Why did Papa have to go to Heaven?

So here we are...September...nearly 6 months without our beloved Papa Strom here on earth with us.

The girls took the news of Papa passing very well. Isabella had been at Great Grandpa Rowe's funeral just a month or so before Papa Strom's passing, so I think that helped her to understand everything. Even with Gpa Rowe, she exhibited a great maturity and faith about the whole matter. When we told her, she said to Bryan, "Don't be said, Daddy, you will get to see him in Heaven again".

When we told her about Papa Strom, her response was, "No more Papa at the house anymore, just a Grandma and a Dutchy" and off she went to play.

Despite the fact that we knew she wouldn't really 'understand' we did take the time to tell Veronica, and she took that well and went off to play.

The funeral services went well too. At both the prayer service and funeral Isabella took the time to wipe tears from Grandma's cheeks.
The girls were very comfortable seeing Papa in his casket. He looked good, like he was just sleeping. They were used to seeing him sleeping, so that made it easy, I think. At the visitation they hung out by the casket and enjoyed looking at the flowers. Veronica blew Papa a kiss before she went to go get some dinner. In all honesty, it was very easy. Isabella has a very mature understanding of God and heaven and so she knew her Papa was in a good place and that his body didn't hurt anymore.

At Papa's burial in May, we all let off balloons to Papa in heaven, a suggestion from my dear friend, Tami.

Months have passed and Papa is still asked about regularly and talked about often. I don't hide tears from the girls and so Isabella knows that sometimes Mommy just misses her Dad a whole lot. She will ask me if I am sad because Papa died and I tell her yes, but that I am thankful that he is healed in God's loving embrace.

In the early weeks, Veronica asked where Papa was each time we went to Grandma's. Sometimes she would say "Papa at the hospital, my Papa sick" or ask if he was still at the hospital. Those questions have now turned into, "Why did Papa have to go to Heaven?".
This past week she has asked about Papa a lot and has told me in a rather frustrated voice, "I miss him, I just waaaaaaaaaant him!". She than asked me if his tummy was all better. I told her it was but that he would still need to stay in heaven...she wasn't totally jiggy with that:) I than asked her what was her favorite thing about Papa and she said, "M favorite thing about Papa was he feed me chocolate at the table"...LOVE IT!!!!!

Veronica also says, "There Papa's service, we send him balloons upa heaven, Papa not sick anymore" almost every time we pass by the funeral home. The balloon idea was fantastic...it's something she correlates to Papa in heaven.

Isabella was taking pictures while we were driving this summer and she pointed the camera up at the sky and said, "Smile Papa, smile"! LOVE IT!!!

And so our Papa is no longer here on earth and that is not always easy. But we carry on and we remember him and do what we can to help the girls feel close to him and remember all the special times they shared with him!

WE LOVE YOU PAPA! Papa is the best....yeahhhhhhh Papa!

Summer Memories - Mother/Daughter MSP Excursion!!!

What an adventure we had with the Knudson and Aaker girls on a getaway to MSP!!!! Many rides were ridden at the Mall of America, our little fish made a splash in the hotel pool, and we all enjoyed the magic of the American Girl Bistro together!

Can you believe we slept with 3 moms and 5 little girls (ages 6, 5, 2 @ 3 1/2, and a 2 1/2 year old) in a double hotel room with a cot thrown in and had no issues at bedtime?????? We turned off the lights and the only little raucus was Veronica loudly whispering, "Who's that? Who's that talking over there? Is that you Debbie?"...we laughed so hard!!!! And than they were all asleep! I couldn't believe it!!!!

I really have to take this moment to say to all parents...GO FOR IT!!!! Adventures and road trips are not always easy (but is anything in parenting supposed to be?) but oh the fun you have and the memories...the memories are worth it all!!!! Get out there, experience the world with your kids...ride roller coasters that make your stomach turn, go see things you've never seen, experience the world...and by the way, do it with your friends!!! What special memories and traditions to share in!!!!

I frequently get looks like I am crazy for all of the things I do with the girls or how we are always go go going! (Don't worry, we do take breaks:)! I can't imagine life any other way! I want my girls to know that I am game, ready to go where the road takes us, ready to live each day to the fullest, ready to see all the sights and experience all the adventures life has to offer!!!! Doesn't sound too bad, does it? Just jump in your car and GO FOR IT:)

Summer Memories - the Ya Ya Weekend:)

One of our best summer memories was traveling with Mindy and Gretchen to visit Mariah, Lily, and Josie in the cities! Josie and Lily are almost 2 and call their friends 'ya ya's' so it was the 1st Annual Ya Ya Weekend!

Friendships that began in 8th grade while riding horses at Jon Schauer's house continue and have seen us celebrate the weddings of each other and the birth of our children! What an absolute blessing!

So to MSP we went for a little mother/daughter fun! We swam, we made pizzas, we read bedtime stories, we did manicures and pedicures, we experienced the American Girl Store and Bistro together, and on and on and on! And the moms were so tired, we accomplished very little catching up...we'll have to plan a moms only weekend for that:)

What a special time! What a blessing to share such a history together and to now pass it on to our daughters! I can only hope that they will be like a pack of sisters taking care of one another as they grow up together!

We love you ya yas!!!! Can't wait for next summer!!!

Summer Memories...A Zoorific Time!!!

I can say with complete confidence that we are a Zoo Family:) We love zoos! The girls each had visited a zoo in their infant days and it became a regular 'thing' for us when Isabella was 2!

We are regulars at the Red River Valley Zoo in Fargo, the Wahpeton Zoo, Como Zoo, and the Minnesota Zoo! We've also been able to visit the amazing Denver Zoo, the Dakota Zoo in Bismarck, Paul Bunyan Animal Land in Bemidji, the Des Moines Zoo, the Winnipeg Zoo, and the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson.

We have fed goats, chickens, camels, ducks, monkeys, giraffes, and more! We've spent hours leisurely walking through zoos watching the antics of the animals and learning about them! We've laughed at monkeys swinging around and squealed with delight at two bears wrestling...the memories are never ending!

This summer was a zoorific time for us with several different zoo adventures! Some fun memories include:

*Veronica feeding ducks...she loves it, now! She used to be a bit terrified of them! But over this summer, in particular during a visit to the Dakota Zoo, she became fully comfortable with it. So one day at the Wahpeton Zoo she came pleading to me, "Oh Mom, the ducks are so hungry, their tummies rumbling, I need to feed them", and "More mommy, they are so hungry!". Than she was hilarious and would throw out her little pellets of food one by one picking a duck and saying, "And this one's fooooooor...you (throws the food), and this one foooor...you (throws another one)"...HILARIOUS!

*Isabella trying to teach Veronica about feeding the animals, "You need to have a really delicate hand, like this Veronica" (you can see a photo of her showing us the delicate hand:).

*An extended stay at the Dakota Zoo in Bismarck...we had gone through most of the Dakota Zoo and we're just going for one last look at the goats which turned into another almost 2 hours. The girls kept finding pellets of food on the ground and would gather them up and feed them to the animals, than I discovered coins I didn't know I had and we just kept feeding and feeding them. This was the day Veronica became really comfortable feeding them. Such a simple day, but one of my favorite summer memories with them!

*Paul Bunyan's Animal Land has this amazing deer pasture! Deers everywhere! It was so wonderful! Daddy was with us and it was fun to watch him and Isabella go from one 'Bambi' to the next feeding them! Veronica was a bit scared and stayed in Momma's arms, but sent me chasing after the 'Baby Bambis':)

The girls favorite animals change, but I have noticed some consistencies...they are always interested in turtles, monkeys, tigers, and those sea otters!

I hope you enjoy these photos from our zoorific summer!!!!

The preschooler becomes preschool teacher

Isabella has decided this morning that she will be Veronica's preschool teacher. Funny how things like this start.

Veronica took note of two decorative pumpkins in the kitchen today - one is big, one is small. Veronica said, "Oh Bella, look pumpkins, a big one and a little one. I get the big one, you get the little one cause I little, you big".

Isabella: "You are little, but you're getting bigger (pause) and you'll be big enough for preschool"

Veronica: "YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

Isabella: "Ok and I'll be your teacher, I'll get you ready for preschool. Let's get the counting book".

So first they practiced counting, than they 'cleaned up' (a few random toys in the living room) because as Isabella said, "You have to keep neat and clean at preschool" and than they moved into the bedroom to tidy up, because as Isabella said, "That's what you do for preschool":)

Isabella just told V, "Don't mess that up, I worked very hard to clean it up":) Let the preschool lesson continue:)

Enjoy the pics of our preschooler/preschool teacher and of the girls during their tidy up time during the preschool lesson:)

Saddle Up Your Horses...oh Dear Sweet Isabella!

My Isabella sings and I swear I hear the sounds of angels...not necessarily because she is so in tune (but not too bad), but because she sings with such passion and heart...she belts out a tune with every ounce of her sole. At a bible camp this summer, during song time they asked for suggestions and Isabella shouted out 'Saddle Up Your Horses'. I than sat back in TOTAL AWE as I watched my daughter sing and do the actions of this song along with the leaders. It was one of those breathtaking Isabella moments where I fell madly in love with my daughter as she threw back her head and sang out that song to the Lord with every fiber of her being. Oh Isabella, I just LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU SO SO SO SO SO MUCH!!!! Saddle up your horses, little girl...God has a great plan for you!

Barbie Nation:)

Barbie dolls have become all the rage in our household! This is fun as they were one of my favorite toys, let's be honest, THE FAVORITE TOY:)
I often am invited to join in and end up being the hair brusher or changer of outfits:)

I get the biggest kick out of watching how the girls 'play' with the dolls. For the most part, it seems to involve 'set up' and getting them ready, but here are a couple of funnies...

*Now that we have Prince dolls, Isabella likes to group them into families with husbands, wives, and a baby and do a little wedding.

*Last week, Veronica took all their clothes off and lined them up on the dining room window ledge. It looked like they were doing some naked suntanning...they were actually sleeping according to V.

*I came home from work one Friday and went downstairs to find many Barbie undressed, set up and covered up to sleep on the rocking chair downstairs.

Dirty carpet, a little dining table, and incredible thankfulness!

A month or so before Bryan and I got married, we purchased new furniture for our home, including a little oak table with 4 chairs and a bench that could be used in place of a chair. We loved this little table and thought it was just grand! We hosted our first Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations at this table.

In the spring of 2004, as we were 7 months pregnant and preparing to move into a new home, a new dining set was on our 'to buy' list. We have people over a lot and it would be much easier if we had a bigger table. I also had purchased some beautiful dishes and linens while working at Pier One that fall and was eager for a more sophisticated dining set to pair them with. Somehow with finishing the basement, the birth of a baby and more, it kept getting pushed off the list. And now it's permanently off the list, at least for another 3-5 years or so.

You see, our dining table is this basic little table, fairly affordable and nothing too fancy. Many things have been spilled on it, many hours of watercolor and finger painting have been done it, all of it's chairs have been peed on at one point or another in the midst of potty training. Easter eggs have been dyed at this table, pumpkins have been carved, play dough has been played with, and more.

And all without one worry of staining or wrecking the table. It is a table that has been 'lived and loved' at.

The same goes with the rest of our home. Our carpets are getting cleaned this fall - thank goodness! Look at our carpets and you will see that this is a home that has been lived in. It is a home where children are free to roam and live without worrying about touching this or that or feeling shameful if something spills. It is a home that has been filled with friends and fellowship on a regular basis. It is a home that has hosted more playdates than I can count. It is a home for celebration and memories!

On my kitchen floor you will find a spot where there is a permanent patch of glitter that has taken up residence. That's from our Tinker Bell party last fall. We had a bunch of friends over to watch the new Tinker Bell movie and had the kids decorated pumpkins for the Vossekuil Family in memory of their daughter, Taylor. We did put newspaper on the floor, but when you've got a dozen children under the age of 5, glitter, glue, paint, and stickers...well things are bound to happen. So every time I see that little spot of glitter, I smile, for I am reminded of a wonderful memory with my children.

I am determined that my children will 'live' in their home. This will not be a museum. I am determined that their little buddies will be comfortable here and not worry about breathing for fear they will mess something up. This will be a home for all!

I think it was a couple of months ago that Bryan and I were talking about the table and how silly we had been for wanting a new one. This little table story somehow characterizes to me the changes I have gone through in the last 5 years and I am so grateful. I'm much less concerned with my trendy dishes and a beautiful dining room table. I'm much more concerned with my brown eyed girls and my prince charming and making the most of every day we have together.

Thank you Isabella and Veronica - without you, none of these changes in Mommy would have been possible! Where would I be without you, focused on all the wrong things I imagine! Daddy and I love you both...you are our heroes!

Ethan and Isabella sittin' in a tree:)

Crushes...puppy love...ahhhhhh!!!! So if Isabella's first crush is any indication of the guys she will be interested in as she grows up...I have complete trust in her:)

It all started last winter:) We were at Lenten dinner at church and went and sat with our neighbors, the McGaughey's, for dessert. The adults were just chatting when all of a sudden we noticed Isabella sitting up very prim and tall and proper and smiling sweetly and batting her eyelashes...at 10 year old Ethan! She was talking so sweetly and politely to Bryan and I, throwing things into the conversation like, "Oh I do that too, Ethan", "Oh Ethan, I have a soccer ball, too" and on and on! Bryan and I caught on to it at the same time and did our best not to crack up!
On the drove home, Isabella comes out of nowhere and says, "That boy Ethan sure is cute!". I agree with her that yes, he is cute and very NICE (emphasizing the 'nice' aspect:). Bryan and I were laughing about it soooooooo hard!
Throughout the spring and summer, Isabella doted after Ethan, giving him her full attention whenever he was around. If she was playing in the backyard and saw him out on his deck, "Hi Ethan, how are you doing? Wanna come play?". If we had Ethan's family over for dinner, Isabella generally would do about 5 costume changes throughout the course of the night. Every day or event seemed to bring about the question, "Are we going to see Ethan? Is Ethan coming over?". If we were over at the McGaughey's for dinner, Isabella followed Ethan around like a puppy dog saying,"Oh Ethan I love soccer too! I've played soccer, Ethan!". Oh that Ethan, he had more patience with her than I ever thought a 10 year old boy could! What an awesome kid!

Out of the blue, Isabella would say, "Oh I just love Ethan" and we would simply agree with her that Ethan is a nice boy and a great friend. Sometimes she would be singing her little made up songs and we would hear, "Oh Ethan, my boyfriend, I love him"...it was so funny. She was head over heels for the big E!:) So cute!

And truth be told...our whole family loves Ethan! We're great friends with his parents and he is a GREAT KID!!! SUPER GREAT KID...one of those rare gems...responsible, respectful, and hardworking! So, Isabella just wait until you're 16 and allowed to date...Mom and Dad would probably give you the go ahead on this one:)

Summer Memories - Luke, A Dress, and Christine, ND

This adventure day tops the cake of all adventure days, hands down!!! Oh my! It all started simply...a road trip to Wahpeton for the zoo with my girls, my niece, Debbie, Isabel, Tatum, and Becky, Bryn, and Luke! This was a treat...Becky has one day off from work a week and we had finally managed to arrange an adventure date with her!

We were on the road by 8:15...my girls, Kaitlyn, and Tatum as my passengers. Debbie, Becky, Isabel, Bryn, and 20 month old Luke in the other car.

Shortly after Fargo I get a phone call from Becky telling me they have a major problem, Luke has had an explosion in his diaper. I don't know if there is a town coming up and suggest maybe just pulling over on the side of the road. Becky sounds doubtful and I see an exit sign for Christine, ND coming up. As I'm hanging up with Becky, I hear her saying, "Oh it smells so bad"!

We pull into the town of Christine, ND, population 2 and find the main street with the grocery store/gas station/post offie/gathering place for all of the locals having coffee. As Becky and Debbie pull up next to me, I can tell by the looks on their faces that I have no comprehension of what has happened.

Luke had definitely had a diaper explosion, out the bottom of his diaper, he was wearing shorts, so he started playing with it, squishing it in his hands! When Becky actually went to change him she said there was hardly anything inside the diaper, it had all exploded out the bottom! Just getting him out of the car was quite the task, than Becky needed to actually clean him up before bringing him inside because he had been playing with it!

So inside we go, 3 moms, 6 girls, 1 boy with a very poopy diaper into this little joint where the locals are having coffee! To say we were the biggest thing that happened to Christine, ND that week would be an understatement!

Than came the issue of clothes, Becky didn't have any extra...but Debbie did...an extra dress for Isabel! Oh my!!!
Luke walked so sheepishly out of that bathroom in the dress...he knew something wasn't right about this whole situation! Thankfully, we stopped at Family Dollar in Wahpeton and got him an outfit!:)
This was truly one of the funniest experiences of my life...I don't know if I've ever laughed so hard!
And kudos to Becky...she handled this whole situation with such ease and just laughed and rolled with the punches...what else can you do???? You rock Becky! Oh we laughed...so so so so so so funny!!!

Oh yes, we did go to the zoo, too:) It ended up being a bit chilly so we went through a little quicker than normal and headed back to Fargo to the Children's Museum! The kids had a great time!

Adventure days...never a dull moment!