We didn't get to travel to see family for Easter this year, so we hung out in the neighborhood. Sweet Mrs. Deborah always has the neighborhood kids over to decorate cookies.


























Of course, Mother's Day Out had fun parties, too!







































Then Easter morning candy-fest...

In trying to come up with alternatives to loads of candy, I bought these letter stamps for the kids. I put each letter in an Easter egg and hid them all over the house. It was a hit. It made the morning last longer and afterwards they played with hours with their new stamps. (Mommy relaxation time!)

This summer's garden

Thanks so much for sweet comments encouraging me on our new endeavor and catching up on the blog! I really need the accountability to get my scrapbooking done. BTW, does anyone know of a service that updates your blog and/or can turn your blog into a digital scrapbook for you?

So, I guess I'll start with spring...

Phil got serious about his garden spot this year and built a retaining wall to house his veggies. So when planting season came, he and the kids (and a neighbor's kid) were ready to go!

The girls were ready for some serious work and playing in the dirt.

I think Phil could have done this project in a fourth of the time without all the extra little hands.

...but then he would have been so lonely!!

Here he is tenderly working his soil. This picture reminds me of how peaceful and patient my husband is.

And I love this dirty little hand!

Careful not to over water...

Too late!

My happy Lily getting her fill of quality time...

Lots of critters were found throughout the day.

The almost finished product...














The finished product weeks later! We had a yummy bounty for summer meals and the kids loved picking and eating their own plants.

We have news... (that has kept me from blogging, obviously!)

Phil and I have gotten, shall we say...distracted. We are starting a new venture in life and it has been all consuming. Phil came to me shortly after the girls were home with the desire to plant a new PCA (Presbyterian Church of America for all you non-Southerners) church. The idea took the back burner as we were dealing with too many diapers, too many bottles and too many sleepless nights. Well, in Sept, he brought it up again and took me to a conference for church planters. I felt so much like a fish out of water there. Since before we were married, Phil and I have been about orphans and international ministry...why would be plant another church in Birmingham?! Long story short...we started walking through open doors. The doors kept opening and opening and God kept strangely leading. So here we are...starting a new PCA church in Helena/Pelham, AL. I think there are days where we are in awe and a bit of shock that this is where He has led us. If it hadn't been so clear, we would have certainly turned back over a dozen times. The new church will be called Christ Community Church. It is being planted by Oak Mountain Pres and Altadena Pres. It will focus on discipleship, international ministry (and, of course, mercy/orphans). We will hopefully start public worship in Jan/Feb 2010. We would love for there to be a lot of adoptees running around the halls, so please come and check us out!
Now, I'm going to attempt to catch up on what's been happening otherwise in our family and document the girls' lives before I forget each little thing. If you feel like it, I'd love for you to drop me a comment to let me know someone is still watching! I need all the encouragement I can to get catch up. :)

Going to Mickey and Minnie's house!

We just got back from Disney! A million thanks to Phil's parents who invited us on this trip of a lifetime. We had a blast. Lily and Kate have said over and over how much they miss it and asked "how many sleeps 'til Disney again?" I'm not so great a Flicker slideshows, but wanted the grandparents and cousins to see the pictures...so here they are (and there are a lot)! The highlights for Lily and Kate were seeing the characters...especially Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale, Aurora and Belle. They loved playing with cousins and swimming, too. My favorite part was seeing them wave to the characters in the parades and hanging out with Phil and his family.

Kate wins first place in her first bike race!

Kate is very competitive and loves to race, so we decided to start letting her. We ran one Fun Run and she loved it, so today we tried a bike race. I really didn't know if she would do it because there were a lot of spectators and she hates everyone staring at her. Lily had already decided early on the race was not for her. She was a great sister, cheering loudly from the sidelines.














Here she is at the starting line in the training wheels race. I asked her if she was nervous and she said, "No." I guess her competitive drive is stronger than her shyness!














The race was 2 laps and she was crowded by the boys on the first lap.














But she left them behind on the second one.














She was so stinkin' proud of herself. She asked me at least 6 times if she beat all the boys. Phil and I both were relieved that she won because we were afraid of her reaction if she didn't. We definitely still have a lot of work to do on being a good loser.














One of my favorite parts of the race was about 10 minutes after our celebrating her win, she got Lily off by herself and said, "I've got something to tell you! I just won first place in the bike race." It was a cool twin moment. Lily had, of course, seen the whole thing and knew, but Kate wanted to tell her herself.

What is Kate like these days...

My tender Katie. You are quiet and complex. You have a soft heart that is so spiritually sensitive. You are already asking me about God, forgiveness, disobedience vs. obedience, anger, the Holy Spirit, praying and heaven.














Your favorite thing in all the world to do is snuggle up to me. Given the choice, you would never choose to be away from me. I know one day this may change, so I am enjoying every minute of while it lasts. You often tell me that you will stay with me for 100 years. We have spent many hours sitting on the couch with you in my lap playing with a small toy and me hugging you.














You are an introvert. In groups of people, I often see this look on your face. You don't have to be in the middle of the action to participate. Watching from my lap is often your preferred perspective.














Even though you are a Mommy's girl, you think Daddy is REALLY funny. You love to go on "adventures" with Daddy. You are most in your element here...hiking, playing in the dirt, picking flowers...



















...or finding worms. You cried yourself to sleep the other night because the worm couldn't sleep with you and you had to put the worm back in the garden.

Your favorite pastime is playing on the computer or the leapster. You are really good and have the patience to figure out all the games out on your own.

You love to drive ANYTHING.
I love how you use this scooter to get around the house everyday. Sometimes, you even pull it up to the kitchen table and eat while standing on it. Daddy has been calling you "Scooter" lately.



















Your all time favorite ride is your firetruck. I love the way you chase all the neighborhood boys on it. You can ride for an hour straight and never say anything, but have a mischievous grin on your face trying to outrun the big boys.
















I think one day, I'll be buying you a motorcycle.














Lightning McQueen is still your hero.



















You are so proud that you are starting to read. You still love puzzles and are up to 63 piece ones.


















You really love to play with Sam. Whenever you see a cool toy, you say, "Sam would like this." You finally got him to hold your hand like Lily does with her friends.

















You always have a ball nearby and like to play baseball with Daddy. You throw left-handed. You really like yo-yo's, too.














Sometimes I have to take them off your finger after you are asleep.














You LOVE to fix things. If I'm going to throw away a household appliance, I give it to you instead and you love taking it apart. You are very mechanically minded.

Mickey, Doggybear and Dale (from Chip and Dale) still bring you a lot of comfort.

Here is a self portrait that you drew. You made sure to draw your running shoes. You want to be a "runner."

You have taught me a lot about my own heart. I cannot lose my temper or speak firmly to you without really hurting your feelings. You have taught me to think before I speak and to give a soft answer. Even a disapproving look from me can make you crumble. I always feel the need to protect you. You are definitely the baby.

My favorite thing about you is that you are so stinkin' cute! Your sweet smile and that dimple melts my heart every time I see it.

What is Lily like these days...

My sweet Lily, my happy dancer...you are such a delight to watch. You make me smile so easily with your quick wit and ready smile.

You are prissy. On the soccer field, you prance down the field stopping to twirl or arabesque or wave to me in the stands (while Kate is completely focused on the task...get the ball in the goal). You still want to be a ballerina. Your regular walk is half walk-half dance.

You LOVE to pose for the camera. Here you are "posing" for me.

You can whistle, turn a cartwheel and snap your fingers...all of which you are VERY proud of and practice all day long.

Friends are very important to you. You talk about your friends all the time and draw pictures of you with them everyday. Below are some of your schoolmates.

You are very strong and can go across the monkey bars by yourself.

You tell me at least twice a week that I'm the best Mommy ever. You tell me everyday that you love me so much. This fills my love cup like nothing else. You are a big Mommy's girl.

Now, you are a bit bossy towards your sister. I think it is because you are so wordy. You have about 10 times the words as Kate. That said, you have struggled to talk in public for so long and now this is finally coming to an end. Yeah!

Discipline for you has been trial and error (mostly error on my part). You are determined to do things your way. But once I switched to the "4 minute timeout" consistently, we have been in a harmonious groove. When you are wrong, you are quick to say you are sorry. When I say I'm sorry, you forgive easily, too. You have heartfelt prayers.

I love the below picture. It is so YOU...you are always very happy and usually wearing pieces of clothing of a ballerina, princess, fairy or "big girl."

You are an "Old Soul." You seem to understand social nuances and I can't get anything past you....Not that I try! (wink-wink)

Lily, you continue to amaze your Daddy and me. We love watching your fun personality unfold and seeing you prance happily throughout our days.