Picnic at KALSEC!

We snatched up the opportunity on this beautiful June day to head for KALSEC (where my Dad works) to have a picnic and hike by the ponds.  Anything above and beyond simply keeping my children alive is overwhelming for me right now, so this was a big deal!  And it helped that my Mom made and packed everybody's lunches!  The kids had a great time and the adults did too.  My Dad found a turtle on the shore that he picked up (and the turtle then promptly peed on him) to show to the kids.  Samuel pretty much hyperventilated and ran away.  Aliyah was brave enough to touch him and Hope was brave enough to hold him!  

Sticks, stones, water, bridges . . . what else does a kid need? :)

We loved having Anna along!  As you can see, she enjoyed it too. ;)

Sharing . . .

Aliyah was so excited to share her baby with her little sister!

Summer!!

Some of the things I love most about summer . . . a fire, hot dogs, watermelon, eating outside, and family!!

Congratulations Savannah!

Savannah graduated from Kindergarten and we got to celebrate with her!  Congratulations, Savannah!!  We are so proud of you. :)

Karys Alexandra: 1 month old

• You are wearing size 1 diapers 
• You are definitely out of newborn size clothes and you are filling out your 3 month clothes quite nicely!  It won't be long before we'll be packing some of the 3 month clothes away.  You are so long!
• You have smiled a couple of times - your first smile was for Daddy on June 1 when you were just one day over 4 weeks old.
• You sleep great in your little basket in Mommy and Daddy's room.  You prefer to sleep on your side or flat on your back.  You will often have one or both of your hands up by your face - just like in almost every ultrasound picture we have of you!  
• You will usually do one 4-6 hour stretch during the night.  We love that!  You've done a couple of 7 hour stretches as well.
• Besides Church, Grandpa and Grandma's house, and Dr's appointments, you haven't gone many places this first month of your life.  It's a little crazy to try and get 4 kids under 5 years old out of the house!  You've gone on a couple of Target runs with Mommy but that's about it.
• You love to lay on your back on the floor.  Mommy is scared you'll get run over or fallen on by one of your siblings, but that hasn't happened yet.  Often you'll be fussy in our arms but then if we lay you on the ground, you'll be happy and content just looking around.
• You love bath time now!  You used to hate it - especially when you still had to take sponge baths.

A "Yacker" and "Neck and Neck" and "Blah"

Samuel calls Daryl's hatchet a "yacker" because you "yack" wood with it.  That's pretty much the cutest thing I have ever heard!!

When two people are sitting kitty corner to each other he calls it "neck and neck".  I have no idea where that one came from!

If Samuel takes a picture with the camera and it is fuzzy or something is blurry he says it is "blah".

Love little kids and the things they say!

Happy 14th Birthday, Rosie Jo!

Happy 14th Birthday, Princess!!  I will always miss you.    

Our prayers have been answered

I finally arrived

The healing that had been delayed

Is now realized

No one's in a hurry

There's no schedule to keep

We're all enjoying Jesus

Just sitting at His feet

If you could see me now

I'm walking streets of gold

If you could see me now

I'm walking tall and whole

If you could see me now

You'd know I've seen His face

Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com

If you could see me now

You'd know the pain's erased

You wouldn't want me

to ever leave this place

If only you could see me now

My light and temporary trials

Have worked out for my good

To know it brought Him glory

When I misunderstood

Though we've had our sorrows

They can never compare

To what Jesus has in store for us

No language can compare