Making Lemonade out of Lemons

Well, it's Spring Break and we are going camping tomorrow through Sunday. The bummer is that is has gotten colder again and it's going to rain as much as it's going to be sunny! We're still going to go because the kids are so looking forward to it and we really need a getaway! On the days that it's too bad to get out, we might drive north to Branson for the day. We took Luke to the Dixie Stampede when Sara was a baby and he's always wanted to go back. And since the girls have never been (you can't count Sara, she was only 3 months old!), we need to take them!

So, we're praying that it doesn't get severe. And that it doesn't get too cold. The kids keep asking, "are we going camping today?" We're asking the Lord to give us some better weather than is predicted, but plan to have fun no matter what!

Oh, and we went to Wal-Mart tonight to get all our groceries for the week and while we were there, Luke and Sara both had to go to the bathroom. I took Sara and discovered that the men's bathroom was being cleaned, so Lance couldn't take Luke. So I went back to the women's bathroom with him. I was waiting at the sink for him to take care of business. He obviously was done, but hadn't flushed the toilet or come out of the stall. I told him to hurry up and here's what I heard. "Waiting for the Grand Finale! Here it comes, here it comes!" I about died laughing! That boy!

Just the Girls!

My Mom has taken Luke and Sara both to Build a Bear Workshop when they were 2 to get a bear. We have Batbear and Teresabear, and now we have Sarahbear. Today was Hope's turn. Sara and I went along. We had a blast. We went to Build a Bear first and Hope picked out her bear, named it Sarahbear (because "Sarah is a nice name"), picked out an outfit and shoes for it and got a bow for her hair. She loved it. Sara did great about not complaining that she wasn't getting a bear. She did get some new shoes and panties for Teresabear.

Hope making Sarahbear

Then we rode on a new train at the Promenade. The girls LOVED that! The train is new and the guys running it were very nice and it wasn't that expensive. The normal price will be $3 but because they just opened this week they are only charging $2 per person. That's not too much. As a mom of 4, $12 wouldn't be too much for all my kids to have fun for a splurge like that.

Riding the train with Sarahbear

Then we had ice cream at the food court. The girls and Mom and I had so much fun. I told Mom today that this is why I want them to be here. So we can have so many more days like this!

It's Official!!!

My parents are moving here!!!!! They took a final walk through the house that they made and offer on today, measured rooms, got word that all the bank issues between buyer and seller are settled and they are buying the house!!!! Yea!

The kids are so excited. Mom has been telling them today all the different plans they have for fun things to do with them when they get here. It is going to be so nice to have them here for all the kids activities and the kids are going to LOVE being able to spend the night at Mom and Poppa's!

Finally!

Woo Hoo! Emma is eating baby food! Seriously, she is 7 months old and has yet to eat a whole jar of food. Heck, not even half a jar! All of my other kids have started eating cereal at 4 months, veggies at 5 months, and fruit at 6 months. Being number 4 and all, we didn't get quite as good of a start with her. I think we tried cereal at 5 months. She didn't eat it. No biggie. We'll just keep trying! So here we are 2 months later and she just ate her first jar of food. I have been worried about it and I am so relieved not to have to worry anymore! I know that she wasn't going to be on milk until she was 5, but I'm so glad to be over this hump! It was so cute, too. She looked like a little bird wanting food. And she is really reaching for stuff. So just about every bite I was having to hold her hands down so she wouldn't grab the spoon and spill the pears.

Luke took a picture of the big event!

Funny, Funny Girl!

Hope is the comedian in our family. Even when she not trying to be! Her funny thing lately (which we can't laugh at!) is to call someone "poopie" when she's mad at them. It's absolutely hysterical, but we totally can't laugh and encourage her. I have to turn my head and chuckle before I turn back to get on to her. She did it today to Sara, but it brought back to my mind a few weeks ago when her Daddy was getting on to her.

Lance and the kids were playing in the living room (probably wrestling) and she did something that got her in big trouble and Lance sent her to her room for time out. She started wailing and refused to go. So then he got really stern and she cried as she started walking out of the room. But as she walked past the coffee table, she stopped and turned around and yelled at him, "you're poopie!!" Oh man, was that a mistake. She got a spanking then. After Lance walked her to her room, he walked back into the living room and I told him, "You just got cussed out by a 2 year old!" Once again, hysterical, but just couldn't laugh at her!

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Today was "Lucky Leprechaun Day" at Luke's school. I have made it to all of his parties this year, which is quite a feat as far as I'm concerned! The main problem is always finding someone to watch the girls. Luckily, the party was on a Tuesday this time instead of Friday and Lance was able to come home early to watch them. Luke had fun. They made it a birthday party for everyone in the class, so there was a birthday cake and then we went outside to do sidewalk chalk and bubbles. Luke loved it. Anything different to the norm is always welcome!

Luke with Mrs. Garner

Tonight we had Luke's Upward Basketball Award Celebration. He was excited and very proud to get a new Upward backpack! The ceremony was a little long. (holy cow! it was an hour and a half!) The girls started getting really bored. They managed to keep themselves entertained, though!

Hope doing her "extercises" :)

Sara drawing while Lance reads a hymnal!

Hoping for Our Miracle!

Sara had a follow up appointment with the dermatologist today. They looked at her back and and found another skin allergy. It is lanolin. Which is in all lotions, chapstick, lip gloss. The nurse started going through a list of stuff asking me if we used any of it. Besides lip gloss (which was sad because Sara LOVES lip gloss) I kept saying no, no, no. Then she said the word that made me happy and sad all in the same moment: eucerin. I looked right at her and said, "we lather her in it every night." She high fived me and said, "we found it!" and walked out of the room. While she was gone, I started crying. When she came back in, she saw I was crying and said, "oh, honey, you didn't know!" I had to explain to her that I wasn't crying because I felt guilty, but because I was so happy. To finally know what might be causing her eczema to be so bad is such a relief. I told her we have been praying for her to be healed for so long. She said that she was going to add her to her prayer list, because she is wanting a miracle for Sara.

I have hope! The love Sara at the office. They all are so impressed with how mature she is. I have been so proud of her the past couple of weeks. She has been such a trooper. She didn't even complain when I told her we couldn't use lip gloss for a couple of weeks. She is ready for some relief!

One more thing from Sara. She was talking to me this morning on the way to MDO. Just carrying on a conversation with me like a big girl. Asking me about when I was a little girl. She couldn't believe I didn't like girl toys and hated dresses! :) Then she said the cutest thing. Sara: It's a good thing that God didn't make just all boys. Me: Why? Sara: Because they would shoot all the animals." Man, I love that girl!