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!