We're way too into this fitness thing!

The treadmill we have is great, but it gets old really fast! Especially after a long winter of that being our only form of exercise for 30 minutes every stinkin' day! Brent's been wanting to get bikes for us so that we could ride around as a family. Can you believe I actually agreed?!? We took some of the economic stimulus check and bought bikes and a baby trailer for Sarah today. We're still smiling in this picture because we had only ridden the bikes up and down our driveway a couple of times. I guarantee we would not have had the energy to smile after our half hour workout on the bikes. And we're definitely not smiling now as we try to climb the stairs to get upstairs in our house! I don't remember riding a bike being this hard as a kid...but somehow these fancy shmancy new fangled bikes use a lot more muscles than the basic 3 speed I was so proud of as a 10 year old. I'm sure it's the bike that's causing me to be so sore...that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

And just a quick update on the fitness program...Brent and I both made the gold level for the first quarter! We've both lost quite a bit of weight, too, which is the best part of it all. Now if I could only walk like a thinner person instead of holding my back and moaning because every part of my lower body hurts! What was I thinking?!?

Hannah's first date

Brent surprised me by getting 2 tickets to the Spring Concert on campus (it's one of the artist series) so we could go together, but we weren't able to get a sitter, plus Sarah was sick. We decided it would be a fun thing for a Daddy/Hannah date. Hannah was so giddy--she could hardly stop giggling. I fixed her hair and put her fancy dress on, but she didn't want Daddy to see her until she had her high healed white shoes on, too, and the package was complete. The whole time I was doing her hair, she kept asking me, "What do you think Daddy will say?!?" And of course he oohed and ahhhed. I was thankful to hear her say, "It's not how you look that's important, but what your heart's like." Just about every time I am doing her hair and watch her primp and fuss, I try to emphasize godly beauty is being like Christ. It was a great thing to hear her say it first!


Brent even got the door for her...after he dug her car seat out of the back! There's something wrong about your date needing a car seat, but I'm sure you understand! :-)
She was thrilled about the whole idea of going on a date with Brent, but the frosting on the cake was being able to sit up front!
And they're off! I mentioned how special it would be if they went to the Grind (the campus coffee shop) before coming home. I'm only a tad bit jealous...after all, I get to stay home and have a special time with Daniel and Sarah. Daniel's already hovering over my shoulder wondering when I'm going to be off the computer so he can play, and Sarah has a messy diaper...okay...I'm more than a tad bit jealous! :-)

Hannah graduates from Kindergarten!

She's into EVERYTHING!!!

Sarah's pretty much walking now...she's pretty unstable, but will take about 6-7 steps at a time. She has recently started to explore new things that she's never shown an interest in before--like the dishwasher! I was loading it the other day and went to throw something away. I turned back around to find her standing here! She was so proud of herself...and less than happy when I made her get down. It's a whole new world opening up for us...one I'd rather keep closed for now! :-)

I love that man!

We ran into some friends from Northland while we were in town today, and we were talking about how our husbands are both so quiet and reserved in public, but really let down at home. It got me to thinking about Brent and how much I absolutely adore him! He is so reserved and will often just sit and listen, while I tend to ramble on and throw myself "out there!" But he really listens and forms opinions and comes away from conversations with such insight, and I on the other hand leave conversations with about 12 sentences started and not a single complete thought! We truly are opposites of each other, but that's what drew me to him. He's the smart, intellectual one who analyzes every situation and comes up with really good thoughts that most people (insert "Debbie" here) would never think of in a million years. I'm so thankful I can go to him with a concern and know that he's not going to throw a knee-jerk response out that will get me in trouble. In fact, his thorough examination of the situation usually keeps me from getting in trouble. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to him and said, "Honey...I need your input..." And he's put everything in a completely different light. He always does the right thing, too...no matter how hard it is or what will come of it...no fudging on his part! And the best part of it all...he chose me! I know I've said it before, but I still marvel that he chose ME from the group of single girls at our church! There were some really good girls that were so much better than me, but he chose ME!!! I hope I never get over that fact!

Hannah gets a new bike!

Grandma and Grandpa Kelley gave Hannah money to get a new bike since she's been riding Daniel's little 16 incher. She's just started riding without training wheels, so she's very happy to have her own "Girly" bike. And she's really good at riding it, too...except that it's only 40 degrees out today!
We added the tassles, horn, and basket...every girl's bike has to have a basket! What was the first thing she put in the basket? Her play cell phone of course!
We have a very long driveway so the kids are able to ride to their hearts' content. Daniel has proven to be a protective big brother for Hannah. If she falls and hurts herself, he comes tearing into the house screaming louder than Hannah (which is loud...trust me!) And she always manages to leave her bike at the end of the driveway when she comes hobbling into the house. Like a trooper...Daniel goes and brings her bike up for her. I finally told her she had to bring her bike up to the house when she comes in for medical attention!
While I love Daniel and think he looks adorable in this picture, I had to post it because Hannah's running into the blazer in the background! I couldn't resist!

Hannah's loses a tooth...