Tonight at bedtime . . .

Tonight, as I was putting Lizzy and Jenny down to bed . . .

Jenny: "Mommy, you are the mommy I always wanted. You are the sweetest mommy. You are the boss of me!"

I about cried, it was so sweet.

Lizzy: "You just stepped on my imaginary friend!"

;)

Maia's Islands

For family night tonight, I asked Maia to draw a picture of her dream home. She came up with Maia's Islands--a series of connectable islands with everything imaginable. I want to move there!

Super Sandy Climb (Climb a super-sandy mountain)
Super-swim (Swim with a water volcano)
Fantastic Food (Eat anything imaginable at this restaurant)
Wonderful Waves (Surf the adjustable-height waves)
Sand Castle Sand (Build sand castles)
Black Beach Park (Slide, swing, and go on the monkey bars)
Scary Slides Waterpark (Defy gravity on the Double-N jump)
Class Camp (Learn about everything under the sun inside)
Movie Madness (Watch any movie ever made)
Rest-and-Relax (Sleep, relax, and hang out in this cabana-style home)
Tourist Takes (Take pictures of cool underwater life)

Jenny vs. the Beach

I had a BIG scare today with Jenny. She wandered off at the beach while I was in the bathroom (and someone else was supposed to be watching her), and we couldn't find her anywhere!!! No one that we had come with had seen her, either.

I was absolutely terrified. Jeff and I each took a direction and called for her. No luck. Then I raced to the lifeguard station, praying with all of my heart that someone could find her. As I approached, the lifeguard asked, "Are you Amy Cook?"

 "Yes!" I replied. "How did you know?"

 "We have a little girl at the other lifeguard station. She said, 'My mom is Amy Cook. And my name is Jenny.'" I sprinted to the other lifeguard tower and encircled her in a bear hug.

"Mommy," she asked, "Why did you run the other way?" She had seen me trot to the bathroom, and was trying to follow but couldn't catch up.

 "Did you go to the lifeguard tower yourself?" I asked incredulously.

 "My friends brought me," she replied simply. I'll never know who these friends were, but tonight I am offering many prayers of gratitude for these amazing friends that kept my Jenny safe.

Crazy bird!

For the past two weeks, we have had a visitor. He comes in the morning and politely pecks. When no one answers, he backs up, takes a flying leap, and propels himself into our window. We can't figure out why this bird wants to get inside! I'm tempted to let him in and see what he finds so fascinating at our house!

Happy Easter!

For Easter this year, Jeff and I went with his family to Palm Springs. Melissa and James, and Carrie and Andy joined us on this fabulous Spring adventure.

Jake enjoyed riding the coin-operated helicopter with Lizzy and Jenny!

The kiddos spent hours finding Easter eggs--then hiding them for each other!

Hailey enjoyed our trip to the outlet mall.

The girls loved getting their toenails painted!

We had so much fun, we're going to make Carrie plan our Easter vacation every year! ;)

Navigating the Monkey Bars

I've learned something about myself the past few months: I write best when I'm happy. It took me a while to start writing again after the miscarriage. Then Dad had his stroke. I fell across the monkey bars of life for a while, but now I'm back swinging! Thanks so much to my friends who gave me a gentle prod to start writing again.

Speaking of monkey bars, Lizzy just learned how to swing across them, and she has been showing everyone! Take a look: