California Dreamin....

We didn't have to dream anymore! Our trip to California was so relaxing and fulfilling! We went for Lily's Cochlear Celebration.....which was at Disneyland! The girls had been to Disneyworld and Seth was in-utero the last time we went....so this was his first experience! And none of us had been to DisneyLand! It was a blast! We stopped off in Hollywood first to see the sights and spend the afternoon with Jason Brunk, a friend from our home town. We checked in to our fabulous hotel and were pampered from there on out! My 2nd cousin, Todd, works at the Disneyland Hotel and he set us up with the Royal Treatment! He put us in the Princess Suite....quite fitting....and the place was dream! The girls gushed and fell right into the part....Seth said, "where am I gonna sleep?" The theme of the resort was Peter Pan, so the rest fit him fine! Among other sweet comments, one of my favorite was, "Can we stay here forever?!" That pretty much summed it up! Disney is just magical! Everything is perfectly happy and surreal! I really think they pump something into your room at night so you forget what you are spending, too. I love to look at the trees that are sculted like characters, the beauty of the flowers and the trees. I love the way it smells! Like cotton candy and flowering blooms! At night, everything sparkles! The parades and the fireworks and the castle! I love it!

After 3 sunny days at Disneyland, we made our way to Newport Beach and spent our last day there. It was overcast and 70 and the water was cool, but the ocean was breathtaking! and the kids had so much fun splashing in the water (with their feet, mainly!) Lily took an early dive, so her time was spent cuddled up with Daddy on the blanket! I love watching the ocean. I love seeing how small my kids look by the ocean and how small I feel there. It is truly a picture of how big God's love for us is and how it swallows us up! I LOVE that! We spent the day in Newport with Sean's best friend from High School, Jeff Stewart. They hadn't seen each other in 12 years. It was fun to watch them fall back in to the same comfortable conversation the way old friends do.......

Our vacation was glorious and Lily's

Cochlear Celebration was enlightening.

It was fun seeing others with "hooties"

and Lily was not really interested in that.

She knew she was there to celebrate HER and

her "hootie"!
















"I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean. Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens. Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance. And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance"

Happy Spring......and the stuff we are doin'!

HAPPY SPRING! My favorite season! I love the new flowers and their happy colors that are poking through the dry ground...... and the green grass that is springing up in places that are rock hard! How do they do that?! Amazes me! The flowering trees are glorious! They are like candy to my soul! The sun is warm and makes me so happy when it shines on my face! I love Spring! Maybe it's because it's my birthday season, too. Just sayin'!

Kite flyin' and sidewalk chalkin'.....

And, yes, we did have a beautiful snow shower the first day of Spring Break! CRAZY!

Along with our fun times, we have also been busy! I have gotten many appts. for pictures, as people and kids are wanting to get out of hibernation. Senior pictures are also on my agenda! And, my kids have their things starting back up.....soccer for Lily and Seth, softball for Hanna and as always, dance for Emma. Everything is in full-swing!

Here are some pics from the last few weeks' activities.....Enjoy! And, be happy.....It's SPRING!

Spring Break fun at the bowling alley.....

The Lone Star Ballet outreach show at the Mall........

S and S photo shoot.......pure preciousness!!!!

K's Sr. shoot

An unexpected trip......a forever blessing!

Well, as many of you know, Sean's mother, Bea Hemry, passed away late last Monday. It was definitely not expected, but she had heart and lung trouble for the last few years. She went to the doctor for shortness of breath and died later that evening. She was 60. As the trip was so sad, it was also a good time of reflection. Yes, we went back to Kansas last week to attend services and be with the family, but it was also a great time of reminiscing and time to remind ourselves just how important family and friends really are! We know Grandma Bea is rejoicing over us in Heaven. We will see her again someday!

We got to spend some time with dear friends and visit some places that warm our hearts while we were in Manhattan. It was a beautiful week! Here are some pics from our time there...










Patty and Dixie are Bea's sisters. Suzy is her niece and Katie and Beth are her nieces.....all from Georgia.





Fun pics
on G'pa
Larry's
Farm.....

Lily Hope is 7!!!

I am in disbelief!

How can she be 7? It has been a great ride, these last 7 years!


















Our eyes have been opened to a whole new world as Lily's ears were opened to a whole new LOUD world! :) She has changed so much in the last few years. She's become more confident, more outgoing, more independent (if that was possible), more beautiful and more sure of the little woman she is becoming! She has changed so much, but has so much remained the same!

We celebrated her day at Jump N Jive with many of her friends and classmates! It is always fun to see her interact with them and how they have adapted to her way of hearing them......like how they gently make sure she is looking at them when they speak to her. It is precious!


We love you, Lily! And celebrate YOU!

My Valentines

"Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things!" Psalm 98:1

I have celebrated many Valentine's Days with Sean. Today, I'm more thankful for him than ever before! He is my friend and my help-mate. I love to hear him come in the door.....especially these days! He's my hero and rescues me everyday! It is fun walking in the promised land together! Love you, Babe!

Then, there is this boy, he kinda stole my heart...............he calls me mommy!

I don't know how it happened, but 4 years ago,
this little man came into my life. He stole my heart....right away! I've never fallen in love so fast before! He makes me laugh, he makes me scream, he makes me cry sweet tears of delight. He can't go to sleep without my hugs and kisses (on the head, of course, not the lips!) He cries when I get ready to go somewhere and frets about how long I'll be gone. He says, "I want to hold you", everyday...........and, today, I asked him if he'd be my valentine and he said, with this annoyed voice and shy look on his face (the one he gets when I kiss him in public)........"I guess"! Ugh! there goes my heart again.........

A mother of princesses HAS to feel like the Queen!

Lily Hope blesses my life! Everyday, I praise God for something amazing she is doing. SHE is just an answered prayer! Tomorrow is her 7th birthday and we can't believe the leaps and bounds she has grown. Not only physically, but emotionally, mentally and spiritually! She makes a FAST friend with everyone she meets.....really, everyone! Her eyes shine like diamonds and you can see straight to her precious soul! She is our joy and has taught us to hope.....without end!

Hanna Grace is a ray of sunshine! She just makes me smile......just for looking her way! Her laughter is infectious and always has a joke or a silly thing to say. I always tell her how lucky I am to be taking the funniest girl in the world home with me! Not only does she make me laugh, she also makes me feel so loved! She just knows when Mommy needs a hug. She is kind and caring and has a heart of gold. Her passion is to feed the world......man, woman, child AND animal! Her heart is like her Heavenly Father's. She will do something amazing with her days. I want to grow up to be just like her!

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admireable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy....think about such things" Phil. 4:8

This is Emma. She makes me so proud! Her love for life is apparent in all she does. She loves her friends and her family and truely enjoys the time spent just "hanging out"! She is graceful and lovely! She is the Princess in her Father's House. She knows who she is and Who's she is! I am forever in awe of this beauty we are raising up!

I am blessed beyond measure! I love Valentine's Day! It reminds me of love.....my favorite thing....and how much I am loved! It brings me to a place where I realize there is little love in this world anymore......and the love we do have, we are blessed to have. Today, I reflect on this.....a true love that is patient and kind, that does not envy and does not boost. It satisfies me. It is from God! And I cherish it with all my heart!