Weekend with Mom-Mom

Danny's mom (Mom-Mom) came for a visit -- from Thursday to Monday. We tried to cram as much into the weekend as possible. You will definitely see from these pictures that we were busy -- to the park, to the zoo, to the Splash Pad, to the Lake, etc! We had a great time and the girls were especially glad to have a special time with her which they don't get often!

At the Park outside of the Zoo -- waiting for Hannah to wake up

Hannah LOVES feeding the animals... she SQUEALS with delight!

Mom-Mom and Grace rode a camel... Grace had a blast, but Mom-Mom pretended she did!

Mom-Mom brought a few new Bear Books for the girls... Grace made her read them OVER AND OVER AGAIN!

At our park (Watercrest park)

On Saturday we went to Big Creek... gorgeous day!

Danny had to take his mom to an typical Iowa restaurant complete with a ceramic pig and tractor rides...The Machine Shed

Back at home playing with NEW toys

Hungry, hungry Hippos!

Splash Park in Ankeny

We had a great time with Mom-Mom. She loved being here and the weather was perfect for all of the activities we had planned!

“Mommy, bowling is fun!”

“Yes, Grace, that is why daddy and I wanted to take you here! We are glad that you had fun today!”

On Monday we knew we wanted to do something fun as a family, but it had to be inside due to the rain. So we decided to go bowling! Grace had never been before, so this was going to be a fun experience. I grabbed water bottles, snacks, and socks to head out the door.

When we arrived, we were the ONLY ONES THERE! We thought that Merle Hay Lanes would be full on a rainy holiday, but we were wrong! We had the whole place to ourselves! Grace got shoes – the smallest they had – size 8 – and the lightest ball they had – 6 pounds. The 6 pound ball was difficult for her to carry at first, but she was a pro by the end. I am not used to using “BIG BALLS” because I grew up using candle pin… any one can bowl with candle pin!

On her first try she stepped up to the line and gave it all she had with a cute between the legs maneuver… it barely made it to the pins. During the balls long journey she patiently waited in great expectation to what was going to happen…. Wow! It really did knock down the pins! “LET’S DO IT AGAIN!” Grace LOVED the idea that her very own special ball would be magically returned to her. She set out to roll the ball down the lane again but this time with more gusto and with a “bowling dance”. She created a special dance to cheer the ball down to the pins…and you know that it had to be a long dance – that ball takes FOR EVER to get there!

Hannah was likewise fascinated with the whole process! She wanted to touch all of the balls on the racks, though. She and I went on a little adventure to feel each one and put her chubby fingers in each hole. It was great having the whole place to ourselves…. I let Hannah run in the empty spaces and didn’t mind if she was on the carpeted area playing with a few of the balls.

Overall it was a fun morning! Grace enjoyed herself, and we, her parents, were thrilled with her love of simplicity! As we were leaving she said, “Mommy, we can do this again sometime if you want!” Yes, Grace, we WILL do this again!

My little Watermelons

Surprisingly, I couldn't find any red,white, and blue for the girls to wear to church on Sunday, so I had to settle for these cute watermelon dresses. Watermelons seem like an American symbol to me, so they were perfect for the day! They were so cute.... we could have eaten them!

Sparklers

After a wonderful weather week last week (low 80s with sun and a breeze), we were disappointed by a rainy July 4^th! We went to a friend’s house (the Longstreets) for a great cookout with TONS of food and fellowship, but we had to spend the time inside. We didn't get to see fireworks this year, but on the way home God gave us His own light show! We were blessed with a GORGEOUS sunset! The sky was filled with yellow, red, orange, purple, pink, etc! We were amazed at the handiwork of our Creator and kept telling the girls how awesome our God is! Grace and I were marvelling at the "painting" that God did -- nothing like we can do at home! I WISH I HAD MY CAMERA, but Grace and I took pictures in our minds! :)

In the middle of this praise session (Joshua 24 -- talking about God in our home, in the car, on the way, in everyday activities), we also saw a beautiful rainbow! WHAT A NIGHT -- God was and is EVERYWHERE! We could still see it when we got home, so I snapped this picture -- hardly does it justice, though!

Danny had made a point earlier in the week to get sparklers to do as a family – once Hannah was asleep – so we pulled them out after we got home late from the Longstreets’. Grace loved holding on to them and watching them glow! It was nothing compared to the light show that God gave us, though! She was amazed at how they looked like snowflakes, fire, stars and various other things. I love how small things make her so excited. We can (and do) make small things into a great adventure! I love how her eyes light up and she gets the “Danny grin” – the little smirk instead of the HUGE smile that she wants to show but doesn’t want anyone to know how excited she is. J

The sparklers were fun, but we will stick to only doing them once a year. God gives the best light show anyway!

Happy birthday, America!

More than Pancakes

Every Saturday morning, the Lightner house is filled with the smells of pancakes – pancakes made with love by Grace and Danny. Grace loves Saturdays and asks several times during the week, “Is TODAY Saturday?” She loves helping Daddy pour, mix, flip and eat – chocolate chips, that is! She truly is Daddy's little helper and she is getting better and better about helping...without much of a mess or assistance. (Hannah WANTS to help, but she is still too little, much to Grace's delight!)

But this duo can do more than pancakes! They demonstrated this on Friday night with a world-class pizza – with chicken, green peppers and onions! Making the dough, spreading it out, and piling on the toppings was quite a sight. Hannah and I tried to stay away from the action, but we had to snap a few pictures.

I love these chubby hands helping Daddy!

Grace takes her jobs really seriously!

The finished Pizza looked really yummy... And it didn't disappoint us!

This chef is ready to eat!

This yummy dinner was a big hit…we all ate and ate. Hannah even had 2 pieces!

I wonder what culinary delight they will tackle next… of course they will have to do it together!

To Gray's Lake

We have wanted to go to a lake around here with the girls, but several of the ones that we have looked at have been flooded due to all of the rains and snow that Iowa has had this year so far. Danny checked into Gray’s Lake in Des Moines, and he decided that we should go. I am so glad that we went! It was a beautiful day – one of those that had little humidity and just a few high wispy clouds! It was fabulous.

Grace just loved the water. She was a little fish. She bravely went all the way up to her neck. She loved practicing swimming with daddy… being with him makes her so brave! J

Hannah wasn’t too sure about the whole adventure. She didn’t really care for the water—she only splashed a little, and she didn’t really care for the sand – it was hard and compact. Most of the “real” beach was underwater due to the flooding. Hannah just liked to explore a little, walk around a little, dig in the sand a little, put her feet in the water a little, etc. She was BUSY!

By the way… we were really near the airport so we were seeing and hearing these jets practicing… cool!

And one more thing... while we were eating there was another family that came to eat near us. They had twins -- a boy and a girl -- the same age as Hannah, but they were born at 24 weeks! YIKES! That is so early... I am over 25 now!!! The babies were not walking or talking... but they looked really good for all that they have been through! :) I will praise the Lord for every sleepless night and ache and pain...I know our son is in the best place for him now...just wait a few more months, baby, then we will see you!

Striking a pose

For those of you who have been dying to see a pregnant picture of me... here you go!

I will post more photos of our morning trip to Gray's Lake later tonight or tomorrow!

(Mom, this is the shirt that I got at a yard sale for $1!)