Is this a Test???

                            Not to get all preachy, wait is that even a word? Hmm... well never mind that back to my obscure thoughts I've been mulling over for days... Fun stuff, don't lie I know you too wish you had these super interesting thoughts running through your mind for the last week! Ack!  Hold up, I'd like to take a moment to shout out to my close peeps who know my tru over analyzer nature!!! Whats up guys?? :)     

😨

 lol! But seriously, do you ever feel like God is trying to tell you that what your doing isn't what he wants you to be doing? That you somehow got off track somewhere and are now currently running the rails without any brakes? That somehow every decision you make is totally right for everyone else but ends up being wrong for you and your family? This is where I am. I feel like I continually made plans that satisfied the needs of everyone but me and mine. I let amazing opportunities slip right through my hands in order to make sure I was doing right by others. Only to later have them do right by themselves ( which I don't think was entirely wrong on their parts... just really sucked for me.. haha) I realize this is completely over analyzed and possibly a bit dramatic, but when I put it all together the what ifs, and maybe's completely overwhelm my thoughts of how things "couldve been".

                             I have kept kids for nearly 8 years in my Home. I absolutely love it... especially now that I'm able to be with my own kids too! Sure there have been hiccups, exhaustion, and feelings of being burnt out over the years, but when I really look at this opportunity to stay home with my kids, I realize what a blessing it truly is! Originally my Home Daycare was just to help a church member out at FUMC when the preschool I worked at closed in 08'.....but then it grew both on me and in size. When we got married in May 2010 I had a great group of kids, one family let me know prior to my wedding they'd be switching, I though oh no prob! Only to return from my 5 day honeymoon to find out another family decided the time off I took was too long and they were off to regular daycare as well.... A few years ago we bought our Jeep so we'd have a more reliable vehicle for our new baby, but with that came a higher payament.. two weeks later the kiddos I was keeping gave notice they'd be moving to regular preschool and rocked my little world lol. Took several months but slowly new kids filled the spots and we were ok..  Fast Forward almost exactly 3 years, we made a move in the latter part of Oct/Nov that I felt would be a much better neighborhood and environment for my kids & the Home Daycare, plus our rentals roof collasped so we kinda had to go LOL! We were happy, excited and felt like things were falling into place... Then just a few weeks later I had a daycare kiddo to move to regular Preschool.. and al I could think was AGAIN???? Ahhh with just moving to a more expensive house it freaked us out... but again we got thru, made a new plan, carried on.. now recently just a few days before Christmas a second kiddo is no longer attending.. Its like History is continually repeating itself over and over and over. Every time we do something to better our life we get knocked back down again.. WHY??!!!??

                                 Though this time we are truly trying to lay it all in God's hands I just dont know what the future holds.. and as a control freak that's scary stuff. Its hard to just see over half your monthly income just gone, no notice.. especially at Holiday time. As we move into the new year I pray that I can not only prepare my mind, but my heart as well to being open to seeing & hearing the plan God has for our life... I sure wish I already knew what he was preparing for us... my patience is much too short! haha

unsure emoticon I just keep asking Why? What is it I am supposed to be doing? Praying I can open my ears and heart to what God has laid out for us, and that he reveals it much sooner rather than later!

Pageant Queen!

                      On the weekend of March 2nd, Sarai competed in the Our Diamond Miss pageant here in San Angelo. She ended up winning her division! She was crowned 0-12 month Our Diamond Miss Modeling winner as well as Most Beautiful! :) I am so proud! Her Nana, PawPaw Hooker, Aunt Kayla, Uncle Paul, PawPaw Adams, Nanna, Auntie Steph, Auntie Court, Rafers, Mommy, and Daddy were all there to support her! She did so well!

                    I never thought I would put Sarai in pageants because of the things I have seen on TV through the show Toddlers and Tiaras and others! I really don't want Sarai to feel she has to change or enhance her beauty to feel like she is someone special.. but through the natural pageant systems there is none to minimal makeup allowed, you can just wear a pretty dress and not worry about spending thousands of dollars! The kids are learning to be poised, have confidence, and even public speaking! They do interviews with the kiddos, and of course these kiddos get to dress up and feel like little princesses and princes! Who doesn't want their kid to get to feel like that? :) I definitely think we will continue to do pageants as long as Sarai shows an interest and we are able to! Of course right now she is a lil baby and doesn't really care but soon enough she'll know whats going on!!

                  Here are a few pictures from the weekend! It was really fun! After the pageant we went down the Texas Independence day festival and looked through vendor booths, a car/motorcycle show,  tasted some food at the cook off pits, and watched a few entertainer groups with all the family! Kayla and Paul ended up staying the night and we played board games! It was such a great day!

Sarai with the other ODM Queens!!

Sarai with her trophy and Tiara's!

Welcome to 2013 and a Whole New World!

                 So it's been FOREVER since I have updated!! Being a Mom is busy work! Oh yes, that's right we had our baby!! A beautiful baby GIRL!!! Named Sarai A'lisa Hooker born 7/12/12 at 4:07pm 6lbs 8.5oz, & 19.5 inches of
pure perfection!!!

Here's a Short recap of her first few months!
             I took off a few weeks from my night job and my daytime kiddos to spend time with Sarai at home! It was wonderful! Shortly after that Eris began Kindergarten! Super proud of how she handled her 1st day and thanks to Kennon I was able to be there with her that morning! Thanks hunny! I kept Niera for a few more months.. the kids now have a new sitter. In light of no longer having Niera I went fulltime at my night job till i could find new kiddos.. In that time I registered to be a Listed Home daycare and have since filled all my avaliable spots and quit the night job! I now am able to stay home with Sarai and she has several lil friends her age, to grow up and play with! It's funny how God knows just how to make your life better by providing you what you need right when you need it! I couldnt be happier!

                

            During her first 7 months Sarai experienced several of her 1st Holidays!
Halloween- She was Raggedy Ann everyone thought she was adorable and thought that she was a real doll! Then came Thanksgiving... She tried mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce! She really enjoyed it! Her 1st Christmas was especially fun for Kennon and I. We loved playing Santa and all the festivities we took her too. The best part was seeing our families with her! All the fun items they gave her and how happy Sarai was with all of them! New years eve Sarai spent with her Granny and PawPaw in Junction, but we got her back New Years Day! She learned to sit up all by herself at the resturaunt where we met to take her home!

 

--->>>> Fast Forward 7 Months and we are now in Feb 2013!

                           Things in my life right now are Ah-mazing!! I have abeautiful daughter whom I love very much.. just in the last month she has began saying MaMa and DaDa!! Exciting! Trying to teach her Hi, Bye-Bye, and waving... hoping she catches on soon! lol.... I have a fabulous husband who loves me with all he has and treats me like a queen and his daughter like a princess! I love him with all my heart and I thank God for putting him in my path! I have the most wonderful friends! Court and Steph love us and treat us like family! They claim Sarai as a niece..she couldn't be more lucky! Ashley has been coming to visit and fill in as a substitute here with my Daycare kiddos when we have appointments etc.. so blessed to have her friendship and help! And we know have some new friends Des and Kyle we have been enjoying hanging out with and gettin to kno better! Des and I worked at my night job together! She's really fun! Of course I could list on and on about the fabulous things our friends do for us and who they are but we'd be here all day! lol... so thank you ALL! Lastly but certainly not least is our families! We love all of you and appreciate the things you do and get for Sarai! Someday she will know all of your love and she'll love you for everything you've done!!!

                   As far as my Daycare goes everything is going really good! I am completely full and really enjoying myself. The kids I keep are of course Sarai who is 7 months and the rest are all boys Evan is 6 months, Dalton's 10 weeks old, and Gavin who is 9 weeks old! It's kind of like having two sets of Twins under 7 months! So far Evan and Sarai are on similar schedules... whereas Dalton and Gavin are still on demand for feedings so thier schedules are a little more relaxed. I enjoy watching all the kids grow and learn new things! Besides beign with the kids and playing one of my favorite parts of home daycare is the parents! I love when they come in or text/call sharing info on what thier kiddo did all weekend, how they are feeling, or what milestone they are reaching! It's really fun that they want to share those moments with me! I appreciate it too! I'm so blessed to be apart of these kids lives!

Evan

Dalton

                                

Gavin

     



Well that's all for now! Thanks for reading!

                      
                     

Update :)

So, we've had several sono's and Baby Hooker is doing well! We are 24 weeks along now and we have decided to NOT find out the gender of our lil kiddo!! It's so fun and exciting not knowing!

12 weeks

20weeks

14wks

We recently began working on our Nursery :) It's green and brown and the theme is Jungle!! I love animal print and it works for either gender so it's a win-win! Mom and Dad got us a crib/changing table set, and my lil sis bought us a very cute bouncer, Kennons Mom gave us so money to buy a few things too! We just haven't picked what yet!.. So far things for the baby are moving along smoothly.

Me and Kennon with our cute crib!!!! We are so excited about it a big thanks to my parents for buying it for us :)

Currnetly the base colors are on the wall... looking like a Jungle already! Haha excited to get the Wall border in and get it a little more completed!

Other than the baby, Kennon has been doing exceptionally well at work! Back in December he recieved an award and a plaque for being the #1 most requested installer at Ener-tel. His boss had told him he is on the fast track to a promotion soon, and he already got a raise. I am so proud of him :) He loves his job and that makes me super happy!!

I'm gonna be a Mommy!!! :)

                      So, as usual, ALOT has happened since I last updated my blog. Kennon and I are now expecting our first kiddo this coming July! We are very excited. We believe we are about 12 weeks along and will be having our 1st sonogram on January 2nd!! I so can't wait! Other than the pretty constant morning (a.k.a. All Day) sickness I don't really "feel" pregnant so I'm hoping seeing the baby and hearing the heartbeat will make it a little more real for me! I just can't believe we finally are!! Such a blessing.



              Kennon and I currently have our friends Ashley and Tim staying with us while they get jobs and a place to live here in Angelo. We previously went and visited them this past June in North Carolina. We were able to go to the beach, sightsee, and just have a really good time. So glad we are able to help them adjust to life in a new place!! But, of course, I really can't wait till they have thier own house for me to help Ash decorate and to go visit them at!! Sooo happy she is back in Angelo!!!



Stop in LA to see my Nae :)



Atlantic Beach!

 





lol we r crazy!

 





Plane ride home!!



 

Christmas was pretty good so far! Got some really cool stuff. The hubs got me a Toshiba Thrive tablet!! im super stoked! Mom and Dad got me the new nike Shox I wanted, and Michelle got mean awesome UT Scentsy! This weekend we head down to Junction to see Kennon's sides of the Fam! Then New Years!!! Can't believe 2011 went by so quickly... 

Me and my gifts :)

April and May Catch-Up :)

April and  May were great months this year! Easter, Niera's bithday, and Kennon and I's One year Wedding Anniversary! :)

April was wonderful! Easter month! :) Kennon and I attended Easter services at the First Christian Church in Ballinger with my parents, Sister Kayla, and her husband Paul. It was a wonderful service, the Pastor Lynn Smith, did a great job.

We also attended Junctions annual Easter pageant this year. I had never been, and neither had my family. So my Parents, along with Kayla and Paul drove over to meet us in Junction for the play. My Mother in Law, and Father in law were both actors in the play so that made it especially exciting! We really enjoyed the play, I hope I have kiddos to take to it one day.




Junction's annual Easter Pageant



Scene from the play



Another scene... LeeRoy's somewhere
at the table















Then along came May  :) 

May was a particularly busy month. It started off with Miss Eris's Dance recital! As always she was beautiful and did a great job! I was sooo proud of her!



"Walkie Talkie doll"
Dance Outfit



Eris and Kennon



Cheyenne, Dakota, and Eris



Me and Eris




"You Got a Friend in Me"
Dance outfit


















Next up was Niera's BIG 1st Birthday :) 

                              Niera's birthday was wonderful. The theme was Dumbo and I got to decorate, and make her cake! I was excited to do something so fun for Miss Niera, Kennon and I's goddaughter!  We held it at the San Angelo City Park under the Pavillion!

Me, Niera, and Gio

Her 2 Tier Dumbo cake and her
smash cake I made her!



Yay someone's 1!!!!



Niera and her Mommy
blowing out the candles!

Kennon and I with our Goddaughter
on her 1st Birthday!

And finally Our 1 year Wedding Anniversary!!!!! :)

                                      This 1st Anniversary was great! We did all the traditional things.. Exchanging "paper" gifts, eating our Wedding cake topper, made an Anniversary arranmgement to be displayed at our Church, and had a wonderful night of remembering!

My Wedding/Anniversay set all together

Gorgeous! I love him!

"paper" bag my new ring  in it!

My ring!!!



His "paper" brochure gift!
his gift.. A M v F trip to Austin!



His Man vs Food shirt



Cutting our cake topper



Me feeding Kennon cake




Kisses <3




Cut Cake



Kennon feeding me cake

We also made an Anniversary Flower arrangement together to be displayed at our church on the Sunday of our Anniversary :) This was really fun to do together and made some fun and memorable Anniversary memories!



finished product