Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Well. We are leaving in a little less than two weeks. This week is family camp and we are trying to participate as campers as much as we can. It has been really fun and relaxing to go to chapel and coffee talk, participate in hymn sings, watch big games, hang out on the waterfront with a ton of other parents and kids, etc.

Charlotte is loving being out in the sun and swimming, she is such a little water baby. She also has been standing on her own for a few seconds at a time. Last night, in the bath tub, she stood and danced a little bit. She says "dada", "hi", and "ball" (kind of) and we think she says "What's that?" and "Who's that?" Regardless, we answer her. She loves people and will go to pretty much anyone. She is a smiley, happy, joyful girl and we are having a blast with her right now.

I have been reading a book this summer called "One Thousand Gifts" which is about how the crux of the Christian faith is actually giving thanks to God in all circumstances- the Greek word is "eucharisteo"- and how eucharisteo allows us to live in the now and experience joy in every moment, even hard moments, sad moments, impatient moments, angry moments. It has really been shaping my days, and consequently, my faith and life. I think the lessons God has taught me through this book are timely for our move. He has been keeping me from stress and worry and perfection and fear of the unknown so far and is preparing me for accepting change and being open to all the things He gives (a new home, a new journey, a new perspective). I couldn't have hoped for a deeper feeling of God's peace right now.

And so, we are coming soon!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Summertime.

Pictures from a Mecher visit and Fourth of July.

LOVE this.


Eating a stick.


Adoring Jackson.


Serious Emmett.


New birthday sprinkler.


Look at those little chompers up top.


Miss America.



Don't worry, the box did not really contain explosives.


American girls.



Princess Charlotte.


Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Moving on.

Our moving date is officially August 8th. We are both sad and excited to start something new. It will be really hard leaving camp, for Kyle especially. I've grown to love a lot of things about living at camp and about living in a small town... things that will be very different in Chicago. But, we're excited for new adventures. A new home. A new church. Different friends. Family. Seminary.

I'm interviewing for a teaching assistant job in Chicago this Friday. Keep us in your prayers, if you think of us. We really need a job while Kyle's in school and this one best fits our family's needs, we think.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

This weekend we travelled down to Chicago to celebrate Charlotte's first birthday with a small amount of our family. It was a beautiful, fun day.

My sister Katie painstakingly assembled this very long birthday sign for Charlotte and then my dad painstakingly hung and re-hung and re-hung this very long birthday sign for Charlotte. Thanks, guys!


Delicious summer beverages.


Plenty of balloons and outdoor playing apparatus.

Watermelon appetizer.
Not pictured: popcorn from popcorn machine. Why didn't I take a picture of that?! It was so cool!

Flavored potato chip smorgasbord. Thank you, Archer Farms + Target.

Hot dogs with all the fixins.


Opening presents with cousins.

I love this picture of Adeline with her little hand on Kyle's shoulder.

She loves her books.

Sitting on her new placemat.

Singing Happy Birthday.

Dessert announcement.

Charlotte's Web cupcakes made by my best friend, Megan.

Do you think we had enough desserts? Five different pies, ice cream, cool whip, cookies, gluten free cookies, gluten free brownies, cupcakes, sugar cookies, and leftover birthday cake from another party.

Her very special Charlotte the spider cupcake from Auntie Megan!


Sunday, June 19, 2011

The final installment of the birthday chair pictures!!!

I bought her this birthday badge that I was hoping she would wear on her birthday... not so much. She also just wanted to eat it for these pictures.


Friday, June 17, 2011

Charlie-cat turns ONE!

We started out the morning with the traditional sticky buns with Uncle Colby and Lauren.





We got her this Little Golden dinosaur book, which she LOVED.



Then, we went to the library.


Checking out the book kits.



Walking over to Scott's to get some ice cream.

Her very own "birthday cake ice cream" cone!

We had to swing on the swings on her birthday.

In the afternoon, Charlotte and I played in the canteen, reading books and climbing on couch cushions.

Charlie's cupcake.

She was dainty at first...

... then, not so much.

My favorite.



Extra rubbing in, for good measure.


Videos are coming soon!