Baby Epp is here!

Jess and Ryan welcomed their little guy into the world this evening via C-section. Jess had a long labor and wasn't progressing..poor girl. Check here blog or her Twitter for updates later! I'll let them do the announcing of his name which has been a secret for the most part...and his stats. So glad he is here and healthy and so wishing I could see them.

New Nephew coming SOON!

For those who know our family....Jess' water broke today while at her Ob on the table. How lucky is that! She is at the hospital and baby epp will be here sometime late tonight or tomorrow! Please pray for my mom as she is flying across country tonight to get there! She should be there sometime around 12:30am. Please pray for them all and might I add that this really stinks to not get to be there and be a part! This will be my first niece or nephew's birth that I have missed! Praying for a healthy baby and new mommy! YOu can follow her blog on my sidebar it is call EPPIC.

We survived our family vacation!

No I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...I know all my few readers were so worried! :) We left last Monday for a week in Orlando,FL. Last year when Kevin was on his work trip he got a great deal on a vacation package at a wonderful resort...so we saved it for our vacation this year. I have to admit that I am not so much a vacation kind of girl. I mean...I do enjoy them...I really do....but I hate the packing, unpacking, and being away from home/family/friends for a while always makes me feel strangely out of the loop! I also was really fearing the almost 7 hour drive with ella. I mean sometimes a ride to target..a few miles away...can be quite an experience. What about all her cups (about 3 per day) and snacks and lots of meals in restaurants (now I was really fearful!)

Needless to say we needed a getaway and some family time...and we packed up and headed off last Monday. I sat in the back seat and provided hours of entertainment while Kev listened to his i-pod with seminary lectures. Ella and I read the 7 books I brought about 50 times each...and although I love her love for books...I really do...after a few hours I really wanted a break. We made it to Jacksonville and stopped for lunch. Kev was proud that we'd made it that far without having to stop. We let ella play at Chick-fli-A and then headed on to our destination. Thankfully at this point she was ready to nap she slept for almost the remainder of the trip. I was so thankful to arrive and have the drive behind us! We were so proud of ella for being such a good rider...mind you I had lots of supplies (suckers, crackers, cookies, juice, and oh yes..paci whenever she wanted..which is not the norm!) But it worked and we arrived at the swanky JW Marriott at the Ritz Resort. I made sure to inform ella that this was also not the norm and that we are more of a Holiday Inn kind of family...and to not expect such luxury on every vacation.

ella breaking in the king-sized comfy bed!

We spent the week shopping, eating out, and at Disney! I told Kevin when we planned the trip that we were not going to be in Orlando and not take her to Disney. We both hadn't been in a long time too so we were excited to spend a day there as well. We headed to Disney on Wednesday and thankfully the weather warmed up a little for us. We arrived and yes it was still as magical as ever. I loved walking down main street. Ella liked the balloons they were selling everywhere. She really liked It's a Small World! She kept saying Wow! We rode some rides but to be honest waiting in a 30 min line with a 17 month old is hard...esp. when you have to park your stroller. She didn't like being held but then wanted to cut the whole line and off we'd go chasing after her...then we'd carry her back kicking and screaming. Fun times. So maybe it isn't all that magical after all! We ate lunch and I applied sunscreen to my fair little red-head and somehow she ended up wiping her eyes and getting sunscreen in her eyes. It is my fault for not bringing the stick sunscreen....I really did bring everything but the kitchen sink though! By the end of the day her eyes were red, swollen, and pouring water! She didn' t even want to open them! That is when we decided our day at Disney had come to an end. I think we'll wait until she is a little older before we go back but it was an overall fun experience. Her eyes were back to normal by the next day as well!

This is ella in Minnie's House!

Ella watching the parade and a tired little minne!

Ella's reaction to "It's A Small World"

Oh course we had to eat at Giordano's Pizza! It was Yummy!

We also enjoyed eating at the Rainforest Cafe! Ella loved all the animals! We had a great vacation and nice long ride home. I am thankful for God's safety and protection over us all while we were gone. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

New Shoes and Ice Cream!

Today ella and I headed out shopping with Kev's Aunt Pam-Pam (actually sounds more like Pee-Pee when ella tries to say it). We headed over to Southern Belles which is truly the most beautiful children's boutique. I have to admit that I have a real weakness for all things smocked, cute, and monogrammed. If I was rich I think I could do some real damage in that store...and believe me you'd have to be rich to do so. I love dressing ella cute. I feel like it is my job to find her cute clothes...on a budget. I do also realize and tell her everyday...that "pretty is as pretty does!" I do want much more for her than to be "cute!" But......We were so blessed that my sister loaned us all of my niece's dresses. What a blessing. I literally have so many beautiful hammy-downs (not sure how to spell that one)! I also like to sew and have found some easy dress patterns that turn into the cutest little jumpers...esp. with a monogram on them! So all that to say that we were in the most beautiful children's store admiring all the beautiful things. We went there because Aunt Pam had a dental patient who had on a super cute pair of shoes...and she said we just had to get ella a pair. She is a great Aunt like that. She spoils us often! They are so precious and will look super cute for the spring and Easter. They are the white ones with light pink flowers. I am so thankful for how the Lord blesses us more than we could ever ask or think...even in the little things like cute shoes.

After purchasing the shoes and ella almost destroying the displays (the lady needed her to get out of her stroller to check her shoe size)! I mean really lady...do you know what you are asking??? Seriously I think at one point she had 5 different shoes in her hands and was running off as fast as she could. It was quite an ordeal. I ended up hauling her out of the store kicking and screaming! What can I say...my girl knows a good pair of shoes when she sees them. We made it out the store ALIVE and headed over to good ole Baskin Robbins. I must give you a little background. I worked at one for about 4 years...all through high school. I know every flavor and used to eat it ummm...Way too much! The one that I worked at closed several years ago! I seriously hadn't had BR in years. I got my favorite....Peanut Butter and Choc. and ate the rest of ella's cookies and cream...my second favorite. It was heaven. So...what is your favorite BR flavor???

Please keep praying for Forester and his family.... Whitney especially! There is nothing harder for a mommy than to have a sick child. They need our continued prayers.

Update On Forester

Forester is out of surgery. They were able to remove the tumor. Please continue to pray as he has a long road ahead of him. I just hate, hate, hate this. Things like this are not supposed to happen to "my friends or my neighbors!" I can't stop thinking about Pete and Whitney and how hard it must be to see your child so sick...after a day of brain surgery. Please pray that the Lord will fill them with peace, comfort and hope! I know they have tons of people praying for them and from the increased activity on my blog today I know you are too! I am posting a link to Whitney's blog where she is posting updates. It will help you better know how to pray form them. Thanks!

http://thebradburns.blogspot.com/

Update

Please continue to pray for our sweet neighbors. They are a great christian family and have three small kids...the youngest being almost 3 months old. Their oldest was diagnosed with a brain tumor this morning and will have brain surgery tonight or in the morning. This is serious and they really need our prayers. I know they are in shock at the whirlwind of today and I know they are relying on the Great Physician. Please pray for Whitney as she is trying to care for and nurse a baby while being with Forrester. Please pray that they will be able to remove the tumor and it will not have spread. Please pray that Forrester will make a complete recovery and return to being a busy seven year old very quickly. This is yet another reminder to me that life is so....up and down! We never can know what the next day will hold for any of us...but we can know the ONE who can get us through. Please pray for them! (Whitney I hijacked your picture off your blog...I hope you don't mind!)

Prayers PLEASE!!!

Hi, I am asking you to pray for our next door neighbor Forrester. He is in the first grade and has been diagnosed with a brain tumor this morning. He will have an MRI at 1:30 today! Please pray for the Lord to do a miracle in his little life today! Please pray for him and his entire family!!!