10/30/06: Halloween is tomorrow. I am BUSY at work pulling together the last minute details of our annual Fall Family Festival. This is a carnival put on by vounteers for our community. It's tons of fun for children and adults. We are looking forward to it! I will be there early for preparations and then late into the night for clean-up. But, Christian will be able to take the kids to it for a little while then bring them home to trick-or-treat to a few houses, and then put them to bed. It will be a draining night, but the kids will have a blast...and that's who it's for, right?
10/30/06: Landon is now standing up quite a bit now. He can pull himself up on most things, but he needs something to grab onto. So, things like the sofa are still too difficult. But, he can pull up on any chairs, stairs, his bike, the girls toys, and the bathtub. He is also starting to walk a bit when we hold onto his fingers. I know he's behind on all this physical stuff, but he'll catch up in his own time. For now, it's fun to watch him get better and stronger every day!
10/26/06: Today I overheard the girls talking together about their weddings when they grow up. They were saying that they were going to have eachother in ther weddings but they also get to choose more girls to to be their bride's maids. I heard Madeline say to Emma, "When I get married my brides maids will be: you of course, Emily, Ashley, Karly, Maddy Lu, and Jen, Is that too many?"
I thought it was so funny that she included Jen in her list of bride's maids! Jen is my childhood best friend that I am still very close to today. We actually went off to college together and roomed together for three years. When she comes over to our house she plays with the kids like no other adult plays. They build forts, play house, hide and seek.... the girls think of Jen as another child. She is dear to our whole family!!!
10/21/06: This morning Maddy asked me where my Bible was. I told her where it was and she went and got it. She unzipped the cover and opened it up. She flipped through the pages and then put her ear to it. She said she was seeing if God would talk to her.
The Word of God does speak to us. Through the scriptures he reveals himself. At Awana her teacher told her that she can "hear" God through the Bible. What innocence a child has. God bless my sweet Madeline!!
"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:7
10/20/06: Landon is doing something new every day! First the stairs, then standing up, now he is riding his toddler-bike! He could only go backwards when he got it, up until yesterday. He figured out how to move around on it. He can only go in a straight line forward and back, but it sure makes him smile! Emma got on a toddler bike too, and they were playing on the back patio for awhile yesterday morning when Madeline was at school. It was really cute! To see video of Emma and Landon playing on the bikes, click on the movie reel below. (Also, there's a one of the kids in the pool on Labor Day that I have recently added too.) Enjoy!
10/20/06: Landon is using his few words a lot more now too. Whenever he sees me or Christian he gets excited and says Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, or Dada, Dada, Dada, Dada! The newest word he has added to his vocabulary is "Owie". And he makes the sound of a fire truck when he hears one (we live around the corner from the fire station, so it's OFTEN!) Landon and Bodie do it together.
10/18/06: Landon stood up today!! He was sitting on the floor and then
put his hands on the top of his little bike and stood up. He adjusted his feet and then put his hands on the handle bars. Our little man!!
10/18/06: The other night while we were eating dinner Madeline decided that she wanted Christian and I to have a "Romantic Time". So, after dinner she got the candle off the back of the toilet (that was burned almost all the way to the end) and put it on the dining room table. She handed the matches to Christian tand told him to light the candle. She asked me to put Landon in the toy room and said that she and Emma would babysit him. She said, "You and Daddy are going to have a romantic time while Emma and I spy on you." She and Emma turned out all of the lights in the living room (giggling all the while) and had Christian turn on classical music. And then they left us in the living room while they went to the toy room. After a minute or so they tip-toed behind the sofa and watched us. We were just sitting there talking while they spied on us. Madeline popped her head up and stearnly said, "You guys are supposed to be talking romantic and kissing each other!" And then they hid again. So, we started kissing and then Emma said, "Now we will do some dancing for you." They did some "ballet" for us and we clapped and cheered. They were proud of themselves for giving us a "Romantic Time". Too Cute!!
10/18/06: We had a nice visit our in Agoura. Taking pictures of the 6 children was as difficult as we expected. The girls all behaved beautifully, but Landon was a wiggle worm. He did not want to stay where the photographer put him for a second, let alone smile at her. He was VERY challenging!! Even though the girls were trying their best to be good, there was one doing something funny in every single picture. We got a few that were OK, but what could you expect for 6 kids in one picture?? We were pleased with the final outcome. I can't wait to see them when they arrive!
10/16/06: This past weekend we had a fabulous family day on Saturday! We drove the scenic route to Temecula. We had lunch and browsed through the shops in the old town. There are quilts hanging everywhere; store fronts that look like they are from the turn of the century, and people there are living at a slower pace. It was very quaint. The girls enjoyed looking through the shops; Christian and I just enjoyed being out for the day with our kids and having no time schedule to follow. It was a lot of fun.
In the evening we went to our friends' place, The Aguillars. They moved out to Lake Elsinore a few months ago and it was great to be there to see their new home and their new baby, Eli. We had a great time with them, we only wish they were closer so that we could see them more often.
Friday night Auntie Tete came over to watch the kids so that Christian and I could go to a work BBQ at Christian's boss's house. It poured down rain, but it was a blast! We ate outside in thunder and lightning. It was kinda funny for a California BBQ. The people that Christian works with are fun to hang out with! And the kids had a fabulous time with Auntie making tacos, baking cookies, and staying up past their bedtime. Thanks Montse!!
Sunday after church we had a social with our "Young Marrieds" (not so young anymore) Sunday School class. We had a BBQ at the Love's house and then we to the movies and saw "Beating the Giants". It was a GREAT movie and a great time!
Today I'm out in Agoura to visit my family and have our annual cousins picture done at JC Penney's Portrait Studio. We'll post the pictures soon....who knows how we are going to get 6 children to all smile at the same time! Wish us luck!!
10/12/06: We had another playdate with one of Madeline's friends from kindergarten. The family has 3 kids almost the exact same ages as our family. They have Faith who is 5, Emerald who is 3, and Gabriel who is 10 1/2 months. The mother, Tanya is really nice; it was fun to visit with her while the kids were playing in the McDonald's playland. It has been nice to get to know new families through the kids. Hopefully we'll play again soon.
10/12/06: This morning we went to Madeline's orthopedic surgeon's office for a check-up. Madeline has regular check-ups with him to be certain that her hips and legs are growing properly. We had some concerns because her knees seem to go in together and when she runs, and the lower part of her legs go outward. It looks kinda wierd, but the doctor said it was completely normal. He gave me a pamphet on "knocked knees in 3-7 year olds". I guess it's more common than we know. Praise the Lord that everything is all right! I took some pictures of her x-rays. I'll post them tomorrow when I have my site all back to normal.
10/10/06: Landon has added a few new words to his vocabulary. One of which being, "No!" He uses it at the right time, especially when he is playing with something and we try to take it away...like my cell phone. He also says "No!" when it is time to go down for a nap, time to change his diaper, or when the girls hug him too hard. Another new word for him is La-la-lin (Madeline). He has said Emma for a few months now, but Maddy is happy to hear her name every once in awhile. Even if it is La-la-lin. Too cute!!
10/10/06: Today on the way to school Emma asked me what day she was born. I told her she was born on May 20th. She started laughing and said, "That's funny, I was born on the same day as my birthday!"
10/9/06: I had a wonderful weekend in Big Bear!! It was great to be with a group of women who love the Lord. We had so many laughs over the silliest things. We stayed up til the wee hours of the morning joking, playing Scategories, scrapbooking, and just getting to know each other better. In my room we had 2 pregnant ladies and the others all have small children and babies. Our room was called the "young moms' room". It was great to share pregnancy stories and labor stories, and talk about child raising and stuff. The themes of the weekend were, Faith, Hope and Love. We all prayed, shared, and worshipped together. It was fun to see how our common faith in Jesus Christ brought women from age 20 to age 80 together for the same purpose. I look forward to next Fall when we will go on retreat again; it's always such a special time.
10/6/06: The girls went to the doctor for a physical last week. They both got more immunizations. They were weighed and measured. While I was there I had them weigh and measure Landon too. Here are the stats:
10/6/06: Today I will leave for women's retreat with our church. I will drive up to Big Bear with 3 of my friends and then 25 of us will stay in house built for conferences called "The Lighthouse". I am looking forward to the time away...but of course I will miss Christian and the kids! At least I know the kids will be well taken care of. Christian is more than capable of taking care of three kids for a weekend, not all dad's are. I have complete confidence in him; He will do great! See ya on Sunday...
10/05/06: Landon is starting to be able to walk if we hold on to his fingers. He has not wanted to stand on his legs like babies usually do. Most babies from the time of about 8 weeks old will instinctively want to stand up on your lap if you let them. Landon has never really done that. He has always put his legs forward to sit down. We had him checked out at about 6 months old to make sure there wasn't a problem (like Maddy's hip displasia), they said he was just being lazy. He is finally doing it. He will stand on the ground and play with his toys on the sofa, or stand up and walk with assistance if there is something he really wants. He has not pulled himself up yet, but I don't think it will be long. After all, he would have to get 27 pounds up off the ground... my goodness!
10/4/06: My Grandma is doing a lot better than she was a week ago. She still is having some trouble with her heart. The doctors say it will be best to put in a pace maker. Although this sounds like a really big surgery, putting in a pace maker is a non-evasive surgery. Please continue to keep my grandma in your prayers...it's working!!
Emma's favorite movie is "Ella Enchanted". She absolutely loves it!! She can do most of the movie word for word, and she knows all of the songs by heart. She is always pretending that she is Ella. While we were all talking about Halloween, Maddy kept saying that she wants to be Hannah Montana (a Disney channel T.V. show "rock star"). Emma says she wants to be Ella. Christian and I are thinking, "There is no way we are going to be able to find an Ella Enchanted Halloween costume!" Lo and behold...E-bay to the rescue! I found a rennisainse queen costume in Emma's size. It is blue and gold just like Ella's. It's perfect!! Well, it came in the mail today and you would never have seen a happier girl!!!! Emma loves it! When Maddy got home from school she helped Emma do her hair and make-up. She let her borrow her real crown from Libby Lu's (Maddy said "because Emma's is only a toy.") She also let her borrow her locket so she would have a heart necklace like Ella. Maddy was being so sweet and helpful! They had fun singing and dancing like they were Ella Enchanted and Hannah Montana....Now, to find a Hannah Montana costume.....
9/29/06: Yesterday Madeline had her first kindergarten play date. The mother, Tracy, invited us to go to the park after school. We all packed lunches and went to the park for a couple of hours. C.J.. is the name of the little boy who is her classmate. They get along very well. Both Tracy and I were surprised that they chose eachother. Maddy usually only likes to play with girls and girly stuff. She said that C.J. usually likes to play with boys and boy stuff, so it was kinda wierd that they wanted a play date. But it went very well. C.J. is an adorable and very sweet little boy! I really liked Tracy and all the kids played together beautifully! Fun, Fun, Fun!!
September 28, 2006: My grandma is doing much better. She actually got up and walked yesterday. She went three steps with a walker. That is a huge improvement from a few days ago. The power of prayer is amazing. Hopefully she will continue to get better and better every day. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.
9/26/06: We just got back form visting my Grandma. Praise God!! She was awake and in good spirits! She was joking and laughing with us. She was smiling and doing better than she has in awhile. It was really strange how she was doing so poorly last night and then all of a sudden she was so good today- Answered prayers!! We know that she is not out of the woods at all, but it was certainly great to see her smile!
My Grandpa took us all out to lunch. I met my Dad's nephew that I don't remember. They say we knew eachother as kids. It's sad (and happy at the same time) how such tragic times bring family together. It was nice to see Joe (Joey as Grandma and Grandpa call him).
Continue your prayers for my Grandma. May she be happy and comfortable- whether that be healthy at home with Grandpa or in her Father's arms. God bless you Grandma!!!
10/6/06: The girls went to the doctor for a physical last week. They both got more immunizations. They were weighed and measured. While I was there I had them weigh and measure Landon too. Here are the stats:
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