Catching you up

It's been a bit of a crazy week which is why we haven't posted.

Last Saturday, I (Liza) got an early morning phone call saying my grandfather in Kentucky died. It was completely unexpected. He had been hospitalized the previous day, undergone surgery in the evening, woke up after surgery to say good-night to Grandma, and then later passed away. He was 79.

I am so thankful my grandfather knew the Lord, so it was a sweet reunion with the family, but of course sad. Saturday morning soon after I got the call, Isabella came into our room while I was crying. It was 3 times asked before I could answer why I was sad. I told her grandpa went to be with Jesus and she said, “I will give you a hug.” I was still crying of course so she said “Are you still sad?” I responded yes so she went and got me her blankie from her bedroom. So precious. She keeps reminding me that I don’t need to be sad because Grandpa is with Jesus. I must say, the 8 little great-grandchildren provided sweet comic relief in the midst of the tears.
My grandfather was a quiet man who could fix anything. He made my first two-wheel bicycle out of parts he found around town. He also helped me learn how to ride it. He loved peanut butter and taking us for donuts. He also cared for Grandma very well. I have so many memories locked in my head. I am sad that he is gone, but so glad that he met Zach last summer. I am thankful to have had a relationship with him for so long. I know not everyone gets that.

Cute

Here's a great picture I just had to share. We'll be back to blogging soon.

Daddy daughter date

Yesterday Isabella and I went on a daddy daughter date. We doubled with Andy and Katie C. We went to the Children's museum and had a great time.

Isabella on the bus at the entrance of the museum.

Isabella tries out the construction site. She thought it was pretty cool.

Next we went to the restaurant section where she put on an apron and served "food" to other kids and parents at the museum.Next she tried out the "Austin Kiddie Limits" studio. She played the guitar while watching herself on TV with the other kids.

Katie had fun too looking at all the bugs and butterflies.

New Couch

Yesterday a guy bought our old couches. They came to pick them up around 4:30 and Isabella watched them load them on to the truck. "Where they going with our couches?" She asked. I told her they bought them and they were taking them home. "Oh. Bye bye couches!" she said.

Later, I went to Ikea to buy the couch that we had looked at on Wednesday. I planned to buy it and have them deliver it on Sunday. If you've never been to Ikea before, it's a huge store with an amazing maze of furniture. You pick what you want, then go in to the warehouse and find where it's located, put it on a cart, and take it to the check out. The same was true of the couch!




I found it, had to put it on a flat bed cart (vertically) and then pick out the cover that goes with it. You can buy a choice of 7 covers for this couch, so if you get tired of it or if it gets dirty you can get a new cover for much less than a whole new couch. I got mine and then managed to get the cart with the 7 foot long (or tall in this case) couch up to the checkout where the woman scanned it and I paid for it. She then told me that I should take it over to the home delivery department to get it delivered. I went over and the woman told me that since it was 8:10 and the cutoff was 8pm, that they couldn't deliver it on Sunday. She said they'd be happy to bring it on Monday though. I explained that I wouldn't be home on Monday so they'd have to bring it Tuesday. "Oh no, sorry, we can't do that. Only Monday." "Great," I said. "What should I do with this then?" She then suggested that I take it home on my CAR. They have everything you need to tie it down to the roof, and they'd be happy to help me lift it up. I thought she was crazy, but what the heck. I went out with the couch and they put it up on top. I had plenty of twine to tie it down and when I was done I was reasonably sure it would not go anywhere. I drove home via the back way about 30mph the whole way but I made it with no problem.

I got home and our neighbor Michale helped me get it down and in to the living room. Here it is on the car, and then in the living room after we put the cover on it.
When Isabella came down today, she walked in and said, "Whoa! Where's our other red couch?" We used to have a couch and loveseat, but now we only have a couch since we are wanting the living room to look bigger for selling the house. She was pretty sure that we should have another one to go where the old one was.

Superbowl party

Tonight we went to a super bowl party with the New Parents class from our church. There were a lot of people there and Isabella had a great time. When the pizza arrived, she went in to Liza and said, "I want food." Liza said, "Do you want some pizza?" "No," she replied, "I want real food." So Liza asked "What is real food?" She replied, "Chips!"
Oh boy. :-)

How did you get so big?

Today we were getting ready for church, and Isabella got dressed all by herself. She got her tights on all by herself, and I said, "Wow Isabella! How did you get so big?" She answered, matter-of-factly, "God made me in mommy's tummy!"

Two fun movies

Here are two little movies of the kids. The first one is Zach on the swing just laughing away. Just hit the "play" button on each movie to watch them.
The second is Belle with her new puppet theater that she got from Grandma Carla and Grandpa Roger. She loves it and likes to do puppet shows. Here is one for your enjoyment. You'll also see Katie C who was helping out in a supporting role.

Popsicles and fun times

Zach tried his first popsicle this week. He really enjoyed it. In fact, when it was all gone, he burst in to tears because he wanted MORE! Here he is enjoying his treat.


Belle had fun Tuesday night playing with little people farm and Noah's Ark animals. She had them all together in groups. I asked her what they were doing and she informed me that they were "eating their breakfast."

Zach has discovered the key hole for the gas logs on the fireplace. First, he climbed up on the fireplace to get to it, looked back at me and fell off backwards. I ran over to him and he was just laying on the carpet with a big smile on his face. I decided to move the lamp so he could get to the hole without the climb. He just can't stay away from it. Whatever makes you happy buddy!

Heavenly Play-doh

Saturday morning Isabella and I were playing play-doh while Zach was taking a nap and Liza was gone to a student leadership meeting. She was making her normal "pancake" and scooped a little bit out. She looked at it a second and said, "It's a manger! We need a baby Jesus." So I made a little bundle with eyes and put it in the "manger." "Now make a Mary. So I did that. Next came Joseph and then "Make a sheep too, daddy!" So I made something that looked more like a dog, but oh well. She thought it was pretty cool. We then worked on making some flowers as well. She is getting very creative with her play-doh.

Here is Belle with her play-doh nativity scene.

Mary is on the left, but only she would know that.

Flowers in pots. Having pots was very important.

Here's mud in your mouth

Last night we had a "new parent's class" leadership meeting down at our friend's, the Lloyds, house. There were lots of kids there and they were all playing while the adults talked. Zach was playing in the living room where Liza was and I was in the kitchen. Suddenly I heard, "oh my!" from someone and looked around to see that Zach was playing in a big potted plant in the living room. He had fist fulls of mud and was stuffing it in his mouth. Liza grabbed him and brought him in to the kitchen to clean him up. Did he cry and try to spit it out? Oh no. He just kept chewing on it and smiling happily as Liza tried to clean it out. I finally had to hold him over the sink and put handfuls of water in his mouth to clean it all out. They said having a boy would be different... but wow. :-)

"Mud... it does the body good!"