So, how long do you think I can get this to last?

The girls were outside playing a couple of days ago as I was doing some things in the kitchen. As I was doing some dishes, I peeked outside to find them doing this...

Yes, they are poopie scooping! They think it is a fun game. And they make a very good team.

Ellie is the spotter and pointer...

Molly is the scooper...

Here they are posing with their finds.

I just couldn't resist getting out the camera to document their little project. I know that it won't be too long before they will be more reluctant to help with these kind of chores, but for now, I will enjoy their enthusiasm!

Mother's Day brings a new hobby?

While I was getting ready on Sunday morning, I overheard Eric telling the girls that it was Mother's Day which meant we were all going to be extra nice to Mommy (no fussing, whining, fighting, etc). He reminded them that the day was all about me and thanking me for being such a good mom. Very nice words to hear...wonderful to know that at least Eric (even if the girls don't really get it) appreciates all I do to take care of the girls and our home.

It is interesting because Mother's Day really isn't a huge deal to me...on the other hand, I expect to be the queen on my birthday! But, I decided that maybe it was okay to have TWO days in the year that are all about me : ) (and of course appreciating my mom!!)

We all got ready on time (with really very little stress) to go out to a nice breakfast before church. After church we came home for naps, and even I got to take a nice long nap. Then, we all headed to the store to pick out some tomato, zucchini, and pepper plants for the garden that I hope to plant in the next week or so. This brings me to my new hobby...

I have decided that it would be very fun to grow some of our own veggies. This is something that I've talked about for a couple of years, but I'm finally taking some baby steps to make it happen. My mom has grown veggies for a long time, so I'm using her help and expertise to get started. I've realized that is the hardest part for me...just getting started. It seems a bit overwhelming. But, the plants are now purchased, so I'm a little more committed. I'm wishing that I had really tried to learn something when I was required to take botany as part of my biology degree. I simply got through the class, so I could get on to the interesting classes such as cell biology.

The other exciting thing about this is that I could potentially (if I enjoy this and don't kill my plants!) have another hobby to add to my list. It seems that whenever we fill out any questionnaire, Eric could fill up two pages with just his interests and hobbies (especially if he had more time in his life!). I, on the other hand, am always trying to come up with more than a couple. I enjoy life and think I have several interests...I just can't ever pinpoint exactly what I enjoy doing! Anyways, we'll check back in a couple of months and see what progress my little plants have made : )

Congratulations to the Cades!

With the newlyweds, Eric and Becky

Andy-James-Eric

With Brooke and Stacy

Brian-Eric-Eric

Eric and I traveled to St. Louis this weekend for our good friend Eric's wedding. While we haven't known Becky long, we were able to get to know her a little bit when we spent time with them in Boston last year. She is a great match for Eric. It was a fun day of celebrating with them! It was also a bit of a reunion as friends gathered from California, Kansas, and Boston. There were many camp friends gathered, and it was fun to bring up old memories and get caught up on everyone now. Two of the couples we spent time with this weekend live within a mile or so of us...and it took us going to St. Louis to hang out! (Every time we see each other we always vow to hang out more often...maybe this time we'll make that work!) It was a short but great weekend. Congrats Becky and Eric!

Also, thank you to Grandma and Papi for a fun overnight for the girls, so we could make this trip!!

The walls came tumbling down...

(The sign says, "We made it to the promised land!")

Molly with one of her best friends

A couple of months ago, Molly performed in her first musical at church. The children's choir presented a musical about Joshua. It was so fun to watch her perform! I've really been enjoying exposing her to different activities, and I always wonder which ones she will latch onto and pursue in the future. Tonight we are off to another first...Molly's dance recital. Pictures to come, I'm sure!

Because I don't have much else to say right now...

What I was doing 10 years ago:

1998: I was just finishing up my freshman year at North Park University and was in the midst of trying to decide what I was going to do with my life. I would need to decide on a major soon and was still very much undecided. (I eventually went with my original choice of biology but only after changing majors...or thinking about it...several times!) I also was preparing to head to California to work at Frontier Ranch for the summer. I was excited, nervous, and a little unsure about my decision, but God was calling me there and I'm so glad he did! In just a few weeks I would meet my future husband and some of my best friends.

Five snacks I enjoy:

1. Popcorn with olive oil (great alternative to butter and very tasty!)
2. Clementines
3. Chips and salsa or guacamole
4. Frozen Custard
5. Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls although I can't remember the last time I ate one!

Five jobs I have held:

1. Kerr's pharmacy, my first job. I worked with my best friends, and have LOTS of funny memories.
2. Bank teller. What a great job to have in high school! I really liked this job...decent pay, good hours, and fun people to work with. I also worked as a teller for a while in college.
3. Administrative assistant at Frontier Ranch. I did this for two summers, and I really enjoyed it. It fit my personality really well, and I was able to enjoy a lot of freedom with my time while at camp. Plus, I had two great bosses...Derek and Eric. I have to say that working for Derek worked out a little better...not such a great idea to work so closely with your fiance!
4. Nanny. I took care of two elementary age siblings (a boy and girl) during my years at San Jose State. Overall, it was a really good gig. It was great pay and really pretty easy as the kids were pretty self-sufficient. I did get a little bored at times, and watched way too much Dragon Ball Z (yuck) with the little boy. The best was during the summers as we would go swimming almost everyday. I feel like I learned a bit about parenting, different lifestyles, and even different cultures (they were part Jewish) during that time.
5. Mommy! This is most definitely my favorite job so far, and really this is what I've always wanted to be. It is tiring and at times frustrating, but it is also fun and fulfilling. I'm just where I'm supposed to be right now.

Five Habits:

1. I take a nap almost everyday...at least 4 days a week. Most of the time it is just 20-30 minutes. I get this habit from my mom : )
2. I don't know if this is a habit, but it was for a few weeks anyway...I slept in the same "Rock Chalk" shirt (without washing it) for the duration of the entire NCAA men's basketball tournament. While I was ready to throw it in the wash (not to mention my husband's excitement at that prospect), I do think that it did the trick! : )
3. Due to indecision (about everything!), I am a habitual returner. It seems that I always have a bag of something to return sitting in my bedroom. Clothes are definitely the worst, but I'll return about anything. The hardest part for me is cutting off the tags...doesn't happen until the last possible moment. (But there is such freedom once they come off!)
4. I am always late returning our library books and videos. Even when I write it down on the calendar, I'm still late. I've had a few decent fines, but I just consider them donations : )
5. I only check our mailbox once, maybe twice, a week. It probably drives the postman nuts as well as those few people that still send us snail mail. But, with paying most of our bills online, most of the time we just end up with ads and junk in there. (On the other hand, I check my email at least twice a day.)

20 years in the making...

I'm a little behind with this post, but I just wanted to say that this made me very happy...

Congrats Jayhawks!

Goodbye for now

Last night, my grandma passed away and went home to be with Jesus. It was a peaceful scene...my parents, my aunt and uncle, my sister and I, all at her bedside at the hospital. We talked to her, prayed and sang as she peacefully went home. She will be missed, but we also know that her frail body is now fully restored. And as Molly reminded me this morning, "We don't need to be too sad because we'll see her when we get to heaven."