Chasing Fireflies

A Great Weekend!

Friday night Michael and I went on a double date with our dear friends, Jake and Jennifer to celebrate Jake's birthday.  We ended the night with a late night game of Mexican train dominoes. 

Saturday was a gorgeous spring day!  Michael came up with the idea to go on a picnic, fish, and hike.  We all agreed what a grand idea it was and piled into the van soon afterwards. 

Sunday included church, baseball practice for Isaac, play practice for Olivia, and me making homemade falafel for the first time.  They were quite tasty.

We are so excited it's spring and warming up!  What did you do this weekend?

Easter Sunday 2013

Easter Weekend 2013

Our AMAZING Easter weekend involved:

Hot cross buns and going to see a passion play on Good Friday,

Mom and Dad coming to town to celebrate with us,

dying eggs and egg hunts in rain sprinkling down upon us,

Easter baskets,

Sunday morning church,

our traditional Easter lunch,

banana pudding, and

a fish fry, Peeps s'mores, our 2nd annual glow-in-the-dark egg hunt with friends.

A Day with My Boys

Easter dress shopping and lunch at a hibachi grill

Isaac's Family ~ circa 2044

This is how Isaac invisions his family when he is 37 years old.  Wow! That will be 2044!

I'm thankful he says he will still love his mom.  He says he'll come visit me for Christmas, my birthday, and every Sunday for dinner.  :) 

Anna Belle

One week ago today I was faced with a hard and difficult decision. 

On June 10, 1997, I witnessed an amazing event.  My neighbor's cocker spaniel delivered four puppies in my room at home.  We tried to move her outside to the screened-in porch, but she would not have it.  She insisted that she deliver indoors where it was cool and alongside my mom, sister, and I which she knew would take good care of her newborn pups.  After covering the floor thickly with old towels, my mom, sister, and I watched as 4 puppies entered the world.  Puppy #1 was a big healthy boy.  Puppy #2 was also a boy.  Then puppy #3 was born.  She was a sweet little girl.  Then when we thought it was all over, puppy #4 was delivered.  It was another little boy.  He was the runt of the litter and was half the size of his biggest brother.  After the deliveries we watched and assisted Clara Belle remove the sacks from all the sweet puppies and watched as they each took their first breaths. 

It was an event that I was grateful to be a part of.  Michael and I were wed 2 1/2 weeks later and we kidded that Clara Belle wanted to give us a wedding present of a puppy.  And that she did!  Two weeks after Michael and I returned from our honeymoon my sister and mom brought us our "first baby." 

I had requested the baby girl of the litter and our neighbors gave her to us.  We were so happy to be "parents" and named her Anna Belle (Belle after her sweet Momma). 

Me with Anna Belle about 1 week after her birth

Anna Belle about 12 weeks old

Little did we know how Anna Belle would bless our family.  She was our "first baby" and became the subject of many "firsts" pictures. 

First snow

Our First Christmas

Little did Anna Belle also know what her birthday would behold every year.  How many doggies are forced encouraged to wear a party hat for their celebration?

Anna Belle's first birthday - We even made homemade calzones for her.  :)

So we ended up with the little girl of the litter.  My mom, dad, and sister ended up with the runt who they named Jack.  A year later our neighbors gave the "big boy," Woody, to my mom and dad. And then within another year they gave Clara Belle to mom and dad since they couldn't care for her after having a new baby.  (We aren't sure who got the other little boy.)  From this point our lives almost always involved 4 sweet doggies. 

Jack, Woody, Anna Belle, Clara Belle

Anna Belle fit perfectly in our family and was a sweet big sister to each of her siblings which she helped me mother.

Anna Belle with Olivia

Anna Belle with Isaac

Anna Belle with Joshua

Anna Belle, Isaac, and Olivia watching for Michael to get home

My two June birthday girls

Christmas 2009

Every Christmas we take a picture of Anna Belle retrieving her biscuits out of her stocking.

Christmas 2012

And every year on June 10 we have pictures of Anna Belle dressed in her party hat celebrating her birthday.

12th Birthday

14th Birthday

15th Birthday

Anna Belle and Woody

Family trip to Hilton Head Island 2010

Christmas 2010

Last Monday, March 18, I was faced with a difficult and heart breaking decision and in another way I was given a true blessing.  I was privileged to be with and hold Anna Belle as she took her final breath. 

Anna Belle was my first pet and I had the amazing and unusual experience of being with her as she was born and as she passed.  What a truly special gift God gave me!

Anna Belle blessed our family for 15 years and 9 months.  My life hasn't been the same this last week.  Different from any other time in my married life.  As a family we laid Anna Belle to rest on the outskirts of our woods underneath a huge pine tree, paid our respects, and decorated her grave with beautiful roses.  Many tears were shed and Isaac drew a picture of Anna Belle complete with her heart in heaven.

Although I still have a huge hole left in my heart today, I have been comforted in knowing that my Anna Belle is in heaven feeling good again with her little brother, Jack, and her Momma, Clara Belle again .... probably chasing squirrels.  :) 

March 18, 2013

Anna Belle Lee

June 10, 1997 - March 18, 2013

Thank you for being a part of our family Anna Belle.  We love you and will always miss you.

Interview with a New Six-Year-Old

The interview after a birthday has become one of my favorite things to do with my children.  Here is Isaac's interview from earlier this week.  :)

Mommy:  What is your favorite color?

Isaac:   Blue

Mommy:  What is your favorite thing to eat?

Isaac:  That's hard to say. 

Mommy:  Well, pick one or two things.

Isaac:  Pizza and chocolate.  And hamburgers.  And sloppy joes.

Mommy:  What's your favorite fruit to eat?

Isaac:  Watermelon

Mommy:  What's your favorite vegetable to eat?

Isaac:  Spinach

Mommy:  Where is your favorite place to eat?

Isaac:  Olive Garden and [local] Pizza Resturant here in town

Mommy:  What is your favorite animal?

Isaac:  Dogs

Mommy:  What do you want to be when you grow up?

Isaac:   A photographer

Mommy:  What is your favorite activity?

Isaac:  Drawing

Mommy:  What is your favorite Bible story?

Isaac:  The Good Samaritan

Mommy:  Why?

Isaac:  Because the Good Samaritan helped the hurt man and that's good.

Mommy:  What is your favorite song?

Isaac:  Jingle Bells

Mommy:  What is your favorite toy?

Isaac:  Ohhhhhhhhhhhh.  That's a tough one.  Pistols

Mommy:  What is your favorite time of year?

Isaac:  What do you mean?  A holiday?

Mommy:  It could be a holiday or season.

Isaac:  Christmas and summer.

Mommy:  Why?

Isaac:  Because it's Jesus' birthday. 

Mommy:  And summer?

Isaac:  Because it's warm and we play outside a lot.

Mommy:  What is your favorite movie?

Isaac:  That's a hard one, too.  I guess Swiss Family Robinson.

Mommy:  Do you want to be a daddy when you grow up?

Isaac:  Yes

Mommy:  Will you get married one day?

Isaac:  Yes

Mommy:  What do you want to drive when you get older?

Isaac:  A truck

Mommy:  What scares you?

Isaac:  The dark

Mommy:  What is your favorite day?

Isaac:  Saturday, because daddy gets to stay home.

Mommy:  How old is Daddy?

Isaac:  73

Mommy:  How old is Mommy?

Isaac:  83

Mommy:  I'm 83?  (In shock!)

Isaac:  Nooo.  (With a big grin on his face.)  You're 78.   Nooo.  You're 38.

Mommy:  Oh!  I'm 38 and Daddy is how old?

Isaac:  37.  I got the numbers changed around. 

Mommy:  What does Daddy do when he goes to work?

Isaac:  He works. 

Mommy:  What does he do?

Isaac:  He works on his computer. He types things down that he has to do at work.

Mommy:  What does mommy do?

Isaac:  You look at pictures on your computer, work in the kitchen, drive places, teach me school, wash dishes, wash clothes, and take clothes out of the dryer.

Mommy:  What is your favorite subject in school?

Isaac:  Phonics, reading, and math.

Mommy:  What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?

Isaac:  Play legos

Mommy:  What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy?

Isaac:  Read

Mommy:  What is your favorite thing to do with Olivia?

Isaac:  Make puppet shows.

Mommy:  What is your favorite thing to do with Joshua?

Isaac:  Play hide and seek.

Mommy:  Who is your favorite superhero?

Isaac:  Spiderman

Mommy:  Why?

Isaac:  Because he's cool!  He can web bad people and help good people.

Mommy:  Would you rather go for a ride in a submarine or a hot air balloon?

Isaac:  A submarine

Mommy:  What is your favorite thing God made?

Isaac:  My family and my friends

Mommy:  Where does Jesus live?

Isaac:  In heaven and with us

Previous interviews of when Isaac had just turned 4 and just turned 5

Isaac's 6th Birthday Party ~ Cowboy Party

On Saturday, our Lil' Buckaroo, Isaac, had a Cowboy Birthday Party. 

Isaac's Sunday School teacher and husband and dear family friends, brought their beautiful horse for Isaac and his friends to ride on.

The kids had a grand time sitting on Angel's saddle as she trotted around our yard.  We also had several games set up to play - horseshoes, tin can shoot out, and "There's a Snake in My Boot."  A fire was also built surrounding the hay bale seating to warm up around. 

For lunch we had a full spread of Cowboy Chuck (brisket, baked beans, corn on the cob, slaw, potato salad, chips) and drinks at the Drinkin' Hole (root beer and cowpoke chocolate milk). 

Later Isaac opened presents

and then we sang "Happy Birthday." 

Isaac holding the cowboy boot cake Michael made for him.

The Two Cowboy Birthday Boys

See "Isaac's 6th Birthday" in the right hand column under Photo Albums for additional pictures from Isaac's party.

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright for making Isaac's birthday so special and memorable by bringing Angel.

Our House is Built with LOVE

My inspiration for our Valentine's Day table came to me in early January one day while all of my kids were playing with the Legos they received as Christmas gifts.  Isaac and Joshua with their primary colors and Olivia with her pink set.  I enlisted each of them to help me dig out red bricks and together we built our centerpiece house with LOVE.

We were privileged to have my mom and dad in town for Valentine's and enjoyed a dinner of steak and heart shaped biscuits, lemon butter asparagus, and a heart shaped potato chive pancake.  Heart shaped boxes of chocolates were opened afterwards and the flavor guide was closely inspected for our top favorite flavors.

My favorite is the caramels.  What is your favorite?

Isaac's 6th Birthday

We celebrated Isaac's 6th birthday with streamers, pigs in a blanket for breakfast, taco salad for lunch, afternoon games, watched Stuart Little, pizza for dinner, a chocolate pie with 6 blue candles, and gifts (among those was his long awaited for camera).

I am in complete awe that you are already 6, Isaac.  It feels like it was just a few months ago that I brought you home from the hospital, not years ago.  You are truly a special young man!  I love that you are so sweet, sensitive, honest, have a strong opinion about your style and clothing, and that you are always the first person to thank me for cooking for you.  :)   You are creative and highly imaginative. You are my only child to LOVE green vegetables, like me and also wants to complete a task before moving on, like me.  You are a joy and bring much happiness to our family.  I love you Isaac!  Love, Mommy

 Gift from his Auntie Alli - Moon Phase Lamp