Thankful for my Faithful God

Seeking Refuge

Emma, Abby & I enjoyed a rousing game of Dora CandyLand after lunch today. The Dora pawn is always the "hot" item. So a sibling tiff over her begins nearly every game. We finally concluded that Emma would start the game off being Dora and future Dora-possessors would be determined by whoever wins the round. Emma won the first round and so chose herself to retain possession of The Dora. Round #2 did not go as Emma had planned. While she shot out of the gate with a blur her luck changed with the drawing of the infamous Gingerbread Man card....to the back of the line she went, grudgingly I might add. Abby and I proceeded to reach La Fiesta first and so send Emma to LoserLand. She was NOT pleased. So what's the girl to do? Lash out in anger? Chalk the loss up to experience and start Round #3 with an increased fervor to win?

No...she decided to go upstairs to her room. I let her go, thinking she just needed to move onto something else. After about 10 minutes I told Shawn to go check on her......this is what he found:


Guess she had enough of LoserLand and sought refuge under the covers with her precious Bear Blankey. She even changed into her pajamas before crawling in bed! I let her sleep for a couple hours and was delighted to find her in a wonderful mood when I coaxed her awake. She didn't mention the events that led to her self-prescribed nap time so I wasn't about to either!! Oh how I love you and your silly side Emma Faith!!

Happy Birthday Shawn!

My wonderful husband is celebrating his birthday today! Love you honey!

Daddy is Abby's favorite photo target. And he's always willing to flash a lovely smile for her:


Here he is with his favorite Sarasota treat, Sweet Berry's!! Too bad it's 900 miles away or we'd celebrate with some Reese's Peanut Butter Concretes!



Finally, a picture from our Florida vacation. The kiddos absolutely adore him. He is such a great daddy!


Dear Daddy,
I love you so much. I could never have a better dad than you. And you are always taking care of me. Love, Abby

Dear Daddy,
Happy Birthday! Heart. Pretty birthday cake with candles. Love, Emma

Where DOES he put it?

In here?
Or maybe he has a hollow leg?
Wherever his hiding place is it must be full! He ate like a champion fighter tonight. Putting on a clinic on how to put food a.w.a.y.!! His menu for dinner tonight: 2 hot dogs, pork n beans, grapes, applesauce, and topped off with a double scoop of cookies n cream ice cream. Wow. Seriously, wow.

He, of course, thinks he's too funny!!


Here's the happy little eating machine.

Miss me much?!

I know, I know, it's been a while. No really great excuses here just got out of the habit I guess.

Thought I'd ease back into blogging with a short post about our Easter festivities. PMC had Maundy Thursday communion service. They performed a drama about the Last Supper. I always enjoy communion services at PMC...I love to look at each person as they file down the aisles and remember that they (the body of Christ) are why Shawn does what he does and ultimately why I live in a church parsonage!

The title "Morning Person" doesn't really fit me but Friday morning my SIL Tonya and I were up and on the road e-a-r-l-y. We decided to check out the much-heard-about Good Friday yard sales in Ireland. We had a good time and found many things on both of our lists. It was weird to be home from yard sales by 9:15!!
Friday evening we had an Otto gathering at the in-laws. Shawn's brothers were both home. Aaron was up from Evansville while Trent and Lisa were here for a quick visit from Hicksville, Ohio. It's always good to get caught up with "the boys". The nieces and nephews dearly love playing with their uncles and aunts. The kids hunted eggs and gathered up way too much candy!

Here's Caleb finding his first egg.

Abby showing off her basket full of goodies.

"Don't even think about gettin' my eggs!"

Miss Happy-Go-Lucky Emma!

Chocolate is SOOO good!
Saturday Shawn helped a couple from church move while the kids and I tried our best to get the house in order. I'd put two things away and they'd drag three things out! Gotta love sharing a house with three kids!! That evening we attended Jake & Lisa's wedding. It was a good time. We got to visit with some people we never seem to run into anymore.

Six o'clock came a little early on Sunday morning. We (the kids & I!) barely made it to sunrise service at 7:15. Then ate a wonderful breakfast. Caleb especially loved the grilled sausage and biscuits & gravy! Then it was on to Sunday School and we rounded out the morning with our regular worship service at 9:15. We all came home and crawled back into bed for a 2-hr nap. Glorious! Headed over to my parents for a late lunch. Dad fried fish and shrimp. Mom made sweet rice which is a favorite of mine.

The Otto Children looking great in their Easter outfits. Thanks to Mamaw Shirley for the pretty dresses and handsome overalls!

Happy 1st Birthday Caleb!

Here was the scene outside our hospital room on January 28, 2009. Daviess County roads were closed due to several inches of ice/snow. My determined husband safely drove us to the hospital that morning in our 4X4 Jeep for my scheduled induction. We drove very slowly through blowing snow on a one-lane highway 50. It was quite a ride!


Then after a LONG day of labor Mr. Caleb Andrew Otto arrived...screaming at the top of his lungs!
Chillin' out under the warmer after his first bath.
All warm and snuggled up in his hat and blankets.
Happy Birthday Baby Boy! We love you very much!

Songs Playin' in Your Head

Had a song running through my head ALL day long. The kids and I decided to play it via YouTube for our dinnertime entertainment (Dad couldn't join us tonight so the table rules were pretty lax!!). Here it is:


We couldn't listen to the Mama's & Papa's without listening to this one too.


After that Abby says, "Can I play one that I like?". She proceeded to fire up the next selection:


There's nothing quite like being served a healthy dose of perspective by an unsuspecting 6-yr old! Thank you Abby for the blessing you are in my life!