Our Little Swimmer!!

Chloe has been such a champ with her swim class. She started lovin' it after a few days & now can do so much in the water...she amazes us! She has come so far now that she is no longer afraid of the pool. It has been fun to watch her grow over the last two weeks with all the new skills she has learned. We are so proud of our bear cub!!:)

The pencil jump with Miss Anna

Backwards on the noodle with Miss Lauren

The alligator walk all by herself!!

A cute photo of the boy.

Swim Class

Chloe has swim class this week & next week. The first few days of class she was very afraid of the pool. But today was totally different. Not only did she get in the pool without showing her fear, but she also put her head under water...TWICE...and, at one point, was laughing & having a great time! She earned some well deserved treats from us & some wonderful compliments from her instructors. Praise the Lord for answered prayer. I shed a few tears of joy...a mom moment. She is so brave & my personal hero:).

Miss Lauren is going over pool safety rules before class.

Chloe is with Miss Rachel kicking forward on her tummy.

Here she is kicking on her back.

Chloe is blowing bubbles & kicking for Miss Anna.

Swim class takes lots of concentration.

"Motor Boat, Motor Boat" & "London Bridges"

Chloe finding "treasures" in the water.

A pool rule is to hold onto the side of the pool. Great job kiddos!!

Way to go, Chloe...our little pool rock star!!

June Beetle

Chloe LOVES bugs & we found an unusual one just before swim class yesterday morn. We think it is a Long-haired June Beetle. They hiss. It is a very unexpected & loud noise from such a small, gentle beetle.

Look at the cute beetle!

See it, Mommy!

Not only do these beetles hiss, but when we were trying to put this beetle back into the wilds of our yard (and out of my flip flop) we found out how strong they are...this one took A LOT of gentle prodding!!

Sick Day

Today was our last day of VBS. Chloe was a little sick to her tummy & Eli had a fever last nite so I stayed home with the kiddos while Nate went & still lead worship & then lead the toddler area for me & then came home, had lunch, I cut his hair & off to work he went this afternoon...what a guy, thanks babe!! He came home soakin' wet because they completely doused him in water at the end of the day...they sure did love havin' him & he was such a good sport (& man I wish I was there to get a photo of that!) We were bummed to miss the last day, but pretty thankful we had made it most of the week (the kids were threatening illness all week & the outside heat plus constant, fun motion equals totally drained...for the kids, too...he, he, he...) Chloe had been sick the week before, but, alas, it did catch up to Eli. Anyways, we stayed in the a/c all day & played Candyland, dress up, read books, watched some Hannah Montana (I know, I know...sigh...) & had a lot of fun together!! Also, Chloe had an eye check up yesterday & her doc was pretty pleased. Her right eye is just about 20/20 & her left eye is about 20/30 (this is a slight improvement from her last visit). We are all just so impressed that she can read the eye chart (her doc included!!)

Chloe is sitting on the a/c vent which is poofing up her dress!!

I love you, Daddy!!

A new self taught trick of Eli's...makes Mommy sigh...loudly & a lot!!

I don't think Eli was in the photo takin' mood!!

Another new self taught trick of Eli's...& more LOUD sighing from his Mommy...

VBS "On The Go"

VBS began today. We are "On The Go" this year, as Matthew 28:19-20 commands, & we are out in the community bringing VBS to kids. We are at 1 of the 4 locations that our church is focusing on around our county. Nate is leading our worship time, while I am the coordinator for the toddler area. We have a great, hard working crew of people who show the love of Jesus to the kids (as well as us & we are so blessed). It was an awesome time of connecting & ministering together. We had so much fun getting wet & soapy with these kids (you had to be there, te he) & we are looking forward to more fun each day!!


Me & the boy

The girl

The gang

Our fearless Sight Leader, Miss Michelle (you rock, Michelle!!:) )

Kids & Crew enjoying some singing & bible story time.

Happy Father's Day

So, this post doesn't even have a photo of Nate in it & it is Father's Day. He is still sleeping. He had a big call at the end of his nite last nite and he ended up having to stay almost 2.5 hours later than normal so he wasn't home til after 4am this am. The kids and I have been talkin' all about Daddy's Day & Daddy in general & Chloe said "take a picture, mommy" so I thought I would post a photo of the kids at breakfast this am in honor of the BEST husband & father...Nathan. Here's to you, babe, you are such a blessing to us. We pray for you always & thank Jesus for your tender, provider heart. The love you shower upon us is bountiful, wonderful, & truly priceless. Words can not express how much you mean to us, to this family. We love you. The kids just light up in your presence & I am still amazed at how I love you even more deeply today than the day of our wedding. Wow, this is mushier than I thought. So, let me end this post with this thought (which is not mine, but our Lord's) as was spoken at our marriage ceremony & I thank you, Nathan, that this commitment is stronger in our marriage today than on our wedding day & that the strength of this commitment has bubbled over to a commitment to our children (snif, snif):
A Husband's/Father's Love
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
1 Corinthians 4-8a

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY, ELI!:)

Eli's birthday celebration was last Saturday. I had a pool party all planned...and then it was cold and rainy. So, the venue changed but we still had a great time!!:) Eli was spoiled with lots of love & affection & some wonderful gifts. We are so blessed! My favorite party moment was Eliot sporting his cake goatee (3rd photo down). He keeps us on our toes & we are having such a blast raising him! Eli is walking really well & almost running (wants to keep up with his big sis!) He has been fondly nick named "T-Rex" (he kinda walks like one) & "the crusher" (this title needs no explanation). He has 7 teeth with 1 more ready to break through. He is babbling up a storm & is so excited about most everything (except when you wipe up his nose & he has a cold right now so this is not so fun for mommy). We see him change & grow on a daily basis & fall in love with our little mister over & over! Tomorrow is his 1 year check up so it will be interesting to see how big he is (he eats like a horse!)

Mother's Weekend

I had a wonderful Mother's Weekend...my hubby & kiddos spoil me! At church, in her pre-k class last wed. nite, Chloe made/colored me a paper basket filled with goodies & she made/colored me a MOM key chain in her Sunday School class at church on Mother's Day (see photo below). I absolutely LOVE these homemade gifts & the hands & hearts that made them!!:) These are the moments I will treasure forever...I LOVE BEING A MOM!!!!!!!! Nate & the kids got me a floating pool lounger & a gift cert. so I am looking forward to lounging in our pool & doing some fun shopping!! On Saturday, some friends of ours hosted brunch at their home & made us mom's some yummy huevos rancheros (dad's & kiddos enjoyed, too!!) & on Sunday we went to my folks after church for some family fun & more awesome food!! Nate was even able to join us at my folks for a few hours before running off to work. We pray you had a wonderful Mother's Day; you deserve it Mom's!!

My beautiful gifts...

Our kiddos having a fun picnic. They are the reasons I LOVE being a mom!:)

A cute photo of Chloe with Aidan when he came over to play this am!!

Eli Walkin' & Chloe Talkin'

Eli began taking his first steps about 3 weeks ago & he is getting better & better & probably walks a little more than crawls now so I thought I would take some video to show off his newest talent (not only walkin', but a little talkin', too!). Chloe is pretty stinkin' cute, too, & both our kids fill us with pride & joy...just wait til you hear what Chloe says on the video!!:)

Chloe's 3rd Birthday

Chloe turned 3 & we had a fun birthday bash for her. Papa D & Gma Julie stayed with us for a week & the kids had so much fun! In the photos you will see Chloe's Barbie doll cake that she helped Gma Julie make for her birthday party. It turned out pretty stinkin' cute!! It is hard to believe that we are parents of a 3 year old. She is growing up so fast right before our eyes & we are praising Jesus for her precious life in ours. Enjoy the slide show!!

Our 2 Rugrats!!

Our kiddos are best buddies...they love to play together & their new fun game is wrestling!! In fact, they had been wrestling just before I snapped this photo. It is pretty cute to watch them. I worry a little about Chloe's glasses getting crunched & about Eli still being so little, but, he is a strong little guy & I watch & make sure they don't get too rough with each other. Oh boy, I see the future with these 2!! An update on Eli: He started taking his first steps about 1 week ago & he isn't fully walking yet, but, he takes more steps daily & his confidence level is constantly rising. And he has 4 teeth with more starting to come in (you can see the 2 bottom teeth in the photo above). He can wave (palm back & forth wave) & shakes his head no. He is completely on table food & can say "wow, whoa, babba (mama), dadda" & a slough of words that are baby talk & incredibly cute. These kids keep me on my toes & I love it!! They bring such joy to our lives & we praise the Lord for the blessing of our kids.

Our Little Cheerleader

A few weeks ago I enrolled Chloe in a kinder-cheer team class at our local gym. It is pretty stinkin' cute to watch these girls jump around & learn cheerleading moves. Chloe's yoga class & her cheer class have helped her to become more outgoing, although she is still shy. There are 4 girls in the cheer class, all about Chloe's age. It has been fun watching her tumble, dance, jump on the trampoline (her absolute favorite!), flip in the air (the coaches totally help the girls with this & this is not so much Chloe's favorite activity, but she is becoming more comfortable with it). Anyways, enough with my blah blah blah & enjoy these cute photos. I am a proud mama!!

Chloe prepares for the forward roll with hands up.

Forward roll...my little athlete!

Completed forward roll.

Jumping on the trampoline (did I mention this is her ABSOLUTE favorite??!!)

Jumping with hands up & attempting to do "the hurkie" (a particular jump-kick named after the gyms logo, "Home of the Hurricane").

Cheer Team

The girls learning arm positions: this is a high-V.

Chloe is supposed to be mid-T arm position here, but, is in high-V position in the photo above. No matter...she is learning quickly & is doing so good!!

Here the girls are in low-V arm position & are to finish with a clap. They are doing these moves to the new Alvin & the Chipmunks movie music which just adds to the statement: "HOW STINKIN' CUTE!!"

Even Eli got in on some of the fun...he is my "mini-jumper" on this little trampoline.

The girls are just havin' fun during cheer class on the parallel bars while their head coach, Miss Julie, shows them how to put their hands on their hips & do the "hurricane walk".

More Easter Fun!

Chloe loved the tire swing at Grandpa & Grandma's house. All the kids did! The kiddos had fun with their cousins, Uncle Gordon, Aunt Di, Grandpa Tom, Grandma Kris & Great Grandma Marge. Eli really liked the egg hunt & so did Chloe. Chloe & Hope decorated some carrot cup cakes with green coconut & jelly bellies!:) Enjoy this slide show!

Eggstravaganza!

Our church hosted a community easter celebration. There was food, crafts, bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, egg hunts, etc. We had a great time! Tomorrow we will be off to Grandpa Tom & Grandma Kris's house after church for more family fun. We are so blessed to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with most of our family & friends (& we miss you & are thinking & praying for those we are not with this year). And, we are happy to shout, "HE HAS RISEN, INDEED!"

Feels Like Spring!

We have been enjoying this spring-like weather (see the photos I posted below of stuff we have been doing over the last couple of weeks). I signed the kids & I up for a yoga class & it started last week. It is "angel bear" yoga (designed especially for little ones). Eli is a bit too young to get a lot out of it so he will be staying home with daddy while Chloe & I attend the class & have mommy/daughter time. It was fun fun & we look forward to next week! A quick update on Nate: He is out on patrol!! He has been out since mid-January & has completed all training & has been enjoying this new assignment (& boy does he come home with some wild stories!!) He works swings, Sat.-Tues, 3pm-1am. We like this sched because Nate is home in the mornings, can still attend Church with us on Sunday mornings & lead worship for Children's Church, & has Wed off (a big Church nite), Thurs off (bible study nite at our home) & Friday's he is off & we have turned them into our family day. So, thanks for all your thoughts & prayers for him & our family & please keep 'em comin'!!

Eliot at the duck pond...ya gotta love the drool & chapped, runny nose!! (he has a cold & is teething in this photo...poor mister!!)

Daddy fishing...the fishin' is good right now!

Mommy & Chloe at the snow (we stopped to play in the snow on our trip to Reno).

Here we are at Cabela's in Reno