Please pray...I thought I would let everyone know that my Great Great Aunt Mildred passed away yesterday she was 100 years old. I am currently in Toledo with the kids. Please be praying for my Grandpa Miller who is in ICU on a ventilator. His heart is beating strong and on his own. This week I will attend funeral services for my Great Great Aunt my brother will be officiating the service and I will be visiting my grandfather as much as possible. Thank you for your prayers!

It was so nice to visit with my friend Marissa she and Bridget flew in for the week while the Daddy's were busy working:( The four of us spent many days and evenings together while fostering in Guate together.

Bridget was a visitor at Nadia's swim lesson. The girls thought it was amazing!
Check Gavin out at his swim lesson! Big guy without mommy!

Nadia now says "quack quack" for the duck and so many other animal sounds like: Cow, Pig, Horse, Doggie, Kitty, Sheep and others.

This is Nadia and Karina meeting for the first time in Guatemala!

Here they are 7 months later!

This is Gavin and Aaron in Guatemala City last September.
Here they are in Indiana 7 months later!



Aaron and Kristian are complete Star Wars nuts, they really taught Gavin a lot about the force this week. He even learned how to fight with an imaginary lightsaber. Mike could not be more proud. Aaron loves Gavin so much and mostly sat with him and hugged him and read his Star Wars books to him teaching much about "the force."

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!