Halloween Pics

Here are a few pics from Halloween-Chase LOVED the inflatable slide that our church put in our neighborhood, check out that smile! The whole family participated in "Theme Halloween" by dressing as Crash Test Dummies :)

Hello....again!

Ok, I know the Hope Trifecta has been MIA for a few months...and we definitely have some updates.

First, check these pic's out! This is the only smile I got from Chase at the Pumpkin Patch in Flower Mound, and the other is Chase just being silly with his farmer hat-Adorable!!!

We have been changing things up in the family, starting with my "Fabulous Retirement" from my job to stay home with Chase full time! It's been a real blessing to be with him every day, and he's become very accustomed to having mommy around. I love it! It's been different, I'll say-but worth every minute. I have also really enjoyed getting reconnected with my fellow S-A-H-M's, and look forward to immersing myself in this new career, and my buds!

My dad is still sharing our house, and all is still going well. I think it's been 4, or 5 months now? I don't mind, as I feel like he was placed here to see a true "Christ-Loving Marriage", to show what loving your spouse should really look like. Sean and I aren't perfect, but we don't expect perfection--only hope to strive for it by seeking His guidance with the tough issues. For those that don't know, my dad and I didn't always get along-and I basically ignored him after he and my mother got divorced....VERY messy, for them and for my sis and I. Don't really think my sis, Angela, has ever gotten over that-and I pray for her all the time. That's a story for a different post though...

Sean is still in school, and we are anxious about the economy just as everyone else is (afterall, Sean has a job, but is still just "contract" until they get approval for FT employees). God will provide though, He always does---just have to be diligent and honest with Him-and FAITHFUL!

I'll update more consistently now that I am around to catch those Kodak moments with my little trooper----starting with an awesome homemade costume for Halloween---check back for the update.

Love,

Amanda

1 step, 2 step, 3 step, 4!

Happy Independence Day! Our 4th of July couldn't have been better-we saw Chase assert his independence like no other-Our little Chase took his first steps! Check out the video!


So, we immediately put his new talent to work---he's started mowing our livingroom rug!



How adorable is all this! I can't believe he's walking, and can only think: What could be next!???

Dadfest 2008

Yesterday, Chase got his first taste of what I hope will become an annual tradition for the two of us. Dadfest was held at Texas Stadium, and boy did we have fun! It was an early morning-left the house at 6:30. After registration, we went down to the field and I warmed up while Chase practiced for his own big race (some bearcrawling across the field). It was great to enjoy this day with my son by doing something that I pray one day he will enjoy doing as well. We ended up finishing the race with a time of 26 minutes 8 seconds-2nd PLACE! Unfortunately, due to some incorrect processing, we were not included in the Father-Son Team Category. But not all was lost, because after the 5k, Chase participated in the Diaper Dash and got 1st! Chase got a $100 gift certificate to Run On! and a $10 gift card to Target!! Not to bad for his first race (actually that is better than anything I have ever won)! He even met a few of the Cowboys' Cheerleaders.. We had a really great day, but Chase was definitely worn out by the end of it all!
Amanda was there taking all these great pics, and I could tell that she was a very proud mama this weekend :)
Thanks for reading!

May 17, 2008 - Chase turns One

I know, I know...we know it is June and Chases' birthday was almost a month ago, but we have just so busy, it hard to keep up with some things. As of today, I still don't have my car back, but I should have it within the next week or so, so that is good...I can't stand driving this Kia Rondo. I don't know if it's a SUV or a minivan...bottomline, it's not my car.

We are so proud of Chase, and he is just so much fun to be with, and we are definately blessed to have such a wonderful child. His birthday was what I would consider textbook. He played a little in the cake/ice cream, wasn't too interested in his presents, (so it became my birthday opening all the gifts), and seemed to enjoy the gift wrap more than the gifts. Thanks to everyone that came and helped us celebrate his 1st year of life.

So to stay ahead of the game, here are some things that are coming up for us in the next few weeks.

1. Tonight we are going to Heather and Bobby's Couple Shower hosted by her Man of Honor, Johnathan...and no he isn't into men.


2. Tomorrow is Father's Day, so we are teaching at church, then coming home and cooking out with my father-in-law and sister-in-law on my new grill!


3. Next Saturday, we are going to DadFest at Texas Stadium for a 5k for me and Chases' 1st race as well! A crawling contest! Feel free to come and join, the website is http://dadfest.com/


4. Last but now least, welcoming all the new babies into the world! Congrats to Angela and Justin on their new baby, as well as Tiffany and Brandon! Andy and Katie, Brett and Elizabeth and Josh and Erica!

My car is broken!!!

Today was supposed to be a simple day. Leave work, meet Amanda at the dealership to turn in her Murano, pick up Chase, Amanda would go to Bible study, and I would do some things around the house...That all came to a screeching halt at about 5pm. Some guy tried to turn in front of me when I was about 20 feet away! No one was hurt, except my car. I'm sad to say, I don't think he is going to make it. I tried to drive home, but then it started to smoke, so instead my car is sitting at the dealership awaiting its' sentencing. In the mean time, here is a picture of my car...

Who's a stud?

Chase is about to be one, so here are some pics of our son. I hope you enjoy them, I can't believe how much we see us in him!

Stay at Home Mommy

Well, it's Day 4 of my week at home with Chase. This has been SOO much fun, and I'm completely jealous of my many stay-at-home mommy friends. Granted, I've also been working while I'm here so, I don't even think I've been able to enjoy it quite as much. I've been able to get him back on schedule (Daycare has way too many distractions, so my boy wasn't eating as much as he could), and I get to hear him scream with joy when he plays with Luda and with his toys. I've been able to create a photobook to commemorate his first year of life-which will be available for his FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY in a few weeks! I really think that if I wasn't running back and forth to my computer to follow emails, me and Chase would be having even more fun-hanging out with the other kids I know!
Now, you are all asking; "Why is she at home?". Let me explain. Chase has been in daycare for about 3 1/2 months, and Chase has been consistently sick for 3 1/2 months. The final straw: He contracted Hand,Foot, and Mouth disease! He got the lesser of the illness, so he's been technically OVER it since Saturday-but it takes 7-10 days to fully recover. We also wanted to see if he could get over his ear infections, diaper rash, and this Herpangina(technical term, we think that's an odd name too). I think we've realized that even though the daycare has good intentions and they LOVE Chase, he just needs to be in a home environment for MY sanity and his health!
Tomorrow is the final day of my hiatus, and then on Monday he gets to hang out with a VERY GENEROUS stay-at-home mommy that is going to watch him and her 2 others hopefully for good! Pray that this arrangement is God-driven, and that Chase gets the nutrition and love he truly deserves. I LOVE MY LITTLE BOY! Gotta go, Chase wants to start typing and he keeps deleting what I type!

Later!

Busy few days..

This week has been alittle crazy for the Hope Fam. Sean had his last set of weekend classes, so Chase and I hung out and cleaned house. Saturday, I took Chase to stay the night at his Great Grandparents' house--Granny and Grandaddy have so much fun playing with him! Sean and I decided to look at a new (used) truck in Dallas-and ended up taking it home. Unfortunately, the dealership took a while so, we were late to our friends' Brandon and Tiffany's baby shower. Better late than never though-it was great hanging out with our friends! Miss Payton is going to be one LUCKY girl!
Sunday-oh, Sunday: We went to NASCAR! Holy Moly, that was interesting. It's a long day of basically listening to a vaccuum cleaner whizzing by you. Don't get me wrong, it was great hanging out with my sis and especially my dad; but Nascar is a completely different animal! As you can tell, Sean was very into the whole thing! Just kidding, he really was having fun, but he'd had a LOOOONG weekend. :) We all had, but Sunday night it was nice being home to clean up and just BE-if that makes sense. We were all exhausted, even Chase...but I am extremely aware of the graciousness of God to allow us to share our lives with those we love here on this earth-it is by HIM ALONE, that we are able to enjoy these gifts; these precious moments that can so suddenly be taken away from us. Praise Him for our freedom, our happiness, our friends and family.

To begin the new week, we decided to do something else we've never done before-Chase got his very first haircut! He had a great time too, don't you think?

Thanks for reading-talk to you all again soon.
Much Love,

Amanda

School is Cool!

As I sit in the last day of my Old Testament class, I can't help but think that this was one of the most benefiticial classes I could have ever taken! I definately give God credit for providing such a knowledgable, light hearted, professor to teach about the Gospel. He has so much information, it boggles me! Oh, and the best thing about it, is he puts everything in the simplest of terms. I truly can't wait to take New Testament with him! Listen to me, I never thought I would be sitting here wanting to take more classes!

All-Nighter

Last night was an interesting night at the Hope house. Chase, our usually peaceful sleeping angel, kept us up all night! We've never experienced this before, and we know that SOMETHING had to be wrong. We checked him head to toe, teeth and diaper-and didn't find anything out of the ordinary. Tylenol just in case there was an ache, but he didn't have a fever--we are lost! I gave him a bottle, which he enjoyed for a while and then fell asleep with me in the rocking chair. So there I stayed for a couple of hours, half asleep and wondering what could be wrong. This morning, we were all exhausted-and Chase wanted to stay in bed--but work and daycare were waiting, so out the door we went.
I just got the call-he has drainage from his ears, sounds like his first ear infection. We'll go to the doctor today, and hope everything is ok.
We've been so blessed with our little trooper, he's been such a joy. Seeing him in so much unexplained agony just tore our hearts apart. I love this little man, so my mind is whirling with the possibilities of his ailment.....and wondering when I'll be able to see that smiling happy face early in the morning again as we start our day.
I pray for peace and healing for my baby boy-and a good night's sleep for EVERYONE.

Well Here we are.

Hey people,

So, about a year or so ago-Sean and I gave in to the MySpace craze. We updated, uploaded, and meticulously maintained our pages; getting them just so. Backgrounds and friends, we added AND deleted! Then our friends stopped using MySpace, and we were lonely. BLOG, BLOG they cried out-Follow us to the BLOG. I'm hoping the Facebook thing was a phase, because to be honest I got alittle confused with it all. But here I am, I miss you guys!!!!! So, behold-a BLOG for the HOPE TRIFECTA!!!

Amanda, Sean, and little CHASE! Keep checking, I'll make it look cool later :)