Free at last!

Two days after my post about our beach trip, Emma came down with Hand Foot Mouth disease.  Sores and rashes in the mouth, on the feet and hands, and in Emma's case, on the back of the legs.  This little darling had just gotten over a cold and an ear infection, so to be confined to the house for another week was depressing!  We were able to make it to the zoo with our good friends Brooke and Mason before our imprisonment.

showing us their monkey dances :)

Luckily, my in-laws came to our rescue again on Friday so I could go back to work before losing my job, and so we could follow through with a commitment we had made for Saturday.  Sunday night, my mom came so she could babysit while I went to my other job Monday, so I wouldn't lose that one either.  Yesterday, we got our release from the doctor so we could go back to daycare.  We celebrated by rejoining our friends at music class :) 

Saturday, we had the privilege of volunteering at Convoy of Hope.  7,823 homeless and impoverished residents of Kansas City were able to receive free groceries, shoes, vaccinations, dental work, health care, screenings, and prayer from some 1500 volunteers from 40 churches in the metropolitan area.  For children, there was face painting, balloon animals, pony rides, blow up bounce houses, and an opportunity to dress up as what they wanted to be when they grow up and then a picture taken.  What an amazing day!  Brett got to help in a tent where they washed our guests feet before giving them a new pair of shoes.  After seeing what seemed to be over 1000 people in our Health Services tent, I was exhausted.  I'm still exhausted.  But, I can't wait to do it again next year!

Worship time with volunteers before The Convoy

Also, we booked our summer vacation!  Not the most special place in the world since we use to live there, but we are going to Houston for a wedding in August, so decided to rent a condo in Galveston with some friends for a week.  Even though we have been there before, we have never been with Emma. It will also be nice to spend some much needed time with friends and family with no distractions! 

Have a great week everyone!

Sand in the pants.

I've been really jealous lately.  I follow a lot of cool blogs of people who live close to the beach along the coast, and their recent posts have had me itching for the water.  Then it dawned on me today...  we here in the mid west have lakes!  I know that Smithville parks and recreation does not compare to the beautiful sands of Florida, or the waves welcomed onto the South Carolina shores, but sometimes you just have to make do.  Besides, packing up the truck to enjoy a little sunshine sounded a lot better than mowing the lawn and doing laundry.  I poked me head out the front door as Brett was preparing his chores and told him we were going to the beach.  I got a head tilt roll-of-the-eyes look, then a smile.  I think that even though he knew we should be responsible adults, putting our toes in the sand sounded better to him, too.

This was Emma's first trip to the lake, though you wouldn't have known it.  Brett brought a pail of water to her and she went straight to work mixing and digging and piling.  I love this little girl.  She stays so busy figuring it all out... what's fun, what's dirty, what works.  Occasionally, she would look at her hands with a "now what have I done" expression and daddy would collect her to rinse off in the water. 

I adore these two.  I'm so glad we were able to take a time out and enjoy each other today.  I hope each of you get to take a time out with the ones you love the most and find your "beach".

Have a great week!

A little catch up.

So, Brett and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago.  I know, I'm a little behind.  I still remember his smile when he stepped out of his car 6 years ago, the first time we met.  (We actually met 2 1/2 years before that, but I don't remember his face then.  My memory is blinded from the redness of our cheeks when his grandpa made two strangers hold hands in the nursing home.  So, we go based on 6 years ago for meeting ;) ) Anyway, he stepped out of his car to meet me and my friends for happy hour, not knowing anyone in the city... only knowing that his grandpa recommended my company.  I knew there was something special about this grandson.  And there is.  After spending everyday for the rest of the summer together, every weekend making the four hour drive to see each other for the next year, getting married, moving across country twice together, facing miscarriage and infertility together, having a baby together... there is still something special about him.  And it is only getting sweeter.  We may not have the perfect life, but no one's life is perfect.  Having someone beside you to not only accept the imperfections, but embrace them with you... that is perfection.

Our summer has been going great besides some bronchitis, colds, ear infections, and spider bites.  Other than that, it's been a real blast! 

I took Emma to Monkey Bizness for the first time with Aunt Gina and her cousin James.  This is an indoor playground with inflatable bounce houses and slides!  I'm talking Rainbow Brite meets recess people!  I'm so glad Aunt Gina was there to watch Emma so I could play! (j/k.  But not really.)  So. Much. Fun.

We went to Jiggle Jam a couple of weeks ago at Crown Center.  They had several tents set up with different family friendly bands performing.  There were kids swimming in the fountains.  There was funnel cake.  And, there was dancing!  Emma had a blast.  This girl loves to dance!

We also had a pool party at our dear dear friends house with the rest of our small group from church. There are so many kids in our small group, two of them born just within the last month.  It is so much fun to watch them all get together and splash and play.  I'm so happy to have these wonderful friends in our lives.  I love that they all love being with their families as much as we do.  And, I'm so glad that Emma gets to grow up with such great friends with great parents!

This past weekend we went to Oklahoma to visit Brett's parents.  I have no pictures though.  I ended up in bed for most of the weekend, sick.  I hear the rest of the gang had a good time though ;)  We are looking for a good vacationing spot this summer. We prefer cheap.  Or free. Please let me know if you know of anyplace! 

I'm off to take my medicine and check on a sleeping Emma.  Have a blessed week everyone!