The Girl Loves Chairs

Emily is a chair freak. If it's stuffed and kid-sized, she's all over it. Literally.

The Easter Bunny Experience

Today was the big day:  taking the girls to South Coast Plaza for pictures with the Easter Bunny. We did this with Haley three years ago. For some reason, Lexi never went to meet the EB last year. Probably because she was so skittish with Santa the previous winter. We assumed Emily would be thrilled to have the experience, even though she's only 16 months old.  Uh, we were wrong.  (Much, if not all, of Emily's unhappiness was due to the fact that she had a lip-busting fall at home before coming to the mall.  That would have ruined ANYBODY'S morning!)

Famous South Coast Plaza was the scene of the event.  We got there early, so we didn't have to deal with long lines of kids and parents.  We actually had time to get our bearings and let the kids get the lay of the land.

Lexi was fascinated by the "rabbit hole."  The mall folks borrowed copiously from the Alice in Wonderland story...a white rabbit with an umbrella and a watch.  Definitely in a hurry...late for a very important date.

I caught this shot of Haley...she looked so grown up to me.

One of Emily's few happy moments of the morning.  Here's she's sporting her edgy Converse tennies.  So crazy cute.

Lexi and Haley chilling for a few minutes while the parents picked the professional shots. Haley couldn't resist the funny faces.

Sweet sisters. Beautiful picture.

This was just not Emily's year to be a bunny fan.

Tears or no tears, she's a cutie!

The money shot...Happy Templeton girls,

not-so-happy Johnson girl.

Ah, Those Were The Days

Lyn's sister sent this picture to us today...It was taken in the very early years of our marriage. Lyn said she never remembered me looking like this.  Gosh, I was skinny.  Isn't Lyn pretty?  I really see Haley in my picture here.  Fascinating.  The lovely brunette is Lyn's younger sister, Judi.  She and her husband John live in Cincinnati.  They have five children and 6.5 grandchildren.

My girls!!

Last week Lyn took Haley and Lexi up to the Santa Ana Zoo to meet Jennifer, Brian, and Emily. That's where this pic was taken.  I just love imagining appropriate captions for this!  Emily really looks passionate about Lexi's treat.  I don't even know what flavor Icee it is, but it surely appeals to Miss Ems.  I think Lexi is ready to defend her cup to the end!

By the way, HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

Obama Fingers????? Yuck!!

Some German poultry company has actually started packaging and selling "Obama Fingers." They claim they didn't realize the racial undertones of the name!!! Give me a break!!  It's just disgusting on so many levels. I'm not a huge fan of the president, but I think this is just wrong, going WAY too far.  I've always hated the term "chicken fingers," because if just seems weird to me, but OBAMA FINGERS?  Mercy, mother!

Ford, I Lift Your Name On High

Found this funny video today....

What happens when corporate America starts stealing the worship songs from our churches.

I Miss You, Dad

My dad, Curtis Robert Sewell, went home to be with the Lord 17 years ago today.  I love this picture, even though the funky glasses make him look a tad bit demented!  He was a HUGE tease, and always had a funny comment to make about the little everyday things of life.  In this picture, you can tell by the upturned lip that he was on the verge of a big smile and a typical one-liner.  On this occasion, it probably would have been, "Don't break your camera, Son." Note the JBC logo over his shoulder.  My parents both loved Johnson Bible College--it was the "holy land" in their minds.  (It is to most of us who were ever connected to it in any way.)

When I was in 9th grade, dad used to take me to school in his truck. (That year my high school was temporarily re-located while a new campus was being built.)  I'll never forget a comment he made to me one morning during our commute. I was angry or frustrated with my mom about something or other.  He didn't argue with me.  He didn't threaten me.  He just reminded me that my mother loved me more than life itself and how I should thank God every day that He'd allowed me to be her son.  There were tears in his eyes when he said it.  I not only forgave my mom for whatever she'd done, but I had a wonderful confirmation of how much he loved both of us.  It's truly a blessing to know that even if you lack a lot of "stuff" in life, when you are loved, you have more than enough.

I love you, Dad.  I miss you like crazy.