Our Savior's love, shines like the sun with perfect light. As from above, it breaks through clouds of strife.

Jun 14, 2012

Sisters Weekend

May, 2012- Gatlinburg, TN
No boys allowed.  Well, except for husbands and sons.

my sisters


little cousins


hikes in the smokey mountains




minute to win it

(me schooling Greg in the pencil catch game)


Greg:  Zorbing
What is zorbing you ask?  Rolling down a giant hill in an enormous ball (yes, like a hamster).
 hot tubbing

C LOVED the tram and alpine slide


And both of our girls loved their turns holding their baby cousin

Lots of fun times... the most fun was spending time with my sisters, who I don't see often enough!

May 31, 2012

Beach get-away

We plan to go to our favorite beach spot for a week in September... after the baby and recovery.  I thought I wouldn't want to go while very pregnant.  BUT, the weather got warm and I was dying to visit the beach.  We found a great place for a weekend getaway and my sweet husband obliged. 




SJ made some friends at the beach.  My spycam caught her convincing them to share their snacks with her.  Hilarious,  because this is so typical of SJ.
 


She was kind enough to share the booty with her sister.

Greg's sand pit, version 2012.  (His first time digging a pit while wearing blue-blockers)

I didn't get any photos of the pools, but the place we stayed had several pools, including 2 fun kiddie pools and a mini water park.  Our girls loved it.

(proof that I was there)

It was a great way to spend a long mother's day weekend.
When we got home Greg and girls made me a yummy dinner.



Apr 28, 2012

Full

We had a full Saturday

  1st:  Greg's big race... the half marathon on TRAILS!  He ran a 9:45 minute mile... an amazing feat for those steep trails and that distance.  Also, he improved his time significantly over the last 2 years he ran this.  Amazing what being finished with his MBA does for allowing him to actually train!  The girls were great cheerleaders.




Next:  C's final soccer game of the season and pizza party.  Clara got the award for the "most times a soccer ball got kicked into her belly."  She is super proud of her trophy.




The rest of the team fought over who got to give coach Greg his plaque.



And last:  a choir concert

We sang this song, which is ridiculous because we are all classical singers and really can't pull this stuff off.  Not to mention that this is a scene from Sister Act and is a favorite with high school choirs.  I have to say, I do love the song, though.  Especially when Lauren Hill sings it.  I love the lyrics... they describe my testimony and why I live my life the way I do...


Joyful, joyful, Lord we adore thee
God of Glory, Lord of Love
Melt the clouds of sin, sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away
Drive it away
Giver of immortal gladness
Fill us
Fill us with the light of day
Light of day!



Phew... I am exhausted, but grateful. 

For a full life and a full heart.




Apr 19, 2012

making lasagna

I'm not always the best at letting my kids (or my husband, for that matter) "help" in the kitchen. I like things done efficiently and my way! Today we had a great time in the kitchen together, so I wanted to record it. The girls helped me make lasagna and did a great job. They loved all of the different steps and layering and spreading things in the pan, and were so proud of the results.

C chopping mushrooms (with a butter knife)


SJ spreading the sauce

Camping with friends at Morrow Mountain






Apr 9, 2012

Easter Fun


SJ was so proud of herself for setting the table with these bunny plates.  For the four of us, she set out about 10 plates, each with one quinoa croquette. 


Here are some photos from our 3rd annual Easter Egg Hunt/Brunch.  The number of children has grown, significantly.  The adults are now outnumbered by kids... yikes!

'

Enjoying the spoils

Happy Easter!
I Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
(dresses from our trip to Mexico)

Mar 11, 2012

C's first soccer game

A big high five for coach Daddy

 (C is next to the girl with the ball)

C's biggest fan

C did great!  She was right in there with all of the action (with a huge smile on her face) even though she is a year + younger than most of the kids on her team.  We were so proud.

Feb 29, 2012

Signs of Life

It has been a rough 3 months.  I am at week 19 1/2 and am starting to have moments where I feel like myself. 


1st:  Came out of the constant fog of naseau long enough to notice the dirty/disorganized state of my house.

2nd:  Walked past the cheetos at the grocery store and thought "Eww"- even though there have been several days in the past 3 months that snack foods like those were all I could force myself to eat.

3rd:  Made dinner for my family AND ate an adult size portion.


Thanks to everyone who has offered help and support.  We feel so blessed to be able to have baby #3 on the way!  C is building beds in her room so "the newborn baby can sleep with me".  "Mom, you can't take care of two babies, so you just take care of SJ and I'll take care of the newborn baby."  Its really fun to have a child old enough to understand what is coming and get so excited!

P.S.  Drumroll, please: it is a...               

GIRL! 

We celebrated with pink lemondade. 


Feb 28, 2012

Palmyra, NY

Greg had a business trip up to Toronto. It's only a couple of hours away from his parents, so we all tagged along to visit the Grandparents.



10 hour car ride

 The gorgeous snowfall made it worth it

 C's first time on skis... with a little help from Daddy and SJ

 And... the reason for the trip.  These girls love their Grandma and Grandpa.

SJ-isms

SJ is so cute, these days.  I'm not sure what it is... maybe that her chubby baby face is giving way to a face with little feminine features.  Maybe that she is talking non-stop and is SO excited about everything she encounters in this world.  I can't get enough of her, lately.  Here are some of my favorite things that she says...

When she hears a loud noise: "That scaows mah eaows" (that scares my ears)
"I want anoder one banket" or "anoder one baby" or "anoder one one"

She loves carrying my old cabbage patch around and taking care of her. 
"Shhhh... mom, my baby's sweeping"
"Baby's wake now!"
(with a very convincing sympathetic face) "Ohhhh, baby sad." 
(holding baby on her lap) "Caywa (how she says her sister's name), wave hi to baby!"

Feb 8, 2012

Overheard

Overheard, this morning:
C:  "My tummy hurts because Mommy made me eat 3 cookies and 2 lollipops last night."
Greg:  HAhahahha!  That can't be true!
C:  I tried to tell the truth but it wouldn't come out

(shouted from the other room)
SJ:  "C!  Stop whining!  It hurts my ears!"

Also keeping us busy, today:  Playing dress-up and making Valentines.  SJ has 12 classmates and C 18... this makes for a lot of work!