Seven Months

Seven months old...... and you experienced a lot of firsts ~ first time on the beach, first Easter and first time in a pool.
You liked the water unless someone splashed you in the face. :)
You lean forward from a sitting position like you want to take off and crawl. It won't be long.
You like to play peek-a-boo and do funny things that make us all laugh like shaking your head from side to side.You are a beauty, my sweetness. Our family would not be complete without you.

Easter & 40th Anniversary

Easter Sunday morning...we headed to the beach all dressed up in our Sunday best.
Baby's first Easter - seven months.
We had our own little family Easter service right on the beach. Twelve days leading up to Easter, we opened one egg each day with a message about Christ. We had three eggs left that we brought along to finish and opened them on Easter morning.Then we took a walk on the beach looking for shells. My sister made a special Easter brunch for our whole family...crepes with fresh strawberries and whipped creme...so delicious! The brunch was also in honor of my parents 40th wedding anniversary that very day. The kids also colored eggs...a busy morning, but so much fun!Kaiya and cousin RylieImmanuelLater that afternoon, it was time for the big hunt. Kaiya finding her first egg with money inside. :)Baby has no idea what's going on, but she gets in on the fun as well with daddy's help.Grandma and Grandpa have done the Easter egg hunt for years and it has become a very well known tradition that everyone looks forward to. They hide several eggs filled with goodies, but the two eggs these kids are really scrambling to find are shiny silver and shiny gold. There is one of each and if you are the lucky one to find them, you get a very nice prize. :) Immanuel hit the jackpot with the silver egg and the golden egg this year and is one happy camper.Emmi enjoying her yummy treats. :) The crazy hunters with their crazy grandparents. At the brunch on Easter, we presented my parents with a whole stack of anniversary cards that we had friends and family mail to us before leaving for Florida. It was the perfect gift for them...they enjoyed reading each and every one on this park bench right outside our condo. Thank you to all who sent a card for them. It really made their day special!
What a blessing these two people are in my life...a blessing beyond words!! And what an example to our family...to my children of a marriage that has withstood the test of time. I truly value that and am so proud and grateful for that legacy!
Thanks, mom and dad, for all that you are and all that you do for us! We love you!

Happy 40th!!

He is Risen!

I have such wonderful memories of Easter Sundays growing up. Mom would take us shopping for a new Spring dress to wear for the first time that morning. We would go to church before the sun was up and have a sunrise service outside while we shivered in our lacy bobby socks. I didn't care...it was so exciting to me as a little girl because I knew that this day was set apart from other Sundays...it was a day to celebrate. I'm so thankful that such a big deal was made on that day when I was younger and I want to pass that on to my kids too.I've been talking with them about the amazing Easter story of Jesus' death and resurrection a couple weeks leading up to the big day. We got several Easter books from the library and read them over and over. I loved hearing them ask their little questions about death and heaven. What an amazing privilege to watch them learn!

We had a great service at church that morning with a choir, drama & wonderful worship...and the Lord blessed us with a beautiful day too! The three days that followed were rain, rain, rain.
After church, we drove to Middlebury and celebrated with Kevin's family. Grandpa and Grandma G. and Grandma B. joined us.

Eager and ready to hunt for eggs.This one was a little out of reach...

...but not near as out of reach as some others. Uncle Curt had to use the fork lift for the rest.

Grandpa had fun hiding the eggs this year. Here's Kaiya getting an Easter basket full of eggs from way up high in this tree.Caedmon pulling a basket full of eggs from a tree branch with mommy hanging on tight. It will be pretty hard to top this Easter egg hunt. Wonder what Grandpa is gonna do next year.??

Kaiya and Grandma having fun on the swing

True Beauty at 60

Proverbs Chapter 31

She is worth more than precious rubies.

Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.

She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.

She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future.

When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions.

Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:

There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

My mom turned 60 on the 3rd of this month. On her birthday we went out to dinner then dropped by here for dessert. If you are in Fort Wayne for dinner, you MUST drop by this little place for an after dinner treat.
I'm in love with their sundaes...they're served in a chocolate bowl and covered with two of your favorite toppings. We chose crispy peanut butter and dark chocolate. Our family shared this one......it went fast and let me tell you, we each fought for as many bites as we could get....by the time it was all said and done, I had chocolate on my white coat and Caedmon had chocolate on his white sweater.

The birthday girl

This past weekend, our family...including my parents, my sister's family and us...stayed at Pokagon for one night to do even more celebrating with the birthday girl.

So much to do there...our family LOVES this place!

Playing around in the recreation room on Friday night

Rylie & CaedmonNephew Jake & Kevin battling it outMaci & KaiyaDinner at Clay's Family Restaurant on Friday nightBack to the hotel for cake, gifts, snacks & bubblyMy sister and I put together this cupcake tree. Thanks for the cupcake topper inspiration, Heather. :) This was my mom's senior picture in high school.Rylie & Kaiya enjoying the fireplacesweet baby emmiJust enough time to enjoy the pool that evening before it closed. Breakfast the next morning at the historic inn restaurant
There is a cute little craft room tucked down in the basement that we checked out after breakfast. The kids got to pick out a free craft to work on.Daddy helping Caedmon paint his wooden whistleKaiya working on her bead chick
Kevin and Dad working on a puzzle overlooking Lake James

This park is so beautiful and has so many great places to walk... which is one of our family's favorite things to do.
We walked to the nature center then stopped by the playground on the way back.She sure doesn't act like she's 60!

Emmi Klairrelaxing back at the innGrandma passed out Easter baskets for the kids......and had her famous Easter egg hunt...golden eggs included $$.
It's just like mom to turn a party that is supposed to be all about her into something where she gives to others...and that is exactly who she is...a giver! If I could only be half the woman she is, I would feel so richly blessed.

I love you mom! You are a one of a kind beauty and I'm so glad you're mine!

Happy Birthday!