Build-A-Bear

Last December we went down to California to the Emerald Bowl to watch the Beaver's play in their bowl game. The next day it was so cold, wet, and just Willamette Valley miserable so we decided to take the girls to Build-A-Bear which they had never done before. After that experience they discovered that they would like to have their birthday parties there this year. In February we had Riah's party. We loaded up 9 4-year-olds and took them to Build-A-Bear (thankfully they do all the work) and we had fun. So now Emma had her opportunity to have her party. She didn't have as many kids because we had to put a limit on how broke we wanted to be this time. They seemed to all enjoy themselves except the 11 year old thought it was little goofy and young for her sometimes.

The perfect day to end a perfect day! Noni and all her grandkids!

Emma turned 7 last week. Wow, I can't believe it's been 7 years ago and we have gone through so much with her. She is just such a precious angel sent from God. I love my little girls but whenever Emma's birthday comes around it just seems a little extra special since that's the day we officially became parents. Well enough with the sentiment, explain the pictures. We sent Emma on a treasure hunt to find her birthday present. We included the entire neighborhood in the scavenger hunt. She searched everywhere (Riah found most of the clues for her) but she finally found it hidden in our good friend's side yard. This will definitely be one to remember, she really seemed to enjoy it.

Recitals

This last week has been busy with dance recitals. Saturday was my niece Nickelle's dance recital with Albany Dance Academy. Wow, that was amazing. I would love for the girls to go there but with having to pay 2 arms, 2 legs and your first born for gas I don't think we'll be doing much traveling for weekly classes, especially 3 which is what we would like to do. So we settled for the local dance studio here in Lebanon. Well let me just say, they won't be returning next year. My beautiful ballerinas did wonderful but the school has left a lot to be desired. I wish gas prices weren't so expensive maybe we could afford for them to go to a quality school but for now we'll have to find a different gift that God has given them.

Aren't they just beautiful!

Dancin' the night away!

See our current fun we have been having! Emma can get down with the best of them. We have had so much fun as a family using this. Noni got this Christian Dance Praise Dance Mat for Emma for her birthday. We chipped in and purchased a second mat so that we could do it as a family. I'll let you know when John gets in there to do it too!

Yes, I'm in there too!!

Things that make you go hmmmm!

AAggghhh!!! Does anyone else get those tiny holes in the front, at belly button height, of your shirts? Oh they are driving me crazy! I just pulled out one of my newest shirts, only about a month old and there they are, these tiny little pin prick holes, like my belly button wants to see out or something. OK, so maybe I have a toxic bellybutton or something because I am the only one in the family that gets them. I'm sure it can't be the washing machine or our closet because John doesn't get them. I don't wear belts, (have enough of a belly to keep my pants up). I think it's conspiracy against mom's because I hear of so many other women having the same problem. My theory is the kitchen counter. I am the only one who does dishes & cooks umpteen times a day. I am so done with spending more than $7 on a shirt. Oh and by the way, it only happens to my cotton t-shirt style shirts. I think Satan is in our closets just to cause frustrations for us, to cause us to scream, (LOL). What does anyone else think? I know others have had the same problem I have had, what does your research tell you?

Mother's Day (a day late for a reason)

So I had to share how wonderful and thoughtful my husband is. I love my husband so much and sometimes he just goes well beyond what I could have ever thought of.

Sunday morning he did the usual event of getting the kiddos up early to prepare everything so it's all laid out when I get up in the morning. They usually have the coffee table set up with all kinds of creatively hand made cards from the kids and gifts from John. They always try to make me feel so special and loved. This morning was not different from any other Mother's day..... until we left church!! On our way home he didn't say a thing about what we would be doing next. Next thing I knew we were at our friend's house and Emma is skipping out of the car "yahoo we get to spend the night at Audrey's house"

"WHAT????? They're spending the night???? What is going on????" John then informs me that we are going to Eagle Crest for the night and the kids are staying at the Murray's (well except the baby but she doesn't really count, she doesn't do much except be adorably cute). So we head home to pack up the stuff (with my jaw on the floor) and low and behold, everything is already packed.....all the way down to the clothes I would be wearing the next day (which he did a very good job doing). The bags were packed, the dog was taken care of and the kids were going to have fun with the Murray's.

We left at around noon on Sunday and didn't return until about 4pm Monday. Husband points were earned this weekend. The added bonus in all this is that it was a Sunday night so John has one less day at work this week, yahoo!!! I told him he has a new standard to live up to every year now. What's next year, a trip to Hawaii??? We'd have to win the lottery that we don't play to do that one.

Tag, I'm It!!!

I've been tagged by Angie!

3 of my favorite things???

Well I don't think I'd be able to name only 3 of them because there are actually 4

1. John

2. Emma

3. Riah

4. Sarah

Sorry, had to name 4 and I couldn't leave one of them out. I know those are cliche answers but hey what can I say about the family that God has blessed me with.

I was actually thinking of the creation vs. evolution debate the other day. One more reason that we can say that God created the universe and everything/one within it. If we had evolved from apes, (that just sounds too funny to say), how is it that we evolved at just the right age. Had the first person or set of persons been a baby, how would civilization survived??? Had the first person or set of persons been elderly and not child bearing years, how would civilization survived??? Just one more thing to think about. God did it just perfectly and has a perfect plan. God's beginning was perfect and I know His ending will be perfect too.

Again, I love my family and I know that God created them and gave them to me for a purpose. What is that purpose? I don't know but I guess we'll find out as we venture into each day, prayer first!