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Adriana and I are back from our Oregon Trip. I'm too busy getting life back to normal to do a full post on our trip, but here's a favorite photo from the trip. In it you can see my girlie and her friend Elaina running toward the ocean for Adriana's first dip in the Pacific (a first for me, too!)

Girl Trip

Adriana and I are heading off to Oregon this week for a girl trip. We'll be going to see my friend Caroline whom I've known since day 1 of my life and her little girl who is only 3 weeks older than Adriana. After not seeing Caroline for six years, I'm excited to catch up with my "honorary cousin", as we call her; and I'm just as excited to spend some one on one time with my own girlie. So "toodles" for now...the laundering/packing rush begins...

Tattoos & Zoos

Wednesday was our playgroup's fourth annual zoo trip. The boys were as excited as always, but it was Adriana who was especially fun to watch. Since she had no recollection of ever being there before and because of her love of animals, she took it all in with a great amount of wonder. At the turtle exhibit, where there were about forty completely adorable baby turtles, little ducklings were swimming in the water almost close enough to touch. After reading over and over that ducks say "quack", I loved Adriana's wide eyes as she herself heard the ducklings quack. You'll have to forgive my lack of photos, but carting three little people around a hilly zoo without the prescence of Daddy is about a much as one lady can handle. Here are the two somewhat pathetic ones I managed.

Around our house, Monday evening are called "Three Men and a Little Lady Night". It's my chance to go grocery shopping and run errands all by myself. During a recent one, Daddy was giving Adriana a bath and came out to find that boys had hatched a plan to give themselves their own tattoos. It was one of the moments where prior to discussing the infraction of house rules, a camera was necessary. Since it was Daddy's first time with the Nikon d80, I thought it was only fair that he get his very own watermark.

My favorite part is the "♥ Isaiah" on Elijah's arm.

Announcing...

...the engagement of my brother Josiah to his beautiful girlfriend Stephanie.

Humor Courtesy of Isaiah

Isaiah was very intrigued when he found out that his Great-Great-Great Grandpa, whose photo is hanging in our hallway, was a veteran of the Civil War. One morning he randomly began this conversation...

Isaiah: "Did Great-Great-Great Grandpa die in the Civil War?"
Mom: "No, he didn't die in the war."
Isaiah: "So is he still fighting in the Civil War?"
Mom: "No, the Civil War happened a long time ago and your Great-Great-Great Grandpa died a long time ago, too."
Isaiah: "Well, then I miss him."

Here's another morning discussion:
Isaiah: "Mom, I think you should have a baby boy."
Mom: "If I had a baby, I think it would be nice to have a girl so that Adriana has a sister."
Isaiah: "Well, I'm going to be praying for a baby boy."
Mom: "Well, I'm praying for a baby girl."
Isaiah: "How about this? You pray for a girl; I'll pray for a boy; and we'll let God think about it."

For Fun

Here a few of our more light-hearted poses for family portraits:

Family Photos

I knew we needed some updated family photos, but it was a job I was putting off and dreading. It's one thing to be the mom of the family getting their portraits done...making sure everyone's hair is nice, everyone's clothes are coordinated. But it's an entirely different thing to do that AND be the photographer who, mind you, is not even able to be behind the camera. My brother-in-law finally got me moving when he and his wife requested a recent family portrait of us to hang on their wall. So we took a couple of hours one Saturday and made it happen.

Another Hannah Update

My sister Hannah thanks each one of you for your prayers, notes, and all the other ways you have shown love and care for her. We are very excited for the way God is healing her body. Her physical therapist is impressed with the progress that she is making. Hannah is now even able to take a few steps on her own! She seems to be gaining more control over her legs with each passing day. She is experiencing some short-term memory loss, trouble concentrating, ringing in her ears, and continuing tremors; so we would be so grateful if you would continue to pray for her.
Below is photo I took a couple of months ago for a slide show that will be presented at her graduation. Our church holds a graduation ceremony for all home schooled seniors and one of my prayers is to be able to watch her walk up on stage and receive her high school diploma.

When the Highchair's Away, the Mice Will Play

Easter Egg Hunt

The Sieb Easter Egg Hunt has been a tradition since before my husband was born. His great grandparents land has a little woods where the eggs are hidden; but for the first time in Sieb history, the egg hunt had to be held indoors. Nine inches of snow sealed the deal on that decision.
The kids didn't care, and Mommy was happy to be warm.

Grandpa and his girls:

Cousins:

"We know you all are happy to finally have some girls in this family, but can you put down the cameras already!":

More Michigan Photos

Playing princess with Grandma:

Playing "rice sandbox" with Great Grandma & Grandpa:

My portrait (and a new spelling for my title):

Easter baskets:

"Does this have High Fructose?"