Spring Has Sprung!

We are loving every moment of the warm weather and the chance to go outside! Actually, Stella often objects when it's time to come in (unless of course it's time to eat...then the focus is the food)! Here's what we have been up to the last couple of days...

First time wearing shorts in 2008!
(she got her first skinned knee that day as well)

Helping in mommy's garden...Stella LOVES to pull weeds (especially the dandelions from our neighbors yard).

Not only do the neighbors have weeds to pull...but they also have toys that they generously share!!!

Yea!

**You may want to decrease the volume for the videos...I'm a bit loud while coaxing Stella to go down the slide. SORRY**

Still gaining confidence on the slide! ;)

Spring? Bring on summertime! Today was so nice that the neighbors got out the baby pool. The water was FREEZING, but the girls still had a great time!

Stella's friends, Gwen (age 3 1/2 ) and Mary (age 6 1/2)

Next stop...Indiana! We are taking a road trip this weekend to visit Emily, Tim, Henry, Katie, Adam, Avery & Brady! I'm certain there will be lots of photos taken on this trip. Too many cute kids to not capture every precious moment. (ok, the moms and dads are cute too) We can't wait!!!

Oatmeal

I have to add this real quick...I'm catching up on email while Nick has breakfast with Stella and all I can hear over and over from him is, "hold still, there's just a little bit more up there." "I almost got it all." Apparently she has oatmeal up her nose and she must be really patient while he gets it out because I haven't heard a peep from her. Gotta love those daddy-daughter interactions!

Oh and by the way, our precious little girl is 14 months old TODAY!

Wild Ride!

How many little girls can say they get to play with their Grandma like this??? Wee!

Here's a few still shots so you can really get to see the fun:


Please note Stella's SUPER cute outfit (a gift from my parent's friends)...whoever thought that all white clothing was a good idea for a 14 month old child was NUTS! Clearly at this moment, Stella isn't aware just how cute she is or she wouldn't be crying.


Oh, and yet again we had visitors in town and I neglected to take out the camera. Mike and Gail (and baby-on-the-way) came up from Cincinnati to spend the weekend with us. As usual, it was wonderful times with fantastic friends. We are so blessed! (Mike, if you got any good shots, please email them to me.)

Grandma Freeman and Uncle Jimmy!

That's right...we had them both in town for a long weekend! It was so much fun! We took Stella out for lunch, we went to the zoo and touched a snake (well, only the girls did...Uncle Jimbo and Nick were too scared), went to church, to the mall, and sadly...were barely outside at all. It was an icky/cold/rainy weekend without any sunshine or warmth. Good thing we had great company to make sure we had lots of fun!

Turtles!!!

See, even Stella touched the snake!

Watching the gorillas sleep

Laughing with Uncle Jimmy!

Rocking out on the drums with Dad!

Playing at the mall with Grandma! Whee!!

So, it's Tuesday, and Grandma left this morning (which we're very sad about)...tomorrow Nick goes to Connecticut for work and we have a playdate at one of the nearby churches with a new friend, no plans Thursday (as far as we know), a playdate with another new friend on Friday and then our dear friends, Mike and Gail arrive on Saturday to spend the weekend with us! This is a great week!

Oh and real quick...for those of you who know, who have prayed for and/or heard of the Siemon/Deyo family...here is a photo of Judah and Kelley from last week (my mom had the opportunity to meet him)! Truly a great example of answered prayers!

Busy Days...and Exhausted Nights

I hadn't realized it had been quite so long since I've posted a blog entry. SORRY. It's not for a lack of activity around here...actually it's probably because of SO much activity. It's hard for me to sit down to get this done. Anyway, here are some recent photos of our darling and in this case...messy, little one...ENJOY!
Now, let me preface these photos with a little story about a time that Stella and I were in MN visiting my parents. One of my mom's dear friends, Sue L. observed Stella at lunch and inquired as to why she didn't have any food in her hair. (you should know this visit was when Stella was about 6 months old or so and just starting on solids) I took this question as a moment for me to be the proud mom of my perfectly clean and well-mannered child...well, I guess times change!

Ravioli is DELICIOUS!

post dinner tub-time with Stella attempting to show us where her belly-button is!

What a great way to wrap up the day!

Quick little updates...Jimmy and my mom are coming to visit! Uncle Jimbo arrives this evening and mom will be here tomorrow. We're really looking forward to our long weekend with them. Last week we got a quick visit from Grandma Bettcher. We sure are lucky to have family that's so interested in coming to see us (or Stella, that is).
I'm a little extra excited these days as I've met two new moms this week and have playdates and walks and meetings at the library all scheduled! It's so wonderful to be meeting new people. Even though I'm not a super shy person, I'm not very good at meeting people for the first time. I get all self-conscious and weird about it. So, I've dubbed myself the super-friend-maker this week! Nick is very proud. Actually, it's a great answer to prayer as our adjustment here has gone well, but there have been times that I've been quite lonely. So, we're thrilled to make these new connections.
The other thing keeping me rather busy is my involvement at Nick's work...Flying Horse Farms! Camp is not up and running quite yet...actually it isn't even built. But, that's not stopping them from serving kids in Ohio. I've been volunteering by recruiting campers, volunteers and chaperones for this summer's Flying Horse Away Travel Camp! It's so great. They are sending kids to four different Hole in the Wall Association camps around the country. I've been swamped with work...but am always re-energized when I talk to a parent or nurse or doctor who is so excited about this organization. I LOVE being a part of the camp family again. It's such a great joy. If you don't know much about it, please feel free to ask or go to the website. It's fantastic!