Party part 2

Eating cake with Dad
Blowing bubbles with mom
Brooklyn's friend Mary after getting her face painted
Saying thank-you for the gift

Brooklyn's Birthday Party

Brooklyn woke up to a surprise of balloons
Opening some of her presents
She loved her cake
And her watermelon!

WE SOLD OUR CAR

A huge answer to prayer today as we said goodbye to our car. But also hard as another connection to life here has been cut.

Potty Training Update

It's going amazingly well. Brooklyn is now starting to tell us when she has to go. And it has been 2 days with no accidents. And half the time she is dry after her naps. Now we need to get to the point of being daring enough to wear panties out of the house. We've done that for walks and short drives, but that's about it. So we're pretty excited and proud of her these days.

Update on AJ

He's totally fine. He came home after 2 days in the hospital, and the antibiotics are working to keep his appendix normal again. Thankfully he didn't have to have surgery and he's feeling great.

Exciting & Concerning Weekend

Our weekend has been full of various emotions. Friday we hosted a Bourne Party, where we watched Bourne Identity, Bourne Supremacy, and Bourne Ultimatum. 3 of our favorite movies, back to back to back. We got babysitters (grandparents) for the kids, and watched into the night. It was so much fun.

Yesterday we went to my parents to have a work day, cleaning up and making space for our stuff when we move. We got some stuff done, but it turned out to be a different day when my mom took my brother AJ to the hospital. He was having signs of appendicitis, so he went to Ste. Anne hospital. There they checked him and told him to go to Ste. Boniface so they could check him out more thoroughly and possibly surgery. To this point he's had a C.A.T. scan and blood work done, and he has to stay in the hospital at least till tomorrow to see if Antibiotics are working. So he may not even need surgery. He must be so bored, poor boy, no t.v. in his room. We'll go visit him tomorrow.

This morning we shared in our church about our present life and future, and LeRoy preached. Tears were flowing, and we were humbled by everyone praying for us. Today we are at home relaxing, and I'm trying not to think too much of how AJ's doing. Trying not to let my imagination go.

Last Day of Work

LeRoy is officially done his work at Legacy Originals. It actually feels extremely weird, but really good too. It'll feel even better once he is finished preaching Sunday morning. Today his wonderful boss, and his wife, had a bit of a party for LeRoy, and I got to in to the city to join them. They ordered in Olive Garden for lunch, gave us a present to make travels a little easier with the girls (DVD player for the van. WOOHOO), prayed for us, and said goodbyes. LeRoy had it really good with his boss for the past 5 years, so I think after awhile he may miss it, or at least the guys there. We've been surprised and blessed by how many of them have asked for our update/prayer letters. That is very encouraging for us.

We have joined in with the new fad of cloth diapers. Maybe isn't a fad everywhere, but it seems to be with various people we know. Today we got ours in the mail, and now I am busy washing them, getting them ready for Emma to use. I never thought I'd use cloth diapers, but it seems I am doing lots these days that I never thought I would end up doing.

A Bunch of Things

What a weekend. Started off extremely stressed and thankful our garage sale is over. It is ending with a lot more peace, encouragement, and assurance that all really will be okay. We have really felt people praying for us these past few days especially, and it has helped give us peace. A couple people even brought us cookies, and muffins. It's amazing how that helps me, as then I don't have to make sure we have something for LeRoy to take to work. But it is encouraging knowing there are people thinking of us, in this extremely busy time of life.

On Saturday we enjoyed taking Brooklyn to the nearby school and seeing her excitement of being on a play structure for the first time. She screamed when we had to leave. So we went again the next day with my family, and had KFC chicken for a picnic. Yum Yum.

This weekend I was also crazy enough to attempt (for the 2nd time) potty training Brooklyn. Like I don't have enough to do these days. But it's working. YAY. She's actually excited about it this time, and today we have only had 1 small accident. Okay, we just had the second one. But I think that's pretty good considering it's only day 3. Plus she was totally dry during her nap which is a first. We practically throw a party every time she goes on the potty. Now we just have to wait for the day when she'll tell us when she has to go. Now it's us taking her and hoping we're timing things right. So far so good.

LeRoy only has 2 1/2 days of work left. We're so excited to have him home more. We're thinking we will be able to get more done once he's home, and therefore take some stress off of us. Hopefully. Brooklyn is going to love having him home more, as she asks for him every morning as soon as I open her bedroom door. But things will definitely have to change, as he is not as much of a routine person as I am. So I'm going to have to try and relax a little with our routines. Soon they'll be out the window anyways, so I may as well get used to it now.

Thank you everyone for all your prayers and encouragement for us. We feel them and appreciate them. Please don't stop.

P.S. I figured I should add something about Emma. We think she's starting to teethe as she's starting to chew on her hands.

It's Time For a Break when...

You start planning your life in your sleep. Last night I woke up to feed Emma, and I realized I was replaying everything going on in our lives, in my sleep. Life feels so crazy most of the time these days it's hard to stop thinking about everything. So I have continued thinking into my sleep. How do I stop? It's quite annoying and tiring. It sure will be nice to have at least one of the big things on our plates finished. We are feeling quite overwhelmed and stressed these days. We are having a garage sale tomorrow evening till Saturday, we need to be moved out in just over 3 weeks, and the continuing process of planning SOLID. I have just recently told myself it's okay not to have a clean house for the next few weeks. I need to rather spend my time (if there is any left over) with Brooklyn and Emma. It sure is tough, but they let us know when it's time to focus on them. Usually around supper time, and we're at our wits end. But it is somehow all working out, and we haven't had to pull our hair out yet.

Highlight of the week: LeRoy is done work next week Thursday. YAY:)

Mother's Day

Yesterday morning I woke up to LeRoy and Brooklyn downstairs in the kitchen making crepes. I was told to stay in bed, they were bringing me breakfast. It was so much fun listening to them having fun making breakfast for me, and Brooklyn getting so excited that we got to eat breakfast in bed. The most special part of it all for me, was hearing LeRoy explaining to Brooklyn that it was Mommy's Day, and that's why they were making breakfast for me, and making me a card. At one point Brooklyn was laying in bed with me, and she was telling me she drew on a card for me. Oops so she ruined the surprise, but it was so cute seeing her excitement.

After church we went to my parents where Lisa had made lunch to give mom a break, and we brought chocolate cake and everything needed for a wiener roast for supper. But the afternoon consisted of our Mother's Day tradition. The boys go golfing, and us girls go to the green house. Hahaha what a tradition for mother's day. Those boys better be pretty happy we let them leave us on our special day.

At church there was a video shown (I have seen it a few times, but it's still so funny). I just have to share it with you all. Just click here and enjoy.

Perfect Poem

Last night I started a book called Little Blessings from a Big God: finding more of God through the lives of our children. It started off with this poem written by the book's author, Michelle Medlock Adams. It went just perfectly with my feelings these days, and I just have to share it with you all.

My Gifts From Up Above

My love for you grows with each day.
You've made my life complete,
my precious little baby girls,
so innocent and sweet.

You are the perfect works of art,
formed by the Master's touch.
You've taught me how to truly love,
you've given me so much.

Each time I hold you in my arms,
the world just fades away.
You're like two tiny rays of sun
who brighten every day.

How could I want for any more
when I've been given you?
I know that I am very blessed -
You are my dream come true.

Forever, I'll thank God for you
and shower you with love.
Because I know you're heaven-sent,
my gifts from up above.

Growing Up

I have been near tears much of this morning as I have realized just how quickly my girls are growing up. Emma is now 3 months already and Brooklyn will be 2 at the end of the month. How time flies. It really feels like we just had Brooklyn yesterday. It's amazing how much she has learned in 2 years, and yet there is so much more. Emma has definitely been more of my baby than Brooklyn ever was, I think cause now Brooklyn is older and can't cuddle her as much anymore. Last night I was out for a long evening without either of them. I was so excited to see them again this morning. I often look forward to going out without them for a break, and I don't usually think twice about it when I get home. This time was different, and I was glad I could come home and be with them today. During our time of leading SOLID this summer, we will be leaving them for a couple days so we can be in a camping setting without them, and I find myself almost dreading it. I normally would be ecstatic to be having a break from them. Just shows how much little people can have an affect on us bigger people.