Jump Around, Jump, Jump & Get Down

A last minute trip to hang with Grandma and Papa K resulted in to a drive to the Punkin Patch with Grandma. While Daddy beat Papa at golf for the first time ever, VW and DG played in the jumping castle! Boy was the joyous giggles and belly laughs heard by all! A few pictures to capture in their exhilaration in their Mommy's approval to literally bounce off the walls!

Friends

Since I had the opportunity to watch VW on his pony ride day at buddies, I also stopped in with my camera to see what DG was up to! It was snack time...one of his favorite activities of the day! He posed in his typical big- eyed innocent poses! Aren't his friends too precious! They were all giggling and happy!

Scratchbackers & Awesome God

Over a year ago, VW camped out in Nana and Papa's bedroom and spied the long, wooden back scracther and insisted that he have his back scracthed versus his typical head rub. He fell in love and Papa burned the boys names into their very own "scratchbackers".


Scratchbackers

So every night after books and prayer, VW either asks for piggys or scracthbacker! Now there is quite a different routine depending on if it is Mommy and Daddy's turn, but is an essential part of the evening bedtime ritual. [there have been numerous times when I hear "that's not how Daddy does it"]

Part of Mommy's routine is to sing. It is quite interesting to me all the church songs I've remembered over the years and VW always asks if Papa K taught me the song or how I learned it. One song I sing often is "Our God is an Awesome God," didn't realize what an impact it was having on VW:

What a great reminder of how our words are heard and penetrate into the hearts and minds of our young children. VW and DG may you always remember that your God is an awesome God, He reigns with wisdom and power..."OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!"



Peek-A-Choo

Today at buddies was Pony Ride Day! YEAH! What an adventure to ride in circles on a cute pony named Peek-A-Choo.

VW sees that I have arrived, as he patiently awaits his turn!

Picking out his ride.

Ride on cowboy!

VWs classmates!

What a cute cowboy he makes!

MMM-Maw

This little guy is on the go! WOW! But he is the most precious, little guy! This week he has been into kisses! DG especially comes running to give Mommy a kiss after Daddy! He comes running and says, "MMM-MAW" and smacks ya! Thanks for your all your love, DG!

Rocket, Airplane, and Santa Claus

What do these all have in common?? They are VW swimming!! Miss Morgan is teaching him all kinds of wonderful swimming techniques. Last night he had his instructor all to himself and boy did he perform!! VW is very excited to swim with NR next summer, so is actually taking swimming lessons quite seriously. He is sure growing up before our very eyes!!

Airplane

Rocket

This is supposed to be Santa Claus, but he is not
sticking out his belly very well here :-)

DG dreaming of joining his brother!

Swimming out to his duckie he throws
half way across the pool.

AHHHH!

Screaming. I don’t like screaming. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to scream…but I don’t…well, at least not in your company. If you too, dislike the throaty, all out wail from the inner most depths of your soul scream…then you should not come to our home this week.

Screaming…for attention, because Mommy doesn’t hear whining.

Screaming…from exhaustion and hunger...our days are long sometimes.

Screaming…from jealousy and want of the toy we had absolutely no interest in until our brother had it.

Screaming…for my way and my way only.

This is not working! Or is it?

I went outside this morning….twice…it is a calm, beautiful crisp morning and my hope is that it would calm my soul. It did wonders for DG and I, as we sat on the front step, catching our breath, and cuddling ‘cuz it was a little chilly. Once again I find myself outside of my van at buddies, as VW has a melt down and I thought he needed a timeout before conquering the day. I stand in the parking lot watching the world around me and wonder two things:

1) how often do I scream for "X" at God and wonder why he doesn't listen?

2) or does God "scream" his response and I don't like it, so I turn away?

In this loud time of my life, may I find comfort in knowing God's plan for me/us even if it comes in a scream or whisper...may my heart be open to listen.

And if your in the neighborhood, plug your ears!

June Elizabeth

My niece has arrived! YEAH! She is so beautiful! DG smiled and googled over the pictures reaching out to the screen to touch her. While VW asked, "she came out?" and shouted with glee, "YEAH, I get to see her at Christmas!"

Congratulations to Uncle B and Aunt R on the arrival of their first blessed little girl!!

June Elizabeth K arrived at 1:40 am (September 13) weighing in at 8.1 pounds and an impressive 22 inches long.

To the delight of her parents, she's the most beautiful little redhead in the world!

 

Shadows

It is not abnormal for me to be pulled at, tugged on, and often tripped by four adorable hands and feet. Sometimes all at once but in opposite dirrections; other times it is just one little shadow needing my undivided attention. Either way I often have a shadow(s).

The thing about shadows is sometimes you see them yet due to the angle of the light or my distractions in life, I am not always aware my shadow is with me. Other times you literaly feel your shadow tugging at your heart. I wonder how often I try to hide in God's shadow...be in His prescence but not in the right light to actually feel the tug at my heart...to follow Him where he leads, yet desiring to be connected so close to God that I am His shadow...pulling, tugging, yearning to learn and grow.

I see this desire in DG, today it is with his big brother, but tomorrow may it be with his Heavenly Father. DG is VWs shadow, seeking him out, looking at him thru his long eyelashes, seeking his approval, yet pulling, tugging, and literally ripping him down to his level to be with him.

And although, VW is not always excited about his shadow (the screams, yelling, pushing, and hitting is unbelieveable at times), he is so proud to be DGs big brother and you will often here him say "come, come" follow me.

May we hear God's call to follow him, to be so close that we not only stand in His shadow but are one with Him...to have faith of a child...

We Have a Visitor

I was in the kitchen when I heard the sound...not sure what was up with Kelty, I quickly sought her out. I thought she was seriously hurt...the howling and crying was unbelievable. Nope, we just had a visitor (picture 3) of an adorable kitty pacing on the ledge outside our front window. We had very agitated (yet curious) pets inside. What a Saturday morning show for all.

Swish ~ Swoosh ~ Whoosh

Cousin IM decided to take on the exciting endeavor and experience of sixth grade cross country. Since Mommy loved her XX experiences, she took this opportunity to start running again and help IM with his pace, mental toughness (which he is pretty amazing), and how crazy your body feels when you run (like jelly, side-aches, shin splits, and runners spit). 

Labor Day weekend we started running together (haven't ran together since, although we have separately). We had a great time and he is good. He has a good pace, asked super questions, and even encouraged me along the way. I learned how "old" I feel after running one evening and then turning around and running again the following morning. Wow, my body didn't know what to do! I also remembered how competitive I was and wouldn't let an 11-year-old beat me, even though some day I know he will.

While running together, the younger kids found this fun swing that they could all ride on together! 

IM had his first meet on Friday. He did awesome! There were 1000+ people there and even his parents were not quite sure what to think. We found the path and were able to cheer for him during the race and at the finish line. He was strong, right in the middle of the pack! Thanks for the reminding me of the excitement, reward, and pain of running IM. Have fun in your first XX season!

Need to get a picture of the runner...just have his adoring fans!

Grandparents are #1

Happy Grandparents Day! 

We love you Nana and Papa I 

and 

Grandma and Papa K! 

Preschool ~ Here I Come!

All ready for Preschool today at Love and Learn CDC. VW is so excited to be in Ms. Sarah's classroom and has asked us every day since we learned he would be in her room if today was the day. He was excited to wear his new shirt and requested that I spike his hair like Daddy's! We had yummy cinnamon rolls for breakfast as a special treat and found our backpack!

Although not much will change from his "normal" buddies routine, he will have more scheduled morning of learning! Last year his coloring, writing and thought process changed dramatically over the year, cannot imagine what this year will bring as he is already such an inquisitive thinker (and talker).

VW, we love you so much and are so excited for a new school year!
Boy, are you growing up so fast!

2011

2012

An attempt to capture a picture
with your little brother!

What Was I Thinkin'?

Last night we asked VW to go upstairs and get his pajamas on. DG followed him to his room and we giggled how they play so cute together.

DG must have distracted VW b/c he came downstairs missing something!

Daddy and Mommy smiled and looked at each other, both acknowledging that he does have Mommy's side of the family genes! I snapped a picture and VW ran over to see. Upon seeing himself, he exclaimed "I don't have pants on!! What was I thinking?" and ran upstairs to retrieve his jammy bottoms. We have not laughed that hard in a long time!