Friday, November 15, 2013

Will's 6th Birthday


Look at this adorable boy!  My sweet Will, he was about 17 months in this photo.  Where has the time gone?!
















We celebrated Will's 6th birthday (October 12) with lots of family and one of his little friends.  He wanted a "Star Wars Hoth" party, so I decorated his cake with white frosting, a marshmallow snow cave, and of one of Will's own lego creations: an AT-AT!  Wish I'd taken a photo.  We hung white streamers and Eleanor drew an AT-AT to tape on the front door.  He loved it!  Will also had a little celebration in his kindergarten class he attends twice a week.  I had fun taking a treat and watching him interact with his peers.  He read "The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree" to his whole class!

Will is a special boy.  There's a lot to him.  He can be both goofy and pensive; sweet and mischeivous.  Sometimes he says something that makes me realize there is much going on in his mind that I wouldn't have guessed.  He has the markings of a leader - although sometimes I worry about brutal dictatorship, ha!  On the playground he can round up all the kids and orchestrate a grand game, it is so fun to watch!

Will loves to play imaginative games with siblings and friends - orphans, Narnia, ninjago, mining, ninja turtles, knights...to name a few!  He loves Legos and trash trucks and snakes.  He is good with numbers, good with words, good with maps.  He loves books, helping me bake, and making up wild stories.  He is still "built on springs" as his grandma says - he literally does bounce around much of the day! 

I am so thankful for the gift of my firstborn son!!  He brings such joy to us all.  Parenting him continues to teach me!  I pray God's richest blessing on him, that Will would live a life that reflects the hope and glory of the Gospel of Christ.










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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

A farewell



My parents have sold their house.  A good thing, an answer to prayer, but still a loss!  So we went up this past weekend for a brief last stay in the "old" house.  The kids asked, "Can't Papa take the rocks with him?"  The huge boulders and beautiful rocks that my Dad has collected have become favorite playthings when we visit.
 
 
 
 
 
  


God has blessed us all with many good memories in this place!  It was kind of a nostalgic trip, and I enjoyed thinking back to so many things, not only connected with this house, but with my childhood in Lake City, as well.  Camp cookouts at our family resort, a hoard of summer evenings outside with siblings and cousins and friends, hiking in the high country with my Dad, boating on and ice skating on and being baptized in the lake, funny stories of our many pets...and so on.  But what sticks out in my mind as I think about the two homes my parents have owned there is their amazing example of hospitality, generosity, and service.  Their home has ALWAYS been open and welcome: truly to friend and stranger, wealthy and homeless.  They don't brush anyone off, and their home has been a place of refreshment for countless people.  Their example is a tremendous gift to me! 

Here we are exploring the beautiful new place, a (very!) little rental just outside Lake City.  I have a feeling my parents will continue to honor Christ in the use of their home, knowing that hospitality doesn't have much to do with square footage!
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Thursday, August 8, 2013

Max turns ONE!


Look at my little munchkin!  This year went by so fast, blesssed day after blessed day.  Max is full of energy and curiosity and affection.  He crawls like a speed demon, cruises with ease, climbs the stairs, and once in a while stands alone.  He is rarely still!  He is fascinated by the dishwasher, the sweeper, the dog's bowls, lights and fans, and many other non-toys.  He has four teeth and the best smile!  He likes to be tickled and chased.  He loves all his siblings (Will can really get him laughing) and the dog, and has begun to enjoy books for more than just chewing on!  He enjoys plenty of table food and eats like a man some meals.  When he wants a drink he says "Ahh", like you or I would after taking a big gulp, so cute.   He says "DaDa" all the time and uses my name, "MaMa", mostly to mean food!  He also says "Doggie" which I think means animal of any kind.  He understands so much and is incredibly aware.  He waves at things he want or wants to know the name of.  He's still Mama's boy and I am loving it.  We are all so, so thankful for God's gracious gift of Max Henry in our lives!
 
 
 
 


 Max had his first party with cousin Audrey, who is just 9 days older than him.  It was a wonderful celebration in my brother's family's beautiful backyard, a big gathering with family and old friends.  My sister was even here from Canada!








 Celebration #2 was this past weekend with Todd's parents.  A sweet time!
















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Thursday, July 11, 2013

Happy Birthday, SuperJack!

 
 
 
 


I can't believe this guy is 4!
Jack has an easygoing personality, a generous heart, an active imagination, and a fantastic sense of humor.  He brings us joy truly every day.
From his larger-than-life stories of Big Fat Monsters and Hopper the Amazing Bunny, to his quirky Lego creations, to memorable phrases such as "I'll take Blankie with me as a safety precaution"...he keeps us laughing!
And he is sweet.  Sweet!  Recently he squatted down next to Max and said, "Max, here are three things I like about you: God made you, God created you, and God loves you!"

Jack loves to play outdoors, read, build Legos with Will, color with Eleanor, and wrestle with his Daddy.  He loves to play all sorts of pretend games and tell me exactly what my roles are, with lots of "pause the game!" inserted when I'm getting things wrong.  :D  He loves baby Max and always wants to give him some of whatever he's eating. 
Jack likes superheroes, diggers, batteries, screwdrivers, the pool; and takes a particular interest in the clothes he wears.  He wants to be an astronaut when he grows up.

God has blessed me - and all of us - with sweet, funny Jack.  I'm so glad he's ours!



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Friday, May 17, 2013

Faris Kid Photography


Jack found the big camera and the kids started snapping pictures...

 
 
 Jack took the above two...I think he's got a good eye!
 

 
 
 
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