We love this song!

This song is so great. Madeline likes to sing along with it! Hope you enjoy it, too!

Stole It

"Thanksgiving doesn't depend on the way you feel moment by moment, nor is it a polite courtesy. Your urgent duty is to respond in gratitude to all that God has done and is doing for you. To be grateful is to recognize God's hand on everything that touches your life. Every breath you draw is a gift of His love; every moment of existence is a gift of grace, for it brings with it other immense graces from God. Gratitude takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly aware of new wonders, and praises the goodness of God. Those who are grateful know that God is good not by hearsay but by experience."

I stole this quote from Shane and Wendy's Blog. I have been reading about their journey through international adoption. They have had to be very patient and trusting of God and recently posted this quote on their blog. I thought it was so good, I would share it too. If you get a chance, read their blog and say a prayer for them.

You Must Excuse Me

We have been busy. In the last few months, there have been so many updates, it would take me several posts just to get it all in! I decided to combine and give a quick update. Madeline started preschool and she loves it! Above is the opening family picnic where the kids had to make their own boat for a boat race. Madeline was very proud of her boat with Captain Jack Sparrow, who she wants to be for Halloween. School is twice a week at Mrs. Wolfe's house with 12 other little 3 year olds. It is too cute.

My parents celebrated their 30th anniversary with a dinner party at the downtown restaurant, Rustica. Happy Anniversary to Mike and Sue!! If you are downtown Kalamazoo, check out Rustica, you won't be disappointed! Above is my mom and her brother. Several of my mom and dad's siblings were able to make it along with many of their friends.

First day of school!! It was a big day!

Happy 3rd Birthday Madeline! Are you really 3? It seems like yesterday I brought you home on a warm, fall day. Much like it has been lately. We love you so much sweet girl.

This picture is too precious. My parents and I took the girls to go see my Grandma Nave in Nebraska. Poor Todd, we left him at home. You can see his sad story here. We missed him a lot! However, we were so lucky to go and see "Gammy" as Madeline calls her. It was a special time that we won't forget. We carved pumpkins for her to look at, watched my cousin, Sean's, football game, ate with family and had a great time. We love Grandma Nave and wished we lived closer to hang out with her more often.

As you can see, it's been a busy couple months, but a FUN couple of months. Happy fall to everyone.

Importance of Family

So this past weekend, I got a taste of bachelorhood once again. It wasn't quite the same as it was pre-family. In fact, I realized how out of touch I was with the scene away from home.

The girls left on Friday to visit Gammy (Grandma Nave) in Nebraska. Rocco and I were holding down the fort. On Friday afternoon, when I returned from work, the house was eerie. It was quiet and it felt cold. Now I understand that it was cold outside and that transferred into the house. But it was a different cold. Time went by depressingly slow. Luckily, Ross was around and we hung out. The whole weekend was kind of nuts. I didn't sleep very well (despite my thinking that I might sleep extraordinarily well considering there was no one there to wake me up at random times). I didn't even really make it upstairs and crashed on the couch.

I did get quite a bit of errands around the house done, including ripping out the carpet in the play room. All in all, this weekend gave me a realization as to how amazing family really is. Even when Madeline spills something or irritates me past the point of frustration, or Millie wakes up a couple times or doesn't fall asleep to begin with, I definitely did not like being apart from that. Family is something to be cherished and always appreciated. "Do not boast about tomorrow for you never know what a day may bring forth." Proverbs 27.

A Little Vacation

We decided to take a little vacation and, as usual, headed down to Chicago for a night. It seemed like we were gone a lot longer but I think it has to do with the fact that we toted to kids around the Windy City. Even though it was only for a night, we had a good time as usual. We promised Madeline a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo so she could see all her animal friends. The best part for us is that it's free! It's such a great zoo to go to! I think I have a couple other blog posts with pictures of Madeline there as well. Above is Millie in front of the carousel that Todd and Madeline rode.

While in Chicago, Millie found her toes!

We seem to be creatures of habit and always eat at the same place for dinner when we go. The last couple times we have been to Chicago as a family, it must have been in the fall or winter, because our favorite restaurant was opened up to the street. It was fun to eat and watch the foot traffic go by. Madeline had fun with her chopstick feeding her animals--Bambi and Roo. She picked them out at the Disney Store.

I can't believe it is August and summer will be wrapping up. Todd has been busy trying to move into his new school and classroom...it sounds like it has been a lot of work trying to unpack. Plus, he has to learn all new curriculum for the fourth grade. All of that, coupled with my working and the day-to-day will probably make the rest of the summer fly by. We hope everyone we know is having a great summer too!

Todd, Master and Commander!

This post is long overdue. I meant to write it back in May, when Todd became a Master! Master of what? you might ask! After a couple long years (and long Wednesday nights) for Madeline and I, Todd received his Masters Degree. I suppose those were a couple long years for him, too (and a couple of long, LATE nights!). Congrats to our great husband and dad, Todd!

So, Todd is not only Master (ha--and don't start thinking I go around calling him Master Todd!) but he is also Commander of the two girls this summer. That's right, our own Daddy Daycare. I went back to work and Todd has been watching the girls--by himself--for those long 12 hour days. And let me tell you, they are LONG! But, he does it and he does it well. We are fortunate. Above is the great Master and Commander on Father's Day, we love you Todd!!

The Fourth

My friend Anna always makes the yummiest things! When we had Millie, she brought us the most beautiful (yes, you heard me, beautiful!) and tasty meal. Recently her twins turned one and the party was beyond perfect. While there, I ate one of the tastiest treats ever--cake balls! I decided to be a copycat and make them for the fourth for dessert. Anna's were way cuter, but practice makes perfect and they will be cuter next time. But they sure were tasty! Happy Fourth!!