tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72244832677560354582024-03-13T11:41:59.152-05:00Loving Leah, Tommy, Nic and KennyAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12199373748547106950noreply@blogger.comBlogger789125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-36535918183334628392015-12-25T00:38:00.000-06:002015-12-25T00:38:52.258-06:00Eight Christmases<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OvnBdC_K4zo/Vnzj5VKxSvI/AAAAAAAAHDI/e0NBWspdVbo/s1600/DSCN1180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OvnBdC_K4zo/Vnzj5VKxSvI/AAAAAAAAHDI/e0NBWspdVbo/s400/DSCN1180.JPG" /></a></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-61659656188320225942015-11-13T15:14:00.000-06:002015-11-13T15:14:20.191-06:00Meet Ellie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g9UpLAaxY6k/VkZOCzIWFnI/AAAAAAAAG_M/UwncBxApf6g/s1600/DSCN0860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g9UpLAaxY6k/VkZOCzIWFnI/AAAAAAAAG_M/UwncBxApf6g/s400/DSCN0860.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align:justify">We welcomed Mary Ellen Elikya Klug into our family this week. She was 8 lbs, 3 oz and 21 inches long. We are honored that she shares the name Mary with Amy's mother and grandmother, and with Jeff's mother and grandmother as well. Our Ellie also shares the name Ellen with Amy's grandmother and sister. The name Elikya is a congolese name which means "Hope" in lingala. We are so thankful for this new blessing.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6tIRL-4GEQw/VkZODcJjYmI/AAAAAAAAG_Q/CIVUyTUZ654/s1600/DSCN0869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6tIRL-4GEQw/VkZODcJjYmI/AAAAAAAAG_Q/CIVUyTUZ654/s400/DSCN0869.JPG" /></a></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-86930518523679947882015-11-08T20:22:00.000-06:002015-11-08T20:22:47.520-06:00It Must Be Fall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RWHq2zmpGDE/Vj_9tPEiCJI/AAAAAAAAG9M/gP6DP07N87Y/s1600/DSCN0742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RWHq2zmpGDE/Vj_9tPEiCJI/AAAAAAAAG9M/gP6DP07N87Y/s400/DSCN0742.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3n37Jfsp5Mw/Vj_-L_PXx9I/AAAAAAAAG9c/H_E3w6AILYE/s1600/DSCN0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3n37Jfsp5Mw/Vj_-L_PXx9I/AAAAAAAAG9c/H_E3w6AILYE/s400/DSCN0755.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W_G-ZkT2Ge0/Vj_-YggC6DI/AAAAAAAAG9s/6bOVN79s5ac/s1600/DSCN0758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W_G-ZkT2Ge0/Vj_-YggC6DI/AAAAAAAAG9s/6bOVN79s5ac/s400/DSCN0758.JPG" /></a><br><div style="text-align:center">Where's Tommy?</div></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iqyrJTNBjy8/VkABkvIUj2I/AAAAAAAAG-Q/PzX0A1Ie6mE/s1600/DSCN0784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iqyrJTNBjy8/VkABkvIUj2I/AAAAAAAAG-Q/PzX0A1Ie6mE/s400/DSCN0784.JPG" /></a></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-58270347990635550742015-09-03T22:30:00.000-05:002015-09-03T22:30:58.682-05:00Lightsabers (and baseball too)<div style="text-align:justify">I was looking at some old photos with the boys over the weekend and we came across the pictures in <a href="http://lovinglittleleah.blogspot.com/2012/03/may-force-be-with-you.html">this post from 2012</a>. Tommy and Nic got a kick out of how young each of them looked as well as the comically fake photoshopped lightsabers. Kenny's response was an immediate "where is MY lightsaber?!" I told him that he hadn't been born yet when I made those pictures, but that I could make one of him with a lightsaber too at some point. So without further ado: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p6jf3yv6gVI/VekJsgYQUlI/AAAAAAAAG4U/rmJXzQhsONw/s1600/DSCN8972e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p6jf3yv6gVI/VekJsgYQUlI/AAAAAAAAG4U/rmJXzQhsONw/s400/DSCN8972e.jpg" /></a><br>Kenny with lightsaber</div><br />
While I was at it, I went ahead and gave Tommy and Nic new lightsaber pictures from the same event as Kenny's: Star Wars Night this past spring at our local minor league baseball park. <i>That</i> was a lot of fun. After all, it's not everyday you get to see Boba Fett throw the first pitch.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wgfsDseAwvw/VekJ8I9emwI/AAAAAAAAG4c/o0M1p9fcRro/s1600/DSCN8987e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wgfsDseAwvw/VekJ8I9emwI/AAAAAAAAG4c/o0M1p9fcRro/s400/DSCN8987e.jpg" /></a><br>Nic is way more excited than Kenny to meet Darth Vader</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mFngMXQahN4/VekKHBYZFzI/AAAAAAAAG4k/x9EJK9sW9O8/s1600/DSCN8948e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mFngMXQahN4/VekKHBYZFzI/AAAAAAAAG4k/x9EJK9sW9O8/s400/DSCN8948e2.jpg" /></a><br>Tommy feels like he could take on the whole empire himself</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T0iiZLPuuIg/VekN5ExF10I/AAAAAAAAG4w/SEvQisDvSss/s1600/DSCN8963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T0iiZLPuuIg/VekN5ExF10I/AAAAAAAAG4w/SEvQisDvSss/s400/DSCN8963.JPG" /></a><br><i>Boba</i> Fett? <i>Boba</i> Fett? <i>Where</i>?</div></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-70013504443411257132015-08-29T21:10:00.000-05:002015-08-29T21:10:17.503-05:00Road Trip 2015, Day One<div style="text-align:justify">In truth, the first day of our road trip was really spent driving these small country roads on a weird route (thanks Google!) with some pretty crazy detours that left us wondering if we would ever come out of the cornfields alive. So, we decided to start with our first day of being touristy. While our ultimate destination for this trip was Kentucky, to visit with Jeff's extended family, we stopped off at some Lincoln sites in southern Indiana first. The highlight of this day was the Lincoln Boyhood National Park. It had a nice museum, and a great recreated homestead staffed with people dressed in period clothing to tell you more about how the Lincolns lived. The boys earned their first "Junior Ranger" badge of the trip, and these "police badges" became a bit of an obsession for them. The things the kids liked best about this visit were using woodworking tools like those Lincoln and his father used, and feeding the cows. <br />
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The next stop was a reconstructed grist mill at the location where the Lincoln's brought their corn to be ground. It was a rainy afternoon, and we were the only ones in the mill, so we got a lot of attention from the man in charge. He really impressed Tommy, and allowed Tommy to operate the mill with him, which was a special privilege that Tommy continues to talk about. He may have declared that he plans to grow up to run a grist mill...and we had to inform him that grist mill ownership is no longer an available career path (so back to his equally realistic goal of playing in the NFL). We have the bag of cornmeal that Tommy ground in our fridge, and one of these days I will get around to making him some cornbread with "his" cornmeal. <br />
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Say you are in Rockport, IN, and you think to yourself, "I should go to Lincoln Pioneer Village because it was a WPA project recreating the village Lincoln lived in and it must be really interesting and worth the relatively high price of admission." Let me tell you that you really should not. It was sorely disappointing. The museum is a bunch of stuff crowded in cabinets, and with the exception of a piece of furniture made by Thomas Lincoln, there is not much worth seeing. Out back there are an impressive number of cabins, but most of them are just empty or locked up buildings, and the "early transportation museum" is just a bunch of falling apart wagons in a musty barn. The only saving grace of this pioneer village was that Nicolas loved it. No one knows why, but he thought it was really fun, and he did not want to leave...even though everyone else really really did. <br />
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Our last stop of the day was the site from which Lincoln left on his first trip down the Mississippi. It only took a few minutes to stop at the spot, and the kids had fun climbing on the signs, and also thinking about standing in the very same spot as Abraham Lincoln. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VNjXHQyqMJg/VeJc74lqWeI/AAAAAAAAG3c/bfW-QW4IWBM/s1600/DSCN9686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VNjXHQyqMJg/VeJc74lqWeI/AAAAAAAAG3c/bfW-QW4IWBM/s400/DSCN9686.JPG" /></a></div></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-10003105872893269082015-07-06T18:44:00.000-05:002015-07-06T18:44:12.588-05:00...Ta-da!<div style="text-align:justify">It has been so long since I have sat down and written; I admit I feel a little rusty. We have some big news that I am compelled to write about - a new addition. <br />
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Meet the littlest member of our family. SHE is due to arrive November 20th. <br />
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I am a little over twenty weeks along. We decided to try things differently this time and keep the news quiet until we had more information from the doctor. Because we have moved since my pregnancy with Kenny, I am seeing a whole new team of OBs and specialists, and the current specialist has been very cautious with his diagnostic opinions. We had hoped to have a good idea about how the baby was doing at 16 weeks, but he was not able to give us a definitive answer at that time. Today (after an hour and a half of diagnostic ultrasound stress), he pronounced this little one healthy. We are very thankful that God blessed us with this new life, and grateful that we will have the opportunity to raise this daughter. <br />
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This pregnancy has been a unique experience. I have been feeling much worse physically than I did with Kenny, and more nauseous/ hormonal than I did with Leah, but also much less tired (that pregnancy was very physically draining even before we knew anything was wrong). I have been dealing with anxiety, mostly in the week leading up to my various ultrasounds, but nothing like I did with Kenny. I think it helped not talking about it as much, and it also helped that we were not expecting this particular bit of news (you know you were wondering), and going into this pregnancy without the pressing desire for another baby right at that particular moment did make it easier too as we waited and wondered what would happen. Some days I feel like God is playing a joke on me (and since the ending appears to be happy, it is a funny one), as we decided last year not to pursue pregnancy again, and I gave my sister my maternity clothes when I saw her over Christmas, told my friends I was done with pregnancy, and tossed out my nursing bras...then just a few months later found out things were not going to go according to that plan. I should have learned by now not to make plans, because things never seem to go the way I intend. I'm okay with that right now. <br />
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It probably goes without saying, but I am thrilled to be having a girl. I screamed in the poor nurse's ear when she called to tell me. It was so loud I had to apologize, and then guiltily explain that I would have been happy for a boy too, but, well, I already had three. Expect this poor child to be swathed in pink and bows and glitter and tulle. I am so done with blue. The little boys are less thrilled. Tommy and Kenny continue to hold out hope that it might be a boy (despite DNA testing and repeat ultrasounds), while Nic is usually happy about it, as he was rooting for a girl about half of the time. <br />
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We would appreciate your prayers for the continued health and growth of our sweet little girl, and my anxiety in that regard, especially when I reach the late third trimester. Although she did not inherit SRPS, we are more acutely aware of everything that can go wrong from here on out. I suppose that is the downside of attending pregnancy loss support groups - you really learn too much. Although I think that once you have been the one in the "only one in ten thousand" statistic, you never feel entirely comfortable with pregnancy (or any statistics designed to make you feel better). Therefore, I can use all the prayer I can get. <br />
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If you would have told me seven years ago, when I despaired of ever having a child, that today I would be raising three crazy, adorable boys and be pregnant with another little girl, I don't think I would have believed it. It was very healing to visit Leah's grave this year, pregnant with this little one and hopeful that we would finally have a chance to watch a little girl grow up. I am repeatedly amazed as I watch God continue to build beautiful things out of our pile of ashes.</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12199373748547106950noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-73172477786797968622015-06-24T22:14:00.000-05:002015-06-24T22:14:07.907-05:00Seven Years<div style="text-align:center"><b>2008</b><br />
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<b>2009</b><br />
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<b>2010</b><br />
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<b>2011</b><br />
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<b>2012</b><br />
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<b>2013</b><br />
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<b>2014</b><br />
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<b>2015</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ar2yCTCAMA0/VYtjGEUTlyI/AAAAAAAAGww/r4jm6q6OpmY/s1600/DSCN9158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ar2yCTCAMA0/VYtjGEUTlyI/AAAAAAAAGww/r4jm6q6OpmY/s400/DSCN9158.JPG" /></a></div></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-90424286923870587402015-04-25T07:00:00.000-05:002015-04-25T07:00:05.149-05:00Whale Carrot vs. Pink Mustache<div style="text-align:justify">I find it is best to keep a camera handy during meal times, since there's something about the context of a polite gathering that seems to inspire silliness. I don't post nearly as many of these pictures as I probably should - maybe because they don't necessary group together coherently. Anyhow, without further ado, I present <i>The Time Tommy Found a Carrot Shaped Like a Whale and Didn't Want to Eat It Because It Was Too Awesome</i> followed by <i>The Time Kenny Rubbed His Upper Lip So Raw That He Gave Himself a Mustache Which He Wore Proudly For About a Week</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dTAZEYReaPE/VTcHT-obHdI/AAAAAAAAGt0/wjm4SYUrUHM/s1600/DSCN8576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dTAZEYReaPE/VTcHT-obHdI/AAAAAAAAGt0/wjm4SYUrUHM/s400/DSCN8576.JPG" /></a><br>Ahab's Carrot</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jvvpQY0x49A/VTcHJAmkdqI/AAAAAAAAGts/dHf7YPSSy8c/s1600/DSCN8579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jvvpQY0x49A/VTcHJAmkdqI/AAAAAAAAGts/dHf7YPSSy8c/s400/DSCN8579.JPG" /></a><br>I have a pink mustache</div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-29537778634286200702015-04-24T06:00:00.000-05:002015-04-24T06:00:10.052-05:00Happy Birthday Tommy!<div style="text-align:justify">Sometimes I'm not sure how we got here, but we now officially have a seven year old! We celebrated Tommy on his birthday with his family presents, highlights below include a Lego set and a talking Ninja Turtle card (and, not pictured because he has to pick it out still, a hand-brake bike). Tommy has grown a great deal this year, both in height and personally. I appreciate his helpfulness with his brothers and around the house. Recently I contracted some kind of flu at the exact same time that Jeff had beamtime and was completely unable to help, and Tommy took care of his brothers almost all day. They watched a lot of TV, wore strange outfits, and might have only eaten yogurt and pretzels...but they all survived thanks to his intervention. He was so sweet bringing me cups of water and, when I could finally keep something down, pretzels. The experience, while terrible for us all, certainly demonstrated to me how much he has grown in his ability to handle responsibility. <br />
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He continues to love sports, especially football, but he has been playing soccer and baseball. He also participates in Cub Scouts and, of course, in church activities. He is showing much more maturity in these areas as well, and has started asking very good questions about God...and also some strange ones. His school teacher tells me he is a very hard worker, a great reader, and a leader in the classroom. At a conference she told me that she randomly chose him to demonstrate how to have a conversation about a book (an exercise she does every year), and the dialogue she had with him was the best she has had with a student. The book was The Cat in the Hat, and I can't even remember the last time we read it, so I was certainly impressed that he did such a good job. All that said, his favorite part of school is recess. He is constantly bursting with energy, so classrooms are not his natural habitat. Tommy mainly goes to school to socialize, but we are happy that he is learning as well. <br />
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Speaking of socializing, Tommy had a friend birthday party too. He loves his birthday, and starts discussing his party and invite lists months in advance (which is nice because it usually starts with "I want to invite the entire school!" and it takes time to narrow it down). I love that he wants to include everyone he knows, even though it is wildly impractical. This year we really hit the jack-pot when Tommy entered a drawing for a free birthday party and won! Thus he got to have his first (and ONLY) outside-of-our-house party. It was at a Karate studio, which was a big hit with the seven-year-old boy crowd. He had a great time, and so did Kenny, as you will observe in the videos. Nic was there too, but wild crowds are just not his style.<br />
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Happy Birthday Tommy! We are so proud of you and are blessed to be your parents!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VTN9YstlVPU/VTcN4hvGuCI/AAAAAAAAGvM/3HpEBCoOGEE/s1600/DSCN8702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VTN9YstlVPU/VTcN4hvGuCI/AAAAAAAAGvM/3HpEBCoOGEE/s400/DSCN8702.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/125644668?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="480" height="270" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-36374605153253163552015-04-21T21:10:00.000-05:002015-04-21T21:10:26.682-05:00Catching Up Pt. 1: Easter<div style="text-align:justify">Here are a few pictures from our Easter festivities - the egg hunt after church, our impromptu backyard picnic (because it was such a beautiful day that the kids begged to eat outside), and our neighborhood egg hunt in the park. It was a wonderful day!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DH76DVk3n5o/VTcBKuwA19I/AAAAAAAAGtU/fWgos0V9Tag/s1600/DSCN8571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DH76DVk3n5o/VTcBKuwA19I/AAAAAAAAGtU/fWgos0V9Tag/s400/DSCN8571.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0V_KxGzSB4o/VTcAXDnJ0TI/AAAAAAAAGtI/B11ju20vIb8/s1600/DSCN8573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0V_KxGzSB4o/VTcAXDnJ0TI/AAAAAAAAGtI/B11ju20vIb8/s400/DSCN8573.JPG" /></a></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-28949467586631678002015-04-04T08:00:00.000-05:002015-04-04T08:00:01.784-05:00Cub Scout Fun<div style="text-align:justify">Tommy has really been loving cub scouting. It has been fun to try so many new things, and the while family has been enjoying the outings and pack meetings. Here are some pictures from the Pinewood Derby. He and Jeff crafted his car to look like Jeff's "cool car." It didn't win, but it sure was fun to watch!</div><br />
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<div style="text-align:justify">We had an outing to a living history museum in our area to fulfill an advancement requirement, and we had a great time watching a blacksmith work, looking at old maps of our city, visiting a "trading post," and watching maple sap collection.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9soeWwCu2C4/VRtk_sKhxwI/AAAAAAAADEg/7JKU6sd5obU/s1600/DSCN8391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9soeWwCu2C4/VRtk_sKhxwI/AAAAAAAADEg/7JKU6sd5obU/s400/DSCN8391.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V0kGFSKrJ6g/VRtlBnm-diI/AAAAAAAADEo/A43RZ4KQOhg/s1600/DSCN8392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V0kGFSKrJ6g/VRtlBnm-diI/AAAAAAAADEo/A43RZ4KQOhg/s400/DSCN8392.JPG" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12199373748547106950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-34305839922606731102015-04-02T10:00:00.000-05:002015-04-02T10:00:02.973-05:00Science Fair 2015<div style="Text-align:justify">Tommy really wanted to do an experiment on electricity for the science fair, and Jeff made an heroic attempt to help him do that, but in the grand tradition of science, it didn't work out as he planned. Thankfully, Tommy had has a pretty cool science kit, so we pulled an experiment from that which he had previously worked on, and had him do it again for the fair. In truth, the science kit experiment was probably a little more flashy, and it certainly made Tommy happy and was fun for the other kids to see. Win-win. He also had some fun exploring the other kids projects and having some one-on-one time with dad (the little guys were out of sorts so we stayed home).</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CzmPcJVOR5Q/VRtgyA-ExgI/AAAAAAAADDk/lPwBPFZTE-s/s1600/DSCN8249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CzmPcJVOR5Q/VRtgyA-ExgI/AAAAAAAADDk/lPwBPFZTE-s/s400/DSCN8249.JPG" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12199373748547106950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-53677965727131154792015-03-31T21:57:00.000-05:002015-03-31T21:57:00.570-05:00Dragging out Goodbyes<div style="text-align:justify">(Yes, I am posting again) <br />
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We finally had a little nice weather around here (it's gone again), so we spent as many days as possible at our neighborhood park, which has since been demolished and is awaiting new equipment. Every nice afternoon I would tell the boys we needed to make sure we said good-bye to the park since we didn't know when they would tear it down. This provided many an afternoon of fun and, more importantly, getting out of the house. I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I intended to, but here are a few of them playing on the equipment, poking at the ice in the pond, and running through the woods. For the next few months while our park is under construction we will be exploring all the other local parks we never go to because it is so much easier to hop on bikes than get in the car, but hopefully we will find a few gems.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CQ_c4McA2oA/VRtdh07WBcI/AAAAAAAADDA/jQx2rPt2Nyc/s1600/DSCN8454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CQ_c4McA2oA/VRtdh07WBcI/AAAAAAAADDA/jQx2rPt2Nyc/s400/DSCN8454.JPG" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12199373748547106950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-63178295817593744202014-12-24T18:47:00.000-06:002014-12-24T18:47:09.103-06:00Seven Christmases<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TlfU0_Ok5is/VJteLRloy3I/AAAAAAAAGpU/_Itjpx9Mqag/s1600/DSCN7833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TlfU0_Ok5is/VJteLRloy3I/AAAAAAAAGpU/_Itjpx9Mqag/s400/DSCN7833.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1-QCTwjSsE0/VJteIQaI_sI/AAAAAAAAGpM/Y3WFGOlRIT0/s1600/DSCN7834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1-QCTwjSsE0/VJteIQaI_sI/AAAAAAAAGpM/Y3WFGOlRIT0/s400/DSCN7834.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cbmndul4EEs/VJteQGhnExI/AAAAAAAAGpc/JLOTgPuYZz0/s1600/DSCN7837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cbmndul4EEs/VJteQGhnExI/AAAAAAAAGpc/JLOTgPuYZz0/s400/DSCN7837.JPG" /></a></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-73421366367638901552014-12-22T20:15:00.001-06:002014-12-22T20:15:54.214-06:00Candy for the Troops<div style="text-align:justify">Tommy's scout pack collected halloween candy this year to donate to a nonprofit organization that sends care packages to U.S. troops on deployment. Tommy, Nic, and Kenny each set aside a large portion of their trick-or-treat haul to send to the troops, and we were able to collect even more candy from friends at church and Amy's bible study. All together the scouts collected quite an impressive load of candy, as you can see below. Tommy and I went with a few other scouts to drop off the candy we collected - and to tour the care package operation. While we were there, the kids got to put together some Christmas care packages for the soldiers. Tommy really enjoyed getting to put together a care package. Thank you to everyone who donated candy to this project! And thank you to all the soldiers spending the holidays away from their families.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e3wSv_IlmE0/VJi4YsricDI/AAAAAAAAGog/zQcULxm5ZqQ/s1600/DSCN7593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e3wSv_IlmE0/VJi4YsricDI/AAAAAAAAGog/zQcULxm5ZqQ/s400/DSCN7593.JPG" /></a></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-57774195419412971642014-11-29T20:22:00.001-06:002014-11-29T20:45:02.366-06:00Outtakes<div style="text-align:justify">It's been pretty cold lately, so since we had a warm (almost 50°F!), mostly sunny day today I thought I would take advantage. We got the boys dressed up and took some pictures for this year's Christmas card. Here are some of my favorite outtakes:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUgiA4wWxrU/VHqDhzmC9tI/AAAAAAAAGm4/N77Y1o1XWPM/s1600/DSCN7535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUgiA4wWxrU/VHqDhzmC9tI/AAAAAAAAGm4/N77Y1o1XWPM/s400/DSCN7535.JPG" /></a></div></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-61332327195315936062014-11-27T21:58:00.000-06:002014-11-27T21:58:41.814-06:00Thankful<div style="text-align:justify"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3AN4PMZK5kg/VHenT9M1S_I/AAAAAAAAGkQ/pHdR-fC6rv0/s1600/DSCN7436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3AN4PMZK5kg/VHenT9M1S_I/AAAAAAAAGkQ/pHdR-fC6rv0/s400/DSCN7436.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I set the table up this morning before I started cooking. When Tommy saw it he was so impressed that he decided he needed to dress up, and he convinced his brothers to do the same. It was completely spontaneous and all his idea, but I thought it was so sweet that he felt inspired to put on his fanciest outfit. Before we ate both Tommy and Nic took a turn to pray, and one thing that Tommy mentioned being thankful for was tradition. Considering how last minute this year's meal was, and therefore, how close it came to not happening, his enthusiasm for the day made all of my (hasty) efforts worth it, and for that I am very thankful. <br />
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Here is proud Nicolas the <a href="http://lovinglittleleah.blogspot.com/2014/06/gardening-finally.html">pumpkin farmer</a> showing off the fruits of his harvest. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3vpYS_u3lk/VHeporZEwaI/AAAAAAAAGl4/bpY_E8yIZwg/s1600/DSCN7494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3vpYS_u3lk/VHeporZEwaI/AAAAAAAAGl4/bpY_E8yIZwg/s400/DSCN7494.JPG" /></a></div></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-59687096791445295852014-11-11T09:30:00.000-06:002014-11-11T09:30:00.425-06:00Halloween 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLgSMelkXLo/VGGHvpBkiFI/AAAAAAAADAQ/mjLJbTFI5gA/s1600/DSCN7158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLgSMelkXLo/VGGHvpBkiFI/AAAAAAAADAQ/mjLJbTFI5gA/s400/DSCN7158.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K2qiYR6gcCw/VGGIya3yYEI/AAAAAAAADBA/LGTRJEWVR0I/s1600/DSCN7268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K2qiYR6gcCw/VGGIya3yYEI/AAAAAAAADBA/LGTRJEWVR0I/s400/DSCN7268.JPG" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12199373748547106950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-89130710273656349642014-11-10T21:23:00.000-06:002014-11-10T21:23:03.653-06:00Mom's Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G6bjpyOsqH0/VGF7km5PwQI/AAAAAAAADAA/qtH5lAjOjfE/s1600/IMG_1742-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G6bjpyOsqH0/VGF7km5PwQI/AAAAAAAADAA/qtH5lAjOjfE/s400/IMG_1742-2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align:justify"><br />
Today my mom would have turned 58. It has been a hard day. I'm sad, the kids are sad, and dates like this just make the missing that much harder. We are all remembering mom in our different ways. Kevin and Emily are meeting up for dinner, Katie is making my mom's favorite cake for her family and my Dad, and since today is my one day to stay home and get things in order, I cleaned my house and matched socks.<br />
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My sock pile drove my mom crazy. I swear that my children put one sock in the hamper and hide the match in some secret spot for a few weeks before tossing it in the laundry. Thus, even though I carefully match up all the pairs to come out of the dryer on any given laundry day, I have a sock pile. Whenever Mom came to visit she would get out the sock bag (which has since been upgraded to a cute basket) and lay them all out and match them all up. Then she would harass me to throw away the unmatched socks. So today I conquered the unmatched sock basket, which I'm pretty sure hasn't been touched since her last visit a year ago, in her memory. I even threw out a handful of socks for her. That would have made her happy. <br />
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Although today has been very hard, I have enjoyed having the space to reflect on my Mom and what a blessing she was to me, and my kids, and to all of you who have been leaving comments and messages for our family. I wish I could be celebrating with her tonight, but since I can't, I am so thankful to be able to celebrate her memory and her legacy.</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12199373748547106950noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-8333284004414924482014-09-09T22:49:00.000-05:002014-09-09T22:49:51.824-05:00Windy City Project 2<div style="text-align:justify">I am still playing catch-up, but this was one of our favorite activities this summer, so I wanted to make sure I shared. We recently began attending a church that is much closer to our new home, and were thrilled to find out that they had a family friendly mission project happening this summer. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to serve alongside our kids, our new church family, and the organization we partnered with to complete the project. We worked with a group of teens from Lawndale, called <a href="http://ymenchicago.com/">YMEN</a>, and together we served a few buildings in the suburbs that help people transition out of homelessness, and we also worked on the YMEN property in Lawndale.<br />
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Our family spent three days working on the Lawndale project. We got to help beautify an existing urban garden and to put up a new one, and participate in a sports camp and a VBS. Now, you can all imagine how helpful <i>we</i> really were, what with most of my time spent trying to prevent the kids from slowing the project down, and with the children chasing chickens more than they pulled weeds or moved dirt, but the beautiful thing was that everyone was okay with that. It mattered more that we were working to build relationships with our fellow workers and that we were teaching our kids how to serve God by loving their neighbors. Our boys loved the time they spent at YMEN, and we did too. We received far more than we gave (really, by leaps and bounds).<br />
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Since the projects were split between multiple locations, the only day that everyone spent together was Sunday. That day was spent at our church, worshiping together (outside!) and enjoying a great meal, amazing music, and lots of fun games. Aside from the time that we spent with out family in Wisconsin, this was probably my favorite day of the summer. It is such a blessing to see my kids excited about worshiping God and serving Him!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RzjF6kPHsKQ/VA_D_4horHI/AAAAAAAAGEM/7ArIn4MW1ks/s1600/DSCN5895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RzjF6kPHsKQ/VA_D_4horHI/AAAAAAAAGEM/7ArIn4MW1ks/s400/DSCN5895.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3lsj4BpaKVA/VA_EUxXEPFI/AAAAAAAAGEU/Zndnn4Hjt98/s1600/DSCN5916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3lsj4BpaKVA/VA_EUxXEPFI/AAAAAAAAGEU/Zndnn4Hjt98/s400/DSCN5916.JPG" /></a><br>Can't think of a better way to spend our 11<sup>th</sup> anniversary</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GgP4c759OC8/VA_IDMiTtMI/AAAAAAAAGGM/q0IeaWoSIU8/s1600/DSCN6070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GgP4c759OC8/VA_IDMiTtMI/AAAAAAAAGGM/q0IeaWoSIU8/s400/DSCN6070.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AGrPo2Jnw34/VA_IZUZHL8I/AAAAAAAAGGU/OfQg0Dmu8jo/s1600/DSCN6044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AGrPo2Jnw34/VA_IZUZHL8I/AAAAAAAAGGU/OfQg0Dmu8jo/s400/DSCN6044.JPG" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12199373748547106950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-24745027261501869272014-09-01T07:18:00.000-05:002014-09-01T07:18:00.519-05:00Why does it always rain on me?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_HH3Mc9kji8/VAKSCM07edI/AAAAAAAAGCg/dVUf5E7iSuU/s1600/DSCN6736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_HH3Mc9kji8/VAKSCM07edI/AAAAAAAAGCg/dVUf5E7iSuU/s400/DSCN6736.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BLw68ZAWRik/VAKTStqi-2I/AAAAAAAAGDg/Oprfqpr7UaU/s1600/DSCN6757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BLw68ZAWRik/VAKTStqi-2I/AAAAAAAAGDg/Oprfqpr7UaU/s400/DSCN6757.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mEvs3OF3HMQ/VAKTdHmOiPI/AAAAAAAAGDo/PVhGQsWVRZo/s1600/DSCN6759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mEvs3OF3HMQ/VAKTdHmOiPI/AAAAAAAAGDo/PVhGQsWVRZo/s400/DSCN6759.JPG" /></a></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-88741986782406543972014-08-30T22:03:00.000-05:002014-08-30T22:03:08.449-05:00Goodbye Summer<div style="text-align:justify">This summer has been action-packed. In order to maintain my sanity and ensure that all three boys survived the summer with no severe wrestling/fighting over toys injuries we got out of the house a great deal. I dutifully took pictures of our many activities because I intended to blog, but then I was so exhausted by the long days I never got around to it. I may do some catch-up posts (mostly because certain aunties have been clamoring for pictures), but it depends on how quickly I can scrub off the sticky film that summer has left on every square inch of my house (maybe we will cut back on popsicles next year), and whether that will be done before our CRAZY Fall schedule starts up. Sports are going to drive me into my grave.<br />
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All that to say, here are the pictures from our last day of summer. We took a nature walk at a forest preserve and then went and ate lunch with Jeff in a new spot, the new building his group is transferring too. It is a significant upgrade in terms of scenery, as we were able to eat on a cool sheltered balcony instead of the usual windowless room decorated with outdated credit union calendars. We may be visiting Daddy more often in the future!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oL3lDXw66eo/VAKOhiO5BsI/AAAAAAAAGBs/w1fjt1Wm3Vk/s1600/DSCN6687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oL3lDXw66eo/VAKOhiO5BsI/AAAAAAAAGBs/w1fjt1Wm3Vk/s400/DSCN6687.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hjdc49Ob5CY/VAKObupqrfI/AAAAAAAAGBk/__-edYLeFVs/s1600/DSCN6690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hjdc49Ob5CY/VAKObupqrfI/AAAAAAAAGBk/__-edYLeFVs/s400/DSCN6690.JPG" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12199373748547106950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-80141009422633002852014-08-26T23:03:00.000-05:002014-08-26T23:03:24.622-05:00And so it begins, or Le premier jour d'école<div style="text-align:justify">Both of the big boys started school last week and Kenny is back in "Mommy school" (although he is quite eager to go to "Tommy's school"). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gIdygxXfAEo/U_1XJFCQnvI/AAAAAAAAGBQ/j1QVr-wK20A/s1600/DSCN6729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gIdygxXfAEo/U_1XJFCQnvI/AAAAAAAAGBQ/j1QVr-wK20A/s400/DSCN6729.JPG" /></a></div></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-72335346055921708612014-08-13T15:42:00.000-05:002014-08-13T15:42:00.497-05:00Nic Birthday Blog-O-Rama<div style="text-align:justify">Better late than never...Happy Birthday Nic! We had fun celebrating our middle guy turning four. He got to choose a special breakfast (he went with a Dutch baby), and we took a rare trip to the movies to see the new addition to the Planes franchise. Presents and cake topped off the day's excitement. <br />
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Nic has grown so much in the last year. Not only is he TALL, but he has slimmed down so much in the face and looks so "boy" now - no more chubby toddler cheeks. He has been incredibly healthy so far this calender year, and it has been nice to go such a long stretch between hospital visits. Since he feels great, he was able to take swimming lessons this summer and is really looking forward to playing soccer in the fall. He will return to preschool when the school year starts up, and considering how much he flourished there last year we expect to seeing a great deal of growth socially and verbally this year. It has been such a joy to get to know him the more he is able to express himself, and I have been so blessed by his tender, comforting heart. When I'm sad there is nothing sweeter than hearing Nic whisper in my ear that he misses his Jjaja too.<br />
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Nic is a boy who is all about Cars (as in Lighting McQueen and friends), and it has been neat to watch his play expand to story telling, and I love watching him make-up games like "tractor tipping" (he pretends to be a sleeping tractor and then tips over when Tommy honks at him). The boy loves listening to music and is constantly trying to put something on. His favorite music is our VBS CD on endless repeat, second runner up is an annoying toddler songs disc; my only sanity saver is the occasional (too brief) Slugs and Bugs interruption. He also has a passion for sports, and loves to play tennis out front or get coached at Tommy's football camp in the backyard. We are so proud of our sweet guy and what a kind, compassionate, responsible boy he is growing up to be.</div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7224483267756035458.post-62620435830020615832014-08-12T22:46:00.000-05:002014-08-12T22:46:12.099-05:00T-Ball<div style="text-align:justify">So, with Summer nearly over, it seems we've got a bit of catch up to do. Between kickball games in the cul-de-sac, tennis in the driveway, and football clinics in the back yard, we've had quite the sports-filled Summer. Among the (nominally) more organized activities, Tommy and I got to play T-ball with the Green [Teenage Mutant Ninja] Turtles. Tommy had a great time - he's a natural ball player, and as usual an even more natural showman. I enjoyed getting to coach.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tyhLOOrPb8E/U-rawkecGwI/AAAAAAAAF-4/NPNqcT5mKms/s1600/DSCN6192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tyhLOOrPb8E/U-rawkecGwI/AAAAAAAAF-4/NPNqcT5mKms/s400/DSCN6192.JPG" /></a></div></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17136759300864471003noreply@blogger.com0