Halloween

Abbie wanted to be a princess for Halloween this year.  She was a princess last year but I figured we have lots of princess dresses she can wear.  Halloween came and I asked her which dress she wanted to wear.  Of course, it was the same dress as last year.  She could not have picked one of the 3 other beautiful dresses to wear.  Doing my best to remind myself it really does not matter that we are wearing the same exact dress 2 years in a row.  I agreed and she got dressed.  Abbie had a great day and enjoyed trick or treating with her friends!  She has lots of candy for her parents to eat and even wanted to bring some to share with her friends at church!

Carving Pumpkins

I thought it would be fun to carve a pumpkin with Abbie this year.  Abbie was very excited about it!  Steve cut the top off of the pumpkin and then Abbie and I were going to clean the pumpkin out.  Abbie did not like the idea of getting her hands all dirty.  Once I gave her a spoon to use she helped a little with cleaning the pumpkin out.  In the end, Steve and I carved the pumpkin and Abbie watched!  But Abbie loved it and has talked about it non -stop since!

Fall Fun!

We took Abbie to the Farm to enjoy the festival!  Abbie loved the corn sandbox, slide, climbing the haystack, corn maze!  Steve and I loved the apple cider donuts and apple cider!!
Abbie got to take a pony ride too!  It was an extra treat to have Steve's parents with us for the trip! 

Concert

Steve's cousins Ron and Laura and their daughter Joy came to visit a few weeks ago.  Abbie and Joy loved dressing up like princesses and putting on a show for us.  Joy would play the guitar and Abbie would sing.  The were so cute and we all enjoyed all of the concerts!!

Father's Day (2 months late)

We celebrated Father's Day 2 months late this year.  Which is pretty typical of our family.  Too much going on to actually celebrate the special day on the special day!!  Father's Day was June 20 with was also - Abbie's birthday, first day of VBS (I was the director), and our good bye reception at Avenue.  We actually told Abbie it was her birthday on June 19 because we could not celebrate it on the 20th either.  So after 2 months of patient waiting, we finally celebrated Father's day!  The fun part was Steve did not know we were celebrating that day so he was quite suprised when he got home from work.  I cut most of the lawn for him and we cooked dinner for him.  Then we gave him his present - a fire ring.  We have enjoyed a few family fires since then.  Abbie loves them and asks when the next family fire will be.  She loves eating the graham crackers, marshmellows, and chocolate but likes them each by themselves.  She does not like a smore.  The best part of the fire ring is just hanging out in the backyard talking and watching the stars!  Hopefully we get in a few more fires before Winter hits. 

Sesame Place

Last week, we took a family trip to Sesame Place.  I had not been there in about 25 years. 
Overall, we had a great day!  We enjoyed 2 shows and the character parade.  Abbie loved seeing all of the characters as long as they did not get too close to her!  We spent most of the day in the dry rides part.  Abbie loved the carousel and flying fish ride!  She did a great job climbing the ropes course (better than her daddy did).  Steve got to ride all the rides with Abbie since I was pregrant.  I did have the pleasure of riding the carousel ride 3 times.  We went to the water rides for awhile but they were crazy.  We were at count's castle and I was able to go insane - kids everywhere, cold water falling all over you.  I could only take about 20 min.  Luckily, I was able to convince my family to move on to the lazy river - Much more peaceful!!!
I am sure we will be back there in about 2 years!!  

Roller Skating

Abbie went roller skating for the first time yesterday!  It was her friends 5th birthday party.  Abbie was very excited to roller skate.  Abbie did great on skates.  Luckily her wheels barely spun.  Within 30 min, Abbie was skating all by herself.  She thought it was funny to fall down and have to get back up.  Although we went 2 mph around the rink we had a blast.  And mom got an idea for Christmas!  Roller skating in the garage will be great especially in the Winter! 

Hope UMC

On July 1st, our family took a big step and change and left Avenue UMC and went to Hope UMC.  After 9 years at Avenue it was very hard to say good bye to so many friends.  We went trusting God was in control.  Hope is a much smaller church than Avenue.  It averages about 1/4 the attendance of Avenue on a Sunday.  However, we are beginning to feel right at home at Hope UMC.  It was tough to explain to Abbie that we were listening to God and leaving our old church and going to our new church.  After our first night of VBS Abbie told her daycare provider that her mom and dad have a new church but it is not her church.  Luckily,  this church has lots of young families with children the same age as Abbie.  Abbie has adjusted well and has made some new friends.  Abbie now calls Hope her new church!!  I am sure Abbie will come to love Hope UMC just as much as she loved Avenue UMC.   We are excited to Sunday School to begin in the fall so Abbie can continue to build new friendships witht he children at Hope UMC.   

Yard Work

Steve and I needed to do some much needed yard work on a Saturday morning.  Steve was cutting the grass and I was pulling weeds and trimming bushes.  Abbie was looking for something to do so I gave her a waterbottle and told her to go water the trees.  She loved it and spent 45 min. just spraying trees and bushes.  My neighbors thought I was nuts but we got our yard work finished and Abbie had a blast!

Vacation

In July we went to Massanutten, VA for a week of vacation with my family.  We had a great time.  Abbie loved swimming in the big pool each day.  She enjoyed playing bingo, minature golf, and the petting zoo. The highlight of the pool was learning to jump in and laying on a lounge chair eating Dora fruit snacks and drinking Capri Suns (things mom never buys).   I think the best part of the whole vacation for her was having the attention of her grandparents, 2 aunts, and 1 uncle.  She loved all the people to play with and entertain! 

Abbie's 3rd Birthday!

We had a friends birthday party 2 weeks before her birthday.  We invited her friends to come celebrate at the gymnastics studio that Abbie goes to each week.  The party was great.  The kids had lots of fun jumping on the trampoline, jumping into the foam pit, walking the balance beam, and swinging from the rope.  The only bad part of the party was their air conditioner was broken so the kids looked like they had went swimming by the end of the party! 

Easter

After a few stressful years of trying to do an Easter egg hunt and Daddy get to church as early as possible. I came up with a new plan.  We asked the Easter bunny to come on Saturday because Daddy has to work so early on Sunday.  The Easter bunny is so wonderful that he said he could do this for us! 

So,  the Easter bunny left eggs and a present for Abbie.  Then we enjoyed a nice family breakfast and a trip to the Phillies game!  Abbie loved finding the eggs and was very excited that some eggs had M & M's in them!  The Easter bunny left her a big bubble wand and a Bible too!

Easter Eggs

This is the first year we dyed Easter eggs.  Abbie dyed them 5 different colors.  Then we put stickers on the eggs to give each egg a face.  Abbie loved decorating the eggs.  We even survived the event without a broken egg!

Swim Day

It was a beautful, warm day!  Abbie and I were outside.  She was playing while I was cleaning out the shed. 
She saw all of her pool toys and decided she wanted to go swimming.  I told her that we were not getting out the pool because we were going on a trip tomm.  So she decided to turn a dirt hole into her pool.

She sat in the hole with her pool toys and played for at least 30 min.  I am happy that I have a creative 2 year old daughter!

The Mingos

Last night we were flamingoed by a few highschool students.
They put 10 flamingos in our yard to raise money for the Jr/Sr After Prom.
I pointed them out to Abbie this morning.  She could not wait to go say hi to them.
She was quite worried about the flamingos because they were not talking. 
Then she had to give each one a kiss before we left for church.
When we came home from church she fed each flamingo while petting its head.
After nap, she felt it was neccesary to feed each flamingo again. 
She talks to the flamingos and makes sure they have everything they need. 
She now calls them her mingos!
She will be quite upset when the highschool students take them away to put on someone else's yard. 
We might have to get a pet flamingo for the backyard. Yes the backyard, I am not putting it in the front yard!
I am fine with this because the flamingo only eats free rocks and will not ever have to go to the vet! 
I could not ask for a better pet!!

Hide and Seek

A few months ago we taught Abbie how to play hide and go seek. 
She loves the game.
Over the past few weeks we have been working hard on potty training. 
She has incorported the two of these things into 1 game.
I will sit her on the potty and leave her for a minute or 2. 
When I come back she has found something to hide behind so she can
yell Surprise to me!  Usually she hides behind the shower curtain.
But this day the shower curtain was pulled back and she needed something else to
hide behind.  Her choice was the decorative lighthouse and a roll of toliet paper. 
It is hard to act surprise when you are laughing!

First beach Trip of 2010

Abbie loves the beach and has been asking all winter to go to the beach.
Since the weather was going to be in the 70's on Sat.  we told her we would take her to the beach.
It did not take to much convincing to encourage her mom to head to the beach!
She was very excited.  She wore her beach hat during the whole ride down to the beach.
When we got there I took off her shoes but she was scared to walk in the sand.
I guess she forgot since it had been 1/2 a year. 
But after a little bit of time she was running around in the sand, collecting seashells, and
watching the waves. 
I know she is anxious to jump into the water but I think we have a few months before we can do that!

Gymnastics Class

She took a month long gymnastics class with her friend Sarah. 
She loves nastics, which is what she calls it! 
Her favorite things is the trampoline.
Her second favorite things is to swing on the rope and then let go and fall into the foam pit!

Our little gymnast!  All ready to head to class. 

Abbie and her friend Sarah waiting their turn to jump on the trampoline!

Valentine's Cards

I had to make 40 Valentine's cards between my students at school, her friends at school, and her friends at church.  She sat right next to me the entire hour and helped out.  I wrote on the cards and folded them in half. She put the heart sticker on each one to seal the card. 
She was so excited to hand out her Valentine's cards to her friends at church the next day.

Blizzard Activities!

Abbie and I made Valentine's people while Daddy shoveled snow from Blizzard number 2.  We started with one person and ended up making a whole family.  Abbie loved drawing on their mouths and making them talk to each other. 

More Snow Fun!

We took Abbie out to play in the snow on Sunday.  She did not want to go out.  We had to almost make her go out in the snow.  She is just like her mama!  I think she was a little scared of the snow.  Don't know why the piles are only double her height :)  She played on the driveway.  I filled water bottles with water and food color.  She enjoyed painting the snow.  We last about 20 min. and then came in.  We have not been out since.

Dress - Up Day

Abbie's best friend Sarah was over playing.
They always dress up and tell me they are heading to the beach!!
I so wish.  I it was warm we would hop right in that car and head to the beach!!

First Pigtails

For the longest time Abbie would only let us put her hair up in barretts. 
Then she started agreeing to a ponytail.
This was the first day she agreed to pig tails.

I thought she looked so cute in pigtails!!
Had to take a picture. Not counting on her allowing me to put pigtails in
for awhile. 

Smores Family Night

A student at school gave me a smores/hot chocolate kit for Christmas. 
So we had a family smores night. 
Our friends have a little smores rooster that we borrowed. 
Abbie loved holding her marshmellow up to the fire to cook it. 
She ate about half the smore and then was finished. 

She does not have the sweet tooth that mom has!!

I Chose Hope!

" I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.  I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:20

Friday, Jan. 15 - The worst words that have been ever spoken to me - " I do not see a heartbeat.  I am so sorry". 
Tears began to flow down my cheeks as I looked up at my husband and saw the tears flowing down his face too.  Next began 2 hours of tests and waiting just to tell us the same awful news.  I could not believe it.  I carried Abbie with no problems, this really could not be true. 

I sat with my husband in the car, looking for a place to eat lunch.  I was not even hungry but knew I should eat it was way past lunch time.  As I sat in the car, thinking and praying.  God began to show me his guiding hand through the past 3 awful hours.  I just so happend to get my favorite doctor for a last minute appointment.  This doctor is hard to schedule an appointment with 2 months out.  Then this same doctor just so happend to be the doctor on call tomm.  He could perform a D & C early in the next morning and end this awful day.  This all happened on a Friday and I had a 4 day weekend to rest.  I did not have to worry about sub plans or school.  Steve and I had already planned a fun family trip on Tuesday.  Boy,  I knew that would be a fun day. 
As I began to think of how God had provided for Steve and I through the last few hours, I began to be filled with hope.  Now instead of being filled with grief and sorrow.  I began to be filled with hope and excitement.  I began to think about not having to work summer school now,  Family Fun Friday, being able to go to Delanco,  getting to go on my family vacation to VA, beach trips with Abbie, my best friends family could now visit this summer.  Wow, I was excited about this summer. 
I began to thank God for the amazing blessings he gives me each day.  I have an amazing husband, wonderful daughter, beautiful house, great family, Steve and I both have jobs we enjoy!  My heart began to change from sorrow to love for my amazing God who has taken away my sorrow and filled my heart with love and hope. 
Every once in awhile I have a sad moment but then God reminds me of his love for me and the many blessing I have and are still to come.  I was able to come home from the hospital Sat. morning and laugh, smile, and play with Abbie because I knew I had a God who is bigger then disappointment.  A God who looks after me and gives me hope for our future!
Thank you God for filling my heart with hope and love when I could have harden my heart with sadness and grief.  Thank you for being with me every moment of the day and providing my every need! 

Please Touch Museum

We took a trip to the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia.  It was the nicest children's museum I have ever visited (and as a teacher, used to be daycamp director, I have been to many museums!) 

Abbie had a blast.  She loved all the activites in the museum.  We got to go for a carrousel ride, play with boats in water, many slides and tunnels, dramatic play (grocery store, doctor's office, McDonalds), science lab, art center, construction zone.  Abbie loved it all!  Each activity was hands on so the fun continued throughout the entire place.  I am sure we will repeat this trip again!

Bird Feeders

The other day Abbie collected pine cones with her Grandmom.  So we decided to make bird feeders. 

I put peanut butter on the pinecones and then she rolled them in bird seed.  Next, we hung them on our trees in the yard.  Abbie wanted to know why the birds were not coming to eat.  I told her they do not know the food is on the trees.  We played in the yard for awhile.  A flock of birds flew over us and Abbie began running after them yelling "Dinner time birdies, Dinner time" 

Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas!  Abbie was very excited about every part of Christmas. 
We spent Christmas Eve at Avenue Church.  I would not want to be any place else. 
It is such a wonderful evening to come and worship our Lord and Savior.
We spent Christmas morning at our house.  Abbie loved her presents and even enjoyed watching Steve and I open our presents. 
Late morning, we drove up to NJ to spend the rest of Christmas with my family. 
Here are just a few pics. from Christmas day!

Abbie got matching dresses for here and her baby doll from her grandparents! 
She brought her baby doll to church and showed everyone that she matched her baby doll!

Abbie received a guitar from her mom and dad for Christmas.  Now she can play just like her daddy!

Abbie likes to play her guitar and sing the ABC song!