Ima college gradjyet

No way you say.
Yes way we say.
Anthony is graduated from Moody Bible Institute! We are thrilled for him on this accomplishment. Looking back we can see many many moments of God's grace that carried us through. I know it's Anthony that's wearing the cap and gown, but in some ways, I feel as if I have graduated too..."sweat equity" as the speaker said.

We have been blessed to have both our parents visit and celebrate with us on this occasion.




Almost there.....the finish line is within his grasp!
ConLai: "Oh! Dere ee is!"
Maybe I'm just not used to the regalia at church, but the way these men (and woman) dress up is somewhat amusing.

Stunning. Absolutely stunning.


Juliana's namesake...Juliana Rae with Marietta Rae (GramO)
PapO and ConLai having a little tumble time.

Great Grandma Olfert has made some beautiful quilts for the girls.







Who needs a bench press when you have a 2 year old??
ConLai already knows how to pass a winning smile in exchange for some fruit snacks.


Driving with no hands while looking like you're shootin' the breeze is quite the feat.

April-ness

I decided to download our pics and realized it's been awhile since I updated this so here it goes...

Anthony had a dream the other night that went something like this..."I was operating a skid steer when I began to back up and it began to make the beep-beep-beep warning sound. It kept beeping and then my blissful dream was interrupted when my wife elbowed me in the ribs because my alarm was beeping."

ConLai loves outings now that she is at home regularly, so the girls and I were driving to church last night for a practice and she kept asking "whaszat?" She became silent for a little while and then out of nowhere she said, "tank you Mommy". Now that's a blessing of motherhood.

Uncle Caleb and Aunt Becca came through Chicago...yea!!! Well, it was especially hard to go to bed with such a fun uncle and aunt around and ConLai knows how to get us to stay just a bit longer at bedtime. Daddy prays and sings with her, then Mommy prays and sings with her. A bright idea dawned on her this time around, "Becca pray?"

Daddy got his first lipstick smooch on the cheek.

I surprised Anthony at Moody last week during his lunch break by kidnapping him and taking him to Gino's Pizza.
He's remembering life before kids here. :)


No one makes Juliana smile more than her big sister.



We were at a church get together next door at our pastor's house and the guys played ball.
This is Jovan, the grandson of the Al & Teresa Reyes (pictured below). Teresa graciously watched ConLai this year while I worked.
I bought a big purse for the first time in my life, and I think ConLai had more fun with it than I did.

Cocoon Life

Have you ever thought about what it is like for a caterpillar to enter a cocoon and then emerge weeks later as a butterfly? The thought has entered my mind lately as the last couple of months I feel like I have lived that. After quitting work, life seems to have screeched to a halt as we adjust and begin a new life/routine. My primary conversations have been with a 2 year old (who repeats most of what I say or says no to what I say), and a newborn (who stares and smiles occasionally to my chatter).
Does a caterpillar forget it's inside a cocoon until the day the cocoon begins to shed? While it's in the cocoon does it hurt as the changes take place? Well, these are questions I've thought about as I feel like I'm emerging from my cocoon as Juliana grows older (and, get this...because we now have internet again...yes, Dhana, I'll go to Skype TONIGHT).
So I'm just realizing that life changes (I know, it's taken me till now to realize that) and sometimes those changes open my eyes to things that must shed in order for new beauty to emerge. And there's nothing like a 2 year old and a newborn to push things along.
Ok, so here are some pictures of changes that have been happening inside our cocoon.

ConLai and Ju-nana or Nana (as ConLai calls her)




I think she's been wearing this for 3 days now...
We got to have Katie and Jackie Matias over for a night, so we dyed eggs.



ConLai decided to try on all the hats and scarves, color coordinating them all.
A friend from work made this adorable lil' hat for Jules.