Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Oh, the Wonders of Technology!

My have we evolved in recent years. The rate at which technology grows is so helpful in:

*Talking with each other. That's right. We are all sitting next to each other on our laptops, posting messages on facebook to each other.


*Aiding in our homework. Now there is no need to go to the library when all the info you need is at your fingertips, and silence is just an IPOD away!


*In long distance birthday wishes. Now you can have Grandpa and Grandma sing in surround sound!
Most importantly, technology allows me to blog, and for you to waste a few minutes as you read the silly things I write. By the way, I'm glad you all took those minutes to stop by!

Friday, January 23, 2009

When Did This Happen?

Two years ago I lay waiting in a hospital bed. Josh was with me. Helping me not be nervous. All of the preparations were done, and soon I was being rolled down a hall by myself. We made a joke that since we did not have a girl name picked out, this one, our number three, would be a girl as well.
After a couple more pokes with needles I found myself strapped to a table, with my dear Joshua by my side. A few quick cuts (later we learn maybe TOO quick) and she is out. So quiet. It's a girl! No surprise there. Oh, we waited to find out, but I think we both kinda knew. Hence the pressure to try and nail another perfect name for another perfect daughter. I see a few glimpses. Her hair is a fluffy light brown. She is SO red. Just a moment. One kiss on her forehead and my baby is gone with her loving Daddy. As I lay on the operating table, thinking of my darling new blessing from heaven, one name came. One from a list of nine we had. Adelaide.
As they wheel me into a recovery room Josh has our sweet bundle in his arms. "I think this is our Addie" he says. Two separate rooms, not able to discuss and we both picked the same name. "Adelaide means of noble and kind spirit" we tell the nurse. "Let's hope she lives up to that" she quips back.
The rest of the day seems a blur of sheer bliss, and heavy drugs. Emma and Josie come to meet their newest little living doll. Emma is ecstatic, Josie unsure. After all, she just having 16 months with me was still a baby herself.
In the quiet of the night though, when Josh takes the girls home, when the stream of students ends, when the nurses seem to have forgotten the room at the end of the hall, I get to know her. My girl. She has so many birthmarks! Her hair, looks, curly? She, at 8lbs, 4oz and 20" long is by far my biggest baby, but she seems so tiny in my arms.
Those are the times I cherish. Special one on one getting to know you times we shared. More, than we originally planned, as during the c-section they nicked my bladder, and my bladder decided it did not like that and so it bled... a lot. They really wanted me to stick around until that stopped. I didn't mind though. I knew that when we got back home, I had two more sweet little ones that needed my attention, and a husband who needed me, and students who needed me, and minus the two am feedings, this was our only alone time.
Fast forward two whole years. Today! I wait for my darling to come home from morning carpool, with the smell of cupcakes in the oven, so we can do our family tradition: waking up the birthday girl with a birthday song. Emma was sad. This is the first time she would miss this. I told her I'd sing twice as loud for her.
My baby. No. My GIRL is two!















Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Just Like Her Big Sis!

Emma was doing the dishes after dinner and Addie had to come help. She didn't care if she couldn't reach the sink. She was helping!

Addie supervising the job.


Caught ya cuties!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Homework

Homework? In Kindergarten? I am not complaining. Emma LOVES to do it. I like doing it with her. It just seems funny to be in kindergarten and have homework every night. I guess it is working. Emma is learning to read. She can add and do some subtraction. She is even learning greater than and less than.
I am loving her learning, and loving even more that she is loving to learn. Is that a tongue twister or what?
A little number practice at the dining room table.

Emma, Daddy isn't being silly, is he?


Wednesday, January 14, 2009

My Night Out with Keisa!

Last Friday my dear friend Keisa and I were able to hang out for a night. We have been friends for at least ten years, but it seems the only time we can get together is when NTBI is on break, since both our families minister at the Bible school.
I'm okay with that though. Keisa and I are the type of friends where you can just pick up where you left off, never missing a beat. She is a true friend who loves the Lord, is encouraging, giving and helpful. The kind of friend that can tell you what you need to hear, even when it's hard to say (and hard to hear!) She is a wonderful mom to four great kids, loving wife to a great husband, an amazing seamstress, and she's stinkin adorable too! I love ya Keisa! Thank you so much for your friendship. :)

We started out by having dinner at Panera. Gotta love their broccoli cheese soup!


Then we went to see Bride Wars. Very fitting as we were brides together. We, however, did not attack each other. :)

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Big Baby Blues!

I just love my Adelaide! She reminds me SO much of Emma when she was this age. They look so much alike. Especially those BLUE eyes! The only major difference was Emma's hair was white blonde and stick straight, while Addie's is more of a golden blonde with curls.
Her new favorite game is to say "Mama!" over and over again. Cute sometimes, and other times quite annoying. :)
I just love having little girls!
My Adelaide Marie!

Monday, January 5, 2009

Emma is SIX!

Emma turned six years old on Saturday. We asked Emma what she wanted to do for her birthday, and her answer was sledding! Since there wasn't much snow at the park next to us, and it is more fun to sled with people, we went to Nana and Papa's for some sledding fun. I remember thinking that the hill that we lived on was the best for sledding when I was little, and Emma thought so too.
We had some family and friends who live in the area over to sled, and then have white chicken chili (Emma's birthday meal by request), followed up with birthday pie (also by request). Many of the guests were wondering where the cake was, but I said if the birthday girl would rather have pie, then pie it is! Two pies actually. Cherry, and chocolate pudding pie. Yum!
It was the perfect day for some outdoor winter fun, and I would do it again. So fun!
Lucas getting ready to push Addie down the hill. She liked to lay down. Ha!

Ashlyn and Emma going down on a tube. Emma didn't stay on for long!


Papa said he should put in a tow rope for us next year. :)



Hailey and Emma going down backwards.




Happy Birthday our sweet Emma! Six of the greatest years I've known!





Sunday, January 4, 2009

Our Week Long Christmas Extravaganza!!!

I haven't blogged in a while. I think I am recovering from our trip! Just kidding!
We had a wonderful week of celebrating with family and friends. On Christmas eve, we went to our church for a service. Afterwards Josh took us to the Jackson Fair Grounds to see the Christmas light display. We all loved it. When we got home, we realized the roads were too icy to go down to Ohio that night, as we had originally planned, so we decided to do our family Christmas that night. We all opened presents and the girls went to bed, while we finished loading up for our trip to Van Wert.
We arrived Christmas morning at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We saved the girls Christmas stockings for down there on Christmas morning. After a few days with Josh's side of the family, we drove to Indy to be with my side of the family at my sister and brother-in-laws new house! It was a great time.
After a couple days there we left and went back to Van Wert, OH to see the rest of Josh's family, and finally made it back New Year's Eve just in time to ring in the New year with the Troyers and the Lokers. We had a great time!
I didn't take that many pictures. What a surprise, as usually that's all I do! Here are a few though:

The girls waiting patiently for their presents on Christmas eve.





Uncle Ken helping Addie with her stocking. :)




Some of the crew at my sister's house. L to R: Addie, Ivy, Solomon, Josie, Emma and Alex.




Two peas in a pod!



Two peas in a pod as well! :)


Our niece Cora is going to be a good Mommy some day. She loved taking care of the littler ones. :)