Girls just wanna have fun..We had Lauren and Jillian visit one evening and they are only a few months apart from Nadia and Karina I love JAMMIES! Eliana is so beautiful her hair is sooo long now!

Last week we had the opportunity to host the Gill Family! So much fun had by all..Tuesday-Friday felt like one big playdate. Steve's mother had a successful surgery and could be out of the woods with cancer. It is amazing how kids just pick up where they left off without skipping a beat. Adults can learn a lot from watching children play. Inhibitions and honesty are always out in the open children don't worry about tiptoeing around each others feelings but are ready to just relax together, build, throw, create and imagine together.

Spring cleaning has begun..so I am TRYING to get organized. Many of you know that this is a lifelong quest for me. Especially my sister who moved out of sharing a room with me when we were 16 and 18 because she could not handle my messiness anymore. I must say beginning this "organization quest" with 2 sweeties around is teaching me patience. But I have embraced their help! Gavin's enthusiasm for helping us with almost everything is delightful I only hope he can keep his momentum into the teen years..hee hee. Mike has joined me on this quest too and I know we are getting closer little by little.

My schoucher (spelling anyone?). I had to share this with you all since we are soon approaching a time when crawling/scooting will no longer be Nadia's main mode of movement. She will soon be walking and yet another phase will begin! Chasing two? Many of you know that she has been in physical therapy because she was not pulling up and she was 13 months. Being able to pull to stand is kind of important if you want to someday walk. I am so happy with our progress she is impressing us all and will even sometimes choose to crawl traditionally but "normal" is boring right. So here she is scooting her Easter away. She is a total balloon NUT too!

So, I have been incredibly slow at blogging not sure if there is a legitimate excuse except for as I speak my son is trying to grow out of his nap! I actually had them both napping at the same time which was simply amazing for a while. This is trying to make him nap thing is starting to make me a bit crazy. During his nap time he now: stays in his room, sings, sometimes empties drawers, strips himself of clothing or sometimes his bed. You cannot say he his not creative to say the least. Not sure when to give up.? (giving up has not really been one of my best talents).. I have been actually bribing him with his Easter candy if he goes right to sleep. Speaking of Easter I believe I forgot to blog some photos Mike's parents came for Easter which was very special and they took most of the photos which I do not have as of yet (Papa Dave). Now, I need to go upstairs and once again tell him to rest. We really enjoyed our now becoming annual Easter egg hunt at with the Oppold's (thanks again for hosting and being so amazing Oppold family) So, I just bribed Gavin with 3 fruit snacks and a piece of chocolate we shall see since is has been over an hour since he has been quietly playing in his bed we may need to count that as his nap. Do any mom's have any suggestions for my just turned 3 and opposing a nap? Enjoy these couple of Easter photos. Oh and if you are wondering he is napping now but guess who is ready for her mummy? You guessed my sweet Nadia!

We spent last week enjoying Spring Break at New Smyrna Beach. We rented a condo on the beach and had a very nice heated pool. Gavin learned to swim with Swimmies. Nadia loved the ocean and playing in the sand and the girls really bonded in such sweet ways. Nadia could have stayed for hours digging if we would have let her! Gavin sang, Peter and James and John in the Sail boat out in the deep blue sea..at the top of his lungs, "Then came Jesus walking on the water." He loved chasing waves, flying kites, eating fresh fish and strawberry shortcake and having so much Gammamma and Papa Dan time. Thanks Mike for letting us go and for all you do for us! The drive all the way down in one day with 7 bodies in one mini van was a bit dicey but worth every minute of "being together" (another favorite phrase of Gavin's). I cannot believe that I can drive 6 hours straight maybe truck driving is in my future?

This is Aunt Claire trimming Nadia's bangs for the first time at Baby Sam's 1st Birthday party.

This is what 60 years of marriage looks like! Kind of amazing...I am slow at posting lately (sorry) but I have been a couple of places too in the last few weeks. I had the chance to spend the weekend with my grandparents in Dallas, TX. My Grandma Ruth is improving but is still relearning how to walk. I worked with her a lot that weekend and she continues to learn more and more each day. Grandma you are in our prayers. We love you...

Happy 3rd Birthday mi amor. It is so hard to believe how quickly each day passes. We love you so much and cannot wait to see you grow but don't grow too fast. We are praying for you each and every day believing that you will become a special person who loves God with all his heart.

We finished off Gavin's celebration with a day at the Children's Museum with friends. He absolutely loved the George exhibit!

It felt a little like Christmas morning opening gifts at 7:00 AM! Gavin loves his new ROCKET from the Little Einstiens.

Celebrating Aunt Susanne and Uncle Kristian's baby shower was just ducky! So much fun we cannot wait to meet you baby bean!

It was great fun to have Michelle visit us recently we love you Aunt CHELLE and baby Sam!

My crazy guys..one night Mike asked Gavin what his favorite food was, Gavin replied "BLUE PINAPPLE" so Mike proceeded to make him blue pineapple. So much for keeping Blue Dye number 5 out of his diet. They both thought it was a riot.

Gavin loved his "Choo Choo train" cake. To make a Train cake you simply: bake the cake in a 13X9 pan, then cut the cake into 3rds long ways, then cut the cake into whatever length of train car you would like. For the engine add a small square piece of cake on top near the back of the car use two large marshmallows with a toothpick on top. I found that putting icing on the tops of the cake cars is easier. Use reeses miniature cups for tires and twizzlers pull and peels for train tracks. Decorate each car with your favorite candies. Gavin's had gummy snakes, m&m's, marshmallows, and of course Winnie the Pooh too.

It was great fun to bring cupcakes to Gavin's school, he could not believe that Nadia and Mommy came to his class. So sweeet in his little hat!

Happy 3rd Birthday Gavin! It is so hard for us to believe that our baby boy is already turning 3! WOW this is going way too fast. He is such a joy, he is impresses us each day. We celebrated last weekend in Toledo with the entire family it was really great. Even Mike's sister Susanne and Uncle Kristian were there from England. They actually were in town celebrating their baby shower. Pics to follow..they are having a boy yeah for Gavin a boy cousin. Some sweet things he is saying right now that we love are: "Chey Chey" - Leche, Milk
"Fanditch" - Sandwich a "Daddy Fanditch"-means wrestling with Daddy
"Cabuzz" - Because
"Belly Jeans"- Jelly Beans
"Muffin pancakes"- Cup Cakes (we think the cup throws him off)

It was really special to have my Grandpa Miller come to Gavin's party too. Sadly he is now on Oxygen for the rest of his life and is unable to have a much needed heart surgery. Please keep him in your prayers. He was so excited to give Gavin a truck and helicopter.

I recieved a wonderful Birthday present today. My Grandma Ruth has broken her back in two places. She had back surgery and has been in and out of the hospital for the past two weeks. Until today I did not know that I would have the chance to speak with her again ever. She has never missed calling me on any of my birthdays. I was actually feeling quite down about it last night. I even said to Mike, "I won't get a birthday call from my Grandmother." Our God works miracles. She has been incoherent and has barley known her name for the past 10 days. Finally we have answers about what has been happening to her; she has had bleeding on her brain and the bleeding has gone all the way down her spine. When she called me today I was so overwhelmed and amazed at how big our God is! She is still in incredible pain from the bleeding. The Neurosurgeon has not ever seen a case this bad, he plans to write an article about her case. Please continue keeping her in your prayers. She is 79 and is in Dallas, TX with my grandfather and two aunts.

It is so wonderful to have my babies back we are not doing so well in our New Year's Resolution but we will keep trying our best to stay healthy! This is so precious of Gavin and Nadia playing together, a rare but an increasing activity.

The reality of the situation...so this is what my NEW YEAR has been filled with. Literally. I cannot believe Mike took this picture of me but sometimes being a mom is not always glamorous. We started this year with Jan 2 the illnesses began. We had our lifegroup over for a New Year's Eve party and many of the kids shared in this fun sickness, which included: Vomiting, the runniest nose EVER, coughing, fevers and ear infections. Wow what fun! The kids are on the mend and we are so thankful that we did not contract this virus. Mike chipped his tooth this week and now has to have a crown while Nadia is bringing in tooth #7! It is humbling to me every time they are sick how much they need and depend on us for everything. It is also difficult at times to believe that we are responsible for so much as parents. Not only providing their physical needs but so much of their emotional, social, and most importantly spiritual needs. I am keenly aware of these when they are vunerable or in pain and I want so badly to help them. It is easy to imagine now that I am a parent how our heavenly father feels at times looking down on us when we are struggling or in pain. I'm sure He is trying to guide us and provide us with every tool He can to help us through our pain. I pray that this year I will be able to provide these delicate and every changing needs for them. But that I will find joy in doing so..even when it is difficult. I want to resolve to find the positive and give them all that I can to help them to become the people God intends them to be. 2008 here we come!