Lately...

Here are a few quick pictures--mostly from my phone--of life at our house lately...

It was a little too quiet for too long upstairs, so I went to check what Emma was doing.  She was snuggled up in her chair reading!  I love seeing my kids love books and reading.

Another day, it was also quiet for a long time upstairs…that time, I found that Emma had had a lot of fun with two bottles of her eczema lotion!  It was smeared EVERYWHERE!  Doesn't she look proud of herself?!?

All of a sudden, Emma is everywhere!  We started working on potty training recently, so Emma isn't always fully clothed anymore.  Earlier today, Isaac yelled, "Mom, Emma is outside naked!"  We were getting ready to go on a walk, and she'd headed out the garage door and was playing with her push-toy on the driveway.  She wasn't completely naked--she at least still had her pajama shirt on!  

I heard a lot of noise during Emma's nap time today.  She'd gone down at her regular time (1:00 p.m.), but around 3:30 p.m. I heard her yelling "Isaac" over and over.  I opened her door to find her standing at her door--completely naked--with a huge grin on her face.  Her room was a disaster--she'd knocked her lamp and bow tree down, and there were clothes and books spread all around.  I put her back in her crib and asked her to show me how she climbed out.  She stacked her two stuffed animals (which aren't very high at all) in the corner and vaulted up on the top.  Emma tried scaling the slats when she was showing me, but she just didn't have the strength to do it that time.  I guess Emma used all her energy getting out the first time!  Yikes!  :)

tickling and laughing with Daddy before bedtime

Isaac loves to climb into bed with Emma each morning and after naps.  Actually, I'm pretty sure that he gave her the idea of climbing out of her crib.  Emma has a pacifier in in this picture, but as of last Wednesday she hasn't used it anymore.  We put her to bed last Wednesday night without one.  She laid down as usual, but then sat up and said, "Where's my bite?"  ("Bite" is her word for pacifier.)  Dave said she was a big girl now and didn't need one.  She cried hard for about 5 minutes, and then she spent the next 5 minutes screaming "Mommy!  Daddy!" again and again.  But, that was it!  The next morning, she asked me again, "Where's my bite?" but she's never mentioned them since!  Whew!  That was easy!  Maybe potty training and moving to a big girl bed will also be that smooth.  :)

(Isaac thought it was so funny to make Emma laugh by putting in one of her "bites.") 

Sleeping beauty!

All snuggled up on the couch with Daddy watching "Little House on the Prairie"--we've been reading the whole series to Isaac and are almost finished with the 7th book

out for ice cream one afternoon with Pop!

~out for cupcakes with Emma another afternoon while Isaac was playing with friends~

Emma only wanted to eat the frosting!  (Just like her mom!)

We were the only people in the bakery, and after Emma had eaten all the frosting, she walked up to the counter and said "more, more" as she pointed to all the cupcakes.  The girl who was working thought Emma was so cute that she gave her another one for free.  :)

helping with dishes

We visited Dave at his new job site, and Isaac brought a drawing of the job site for Dave to hang on the wall.  If you look closely, you can see "Daddy and Isaac" in the top right corner. :)

I had surgery three weeks ago and spent many hours on this couch.  One night, Isaac was so sweet and wouldn't leave me.  He gently rubbed my feet and prayed for God to heal me.  

A very smiley dinner helper!

We were getting ready to leave for swimming lessons one morning, and Emma put her own socks on (backwards) and her own shoes on (each on the wrong foot)--so adorable!  

 One more picture!  Dave and I got to have a date night a few weeks ago to see Focus on the Family's film "Irreplaceable!"  

Mother's Day 2014

This year, Mother's Day was extra special because we dedicated Emma at Keystone Church!

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him.
 For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord."  
I Samuel 1:27-28
We love this joyful, full-of-life girl!

What a privilege to have both of our parents at the service!  Tim and Susie called a few weeks ago and asked if they could come for a visit--who says no to that?!?!  Keystone announced their dedication date around the same time that Tim & Susie were planning their trip, so it was an extra treat that Tim & Susie could be here for Emma's dedication.  My cousin, Nate, and Dave's brother, Mike, were also at the service.

Our pastor, Brandon, explaining the purpose of dedicating our children.  We, as Emma's parents, committed to raising Emma in a Christ-centered home--what a joy and responsibility!  The members of our church also committed to support us in our role parents by serving our children at church and teaching them about Jesus.

On Mother's Day, I still wasn't able to hold Emma because of a procedure I had done a few weeks ago.  She is always asking me to hold her and cries because I can't.  As much as she loves Daddy, we were worried that she was going to beg for me to hold her during the dedication.  She didn't--but she did put one arm…and then the other...around me.  She's the sweetest!

Thank you, Mike, for taking these pictures during the dedication!

Susie with two of her three sons on Mother's Day

After church, we all went to our house for Mother's Day lunch!

playing trains with Uncle Nate

looking at a book with Mom-o

 Dave made an amazing lunch for everyone!  He was so sweet and wouldn't let any of the moms in the kitchen.  :)

I had been looking forward to making this dessert for several weeks, though!  

This is Danielle Walker's fruit tart from Against All Grain.  (Of course, I forgot to take a picture until we had already started cutting into it.)

It wasn't that long ago that I absolutely dreaded Mother's Day…now, there are many days when I still can't believe that I am called "mommy" by this precious boy and girl.  

I am so thankful for Isaac & Emma.

"He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.

Praise the Lord."

Psalm 113:9

Dallas World Aquarium

Dave's parents, better known in our home as Papa and Nana, are visiting us this weekend!  Today, we all loaded up and drove over to Dallas to visit the Dallas World Aquarium.  Uncle Mike had asked if we wanted to spend a Saturday there a few months ago, and today was the perfect opportunity to go.

We walked through a "tunnel" that went through a tank filled with sharks and stingrays.  We all thought it was so neat--except for Emma!  She sat down on the floor and "hid" her head--I suppose she thought the sharks couldn't see her if she couldn't' see them!  

Isaac said this was a "modo dragon" (Komodo dragon) and proceeded to tell me all about "modo dragons"--such a little zoologist!  Also, don't you love that he's wearing his SeaWorld hat (also from Papa and Nana) since we were going to the aquarium?  

Emma LOVES Uncle Mike!  She bats her eyes and says "Miiiiiiike, hol me" (hold me)

The black jaguar was a huge hit!  Check out those teeth!  

Emma loves having Nana hold her.

This group played drums and performed a native South American dance.  The man closest to Susie and me had a basket on his back where two parrots sat during the whole performance.  Isaac said watching them was his favorite part of the whole aquarium.

But, I think watching the HUGE manatee might have really been his favorite!  I have never seen a manatee that large.

I guess most of my pictures are of my kids watching the animals…but how could I resist?  I think they're the cutest. :)

My Grandma Joan

My Grandma Joan died early on Tuesday morning, April 29.  She had recently started receiving hospice care; but, we had no idea that she was going to pass away so quickly.  After dinner on Monday, I asked Dave if we could all go see her.  I had a procedure done last Friday and couldn't drive on my own.  Even though Dave has been doing the work of two parents since last Friday, I am so thankful that he immediately agreed.  

Isaac holding Grandma's hand on Monday evening

Isaac was a little hesitant to go near Grandma at first; but, once he saw that I sat next to her and held her hand, he went right to the other side of the bed and found her other hand under the covers.  My parents came, also, and we all sang "Jesus Loves Me" to Grandma.  Emma kept pointing at Grandma and saying "Doan, Doan" (Joan).  After awhile, Dave took the kids to a nearby park so that I could spend a little longer with my grandma.  I read to her from her Bible and sang hymns to her until we needed to leave to put our kids to bed.  Even though my grandma was unresponsive at this point, I am so thankful that we had this evening with her.   Early on Tuesday morning, we found out that she had passed away.

Because my grandma was a believer, I have every confidence that I will see her again in heaven.  For her sake, I am so glad that her body and mind are whole and complete.  Even on Easter Sunday, she asked when Jesus would allow her to go to heaven.  She was so ready.  I wouldn't change anything about where she is, because clearly this was her time to finally be made new in heaven.  

But, my heart is still heavy as I think that I will never again take my children to the nursing home to visit her again.

I am so thankful that I had so many years and memories with my grandma.  It was especially a blessing that my Grandma Joan was able to know both Isaac and Emma.  Her eyes always lit up when she saw them.  I'm also thankful that she was able to live so close to us!  We were able to visit her often.

Grandma meeting Isaac David ~ November 1, 2009

Grandma meeting Emma Victoria ~ March 2012

I love you, Grandma!  

I'll always remember eating Frosty's at Wendy's with you…your Swedish pancakes…how happy you were every time I brought Isaac and Emma to visit you…sitting on the bar stools at your counter…adding ingredients into your bread machine…how you put pink foam rollers in my hair every time I spent the night at your house…how you gave me 35 cents in my lunch to buy chocolate milk at school whenever I spent the night on a school night…how you sang "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, There's Just Something About That Name" when you tucked Emily and me in at night.  I am blessed to be your granddaughter.  

"Blessed are they that mourn, for they will be comforted."

Matthew 5:4