It's finally warming up around here...

Let's bust out the water table!!! The girls have been asking to do the water table all winter, and it was finally warm enough to use it this week! I don't think the mosquito's have gotten the memo that it's warming up yet, so we are taking every opportunity to enjoy the outdoors this spring! A couple of days ago it was in the 80's, and while I watered the yard the girls had fun putting their bathing suits on and playing in the backyard.

Our bathing beauties ;)

  I don't know if it was the bright sunlight or just me getting sentimental, but oh my, have my babies grown this winter?!? They are looking so grown up to me, and every now and then I get a glimpse of their round cheek baby-faces when they smile.  

Look at those lashes!

Lindsay looks so grown up here... Beautiful Girl!

 After they filled up the water table, I had to warn them this year they were getting way to big to climb in it. We got some squirt guns at the dollar store and they had a blast using them!

Target practice on our giant tree...

Madison "watered" all the plants for me. 

They had fun pretending to be Firemen and using the water to put out the imaginary fire in the playhouse.

And this little stinker thought it would be funny to squirt Mama. LOL. 

We are so looking forward to Summer and more sunny play days!! 

Easter 2015

Happy Easter!! Here are a few photos of our celebrations this year...

Last year we got a set of Resurrection Eggs at Hobby Lobby. We began it this Easter and the girls LOVED opening one each night as we recounted the story of Jesus's victory over sin and death.

The girls colored hard boiled eggs this year, and had the most fun putting stickers on them and decorating.

However, when it came to actually EATING a hard boiled egg, they weren't fans.. especially Lindsay. LOL.

Easter morning our two little buddies waited at the top of the stairs for Mama and Daddy to get their cameras and start the coffee before searching for their baskets...

Lindsay got a jump rope, night gowns, a movie and toothbrush this year!

She wanted to model her nightgown right away ;)

Madison got a playdoh set, jammies, hairbows and a toothbrush!

The way the girls opened their baskets cracked us up... they are so different! Lindsay tore into her basket and began trying on her stuff; Madison carefully lined up each item and had to check out everything before deciding which to play with first. LOL.

Giving her bunny a snuggle..

Sissy Love: Wearing their new PJ's  

After baskets we got ready for church and made it to the 9:30 service... good thing we are all early risers and morning people ;) The girls wanted me to curl their hair to match their fancy dresses.. Thank you Nonna!

Madison Grace, 3 years old

Lindsay Diane, 5 years old

This was a blooper shot that made me laugh...

After our service the Children's Ministry put on an egg hunt outside and the girls had fun collecting eggs...it was burr cold!

Fisher Family, Easter 2015

We came home and ate Honeybaked Ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, lemon butter green beans, rolls and topped it off with a cherry pineapple cobbler with vanilla ice cream. We had a second round later for dinner.

It was a sweet, quiet Easter reflective of Christ's ultimate sacrifice and eternal joy we have knowing we will be raised again with our King!

A HUGE Surprise and Tiny Blessing!!

WE'RE GOING TO BE BIG SISTERS!!! 

We got the surprise of our lives in February... we are expecting another BABY FISH!!! S/he will be arriving near October 6th and everyone is super excited, especially Madison Grace, a first-time Big Sis ;)

Sweet Baby, 12 weeks, 5 Days

Besides being in total shock for a few weeks, we are finally getting use to the idea of a family of 5. I've had all day nausea since 6 weeks along, and it's almost gone as I head into the 2nd trimester, similar with both of the girls. With this little baby, I have been super tired and craving weird stuff (for me at least!). I have embraced the inner cave-woman in me and been loving ribs, steak and meat...LOL. My favorites go-to foods are salty potato chips, any potatoes really, scrambled eggs and fresh fruit. Aversions: Coffee (?!), a lot of sweet and spicy.

This time around, Jarrett proved again how well he knows me, and how little I really know my own body... haha! I hadn't been feeling well for a couple weeks, super-tired, and emotional. I figured it could be because I've been watching our neighbor's little boy (whose 2!) and chasing him around the house. Jarrett suggested one evening that maybe (just maybe) I should get pregnancy test from CVS. So I drove around the corner and picked up the cheapest, generic brand I could find. I took the test with J (this was a first - I did it by myself both times before) when I got home after the girls went to bed and watched the clock... it came back positive! And we said, better get another test; these generic ones aren't working... LOL. The next day, and two tests later, it came back again... positive for a bun-in-the-oven!

Our little jelly bean is such a gift from God! I wanted share a bit as to why this Sweet Baby is such a testament to God's power and His great plan. Before becoming pregnant with Lindsay and Madison my OBGYN discovered I had cystic ovaries, which means I would rarely ovulate, and made conceiving on my own "highly unlikely" (the doctor's words exactly!).  Fortunately, with the help of some medication I was finally able to ovulate and conceive twice, once with Lindsay and again with Madison.

Fast forward to May of last year; my body was broken and definitely not functioning normally. My doctor wasn't sure what was going on, and I thought was possibly entering early menopause. I was grieved at the thought of being "finished" while I was so young, and so I just prayed for contentment with my beautiful life and two precious blessings, and God's plan (because His are so much better than ours!). We were so busy with family visiting for 1-2 weeks every month from Sept.-Jan., the girls birthday's, and Jarrett finishing his dissertation, plus his school loans coming due this fall....a baby was probably the furthest thing from our minds... But not from God's!!

Now, most people know that Jarrett and I are planners -- we had our children almost exactly two years apart and try our best to be good stewards of the resources God has given us to plan for the unknown. Our precious little one has us stepping out in faith and relying on God's provision and grace, which is a little scary and absolutely wonderful place to be. I marvel that God in His power was able to create a new life using my broken body. All Praise to Him! We already adore our precious little Jelly Bean, and can't wait to meet her/him!!

Lindsay Diane: 5 Years Old

Lindsay Diane, 5 years old

Height: 42 inches
Weight: 34 lbs.
Clothes: Size 5
Shoe: Size 9
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Green

Favorites...
Food... Most fruits and veggies (no brussel sprouts), pizza, sandwiches (especially from Jersey Mike's), mashed potatoes, biscuits and gravy, steak, shrimp (fancy taste lol) just about any dessert, especially ice cream!
Dislikes: Melted cheese (except on pizza) or any cheese in general, water in her eyes, when her sister won't play with her (aka Madison doesn't feel like being bossed LOL)
TV Show...Sid the Science Kid, Peppa Pig (I don't get it, but I hear her hysterically laughing when its on)
Toys... Any stuffed animal, favorites are Unicorn, Teddy. She is really into pretend play, and loves to build tents in our living room and create her own beach with a blue blanket. Love that imagination.
Friends...Lila, Jozie, Teagan and of course, Madison.
Book: BOB readers, set 2. She loves to spend the first part of 'quiet time' reading to Mama. She is doing so, so well! I can't believe my Big Girl is going to Kindergarten the fall, although I know she will be ready ;)
What she wants to be when she grows up: A scientist or a mermaid.

Lindsay celebrating her birthday at preschool! 

At preschool they celebrated her birthday and she was Child of the Day, which means she is line leader, snack helper, and they sing and get to bring in a special snack. It also happened to be Ash Wednesday, and since she attends a Catholic preschool, she received the Ashes too ;)

Happy Birthday Lulu! 

For her birthday snack at school, she wanted me to bring in our famous Sugar Cookies in pink and yellow butterflies and hearts.

Mmmm.. Cookies! She has a pretty big class: 24!

She made her bed one morning and was so proud of her creation and wanted Daddy to take a picture to remember how she did it for next time ;) 

New scooter! 

At Dunkin' Donuts with her Daddy for a breakfast date ;) 

Lindsay is our sunshine. She has a sunny, laid-back disposition and that oh-so-California attitude ;) Lindsay's favorite color rotates between pink and aqua. She will come out of her room in the morning and choose outfits with bright colors, polka dots and of course, a skirt! Lindsay's preschool teacher describes her as a "joy" and we would have to agree. She loves to talk and talk, about anything and everything around her. Here are a few deep thoughts by Lindsay...

"Chapstick is like lotion for your lips!"

"Mama, did you know you have THREE places on your face for kisses? Eyes- butterfly kisses! Nose- Eskimo kisses! Mouth- regular kisses!"

While looking out the window at the snow, "Mama, why does God make it snow?"
Me: "The snow melts and plants soak up the water? I'm not sure sweetie."
Lindsay: "I think God does it to make kids smile! You know kids love snow days and sledding!"

Lindsay loves to spend time with her Daddy; they have fun playing "Teddy Checkup" and she is so excited to ride her new scooter when the weather warms up. Lindsay is helpful, and likes to spend time with me in the kitchen, gardening and especially shopping! She is sensitive, and has a memory like an elephant. Sometimes a little shy, as soon as she feels comfortable, watch out she is a talk your ear off. Affectionate, loving and social, she makes friends easily. She has a heart for Jesus, and enjoys our Bible story time and Sunday school.

My darling Lindsay, I love you so much. Your beautiful heart sweet personality bring our family so much joy!

The Final Defense...He's Done!!

Look at that handsome guy... Dr. Jarrett Fisher!!

At the end of January our doctoral candidate flew out to Cali for his final oral defense of his dissertation. And he passed, with zero modifications!! Whoo Hoo!! Way to go J!

Chair, Committee and Dr. Fisher

Unfortunately, he can't use his Dr. title officially until his transcript posts in April, but he's really done! We are so excited for him, and are so so PROUD!

J and Carol stopped by P-Dine and took a picture of our old view...sniff sniff! 

We are looking forward to May 16th, his graduation at Pepperdine and our California visit!

George Page Courtyard... Lindsay's 1st 'backyard'!

Jarrett got to spend some fun times celebrating with his Mom, sister Sarah and even got to crash at his Uncle Ted house in Orange County! He squeezed in a visit with his best friend Chris and got to meet his baby, Reece.

Jarrett and Carol

J, Carol and Sarah 

Carol and Uncle Ted

Glad he enjoyed all that CA sunshine and warm... when he got home we got a ton of snow (and still getting it!). We are so incredibly proud of you and this huge accomplishment. It's been a long road, and I know the sacrifices you've made along the way to get here, which makes your success today even more sweet! Love you, Dr. Fisher! xo

Lindsay's Mermaid 5th Birthday Party

Lindsay Diane turned FIVE on February 15th, and we had a Mermaid Birthday Party in the afternoon to celebrate. She chose 5 friends to invite, and it was just the right size party for fun activities and tons of mermaid-style play ;)

Lindsay Diane, 5 Years Old

Before her birthday she sat with me on Pinterest and told me what fun things she would like at her birthday party... It had to have the colors pink, aqua and purple and she wanted ice cream instead of a cake!

I printed a free pattern online and sewed these Mermaid Tails for each guest as a take home.

I found the cute matching crowns at Joann's for just a $1!

As the girls arrived, Lindsay wanted to show them her room (two of her friends from school hadn't been to our house before) and Maddie's room. It was lunchtime, and the pizza man arrived just in time to feed five hungry girls ;)

As for the activities, I couldn't find any Mermaid games, so we opted to do some crafting. The girls made charm bracelets with beads and got to choose a unique charm... Lindsay liked the seashell and Madison picked the seahorse.

Next they painted a Treasure Chest to put their new bracelets in, and chose lots of glitter paint. It is so fun at this age seeing the thought and time they put into their designs ;)

After some playing they were ready for ICE CREAM!! We made ice cream sundaes, our Birthday Girl's favorite dessert. We used my Grandma's glass pudding glasses, and they made perfect Sundae Cups... the girls felt so fancy!

Happy Birthday to Lulu!! 

Lindsay and all her buddies crowded around to watch her open her gifts.

Lindsay had a birthday dinner request: Mashed potatoes and gravy, "Green Chicken" aka Pesto Chicken and Stuffing. LOL. 

I took a minute to snap a pic with my birthday girl before the busyness of the party. I know she will be going to Kindergarten in just a few months, and I catch myself just stopping and enjoying these sweet moments where I can love on her and spend quiet moments together. She tells me, "Mama, I'll always be your baby!". Love that sweet, sweet girl!  

Happy Birthday Our Darling Lindsay Diane!! We love you! xo