Phoebe is 3

Our baby is three years old. She seems so much older! We celebrated her birthday at Chuck E. Cheese last night. She was so excited when we made her cake together. She wanted a princess/Dora cake, so we figured something out. I think she equates the cake with the whole concept of birthday. Because she said last night, "Thank you for making my birthday, Mom." And every time she sees the cake she says, "Oh, it's my birthday!".

The kids had a great time at Chuck E. Cheese. We were having the machine count our tickets, and a man walked up and asked how many kids I had. I told him three (they were there with me). He gave each of them a receipt that each had around 300 tickets on it! So the kids got to buy much bigger gifts than they would have with our meager receipt of tickets.





Phoebe loved the strawberry cake! She ate her piece and then wanted another one. So while she ate, the kids unwrapped her gifts.

Resurrection Day!

I love Easter! Everyone dresses up and special programs and music are done at church and there are lots of new people to meet. We're celebrating something only we Christians can celebrate fully! Jesus rose from the grave and is in heaven waiting for us! It's the cornerstone of our faith. It's very encouraging and I really enjoyed it yesterday. We had a thank-you breakfast at church, so I didn't have to make breakfast (or clean up afterwards). Then Phillip and I got to sit together in church service (which rarely happens on a Sunday morning). We think we may have had 5,000 people total for the weekend, so that's exciting. Then I taught my 3 year old class with 4 visitors (yea!). We went home for the kids to "open" their Easter baskets (books, a cute chocolate candy in the form of snail, frog, and turtle, markers for Liz, toys for Jon and Phoebes, and music DVDs from CedarMont kids) and grab the coleslaw I made. Then we went to some friends' for a late lunch and egg hunt for the kids. It was a great day!


Saturday night curling of the hair for the special coming Day. This is the first time I've curled Phoebe's hair and she sat really still for me. Please excuse my dirty bathroom mirror. I did clean it last night. :-)


Beautiful clothes all around!

Small Group

This is most of the women from the small group I led at Fleming Island. They were a great group and had great patience with their green teacher. At the end of our last study the church had a women's retreat at a camp ground in Georgia, so that's where the picture was taken.

Cooking and Cookies

I know... Why did their mother let them take everything out of the kitchen cabinets? Because it's fun! And I can iron and email and not have to entertain. They are very busy cooking.


A simple and fun snack.

Another sewing project

Jonathan has been asking for a robe like the girls have (well, it's Elizabeth's, but both girls wear it). He wanted his to be superhero, but we couldn't find superhero material, so we went with camouflage. He loves it!

3 year old class

I teach these precious 3 year olds on Sunday mornings. The other lady in the room is a "buddy" to an autistic boy who is in class with us. We have a wonderful program at church called Access Junction which finds a "buddy" for any special needs children we have, and they stay with them throughout whatever class they are in at church. Every other week another lady teaches and I help and sometimes we have a teenager to help. (nice!) And if one of the kids gets wild or is having a fit, I just have to throw out a red bandana into the hall and a ministry leader will come take the child out of the class and help them calm down. I like it!

Love those kids!

Quiet, calm, sitting next to each other without fighting. Aaawwww.... I can cook lunch without interruptions!


Elizabeth made "hair".



Phillip has been sick with the flu. I hope we don't get it. The kids have not been very sick this year. No hospital or doctor visits ~ no high fevers ~ no laying on the couch all day ~ no throwing up ~ no missing church.... It's been kind of nice.

I'm listening to Alison Krauss right now: She has a sweet clear voice. Her songs are wholesome. She sings in a country/ blue grass style. I like it.

Elizabeth had another teary day with math yesterday. She took until 4:30 in the afternoon to finish a worksheet. That was with lots of breaks, of course. I feel sorry for her, but it will build her character. I'm still only doing half a lesson a day, so we're going slow. She just doesn't like to do it. But like I said.... character.

Jonathan can't wait to go to heaven to see Grandma Phoebe's mom. He asks, "Whose tummy was Mimi in?" and I say, "Grandma Phoebe's." He asks, "Whose tummy was Grandma Phoebe in?" and I say, "I don't know; I haven't met her because she died." "Is she in heaven?" I say, "I'm sure she is." "Well, I can't wait to go to heaven to meet her one day."

Phoebe is so darn cute!!!! She's beautiful!!! I love to watch her sleep. I want to pinch her cheeks and kiss her all over. She's got attitude, but, boy, can she be a charmer when she wants to be. She'll be a force to be reckoned with! Hopefully for good.