we often tell people, we knew OF each other, but didn't really get to know each other until the summer of '96 right after we finished high school.

Now you may think, how can two people go to the same school and really not spend that much time together, especially when you consider we had numerous mutual friends...I like to think that I was too cool for her...after all, I was an officer in the Star Trek club, active in theater, and was in Show Choir...that's right ladies, bow tie, ill fitting tux and a cumberbund...oh yeah I'm still surprised that she wasn't knocking down my door before then...but I digress...

Well as luck would have it, Lisa and I did get a lot of opportunity to spend time together that summer. Several of us got together each night to hang out at one or anothers house. We'd stay up until the early hours of the night playing board games and the occaisional game of car tag (don't ask, my insurance took years to recover...).

Well as fall came, Lisa went off to Washburn and I went to KU. We were just starting to become really good friends, and believe me, neither of us considered we'd be anything more. To me she was a really funny girl, but very HIGH MAINTENANCE, I mean it was 1996 and she already had her cell phone, expensive clothes, and her Dooney and Burke purses. Me, well as I said, I was a lot lower maintenance. I wanted to grow my hair out some, go to KU, try to figure out how to grow a goatee (which I thankfully never figured out), and find a girl that liked theater and spending time outdoors....oh God has a funny sense of humor...

Well our freshman year came and went, and surprisingly, or not if you know me, I found myself driving back to Topeka each weekend to spend time with my friends at Washburn, and importantly, my friend Lisa, who I could not help noticing was hotter each time I visited.

Soon, we started hanging out more and more, just one on one, and then as the song said, there was something there that wasn't there before...that's right, I quoted Beauty and the Beast, I said I was cool...

Problem was, there was something there for me, before there was for her. Unfortunately, the girl that I was falling for was seeing someone else, a 29 year old attorney, yeah he had money, and a sports car...and an apartment, but did he have a cumberbund, could he tell you the registry number of the USS Enterprise...HAH I don't think so, it was all just a matter of time...

Well, for several months I suffered through as Lisa's close friend, we'd talk about her relationship, go to lunch, hang out...and I waited, and sure enough that relationship fizzled out and I was there for the rebound! Score one for me!

For full disclosure, now that I had Lisa's interest, I had absolutely no idea what to do next. After all, being an officer in the Star Trek club may have it's perks in high school, but it didn't necessarily lead one to have a full dance card...Luckily Lisa was patient with me this time as I figured out how to be a decent boyfriend.

Well as I said, we both hung in there, and by February of 1998, Lisa and I officially became an item.

Now mind you, I said I didn't know how to be a good boyfriend, well that was an understatement. For the first several weeks, Lisa had to endure me constantly reminding her how we were still young, that these things often don't work out, and I didn't want to ruin our friendship, so let's keep our eyes open and be realistic. (Yes I know this sounds crazy, especially considering how long I had been considering making a move, but I was 19 at the time, I blame testosterone).

Before you knew it, spring came, then summer and fall, and me, who told Lisa, this was not going to last, was ring shopping by Christmas... and on Christmas Eve, at Bennigans none the less, I proposed to this beautiful girl with a personalized present of "Will You Marry Me-Opoly" and they say romance is dead. But for me, this was pretty romantic. And thankfully, Lisa said yes.

Well there you are, the story of us, who would have guessed 13 years ago that Lisa Marcum and Bob Ross dating would ever work out, who would have foreseen 11 years ago today that when Lisa walked down the aisle to me, that we would be chasing five kids down that same aisle after church each week.

The great thing about being married to Lisa, is that I truly married my best friend. She is still the same girl I can't wait to get home to, to laugh with, to share my fears and hopes with. You know the Bible says that "a wife of noble character is more valuable than rubies and gold." and it's true. I thank God every morning that He whispered in my ear and said, notice Lisa, I have good things in store for you two. Lisa thank you for putting up with me all these years, for loving me, for putting our kids and me first in all you do, you will always be my girlfriend, my best friend, and the joy of my heart. Happy 11th anniversary, I look forward to seeing where our journey leads next!

Love, Bob

Our Newest Family Member - Tipper

I definitely think that God has a funny sense of humor! After Ella was born, I knew in my heart that our family was complete and told everybody as such. When even questioned about more pets, I adamantly held on to that same position - that five kids, 1 cat, and 1 dog were plenty and that I had no desire for even another pet. However, here I sit typing this with an annoyingly adorable kitten running around our living room!

Bob was on his way to work one morning and suddenly walked back through the garage door. Immediately my stomach goes into knots, because usually this means that something has happened like vehicle trouble! This time he was carrying something in his arms and it turned out to be a kitten. They think that she was possibly thrown out of a vehicle and hit the concrete median. She was so sweet and even though she was in a lot of pain, handled the kids all congregating around here and chaotically jabbering about her. Her left eye was swollen outside of the her head and we weren't even sure that it was an eye. Nonetheless, the vet took wonderful care of her and through a lot of love, medicine, and praying, she has recovered. We even managed to save her eye. She is blind in that eye, but it doesn't seem to bother her one bit.

Life with a kitten is a lot like life with an 18 month old! She's a little insane with too much energy, and not quite smart enough to keep her out of trouble, all while being so stinking cute! It's almost like she was hand picked for our family. Tipper loves the kids and actually goes looking for them if they're not around. She loves to sleep with them and even lets Preston and Ella carry her. She goes for rides in Ella's doll pram and loves to play with Gabby and Winnie. What a wonderful gift we didn't even know we wanted!!

One of MANY snow days!

To say that we've had A LOT of snow days would be the understatement of the year! It seems like if we got snow this year, we measured it in almost feet and not really in inches. One of the downsides of a good snowstorm, is the shoveling that has to occur afterward. I have been blessed with a husband who handles this chore, and is training up our five children to help him!
This was Ella's first time out in the snow. She lasted about 5 whole minutes!

The poor little thing did not seem to care for it at all! That's my girl!!

She sure looks cute though!

I think it's safe to say that Bob is lucky he had the four boys first. Because as you can see, there are 2 working diligently in the background, while Ella walks around whining because she's cold!

Starting to look a little like Rudolph...

Caden and Brennen working hard at shoveling! Maddox is in the background making himself busy cleaning off Bob's van. Smart boy!

Brennen lasted about 10 minutes!

Caden LOVES to shovel and does not mind the cold at all. Now if only I could convince him that laundry is just as much fun!

A Small Look at our Christmas

With all of our families here in town, we celebrate Christmas quite a few times. So in going through pictures, I decided to share just a few of the photos of Christmas morning. Otherwise, this could turn into the world's longest post!

The boys always set out cookies for Santa. This year, we left Santa some of the Lofthouse cookies. They're his favorite! We also left a mug of milk, which Santa isn't the fondest of, but always downs some for good measure!
Here is a few of our living room after Santa had visited. He had quite a load to drop off at our house this year!

I never got around to posting a picture of our tree after we decorated it, so here you go. It looked much nicer right after it was decorated, and before most of the ornaments had to migrate north due to little hands!!

Here are our stockings hung by the chimney with care. I was finally able to have the Pottery Barn Kids stockings that I've always wanted, but still have to get them embroidered with names. The kids all know exactly who's is who's, but Santa had quite a dilemma in passing out the stocking gifts. Luckily, he guessed correctly!!

Santa's present for Brennen and one of Ella's!

The first thing we heard when the kids were coming down the stairs was, "Whoa!" There is nothing better than seeing Christmas through the eyes of children!

Brennen got a new pretty sweet ride, if I do say so myself. It comes equipped with a working radio. All of the kids loved it!

Preston got a giant remote controlled Buzz Lightyear from Santa. It's about the same size as him!

Ella got her dollhouse and this beautiful little cradle from Pottery Barn Kids. It comes with her name painted on the end. So precious!! I love pretty little girl toys!

Caden got a Nintendo DSi XL, 20 piece accessory pack, and 2 games from Santa. Can't tell he was happy, can you?!

Maddox got the same thing from Santa. We haven't heard much from them lately!!

Something tells me that I will be seeing this same situation in about 12 years. Scary, huh?!

Santa also brought Preston the Dance Star Mickey. This gift was definitely a favorite, even amongst adults...

...but watching Preston grip onto Mickey and hug him as tight as he could, while exclaiming, "I LOVE IT!" was truly the best!

The three older boys can use the points that they earn at church to purchase little gifts for all of their family members. Caden got Ella this cute little minivan, which when he saw it, he "just knew she'd love it!" So sweet!

Ella, who found the truck unmanned, is sure proud of herself!

Ella got a lot of new clothes that Mommy knew how fabulous she would look in. Luckily, she is happy just tearing paper, with little regard to what's inside still.

Maddox and his second favorite gift. It's an electronic dual action lightsaber. Now he can hit his brothers using both ends!

Caden loves Monster trucks, so he was really excited about the Crash & Smash stadium. This toy is very loud, and I would only recommend it to those hard of hearing!

This is the Criss Cross Crash set that Brennen just had to have. Apparently there will be a lot of crashing in our house during 2011!

Maddox got a Kung Zhu Battle Arena. This thing surprised Maddox a lot. I did good!

This is Ella and her new Bouncin' Babbles doll. She bounces, babbles, and squeals just like Ella. I think Ella feels like she finally can relate to somebody in her!

Pillow pets- need I say more? Caden got this penguin one, Maddox got a panda, and Brennen got a bee. (Preston got one for his 3rd birthday already!) I do not understand the appeal of these crazy little pillows, but every kid I know now owns one. Wish I had come up with the idea of making stuffed animals double as a pillow!

Here is a funny picture of Preston and a new pinball game.

Ella got this Barbie Hug and Heal doctor set. It's a super soft puppy that makes all kinds of sounds. So cute!!

Ella also received a Little People house. I had wanted to buy one of these for the boys, but Bob thought it seemed too girly. So, now I have my girly girl to buy it for!!

And last, but certainly not least, is my new wedding band. Back in April, I lost my wedding rings. We had the engagement ring insured, but never took the time to insure the wedding band. So I got a new engagement ring, but have just been waiting to save up the money for a new wedding band. I have the world's best husband though! Bob, with the wonderful help of our neighbor, who just happens to be a jeweler, got me the wedding band I had my eye on. Am I a lucky girl or what?!

This is as quick of a snapshot of our Christmas morning as I could narrow it down to. We had a wonderful Christmas, and feel so blessed. I am so excited to see what God has in store for our family in 2011!

School Christmas Programs

Another thing we've got to do recently is to watch Caden and Maddox perform at their school Christmas programs. Caden's was first. Here he is before their show. He's growing up so fast and is such a handsome young man!
Caden really does not enjoy singing at all. He does participate and gets good grades in Music, but it most certainly is not his thing!

I think he was very happy to have the performance over. He's definitely not big into being on show, that's for sure!

Here is a picture of our little pigtailed princess during the show. She was not captivated enough to sit still, so she just kept walking from Grandma, to Mommy, to Daddy, and back again!

And here is about how well Brennen enjoyed it!

Two nights later, it was Maddox's turn. Here he before the show. Unlike his brother, he has no problem being a show stopper!

Unfortunately, due to the little girl in front of Maddox, getting a good picture of him was very difficult. She was very exuberant in her singing, and it transferred to all parts of her body!!

One final shot of my performer!!