WORM HUNT

Jeepers was digging with grandma for worms the other day, and couldn't find any. But when Isaiah got on the bus this morning, they were all over the driveway! Then our neighbor came over and gave him a candy bar...a dream morning for any three-year-old. It's days like these I love being a mom.

Happy Birthday Natalie!

My expectations for Natalie's first birthday were wearing a pretty dress, and using Daddy's fingers to walk around the living room. Instead, she survived a major operation, and has hundreds of people praying for her well being. It just goes to show that I am horrible at predicting the future! I am so gratefull for her amazing strength, as our little girl is back to her normal self. While her body is still healing, her personality has fully recovered!

Today the boys teamed up to make Natalie's first birthday a special one. Jeepers and Isaiah helped make cupcakes and wrap her present.

Mmmm, good frosting!

Isaiah manning the Kitchen-Aide Mixer. He likes to make it go FAST.

Spoon tricks with the left-over frosting. Pink frosting! I love pink frosting...

Yes, they are as good as they look!

Natalie's first taste of cake batter! She wonders, "Why do they cook that stuff?"

After dinner it was time to open presents! Jeremiah really wanted to help, but mommy pinned him down. She loved her present! (The Fisher-Price Mailbox)

Many hours of fun to come! Next, it was time for cake and singing. I admit, I got choked up. We finally got to sing Happy Birthday to our little girl! This past year held so much, and I am so grateful to have a beautiful, healthy Natalie Jane.

Time to DIG IN!

"Happy Birthday to You, happy birthday to you. Happy Birthday, dear Natalie!

Blessings

With the amazing generousity of so many, we were able to purchase a slighlty used, 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan! It is currently in the process of being modified into a ramp van, so it will be wheelchair accessible! It's blue color has earned it the name GROVER ROVER. Coined by Grandma Kelly and Isaiah!

It feels so great to have a van we know will run well! I can't wait to get it back. Hopefully, by the begining of May.

Jeremiah got ahold of the camera again! He started taking pictures of his Little Critter books.

Then he would show us the pictures and say, "That's ADORABLE!"

Isaiah was working on his driving skills with a passenger....He almost runs into the NEW van! Beware, I yell at him at the end of this one!

We visited the Children's Museum with the Uttecht's and got to say hi to the Big Red Dog himself!

CLIFFORD! The boys were so excited!

A typical Sunday afternoon at Grandma's...it is my favorite day of the week!

Natalie Jane is doing well, and we all feel as prepared as can be expected. Surgery is scheduled for 7am on Monday. We will keep everyone updated with the blog and the website! Thank you all for your prayers and financial support. This situation could have easily drowned us, but the encouragement we have received kept us afloat. Blessings.

Natalie says bye-bye, her first word, at the end of this one! She also says ma ma and da da now!