Briella 7 months

We are using pictures from Stephan's phone and trying to get some pictures on my blog. I tried from my camera and it didn't work . . .

Briella Video

Stephan is helping me figure out the picture/video thing. This video was taken in February, so Briella is almost 6 months old. Enjoy :)

Pathetic, I know

So, when I finally started my blog I wasn't going to be one of those who never update, but if you look at the dates of my posts, I have become that. Oh well, I said I'd never live in GR and I do, quite happily too :)
So, we went to Iowa, my sister and me and 4 kids under 5. Actually it wasn't too bad in the van for 12.5 hours. We got there just in time to see our youngest brother play 20 minutes of soccer (they lost in the last seconds of overtime, sad). We also stopped by the local gas station that serves as the coffee spot for the locals . . . for Grandpa's birthday coffee. My mom and sisters brought coffee cakes and lots of people stopped by, it was neat. Grandpa's picture and a little "Happy Birthday" note and invite were posted at the main intersection in town. That's how they do things in small town Iowa, I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up in the paper :) Then Sat. night we had 60+ people for pizza at Grandpa and Grandma's house.
Happy 92nd Birthday Grandpa! Grandpa is a devout Christian and has a healthy happy heart after all these year. I love it that he got married at age 30, still had 7 kids, 33 grand kids, and now 35? great grandkids (I got married at 28). He has had white hair as long as I can remember, not grayish white, pure white, as if it was dyed with bleach. He also has a Santa belly and uses suspenders to keep up his pants. He always smiles, loves to see his family and comment "Look at all the trouble I started." I can't imagine being 92 years old, but if I reach 92 I hope that I am still able to drive, enjoy church, spend time with family, see 4 generations in one packed house, and be a testimony to those around me, just like Grandpa!
They trip back was more memorable than the trip there . . . we took a wrong turn and with 4 kids we were too distracted to notice and lost 1.5 hours?!? yuck. that's enough to get ya mad. Then we got stopped by a flagger that had one top tooth and several parts of bottom teeth. He chit chatted with us and after 7 minutes we got to move on. Shortly after that we stopped for a gas, potty break. Then about an hour down the road I realized I didn't know where my cell phone was. UH-OH. While I was driving my sister looked through all my bags before suggesting we call it with her phone, it didn't ring :( So I realized that my sister with her 3 was able to get all of them pottied and changed without any issues, but I (with one child) couldn't keep track of my cell phone. So my lovely husband found the number of the gas station and they found my phone (in the bathroom --eewww) and will send it to us. I'm still waiting for the phone to arrive, any ideas on disinfecting a phone?!?!?
Briella finally cut her first teeth, the bottom 2 are poking through. I realized this the day I realized I hadn't wiped her nose in 13 minutes. I'm not convinced the two were related, but I've heard runny noses and teeth go together. She is still as happy as ever :) I know I need to post pictures. I really will take the time to do that soon, really!

Briella's sick, my efforts

Good Morning! I have been thinking about my new blog, but haven't gotten down to the computer the past few days.
Briella has been kind of sick. I'm not sure if it's just the teething thing or if she has a cold, too. She has a runny nose and is coughing, too. Plus she is clingy which makes for a long day. Before this new cold, she had been getting really good at the little inchworm crawl. She used to move a couple of feet and that was great, but now she isn't afraid to attempt longer distances. It is funny to see her up on all fours rocking back and forth as if to get farther and then she kind of lurches forward and pulls her legs up again. (so cute!)
So in my efforts to be organized with my time I made myself these planner pages that include my daily reading (I'm trying to read through the Bible in the year 2008), my dinner menu, any scheduled appointments, and my to do list. I sat down Saturday to fill it out for the week, so I don't have to think about it each day . . . we'll see how it goes. As a stay at home mom I feel like it is so easy to waste time and not achieve much during the day, I don't like that, so this new planner page for the week is my attempt to combat that. Well, this week was not too difficult because Wednesday the cadets have a cook out at church and then Thursday morning Briella and I are heading to Iowa for my Grandpa's 92nd birthday party on Saturday!

Are you ready for this?

So, here I am, after months of delaying my entry to the blog world . . . I wish I had some profound story to tell that would really interest everyone, but I don't today. My goal is to keep family and friends updated on our lives as I take "Daily Walks." I aim to walk with the Lord daily with my personal devotions, I also aim to walk daily as a Christian woman (wife, mom, sister, friend, etc.), and even though it is far from daily, I try to walk often for a little exercise.
Briella is napping and I thought today would be a great day to get my blog started. I would love to get feedback from my visitors so please post something occasionally. I have visited many blogs and not posted so I know it is easy, but I really want to know who is listening to my thoughts . . .
Well that is all for my first of many updates . . .