Last Week

We had some stools in the house leftover from when we borrowed them for the party for extra seating. She loves them, and pulls it up to her kitchen and sits and plays like this. Funny girl!

I handed out little invitations with a mason jar of popcorn for the neighbours too, to invite them to the party and to apologize in advance the cars and any noise. One set of neighbors (in the beautiful red house across the street) took us up on it and came over to say hi! They also came with a little gift for Quinny - these dishes!! So very thoughtful!!! She has been using them every say since, and she says "the neighbors brought them for me! They so nice!" So cute

On Valentine's Day I woke up with a headache.. grrr!!! So Jon and Quinnlyn went to church without me and I took some meds and slept it off and felt better by lunch. I had plans to make a big fun lunch, but that didn't happen. Thankfully my family is incredibly gracious and understanding and they were happy with soup and wraps! Then Quinny and I gave Jon his gift - Lindor chocolates, and a huge omelette/pancake flipper. We always do small gifts for Valentine's Day, and this was perfect - he struggles with our flippers and this one is awesome and huge! Quinny got a heart shaped box full of Smarties, and I got two new containers of David's tea (one is almost gone already - so good!) and a dark chocolate bar from David's tea also that was infused with early grey tea. It was amazing! I also got this adorable card. I guess she drew and told him what each thing was. My personal favorite is "my pee-pee" - to her, that's not gross yet. It's something exciting that we celebrate and it made me laugh that she put it on the card along with other things that she loves!

I didn't notice the note that Lois had attached the the ladder they bought Jon on Saturday. I saw it on Sunday when I left the house and I was so touched by it!!

We headed out to the Easson's who invited us over for dinner and the NBA All-Star game (for the boys). Unraus were there too. We got Ady a little package full of goodies, and she got Quinny a heart shaped bottle of bubbles (she had one too). So the girls went outside and played bubbles together happily

After dinner it was time for a tea party! We all had tea and they wanted some too. So Mary made them some (mostly made of just milk haha) in these little tiny tea cups and saucers she has. They loved it! Also, Q is wearing a dress up dress because Ady had a dress on, and she was wearing leggings and just wanted a dress like Ady. So Mary went down into her basement and found this dress for her which totally made her happy haha!

This is how she sleeps lately - her face under the blankets, hiding. I had to laugh this night because she had pushed the blanket up a bit to give herself a breathing hole I guess!

Rain gear on, ready to go play in the yard with her new bubbles! I left the backdoor open while she was out there playing, and she kept blowing bubbles into the house and thought it was funny when I would get after her. So eventually I just closed the door haha

Before the party last Satuday, Henrik scratched her face right by her mouth. She was trying to pick him up by his tail and he was meowing at her. I told her to leave him alone and give him space and she just kept on trying. He got her as he was jumping away from her, and she cried so sad! When I asked her what happened she said "I didn't give him space and he scratch my sase! (face)" through her tears. Lesson learned I hope! That cat lets her do whatever she wants to him and he is so patient and gentle with her. It's about time she learned that she can't be so rough with him! I can tell her that all I want, but if he never responds when she hurts him, she won't get it. So maybe this will be what she needed! After that, they spent a day or two not really interacting with each other. She told me she was "so sad that Hen-Ick scratch me" and I think he was avoiding her too haha. By Monday they were both over it, and being cute together, cuddling on the couch

There is something about a gentle cat that is so good for a little person. She loves him so much and he seems to love her too. They are adorable together. (you can see her scratch in the picture above, by her mouth)

I had to work that afternoon, and Jon had shopping to do for youth group the next day, so he brought her along! We are so grateful that we are able to make this work for us without needing babysitters. The flexibility he has is quite a blessing and so is the fact that she's easy to take along anywhere. I'm still working part time hours most weeks. 

After they were done doing their running around, they had from 5-530 to kill before I was done. So he took her to the library, which was such a brilliant idea! I can't believe I haven't taken her there yet! She loves books and was thrilled with the library. Jon said she spent a long time "reading" a bunch of books and picking out the one special one that she wanted to bring home. I met them there when I was done and checked it out for her! It was of course a 'princess' book.

Lisa asked me a while ago if they could come for dinner regularly and just talk to us about marriage and life. They don't really have anyone asking them the hard questions and they don't have many married friends to talk stuff out with. Because of the strong bond we already have, this made sense and feels natural. So every other Monday, depending on our schedules, they are going to come over and I am really excited about that. We care about these two deeply and their marriage and their walk with Christ matter very much to us. Quinny was also really excited and was being super cute all night, doing silly, funny things to get attention. She was sad at bedtime because she wanted to stay up "with my siends! (friends)". They are so patient with her that it was all good, and once she was sleeping we were able to have a great conversation. Looking forward to more nights like this

Tuesday I met Q and Jon and at the church after work, and got right to work making pizza! We do "pizza potluck" and all Jon provides is the shells and sauce and all the toppings are up to the youth to bring. Pretty funny to see what we get! I am always amazed that we always end up with enough cheese. I love this night because I can work on the pizzas and the youth come and go, chatting and checking it and grabbing food. It's easy and laid back and a great way to check in with the ones that I have a close relationship with. Quinny also had a great night running around and doing her own thing and eating pizza.

I love youth leading with Ashley. She is so great and the girls love her!

Me and my TimeHop... but I really do love looking back at old memories! This one popped up and I almost cried! This is a picture of me praying on stage at Youth Quake in front of 2500 people and kicking the weekend off lots of years ago. I look at this picture and I feel like it's a different person, and like a lifetime has passed already. At that point, this is what I wanted to do with my life and this is what I was really good at. We moved here pretty quick after this, and everything changed. I love supporting my husband and I am more than content being here, allowing him to do what he loves to do. But it is interesting to look back and remember that I had big dreams at one point too, and that there were things that I wanted to do and accomplish career-wise. I love being a Mama (and a wife), so very much. But I need the reminder that my identity is not wrapped up in that. I never would have thought then that I would be brought down this path, serving the Lord by serving my family. But I am glad that He knows us better than we know ourselves, and its exciting to think of how I will be used in the future to serve.

My lovely Sharon came to see me one morning. It was bright and sunny and I needed to get outside so I took Q down to the boardwalk and she met us down there. Q had wanted to bike but I ended up carrying her bike for most of the walk because she wanted to run.

Just eating breakfast with Elsa. The best part is that she has a running conversation going with Elsa the whole time. "Hows break-est (breakfast), Elsa?" "Is your oatmeal so good? Me too!" "I luss (love) you Elsa!"

One of the sweetest moments I have witnesses lately. He pulled out his guitar and the cajon drum and showed her how to keep a steady beat, and she sat on the drum while he sang worship music and played guitar. I was SO impressed that she was able to keep a steady beat AND sing at the same! Looks like she may have some of that Lampard talent! She can also hold a note while singing... this girl just loves music so much! Jon likes to play and I like to listen, so it works well :) It's moments like this that feel important, these are moments that matter.