Yet another one...

The game "don't break the ice" isn't just a test of skill but also of patience.

That's why Mr Wonderful plays with two three year olds and a two year old.

Confessions Cont.

I screen my telephone calls. I love caller ID.

However, most of the time I screen them because I am trying to do you a favor. No conversation is ever pleasant when a child is screaming in the background or the person is too busy multi tasking to concentrate on the conversation.

Plus...I am not really a "phone" person. I'd rather our conversations be interrupted IRL (in real life).

Side note. Just because the phone rings and rings and rings in my house doesn't mean I am on the other line. It usually means that my beloved two year old has pushed the orange button to turn off the answering machine. It's her fault, not my dislike of your phone messaging skills!

Confessions of a Closet Eater Organizer

I am eating Coldstone cake and watching The Biggest Loser...in my bed.

How do you like them apples chocolate covered oreos!

Not really even sure

where to begin. Because I live and die by lists, maybe I will just do this in list form-maybe. If I so choose not to at any point-well...I can because it's my blog and well....if I only want to blog once every two months-that's ok too. But I am really sorry for those of you who are my faithful blog readers-all two of you-Abby and Charlie.

Since my last post...in no specific order

Kate has started talking-mostly in sentences, usually yelling or bossing someone around.

Picked pumpkins at a local farm.

Charlie and I snuck away for four whole days, boarded a plane, drove through mountains, golfed in snow, slept in, had complete conversations without interruption, called home five times a day, worried unnecessarily, ate breakfast in bed, attended a beautiful wedding, met some fun new friends, and got away...really for the first time since having kids.

-note to self-bring the camera next time-
We returned home to find three children extremely well cared for who didn't miss us an ounce and two very tired Grandmas. Our amazing mom's carried off no small task in caring for our very busy ladies!

Celebrated a certain Daddy Man's 32nd birthday.

Camped with some friends (8 Adults+12 children under 8=a time we'll never forget). Our first real time camping in our new camper, thankfully we had very experienced campers with us who could show us how to turn everything on in our camper. It was a good thing too because we needed the heater every night. Thanks Mike!

Started our first year of preschool (just one morning a week is enough for this mom).

Had countless picnics down at the waterfront (I love my life and where we live).

Hannah and Megan started a real Ballet and Gymnastics class-they love!

-pics to follow.

Went apple picking with Uncle Wes and Ms. Meggie.

Visited the library countless times, walked downtown to visit daddy at the office, started riding bikes with training wheels, flown kites, made smores, gone fishing in grandma's lake, played in the warm sand at the beach.

Happy Birthday-Big B

Dear Dad,

I know that it's a day early but Happy Birthday. You're getting so old, or would be. I would love to see what the last three years has changed about you. Would there be more gray hair or just less hair altogether? Would you and mom have bought a little home on the big lake, been getting ready to retire, or take your birthday off to go and play golf?

Mom and my family will be heading to your brother's house for a little T Family get together. Your oldest brother is in town on business and well...your parents aren't getting any younger-so we need to make the most of the time we have. I'll think of you often as I look into their faces and listen to their conversations.

The last couple of weeks have been rough, haven't been feeling myself-easily irritated, aggressively driving, impatient- you know, all those lovely traits I learned from you. I not trying to excuse it but now looking back I can say it's probably in anticipation of your birthday. I think mom is sad too. We got her a pretty sassy bike for Christmas and she rides it all the time. You'd probably laugh at the funky teal bike-but we love it.

While summer is always fun-it's always the hardest too. The anniversary of your death, your birthday, your and mom's anniversary are always written on my calender but it's the impromptu things like Abby's family coming up for a week, camping with my family, baking in the sun, eating blueberries and washing the cars that make it the hardest. All of those things you loved to do.

You would die, forgive the expression, to see all seven of your granddaughters play together. They can hardly wait to see each other and they all love the time we get to spend together. When Abby and Brandon came up a couple of weeks ago the very first thing we did was pick blueberries. It would have been so much fun to have you there. The girls searched for the biggest and bluest berries for their buckets-while Kate searched for the fullest bucket to consume it's contents. She ate them almost as fast as we could pick them. Ab made the best blueberry pie with them-she even put vodka in the crust-she says that makes the crispiest crusts. Thought you might like that!

Ainsley and Kate viewing the bunny house at Lewis Farm Market

We then took all of the girls up to Rainbow Ranch to ride. Hannah and Meg have been looking forward to this since their birthday in Jan. This year they got to ride their very own horses. They even got the chance to trot a couple of times. After an hour long trail ride we were ready for lunch and what better place to eat then the local dairy. Pretty sure you would have enjoyed the hamburger I got there-not many can appreciate my love for burgers like you.

Mom, Abby and all of your granddaughters at the ranch.

Ainsley and Brandon trying one on for size...

Megan, happier than can be with her horse, Eclipse.



Mom, strapping Kate's helmet on her before joining me on our horse, Rudy.

Georgia found her courage.

Sophia and Grace on their horses.

Hannah is ridding, Chief.

Your mom and dad came out for an afternoon too. I've got to be honest and say that it's pretty comical to watch them try and communicate. Grandma can't hear for anything and Grandpa's voice is very weak so Grandma just shakes her head and continues her conversation despite Grandpa's effort to say anything. Bless their hearts, their house to has to be quiet.

Kate feeding a cow at Country Dairy.

I sat at the beach the on Tuesday with the girls, watching them play. They are all so very different-maybe you were watching them to. I'm not sure if that is how it works up there or not. I digress. As they all three made sandcastles Hannah, my industrious little girl, made the most and spent her time instructing her two sisters how to make theirs as well. Megan, she's my orderly one, had to have the most level area to turn her bucket over on and would perfectly space them. Kate, she's my "walk to the beat of a different drummer" child, she just stuck feathers and sticks in sand and called it good. She had more fun crashing her sisters castles then anything else.

I miss you dad. I miss hearing your voice, talking to you about what's going on at work, seeing you out washing your cars or sit in the sun. I wish you could see me be a mom and Charlie a dad. He's the best, you know, he's always coming up with something special for us to do. He makes life so fun and yet he works so hard. You would be so proud of him but you might get ticked because you still couldn't beat in a game of golf. I've even converted Charlie to camping (or Ludington did it for me). We now own a camper-never thought the day would come. He loves it but I love it even more because most of my best memories come from our camping trips to Ludington. I love you, Dad.

Praise the King,

Linz

I think this is becoming a habit

SO SORRY but I am the worst blogger. I have no motivation then horrible guilt for not blogging and it is just a vicious cycle. Every time I blog I vow to myself that I will start doing it regularly again, once a week, but it never happens to work out. So...no promises until Aug 20th.


On my last update I don't think I mentioned that I ran my very first 5K. While I don't believe you all check in here to read about me, but more so about my children-I use this blog like a journal for our family. Not only did I run that day but Hannah and Megan ran their first race too. They had a kid's fun run in which every child received a ribbon. The girls were so excited to run like mommy and get a ribbon-they were flying high all day. My first race time was 28.55. Since then I have only run a few times but I did run a Patriot Day Race on the 4th of July. That time wasn't so great-so we'll just skip right over my time on that one. This weekend marks the large festival in our town so the girls and I will be running again on Saturday. Wish me luck!

The week after Father's Day I asked the girls if they wanted their ears pierced. Hannah was my only taker. Isn't she lovely?!


The weekend before my birthday we had a very fun and hot weekend in Chicago and the suburbs. We got to see G&G B's house under construction, visit a precious friend of mine and her little Logan, see G&G L's new house in the country, celebrate a 50th birthday with a friend of ours in the city and stay at Great G&G L's house while they were out of town. The girls had a blast going to the splash park, seeing all of their grandparents and just hanging out with us. Charlie and I enjoyed a nice evening on a boat for the surprise 50th party, meeting some new friends, fireworks from the gay and lesbian parade and a super late dessert at Grand Lux after midnight.

It took us a week to come home and recover before our fun filled week up at the cottage with Aunt Kristen and Uncle David. We, meaning I, was especially spoiled to have a week of many helping, willing hands, not having a meal to think about or prepare, great conversation like the old days, and I never left the house except to go fishing or on a golf cart ride. My kids couldn't get enough of Austin, Katherine, Alex, Nicole, Squish or Morgan. Every time they turned around their was a creative activity, hair style, or set of arms to hold them. Thanks for taking such great care of us and loving on us. We had a blast!

And upon our return home, there was this large, wonderful, fully assembled swing set. Here is the girls reaction to the surprise of their very own playhouse. Pure joy. We play on it every day, multiple times a day. Now if only a swing pusher came with it!

I can't get any of my pics from Conover to load right now. I need to seek some prof help. But Katherine posted some pics from our week on her photography site here.

I believe the real reason that Meg chose not to get her ears pierced was to see if her sister would survive the ordeal. Hannah sat still, never shed a tear and even had a grin from ear to ear by the time it was over. After seeing that Hannah didn't die-Meg chose this week to get her ears pierced as well. She chose her birthstones (red) and Kate chose her birthstones (pink). Both M and K did really well too. Kate whimpered a little but was quickly soothed with a yellow sucker. Meg was very brave, like Hannah, and was very happy after she saw the result in the mirror.

(haven't taken their pics yet, I will add them when I do. Bad mom-I know)

So now we are all pierced (in our ears that is). However, the other night while reading stories...Hannah asked if she could get her nose pierced. Thanks Kayce!

World's Best DaddyMan

Hannah and dad watching Meg swing the bat!

This year the girls made daddy a card. I asked them what their daddy did that they were thankful for and here is their response:

Daddy, thank you for...doing special things with us, going downtown, for picnics, walks, making pennies (working and making money), making little schievers (filled pancakes), pancakes, waffles, reading us stories every night, for giving thanks with us, helping us, bringing us to church, being kind to us, taking us fishing, taking us to parks, for your hugs, kisses, nose kisses, ear nibbles and for all of your love.

Daddy has me wrapped around his little finger hairy leg.

I am thankful and grateful for Charlie. I know that God has richly blessed me and my children with a man who loves the Lord, loves us, sacrifices for us, works so hard to provide for us, hugs us, plays with us, teaches us, carves out time for us and makes us a priority, makes breakfast on the weekends, has not just one hand but two hands in helping me with the kids, does activities that we like to do, plays games, reads, plays with chalk, takes us fishing, reads to us from the Bible and thinks up very creative things for us do. I am amazed at the daddy Charlie is, not because I didn't think he was good with kids (I've always known/seen that) but because being the father of three small girls who like to talk is exhausting and he is the most patient, gentle and loving man I know. Thank you, Babe for loving us so much!

This was one of the gifts that the girls picked out for daddy, funny how that works-really being a gift for them.

I am also thankful for my dad. Sadly I didn't tell him that enough. But I hope he saw how much I learned from him in my 27 years of watching. He taught me how to work hard and value it, how important it was to be a part of a church body, to give generously, to respect others, to be disciplined in whatever I do, commitment, how to love my family, to take care of my car-by parking way out in the end of a parking lot so as to not get a door ding, and speaking of parking lots...the value of a well designed parking structure as opposed to one not done by Walker PC. All that to say, I never got to give my dad his last Father's Day gift-he died one week before I could have him unwrap it. It was a shirt that I very carefully picked out. So instead I gave it to Charlie that year (he knew that it was intended for my dad) and I can think of no one that my dad would rather have it then his Chaz. To this day I don't know that Charlie would ever let anyone call him that-except my dad. My dad loved Charlie and I know he would be so proud of him too.

We had an awesome weekend together as a family. Yesterday Charlie and the girls watched me run my first 5K then we headed to the beach for the afternoon with some friends. Today was church and a picnic on the beach tonight with some other friends from church.

This is how we start out most of our weekends. After everyone wakes us, some how we all end up in our bed-even Rudy and Lucy. You can see just a little of Charlie head sandwiched in between Kate and Megan.

Then daddy makes us breakfast-we help him, of course, by sitting on the counter, asking questions, telling him how mommy does it, and spilling things...

Untitled, Unleashed, Unafraid...

Yes, it has been another whole month. Instead of beating myself up for not posting every week like I tell myself I am going to...I should just plan on updating once a month and surprising myself when I do it more often. With that said, here's what has happened over the last month-hang with me...this post will end....eventually.

Last month we (my mom, me and the girls) took a little drive up to see my grandparents who are now well into their 90's and still living on their own. The reality of this is that every time I see them-it might be my last. Not to sound morbid but you just never know. My grandparents-while they are still healthy and frugal are AWESOME. I love them and so do my children. Hannah can hardly wait to climb up on Great Grandpa's lap for a story despite his failing voice. She doesn't care, she just sees a man who loves her and cherishes every moment he has been given. What she doesn't know but will when she is older is a man who grew up during the Great Depression, who only had two pair of pants during his childhood, who joined the service, traveled the world had five children, has buried two already, worked like a dog, lived on little, saved a lot, given even more away, has read more in his life then most libraries can hold, has loved his wife and chosen to be faithful to her in their seven decades of marriage. (most people don't live to seventy, let alone stay married that long). My grandfather has a living legacy that most people only dream of- he's lived through the best and worst of this world with an eternal perspective.

On the flip side-or his better looking side-is Grandpa's side kick Jeanette! She might not tower much over 5 feet but she can pack a punch. Literally, she might pack punch just like she packs the most amazing picnic lunches. Grandma can make a feast for pennies. This gal was green before there was a green. On our most recent trip to see them she made a green jello with crushed pineapple in it. I served it up and she put the empty pan back in the fridge. Upon clearing the table later I took the pan out of the fridge because there weren't any leftovers. She gently stopped me from rinsing the pan and told me that she wanted to save it. I asked her why and she told me that when she rinses out the empty jello pan she will pour it into a cup and drink the juice. Again-raised during the depression and has lived that way her ENTIRE life! She has saved every napkin, recycled every container, given away more homemade jam and picked more produce then I could even imagine or count.

I love my grandparents so much it hurts. In some ways I don't ever want them to pass but I know that their footprints-while small on this physical earth, are ginormous in eternity!

Then there's the little trip we took to Chicago to see Mary Poppins. As a belated birthday gift to Hannah and Megan, Grandpa Bob and Grandma Linda took them to see the Broadway version. Then we had a fabulous dinner at the Grand Lux on Michigan Ave. The next morning we were off to Lincoln Park Zoo and before we hit the road home. We had a wonderful time and stayed in some pretty nice digs too! Thank you-everyone who made our trip so fun!

We finished up our swimming lessons for the summer. The girls gained a ton of confidence in the water and had a blast meeting new friends. They can't wait to start again in the fall.

Charlie and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary. I can't say enough about this guy that I have spent half of my life loving. I love him more today then I did in those first few years when I thought I knew what love was. The days he used to follow me while I was on a date with his best friend, leave a pack of gum on my car so that I would find it in the morning on my way to school, show up at an away game unexpectedly, teach me to drive stick on his Samurai, skin my dead cat for me in Dr. Ellis' A & P class. All those things I thought were love pale in comparison to how he loves me now-getting up day after day to go to work, or making breakfast for us on the weekends when he could sleep in a little more, helping to clear the table, bathe the girls, read stories every night, complete projects both here and at my mom's, encourage me to be a better mom, friend and disciple and staying faithful to his family and God. Lucky doesn't even begin to describe how I feel to be married to you, Babe!

We've played, celebrated, enjoyed the beach, watched a soccer game or two and loved every minute of our time doing those things with friends and family. This summer is going to be a blast. We have a ton to look forward to but we just enjoy our time outside and playing in the sand.

This Saturday I hope to compete (I use that term very loosely) in my fist 5K. I have always wanted to try it and set a goal to complete one before I turn 31. So just pray that I don't pass out or make too big of a fool out of myself.

And finally, yesterday marked the three year anniversary of my dad's death. It's funny how much life changes in three years. Looking back on that time of loosing my dad, I never would have seen life looking this way. I don't know that I could have imagined what the next week would look like-let alone three or five or ten years down the road.

The truth is that now I am three years past his death and I don't understand it any better than I ever have. In a book called Turn My Mourning into Dancing by Henri Nouwen. I came across these words...

"Pruning means cutting, reshaping, removing what diminishes vitality. When we look at a pruned vineyard, we can hardly believe it will bear fruit. But when the harvest comes, we realize that the pruning allowed the vines to concentrate their energy and produce more grapes. Grateful people learn to celebrate even amid life's hard and harrowing memories because they know that pruning is no mere punishment, but preparation.
When our gratitude for the past is only partial, our hope for the future can likewise never be full. But our submitting to God's pruning work will not ultimately leave us sad, but hopeful for what can happen in us and through us. Harvesttime will bring its own blessings...pg19"

You see, even in the pain of my dad's absence I am seeing the harvest. I look at my mom-she is harvesting. Not only is my mom growing and learning new things about the Savior but she is ministering to people daily through ministries she never would have been involved with if not for my dad's passing. The painful pruning in our lives wasn't meant as a punishment but a preparation. I continue to praise God amidst my loss and worship Him for His goodness in my life.

My mom and dad on their last cruise to celebrate their 30th anniversary, which he wouldn't quite make it to, but celebrated nonetheless!

Thanks for sticking with me. I will update soon (term used loosely) with some summer pics of the girls!

Hmmmm...

Writer's block, mother's block, road block, building block. Pink sock, tick tock, big rock. Rhyming words, that's what we are working on right now. So if you see/hear me going through Meijer with my little girl scout troop rhyming words-you'll know and you won't have to ask. Because the world knows that I get asked about 1,965,236 questions a day. That's right folks, I might have the smartest, most intelligent girls ever and it is all due to my "oh so patient, genius answers" to those questions.

Really, I am not sure what that whole first paragraph was about. Sorry for the very long blogging hiatus that I took. It was this whole cycle of wanting to update but then feeling like I had way too much to update to feeling like we do the same things every day and you probably don't really care what we do every afternoon after nap time. So right now...at this time....I am not sure if this will be the longest post ever or the shortest. We'll see.

Easter morning before we left for church. Grandpa and Grandma L came up to visit us that weekend and we had so much fun decorating popcorn egg balls and opening our fun Easter baskets!

My sweet baby Kate is no longer a baby or sweet all the time but she still rocks at sleeping! She is now 19 months and per the last Dr visit she is 99% for height and 50% for weight. She is now putting 2 or 3 words together and her vocabulary is expanding daily. Her favorite sentence is "No Daddy...Daddy work." She is still our dog informant-for anything furry with four legs within 75 yards. Singing is quickly becoming a passion but animals, balls, rocks and dogs still consume her. She is currently seeking counseling for cutting her I teeth, using the potty and her issues with stranger anxiety.

This is what bees do, isn't it?

Little mama Hannah is working on her BA in teaching, bossing, organizing, crowd control, stunt tricycle riding and singing. She can explain the world away if you give her a platform but then she might start bouncing on the platform and midair touch her knees to her forehead. She is own best and worst friend at times, along with both of her sisters but she is working on self control and the balance between wanting to obey Jesus and exert her independence. If you ask her about what she learned in Sunday school or BSF she can recite the story back to you almost word for word how she heard it.

Hannah is mid sentence explaining the "whys" of rain clouds.

My bookworm Megan still would rather cuddle up and read then leave then house, unless it involves some kind of food. She is working on her phd in how to read recipes, cook/bake and eat until her heart is content. We still call her "hollow leg Meg" because her little body is so tall and lean, we aren't sure where the food goes. Megan loves to talk on the phone, go shopping, have friends over and can't wait to go to the beach this summer. She is growing up way too fast and her desire for learning is also unstoppable. Much like me, Meg almost wishes her days away because she is always anticipating what the next day holds. She can't wait for fall because it means she gets to go back to BSF and start school (one half day a week).

Every chance the girls got to wear the rain coats, boots and umbrellas from Uncle Wes and Miss Meggie-they did! Even if it just looked like rain was coming.

Hannah, Meg and I all completed our first year of BSF and walked away with an amazing insight into the life of Moses from beginning to end. We can't wait to see what our study of John will teach us next year. Hopefully Kate will join us after her second birthday too.

Charlie is finishing up some review classes before he takes his CFP exam in July. We are very anxious for this to be over and are even more thankful that he took his CPA and CFA before we had children. He still continues to be the most amazing daddy, lawn boy, french toast making, hard working, hot husband a girl (actually a hand full of girls) could ask for. We all love him to death and couldn't imagine life without him but we are amazed at how he does it all. You ROCK, Babe!

We have recently acquired a very loved camper. Loved mostly by the mice who lived there for the last couple of years but still...well loved. So right now we are in the process of cleaning it up (disinfecting, fumigating, repairing) so that we can use it this summer. The girls are so excited, they are out of the heads and to be honest Charlie and I are pretty geeked too. It was so super sweet and generous of Aunt Sonia and Uncle Bill to pass it on to us. We can't wait to make memories for our family like I have from my childhood camping.

We are approaching the most fun time of year for where we live: festivals, ice cream shops, bike paths, trails, parks, picnics, afternoons at the beach. This summer is going to be amazing-the girls are all at such fun ages! Hopefully some of you can join us-our home is always open and if it's not, you are more then welcome to stay at my mom's. Right Mom?

I'll work on being more diligent with our blog so my posts don't turn into books.

The second post for today

The biggest news about made me fall off my chair this morning. It's no secret that Kate is no where near where Hannah and Megan were at this time in the speaking department. However, this morning she came up to us at the breakfast table, pointed to her bum and said, "poop." She's never said that word before and of course I had to make sure she was using it properly. That was affirmative! Guess it's time to start our potty training-she's only 17 months-but here's to the effort.

Hannah is very confused by this idea of "spring break." She can't quite get her mind around why Bible school and swimming lessons would be cancelled for vacations. She keeps asking, "when people get home from Spring Lake will we have swimming again?"

She also tried to convince her sister that the 'carni wheel' goes around in a circle. Megan, being miss articulate made sure to correct Hannah that a Carnival might have a Ferris wheel but it isn't called a carni wheel.

Two new sayings by Kate but they have to seperated...

The first one occurred yesterday as we met Charlie downtown for a bitterly cold stroll to get in our daddy time. The girls and I had just been listening to this song in the car. As we were walking toward our destination, Kate was on Charlie's shoulders singing, "Jesus, Jesus."

How precious is that in honor of the amazing event we are all about to celebrate this weekend. Does His name always sound so sweet coming out of my mouth?

Red Envelope Day

Do you know about Red Envelope Day??

I found out about it through various websites and e-mails and wanted to share.
We all know where the new President stands on abortion. This week many folks are sending him a message (literally!) in RED......
Here are the details:Get a RED envelope.

On the front address it to:
The White House
President Barak Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

On the back of the envelope write this message (or something similar):
This envelope represents one child that died because of an abortion. It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of this world. Responsibility begins with conception.

No need to put anything inside the envelope! Just seal it, stamp it, and send it off.....on/around March 31st!

Please join me, and the thousands of others, by sending a quiet, yet powerful statement by filling the President's mailbox with these RED letters!It's no coincidence that they will be arriving around Holy Week.

If you have further questions, you can go here to find out more about the project.

Day 25

"I want to ride the Daddy Horse, the wild Daddy Horse!" -Megan

"Is the Daddy Horse out there?"- Hannah (from inside the bathroom, with fear in her voice that she might be suddenly attacked by the Daddy Horse upon exiting)

Day 24

No
NNNNOOOOOOOOOOO
nOOOO
NNNNooo
no, no, no, no

These are all recent quotes by none other then my little "No Angel" Kate. It appears that "no" and "mine" are her new favorite words. Yeah for us.

Imagine the word "no" said in a high pitch, low pitch, drawn out, short and curt, repeated, loud, soft, happy and not so sweet voice. Those are all of the ways she says it!

Day 23

Passing a truck Meg exclaims, "mom, I saw a doughnut truck!"
Hannah replies with, "he must be taking doughnuts to people who don't have any."

This is all in reference to Grandma working at the food pantry and giving people food who don't have any right now.

Day 22

On the way home from church today (just meg and i in the car) I asked her what her story was about. This is how the conversation went.

Me: Meg, what was your story about in Sunday school today?
Meg: About a little boy.
Me: Was something wrong with that little boy?
Meg: No, he had some bread.
Me: What did he do with that bread?
Meg: He gave it to the disciples.
Me:What did they do with it?
Meg:They gave it to Jesus and he broke it into fishes.
Me:Wow! He made bread into fishes? Then what?
Meg: He gave it to all the people to eat.
Me: Was there enough or did they run out?
Meg: There was enough, they even had some left over!
Me: God really is BIG isn't He. He took a little boys lunch and fed a lot of people and even had some left!
Meg: Yeah mom, we sang "My God Is So Big" too.

Day 21

Charlie is currently taking classes on Saturday mornings as a review for a certification test that he will take later this year. The girls are very curious about his "school" and if it is like his. So as we were getting ready to head out to a pancake breakfast Meg started asking about his school. These were her questions:

Mom, what is daddy's teacher's name?
Does daddy sing songs at his school?
Does daddy sit down or stand up at his school? (I think this one came from walking by my classroom at BSF and seeing us stand to sing hymns).

I love how she tries to wrap her brain around stuff that she is unfamiliar but familiar with.

Day 20

On Meg's winter coat, a part of the zipper busted off. So...being the creative (not) mom that I am, I put a safety pin on so that she can zip it up with that. Hasn't been a problem for her at all.

However, out of no where, we were reading books on our bed and she asks me, "Will my safety pin grow up to be a zipper?"

In her eyes, everything is growing up to be something...

Day 19

Every morning there is a discussion that goes something along these lines at my house.
Mom: Hannah and Megan, go grab some clean panties before you put your clothes on.
M/H: Ok mom, what color do you have on today?
Mom: (whatever color)
M/H: I am going to wear (whatever color) today too.
Mom: Ok, go find some but M/H put some (whatever color) on too, so I don't know if there is another one that color.
M/H: I will go check to see if there are mom, ok?

Day 18

Kate: "hi Bubba"-usually said to either Lucy (cat) or Rudy (dog) in a high pitched slide.

This is, by the way, her second sentence. Her first being, "go dogs go." Which was also Megan's first sentence-also their favorite book at the time. Kate's vocabulary is starting to increase, her animal sounds are taking off, her love for music/dancing/singing is just beginning and her ability to chatter and boss her sisters around pretty funny to listen to.

Day 17

While talking about our recent trip to CA and our most favorite parts, I had this conversation with Megan.

Megan: I liked the Dumbo ride.
Me: Yes, and you liked the roller coaster too.
Megan: Yeah. I did. But Grandma Peggy didn't.
Me: Sure she did, why did you say she didn't like it?
Megan: Because she screamed the whole time.
Me: (laughing) Megan, that didn't mean she didn't like it. She really did like it, that is just what you do on roller coasters.

Day 16

Megan: "Mom, your daddy is in heaven?"
Me: "Yes, Meg"
Megan:"How did he get there?"
Me:"Jesus carried him."
Megan: "Did he carry your grandma too?"
Me: "Yup"

Day 15

Hannah: Can I play with my cousins after I sleep?

Meg: I LOVE my cousins!

Sophie, Grace, Georgia and Ainsley are here for the week. Along with their parents of course, my sister Abby and BIL Brandon. The girls are in heaven with their cousins here. Can't get enough! Very fun ages-all under 7. My three girls are squeezed in between her youngest two.

Day 14

Meg: Mom, why that truck doesn't have a head on it?

In reference to a semi truck that was missing the cab. She's my observant one. Can pick a "which one of these doesn't belong" thing out of the sky!

Day 13

The girls have a kid's cd that plays in my car. One song has a few lines and they go like this:

Jesus, Jesus
Come and live in my heart

This song has prompted many a conversations but I thought this one was especially sweet.

Hannah: Mom, does Jesus live in my heart?
Mom: Yes, Hannah-if you ask Him to.
Hannah: I have. Does He live in Kate's heart?
Mom: No, Kate has to ask Him to.
Hannah: (singing) Jesus, Jesus, come and live in Kate's heart.
Hannah: Now does Jesus live in Kate's heart?
Mom: Oh Hannah, that was very sweet but Kate needs to ask Jesus to live in her heart.
Hannah: But I sang and asked Him to live in her heart.
Mom: I know you did and that was super nice but Kate needs to do it on her own.

Oh my, doesn't that just melt you heart? I almost started crying when she sang her two little lines.

And the answer is....

chunks of throw up. Yes, she never even woke up. Backing up a little bit-Meg has had a pretty bad cough all week. So, it wasn't unusual to hear her hacking at night. Often I would go up and give her some water or re dose some cough med's to break it up for her. Well, she had been hacking so hard that it made her toss up some of what she ate for dinner. Not so fun but at least she didn't remember it so she wasn't traumatized by it.

Thanks for all of the great guesses both by email and commments but no one got it right. Twenty Angel points down the drain. Better luck next time!

Day 12

This is going to be a contest. Yes, the correct guess/answer will win 20 angel points.

Megan woke up this morning and said, "Mom, there are crumbs in my bed."

Now...I don't let them eat in bed. So here is the contest-what were the "crumbs" that Meg was talking about?

Day 11

Hannah came up to me with a whole ensemble of dress up clothes on frantically asking, "Mom, can you unsnap my blue bag (purse) so that I can put a credit card in it."

My, OH my are we in trouble. I think we should start movie nights with Dave Ramsey videos. Where does she learn this kind of stuff. Besides, I know what you are thinking but I don't even own a blue bag! Maybe every other color but not blue!

Day 10

As the girls were playing in the basement and I was on the main floor paying bills, I heard some crying and asked what was going on.

From the bottom of the stairs Meg shouts up, "I've got two crying girls down here!"

Day 9

All of us are a little under the weather here-runny noses and some coughs-nothing too serious. However, some serious situations can occur when we aren't feeling too well and one did today at lunch.

Hannah and Megan sit right across from each other and as they were eating their mac and cheese, Meg coughed and Hannah yelled, "Megan coughed a noodle at me!" True enough, when Meg coughed, a noodle flew out of her mouth across the table and landed in front of Hannah. Almost in her bowl!

Intermission Day 8

We colored Easter eggs today. Above is Hannah dipping an egg in the dye. Below is Meg doing the same. Both have their "headbands" on. Although Hannah's is more like a Rambo-band.

Meg adding the finishing touches with some glitter paint on the dried egg.

Charlie and I got away for a few days, sorry for the lack of posting. We haven't ever left the girls together at the same time, so after three years, we thought we might sneak away for two nights. We went up north to Shanty Creek, at in TC on the way up, skied all day and had dinner in Petosky. It was nice but so very strange to not have to worry about what time we ate or got up or what we did. Charlie kept saying, "you are being so indecisive." I was being indecisive because it didn't really matter, it was just fun being together.

So, back to our month of quotes.

Tonight at dinner I asked the girls if we could ever go away again for a couple of days.

Meg's response, "Yes."

Hannah's response, "No, you sleep here."

I guess that answers that. We'll be going away again in about three years.

Thank you Grandma Grandma and Grandma Linda for taking such great care of us while mom and dad were gone! You guys are the best!

Day 5

Every night since the girls have turned three, they play games with daddy at night before bed. Well, Grandma Linda came to visit for a few days and daddy was talking up how much Grandma Linda liked to play Uno.

So on our family walk before baths tonight, Megan said this to Grandma, "Daddy says that you are a good Uno-er."

Well Grandma's Uno skills proved true when she won a game later tonight. Hannah proclaimed, "Grandma, you ARE a good Uno-er!"

Day 4

Megan, "Mommy, can I wear some panties...on my head?"

Mommy, "Sure Meg."

Day 3

Mommy, "Megan, go get me a Kleenex so that I can wipe your nose."

Megan, "I just licked it."

Mommy, "Um...No. Now go and get me a Kleenex."

Day 2

This one makes me laugh more and more every time I say it out loud. Today, while eating lunch, Rudy had to go outside. Then Meg pronounces from her seat this statement, "Mom, if Rudy walks backwards...she'll fall down."

Mind you, Rudy is our dog. Have you ever seen or even thought of a dog walking backwards? What in the world made her think of that?!

The Month of March

This month I am going to try a new little something to keep me blogging. I have fallen off the wagon in a bad way and really...it's therapeutic to do. So, this month I am going to try and do a quote a day (from my little bundles of giggles, squeals and squeaks). I will try and post a picture too but that is a huge task in itself. I have to add that I was motivated to do this by a most important birthday Grandma today. So in honor of her special day...

As we were pulling out of the garage, still on the driveway, mind you-Hannah blows me over with this question.

"Mom, if God lives in my heart...how did He make me?"

On a side note: Sometimes I'll tell you my responses and other times we'll just let them be my little secret. That way you won't be able to tell how smart or not-I really am....

Yeah, I know...

Don't fall off of your chair. Twice in one week. AMAZING!!!

Just wanted to tell you a funny little Megan-ism. Yesterday as we were leaving our very first swimming lesson, Megan asked me about daddy. You see, she knows that he goes to work. She's been at his work, so she knows that there isn't much there besides Uncle David and Miss Mary, a computer and some papers. However, she also knows that Daddy goes to work to make "pennies."

So as we are leaving the YMCA, she asks, "Mommy, how does daddy get the money out of his computer?"

Isn't that just precious? My reply, "He works very hard at it, honey."

Go West Young Fam...

One of my favorite MWS songs...Go West Young Man. I divert and it is only the first sentence. I have writers block. That is the real reason for my lack of blogging. Or maybe it has been the idea of taking three very small children across the country in a large airplane where I have no control over their moods, feelings, behavior and there isn't the Hudson to land in if we hit geese. Seriously. I have been stressing about our trip for months without even realizing it. It was super fun but I had no idea how much it was stressing me out just preparing for it.

As a wedding gift to Charlie's dad and Peggy we all (Uncle Wes, Uncle Jonathan (Peggy's son), Miss Jennifer (Jonathan's girl), Grandpa Chuck, Grandma Peggy and our family all took a trip out to see Aunt Carrie and Uncle Alex in Corona. Keep in mind as I list all of our activities that Carrie had a baby (Sophia) around 5 weeks ago plus she has a two year old (Alicia).

Baby Sophia!

Let's start at the very beginning... a very good place to start. We flew out of our local airport at around 10am and arrived at O'hare not too long after that. The girls did great on the first flight. In Chicago we met up with Grandpa and Grandma (a huge bonus and extra sets of hands, plus they brought a ton of food in sweet little Valentine's boxes-filled with cards and stickers and muffins too!) The next flight to LA proved to be a little more taxing. Four and a half hours-the big girls had napped and were happy but little Kate wasn't so happy because she never slept. While everyone did do well it proved to be a very long day. We arrived in LA around 10pm our time and got to the rental car place only to find out they didn't have the van we reserved, they didn't have any vans. Not what I wanted to hear! No fear, I think they saw a mom near tears and pulled a van out of nowhere. Off we went to Aunt Carrie's, actually she met us at the car rental place with three car seats for us to borrow. How awesome is she? Girls went straight to bed and we quickly followed.

These were both taken in GR waiting for their first flight. The girls couldn't wait for their first memorable airplane ride!

Sunday we woke up, took a little trip to an open air market and fun little amusement park. Girls loved Tom's Market and we loved just being outside in the sunshine and warmth. Later in the day some different relatives joined us for a late lunch at Carrie's house.

Hannah, Kate, Alicia (tucked in between) Me and Megan on Tom's Train.


All of the girls in their covered wagon.

On the carousel at Tom's Market.

Monday it rained so we decided to head to the Long Beach Aquarium. A great place to go when the rain keeps you indoors. The girls saw of ton of fish, sharks but probably loved the sea lions the best.

That crazy L family! They are all a little goofy in their own way....

Tuesday was our Disneyland day. The only day that all of us were going to be together. It POURED on the way to Disney. I am not even sure why we continued on our journey because it was raining so hard. But low and behold the Lord heard my prayers, probably all of our prayers, and as we pulled into the empty parking lot it CLEARED!!! I think once all day it might have sprinkled for 1 minute and that was it. There were no lines+no naps+a ton of snacks=a great day at Disneyland. The girls loved the outdoor rides (carousel, Dumbo, Star Wars, the train, a Mickey Roller Coaster, Small World and the characters). They didn't like the themed rides, Mister Toads Wild Ride, Alice in Wonderland or even Winnie the Pooh. All in all it was a long but very fun day!

The WHOLE gang at Disneyland!

Grandma and Hannah on Dumbo.

Charlie(in yellow) with Hannah and Uncle Wes with his hands up on the kiddie coaster (behind them) with Megan.

Wednesday Charlie drove G & G and Uncle Wes to the airport before driving up to see his Blueberry farm. Carrie and I laid low with the kids, did laundry, played outside and I got to go to Trader Joes!!! This was the only day the kids got their much needed naps.

Notice all of the cute matching shirts. Even baby Sophia had one. Aunt Carrie takes such great care of us!

Thursday Carrie & Alex's family and ours headed to San Diego's Wildlife Zoo. It was awesome! The girls loved seeing the huge, wild animals in their somewhat normal habitats but still close enough to see them. Remember how I told you that my SIL had her baby less then 5 weeks ago. Um yeah, this zoo had MAJOR hills, we had three strollers and someone was always having to carry a child. Yeah...she did this all. Pretty amazing. Let's stop here just to give her props because there was no way I would have done that. Love ya Girl!

What's wrong with your own Grassy Knoll! (sound familiar WA girls?)

Kate giving kisses in exchange for her daddy's slushy.
In the Lorikeet cage. There was no stinking way I would ever go in there. Birds scare me more then people in costumes.

That same night we decided to stay at an hotel across the street from the airport because our flight was so early the next morning and we didn't want to have to worry about LA traffic. It worked out really well. We were off early Friday morning, the flights weren't full and the kids were awesome!

So nice to be home, so many loads of laundry and super tired girls. Thankfully, I think the time change works better coming home then going there. We had an absolute blast out there and are so thankful for all of our wonderful family and all of Aunt Carrie's work.

This post turned out to be way longer then I thought. Thanks for sticking with me if you made it this far. I hope you vicariously vacationed with us in the blog!