Been a while...

So, I haven't posted anything in a while and thought I'd put up a few pictures of what the four of us have been up to in the last few weeks.

First things... I became an aunt! While she isn't exactly my sister, I did grow up with her family and Steve says that her hubby is a better brother-in-law than my brother. haha ...I am still very happy for Brooke and Wills and their new addition... and can't wait to actually meet the little guy (yes, Brooke, I know it may be a few years :))

Mom and son, Landon, so precious!

One sunny day before Faith was out of school we decided to go to the park. Lots of fun!

On the slide together

On the tire swing

One day I decided to get some pictures of the beautiful flowers that are blooming around the outside of the house. And of course the girls decided to get in in the fun too. I love them (the girls)!

We also have some ducks constantly wandering around the neighborhood. I have never seen ducks out of water like these two have been. I think it's funny :)

Last week we got an email that there was going to be a Children of the World choir at the church where our MOPS group meets. We went to see them once a couple of years back and absolutely loved it! So we decided to go again. As an added bonus a majority of the choir that we saw were from Uganda :) which holds a special place in all out hearts (cause we love and miss you Aunt Brooke!).

They are hard to see, but so much fun to watch!

When I got home from work on Saturday, the girls wanted to blow bubbles... why not! so here's a short slide show of the fun that was had :)
Make a Smilebox slideshow


This morning the girls were dancing, and it was just so cute not to picture, but my camera battery died after just a couple of pictures, so here's one

Finally... I think I'm ready to say this out loud...

Yes, I am pregnant again! This is an ultrasound picture from April 17, I was about 6 week then. I am just at the end of the first trimester now. I look to be due (officially, according to the Dr) Dec 12... but knowing me and my history, we could have a baby round about Thanksgiving! Anyone wanna come visit then? haha
I seem to be doing fine, I am just extremely tired. We heard the heart beat just a few weeks ago via the Doppler, beating away at 172 beets per min. My next Dr appointment is next week and I am going to ask for an ultrasound, just to give me the reassurance that we don't have the same problem that we did last year.

I think that's about it from the Rankin's for right now. Hope everyone is well.

Much love,

Happy Mother's Day!

I couldn't ask for two more precious children (even though they do push the wrong buttons most days :))! I am so thankful that they have made me a mommy!

I have had a wonderful Mother's day! We did most of the Mother's Day things yesterday, as we knew that today would be... not as good due to church and Steve's work schedule. So yesterday after I got off work, as I was taking a shower, Steve and the girls set up some gifts at the table for me. I got some 'Food Saver' bags (YES, I wanted them!) and a beautiful T-shirt that says 'The sweetest place to be is in a Mother's loving Heart' with flowers in the shape of a heart. I love it and decided to wear it to church this morning. I also got some beautiful flowers from Steve, he gave them to me on Friday night, though cause that's when he was out and about with out me and didn't want them to die before this morning :) I got about an hour of nap this afternoon, and didn't have kids running a muck (they were napping too :)). I seem to have a head cold that wants to move into my chest, and I seem to have lost my voice because of it. Despite that though, all in all it's been a good Mother's Day!

So I would like to wish anyone reading this who is a mommy, a Happy Mother's Day!

AND tho those of you who might read this and not have any children yet and/or who have lost a little one, my heart really goes out to you today. This is a hard day. Believe me I know, I have been there... it took us two years for our first miracle (pictured above on the top), and we have two blessings waiting for us in Heaven. So, blessings to you today too!

Not Me Monday

Here I go for only the second time ever, not telling you what we've been up to around here.


As I eluded to before, Faith and I did not go to visit a possible kindergarten for her. She was definitely not impressed. And definitely not looking forward to the fall so that she can go to said preschool!! Not us! As a side note... it's a private Christian school and we would LOVE to not send her there next year, so if any of you are feeling like you are in a giving mood, we are not taking donations for this :)

I did not eat cereal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner one day this week... I know better. And along those same lines, I did not lounge on the couch all day (the same day as the cereal) instead of getting out and walking like I know I need to do. Not me!

My daughter did not take the trash out this week, much to my surprise! She would not ask such things and I definitely would let her if she asked, if I thought she were tall enough :) Not her!

My other daughter did not put her pants on backwards one day, that would just be too funny for words!

I did not go to my fabulous makeover that I won from Mary Kay, and if I had, I would not have gone all by myself. Not Me! If anyone wants to go with me for my follow-up makeover, you are not invited!

The before and after pictures are more like after and after I washed, but you get the idea!


I did not let my kids stay up an hour past their bedtime many times this week. I am a better mom than that! And on that same note, I did not start dinner too late so that bed time had to be pushed back a couple of time either. Nope, not me!

We have not been to three different churches in as many weeks looking for a new one. We have not made fun of something about every one we have visited. And we are definitely not thinking we would love to go back to our church from Flagstaff, right about now (sigh).

We will probably not attend a new church next Sunday as well, and not find something odd about it. But we could not be surprised.


I did not order a really expensive dress so that I can be in my cousin's wedding this Sept. It is most certainly not different from all the other Bridesmaids dresses (and not approved by the bride). Not me! And I've not been asked if my kiddos would like to be flower girls in said wedding! That would be way too cool and exciting (... shh, they don't really know yet, as I think they would be more excited than I am about it... and they do not get to wear the 'fancy' Christmas dresses I made for them)

Steve and I did not watch "Marley & Me" and did not cry like babies at the end.

I have not been thinking of applying for a different job since Faith's birthday. I do not dislike my very part time job, and do not get frustrated just about every time I am in that place. Not me!

I most certainly do not have the most wonderful family in the whole world!!!

That's not our little update from the past few weeks. And I will not try to be better at posting (that's for our family that is NOT way too far away, but we love and miss you anyway)!

Oh My... I NEVER win anything!!!

I was flabbergasted this evening when I got a call that I had won a free makeover for me and my bridal party!


WHOA.... rewind... my bridal party?!?

As this very nice sounding lady is explaining what I've won, I'm thinking, what did I enter and when, to get this? and then she asks "how does all this sound?"

I had to reply "It would be fabulous if I were the bride!"

So, I still am racking my brain as to where I entered for this, but me and five of my friends still get a free makeover, and hand treatment by Mary Kay (or... gals who sell it...)! ...On the thinking side of this... I AM in my cousin Rachel's wedding come September and have been looking at online bride sights at bridesmaid dresses and have gone to a couple of places in town to actually try on dresses... but this doesn't sound like it's from either of those...

Can we say WOW!!! COOL!!!

Anyone wanna be one of my "new best friends" LOL, Seriously... I am going to have to find (local) people to have such a fun night with!!!

Not Me Monday

So I have decided, after reading MckMama's blog in and out for a few days, that it's time I jump on the bandwagon of "Not Me Monday's" [AKA a good way to air dirty laundry with out the guilt, and let people know what you've NOT been up to :)] (I know she may not and probably wont 'not me' today, but I decided that I will anyway). One thing I will be doing today is pray for little five month old Stellan (and the rest of his MckFamily)



So my inaugural Not me...

I most certainly did NOT eat my dinner last night after the kids went to bed. And I know better than to have eaten it in the living room, NOT me. Oh and if I had, said dinner was definately NOT one of those awful, bad for you microwave jobs... nope!!


I did NOT leave a pile of dishes in the sink more than once this this week. Nope they are all done AND put away... I wouldn't think of such atrocities!


I have NOT been procrastinating about calling schools in the area for Faith to be in kindergarten. Even after such a fabulous talk about it on Thursday at MOPS. A flier about the Christian school down the road did NOT get me thinking about it again.... maybe we will have to NOT go to the open house this week to see about things there (stay tuned)...



And I really have NOT forgotten to put of a picture of the fabulously cold picnic the girls and I had two and a half weeks ago. And I might NOT have played with the colors on the picture, but the proof seems to be here anyway. :)

I have NOT forgotten to do my "Esther" homework and should NOT have four days to do by Tuesday afternoon (really just a days and a half away) when I will be needing to get diner together.

So that's NOT our little update :)