Mom's are smart

My mom that is; not me. =) While talking to her on the phone she realized that Charlize had come down with Roseola. High fever that doesn't break for a few days, no appetite and now pin dot rash. I'm thankful that it is not a serious disease and that she knew about it. The rash was starting to concern me. So thankful for other mom's who have walked the path before me. =)

We're also thankful as 2 banks have come back with loan offers contingent on the appraisal coming through. Would you pray for wisdom for us that we would make a wise choice with what God has entrusted to us? Larry and Linda had some hickups with their tickets but made it off to Seoul today to see their other son Matt and girlfriend Sophia. Busy busy busy!

Teeth, Teeth and more Teeth

Sorry my updates are boring. I can't get any pictures on this computer. Just a quick update. Charlize is going on 13 hours of sleep right now. After only 4 hours spread out the night before and less for me we needed this. She cut her front tooth yesterday and is working on all 4 molars now. Her temp has been at 104 for three days solid but she's taking fluids and having wet diapers so I'm encouraged. Not much of an appettite. Yesterday she wouldn't nap and her eyes were so puffy and red. So we went on a drive to Superior and back. There was a nice slow rain and I enjoyed the relaxation and empty highway. I know that God creates fevers for a reason and that it's accomplishing something but would you pray that it would break soon and that she would get back to taking her bottle? Thank you so much.

2 hours later: I just peeked in. Still sleeping soundly but the fever broke for the first time in 48 hours. Thank you Lord! Your care for the little things in our lives is so amazing!

Name that Smell

so, life's been a bit busy lately. We're out of our house and at Mike's parents. THey are out of town so we are getting them packed up. Yesterday I noticed a funky smell coming out of Charlize's pack n play. Today I finally went looking for it. Maybe some spilled milk? I took all the sheets, animals, pillow case out. Still smelly. After a few minutes I realized it was my child that smelled so bad. I counted back and after 2 days of forgetting teeth brushing and 4 since her last bath I think I would smell too. Why is it always the children that suffer. =)

10 more things on today's to do list. Gotta run!

Luca and Charlize

Many of you know my friend Brooke. What you might not know is that we are one month apart and that we have known each other our entire lives. Our moms were good friends and remain to this day. How fun that Brooke and I would both have girls with in a year of each other. I hope they can grow up knowing each other and cherishing the good friendship that their mothers and Grandmothers enjoy. We love you Steph, Brooke and Luca!

The Deal is on! =)

Well, for those of you who haven't heard we have some changes coming up. Thank you to everyone who has kept this info discrete until all employees at Mike's job could find out through proper channels. The word is out now so no more secrets. =) Mike and his dad are wrapping up their jobs here in the next couple of months and we are heading out to Ohio to purchase and run a camp ground. We just got word today that our offer on the camp ground was accepted. There are a few details to work out but it doesn't look like anything we can't work through. The man buying our home signed the final piece of paper work on Sunday so our house is a go. We close the 11th so there's still lots to do before then but God is good and we've made a lot of head way. I think Charlize is sensing my stress. She's been very clingy; almost like she's saying, "don't forget to pack me too!". Never, baby girl. =)

Another way God has been good is by providing affordable housing for us trough January. Mike's parents will be out of town and then we'll be staying with our good friends Brooke and Joe. This means we made our last house payment on Friday!

If you want to see the camp here is the link. Hopefully we'll get to see some of you if you're out in this area. Our time line looks like we'll be in Phoenix till Mike finishes his building (end Jan-mid Febish) then possily heading to Nebraska to stay with my parents. Looks like the campground would close end of Feb early March and then Mike and his parents would head out to work on the house on the property. It needs lot of work before Mike and Charlize and I can move in. Then my parents and I would go out once it's liveable and have my parents there for a week or so. Larry and Linda are planning on living in a travel trailer while building a house on the property. There are 51 acres and only 21 are developed so there's lots of room to expand.

Up top are some of the cabins and the office with attached public restrooms.

Charlize all bundled up for the drive. We drove every day this week. She did very well for a 1 yr old but did start fussing near the end every time she saw her car seat. I don't blame her. In this coat she couldn't move her arms or head. She would just lay back and move her eyes back and forth.

7 random things about me:

I've been tagged to post 7 random thing about me so here goes:

1. I'm afraid of helicopters on the freeway
2. I made apple cinnamon blueberry oatmeal muffins for breakfast today
3. Next week I'll be homeless for the second time in 2 years
4. I've recorded in Nashville
5. I have grass in my backyard
6. right now I'm barefoot
7. I can't get the Winney the Pooh theme song out of my head . . . and now you can't either. =)

If you read this consider yourself tagged!!!! ha, ha, ha.

Change is inevitable

My cousin sent me this and it brought a smile to my day. My only question is if I start off at a third baby stage with our first what does that say for or next kid or the one after that!!!

THE BIRTH ORDER OF CHILDREN
Your Clothes:
1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.
Preparing for the Birth:
1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.
3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.
The Layette:
1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?
Worries:
1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby.
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.
Pacifier:
1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.
Diapering:
1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need it or not.
2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.
Activities:
1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.
Going Out:
1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.
At Home:
1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.
Swallowing Coins (a favorite):
1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays.
2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.
3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!

Double Trouble

Now this is when you know they've gotten their exercise. Domenica is such a special friend of ours and we are so glad she comes over once a week.

The shortest distance between two points. . .

Is a straight line.

Poor Reagan, one day he'll be able to hold his own with his cousins.

Happy Birthday Dad!!!!

Dad,

Hope you and mom have a great weekend biking! Hope you're not getting too much grief about the age. Charlize has some choice words here for those that might call you old today.

Happy Birthday! We love you!

Mike, Tonya and Charlize

Luca's here!

Luca Florence Reinhard made her debut two weeks ago.

She's tiny, beautiful and has lots of dark hair.

I'm a pretty proud "adopted aunt" =)

Where the sidewalk ends

What would vacation be without a project. =) Mike and Dad finished the sidewalk going down to the shed. It was amazing to watch both of their skills. It turned out so well!
Dad's been working on this area for months and we were glad to give a helping hand.
We tried to put Charlize's hand print in but it was too hard already.

Time at Mom and Dads

At a Restaurant Lobby Charlize took right to the ATM

banging on it and yelling.

She is a girl born knowing what she wants.

This blanket was the best crib. This was the first time she had been

around grass and wanted nothing to do with it.

She never left the blanket.

My mom took care of Charlize a lot this week. I truly felt

like I had gotten my first vacation since she was born.

These are my wonderful parents in their front yard.

I just love all the green!

Yes, huskers use corn for everything, even horseshoes.

These are corn filled bags that you try to toss

into the hole to score points.

10 Year Highschool Reunion

Top row: Joel, Kendra, Seth, Brad, Sarah, Paula

Middle: Nathan, Amber, Tonya, Tim, Andrea, Melissa

Front: Andrew, Travis, Katherine, Kelsi, Matt, Tyler, Brian

In planning our trip home this year we worked it around my 10 year reunion. It was so good to catch up with old friends and see what everyone had been up to. We were a class of 44 so we all knew each other. Seth and Tylers wives put a lot of work into putting everything together for a pot-luck at the school. Lots of things had changed: blue lockers (that have locks!) tile floors and tables in our lunch room (no more sitting on the floor to eat) different size class rooms, a curtain on the stage, a mural in the front entrance, a paved parking lot and lots of landscaping around the portables and elemntary. The most rewarding changes however were seeing how God's name is receiving glory through many in our class. This afterall is the center and ends of why we are here and what our purpose is.

Amber was one of my closest friends in highschool.

So many fun memories. . .

and a few we'd rather not remember. =)

Katherine was another close friend. I actually had the pleasure

of introducing her to her husband, Greg who I knew from church.

Eleanor is 2 months younger than Charlize

and already letting her know who's boss. =) I love it!

Riding in the back Seat

Not sure what she was saying but I think she really meant it.

Nebraska Bound

All Packed Up!

We drove straight through from AZ to Wichita. (18hrs) and Charlize did great. She slept the whole time it was dark and only cried as the sun set right in her eyes. This was a 3am pit stop/diaper change. On the way home we did it all in one shot. 20 hrs of driving in 22 1/2 hrs! Great Grandma Fast
This was the first time both Great Grandmas could meet Charlize.

So special.
Great Grandma Sperling

New places to play . . .

At this point Charlize could only scoot backwards. I heard her yelling and found that she had backed in and could not get out. So like a good mom instead of helping, I ran to get the camera. =)
Laundry Day
Mama's Little Chef
Can't go around it . . . gotta go through it.

A few more from Colorado this summer

The creek by our cabin earlier this summer.
Four Corners Waiting for Indian Frye Bread.

Peace is when . . .

The sight in our living room yesterday
reminded me of a song my mom would sing to me as a child.

Peace is when the wind is blowing,
Peace is when the sun is glowing,
Peace is when my daddy's home,
God gives me peace.
Peace, peace, I think I understand,
Peace, peace, is holding Jesus hand.

New Words

Yep. Words. So far it's da, da as her favorite. Ma, ma when the food is not served fast enough and na, na when she's mad. This weekend she added "all done" as clear as day to the list much to our surprise. She doesn't know what any of this means but it's fun to hear her mimick.

The latest project . . .

Mom, these are the infamous Derek Jeter, Jr. Saou frames. I used clearance thanksgiving napkins and mod-podged the mats and then printed the verses on decorative paper. Total cost for both: $6

Beatin the Heat

The Grand Canyon

If you've never seen the Grand Canyon it's worth the trip.

Brooke, Manda, Tonya

This part of God's ceration is quite a site to behold.

This was the first time I've seen snow in the canyon.

Very dramatic in the desert.

It was just a little cold that day. Actually snowed on us!
Our friends Ben and Manda were in town with us

for a week long vacation. It was so nice to have them

with us and we cherish their friendship.

We share the same wedding anniversary just 5 years apart.