Spelling Tuesday

I took Loralie to see the movie "Brave" this week. It wasn't her first movie, as NeeNee has taken her to a few, but it was the first time that I got to take her. She sat like a big girl through the whole thing and even "held her pee" as she likes to say! She said she wasn't scared during the scary parts but I wasn't so sure...

Roman did a few good stretches of sitting up all by himself today!

And now without further ado, the video you have all been waiting for... Loralie's first dance recital!  Click link below: http://youtu.be/kYCscmgYhxs This was actually the dress rehersal, as you weren't supposed to video during the real performance, but she did an amazing job all three performances!  Although she did get a little overly enthusiastic on her shuffle steps on Sunday's performance and fell on her butt for a few seconds...  She didn't seem to mind, and just got back up and kept on dancing! Here are some of the funny stuff I have heard Loralie say that I know must have come directly from the mouth of her teacher, Ms. Roe: "That is looking pretty good, but I really need to see more ENERGY!"  (To Little baby...) "Mommy, if my shoe flies right off my foot I just have to keep dancing!" "Even though I am little, I have to dance BIG!" I asked her if she was scared when she got up there to dance and she just ...

Caleb and I left the kids in the capable hands of the grandmas and aunt chelle so that we could enjoy a relaxing weekend in Hermann Missouri! This was the view from our balcony... Beautiful! Late night dessert tray anyone? This Inn thought of everything! We started each day with a gourmet breakfast after sleeping in until (gasp!) 9:30!!! This vacation was focused on food, sleep, and lots of WINE! Hermann was founded by German settlers, so there was plenty of literhosen to be found... And did I mention... Wine? Good thing we had a day pass in the trolley service! They took us from our Inn to five local vineyards for wine tasting, and then back to our home away from home! We toured the hand carved wine caves at the Stone Hill vineyards... And explored the original buildings from 1850's... And learned all about wine making! While having lots of free samples. A delicious and romantic break!

Roman is usually pretty happy when he wakes up from his naps, but this morning I heard him screeching and went in to find this: He rolled from back to tummy! And he was not happy about it. But I had to get my camera and take a picture anyways. ;)

Today Loralie and I harvested our first "bushel" of green beans. She was so excited and swore she would eat them if I made them for her for dinner! Mission accomplished!

Yesterday: library and splash park Today: zoo with Sophie and Porter! Bring on the summer fun!

Uncle Jon planned a special trip to Kansas city to visit Loralie and Roman! When we asked Loralie who her favorite uncle was she said, " Uncle Jon! Or maybe Uncle Krusty...". Then when we all burst out laughing because we had no idea who Uncle Krusty was she just kept calling Jon that. We went to the Legends and L played in the fountains... Uncle Krusty colored with L at the restaurant... And we even went on an Aftican safari! Just kidding. Bass Pro. Or as Loralie calls it, "that place with the animals that used to be alive but now are not alive". We had a great time with our favorite Uncle! Post script to Uncle Levi, if you are reading this... Before Jon arrived on Monday we asked L who her favorite uncle was and she exclaimed "my big uncle Levi!". So you are not forgotten ;)

This past weekend Caleb took Loralie to Bolivar, so me and Roman had the house to ourselves! He just happened to have his five-month-birthday that morning so we took his monthly picture... I loved this one, but the words got cut off... We (okay, me) cleaned the house (and it stayed clean!!!). We went for a nice long walk, in which Roman stared at his hand in what I call the "to be or not to be" pose... We also had a super fun playdate at baby Micah's house. They kept trying to hold hands and talk to each other... Tres cute! Meanwhile, Loralie got to go ride horses with Aunt Chelle. Caleb said she was really excited at first but then got nervous. The kids missed each other though. Loralie told Caleb she "missed Roman Dean so much" and he kept looking around for her. And mommy missed the noise and mess after the first three hours. Isn't that just about how it goes? :)

Ten years ago today I married my best friend! Caleb and I celebrated today with a nice, kid-free lunch date at... The Cheesecake Factory, where the hubs gave me a diamond anniversary band! It is so sparkly, I can't stop looking at it... We talked and laughed through lunch, remembering that special time in our lives. We had our friends and family fill out these "prediction cards" at our rehearsal dinner and we had put them in a time capsule to open today. The most precious of those were, of course, from my Dad and Caleb's Grandpa Lenz who have since gone to be with Jesus. I know I will treasure these words from my Dad, written in his handwriting for the rest of my life: I think it's such a gift that he said he "knows we'll spend eternity together". That is so peculiar that he wrote that, as no one else wrote anything along those lines. Thank you Jesus for those words from my Daddy on this special day! We ended our date by watching our wedding ...