Quote of the Week...

While we try to teach our children all about life; Our children teach us what life is all about. ~Angela Schwindt

I "borrowed" this quote from Lacy's blog. She is a sorority sister of mine, who I have adored since the day I meet her! She was my new member educator in AOTT, and 10 years after the fact I am still listening to what she is saying.

This quote pretty much sums up my week with Addie. I am a professional educator who teaches children. But really, I am still the one who is learning. Most of my life lessons are learned through spending time with my 2 1/2 year old daughter. I have had a lot of time to reflect this week and am grateful that I am able to learn so much from her. I love you baby girl!

Art Sessions...

We have had a lot of fun with stickers, markers and paint this week. Addie has created a lot of original pieces of artwork! There seems to be a recurring theme with the color pink and with princesses though. She really enjoys this time to be creative and it is interesting to watch her work and think through what she will do next.

Sleeping Beauty...

The Three Good Fairies
The Stinker-of-a-Fairy... hilarious!

The Queen

This morning I took Addie to see Sleeping Beauty at Beef & Boards. Needless to say, it was definitely an adaptation, but we really enjoyed ourselves. As soon as the lights dimmed and the actors came on stage, Addie's eyes got as big as saucers and she was hooked! She didn't move a muscle or say a peep the entire production, she was truly enthralled by everything. As we exited the play, some of the characters were available for pictures. Our Little Sleeping Beauty made sure to tell and show all of them that she was in fact wearing her glass slippers!

Puppy Love...

I Heart Tucker!

Fun with Fallyn...

Thursday morning I had my people call Fallyn's people to arrange for us to meet up at Conner Prairie to explore their new Discovery Zone for toddlers. We had fun, playing in the garden with the scarecrow, running the general store, riding the cho-cho train and pretending to drive cars. The most fun however was milking the cow... we would have done it all morning if our mamas had allowed us to! Afterwards we meet up with our daddy's and they treated us to lunch at Puccini's... yummy!

I LOVE This Guy!!!

Snuggle time with Grampy... anything to avoid bedtime!
I can tell, you really think I'm a ham!

Give me a Velma Lou smooch!

Thanks for my new princess pj's Nana!

Grampy + Gymnastics = A Fun Night!

Wednesday night Grampy came in town to spend the night with me. (It sure pays off being an old retired guy... you get to see the grand kids anytime you please!) He went to gymnastics with me also. I showed him all of my tricks... I know he was impressed with his future Olympian!

Gymboree...

Addie and I headed to Gymboree for a mommy and me Fun with Music and Play class. The theme was "Down on the Farm" with imaginative play, but little miss insisted on being the princess on the farm, wanting to wear her dancing scarf as a tiara! We really did have a great time playing basketball, dancing, blowing bubbles and playing with the parachute.

Random Finding...

In a way of dealing with our current situation, I find myself trying to organize things around the house. I guess it's my way of controlling things when everything else feels out of control. I was sitting at my desk tonight in our family office and came across a service pamphlet from church dated from December. Doug and I laugh each time we carry them out of the service, commenting on why we even hold onto them... tonight I found out why. The service title on the pamphlet is "The Tough Times:Loss" I have notes and scripture scribbled all over it and I am using it as one of my first steps to start the healing process.

The 3 things that I want to use from this service are:
1. Accept what cannot be changed
2. Focus on what is left, not what is lost
3. Remember what is important and to rely on Christ

In my random scribbles is a starred note that reads "Make a list of what you are thankful for. What have you been blessed with?"

- My daughter, Addie. She truly is my miracle and gift from God that I can hug and love on each and every day.
- My husband, Doug. I love and adore him more than he will ever know. He is my check and my balance, my rock and my guide.
- My family and friends. I simply cannot imagine my life without each of you in it. Each of you are a support and a comfort in all aspects of my life. I love you all so much!
- My faith. Knowing the Lord loves us, and does not want us to suffer. He has good plans for all of us, and they are not plans to hurt us, but to give us hope and a good future.
- My health. I have a strong body and a strong mind and I intend to do good works.
- My sense of humor. I refuse to be bitter. I want to focus on the positive and be happy and thankful for all of my many blessings!

Sleepless Nights = Blog Updates...

I have been looking forward to making these posts and sharing our vacation to the San Diego area with all of you. I just didn't think I would be posting them at 3:00am! (I can't sleep to save my life!) Our family created so many memories on this vacation. Looking at these pictures truly make me smile and make my heart sing with what we are blessed with in our lives. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

*Editor's note: It's 3:00am... I know the English teacher in me is going to read through all of these posts again tomorrow and cringe at all of my typos, mistakes, etc.

We've Arrived!!!

We had the opportunity to spend last week in the Village of Carlsbad, CA just north of the San Diego area with Doug's parents where they had rented a condo for the month. It is a gorgeous seaside town where relaxation and an easy pace are the name of the game. There are numerous shops, farmer's markets and eateries all within walking distance along the shoreline where surfers and skateboarders abound. We can't tell you how much we enjoyed vacationing in this area and look forward to revisiting it again in the future!

A Whale of a Day at Sea World San Diego...

First stop of the day was at the Sesame Street Bay of Play for rides, water park and jungle gym F-U-N!

Sting Ray Bay...

Here fishy, fishy, fishy
Oh my! Good morning Mr. Sting Ray!

He's splashing me...that's funny!

Get a load of this mom!

More Pics from Sea World...