More Indiana Pictures

Some more Indiana pics.

Geris gets some loving from his grandma.

My Mom and nephew, Brycen

Uncle Rick and Geris

Uncle Jimmy and Brycen

They all made it to the top of the hill!

Nostalgic for Indiana

Lately I have been nostalgic for, and missing, southern Indiana. I am not sure what triggered it, but I was glad to travel "home" this past weekend.

I love the trees and the rolling hills.

When I see the limestone cut-outs, I always know I am close to home.

And I love the laid back atmosphere and feeling when I am there.

Flowers!!

Ok, Brian is going to kill me for telling this story, but when we first had Zach, I was so excited when Mother's Day rolled around. I was ready for a card in which Brian signed Zach's name and a little "something." That didn't occur. I tried not to act disappointed. Finally, I admitted that my feelings were hurt. Brian said that he didn't even think about it because I wasn't HIS mom. So, what I heard was that I would have to wait until Zach was old enough to do it himself. I was crushed. But, over the years (thanks to the advice and leadership of some very wise men), Brian has changed his tune. He has been very good about it for several years now.

But this year, he REALLY surprised me. Last Friday when I got home, he surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers as an "early" Mother's Day present. And there are other things in the works, as there has been a lot of whispering and some mysterious boxes have appeared from the FedEx guy which I am forbidden to open.

While this is a day to celebrate Moms and all they do for us, I have to say that my husband and kids make it easy to be a mom. So, I am going to try to celebrate them this week as well.

One of the flowers from the bunch.

My "early" Mother's Day flowers.

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!!

It's all about Perspective: My Friday Night Musings

I was outside tonight taking some pictures. Lizzie asks me to take a picture of the "beautiful yellow flower." I look and all I see if a nasty dandelion - a weed! When we walk through a field, she steps around all the dandelions so that she doesn't crush the pretty flowers. Then it made me think that if I approached more of life with a childlike vision I would be a lot happier. Life would be full of beautiful yellow and white flowers and maybe I wouldn't focus on the weeds of life so much. Wonder if that is why Jesus calls us to change and be like little children in Matthew 18? So, tomorrow when Brian is at work, I just might hide all the Round-Up so we can have more beautiful flowers - until the neighbors complain at least! :>

Now THAT is a snack!!

Sunday nights are snack nights at our house. We usually eat fruit, veggies, dip, crackers, cheese and a little popcorn. And then we all fight (oops, I mean vote) about what family movie to watch.

Tonight, though, the guys forgot about the "good for you" fruit and veggies and went straight for banana splits! The boys were amazed that we were letting them do it. It was so much fun!

Yummy banana splits!!

Poor Lizzie

Lizzie had the stomach flu last week. She was miserable. The only good thing about that is that she was a cuddle bug. We had a lot of cuddle time. As she felt better, but wasn't quite ready to head back to day care, we had some fun painting nails and reading the paper with daddy!

Everyone of the nails is a different color!

Orange and green glittery nails!

Reading the Journal with her daddy after helping fold towels (the ones right behind her head :>)

Music Machine

Part of the Kingdom's Kids Choir sang at church on Sunday. They sang the song Music Machine. All week, Jacob was belting it out, dancing and smiling. He got on stage, and he was a nervous wreck. He is in the front row on the left. Watch his hands twirling that Kazoo the entire time.