Our family is planning to go visit Craig's brother, Mike, sometime near the beginning of May.  We've been telling Natalie about it and she is very excited.  She says things like "I love Michael!" And when we ask her where Michael lives she says "Dallas". And then we ask her where Dallas is and she says "Tackus" (Texas).

 

Mar 3 ~ Natalie's little friend, Gabriel Brezinski, turned two years old today.  His mom, Heather, threw him a small mom/children party during the afternoon.  Natalie and I attended along with the Andersons and Kroegers.  The table was decorated with Elmo and we all had pizza and chocolate cupcakes. It was even nice enough weather for the kids to go outside and blow bubbles (one of their goody bag goodies).  Natalie helped me pick out a gift for Gabers - a Mr. PotatoHead playset...of course I thought it was so neat and got one for Nat as well :) 

 

Mar 4 ~ I cleaned the house in the afternoon while Craig took Natalie with him to run some errands.  One of the places they went was to take the van through the carwash.  I had stopped taking Natalie with me to the carwash because she would get so scared and just shake from head to toe!  But that was awhile ago...because now she doesn't mind it...especially when it is with her Daddy!  She still talks about the carwash and how the car got "a bath" and how Daddy said "it's okay and not scary". 

            In the evening we had the Caylor and Schafbuch families over for dinner.  This was the first time they all were able to see our house...everyone has had busy schedules lately.  We all have two year old daughters (we met in Lamaze class), the Caylors also have a daughter who is almost a year old, and the Schabuchs just announced that they will be expecting their second child to arrive this fall!  We had a great time eating and watching the girls run all around the house!

 

Mar 5 ~ Kim and John Anderson hosted Family Game Night this month.  The kids seemed extra loud this time around...seems as if the older they get the harder it is for them to keep their hands to themselves and share, etc...all part of growing up I suppose!  We still managed to have a fabulous time - fun games, good conversation, delicious food...and the Andersons even brought up a few bottles of wine from their wine cellar.

            

Mar 6 ~ We attended the church congregational meeting tonight - I'm not for sure but maybe they are held quarterly?  Anyway...the main reason we went is because they were announcing all the people who went through the last New Members Class.  So we are officially now members of Parkview Church! 

             Craig came to the meeting straight after taking his midterm for the class he's currently taking.  He was a little discouraged saying that it was a very difficult test.  So I really hope the rest of the class goes well for him.  So what's new with Craig?  Class for three hours on Monday nights, working hard at Pearson during the day (and sometimes nights/weekends...though not too much lately), contemplating in his mind the next step to take in re-finishing our basement, and spending time with his daughter and wife.  But he's recently added a few things to his busy schedule - and I'm not sure if he wants me blabbling this to the world, but I am so incredibly proud and so excited for him!  Since 2006 started, he has been reading the Bible frequently.  He also mentioned to me today that he has been going to a Bible study during his lunch hour on Wednesdays...just a group of people who meet in a conference room at his workplace...they take turns reading from the Bible and then if anyone has a comment or question while they are reading they are free to speak up and discuss.  He's been going since the beginning of the year - he didn't want to say anything to me about it because he didn't want to seem boastful about it.  But I think it is just so awesome and I almost feel as if I want to shout loud for everyone to hear (I'm not sure what I'd be shouting, but I'm just that happy!).  Craig has had the Lord in his life from an early age, but there is always room to grow spiritually - to learn more things, to refresh what has previously been learned, to have an even deeper relationship with God.  So please pray that Craig will continue this marvelous journey...and pray the same for me as well...my prayer life is always pretty good, but I am lacking in other areas such as Bible reading.

 

Mar 8 ~ Steffany asked me if I could drive her to and from a doctor appointment and also watch her son, Gabe, while she was there.  I said sure ...I already had plans to take Nattie to playtime at North Liberty Rec Center, but I wouldn't mind having Gabe come with us.  The kids and I had some time to kill between dropping Steff off at the hospital and playtime, so we stopped at McDonalds for hashbrowns and yogurt parfaits.  The truth was...I didn't mind babysitting Gabe but was just slightly nervous about handling two young ones in public (Gabe is three).  But everything went fine and the kids were so good.

 

Mar 9 ~ I babysat for Gabriel Brezinski at our house this morning while his mom went to get her hair done.  Afterwards, Heather brought us all over some lunch and we chatted for quite awhile.

             Craig, Nat, and I had dinner over at the Chinese place inside Hyvee and also picked up some groceries and movies.  Natalie wanted to drink some of Craig's rootbeer.  It's so funny...she calls all softdrinks "Sprite" since on the rare occasion that we do let her have a soda it is usually Sprite or 7-Up.  Though she calls it "Stripe" and it cracks me up!  So she kept looking at me with urgency saying over and over "Stripe, Stripe Stripe!"...it took me awhile to realize what she wanted!

 

Mar 10-12 ~The weather was really beautiful on Friday, so I took Natalie to the park to play.  We went over to Quail Ridge Park in North Liberty.  She was just climbing and sliding all over the place!  Craig's parents came out to visit us for the weekend...it was great having them here!  Craig had been sick for a few days with some kind of head cold/sinus thing, so he finally went to see the doctor.  We thought it might be strep, but they couldn't find anything. 

                  We all ran some errands around town on Saturday.  In the evening, Natalie stayed with her grandparents while Craig and I went out on a much needed date!  We drove up to Cedar Rapids to have dinner at The Outback there and then over to Coe College for a comedy performance.  Craig's friend and co-worker, Karen, had given us some tickets that she couldn't use.  The comedians were Ken Davis and Bob Stromberg...two really funny Christian men.  You have to see it for yourself, but Bob does this hilarious shadow puppet act...it was so funny that Craig bought one of his DVDs just for that alone.  Craig and I had such a good date night!

                    On Sunday we all went to church and then out to Iowa River Power for brunch.  There is finally a bridge up over the dam at the restaurant that you can walk on...but it was too cold, rainy, and windy to try it out this time. 

 

Mar 13 ~ Craig's cold symptoms got even worse, so he went back over to the doctor.  He now has an ear infection and is on antibiotics.  It's been a rough few days for everyone.  Alot of sleeping in different rooms so that everyone can get some rest.

 

Mar 14 ~ Natalie and I went over to Barnes and Noble for storytime today.  Though Nat wasn't interested in hearing the stories.  She quickly found the new Thomas the Train set they have in a corner of the children's section now...that kept her busy for quite some time!

 

Mar 15 ~ I had to do a few things this morning, so Kim Anderson babysat Natalie for me for a few hours.  I was nervous about it because Kim wanted to watch the kids while at the mall and Children's Museum...she has two girls under the age of three and I was just concerned that Natalie would take off running somewhere and it would be hard for Kim to handle.  I know, I know...I need to relax a little and have a bit more faith when it comes to things like this.  Nothing against Kim...it's all me.  Well, it turns out that the girls did really well...Kim did admit that it wasn't easy, but that she was happy to do the favor for me.

 

Mar 16 ~ Natalie and I met Daddy for dinner at Bennigan's!  Nattie had a few problems behaving at the table, and Daddy had to end up taking her back to the bathroom for a spanking.  I hate when we have to resort to that, but sometimes it is the only thing that calms her down.  Before dinner, Craig rode with her on the carousel.  The last couple times she's been on the carousel she's not interested in riding a pony, she is excited about riding in the "big red chair".  Nat is such a big girl...she likes to hold "the monies" (the dollar bill) and put it in the machine to get a token - then take her token and wait in line for the carousel - then drop her token into the bucket for the person operating the ride.

 

Mar 18 ~ Craig, Nat, and I were invited over to Heather & Paul's house for dinner tonight.  Can't pass that up because Heather is a really excellent cook!  After dinner, Gabers and Natalie had fun playing and watching Veggie Tales while us two couples played a game called Careers. Craig also attempted to fix a computer problem for the Brezinski's.

 

Mar 21 ~ We had snow again today!!...couldn't believe it since it was just jacket weather not too long ago.  It was kind of slushy, but I let Nat play in the backyard for awhile.  She was so excited to put on her boots and eat the snow! 

 

Mar 22 ~ Natalie and I met up with Ashley, Steffany and their children at the mall today.  The kids played in the play area and then we went over to the little pet adoption store to look at the kitties.  There was also a rat terrier/greyhound mix dog there needing a home.  He had the coloring of our dog Brigit, but the build of our dog Bailey and he was just so sweet and let everyone touch him.  A small part of me yearned to snatch him up and take him home, but I know better...we have enough on our hands with the two dogs we have now!  We all walked down to Panera for lunch before the other two families left for the day.  Natalie and I stuck around the mall for a few hours longer...we had an Icee drink, did some shopping, and then spent quite a bit of time at the bookstore playing with the Thomas the Train set. 

                      I attended choir rehearsal in the evening. I love choir night - I get so energized!  Scott decided to cut one song from the set - Wonderful Merciful Savior - a few of us girls were a little bummed because we love that song.  But you never know what is going to happen on a given night when it comes to Parkview choir...haha!...I like it though because it keeps it interesting.

 

Mar 23 ~ Nat and I ran errands today. One place we stopped was the Coralville Library.  Natalie was at a table at the back of the building playing with puzzles while I was a few shelves away from her.  In the dead-silence of the library you hear Nat scream "Mom! I'm at the library!!"  It was actually pretty funny and a few of the people around me were laughing.

 

Mar 25-26 ~ Choir sang this weekend.  We combined with the children's choir so that was a really fun change!  We were kind of concerned Saturday night when we gathered to rehearse...our lighting wasn't working properly...but wouldn't you know? - it came back on in time for the first service!  The songs we sang this weekend were Beautiful One, Celebrate the Lord of Love, O Sifuni Mungu (sung partially in Swahili), How Deep the Father's Love for Us, and Holy Holy Holy.

 

Mar 27 ~ It was a really busy day for me and Nat!  Ashley invited a few moms and kids over for playgroup at her home in the morning.  Natalie and I stuck around awhile longer and had lunch with Ashley and Jake.  I feel so blessed that I have met Ashley...we just seem to be on the same page a lot of the time and it's not often you get the chance to really connect with someone in that way. In fact, I have been reading a book recently called The Power of a Positive Friend...the book starts off by saying that there are three types of friendship - aquaintances, good friends, and soul mates.  It says that throughout life you may have a countless number of aquintances, probably a fair number of good friends, and maybe only a couple of people you'd consider a soul mate - a soul mate being someone you just connect with on so many levels and can talk about anything with.  My soul mates? - I know Craig is definitely my top soul mate, my friend Sara Emberton is one as well, and I believe Ashley also fits in that group.  And to think - if I hadn't found the guts to sit down next to her and introduce myself almost 2 years ago at HIT, I may not even know her now!  It is also awesome that her son, Jake, and my daughter get along so well!

                  Natalie and I attended another playdate in the evening while Craig was in class.  We met up with Laura and her daughter, Madelyn, at the mall for dinner and play time.  Speaking of Craig and his class...I don't think I ever mentioned what he got on his midterm.  I believe what he told me was that he ended up with a high B...which is really great since it was a tough test.

 

 

Mar 29 ~ Natalie and I decided to take a little trip out to Illinois starting today through April 2nd!  Daddy stayed home to work and also do some things around the house. Nat and I packed our bags and then had breakfast at McDonalds.  We ended up leaving town later than expected, but that was okay and there was really no rush. Natalie did a super job on the drive out there...I also have to say that the portable dvd player in the van is proving to be such a lifesaver on long trips :) 

             We stopped in Lexington first to spend what was left of the afternoon with my friend Sara and her kids.  Natalie met their new pet guinea pig - Nattie calls it a "skinny pig"!  The kids played and snacked for awhile.  Then Sara's daughter went to her grandma's house while us moms and the two younger kids (Nattie and Tyler) browsed Eastland Mall for a bit.  Then Natalie and I drove over to Craig's parents' house to get settled and spend some time with them. 

 

Mar 30 ~ Today we spent the day in Peoria!  The Embertons picked us up in their van and we headed off to the Glen Oak Zoo.  I don't remember ever visiting that zoo before - it was really very nice.  Natalie loves animals when she sees them in books or videos, but she was very clingy and scared at the zoo.  She was especially worried about the sea lions...they were big and barked loud and splashed.  But I think overall she did enjoy herself.  Among other things there were snakes, birds, monkeys, turtles, zebras, and camels.  Found a really cute pillow with an elephant on it at the gift shop (kind of matches Natalie's little stuffed Ellie) and Natalie also picked out an animal play figurine - she chose a turtle.  After the zoo we all went down to the Peoria Riverfront and ate at Joe's Crab Shack for lunch.  We weren't able to eat on the deck since it wasn't open yet, but it was a good time despite that.  After lunch we went back to Sara's house in Lexington for awhile to let the kids play.  The weather was really nice as well!

 

Mar 31 ~ Natalie and I bummed around her Grandma and Grandpa Essington's house most of the morning.  Then we went to meet my dad at Steak and Shake for lunch. Natalie was very shy, but really perked up when she saw and heard her Paw-Paw Bair take off on his motorcycle after the meal!  She loves motorcycles!  Natalie and I went back over to the mall after lunch for some shopping.

              Mom and Dad E watched Natalie while I went out to dinner with some old high school friends in the evening.  We went to this new restaurant called Kobe Japanese Steakhouse. Totally awesome place - great food and great entertainment!  It was me, Sara, Christi, and Melissa sitting around a grill while this guy cooks everything in front of us...the guy cracks jokes while flames are going everywhere and at the end you get to catch shrimp in your mouth...so much fun!  After dinner we went to the mall for coffee and to hit some really good sales at Kohls. It was terrific hanging out, catching up, and being goofy with the gals again!