And One More Thing....

.....I found this in my car.

I know, I know

I'm so completely behind with my posts. As in, really behind. And its not getting better anytime soon since Ron and I are attending a marriage conference this week.

And yes, I realize I still owe Abigail a letter and birthday picture. But the camera has gone missing. Really missing. I even offered up a reward for its safe return and still....no camera.

Instead of worrying about the lack of blogging (and missing camera) I decided to post this picture which I ran across yesterday. Which reminds me, I need to get our "last day of school" campout on the calendar.......

Happy 7 Abby!

Dear Abigail,


Are you seriously 7 already?  I can't believe it.  The past year has flown by, yet again, and we continue to be amazed by you.  You are a crazy good reader and fly through the books faster than I can find new ones for you!


I love all the pictures you bring it to me at night.  True, you're supposed to be sleeping, but who could resist (another) picture illustrating that I'm the best Mommy in the world?!  


You crack me up with your wardrobe choices.  Pleeeeease don't ask you to wear jeans.  Or anything too tight, too loose, too "scratchy", itchy or otherwise deemed uncomfortable by you.  Even though I seem to have trouble maintaining patience, I secretly laugh and remember back to the days when Grandma made me wear tights with saddle shoes and always put my hair in pigtails.  Ahhhhh, it hurts my "sensitive hairs!" ;)


Your smile is the. best.  That sly grin you give.  It is so fitting for you.  You are such a big help and are usually the first to ask, "Mom, what can I do to help?"  You have no idea.....


Thanks for being you.  You are unique and wonderful.  May God give us all that we need to raise you to be a young lady that loves.  Always remember....."Love is Spoken Here."


I love you Abble-Dabble.


Always,
Mommy

Happy 5th Birthday Lauren Elizabeth!

The morning of your birthday

Dear Ellie-bug,

Your laugh alone makes you the cutest 5 year-old on the planet. I love how you jump into our bed each morning with a giggle....as if we aren't expecting you, which we so are! (after all, you're always the 1st to arrive!)

Watching you care for your little brothers is so completely sweet. You are already such a little Mommy. You love to show Gabe how to do things (even when he doesn't want you to ;)) and I honestly think you would hold Lincoln all day if I would let you.

The one thing I will never forget about this age is "the look" you give when you don't care for something. Daddy and I have to run from the room sometimes because we can't hold in the laughter. We know, we know, you don't care for chicken.

You are incredible. You smile is contagious. You laugh is even better. We are so blessed by God to have you in our lives. May He give us the wisdom and discernment to raise you to be an outrageous giver and to give Love Encounters to the world.

Guess what? I love you - It counts!

Forever,

Mommy

PS - Thanks for all your knock-knock jokes. They are the definition of original.

The evening of your birthday

Easter 2010

I'll explain this in a second.

I could have a great family Easter picture to post. But I don't. The best I did was snap this photo of the kids before the egg hunt at Uncle Milt and Aunt Bonnie's today. And no, my kids are not the ones holding the plastic bags. I came prepared with proper Easter baskets, of course. Seriously. Madeline actually has a basket, not so much Easter, more like what was the bread basket about 5 seconds earlier. God bless her creativity and go-with-the-flow-attitude.

Lincoln was in the ERGO carrier during the egg hunt, hence the 1st picture. Can't forget our little Linc!

And now on to the most thrilling part of the day. The adult easter egg hunt! Mom and Dad hosted an Easter brunch for all my sibs and the grandkids and surprised us with an egg hunt for "the big kids!"

Thanks Maddie for capturing the entire event with 79 pictures (no lie)

Am I hunting for eggs here or doing step aerobics??

Ha! I found one. If you look closely, I am stashing it in my bag.

Yes, that's me ducking under the deck. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon style.

Did I mention these eggs had money in them?

This year was the best Easter. I decided to just enjoy the day. This morning, the girls asked if they could wear flip flops and I said, "Go for it!" Gabe wanted to wear jeans: "You got it, buddy!"

Sometimes I get so caught up in everyone having the cutest outfits, making up the coolest Easter baskets, taking all the most Kodak pictures, that I miss just enjoying the day.

This year, I did my best to focus on why we do all this in the first place: He is Risen!

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, he is risen, just as he said..."

Matthew 28

Finding this in the rubble made my Am I Really Picking 2 Tons of Crap Up Off the Floor for the 67th Time (today) moment..... totally worth it.