Lesson learned...

Feeding your child an ample bowl of this...

...and a container of this for breakfast... ...leads to one VERY big tummy ache come dinnertime.

Oops.

Sorry Lindy Li.

This was TRULY an oversight on my part.

P.S. This happened a few days ago...She's fine. I was grasping for things to post and didn't want to forget this blunder.

A letter to Lindy

My dearest Lindy~

Yesterday you received a pink encouragement card from one of your Bible Class teachers and I am still overcome with joy and beaming with a mother's pride as I read it again this morning.

I want to tell you how sweet it was for you to help Belle in class. She was new to Bible Class and didn't have a friend. She was sad and crying. While all the children were busy during play time, you noticed Belle needed a friend to help her feel better. You made hot tea and brought it to her and then made her yogurt and gave it to her. You sat with her until she stopped crying. What a sweet and kind girl you are! You showed Belle that you have Jesus in your heart. She was happy and glad that she came to Bible Class because you helped her feel better.

Lindy, I can't tell you just HOW proud I am of you for comforting Belle and showing her compassion and concern. I tried to tell you yesterday (through my tears) and you humorously told me after the third or fourth time that I had already told you that. I love your crazy sense of humor, too.

I pray you will always stop and show others compassion and concern like you did with Belle because that is what Jesus wants us to do. Thank you for reminding me of the importance of not getting too caught up in "my" time to make time for someone else who is hurting.

I love you~

Mommy

Beach fun

"Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone." Unknown

Last Thursday through Monday we had the opportunity to go to the beach with my brother and his family while they were visiting from California. We CRAMMED ourselves into a minivan rental (which unfortunately brokedown) and headed south for some fun in the surf, sand, and sun.

We truly had a wonderful time. While the weather was definitely HOT, once you got in a front of the water it wasn't bad at all--especially with the ocean breezes. Our California visitors were shocked at how warm the water was. It was like bathwater. They are used to the chilly waters of the Pacific or hanging out at the beach of Lake Tahoe. In the afternoons, the kids had fun playing in the pool and trying out their swimming skills (or for Lindy just getting used to putting her face in the water).

To save money (and calories), we ate breakfasts and most lunches in. We were able to have some fresh fish and shrimp a couple times. On Saturday evening, we headed for Corpus and took Jeff, Dani, and the boys to Whataburger--a burger joint which began in Corpus. Afterwards, we went to watch the Corpus Christi Hooks, the local 2AA baseball team.

Lindy had lots of fun being together with her cousins, even though there are still the moments of no sharing, wanting whatever the other person has, and bouts of crabbiness, etc., etc. I think that's to be expected from a three year old, almost four year old, and five year old. I'm afraid we've got a ringleader on our hands. More than once I heard, "C'mon, guys let's..." Lindy reached a couple milestones by sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag at nights and napping on a bed. We've always said we're keeping her in a crib as long as possible because of her active nature. She surprised us though and did great after the first night when all she wanted to do was get up and talk. I predict a move to some semblance of a bed--either toddler or big girl--in the near future.

The adults had fun together, too. We had serious talks and goofy ones, too. The girls ganged up on the guys and the guys ganged up on the girls. Not sure who won! We are blessed to not just be family but friends.





We are so very thankful that Jeff and Danielle chose to come visit us for their vacation and that we were able to take this trip. We look forward to many more combo vacations/visits in the future!

Rain, puppies, and fireworks...

It was a fairly quiet fourth of July around the house. No company, no barbeques, no homemade ice cream--just the three of us doing "weekend" stuff.

We were thrilled to get a MUCH-needed rain shower. Lindy was so excited, she asked if she could go play in the rain. My first instinct was, "uh NO." However, since it was such a welcomed sight I let her go stand in it. She was overjoyed to be out in it.

It didn't last long but she did get soaked.

After we got her all dried off, we visited our friends whose dog recently had puppies. Lindy loves dogs so seeing puppies was a big treat for her. Daddy stayed strong and didn't succumb to Lindy's joy and the teensy bit of salesmanship taking place. Here she is holding "Gregory."

After puppies, we went to have a good old-fashioned burger and fries for dinner and then headed off to stake a place to watch fireworks. While we were waiting for it to get dark, we walked around the Shops at La Cantera and enjoyed the lovely weather. Thankfully, the rain had cooled it down quite a bit and made it very comfortable.

This was the first time we had taken Lindy to see fireworks. As we waited she was very excited for them to start but a bit apprehensive because she knew what they were from Ni Hao Kai-Lan. Once they started, she did great and really seemed to love them. I heard her exclaim several times, "they are soooo beautiful!" This morning, that's all I hear her chattering about, so I think they were a hit for our own little firecracker!

Happy Birthday, America!!!

Lindy loves a birthday party!!!

Happy Birthday, America...