Back in Time

13 Years Ago, this month, Amy and Mike's "story" began. On April 19, 1996, we went on our first date to a movie: "Mr. Holland's Opus". For the next 6 years, we passed notes in the hallway at school and spent time together almost every weekend...until our wedding in 2002 (when we got to spend every night together!). I'm proud to say, we grew up together!

Looking back 13 years to our first year of dating...we went to a lot of movies, ate lots of Skyline Chili, cheered on the Cincinnati Reds (from the $5 seats), played Frisbee golf, went "creeking" and fished for minnows, enjoyed Wendy's Frosty's on the backyard hammock, got our drivers' licenses, and performed in our High School musicals - "Oklahoma!" and "Hello Dolly."

dominance

Just to clear up any misconceptions, I need to post written evidence of my prowess in 2-hand Pinochle. That's right - 1,000 points in 3 hands. Whipping boy no more!

*I'd just like to point out that my husband is very proud of this accomplishment because this is the FIRST time he has beat me at Pinochle...that's right, the FIRST time :) - Amy

House Guests

We have House Guests! We'd like to introduce Timmy and Tom, our visiting Turtles.
These sweet babies were found in our yard over the weekend. We believe Timmy (smaller, lighter green shell) is a red-eared slider...and Tom (darker patterns on shell) is a yell0w-bellied slider. Both are teeny tiny - with shells about 1-1/2 inches in diameter - and both are semi-aquatic turtles.
We will eventually release the turtles to our backyard lake, but for now, they are living in a Rubbermaid cake bin with a few inches of water, log and rocks. The kids have loved having these super cute temporary pets.

Night-Time Creations

Hendrick has been creative at night - he works in his bed (after bedtime) with his markers and paper and has produced amazing masterpieces. He has even labled his work, writing out all the names by himself.
Can you see Hendrick's "ractango" (rectangle); "ooz" (zoo); "eofint" (elephant); "draf" (giraffe); "sord" (sword); creatures "hen" - who lays eggs, and "rick" (created from his name), "ndj" (injure) and "badm-an" (bad man - he's really a good guy)...and of course, "hendrick" featured above them all. This work of "Hendrick's" features a "spike-tailed elephant", "spike-tailed dog", and "spike-tailed cat". All the "spike-tailed" creatures are bigger than houses...the "spike-tailed cat" is the biggest of all!

Big Dinosaur

Burke likes dinosaurs...he loves to tell us all the time. When he wakes up: "I like dinosaurs", when we get in the car: "I like dinosaurs", when we meet someone new: "I like dinosaurs", in the middle of a conversation: "I like dinosaurs"...it's really very funny - and super cute!

I'm a Big Boy Now

The results are in and...Davis is officially a big boy!!!! After getting a slightly early start in life, Davis has never landed on the growth charts...until now. Our big 3-year-old has made it, he's on the growth charts! At his pediatrician appointment, Davis weighed-in at an impressive 31 pounds (50th percentile!!!) and measured at 36 inches (25th percentile!!!).
We had been told preemies typically catch up by three-years of age - Way to go yard-stick boy!

A little look back: 3 weeks old and 6 weeks old (at home)

Places to Go

Maegli is enjoying the walker wagon...she is definitely on the move.
Our little girl also had an impressive weight gain: this 15-month-old now weighs a perfect 17.5 pounds (that's a 2 pound weight gain in 3 months!).

Eden Ridge

Our family had the pleasure to participate in the Mission to Missionaries work weekend this past Saturday and Sunday. Mission to Missionaries is a wonderful ministry dedicated to meeting the needs of missionaries. They are in the process of building a retreat center - Eden Ridge - to give Missionary families from around the world a place to rest and recharge before returning to their ministry field. The Eden Ridge property is located on 130 beautiful acres near Crossville, TN in eastern Tennessee. The land is beautiful - heavily wooded, picturesque streams, large rock formations, grand hills and gorgeous vistas. The retreat center will eventually several cabins to host missionary families. This weekend, a crew worked to clear the land for phase 1 of the construction, which will begin in the next year (very exciting!). This first phase will include a picnic pavilion, support building and 3 cabins. Please check out the Eden Ridge - and consider becoming involved in this worthwhile ministry. This is our third year participating in the work weekends at Eden Ridge. We cannot wait to see this land with its new buildings and are so excited for the first Missionaries to be able to enjoy this wonderfully peaceful property.
The kids had so much fun camping out on the beautiful property. We did decide that we have outgrown our 5 person tent...but we had so much fun snuggling together! Hendrick and Mike joined the work crew removing trees and brush from the future construction site...and the bitty boys did their share clearing rocks (actually, they just liked throwing the rocks in the creek). This weekend also gave us the perfect platform to teach the kids about Missionaries and the important (and challenging) work they do in growing God's kingdom. Hendrick wants to know: "can we camp here every weekend".
Thank you Mission to Missionaries for the work you do and for letting us be a part of it!

Mid-Week Mini

We took a Mid-Week Mini Vacation! Mike had business in Nashville, with a paid hotel room...so we all went along for a 2-day vacation! While Mike was working, Amy and the kids spent one day at the Nashville Zoo (gotta love that family membership). That night, the kids loved "camping out" in the hotel room. Day 2, we enjoyed Opry Mills Mall and Mike was able to join us for a visit to the Adventure Science Center (thank you Children's Museum of Memphis membership!).
It is so nice to get away for a little bit...and (as said by Hendrick) "staying at a hotel is so special!"

Giant AnteaterAlligator CoveBengal Tiger Cub (4 months old) - enamored with Davis!

Up Up Up

Maegli has a new trick...she can pull-up to STANDING!!!! She is very proud of this accomplishment and is taking full advantage of this new ability. She recently discovered she can climb into our small chair...and stand in it - very exciting! Yay baby girl :)

Kisses for you!

Risen

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:2-6

Today our family is celebrating Jesus' death and subsequent rising from the grave some 2,000 years ago. We acknowledge our station as imperfect and thus unable to enter into God's kingdom "as is." We are thankful to the end that Jesus lived His life as the perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins (see: Mosaic Law). We believe this happened and that because of this faith profession we will experience eternal life when our time on Earth is over.

We hope to see you there.

Hallelujah, He is Risen!!! Happy Easter!!!
P.S. We also figured eggs, being a holdover from previous generations to celebrate fertility, are a fitting activity for our family....but really, we use them as a fun way to teach the kids about the women not finding what they expected inside the tomb, just like they find tasty confectioneries instead of chickens.

Easter Lily

Eggstravaganzoo

This morning, we and and 9,000 others braved cold April temperatures and took part in Eggstravaganzoo at the Nashville Zoo - a HUGE Easter egg hunt! The kids had a ball, all bundled-up, tramping through the field and collecting some of the 30,000 eggs. They also loved searching for Easter eggs in the animal habitats - the Meerkats and Red River Hogs didn't seem very interested in their eggs...hmmm :)
We can't wait to return for another visit to the Nashville Zoo - we now have a family membership to both the Nashville and Memphis Zoos (we go all the time to the Memphis Zoo!) - we have found with our family of 6 (soon to be 7!), it is much more economical for us to purchase a family membership than single day passes.

Spring Break

We love having Grandma (Amy's Mom) come to visit for Spring Break. It may be her vacation, but always feel like we are the ones on vacation when she's here! Grandma was a miracle worker - not only were were Amy and the kids able to enjoy lunches out with Grandma, a trip to the Children's Museum, a visit to the playground, swinging and soccer in the backyard, a special 3-year-old birthday celebration...but Grandma also made yummy pancakes and bread, packed away baby clothes, and cleaned countless loads of laundry and endless dishes...AND, gave Mike and Amy a date night out. We kept her busy - Grandma may need a vacation from her vacation! We loved having her with us!

Two...Three!!!

Happy Birthday Davis!Davis has been singing "Happy Birthday to Me!" all week - he is so excited for his birthday.
And now, he will proudly tell you he is "two...three" as he holds up two and then four fingers :)

Davis has the best giggle, and a fantastic celebration dance (he gallops in a circle!),
loves watching Curious George and listening to Peter and the Wolf (he can identify all the characters by instrument). He is becoming quite the talker and is now asking "what's that?", "what's that mean?". His favorite color is red, favorite animal is the Lion, and
he likes to pick flowers for mama. Davis is a super sweet boy -
always ready with a friendly wave and a "hi!" and full of warm snuggles.
We are so proud of our 3-year-old!

Tub Time

Rub-a-dub-dub, Four Kids in a Tub! Maegli loves tub time with her big brothers - too much fun!