Six Flags with the Pichelmann's

June 11th we had a blast at Six Flags Great America with our buddies Emily, Travis, and Kathy. It was a warm, sunny day so we hit the rides and the water park. The kids had a great time, so did the moms! Kaitlyn is so much taller this year and met the next height bracket to go on more "big girl rides" she called them. She even went on the Whizzer for the first time!!!! She begged me and finally I said yes. Of course I was more scared and she was so excited. That child has no fear!

Happy Birthday Katey!

Happy Birthday to me!

Katey and her best buddy Karli at their ballet class the morning of her birthday

Katey and her new Buddy boy. When she woke up on her birthday, she was convinced Buddy returned with Grandma and Grandpa as her birthday present!

Our sweet, little, loud Kaitlyn turned 3 years old last Saturday. I know we say and think this all the time, but seriously... where does the time go??? It seems like so recently I just found out we were expecting again and I was scared to death. After losing the 2nd pregnancy, I was terrified to carry her and prayed every day she would make it full-term. Of course on the lighter side, we thought "she" was a "HE!!" from December until April. Kelly was convinced of course, it was indeed a "she". And as usual, little miss smarty pants (yes I use that term affectionately but if the shoe fits...) was right!

Kaitlyn has filled all of our lives with such abounding joy and laughter. To know her is to love her. She is loud, exhausting, trying, challenging and at the same time, adorable, smart, hilarious, and beautiful. Katey, you are my sweet little miracle girl and Mommy loves you so much. Thank you for teaching me to lighten up and enjoy every day. Happy Birthday Katey!

Buddy's back!

Buddy is back! Many of you will remember little Buddy. After a two-year plus stay at Grandma and Grandpa Herrin's house in Quincy, he has moved back with us. The girls are thrilled and won't leave him alone. He is wiped out but still sniffing all around and enjoying being chased thru the house. Hopefully he will be here to stay. Yesterday on her birthday morning Katey started sniffling and rubbing her eyes. Within an hour of playing with him, she was a mess and felt awful. Thanks to our friend Kim with her stash of Benadryl, the symptoms went away but we will need to do some investigating and find out exactly what happened and pray she's not allergic to Buddy himself. That will be rough as they've been so excited for his return.

SOLD!

Yes, you read that right... SOLD!!! I am very excited to announce that we have finally sold our old house at 2010 Dawn Lane. After 14 very long months, it is over. We have lived through and SURVIVED this national housing/mortgage crisis. All I can say is God is good!

Thank you to ALL of you who prayed for the sale of our house over this past year plus. We are so thankful to you but I am just giving God all the glory right now. It was a miracle to sell and He is the only One who can make miracles happen. So thank you Lord!

It still doesn't feel quite real yet but I know when I drive by there since it's only 2.5 miles away and see other cars, other people, other kids outside I'll realize Hey! Somebody is actually living there and we're not paying for that house anymore.

I must admit it was a little bit sad to hear about the buyers' plans to paint and move in. I've never sold a house before and it was just weird to look at them and think how all their stuff and pictures and toys and food will be taking over. I'm sure that sounds weird but still think of it as ours. We picked out the lot, the plans, the colors, the tile, the everything plus SOOO many memories. Good and bad memories but it was home. We moved in when Kelly was just 2, she was so little and overnight has grown into such a young lady. Where does the time go? We brought Katey home as a brand new baby to that house and tomorrow she will turn 3 years old. I suffered my pregnancy loss there in that house, too. That was my lowest time probably ever in my entire life. God saw me thru that, too. So many memories...

Thanks again to all the faithful friends who prayed. Praise God with me today because He is good!!