we had a great weekend in spite of phil’s having call on saturday.  he managed to find someone to work from 7-3pm for him on saturday morning so that he could attend “dad’s day” at preschool with mikey.  i was so glad he worked it out so that he could go with mikey!  definitely something i totally appreciate about phil- his willingness to do what it takes to make time for us.   anyway, off they went to “dad’s day”.  phil took the camera with him so i got to see and share some pictures! the sign-in sheet: this fire truck is one of mikey’s favorite toys at school.  phil…

we had the privilege of hosting our very good friends, the schnells, when they came out to visit with us last month.  it was so great to see them again and to catch up with each other since we moved from minnesota.  just like old times.  and especially endearing to see jenna and mikey pick up their friendship right where they left off a year and a half ago.  a few highlights from their visit… we were disappointed that the week they were here was so chilly (i’ll never say “cold” again in reference to southern california weather since i once used to live where anything above ten degrees felt…

from lauren: had her six month check-up last week (what the crazy, she’s six months old already?!), and our sweet baby is now 25 1/2 inches tall and 15.1 lbs (35th percentile for both) and her head circumference is 16 1/4 (30th percentile).  so she’s growing well, mostly on mommy’s milk! yep, i started solids with her a couple weeks ago and well, it’s not going great.  she much prefers her milk and doesn’t get what the deal is with the spoon-bowl-rice cereal-bib-feeding seat business. has begun rolling all around the room when she’s laid down on the floor.  but only rolls to the left.  then she gets stuck against…

the seaweed is always greener in somebody else’s lake you dream about going up there but that is a big mistake just look at the world around you right here on the ocean floor such wonderful things surround you what more is you lookin’ for? okay, the next two aren’t “under the sea” per se, but still fit the ocean theme, no? our adventures with the schnells coming up next!

allie and lauren… Teenage girls, you have a precious opportunity—one that many women wish they could have back again. You have it for a short time before it will be lost forever. You have the chance, as a young woman, to invest today in godly character and to collect the benefits for the rest of your life. Today’s choices will influence the direction of your entire life. So now is the time to seek with all your heart the best deals of the season. “Remember, my young female friends” urged author John Angell James, “that the seeds of woman’s life-long excellences must be sown in the springtime of existence; and…