LOOK, Christine!! I colored my eggs with silk!! I have learned much from this first attempt and they will be even better next year I hope. It was FUN!! I will be looking at garage sales for silk ties this summer to be sure! :D Thanks for sharing!!

HAPPY Birthday, Gams!!!

Of course our package for you is late, Gams... (will we EVER get our acts together??) but, we could not pass up the opportunity to say we hope this year is your happiest, most filled with love, joy and peace!! We think you are...
Loyal
Caring
CREATIVE
Passionate
Fit
Lovely
Devoted
Family First
Animal Lover
Beautiful Smiler :D
Protective
Positive
a Giver
a Faithful Twin Cities Attender :D
Daisy Lover
Beautiful on the inside and out!
We love you and miss you!! We wish we could be there to celebrate wonderful YOU!!!

They grow SO fast...

I imagine my "babies" won't be able to take baths together much longer...they are getting so big. I captured this "splash" in my heart because as I listened to my kids FUN conversation about captured Jedi and puking alligators my heart just smiled. They are best friends and they have such a blast together most days (they can also fight somethin' fierce too :#!!). I love being their mom and I pray every day that they will be best friends always!!

WONDERFUL visit from family!!

Here is just a sampling of the "AnderZyOrtmann" adventures of spring break 2009. What an ABSOLUTE JOY each moment was that we got to spend together. The kids are all the best of friends with imaginations that are out of this world...WOW!! We had outings to the zoo, Garden of the Gods, Yute Valley Park, the malls, Costco (not much shopping in Bemidji, MN...), Chuck E Cheese, Focus on the Family...but, the best times were just being together at home...playing, sharing meals and conversations, laughing, Apples to Apples, creating... What an extraordinary family I have!!! A beautiful, sensitive sister who is a wonderful mom, sister & friend, daughter and auntie. I heard her visiting with Kymi one morning and it made me teary-eyed as I heard them singing all Kymi's favorite rhymes together...cherished memories!! My bro-in-law who is a riot and does not let crutches slow him down at all...even tho he was dubbed uncle "meaner" this trip by u-know-who he is SO kind and loving to my kids...they adore him! My nephew is darling with his face full of freckles and his easy smile. He looks so much like his mama when she was little that it makes me smile whenever I am looking his way. He is SO creative and smart...such a great friend to my David. And Gracelyn...oh the joy just bubbles out of this girly girl!! She has such a happy spirit and is so kind, fun and helpful. Kymi never let her out of her sight and now that shes gone home keeps telling me she "can't wait to go to Gracie's house and we need to go SOON!!" After he came home from dropping them at the airport this morning David just fell into my arms and we cried together for missing them. Oh how we wish MN were closer and that we could be together more than once a year!! But, we will thank God for the time we get and cherish every moment...

Photo Booth FUN!! :D

Kymi and I had a bit of time this morning before we had to be off and running errands so we decided to play with the Mac photo booth... and boy did we laugh!!! Look at all this crazy FUN!!

My Favorite Valentines!! XOXOXOX

We have had a great celebration of love this weekend!! Last night we had a blast attending a Flat Stanley play downtown... complete with brownies and milk at the end. This morning Greg made breakfast and passed out his Valentines cards (homemade!! :D) and presents. We all went to the movies and munched on popcorn. For dinner we had Chinese...hot & sour soup YUM, my favorite!! The kids and Greg peeked in their special treat bags from Mama with dinner. We ended the evening with a rousing game of Wii golf (Papa & I lost BAD!!!), stories & prayers. I loved our family day together!! I think we will have fondue tomorrow with Grammy & Grampa...this love celebrating is too much fun to stop!! XOXOOX

Praising God for my MIRACLE kids today!! :D

I am praising God for my kids...thanking Him that I have had the incredible honor to become a mom!! I found out yesterday that I have something really wrong with me... Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. It is what has caused my infertility and loss of the other 3 babies I carried. My heart is broken for the loss...it feels raw and fresh! If only they had caught it sooner... What might have been?? I am reminded that we live in a hurting and imperfect world. It makes me long for Home. God did not want it this way. I am also reminded of the GREAT God He is!! If there were nothing else, He WOULD be enough!! It is okay to be sad...I know that and I will give myself the permission to grieve. "I will stumble, I will fall down but I WILL NOT BE MOVED! I will make mistakes, I will face heartaches but I will NOT BE MOVED! On Christ the SOLID rock I stand, ALL other ground is sinking sand...I will NOT be moved..." Thanks for "listening"...I feel better having written this out... I appreciate your prayers as I take the steps to get my body to better health. xoxox