What's On Lisi's Mind

Lisi: "Mom, do farmers have pigs?"
Me: "Usually."
Lisi: "I hope Unky Alex likes pigs."
Me: "Why???"
Lisi: "Because he is going to be a farmer."
Mark: "No, he is going to be a pharmacist!"

I wonder how long that thought has been running thru that sweet little mind of hers???!!!

Isabella & Lisi go to Disney World

Man, oh, man have I been negligent in posting these pictures!!!

Grammy & PaPa (my parents) took our sweet girls to Disney World a month ago, and I am finally getting caught up on my blogging...thankfully Isabella & Lisi are STILL talking about the trip!  (And Grammy & PaPa might still be getting caught up on sleep & rest...hee,hee,hee)  But according to all, it was a GREAT time, and I think they are already planning their next trip!!

PaPa with Iz & Lisi in front of Magic Kingdom

Isabella, PaPa & Lisi

(I do not know where this picture was taken, but it is just one of my favorites.)

More Disney Pix

Isabella, Lisi & Grammy

Isabella, Grammy & Lisi

Lisi, Isabella, PaPa & a GIANT ant (I think from "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids")

Isabella & Ariel...signed by Ariel, too!!!

Isabella & Lisi getting hugs from Mickey & Minnie...and signed by them, too!  (Lisi is in LOVE with Minnie...this is her favorite picture and memory of their time at Disney World.)

a 'wickedly' good time

...was had by Heather, Nicol and I as we enjoyed a hip and de-lish dinner @ Geisha House in Hollywood, followed by an AMAZING production of Wicked at the Pantages.  Technically, we were 3 moms going out to dinner before the show, and then home before midnight, but while we were out that night, we just felt like we were 3 friends out enjoying a beautiful evening in Hollywood.

Emma

If my own sweet girls get their own blog post, then so does this sweet Emma girl.  Can I just tell you that I LOVE her!!!  I met her when she was only days old, and had the privilege of caring for her the first week that she was home.  Honestly, privilege is only the best word that I can come up with, but it does not even come close to how feel about that experience.  When Heather was pregnant I loved "zoom lenz" because, well, it was favorite cousin Heather's babe!  But caring for Emma allowed me to fall in love with her, and forever feel tied to her.  The fact that she is just stinkin' cute is a bonus!  Now she can talk and tell her own little stories, 'make tea' for her Mommy and I, and takes amazingly good care of her own 'babies'.  She and her parents are also great hosts when you visit them in CA...I know I will be back!

Emma and me

Amy, Emma and favorite cousin Heather at their home

good times!

a playdate at the park

Lisi Claire's Spring Program

There really is just nothing like a 3 year old pre-school program. And for our family, this one just takes the cake. The 45 second video at the end of this post is just a snipet of Lisi singing her heart out front and center. That sweet, squeaky voice that you will hear belongs to our own sweet Lisi Claire.

Lisi walking in and waving to her fans
(Her Mom & Dad, Isabella, PaPa and Pastor Lori)

Isabella, Pastor Lori and Lisi after the program @ Des Moines Christian

Iz, PaPa & Lisi

sweet Lisi muckin' it up for her Momma on Mother's Day

THE VIDEO...I only wish I had thought to tape all of the program
Enjoy!

catching up with Isabella

It has been such a long while since I have blogged regularly, I have lots of catching up to do. So I will dedicate this post to Isabella...

at the all-school art fair standing next to the 3 pieces of her artwork her teacher picked to display

art class on a sunny spring day...sidewalk chalk!

coming home from school with a Mother's Day gift for me: flowers in a bag decorated by Isabella

last day of Daisy Girl Scouts~ this experience has been a high light of the school year and she is already excited for Girl Scouts in 1st Grade!

It Needs To Be Jenn's Birthday More Often!

Yesterday was Jenn's birthday, and I cannot remember the last time I celebrated so much!! All I can say is, "It needs to be Jenn's birthday more often!"

An impromptu party at our favorite lunch-time gathering spot: Happy Joe's!
They were kind enough to indulge a Mom's birthday celebration with balloons (weighed down with packets of taco sauce...gotta love a classy joint like that!)

Then a 'clown cone'...and the sirens, too!!!

Lisi & Cale with the scary teeth they won from the game room

Ending the day at our house with angel food cake (OK, and a margarita, too)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JENN! I enjoy you and our friendship!!!

Isabella's Calculation

Isabella: "Mom guess how many days I have been in school?"

Me: "How many?"

Isabella: "161. That is more than years PaPa is old!"

sickly

I have SO much to blog about my time in LA, and the girls' trip to Disney World, but Lisi and I have been sickly since Saturday. bummer. Keep checking back; the pictures are good!

earthquake

It was only a small earthquake (4.2), and it was about 1 1/2 hours outside of LA, so I will just keep it all in lowercase.  Nonetheless, I do think it was the 'aftershock' that woke me up in the middle of the night.

Fires, earthquake...if it were not for the gorgeous sunshine and AMAZING hospitality, I would think I should head back to the midwest:)

Fire in LA

If the mountains are not on fire (which they were...just 5 miles West of where I am staying), then iconic Hollywood is on fire.  We woke up this morning to the news that the restaurant where Oceans 11 was filmed, at Hollywood and Vine, has been on fire for hours.  And this is just blocks away from where we are going to dinner tonight at Geisha House.

You can check out more info from TMZ.com here.

It's A Small World

...but it sure is feeling awfully big with our sweet girls at Disney World in Florida, and me being minutes from Disney Land in California.  (And my cutie husband back home just a workin' away.)

My parents got all excited at the thought of taking their granddaughters to Disney, and then got brave enough to really go for it...and now the 4 of them are enjoying a magical vacation.

And as I am traveling alone, staying with favorite cousin Heather & her family, and enjoying the sunny days of CA, I, too, am having a magical vacation!

As much as I miss Iz & Lisi, it is kind of nice to be responsible for just myself, and when I need to cuddle with a little person, I have Little Miss Emma here to keep me company:)

Happy 60th Birthday, Dad!

As much as I would love to acknowledge my Dad's birthday in a new and creative way, I cannot think of a way to top last year's "birthday blog" for him. So be sure to check it out here.
At the end of his big day this year, he said to me that driving to work that Thursday morning, he was pretty sure it was going to be a quiet birthday for him. Boy did those around him have different plans!
His office was decorated with signs, pictures, confetti and balloons, lunch was brought in from George the Chili King, Isabella's entire grade sang to him (see blog post below), and when he thought just our family was going out for dinner afterward, he was surprised to see the table set for 18!

Mark, Mom, Lisi, the birthday boy, Isabella, Amy

Happy Birthday, Dad!!!

Happy Birthday Dear PaPa, Happy Birthday to You!

What do you give a PaPa who conceivable has everything (except that new Corvette, of course!)?
How about a gaggle of Kindergartners singing "Happy Birthday" to him????
Isabella's school program was ON my Dad's 60th birthday, so I asked the music teacher if there was any way that could be acknowledged. And I have to say, she exceeded my expectations, once again. Here is a quick video clip of the kids.
My friend Alicia got the entire song, as well as my Dad's reaction, but for whatever reason, I am having trouble up-loading that to blogger.
My Dad was totally surprised by it, and later told me it was a great gift to him:)

Kindergarten Music Program

This past Thursday was Isabella's Kindergarten Music Program, and as with most things at school, it exceeded all expectations. The 50+ Kindergartners sang "OBEY" and "without complaining" and "I will praise You 7 times a day", but the one that just blew me away was when all 50 of them recited ALL of Psalm 23. Had I realized it was coming, I would have recorded it all. Simply beautiful.
Isabella was especially blessed to have not only her Mom, Dad and sister there, but also Grammy, PaPa, Grandma Nancy, Aunt Cindy & Pastor Lori there to encourage her. Pastor Lori was so sweet to bring flowers for Iz, Adele and Macy...love that!
This has been such a great year for our family, and as much as I have documented in this blog, I still feel like I have not captured it all.
These video clips are each about 10 seconds long. The first one is of "OBEY", and the second is Psalm 23.
Enjoy!

when Bells came to our family

Just LOOK at that sweet face! This was Isabella at her 4th birthday party, more than 2 years ago. If you look closely, you will see that while she is 'reading' this book, and cuddling a new puppy named Bells, there are many unopened presents around her. She found what she liked...why go any further???

A favorite 'party pic' with Khanh, Bells, Isabella and Neil...the givers of her beloved gift!

Bells Goes To...Kindergarten!

This post is as much for the grandparents, as for anyone. I am SO proud of Isabella...she READ a book to her class yesterday! The book that she chose is one that Khanh & Neil gave her a couple of years ago, Bells Goes To The Fair by Susan Knapp. It is a story about a (real-life) golden retriever, Bells, who got lost one day as their family was visiting the Iowa State Fair.

The book references the sisters in Bells' family, Anna & Sarah. And it just so happens that not only has Anna made prize-winning desserts at the Iowa State Fair, her bakery is located down the street from us in Booneville!


Isabella read the book to her class, and allowed Bells to be passed around to all of her classmates. I surprised everyone with mini-cupcakes from Anna's Cakes & Crumbs.
This is a 30 second clip of Isabella reading...



Days like this are what I dream every day of motherhood will be like:)

My Anonymous Commenter

A few posts ago I really hammered down on my belief that a professed faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and an eternal life with God, our Father.
That post began an exchange with "Anonymous", and the distinction between faith in Jesus Christ, and needing to have repentance in conjunction with that faith.
I believe that professed faith alone is enough for eternal salvation.
"Anonymous" believes that without repentance, salvation is incomplete.

I think this is a GREAT discussion, and I invite any of you to join in!
Read here for the background.
To be clear, I do believe that repentance is part of the life of a Christ follower.
However, I see repentance as a gift (Acts 5:31).
When I realize the need for repentance, and I humble myself to repentance, I am separated from my sin as far as the east is separated from the west (Psalm 103:12).

PS: If this post interests you, I encourage you to also read this post.

Lisi in bloom

Just when I thought this sweet girl could not get any cuter:)
Lisi's pre-school classmates each decorated their own flower with a picture of themselves in the center, and then the flowers were 'planted' along the hallway. What a wonderful way for this Mom to begin each day!
I was inspired to take this picture because this was the day of Lisi's FIRST school bus ride. Her class went to the public library, but I was told that riding the school bus was MUCH more fun than the library itself:)
And as much as Lisi is our 'fearless' girl, she was VERY apprehensive about the bus. Thankfully her big sister, and our friend Ellie, were able to clue her in ... all based on the 1 time that they have ridden a school bus:)