LEGOLAND

On our way home from Willow Creek Community Church on Sunday, we drove by Legoland Discovery Center in Schamburg, IL. We knew that it wasn't supposed to open for another week, but thought we would at least just stop by and look in the windows. After all, when would we be up in Chicago again? When we pulled up we noticed people outside the building and started getting excited. We thought maybe they were having a soft opening, and would get to go inside. Our boys, especially Collin, are lego fanatics, so we told them we would go in for just a second and look around. We walked up to the door and opened it. When we stepped inside, we were immediately told that it didn't open until 12. It was only 11, and we had to be back to my aunt's at 12! We were so disappointed, but the boys took it well. I told the lady, we were sorry that we came in, we didn't notice the sign (why was the door unlocked, anyway??) and that we were visiting from TN and going back that day. She said she was sorry and we could look through the windows. So we looked around for a few minutes, and then she suddenly came back out and ushered us inside! We were shocked! (There were alot of other people standing around) She took us around and showed us a few of the displays that were complete and gave the boys a map and some legos to take home. That made our day! We had a blast and would highly recommend the Lego Discovery center to anyone who goes up to the Chicago area. I hope we can make it back up there!

Legoland- Schamburg, IL
The display at the entrance

Our wonderful tour guide
Watch out for the hippo, Eric!
R2-D2
I think Collin knows who he wants to work for when he grows up-Lego! He has been inspired and they have both been building ever since. And I will be stepping on and picking up Legos forever!

Chicago-Take 2

Here are more pictures from Chicago! Finally!!!


Playing around at my aunt and uncle's house

look at the monkeys!

Willow Creek Community Church

I don't have much time to blog right now- I need to get Jeff packed for a business trip, but here are a few pictures from our trip to Chicago last week. We had a great time! More to come.....

Riding the train to downtown Chicago
Hanging out with our second cousins
A view of Millenium park from the Sears tower

Happy Birthday Aunt Amy

Happy birthday Aunt Amy! We enjoyed getting to visit with you a few weeks ago. Hope to see you again soon. Give Lainey a big kiss and hug from all of us!

Happy 8th Birthday Collin

It is hard to believe that you are 8 years old. It seems like just yesterday we were at the hospital getting ready to have you. We were so nervous, we weren't sure if we would know what to do with a little baby, but we figured it out! You and your brother are our joy. I am so proud of you Collin, and enjoy watching you grow. You are such a smart boy. I am amazed at how quickly you learn about new things and how well you remember them. It is exciting to watch your love of space and science grow each day. I love that you are an avid reader like me- we are dangerous in a book store together, aren't we? I love your sensitive heart. You are so tenderhearted, and that is a wonderful characteristic to have, don't lose it. I love your hugs and snuggles. Don't ever get too big to hug mommy!! I love you Collin! Happy Birthday!

Happy 15th Anniversary Jeff!

Happy Anniversary honey! I love you!

Mr. Snaggletooth

Eric lost his first tooth! I can't believe my baby lost his first tooth. A couple of days ago, he started crying after eating an apple. He said that the apple pulled his tooth. I looked, and sure enough he had a loose tooth, we just didn't know it. He was terrified it would hurt! We tried to convince him it was worth the pain for the money (he is all about the money). He wouldn't let us look at it much, but with a lot of coaching from his big brother, he kept at the wiggling all day for the past two days. This morning it was barely hanging there, but he wouldn't let me touch it. I tried to get him to let Ashley look at it (knowing that she would pull it if she got her hands on it- that's what friends do for friends, right?). We even tried to enlist Elijah's help! Finally, this afternoon, I told him I wanted to take a picture of it, and needed to clean it off with a washcloth. I barely touched it, and it was out. He was so excited and immediately wanted to call Daddy. He can't wait for the tooth fairy tonight. I am sure we will never get him to sleep. I hope he doesn't bump into her when he is sleepwalking!

We love you Susie and Bret!

At the end of VBS today, Allen introduced Susie and Bret to the students. Today is Susie's last day of work at FBC. Susie and Bret have surrended to full time missions and will be leaving for Brazil in July. We are so excited for them, but a little sad at the same time. They used to be our neighbors when we lived at our old house and are so dear to us. They have loved on our boys as they have loved on so many other children. Susie thinks that it is because she always gives them candy,but it is more than that. Children seem to be able to see your heart, and kids, no matter how small they are, just seem to know how precious Susie and Bret are. We will miss them so very much! I am so excited to see what the Lord is going to do in them and through them. The children in Brazil are getting some very special people to love on them!!!

VBS Week

Wow! What an absolutely amazing week! We are exhausted, but have had so much fun this week at VBS! This year's theme was Power Lab and has been so much fun. The boys have jumped out of bed each day, anxious to get to church early. They have learned so much this week- the lessons have been excellent. The way everything was presented really captured their attention. I helped with making sure the preschool wing ran smoothly, which allowed me to peek in on what they were doing and it amazed me how all the children were always so engaged in what was going on! Never did the kids seems bored. (When you teach, there is always a kid that claims to be "bored"-but not this week!) I am trying to think of what was my favorite part of the day, but I just can't! Worship was incredible- so much energy! Allen, Jennifer and their team of kids did a great job leading the worship. I was so proud of the kids. You would think that they would be intimated leading an auditorioum full of people in worship,but they weren't. They were great! On Thursday, we had 41 children ask Jesus into their hearts. I was blessed to pray with a 2nd grader who wanted to know more about becoming a Christian. He said his family had just started coming to the church. It is such a special time to be able to pray with a child and hear their heart. It was also amazing to see how much money the children brought for missions. $1,484.08. The kids raised that- I was so proud! Although my body is exhausted, my heart is so full from all of the activities of this week. I am so proud to be a part of a church that works so hard to put together this type of program. Thank you to Ruth and Allen for leading us! And thank you to all of the volunteers that worked this year. We couldn't have done it without you. I can't wait until next year!

Father's Day pictures

Father's Day

I have tried to upload pictures from Father's Day but I am not having any luck. We had a busy but fun day. We went to lunch with my Mom and Dad at Garcias- a great new Mexican place in Murfreesboro, and then Jeff took a nap at home while I went up to the church to help get things ready for VBS. After I got home, we decided to go to Steak and Shake for supper. We had a great day! Happy Father's day Jeff, we love you!

Happy Birthday Eric

Happy birthday Eric! I can't believe that you are six today! You came into this world a bundle of energy and you still are today! I love that you constantly are on the move (even when it wears me out!) and have so many questions that you need to have answered. I love how you try to make everyone around you happy. You are so special to me. I love you and I can't wait to see what God has in store for you! Happy birthday my son!

Sushi, anyone?

I am quickly becoming a sushi fanatic. The more I try of it, the more I am crazy about it! However, my boys are not! My boys cannot stand the smell of it and hold their noses when we get close to the sushi counter in Publix! I was shocked a few weeks ago when Collin asked if he could try my sushi. At that time,we were at Fulin's Asian Restaurant, and I said no, since it was all that I had and I couldn't stand the thought of him wasting a piece of my supper! After all, he would just spit it out, right! When we went to Publix today, I decided that I would get myself sushi for supper. Collin asked again if he could have some and I said yes this time. I am so proud of him! I can't believe that he tried it! When he ate it, he said, "MMM, WOW, I think I will let you eat the rest!" I had to laugh. I am proud of him that he tried something new, something that most adults won't try, and he was very polite about when he decided that he didn't like it. Maybe he is listening a little bit after all!

Hot Summer Day

What do you do on a hot summer day? Be lazy of course! We spent Saturday afternoon on my grandmother's porch, hiding from the sun and trying to stay cool. Here are a few pictures from the afternoon.

Weekend at Great Grandma's

Felicia with her future mother-in-law Cindy Kruse
Grandma Bader with Ella

My cousin's new baby, Ella
Felicia and my mom
Felicia with Marilyn and Jennifer Bader

This weekend, Collin, Eric and I went to Mt. Carmel, Il to visit with my grandmothers and also throw a bridal shower for my cousin Justin's fiance, Felicia. We had so fun! On Friday,we were able to participate in the Relay for Life that was being held at the high school. We played games, my parents caught up with former high school buddies and we walked the high school track. We were also able to find the luminaries that were in honor of my grandfather who died of cancer and my uncle who is a survivor.

On Saturday, we had the bridal shower for Felicia. It was my first time meeting Felicia, and I think she will be a great addition to the family. She currently teaches preschool, and wants to teach Pre-K. I think we will have alot in talk about! Here are some pictures from the shower.

I have been aching to be crafty lately! Since Jeff is out of town, I sat down and finally made something. I am so excited! Ashley spotted these cute necklaces not to long ago, and we have been talking about making them. Unfortunately, I didn't have any extra materials laying around. That is, until my mother-in-law went to a bunch of garage sales with the boys last weekend. These necklaces are made out of scrabble tiles and she came home with a scrabble game! Yeah! The boys were upset that I used their game until I showed them our deluxe scrabble game, and then they suddenly loved the necklaces! These are my first attempts at making the necklaces. I had trouble trying to adhere the bails ( I didn't have a drill bit to make a hole in the tiles) I am on my way to Franklin in a few minutes and just may have to stop in a bead shop to ask what adhesives they use. Anyway, they were so much fun!

Grandparents are the best!

Don't you just love grandparents! Jeff's parents drove up here from Shreveport, LA on Wed. night and have done nothing but played with the boys. They are having so much fun. They have been to garage sales, outside to play and of course, they have been to Wal-mart to buy a new toy. Eric is holding his- a new pop gun. The boys absolutely love the grandparents and are eating up every minute.

Finally joining the blogging world!

Okay, So I have finally bit the bullet and joined the blogging world. We shall see how it goes! I am not really sure if I will be able to keep it up as well as the rest of my blogging buddies. It has been funny how recently something will happen, and I will think, if I had a blog, I would blog about that! So, I guess I will give in and try it!