Easter 2010

Toot's Egg Hunt Extravaganza


Church Egg Hunt #2

Eliza Chillin

Best of many attempts at a family shot!

So thankful for these two girls!

Daddy proudly in his pink!!

We had a great and busy Easter weekend. I think I have been trying to process it all for a few days now. Holidays and being a mother take on a whole new meaning and busyness. There are cute outfits to buy/wear, parties to attend, yummy goodies to make, eggs to dye, eggs to hunt, instruction on what Easter is really all about, church services to attend, baskets to fill, and pictures to be made so you can remember the whole thing! Whew!!!

I felt a tug a war the entire weekend trying to keep my focus on Christ all the while wanting to enjoy, partake and create new memories as a family. I am thankful that as a child or might I add a "preacher's kid" we were still able to participate in Easter Egg hunts and received Easter goodies. That is such a fun part of being a child. I've always loved the tradition of new Easter dresses, shoes, and yes big bouncy hair bows. I did even wear a hat and corsage on Easter as a child! Those are such funny traditions to me..probably a southern thing! It meant putting on your best on Easter Sunday. It meant spring was here and you could wear your white shoes!! It meant birds were chirping, bees were buzzing and the pollen was flying! It meant Christ had risen from the dead...surely a day to celebrate!

The whole weekend through this tug-a-war I kept feeling the Holy Spirit reminding me..."It's not about you!" Thus, my struggle! It is so easy to get caught up amidst the "fun and tradition!" I so wanted to keep my focus.

All in all it was such a great weekend. It was great because of Christ...for He is the reason we celebrate!

The Gospel

Tonight was the very first time we shared "The Gospel" with ella. We talk to Jesus everyday. We pray in the morning. We sing songs about how much he loves us. We pray when we see an ambulance that Jesus would comfort those inside. We thank Him for our meals before we eat. We acknowledge that he made our beautiful day and we should thank him for it. We talk about how he made her hair red like mommy's and eliza's like daddy's. We read books where Jesus healed the blind man and was born in a manger. We pray to Him as we go to bed, thanking Him for our day and praying for those in need. Jesus is a part of our day. She knows He is with us and we can talk to him.

Tonight was the first time we shared with her that Jesus died for us. We used a very simple Easter picture book that I bought at The Christian Bookstore. She didn't like the spears in the soldiers hands and was very worried about Jesus on the Cross. The last picture shows that Jesus is alive and showed red dots on his hands where the nails had been. She kept saying, Oh no...Oh dear!" We assured her that Jesus was fine and that He is ALIVE...that is why we can talk to him everyday!

As we prayed tonight, I couldn't hold back my tears, and I assure you that I am not a super emotional person either! This is "The Gospel!" The truth that can save her soul! We prayed that these seeds would take root and that one day when her little heart is ready, she would give it to the Lord! We prayed that roots from these seeds would grow down deep in her heart and transform her life! We prayed once again that she would grow know Christ in a real and personal way! I have no greater hope for her life.

"Not" A Walk in the Park!

Saturday was a great family day for us. We went to a local festival that we go to every spring. I love to go and buy the girls some new hair bows and look at the cute kids clothes. I saw a lot of cute things and now have my motivation back for sewing. I just need to get it back out of the closet. It makes such a mess!!



Anyways, we shopped, we snacked on yummy food and ella got to ride her some rides! Sweet thing has been on ride restricition since the big tantrum she had at the outlets after riding a ride. The deal was she could ride one ride and then had to get back in the stroller. I normally don't let her ride them...especially when I am without Kevin. (It's hard to leave eliza in the stroller and man ella on the ride...if you have two small kids I am sure you understand!) So...she had been so good! I mean so so good while we were shopping that I thought we had matured some and were past the not being able to understand how to handle that "all good rides must come to an end!" We'll let's just say...we hadn't! I had to carry her to the car kicking and screaming. I am sure someone thought I was kidnapping the poor child....all while pushing my double stroller! It was a day! We got in the van and needless to say we had us a "come to Jesus meeting" and she's been on ride restriction since then.


So Glad to be back in the driver's seat!!


Can you believe my super frugal hubby paid 4 dollars for them to do this
slide 1 Time!!!! He must really love his girl or really like to slide!

Mommy and ella on the Helicopter! She loved it...
mommy got a little dizzy!

I was a little apprehensive when it came time for the rides and then time for them to be over...but she did great! It was a beautiful and fun day and I remember thinking how "smooth" our lives had been going! That's probably never a good thought!

We came home feeling so good! We'd all gotten some good Vitamin D..it felt like spring...so we decided to go running! We loaded up the girls after dinner and headed off in our neighborhood! Kevin ran and I power walked it! We did a 3 mile loop and on our way back stopped off at the awesome, brand new, playground in our neighborhood! Ella was so excited! We've driven by it several times to check if it was open yet! She got out and was running! Daddy was helping her on the kiddie area and I was manning eliza and the stroller! We'd been there a whole 2 minutes when I heard a loud sound and saw my child flying forward! Kevin immediately scooped her up and I was trying to see what she hit! She had gone full force into a step and face planted with her nose! She was crying hysterically and blood was gushing from her nose! I began to feel weak and Kevin went into crisis management mode! He began to tell me to walk...walk faster...and we took off. She was begging for mommy to hold her! I did! We had about a 1/4 of a mile walk home! Her nose and right eye were already swelling A LOT! I knew it was bad! It hurt me to look and I kept telling Kev that I felt like I was about to faint. He kept telling me to keep walking! He did offer to run home and get the car...but I was scared to wait by myself! All I could imagine was me fainting alone with my two girls!

We made it home and got ella cleaned up and started to get the bleeding to stop. Kev called our sweet pediatrician to see if we should rush her to the ER or not! He advised us to watch her! We were all shaken up! Needless to say she got to sleep with mommy and daddy! She seems to be back to her playful self! I am so worried she is going to knock her nose again! She is super swollen and bruised! In fact she looks so different...almost like she just had a nose job or plastic surgery! I know it will take a little while for the swelling and bruising to go down....and I will be so thankful to see that perfectly cute little nose again!

I write all this to remember what I was feeling in those moments. I felt feelings that I hadn't felt for some time. Feelings of panic, fear, feelings of love so deep for my child that I would rather someone cut off my right arm than to see one of them in pain! I felt weak and insufficient for the task at hand and I felt utterly in need of my God! As we walked back I reminded ella of one of her favorite stories in her children's picture bible...when Jesus healed the blind man! She has looked at the picture and asked questions about that story over and over! I told her that Jesus would heal her nose too! As we walked back home I prayed outloud...not caring who was walking by...who was driving past wondering what in the world this family was doing...praying more fervently than I had in a long time! Knowing that my God hears and my God comforts!

I think we all learned some lessons through our first major "accident!" We were reminded how precious little lives are...how cute little noses are...how fast accidents happen...how differently mommy and daddy react....and how much we need the Lord daily! Needless to say...it wasn't just a walk in the park!

6 Months

Six Months ago I had a teeny tiny newborn. I cannot believe how fast the first half of Eliza's first year has flown. It's really rather sad and yet I am looking forward to seeing her grow and change even more in the next 6 months.

Her 6 month stats:

Weight: she was 13 lbs. 13 oz. at the doc. on Monday. She was 10% for weight, 25% for height and 10% for Head Circumference. She has grown a lot since birth, but my peanut is still a peanut! Does anyone else break into a cold sweat when their child gets weighed at the doc? Probably not unless you have a tiny child and are worried they haven't grown enough! My doc. said she is fine...just tiny and petite.

Likes: Eliza loves her sissy! Despite the pokes and rolls...Ella can always make her smile and more recently laugh a lot too! She likes getting in mommy's bed for early morning snuggles! She likes to play in her exersaucer. She likes to pull her paci in and out of her mouth. She has a little blankie square that she is recently starting to like. She likes to ride in the car and stroller...they always put her to sleep! She likes to be held and she likes to pull hair now. She loves to roll around and play with the tags on her toys. She has taken quite a liking to her daddy and smiles anytime he plays with her! She loves bananas, squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, and green beans and peas, but will only eat them for mommy! When Kev tries to feed her she won't open her mouth for him!!! Lucky Him!! She loves taking a bath and loves to be held. She is constantly trying to sit up! We say she is gonna have some great little abs because she is constantly doing this...

Dislikes: She is not such a fan of rice cereal...although we are continuing to get some in her each day. She is such an easy baby that I cannot think of a lot she dislikes!

Looks: We get told most often that she looks like my dad and my nephew Landon...but in a tiny little girl way! She seems to have a light brown hair. I am wondering if it will lighten in the sun this summer! She has blue eyes like her mommy, daddy and sissy! We think she is so Beau-ti-ful!!!

Personality: So far Eliza has been an easy and content baby! I am so thankful...because the last six months have been rather trying with a certain little two year old. She goes to sleep at 8 and sleeps until around 5:30-6:00 am. She was sleeping until 6:30-7:00am but teething and rolling around in her bed caused for some new sleep disruptions. She does go right back to sleep after eating at 5:30 or 6:00 until around 8 or her sissy wakes her up! Last week was such a rough week for her sleeping! She had a little cold, teething, and no longer could be swaddled due to her rolling! We had lots of issues like this to deal with....

Yes, she does have a cute little room and crib, but prefers to sleep in the little crib in mommy's room (or I should say mommy prefers her to sleep in my room)! She does nap in her room in the day! We do what works for us and I assure you she won't sleep in our room forever!

Eliza, I love everything about you!! God did such a great job creating you into a precious and cute little girl! You are the perfect addition to our family and I thank the Lord for blessing me with you! Happy 6 month Birthday!

Photo Overload

This is one of the only pictures I have of me and my

girls! We were laying on the couch...that is why we

are angled so weird!

The Cutest Little Bunny I've ever seen!

Mimi and Eliza

Pirate Ella

Sweet Pea!

I am finally getting around to uploading so pictures. Now I just need to upload them to costco...edit them...pick them up...and scrapbook them! Maybe tomorrow!

Happy Birthday Jess!

Tomorrow is my lil sis' 24th Birthday! I decided at the beginning of the year to try to celebrate each birthday in my family with a birthday blog. Knowing how busy Sunday's are for us I figured I better get it done today!

I can still clearly remember the day/night that you were born. Although I was just six, I remember being woken up in the middle of the night with the family in a stir to get to the hospital. Now, being a mother of two girls I can imagine the scenario quite easily. I couldn't get awake and everyone was rushing me. I believe I couldn't get my socks on right and I remember mom let the seat go back on me as I climbed into our old, Burgundy, two door family car! I remember camping out on the floor with the family from our church all night long as we awaited a call from dad telling us you had arrived. I remember painting you clear plastic bottle with polka dots using paint markers. I took it to you at the hospital. I remember playing with all the samples (diapers, wipes, and tiny bottles of lotions, powder, and etc.) that they sent home with mom from the hospital. I remember putting my dolls in your crib and thinking I had my very own nursery and live baby...how nice of mom to do that for me! I remember you choking at a few days old and mom running from the parsonage to our church across the street. I remember being so scared. I remember you being my playmate as you grew. I always was the mom and I always made you be the kid...and of course I was always the teacher and you were my little student. I taught you to say your vowels...you couldn't say "u!" As you grew you always wanted my "stuff" and you drove me crazy at times. I remember you getting in lots of trouble. You had an independent nature from a child and I remembering wishing you would just cooperate! I remember you writing me sweet notes when I was away working at a camp for the summer and at college and you even sent me a tape with a song you recorded on the guitar. (Don't kill me...it was really pretty good!) I remember you not liking Kevin at all at first...because you knew I'd marry him. I remember you standing beside me on my wedding day and being the first person I let hold Ella Kate. I remember you taking a bold stance for the Lord in high school. I remember you making a tough decision in college and trusting your future to the Lord. I remember your beautiful wedding day that was so YOU! I remember finding out you were pregnant and feeling jealous. I hate to admit that but I guess it is part of being sisters. I am so thankful for Titus and that the Lord knew the perfect timing for making you a mommy. I remember you always did what you set your mind to do (nose ring, belly button ring, going far away to college, Europe, Oregon, taking on new jobs... and I am sure there are more!) Some days I really wish God had given me just a little bit of your adventurous personality!

I write all this to say...that my life wouldn't have been near as fun or as meaningful if God hadn't given me a little sister 24 years ago! I think you are a beautiful girl with great style and flair! You never cease to surprise me with your great fashion and I am always amazed at what and where your independent nature leads you. We pray that tom. it will be a beautiful day! We pray for good health and some rest! You have been working hard. We pray that one day the Lord will send you back closer to home! We pray you have a great day tomorrow and truly feel celebrated!!

We love ya,

Kev, Julie, Ella and Eliza

Eating Times Two

Now that I have two little eaters it seems like mealtime is taking me forever! To get two tummies full and out the door is quite an accomplishment. Really it isn't, but some days it sure does feel that way!