June

Our summer started with an extra dose of sunshine while vacationing in Florida. Although the sun was just starting to shine in MI, we got the full affect of the sun in FL...no mercy there! Unfortunately the first day at the beach yielded some awful sunburns for all. But man what I wouldn't pay to have this to look at right now!

We also always try to find a local Peruvian restaurant. We did, but was not all that great. But the girls found a new appreciation for the drink of Peru...Inca Kola!

Breathe...

A few weeks ago now, Bella went home with my mom. On their way home, as they went through the GREEN light, the intoxicated driver blew threw his RED light. My mom hit his car head on on his passenger side. Bella was in the back seat driver side and Melissa my cousin (up visiting from GA) was in the passenger seat. His car then swung around, hit the back door where Bella was sitting, and proceeded into the telephone pole taking that out.

Bella only received a bad bump on the left side of her head and all over aches...THANK YOU GOD! She has had a few headaches since, but pray these will pass and there is no ongoing affects.

My mom banged her left arm up pretty good, as well as her shins, and is moving slowly. For her I think the emotional stress took more of a toll than anything and will take some time to sort it all out.

My cousin Melissa was 17 weeks pregnant, unfortunately lost the baby due to the trauma from the accident. She also has a bad laceration in her groin area from the seat belt. She had stitches inside and 22 on the outside. She also broke her ankle, had to have 2 screws put in it and will be in a cast for 6-8 weeks. Fortunately the physical wounds will heal, albeit slowly, but they will. As for losing Andrew, having been through this type of loss ourselves, we pray her heart will heal from this loss and God will bless her through this journey.

As for the drunk driver...last we head he was still in a coma, but was able to come off the ventilator. He's 23, has a young son. Beyond that, we do not know much about it. After speaking with the state trooper, he confirmed he was indeed severely intoxicated, and had no priors on his record. As difficult as it is, I really do pray for a full recovery. I know there will be appropriate consequences, but pray this was a life changing/defining moment for him. I have such deep sorrow and sympathy for this man's family. It too has been unfair for them to be on this journey with him. But to be honest I struggle feeling any sorrow or sympathy for him individually. He made a choice, and I understand we all make dumb choices from time to time, but this one took a life and could have taken more. If the life he had taken was our Isabella...would you really ask me to feel sorry or sympathy for him? Maybe one day I will, just not today.

Overall our family was shaken, we are still healing, but praise God for His protection and goodness in the outcome of this accident. I know God is still good had things turned out differently, but so much easier to praise Him in this circumstance than all the others we have imagined.

Complicated?

Bella: "Mom, does it hurt when the baby comes out?"

Mom: "uh-huh, but it was worth it."

Bella: "Do you have to be married to have a baby."

Mom: "Uh-huh, that's what God says."

Bella: "Geeze! Why does it have to be SO complicated!?"

For Sale

It is officially official...we are selling our house and moving! We listed finally April 24th and have already had a few showings. It's excitment wrapped up in feelings that are bittersweet. We are excited for our move to somewhere new but are also pushing aside feelings of those we will leave behind. I have lived in MI my WHOLE life and while I have travelled much, my friends, church and family I have here make it quite difficult to leave. But to be honest, a burden to move has been on my heart for some time and have had plenty of excuses not to move...loved my teaching job, having babies, raising children, church, and so on. But I have run out of excuses and having lived out of state for two months last year...God showed me I could move away and do just fine. So we are moving and to where to you might ask!? Yes Hotlanta...I mean Atlanta! Yes it will be pretty hot and humid some of the time...but they don't have snow! Well maybe a little, but I am told it melts quickly! We are looking at a community about 45-50 miles north of the city. In February I spent a week there looking at new build and re-sale and while we did have something in the works, we have decided to wait til we sell our house here, move to Atlanta and then decide where to buy or build.

Also for anyone looking to list their house...we listed with a flat fee broker. Which means we paid him some cash to give us a MLS#, put our listing on all the important websites (and then some), and will pay an extra 1/3% of 1% of our selling cost to do everything, not the usual 3%! We still had to offer 3% to a buyers agent...but really is a great deal all around! The Realtor we have been working with, Jeff Kermath, has been helpful and great in helping us through this process. I also did tell him I would pass it along since most if not all of their business is by word of mouth. = )

(http://www.brokerdirectmlsmichigan.com)

Spring Break

During Bella's spring vacation we tried to busy ourselves outside the house so as to not go crazy! One of our adventures took us to the mall to the butterfly house! As soon as Abbey walked into the humid, warm butterfly exhibit she said yuck! Stinky! So, she didn't last too long inside, but Bella had fun admiring and holding the butterflies. With us were our friends the Roesslers...Ethan and Nolan. The afternoon would not have been complete without an ice cream either!

Our next outing took us to Splash Village at Frankenmuth. We went with some other friends and her two older girls disappeared with Bella and didn't really see much of them the whole 3ish hours we were there. But Bella did go down the covered slide numerous times and definitely got her money's worth out of the excursion! Abbey loved the water and I forced her into a few laps around the lazy river, which she ended up liking and a trip down the water slide with me. FUN! After that she was pretty exhausted and hung out by the zero depth end of the pool.

Aside from outings we also enjoyed the company of some long time friends...I have known Greg since I was 10ish as he was my youth minister. He and his wife Karen recently brought home their daughter from Russia and we were so excited to meet her and celebrate with them their newest addition to their family...Welcome AnnaFaye!

We've also made our first trip to the zoo this year. A weekend or two ago we had awesome "spring" weather!

Abbey's "1st" Haircut

We have tried on a few occasions to have Abbey's haircut/trimmed with little to no success. She has been at the don't look at me, touch me, or get near me stage for some time now with strangers...this does not help with haircuts, photo sessions at JCPenny's, etc!

So I remembered we have a friend who cuts hair! And better yet, she offered to come to us! YAY!!! So while I held her 2 month old sweet yummy baby in one arm to keep from having a meltdown (which I must say was torture getting in my baby fix), I held Abbey on my lap while Keightie cut and Abbey complied...majority of the time. And when she didn't...mini-choco chips and jelly beans filled in the gaps! By the end she was sitting on the table, eating some candy, watching the Pink Panther...but we got the job done!

Thank You Keightie!

http://walkwagon.blogspot.com/

Isabella & Abbey

Green Eggs and Ham Anyone?

Last week in lieu of an "Easter Party" in Bella's class, her teacher had a special "Green" day and what better way to celebrate with some Green Eggs and Ham! Yum?? I was a little skeptical if the kids would go for it, but it's all in the experience right!?

So, I started by coloring the raw eggs green...green eggs come from green chickens, yes? Then each child had the chance to crack an egg into the bowl...proud to say, only ONE egg ended up on a pant leg and carpet. Pretty impressive for a bunch of 5 year olds! Then we scooped the eggs into the blender and I had put the green food coloring into the blender earlier, so when we turned it on....voila, green eggs!

The class then went to gym and I stayed to scramble them up. To my utter surprise they ate ALL of the eggs...some had 2nds, 3rds, and even 4th! Only 2 maybe didn't try, but I am told, they aren't into trying much of anything new anyways. I have some pics of them eating them up, but didn't want to post without permission.

Her teacher also read a story, Dumb Bunnies' Easter. I will confess I was and am still not real fond of the whole "Dumb" part...but it is a cute and funny story. Starts with...The Dumb Bunnies get ready on December 24th to celebrate Easter by hanging a Merry Halloween sign with shamrocks on it, buying an Easter tree, spray-painting fried eggs, and waiting for Santa, who arrives in a red minivan pulled by eight flying pilgrims.

Although for Bella the highlight was not trying green eggs and ham but having mom come and teach class for a day! Certainly made for some fun memories.

Thank you Mr. Weicker for allowing the opportunity to share in the kindergarten experience!

Randomness

So what kind of friend invites her friends over for a girls night and makes them move her furniture around!? I do! The least I can do is thank you publicly...Thank You Dawn, Amy, Laura, and Dana!

Isn't little Nolie cannoli cute with his pink paci! Nolan is quite the trooper, he lets me get my baby fix and snuggles as needed! Yummy!

What better to do on a snow day then go sledding with best friends!

When in doubt, do as the penguins do, right!?

A friend til the end...

How does one begin to sum up a 23 year long friendship? How many of us can say we even nurtured a friendship for that long!?

When I was 10, Heidi moved in a few doors down from me. It wasn't long before we were having sleep overs, playing on each other porches, and enjoying getting to know one another. Since we lived in a townhouse community one of our favorite night time activities was ding-dong-ditch! Little did I know this would begin our 23 year long friendship expanding through high school, college, til today.

The list of things I could be thankful for in my friendship with Heidi is without limits, but most of all I was blessed by her and her family for inviting me and taking me to church with them. If there was church, we were there...Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night and anything else in-between. Really! God used Heidi, her family, and the church we grew up at to raise me up in the Lord. For that I am forever grateful!


It was quite obvious at her memorial service how deeply she was loved and will be missed by many. I pray God's words to her are...Well done good and faithful servant!

http://heidimac.blogspot.com/

http://www.simpletruths.com/dash/index.html

Holiday Catch Up

If most of you know us as you do...to say things have been dull and boring just doesn't seem to fit our life. God has thrown some blessings at us which we are grateful for...and also some heartbreak. It's been awhile since I posted so will do a little catching up.

Christmas this year was great! Jorge's brother Tono came to visit and brought along his girlfriend Betsy. We cherished our time with them and enjoyed welcoming Besty into our family. Apparently they want to get married! So definitely some exciting times are coming.

Santa brought both girls exactly what they were asking for, can it get any better!? Bella in particular wanted a "Baby Alive" that drinks water then goes pee pee! I suppose it's a girly thing to do...I remember asking Santa for one when I was little too.

We also FINALLY finished the basement AGAIN. Following an ice storm last January ('07), the neighbor's limb fell on our house, knocking out the power, faulting the sump pumps which allowed a more than generous amount of water to fill our basement! So, a lot of muscle, help, a back up system, new carpet, and de-humidifier we have basement again! Both the girls and their friends are loving it! Overall...a good holiday and a happy new year to boot!

One Daddy to go please

Isabella: "Daddy...where is your mom from?"

Jorge: "Peru!"

Isabella: "Oh ya, that's right! That's where we got you from!"

Yes, mommy got on the Internet and found us a Husband & Daddy all in one! Glad to know Bella understands how we do things around here!

let it snow let it snow let it snow...

For once the weather forecasters predicted a massive winter storm and we got it! Ok, it's not that massive, it could have been much worse. But the 10-12 inches outside is nothing to sneeze at! Since Jorge has a broken elbow, I was left to dig us out. Whew! Was thinking about just leaving it til spring, but knew that wouldn't fly. This of course also means a white Christmas and lots of fun in the snow in the coming days! I must admit that although I do not find much pleasure in the cold, I do enjoy watching the girls jump in the snow followed by some hot cocoa and cookies. More pictures to come!

We Give Thanks

Last year Thanksgiving our beloved friend, Chris, taught Bella how to properly eat black olives. First place each one on a finger, act silly, then eat them one by one. It's quite endearing to behold...really. Ok, maybe not...but ode to childhood. Bella has now passed on this ritual onto Abbey and we CAN NOT eat black olive's without this new family ritual. Yes, you read that correctly...we ALL must participate in this special event. It only becomes slightly embarrassing when in Olive Garden and all gaze upon us while entertaining them with this new family ritual.

Thank you Christopher Lindsey!!!

Uh Oh

Bella got some new lotion for her birthday and wanted to share with Abbey. So I thought I had gotten all of the protective seal off...apparently not! As I gently tried to put some in Abbey's hands it came squirting out...and says, "uh oh".

What you don't see is, it was all over the cupboards, her outfit, and floor as well. Opps!

Happy Birthday

Abbey is officially a 2 years old. She is growing and changing so quickly. It really is bittersweet. For growth she is 33.5 inches tall, a petite 25 pounds, and has an average size head. Cognitively speaking...she's pretty much on the ball. Gets most concepts appropriate for her age, certainly is a chatty one too...although I think we are still the only ones that understand most of it. But the important thing is we do understand. Her favorite snack is cheese or bananas, but will eat most anything you give her...got lucky again. She has a very sweet disposition...she likes to be playful wanting us to chase her, tickle her, play hide-n-seek with her blankie. Some of her favorites on tv are Dora, Backyardigans, Pink Panther, Tom and Jerry, and Hi-5. She loves to sing and dance. Pretty much easy all around. Of course we can't escape the occasional outbursts of defiance...fortunately they are quickly diffused and moves on pretty quickly most times. Happy 2nd Birthday to Abbey!

Bella is now 5! She was SO excited to have her birthday this year! Mostly because I told her we'd think about letting her get her ears pierced when she turned 5. So she did! She very bravely went through the ritual of getting her ears pierced. If you ask, she will tell you, yes she cried, yes it hurt, but not anymore and she'd would have still done it! She's very proud of herself. She too had her yearly physical and appears to be in good health. She is almost 44 inches tall, weighs 43 pounds, and has an average size head. Some of her favorites right now include anything princess, pink, and glittery! Happy Birthday Bella!

Both girls are doing well and we could not feel more blessed!