Scared Silly

Emma got a package today from Gramma and Papa. It had air vents cut in it and was labeled with very specific opening instructions. "I've traveled a long way from Gramma and Papa's woods", etc. We got it opened enough to see some black fur and Emma FREAKED OUT. She was scared to death! She wanted so badly to see what was inside, but couldn't bring herself to look. She kept begging me to open it for her, but I, of course, refused. Then the tears began. We called Gramma. Even though both Gramma and I promised her that she didn't need to be scared and told her to trust us, she half laughed - half cried her way around and around the box. (I admit I gave it a little push now and then to really freak her out - what good mom wouldn't?!) Gramma and I continued to laugh at her so hard that we were crying too! She insisted that she wanted to wait for Daddy to get home. We even told her that it was a present for her and that she would love it - too scared still. Apparently she was sure it was a tarantula or something equally gross. Then she was afraid that it had been alive, but she'd now be opening a box with a dead animal. This nonsense had been going on for a good twenty minutes by now. While I was on the phone, she got herself armed with the fireplace gloves and I held the phone to her ear while my terrified and tearful daughter opened...............................
...........................................................her new bear webkinz!
She immediately said, "Thank you Gramma. I feel REALLY SILLY now." Get a grip, Emma. That's a story I don't want to forget!

Boredom Makes You Do Crazy Things

Ryan has been away on business since last Saturday am, so needless to say, we're a little bored around here. So I decided that today I would take both girls and Jessica (she's our young adult friend with special needs) to Sesame Place by myself. It seemed like a great idea until the ride there - in the surprising silence of my car - I started thinking it all through. What am I crazy?! We have a hard enough time with our two girls when Ryan is with me and we each have one kid. Plus, there are dry rides AND water rides, so here's the whole clothes changing issue. It's crowded, and I worry about creepy people that would hang out in that kind of place. And now I have to watch a 2, 7, and 24 year old!
Because of my sudden stress, we even all prayed together in the van. But God was good, and we had a really fun time. Emma and Jess were great ride partners, and Lila even tried the waterslide! All three loved the shows.
So, we had a super day, with beautiful weather. And, I even found a Petsmart across the street on the way home so I could run in and buy crickets for the frogs. It doesn't get much better than that!

Farm Fair

Emma has had camp at church all week, so Lila and I have been looking for some fun. Today, we picked up Aunt Becca and headed to the farm fair. I've always loved to go in the morning before it's crowded and before the rides are open. We always used to take Emma to see the farm animals, but now she has better things to do - so we got to enjoy the morning with Lila. She LOVES animals - any kind! She covers her mouth with one dainty hand and says, "Ooohhh goodness, mom!" She even got excited over pigeons! (By the way, Becca and I want to know how they decide which pigeon is the "Grand Champion") She saw everything, but I think the sheep were her favorite, "ooohh, so soft, so cute". She also wondered why the cows were wearing earrings.

Thank goodness they have temporary sinks with soap outside the tents, because even though it was 10:00 am, Lila got a blue bag of cotton candy. ...and the pony ride was, of course, the highlight of the morning.

Lila Quotes

Ryan's parents left today, and tonight we were reading the note that Gramma left for Lila. It started, "Dearest Lila Ann..." and had a box of tic tacs taped to it. After I read it to her, she said, "Give me my nope, please!" Your what? "My nope." OK, what does it say? "Dear God, Amen, Emma's going in the hot tub, minties for Lila."

The other day, we were driving and smelled a skunk. She noticed the smell a minute after we were all done commenting on it. She scrunched up her face and waved her hand in her face saying, "EWWW, what's dat, Mommy?" That's a skunk, Lila. It's stinky. "Oh, dat's a STUNK?!" Yes, that would have been a better name for it, Lila.

The Wedding

Well, it finally happened. My baby brother and Meghan got married on Saturday. We've all waited a long time for this day and I'm feeling so happy for them as they start their life together. I know that they love each other very much and that they both love the Lord, and that makes me happy and proud and confident, as the much older sister. So Meghan, welcome to official sisterhood. Rob, you've finally got her. Thanks for letting my family play a role in your special day. Here are the pictures:

National Ice Cream Day

Did you know that yesterday, July 15th was National Ice Cream Day? I didn't until Ryan informed me. He was looking for a good excuse to indulge. Apparently Ronald Reagan declared it sometime in the 80's. So, to celebrate we went to a local favorite for a cold treat...then we went to the Boardwalk with Gramma and Papa...and had ice cream again. Hey - it was National Ice Cream Day! The girls thought Mommy and Daddy had lost their minds. Gramma and Papa are a bad influence on us. Oh, and in my defense, Lila and I shared the cone both times, so it really only amounts to one for me.
Anyway, the boats were a hit - Dumbo, not so much.

Busy Week

We've had an unusually hectic week here. My brother's wedding was Saturday, Gramma and Papa are still visiting, and I happen to have a 7 year old and a 2 year old who normally keep me quite busy on their own. I decided to highlight the week with some pictures:

Blueberry picking with Gramma

Eating carrots from the garden

Playing in the sandbox

Ryan fixing the zipper on my bridesmaid dress

Bear and Lila swinging

Hanging out in our jammies

Twelve Years

Today is our 12th wedding anniversary. I can't believe we've been married for that long and been together for 18 years! Wow - that makes me feel old, but the years have flown. God certainly planned for our lives to be together. What a blessing our marriage is to me. I love Ryan more and am even happier today than I was 7/8/95. Happy Anniversary Ryan!

NYC again

I'm not usually such a city-dweller, but I went to New York again. This time with Ryan, the girls, and Ryan's parents. We had a super time despite high temperatures. Emma and her grandparents got to see her picture in FAO Schwartz - always fun. Lila loved the train displays in the same store. We visited my dad's company's store and saw some really beautiful pianos. We strolled through the park and did some climbing on rocks, playing at playgrounds, and posing for pictures. Times Square was full of interesting sights as usual. Lila enjoyed a cool nap while the rest of us had drinks and snacks in the Marriott Marquis overlooking the craziness. It was great to spend the day all together.

Fireworks

Last night we went to the fireworks in town. It's become our tradition to have a BBQ at my sister's house first, then walk to the fireworks and meet friends from church there. The most exciting part of the night was that Ryan's parents, who were flying in, made it to Aunt Becca's house in time to eat a quick burger and walk to the park with us! We weren't even sure if they would make it to the fireworks on time. It was a cool, beautiful night with no bugs. The girls were thrilled to have their Gramma and Papa with them for this exciting night (and for the next 2 weeks). Gramma managed to get all of the kids riled up and cheering for each boom (Gramma truly enjoys a good firework!) Lila, though excited by the build up to the fireworks, was a bit intimidated by the noise. She covered her face with her bear and occasionally peeked out with one eye. After they were all done, she of course kept asking for more fireworks.

Funny Memory

We were at my mom's house a few nights ago watching Dumbo with the girls. The song about the train was playing... you know, "Casey Jr.'s coming down the track...", etc. My mom reminded me that Emma used get the words a little mixed up. She would sing, in all seriousness, ... "Tracy Drury's comin' down the track...". For those of you who don't know her, Tracy is a friend from our church. If you know her at all, it's even funnier that Emma would use her name in a silly song. That memory cracked me up, and since I didn't have a blog to record it then, I'll record it now.

That same night, Lila decided that she REALLY likes ribs. Especially when Gappy cooks them for us on the big green egg smoker. They taste even better when you can eat them by the pool with no clothes to worry about dirtying.