Oh, The Weather Outside Is Frightful!!

So, what do you do when the weather is like this on APRIL 19th!?!

Well, after you get over the fact that this isn't some practical joke and the snow outside is real, you do all the things inside that you are dying to do outside:) Like...

Camping

 Complete with roasting marshmallows

 

Creating a finger painting mess that would be better suited for the outdoors.

 This was Van's first time finger painting and he wasn't a fan- he takes after his dad and doesn't like the mess.

Weston, on the other hand, the messier, the better:)

 Giant bubble blowing

 Which turned out to be a great way to shampoo our carpets- look at all that soap and water from one bubble popping!

And finally, because the affects of cabin fever haven't had a chance to wear off, you create a dish stacking competition with your spouse.  (This also happens to be a good way to ease the pain of not having a dishwasher for two years and not seeing the prospect of one coming anytime in the near future.) Mike is currently in the lead with this stack of 24 3/4 inches high.

Now, it would be misleading to not mention that the weather hasn't been all bad this month.  We did get some opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.  In fact, I think Weston was so excited to finally get to go to the park that he didn't mind (for the entire walk to and from the park) that his shoes were on the wrong feet:) 

And this is also the same boy who throws a fit if his shoes are just slightly too tight and, therefore, uncomfortable!

She's Here! (Now with pics)

Okay, so it is now 5:00 in the morning and I have been up for a couple hours.  Why might you ask can't I sleep?  Because a precious new life has just entered the world!!  My niece, Ella Bernadette was born early this morning!!!  During her pregnancy with Ella, Andrea had the desire placed in her heart to have a natural childbirth and with the help of our Lord she was able to do this!  I am in awe of how fast Ella came, how our Blessed Mother is such a powerful intercessor, and how our God answers prayers! 

Moments before Andy called me with the news of Ella's birth, I was in our living room continuing to pray for Andrea and Ella and I was struck with the amazement of life entering the world.  I was watching the lightning outside and listening to the thunder and I became overwhelmed with the thought that we have a POWERFUL God who is rejoicing over this life that will forever change the world!  I think we tend to forget that God has a special purpose for every life and that they are destined to change the world in a way that no else could!  All of us, if we are open to God's will in our life, will be a blessing in this world.  Every birth is truly a miraculous event.

I can't help but also think at this moment of Clara who gave up her life while still in the womb for her sister, Ella.  Clara never breathed the breath of life outside her mother's womb, but she too has an impact on this world that is just beginning to be played out with the mere fact that Ella is here. 

Ella Bernadette, YOU are destined to be great!

Practice Egg Hunt

This morning we were practicing for the Easter egg hunt at Great Grandma Luebke's house coming up soon!

-There's another one Vance!

-Hold on Weston, I am still trying to get my body to bend over and pick up this one right in front of me.

I was impressed that they chose teamwork and have to give them points for that!  However, let's face it, they won't be the fastest with Vance retrieving the eggs and putting them in the basket!  Maybe they will devise a new game plan before the big event ;)  With that said, Van is advancing very well in his walking skills and now chooses to walk 90% of the time:)  Each day he seems to be getting faster and faster and falls less and less!

Weston Photography

So, while on vacation Michael and I were looking through the pictures we had taken when we came across these

It didn't take us long to figure out who had gotten a hold of the camera:) I love the things he decided to take pictures of.  Since we got back we have been letting him practice more with the camera.  Here are some more pictures he captured.

P.S. I won't jump to say we have a budding photographer on our hands considering the amount of random floor, ceiling, and extremely blurry pictures I deleted ;)