Visiting with an Old Pal

I love living in Central FL. Eventually everyone comes to Orlando and I get to horde in on some vacation time! The latest...my gal pal Kelly and her family. I met Kelly through Hannah's Prayer. Kelly started her journey to Russia before we did. I can remember following along with such excitment as she was waiting for her babies...and here we are almost 5 years later.....arms full of blessings!

Jaelyn, Lina, Allie, Kelly holding Caden, Me and Lila, and Lydia

Little Russian Miracles!

Check us out- we look so young!

Our first meeting in August 2003

And again in September 2003 in Arkansas

It sure was nice to visit your family, Kelly. Wish it could have been longer. I am glad you all had this time together. I love your girls and that Caden is the sweetest boy I have ever had the chance to talk to...or listen to. : ) Love you, Girl!

Kelly's husband is one of the many brave soliders in the US Army that protect you and I. Would you please pray for D as he prepares for another deployment? Would you please pray for this family as their hero is away from them for the next year? Thanks!

The Weekend

It seems Fall has arrived (for a few days anyway) in Central FL. The last few mornings and evenings (days still kind of heat up, but like 94 degrees or anything!) have been wonderful. We walk to school and I don't need a bath when returning. I may actually do some more walking now that poor Lyd and Lila won't cook in the stroller.

Lila tried out the swing today in the backyard. She loved it!

Lina played outside for what seemed like ALLLLL day. She fell asleep immediately upon getting into bed.

Lydia enjoyed being outside....in her diaper. Sigh. That child. She does NOT like to get wet...AT ALL. She spilled some water on her shirt and then needed to take all her clothes off. She was in just a diaper for 4 hours today. Lydia also crashed in bed...once she stopped moving.

She's a White Sock

Here are some pics from T-ball. Good golly the uniform is swimming on Lina. It's the smallest they have. Uncle Rich said, "so help me if you put a camisole under that shirt" and that was what I was going to do. Apparently I need to get a baseball 3 quarter sleeve shirt....she can't look anymore sissy out there with a camisole AND her purple glove!

Perseverance and Pride

Wanted to share this sweet news.

Miss Lina is the student of the month in the kindergarten for showing the character ed word of "PERSEVERANCE". Sniff sniff. If you ask her what it means- she even knows!

What a month of perseverance it has been, which is kind of ironic. At least once or twice a week I make a phone call to Bob in tears and say "that's it, let's pull her" - meaning out of that school.

Lina seems to be settling in though. Maybe once a week something happens that adds fuel to my fire, but I am continuing to pray and not react emotionally. I just don't love it and I really wanted to. No changes before the end of the quarter (end of October) and for now we are just really proud of Lina and her perseverance.

7 Months Old and the Hips are in Good Shape

Lila Joy has hit the 7 month mark. WHA? Time is FLY-ing by with this babe-a-licious! Still a pretty easy going baby. She had her hip follow up apt today and passed with flying colors. We are now done with all that. Lila had x-rays today and what was displaced is totally fine now. It was pretty minor, but they don't like to mess around with hips- I don't either I suppose!

Weighing in at 14 lbs 9 oz and doesn't do a whole lot yet. She is quick to grab, roll over, put anything in her mouth, and has a sweet little smile and giggle.

Back from Boston

Oh it was so nice. Boston is a great city. I knew the history that took place in the city. What shocked both of us was the busy-ness of the city. Whoa. It's a happening city! The weather was absolutely wonderful- perfect- high 60s/74 low 50s. Ahhhh. It was literally a breath of much needed fresh air.


Truth be known I NEEDED to get away. There I said it. I needed to get out of my house and away from the girls. Gosh, that is just awful to see in writing. 5 years ago if someone would have said that and I heard it or read it- I would have gone ballistic. It's not them, it's the whining, the battle at dinner and bedtime, my stressing over decision for school, THE HEAT, and just being tired. I get nothing done and it wore me down. I love that we chose for me to be a stay at home mom and I wouldn't trade this gig for anything, but I needed a break.


I am refreshed though! Although frustrations with school today (why it is sooooo difficult for someone to show some compassion to my child and HELP her with her potty fear is beyond me)did bug me pretty badly.


Thursday we arrived, got our rental car and hit the Mass Tpke and the tolls (oooops, they don't care of you didn't mean to go through the toll booth again....and again), checked out by driving by what we would like to do, and then went to hotel to freshen up a bit. Our hotel was literally ON the Tpke. Not so much a quiet place. We found a great place for dinner and enjoyed some chowder (it was perfect!) and fish and chips. We crashed pretty early that night...although Lila had a rough night.



Friday our friends Mark and Mary Beth arrived at about 1:30. Before getting them we toured the USS Constitution. Bob totally digs that stuff. I enjoy it too though. Lila wasn't totally impressed, but did a good job. After grabbing Mark and MB we were off to Sam Adams brewery tour, of course, being the German Lutherans that we are. Cool tour. 3 samples of beer and then we were off to Faneuil Hall and Cheers for lunch/early dinner. We walked a few miles to the pond where the story Make Way for Ducklings takes place. It looks just like the book and they have these cute duck statues...Mrs. Mallard, Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Oack, Pack....$35 later for parking we headed back to the hotel. Some troubles with checking in scored the 4 of us free breakfast for the next 2 days! Nice.



Saturday was a perfect football weather day....had UCF actually PLAYED. Ugh. We had to park about 8 miles away from campus and ride on a school bus to BC. Before that we did receive a police escort to a deserted parking lot to tailgate. Too funny. First half was great. Third quarter Lila snoozed (and we sat in a ticket booth- nice college kids let me in) and when we went back- things just fell apart. Did I mention the weather was wonderful though?? ; )



After the game we stopped for dinner and enjoyed more chowder.


That night we got ice cream and just hung out.



Sunday we got up early to see Harvard, check out a local market, find the best Boston Cream Pie EVER made (for lunch), and checked out some other last minute sights.


Pretty city....we'll be back!

Lina and Lydia did great with Carmen and her family. They enjoyed playing and swimming and having "Tia" to themselves. The report about Lina's first game- Lina had 2 hits and skipped to every base. Atta girl! Next game on Saturday.

So It's Been Awhile

It feels like we are settling into a routine....shhhhhh.





This week at school went well. Lina announced that she loves Kindergarten because she is learning and that she has a best friend. Lina kind of plays with everyone and no real loyalty to anyone. That is until Anthony came around. He is a sweet boy. They walk down the hall together and are so happy to see one another in the morning. It's sweet. Bob told Lina "no boyfriends" and she said, "we're BEST friends, not a boy friend" Sweet girl.

School is different than I expected- that's for sure. I think we are going to be ok. In the next week starts reading and math groups and I think Lina will eat that up. Lina will also be a Daisy Scout and that starts this week. Fun times!





Lina started T-ball tonight. She is now a member of the White Sox. It rained and really that was the best part of it for Lina. She looks so tiny out there on that field. Her first love, Joe from 3yr old preschool, is on her team and his dad is the coach. Some thunder booms ended practice early.

Here are some pics. I tried to stay off the field so they are a little far away. We need to invest in a good lens.....some day.

I love this picture!! : )

And she takes the field. It's raining pretty steady here. Doesn't she look like an itty bit?

Enough about Lina : )......

Bob has gotten slammed at work this week. YEAH GOD! He has more jobs this month than he has alllllll year. We are in the 9th month of the year, you know that, right? The timing isn't too good with his mom's surgery recovery and our trip to Boston, but we are thankful!

Lydia is Lydia. Love that girl. She had a good eating week. Lyd ate chicken brushetta and turkey. THAT's HUGE! Tonight she ate olives. However if I serve that this week she won't eat it.

Lila Joy is growing. She had her 6 month check last week and weighs a big ol 14 lbs! I do have small children that's for sure. She enjoys eating solids and for the most part sleeps great at night. Lila is heading down that same path at Lydia though with the ol potty woes. I tell you my life revolves around poop.

Me. Oh, I am fine. I am ready for a change of weather. Our trip to Boston will be wonderful if I get everything done in time!

Playing with Pals

Well it wasn't nearly long enough, but we went to Disney Village tonight to meet up with my friend, Michele, her husband, and their precious little Clara and Libby.

I met Michele online through Hannah's Prayer. We first met in person in Arkansas when I went and met a few other gals I knew through HP. It's been a long time....2003....crazy. When I met Michele it was shortly after her precious Gideon and Grace were born too early. Those precious little ones touched so many lives in their short lives. It was an honor to have met their mother and now call her friend.

So they are hitting the parks for a few days. Soooo much fun. Great time of year to be doing so.

Here we are hanging...the Mommas and the Girls. And, I for the life me, can't tell Clara and Libby apart- sorry, M! Aren't they precious??

I love that little girls all just hold hands, giggle, and dance...and act like they have been best friends forever.

Lila Joy....soooo tired and could someone give this child a bib or some rag to drip on. She is a faucet!! And I am pretty sure that her eyes just keep getting bigger and bluer ; )

Thrown in the Deep End

It's not terrible, but it's been a rough day around here today.

Last week I shared how watching Lina walk down the hallway to school was like throwing her in the deep end of a pool and praying she made it to the side. I have just been very unsettled about school. Which kills me because I prayed over this decision, I love what the school has to offer, love that it takes me 5 (with littles in stroller) to walk to school....yet something is missing.

Just pray for Lina and for Bob and I as we might make some changes here in the coming weeks.