Madilyn's 4th Birthday!

Oh, boy! There were big celebrations last week as Miss Madilyn Kate turned 4 years old! I can hardly believe she's already grown up so much. It's going by way too fast.

We had a party at our home on Thursday, the 13th. She wanted to go to Build-A-Bear which is becoming an annual birthday tradition, and we had all of her favorite foods that day including Krispy Kreme, Wendy's and fish sticks :) And Saturday, we went to the park with some friends and had another party. She was blessed with so many nice gifts and sweet words. I know she had a great birthday celebration.

 

Here she is, riding the toys at the mall. Only 4 and already driving!

 

 

Madilyn went to Build-A-Bear and made a bunny named "Rose." She has a heartbeat, so Madilyn couldn't stop listening to it. She sleeps with Rose, and she picked out a crown and princess wand for Rose to have for her accessories.

Then, on Saturday we celebrated her birthday at Picnicana Park in Summit, PA.

 

By the time birthday celebrations were over, she was worn out! What a sweetie.

 

 

Grammy and Grampy

 

The Erie Zoo with Grammy and Grampy!!!

 

Menchie's FroYo!

 

 

Madilyn's First Pedicure!!! :D

 

Niagara Falls, NY (with a Sponge Bob popsicle!!!)

Madilyn is holding up her pinkie to be proper--she's a princess :D

We had a fantastic time. So nice to have my family here, and we had a great week with them.

 

 

 

Kites and Kittens

Okay, so there were no kittens...but Madilyn DID fly a kite today with her daddy for the first time! She loved it, and the weather was perfect for it!

We took a picnic to Picnicana Park and brought our kite after we got out of church today. Definitely need to do it again before the snow comes :D

The Summertime Blues

Well, I'm not really blue...but it has been a weird start to summer. Our car is in the shop. Granted, it's being fixed, but we've been without a car for two weeks and I just heard from our mechanic--it'll probably be another week! Ahh! :D I'm dying. Just kidding.
Isn't it funny how I can think of a million things I could do if I had a car, only because I don't have a car. In reality, we are totally fine. We are more than taken care of. I've gotten a lot done around the house--lots organized, lots cleaned out, lots of care for my beloved fruit plants in the backyard...but I want to go to the zoo and the library and the beach and the grocery store and Hobby Lobby...ya know what I mean?
Anyway, as I was cleaning out another bag of trash from the basement (from the pile of things we haven't used in the two years we've been here), I realize how blessed we really are. We have more clothes and things in our home than we could ever use. And, we are all healthy and alive. Are there any blessings any bigger than those? God is so faithful to us, and we will continue to have fun creatively at home until our vehicle is repaired. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Father's Day

We spent our Father's Day celebrating our favorite guy ever--Daddy! It's been all about him today, and I love getting to do things special for Cameron. He is such an amazing father to Madilyn and husband to me. I am so glad we have him.
We started off today with biscuits and gravy--his favorite. We went to the Erie Zoo and found a lady bug!

Then, for lunch it was Domino's Pizza, at Cameron's request. Dinner tonight is appetizer-type food. Potstickers, taquitos, cheese-stuffed pretzels, etc. And, for dessert, we made Oreo Truffles. Oh. My. So good!
It has been a special day so far...and I can't wait to spend more family time, after everyone wakes up from naps! :D

Adjusting

Well, Cameron took Step 1 of the COMLEX this week, and he started his first week of rotations! He's doing Internal Medicine at Millcreek, and so far he is enjoying it. It's a fairly easy rotation in that he only has to report at 7 am and stay until 4, but they have such few patients right now he might alternate hours from 3 pm to 11 pm some weeks. Either way, it's not too bad. We have heard rumors of other med students having to work 4:45 am to 7 pm each day, so we are definitely not complaining. Still, it is an adjustment. If Madilyn sleeps past 6:45 am, she doesn't see Cameron until after 4, and that is hard for us. I know most families are used to this, but we are used to having Daddy home for all three meals and for playtime in the evenings. Granted, he was studying his rear off in the basement, but still. It's an adjustment.I am not that good with change naturally, so I somehow feel God planned a life of change for me. Not to be mean, but to "sand down my rough edges," to help me to be more like Jesus and to rely on God for my strength. Isn't that really what the point of this life is? To be children of God and to bring others to know Him? How will they know Him unless they see Him in us?
I hope I learn to love change and embrace it at every turn. Jesus, help me to find my security in You.
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" 1 John 3:1

What I Love About Erie, PA!

1. Whoopie Pies
2. Pepperoni Balls
3. Smith's Hotdogs
4. Grace Church
5. Sara's
6. Erie Zoo
7. Presque Isle
8. Connie's Icecream
9. Under two hours drive to Buffalo, NY, Cleveland, OH and Pittsburgh, PA
10. The grass is green year-round!

Yes, 1/2 of my list is food. What else are we going to do when it snows? haha