REJOICE!

To many of you these look like tools that you probably do not use everyday, but for the Carpenter house these WERE everyday aides for our washer and dryer!!! Yes, to wash the clothes you need the flathead screwdriver to close the lid and to dry the clothes you need the pliers to get the knob to turn to set the dryer!

But, no more my friends! Tonight, my husband set up a new washer and dryer (only 8 years old) that I will not be needing to run to the tool box everytime I wash a load!!

THAT IS A PRAISE IF I EVER SAW ONE!!!!

Best Friend of the Year Award

Here are the top ten reasons why this wonderful person recieves the BEST FRIEND OF THE YEAR AWARD:

10. She is my BLOG mentor

9. She makes me laugh so hard I sometimes think I may pee a little!

8. We have a pack to brag on our husbands (instead of grip- it isn't always easy!)

7. She compliments me on how well I pack a dishwasher (something Chris says I am terrible at)

6. She lets her kids watch Spongebob too

5. In a meeting, she let everyone know I was too busy to take on another responsibility

4. I know that she prays for me and my family when we need it the most

3. She was the only other person allowed to be in the room when Cami was delivered besides Chris and the doctor (and then my mom last minute)

2. She invited me into the most fun Bunco group over 6 years ago and let me back in last year after I bailed on them 3 years ago.

1. SHE WASHED, DRIED, FOLDED AND PACKAGED 4 LOADS OF MY LAUNDRY WITHIN 18 HOURS!(my washer is broken)

So who is this beautiful, talented, Christian woman?????

TONYA LEE DODD!!!!

A year later

Well last July I posted my first post on my first blog. Didn't know it would last, but it did. Okay, so who knows where to get these things made into a book?

Anyways, a funny thing is that one of my first posts was when we "the family" went to the Vinyard. You can scroll down to August for a recap if ya want.

But this year we went to celebrate Keith's birthday. We had a great night of celebrating not only his birth but the birth of our newest family member...Kaiyin. Yes, our friends Steve and Elmira got the call and hopefully in a few weeks will get to go see their sweet baby girl!!!!!

Here are a few pics of the night:

Happy b day Keith!

A picture like last year...without T, but adding Ivey, Roza and Elmira!

Sweet friends

And goofy ones!

A little bit of dancing

But, a lot of love!

Anybody miss me?

Okay, so you don't have to answer that...it is just that we went to Oklahoma for a week and i haven't gotten to blog like I want to.

Bartlesville is where I was born and raised. When I was growing up there it was "so uncool" and everyone was ready for bigger and better things. But, it is funny how my friends are starting to move back and how people our age love raising their family in the small yet busy town.

We Carpenters, on the other hand, see it as vacation! Where else do you get to swim everyday, get your first mani and pedi (thanks to aunt Kendra) and go to KIDDIE PARK!!!!!

Here is a photo journal of our week in Bartlesville. You will see many smiles from Chloe, Cami, Aunt Kendra, Devin, Paw Paw, Grammie, Chris and I!!!

Happiness at the pool




Chloe's first trip to the spa!!!!!
KIDDIE PARK!!!

Riding the train

And now it is back to the real world....where I can't wear my p.j.s until late afternoon and where I have to answer the phone and worry about bills. Thanks Mom and Dad for treating us so well while we were with you and thanks Sis for spoiling me and my little Gaudy Girl! I love you!!!!!

Happy 9 Years C.C.

CAUTION: this is very sappy!

Nine years ago today I was in Jamacia as a new bride.

I remember the love I had for Chris.....I was truely infatuated. The man could do no wrong. No matter what he said, didn't say, did or didn't do and no matter what anyone said about him, he was mine and I adored him. I was strucken by his smile and would melt when he looked at me. And no matter how many times I heard the same joke, I would laugh, a REAL laugh!

Well, nine years have passed and we have been through a lot of ups and a lot of downs. We have grown closer to each other and most importantly to God. And I can still say that no matter what he says or doesn't say, no matter what he does or doesn't do and no matter what people may say about him...he is MINE, mine forever. I realize that I take for granted his eyes and smile every day, but I hope he knows I would never want to take this journey without him and I still adore him.... Happy Nine years!

We actually got to slip away for dinner at Fulin thanks to Chad Carson! He gave us an awesome gift certificate...thanks Chad!!!! And thanks to our sweet friend the Apples who took our babies for the night so we could actually talk and laugh with each other one on one. It was awesome.

Here we are at Fulin

Funny thing, when I got in the car AFTER dinner I saw this......can we say I was in a hurry!

But the best part of the night was being with Chris with no one else around. Laughing and just enjoying the man I love!

A New Creation

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

I don't think I even need to write a word...the pictures tell the story.

But I do want to say how proud I am of my Chloe Grace for making the biggest decision of her life at age 6!

Some people think 6 is too young to fully understand what it means to choose Christ to reign over your life, but I too accepted Christ as my Savior at 6 and was baptized with my best friend on Easter Sunday. And I know without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ entered my life at that moment. Now, all of the other big decisions of her life will be so much easier...I mean can you imagine deciding what career to have without Christ's guidance? Or who you want to spend the rest of your life with without The Holy Spirit lead? I feel so much peace knowing that she will have His Holy Spirit to guide her and lead her when she has to make a tough decision. And honestly, I am about to cry because my sweet baby girl is all the way in Florida with her grandparents having a fantastic time while I want to kiss her little face off!

Dance Baby Dance!

If you were at the dress rehearsal tonight, then you might have seen my adorable daughter on stage....but if not, here are some highlights from my camera.

Cami thought it was her night too!

She actually started getting upset when we left because, "I didn't get to dance!"
But, she did get to see Chloe do ballet.....

Tap

And Jazz (our favorite)

(But, I must agree with Chloe, I did go too heavy on the eyeliner...she said, "I have evil eyes, Mommy!" But that is what dress rehearsal is for right TD, to get your eyeliner level right!)