Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day Paul!! I truly enjoy watching you with our girls. You are a wonderful father. I find joy in seeing you love our girls- playing with them, comforting them, teaching them, praying with them & for them, making them laugh etc. Thank you for working so hard so that I can stay home with them each day. I love you.

We started the day eating breakfast together at the table- unfortunatley a rare event these days. It meant a lot to me! I made whole wheat pancakes and eggs. The girls ate pancakes too! Paul opened his presents and cards- including on that played music. I splurged for the singing hot pepper card ... i couldnt resist! I had suprised him and had the girls pictures made for Fathers Day. You can see one of the pictures by his cards above. We all went to church together which was very nice too! We had a suprise visit from Paul's mother, father, little sister and cousin. The girls put on quite a show crawling, pulling up, babbling etc.

The girls missed celebrating with Opa (my dad) but they are looking forward to seeing him in just a few weeks. I also though about my sweet Papa. Its hard to believe he has been gone for three years. I know he would have loved seeing our precious little girls ... I feel confident he is watching from above!

I had intended to get a family picture at church ... but the girls were tired and fussy so sadly i missed my opportunity!

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

Our dear friends Jodi and Tristan who are expecting their first child, a little boy, in August lost EVERYTHING in a fire at their apartment tonight. Please, Please pray for their precious family!! I am co-hosting a baby shower for Jodi next weekend and hope that we can help her and her husband prepare for the arrival of their sweet baby boy!! You can read more about their little family here: http://www.tristanandjodibernard.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday Opa

This post is a little late ... my dad (Opa) celebrated his birthday November 26th. I love this picture of him with the girls!! He looks so happy and proud.

Thank you Opa for all your prayers to get us here. We loved snuggling in your arms during Thanksgiving. We can't wait to come see you this summer and go on your boat. Opa ... will you take us to the waterfall??

Sleeping Beauties

Grace


Natalie

Ornament Party

Camille and Hayes

Ryan

Carmen and Natalie

Jennifer and Grace


You have all heard me talk about the babies I have nannied for ... I had a very special day with them recently. When I nannied for Hayes I made an ornament for his parents for Christmas with his handprint - putting paint on it and turning each finger into a snowman. It turned out really cute. I made another one the following year at Carmens request. Then last year it turned into a slightly bigger event when she invited her girlfriend Christine (the mother of baby Cole) and we made ornaments for Hayes, Camille and Cole. (I ended up watching Cole after finding out that he needed someone to keep him during the day.) This year Carmen decided it was part of her Christmas traditions with the kids. She invited he girlfriend Brandi and her little boy Julian, Jennifer the mother of Ryan (you will remember that I was his nanny before Paul and I got married) and Christine (and baby Cole). We planned on making ornaments for all the kids- including the girls and having lunch and girl talk. It was also an opportunity for everyone to meet and love on the girls. Sadly, baby Cole woke up that morning with a fever and couldn't make it. I hope to see him soon.

The ornaments were a huge success. The kids did great! We had large clear and frosted bulbs for the "big" kids and small clear bulbs for the babies. I couldn't believe how big their hands were. Its amazing how fast they are all growing. I was especially caught off guard when I made Camilles ornament. I held her big girl hand in mine and wondered where time had gone. I looked at Carmen and said "Where has my baby gone?" Camille was sitting on my lap at the time and immediatley leaned in and put her cheek on my cheek. TALK ABOUT MEALT YOUR HEART!! It was like she was saying "I am right here!" Ryan is getting so big. He is 6 years old now and has an adorable dog Freddie and enjoys swimming. I can't believe this is the same little boy that I used to snuggle with each day. Hayes is almost 4. He is reading and loves Montessori school. I can't believe this is the same little boy I rocked to sleep each day. Oh how I love these kids!! I have my own girls now ... BUT these children will always be MY babies!! I LOVE YOU RYAN, HAYES, CAMILLE AND COLE!!

Mary did you know?

This is my favorite Christmas song. (well non-traditional Christmas song... )

Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?

This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?

Did you know that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?

When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

The blind will see.And the deaf will hear.The dead will live again.

The lame will leap.The dumb will speak. The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you knowthat your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

As I was rocking the girls to sleep Christmas Eve I found myself in awe of their perfect little faces and all their dainty features. I watched as they peacefully slept breathing in and out ever so slowly. They were all wrapped up and felt so warm in my arms. Its these moments of motherhood that I longed for all those years. These moments of pure bliss, deep gratitude and complete happiness I craved from deep in my soul. I couldn't believe that these precious little girls were actually in MY arms. I pondered how deep my love was for these two angel babies. I thought of how Mary must have felt when she held baby Jesus. Did she study his beautiful face? Was she too amazed by the incredible love she had for her newborn son? What dreams did she have for her son ... knowing that He was the Son of God? I wondered if she was overwhelmed by the awesome responsibility that was hers ... to raise the Son of God!!

Splish Splash I Was Taking a Bath

We have been hoping to get some bathtime photos for awhile and I finally managed to capture some of our bathtime fun today. The girls have started to enjoy their baths (instead of crying the entire time) which makes this part of our evening routine so much more enjoyable.


Grace


Grace


Natalie

Natalie