Shedd Aquarium

We recently took a trip with Jamie and Jill and their boys and Jill's new baby Anika to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

For some reason blogger won't let me rearrange the pics, so they are a little out of order.

Both kids said their favorite part was the sharks. Daddy has shared his love of ocean life with them and they love ALL things found in the ocean :)


The train ride to Chicago is literally half the fun. All of the kids were SOOOO good and so entertained.

Me and my babies! So thankful for Tommy and his hard work to support our family so the kids and I can take fun day-trips.

All of the big kids, Anika was too busy being an ANGEL!!! wish I had a pic of her :)

Such a fun day, next we have to take dad :)

Closets

For some reason I REALLY believe that when I clean out a closet, all of the effort I put in that ONE time should be all it takes to keep it permanently organized.
.
Really. I think it should.
.
But it never does.
.
In all reality, I need to be tidying up the closet a little bit each day to keep it clutter-free.
.
The same is so true for my heart. Each morning that I wake up for my quiet time with just my cup of coffee, God and me, I am tidying up my heart. And without the daily tidying my heart starts to get cluttered.
.
It's not pretty.
.
So today I am thankful for messy closets (and hearts) that remind me that daily tidying is the best way to permanent change.

(this photo is not my closet, just a perfect online pic)

Birthday Celebration #1 - Cincinanti :)

We started Logan's 5 year birthday celebration with a trip to Build-A-Bear Workshop, with Gigi and Aunt Nancy, to adopt "cubby" into our family. :)



Momma, Logan and Cubby :)

This was our first experience at Build-A-Bear and let me tell you, it was SUPER cute! I love how it has a ritual involved, getting the little red heart all ready to be inserted into the bear. ADORABLE!

Then we were off to Cincinnati so Logan, I mean I, could some shopping at Ikea with Mom and Aunt Nancy. I felt bad at first but realized that I DID give birth this little blessing from heaven and really we should be celebrating me too, right? :) Isn't that SO like me to rationalize it this way? HA!

Happy Birthday Month Logan! you are already taking after momma with a month-long birthday celebration. :)

A day with cousins

A few weeks ago we were blessed to spend the day with some of our cousins! Mom, Aunt Nancy, Kerri and I took the kids to Conner Prairie where they roamed the streets of yester-year.

Now that the kids are older it is fun to see them interact and try new things! like brushing the goat. We just don't do alot of goat-brushing around here :)

WHAT IS THIS?? Olivia and Isabel washing windows! I didn't know whether to take a picture of get allowance money out for Olivia. At least she is washing SOMEBODY'S windows! HA!

Olivia and Isabel - love their loving relationship. They have so much fun together.

ANNNDDD.... then back to reality. Back to cars on the road, electricity and real life. I have to admit, I'm drawn back to the simplicty I grew up around (Amish in our town) and making a trip to Conner Prairie reminds me of home :)

Easter 2011

19 Kids and counting

Waiting for the Duggar's program to start. Olivia and Joy-Anna. one of Olivia's favorite on the show! She has already written her a thank-you card and is praying she writes back. LOVE IT! One of my kids with some of the 19 kids :) Olivia: "God knew I would get tired and want to leave early, and then we got to meet them!" A little girls prayer was answered. :)

Just like dad

Logan loves to wear Tommy's old baseball and football uniforms. He is now to the age where he really understands that daddy played baseball and he LOVES to watch it with him. I often wonder what he will be interested in as he gets older. Its so fun having a son to share dad's memories. :)

New favorite quote

"The Bible that is falling apart likely belongs to someone who isn't"

-----

I can't stop pondering this. How true in my own life. Things just seem to fall apart when I'm not spending time in the Word. Love how simple yet profound quotes can stop me in my tracks. Hugs!

Tagging along....

I know I've said it before but we are SO blessed to be able to join Tommy on some of his business trips. This time the trip was to SOUTH BEND! I was so excited! We stayed at Jill's hotel and it was fun to see her THREE days in a ROW! Reminded me of college :)
.

The first night the kids and I met Jill and her cuties at Hacienda. I ordered the SAME thing I ordered all through high school, so fun to visit there. Only a few more weeks until we add to the picture :)
.
I know the quality of this picture isn't great, but the quality the friendship represented is priceless to me.

the next day, we did ALOT of what we do when we tag along with Tommy. We went swimming!

Jamie and her cuties joined us and then we took the hungry swimmers out for ice cream.

Jamie and I, So fun to spend the day together and catch up with my precious friend.

That night we had dinner at Aunt Nancy's and then breakfast with Gigi and Aunt Nancy at Chick-fil-A.

Then off to the Healthworks Museum, the kids LOVE to visit there!

Then lunch at LePeeps and the LONG drive home. The kids are always so sad to leave a hotel and it was even harder when we got to see some of our friends and family. :) Hugs!

Sharing clothes

I have ALWAYS wanted a daughter to share clothes with me. However, I didn't think it would be at age 6.
.
All day yesterday I was feeling bad about the way my leggings were fitting around my waist. When did they get so tight? Why does everything seem to be hanging over the top?
.
Today when I went to put yesterday's clothes in the washer, I realized I had worn OLIVIA'S BLACK PANTS! Talk about hysterics, I almost couldn't breathe I was laughing so hard. Needless to say, they are probably permanently stretched out and not ever going to fit her again. :)
.
I can't wait to share clothes with Olivia, but I am thinking it should wait for a few years.