Random October

This is Micah and his friend Jackson -- being boys. Note the matching shoes and matching Plasma cars. :)



Yes, Malachi wants to be like his daddy -- but more than that, Malachi needs to work. He mows the lawn. He vacuumes the house. He pretends to use the blender. He hamers with his toy hammer. He helps me run the dishwasher, the washing machine, and even puts away the extention cord. :) I'm banking on this coming in handy when he can REALLY put himself to use!



Micah, practicing his cutting.



This is Micah's drawing of the first snow... it's a view of the trampoline covered with snow, looking down from our living room window.




Malachi Nicholas turns two on October 18th. This is a "finding nemo" cake, our neighbor made for Malachi.





Daddy time. The boys LOVE when Daddy comes home to wrestle, read, chase, and really, do anything together. John looks forward to this too. :)

Oh my.... Belly!

Yes I am only seven months along. I have pictures of me the day of delivery for Micah with a smaller bump. :P

Our baby (BOY) is due December 17th. Boys, boys, boys...

Uncle Thomas sets the bar high

Van full, we headed to South Dakota to watch Uncle Thomas play his first offical (but non-confrence) game against Georgia Southern this weekend. He came in 4th quarter and did well! He even threw a touch-down pass!!

It was really fun for the boys to experience the excitement of the game... and we look forward to many more years of these games ahead.

I feel so blessed to have Uncle Thomas be a role model to my little boys -- not just excelling in sports but as a person too. Most boys look up to sports heros that they never get to know. What a treat to make these memories as young boys, not only watching the game, but throwing the ball and cuddling with their uncle after the game as well.

Micah's first day at Kingdom Kids Preschool

Someone is excited!!!

More family is always a good thing

Welcome to the family, Baby Moses!

We got to visit my brother-in-law's new baby boy last Friday. He was born in style -- on Labor Day. It was fun to see the perfect newborn, but the boys had the most fun playing with cousin Alana.

Malachi kept coming over to me with a big smile and giving me happy hugs. He's never done this before. There is nothing that my boys like better than being with family. Of course, Grandma was there, which added to the excitement... and uncle Mat and aunt Kristie.

As a kid, nothing ever compared to the holidays with my family. The house would buzz as we played games, shared stories, enhaled some hot food, and enjoyed just being together. No dance, vacation, sleep-over, toy, or school day ever ever compared to this. I want for this for my children. I long for it still as an adult.

There is something about brothers and sisters - aunts and uncles - cousins and grandparents -- coming together, to just be. together.

This is close to heaven for me. Something so deep and rich that just showing up at the same place unleashes a gut-joy. I realized how raw and undeniable this is as my two-year-old "thanked" me with his third and fourth hug for bringing him to this piece of heaven.

I hope that we get to spend more days together like Friday. Celebrating life -- celebrating eachother. Because it isn't living when we are without eachother.

cool kids

This is Malachi gearing up for one of his ULTIMATE high-fives. He turns his body to the side, stares at his target with an intimidating glare, purses his lips, gives out a grand grunt and gives it his all! It always sends me to the floor, rolling in belly laughter. This is his celebration for taking daddy down... see future pics...



I got a picture and autograph (drool and a sticker) with the cool duo.



This is what boy time looks like at our house. The play structure in the blue, we call "daddy." It's really fun now when the boys can gang up on dad. This is their victory pose.




posers.



and the best part is when they go after each other. I LOVE the whole brother thing! So glad God gave me a chance to partake in this special sort of bond.



But really, they are big-ol' softies when it comes down to it... there are definately two sides to the boy-coin. Could I BE more blessed?!

Some random July...

Water fun in street clothes -- a new bunk bed (malachi is in a BIG boy bed!!) -- a visit to wisconsin to see their great grandma -- walking the dog -- golf on the lawn with dad -- summer fun as a kid... is there anything better?