Lazer News

Maybe old news, but it's still good news, Andrea got the gig! She is one of the new co-hosts for the Merrill in the Morning show! She is absolutely hysterical and so real on air, I love it. I know that she already has a big fan base, but I am for sure her biggest fan! I love hearing her in the morning when I am getting all the kids going, it gets me going like a jolt of coffee, she's always had that energy about her! If you haven't tuned in, do it- NOW! She is on from 6-10am M-F. Merrill has always been great, but I tell you what, that is a really superior morning show now. I have never really fully recovered from loosing Katie on the Today show, but you know, I think I can move past it with Andie in the AM! Way to go Andie!

Psalms

I would love to say that it was the Lord who woke me up for the past two days, but it was my sweet little baby boy! As for not getting back to sleep, that maybe the Lord. I have borrowed a bible from my sister, it is a New Living Translation, which I've never used much before, but I kind of like the wording of it. Anyway, I picked it up the last two mornings to read when I couldn't sleep, and such encouragement was found! Today especially was Psalm 112.


1 Praise the LORD!How joyful are those who fear the LORD and delight in obeying his commands.2 Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.3 They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will last forever.4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.5 Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.6 Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered.7 They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.8 They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.9 They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated. They will grind their teeth in anger; they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.


These verses are so encouraging to me! I, honestly have gone over and over in my head if there is something that we did wrong, like as if this were a punishment of some kind, I keep looking for a reason that all this has happened and many have said that I may not know the answer to that for years. Yes, and praise God, that He is the One in control! I have a renewed confidence that the Lord will care for me and my family, He will provide all our needs!


Praise the Lord!

Keith's Braces

Keith has begun his journey into braces! He talks with the slightest lisp from the crib in his mouth and he got his full set put on the bottom on Thursday, really, a proud moment. For what they cost, he will not only be wearing a helmet for skateboarding, and bike riding, he will wear a mouth guard too! He is so adorable about the whole thing, he is actually very proud of them.

His orthodontist is Dr.Malmstrom, thus far, I really love this doc and his staff! His wife, Donna, who also is apart of his staff is such a sweet heart and the rest of his staff are so friendly and wonderful and one of them even offered to help us with our rebuild! I really love that they remembered our names so quickly! With the flood, our house, the cars, they have set us up on a great payment plan for these braces, and aren't they a beaut!?!

Red and black bands to start off with of coarse, what else for such a huge Chiefs fan? I told him, my first kiss was a string bean boy with braces- my second kiss was YEARS later! Seriously! It made him smile that soon to be straight smile! I love it, I may miss it even! Maybe now he can work on that great personality more over the next few years, but watch out girls, in a few years-he'll knock your socks off! Did I mention his voice is starting to crack too? What a wonderful time of life! He's still the coolest 12 year old I know!

Florida or Bust!

So, about a year ago my Mom promised my kids a trip to Disney World, and then informed my Dad we were all going! So exciting, well, about two months ago my Mom calls and says that she has booked the tickets and NO ONE is backing out now (why would we? Seriously!).

There are 14 of us going, me, Rob, my sister, Andie, her husband Aaron, their two girls- Joy and Bailey, our 4 kids, my older brother, Nick, my youngest sister, Janette and my parents. We are going to have so much fun, it's so exciting!

I have to brag a bit, I really have one of those families that it is so fun to be with, we play games, joke around, watch movies and believe me there is never a silence among the "crowd". I love it, it's exactly why I love that we have four kids, so they can have what I have and I can have what my parents have, a full house-and full hearts!!! I love that my family could double over the next 20 years, even triple! What a blessing children are!

A few days after the flood, my Mom asked if we were still going, I asked if it is paid for and non-refundable (I have to admit if it were refundable, I wanted the cash to fix our house!), it was, so off we all go! This does come at a good time, we are waiting to dry out right now and can't do anything on it till the second week of June now, so relax a forget our worries - we shall try.

I am almost packed, yes, I do plan quite a bit and thank goodness the luggage was in the attic, bone dry! I had given all the eight kids going a duffle bag with their name on it from http://www.lilianvernon.com/ for Christmas.

The kids freaked out, they love anything with their name on it, and I even got them in "their colors", which looks a little "Mickey Mouse Club", but that's cool (I guess more "Big Brother" now huh!).

Zach's I had to get on

http://www.llbean.com/

It cost more, but I had to get it in "his color! I know what you're thinking and it's true, I have just embraced it now! I do color-code my kids, it makes things SO much easier to sort, even socks, I know you're thinking "SOCKS?", yes, how much time did I used to waste before Hanes came out with color match socks! Everyone has there own color of sock now! This color system works for everything; toohbrushes, hairbrushes, water bottles, cups in the kitchen (got those at Wal-Mart), backpacks, lunch

bags, you name it. My kids have just embraced it, Mommy is just this way and it makes Mommy happy, so they work with it!

Lazer 105.9

I know that this is a late blog, but I am very proud of my little sis, she entered the American Merrill Contest and is a finalist, if you are a faithful listener I'm sure this is old news for you, but if not you need to go to www.lazer.com to check out Andrea Koker. She rocked her audition at the 23rd Street Brewery in Lawrence and became one of the 5 finalists from 9 and was way better than anyone. She would just be great for this job! There are more pictures and her bio on the Lazer website. She and Merrill hit it off right away and I think she balances him out. I think Lawrence/Topeka needs a "Hot Mom" on the radio. As for eveyone else, too comedic, too callous, too old, I fell asleep again, and you have got to be kidding! As a fellow "Hot Mom" (and I DO drive a mini van), that's my review!

GO ANDIE!

Teething!

Zach is getting three new teeth, in addition to the five he currently has. And his favorite chewing spot, my sisters end table in the living room! He has worked his way around the two edges and has left his little teeth marks, to prove it! It is the cutest thing, and thank goodness he picked the one with the the water damage circle on it, not one of good ones.

He is almost ready to take a step out on his own too, he walks around all the furniture and has let go a few times, he gets so excited that he starts to flap his arms and he falls down! It's so cute, he is so proud of himself too. Don't you just love the footie pjs?!? They're a classic.

Bath Time

Zachary is a water-baby all the way, he has loved his baths and even enjoys a shower on occassion. Splashing and being splashed, he loves the water in his face! Odd, for a baby, I know, he face plants, so we have to keep a close eye on him!
Ethan, loves to help give Zach his bath, all the kids do actually. Ethan loves to splash too, which works well for Zach! Any one of our kids could spend hours in a warm bath if we'd let them!