1st Round of Strawberry picking

"Which one should I eat I mean pick?"

The girls eating their pickins.

All three looking for bright red strawberries.

Serious about her job of finding great strawberries.

We knew we wouldn't have much time to pick strawberries and make jelly this year because of our trip to the lake and Florida. So we met up with Sherry, Caleb, and Madilynn for some picking. Elli ate her share and I hope we have enough for jelly:)

Norris Lake Trip May 27-31, 2010

Heading out for a night trip on the boat.

We celebrated Heather's birthday with cupcakes in ice cream cones and we all had candles.

Elli helping Heather open her gifts.

I have ever seen a leaf bigger than this one, that I can remember. She loved it.

She wouldn't get on the tube with me while the boat pulled but she hopped on and let dad pull us to the boat and push us out. Maybe next time.

We were playing traing where we each took the lead. Elli loved to be the leader but all she did was run around waving her hands:)

Our ice cream girl:)

The whole clan. This is one of our most exciting adventures while visiting at the lake.

Elli and Matt having a conversation over ice cream:)

Love these big smiles.

Doesn't get much better than this.

Elli called him the "hopping noodle bunny." Many fun times in the pool.

Matt helping Elli get some jelly beans.

Swimming on Leah's back playing school bus.

Heather and I ran to the boat garage and back. We made it minutes before the skies let loose with rain and hail. I also found this huge leaf that Elli used as an umbrella. We were counting the seconds between thunder and lightning to see how far away the storm was. We were coutning 5-9 seconds when all of a sudden there was a lightning and an instant thunder. We ran inside:)

We went to Norris Lake again this year for the Memorial Day Weekend and for Heather's birthday. Such fun. The weather did a little bit of everything. We had a huge storm with hail, sun, cool nights, hot days, and light rain. We also had planty of time on the water, trips for ice cream, walks, and swimming pool fun, not to mention a birthday party.

Prayer Walk for Three Year Old Class

Walking outside to praise God for the beautiful things He has made.

Coloring the finger to remind them to confess their sins. We also prayed for their parents to learn more about God while in big church.

Walking out to thank God for the church He gave us as a place to come and learn more about him.

Sherry and I teach the three year old class for one month at a time, every third month. It has been a fun experience, most of the time, and on May 23rd we had a great time. We took the kids on a prayer walk. Sherry printed out a hand with things to pray for on each finger and then we walked around the church praying for those things. After they finished praying, they colored the finger that represented that prayer. Hearing their little voices pray was a emory I want to keep forever.

A Rarity

This Saturday morning I really wanted to sleep in. Brent was up and getting ready to go work on the rental house and then Elli walked in at 7:45. She climbed into bed as she always does then I told her daddy was downstairs. She actually got out of bed to go see him. They ate breakfast together and then as he was gathering supplies she came up to get the stool from my room. She said she needed to get her dress because they are going to the daddy store (Lowes). She next comes in the room and asks me to tie her bow. Brent walks in and they brush their teeth together. I hear Elli then say, "I am not ready yet." She goes into her room and comes out wearing shoes which she shows to Brent with the question, "Do these look okay with my pink dress?" Brent tells her they look great and they start to go downstairs. As they are leaving, I tell Elli to stay right with her daddy at the daddy store. Walking down the stairs she replies, "I will mommy. We are getting a kid's cart!"

Picture night for Ballet

Tutu-arama:)

They really love each other.

Elli and Lily, little ballerinas.

Elli and Lily have been in ballet together since September. They are so cute together. It has been fun to watch them grow in their ability to dance, follow directions, and play with others. Elli was quite unsure about wearing this outfit but when she saw all the other little gilrls wearing their outfits, she felt better. Look at those sweet smiles:)

Awana Awrds Night

Elli standing next to her friend Abby. Abby just moved to Florida and Elli will miss her.

Some of my little lambs.

Wednesday was the last night of Awana this year and we had the awards ceremony. My little Cubbies group of Lambs was a delight this year. So sweet to hear them say their verses each week. I have really enjoyed getting to know them and will miss them.

Visit with Lindy

Lindy, Elli and Lorien.

Elli likes playing "mommy" and Lindy even let her feed Lorien. Fun day.

Lindy and I have been friends since High School. She now lives far away and comes to visit when she can. Now when she comes, she brings her precious little girl, Lorien. Elli and I had a great visit and it was fun to see our little girls playing together.

Family Golf Outing

I love this picture of Elli walking with her daddy. So serious, both of them.

Daddy showing her how to hold the club. She actually learned fairly quickly and corrected herself when she couldn't hit the ball.

She was so intent on getting the ball to stay on the tee. It was cute to watch her.

Taking her clubs back to the cart. We found these at a garage sale, and they are perfect for her. So cute to watch her be all gorwn up out there. What a sweet girl we have. Maybe she'll even have some talent for golf one day:)

When we bought these clubs, she was so excited because she found this little place to put her cup. I made sure to fill her cup then she was able to put it in her bag. She took lots of little drinks from it while working so hard on the driving range. She also made sure to hold it while Brent and I played some holes. We had a great day together. Maybe one day we'll be a whole golfing family.

Annual Mother's Day dinner at Heather's

Elli wanted to bring two bears since Heather and Gary have this little table. They were having tea.

We walked all over the yard to find the best spot. We got lots of pictures:)

Mommy and my baby!

Gonga and her grand daughter:)

Great Grandma with her little Ellianna.

Heather worked very hard and prepared a delicious dinner for us. It was fun to celebrate together though we missed having Grammy here this year. Good news is that Leah is a mom-to-be with two little babies growing inside of her. Next year there will be three grand babies, at least! (all of us hope for more:)

Mother's Day, May 9, 2010 Breakfast in Bed

Waffle, syrup, eggs, fresh fruit, bacon, orange juice and chocolate milk along with a flower came up to my room. We decided though after a small attempt that it would be much easier to eat this at the kitchen table:)

Elli "helping" Brent make breakfast.

Brent was not all that excited about me taking this picture, but I wanted these memories:) Thank you for serving me on this day.

I heard Elli at 7:20 saying, "Mommy can you wake me up now?" As I went into her room to get her though she told me , "No, No, No. You go back to bed," and she began pushing me back into my room. She started giggling right then and for the next 20 minutes I heard lots of giggling and cooking going on in the kitchen as Brent and Elli made breakast for me. Elli ran up the stairs though and hopped in bed to "have some too." So sweet.

Princess Tea, May 8, 2010

My Little Princess and I read a prayer about having "Princess Words" that are sweet and kind. Elli got a little shy when it was actually time to talk in the microphone, but she held onto my leg and said her part anyway. Good job Elli!

We used Lily's coach for the pictures. It made a great backdrop.

Elli decided it was going to be her job to hand out the sashes and the rings to the girls as they came up for their pictures. It was also her idea to move this cross up on stage where people could see it better. She is so cute.

Our table consisted on Elli and I, Paula, her mom Frances, and girls Lily and Caroline and Sherry Harry with her grand daughters Emma and Hannah.

Our church did a Princess Tea this year as a Mother Daughter event for Mother's Day. It was so much fun. The little girls all dressed up, some in their princess dress-up dresses. We had prayers read from the book, "His Little Princess" to remind us how a princess should act and to remind us that as daughters of the King of Kings, we are princesses. The food was delicious and everyone seemed to have a great time.

Preschool Praise, May 2, 2010

Right before the performance.

"His Banner over me is Love."

Okay, so these pictures are not so good, but the memories are:)

Elli really enjoys singing and dnacing, so preschool praise is a perfect activity for her. On May 2nd, the kids performed four songs in front of the church. Elli takes it seriously and tries to sing her very best. As you can see, she enjoys it too:)

In Memory of Michael

These are our azalea bushes that have decided to bloom this year after taking last year off.

Brent's family and friends from Michigan wanted to give us a gift when Michael died that would help us remember him. This is what we chose and what a beautiful reminder of his sweet little life. They were gorgeous as you can see. Full of blossoms and bright color.

First Dragon's Game of the Season for us (aka 80's night)

Family picture. Yes, it is April and we are in our winter coats. I even wore my long johns:)

Heather and Elli. Elli loves to go to the games and Heather loves to have her there. Good plan I think! We got popcorn and then Heather got her some cotton candy. If you are not fast, she eats it all. Heather found that out the hard way.

I thought this was hilarious. Heather looked like a girl from the 80's with her head band pushing her hair up. We teased her about it, but it was fun just to laugh and be together.

Elli had some paperwork at her preschool about t-ball. I read it and asked her if she wanted to play. She said, "Me? Be on the Dragons? I am too little!" She loves the Dragons and we are thankful that Heather and Gary have extra tickets so we get to enjoy them sometimes too:)