Babylicious

I have a house to pack, a million things to do, so we can move half way across the country in one week. But I can't stop thinking about these fat baby arms, that adorable noseAnd MY OH MY those delicious cheeks and chin!!!

Hold on, Rebecca Scott!!!! Aunt Sarah is coming to kiss you soon!!!!

stowaway

Yesterday I went to Walmart. I go once every 3 months, only when I really really have to. This time I needed some groceries, some onsies, and some orange ribbon. Only Walmart carries all three.

Well, the trip was as expected, what was unexpected was the unpacking when we returned home. The orange ribbon is no where to be found! The main thing i needed! ARG! What we did have in our bag, however (and don't ask me how they made it home, just remember this is chaotic crowded walmart with four kids unloading my cart!) was 2 cases of TRIX yogurt! The crazy colored "cotton candy" flavored should-not-really-be-called-yogurt yogurt. I pulled out one case and showed the kids.

Me: HOW did we get this?!?!

Sam and Ella Rose: I don't know.

Josiah (very proud of himself): I got those yogurts! I did it!

Big kids: THANKS, JOE!!!

Josiah: You're welcome. And I got two, so we can have the other ones tomorrow.

Si will have to stay in the cart from now on.

Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

I'm busy thinking about decorating the new house, with its 10 foot high white walls. Thinking of making a big blackboard for the dining room. And I think the kitchen needs one of these adorable aprons, so I'm trying to win one here :

Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

We have an address!

I've always thought the army was an exciting place to be! Our week has been no exception, as we literally RACED to secure our Fort Leavenworth housing. Here's how it all went down:

Months ago, we were told which four neighborhoods we "qualified" for, based on family size and student status. We ranked those neighborhoods by preference, and were assigned our second choice, Infantry Barracks. I have already mentioned that we were anxious about these beautiful old apartments and how our children and dog would adjust to no backyard. My discouragement turned to hope, however, when I discovered that some friends, the Snells, were there! If you know the Snells (either from Wheaton or Fort Riley) you know what a blessing it would be to live nearby! (Ok, I might not want to live under them, or any family with six kids, for that matter, but next door, YES!)

About the same time, we also realized that waiting until we arrive on the 10th to sign our lease was risky. Students were pouring into Leavenworth all summer and, although we had a neighborhood assignment, there was a big difference in the individual homes. For example, we could have a first floor apartment or a second floor one. A busy street or a quiet one. An outer apartment with a chance for a fenced yard or an inner one with only a shared courtyard. Jess buttered up the housing office staff and gathered as much information as he could about what would be available and then. . .

Meredith Snell to the rescue! She and her six kids, armed with our power of attorney, trucked over to the housing office bright and early Monday morning to find a place for us! We had in mind an apartment in her building, but that was not yet available, and, not being a gambler, I didn't want to wait for it and pass up something else. She toured a couple of places and picked out one that I think will be great!!! It is on the first floor, on the quiet street, across from the playground and a few buildings away from the Snells. It is in the middle, BUT it had a fenced in courtyard). The floor plan seems great for our family--lots of storage, she says!

We have always been comforted knowing that God, in his sovereignty, has determined where we should live--it has been so evident each time we move in that this is exactly where we should be. So we are ready and excited for the next adventure and thankful that we have an address!

PS I will email that address out soon.

PSS Please continue to pray that we find a renter for our Georgia house!!!

Hymn Sing Sunday

Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven
1. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
To His feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like me His praise should sing?
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him,
Praise the everlasting King.

2. Praise Him for His grace and favor
To our fathers in distress.
Praise Him still the same forever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him,
Glorious in His faithfulness.

3. Frail as summer’s flower we flourish
Blows the wind and it is gone
But while mortals rise and perish
God endures unchanging on
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him,
Praise the high eternal One

4. Fatherlike He tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame He Knows.
In His hands He gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him,
Widely as His mercy goes.

5. Angels help us to adore Him;
Ye behold Him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before Him,
Dwellers all in time and space.
Praise Him, praise Him,praise Him, praise Him,
Praise with us the God of grace.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to three amazing men--Papa, Grandpa, and Grandpa Louis! We love you!!!

Papa loves the babies

I couldn't find many pictures of Grandpa, but I bet he'd rather show you pictures of his grandkids enjoying his garden anyway.

it's an amazing garden.

I can't wait to live closer.

Speaking of farmers, here's another man who knows how to grow em'.

And while we're at it, I do have a husband who is an incredible father:

I should probably write an eloquent post for father's day. I'm very tired. But you can see for yourself. . .

So until they can write it themselves, I can guarantee you, my kids love their daddy!

Swimming

We've been trying to get in as much time at the pool as we can, as we assume the post pool in Kansas will be quite a bit more crowded and less convienent than our neighborhood pool. The kids are swimming like fish! Well, most of the kids. Adeline LOVE the water. She'll float for a while in her little star float, and then want to get out and swim with mom or dad, and finally enjoy playing on the steps (which includes diving under water and being caught by mama.)

Josiah, having had a scare in the pool at the beginning of last summer, thinks hes' being extremely brave by letting his feet float while sitting on the second step. Hey, he's making progress.

Sam insists on holding his nose, but in the last week, is FINALLY not fearful of the deep end and can swim around just fine.

And Ella Rose, well, Jess and I just can't believe it, although she has always been good in the water. It has taken just 3 times at the pool and she is swimming like a fish. She LOVES jumping in, turning flips underwater, and swimming around.

Coming soon!

My sister is going to have a baby. Very very soon. It's a girl! And I'm so excited. Thought I'd give you the sneak peek into a box I sent her today (since I will have to wait a PAINFUL 10 or 11 days after the baby is born before I can see her). I guess I shouldn't complain about things being PAINFUL when I'm talking about my sisters impending labor and delivery. Here is a onsie with the sweetest little chiuaua.

My sis has 2 real live chiwauwas and her 2 year old has the matching boy shirt, a hand-me-down from Si.

And these shirts are making me giddy! Rach came up with the idea of Big and Little animals. I have 2 more ideas sketched out. If I just had the time, these could be an etsy hit!

PS. Rach, I mailed the BIG but not the Little. I'm going to work on "girly-ing" it up a bit. Maybe some bum-ruffles.

Flag Day! (a day late)

I've mentioned before that I love BabyLegs and my favorite place to get them is Mom4Life.com. Well, I have another reason to love them!

See the cute flag BabyLegs on my very patriotic kids?

And notice how lots of ages, both boy and girl can wear them? (although we were slightly hot in the Georgia heat)

Notice how my oldest daughter is quite the performer? And how I can get cuter pictures of the kids when they are separated?

Sorry, I got a little sidetracked. Back to BabyLegs and Mom4Life. I won these flag ones by sending in a photo to support military moms. Watch their website in July for a special promotion and to see the completed slideshow. I love that Mom4Life wants to honor military moms!

Thanks, Sarah A

One of my best friends and I have a great set up--her girls are a year older than each of my girls so we trade boxes of clothes every season. This was way easier when we were neigbors, but Sarah is still great about getting a box in the mail. However, I have had her box sitting here for AGES--sorry, Sarah! Here are my girls in her girls' beautiful Strausburg dresses.

Ready for church

Adeline is 14 months old!

Oh, Adeline, Adeline Adeline. I'll be honest--I've put off writing this post today because you were a pill and I wanted to write happy things. But now you're in bed, at the end of your 14 month birthday, and you've stopped screaming, and I can peek in on your sweet face and remember that I love you.

I'm sure some of the EXTREME fussiness of the last 2 weeks is my fault--the last time you nursed was exactly one week ago. Plus there was diaper rash and some new teeth. But man, girl! You have shown your temper! Especially whiny around me, I just wish I had something that comforted you.

When you're not crying, however, you are toddling around the house like a tiny bug. It's so weird to see you walking! You nod when you want something and shake your head no when you don't, but don't say much else, besides "MAAAMMMMMMAAAA!"

I think you'll be ok. We'll just hang on for a little while longer. But I must inform you, that, when you're over this fussiness, I WILL be putting pigtails and bows in your hair again and you will like it because you are a good southern girl who will wear bows.

Looking forward to seeing your smile again,

Mom

What I'll miss. . . 2

Something I'm looking foward to: Walking across the street to go to chapel.

Something I'll miss: the sanctuary at our summer evening worship service--overlooking the marsh at Point Pleasant, our accapella hymns filling the building.

Hymn Sing Sunday

Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.

He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”

The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.

My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.

Charles Wesley, 1742

Sam's party

Two down, one to go! Sam really wanted to have a birthday party with all his school friends before we head to Kansas. So we had an early birthday swim party Friday. It was easy, once I convinced my best friend/Sam's kindergarten teacher extraordinaire/ caterer/ babysitter/ baker to make the cake (where am I going to find another one of those in Kansas?!?)

What a cake!!!! Sam was originally very specific. He wanted a cake shaped like "the speed racer thing that Count Dooku used to escape the Jedi knights in Star Wars Episode 2." After an hour of googling, I found out it "Count Dooku's solar sailer" and impossible to make into a cake. He agreed to R2D2 instead and wonderful Tricia came up with this!



Here is the baker-teacher with the party goers, mostly from Sam's kindergarten class:

We got our 3rd Light Saber :-)

Lunch was pb&j or ham and cheese sandwiches, chips, and capri suns. The chips and capri suns are contraband at our house, so this was definitely a party!

Ella will be swimming like a fish by the end of summer. Look at her jump!

It was an easy party, and most of all, Sam had fun and felt special.

What I'll miss. . .episode 1

Not because I am melancholy or negative. Really, mom, it's NOT because I'm melancholy or negative. Just because I want to record these fun things about our home here so we can remember them. And to even it out, I'll add what I'm excited about, too. If anyone can think of a witty name for a post like this, give it, cause my brain is sleepy.

Looking forward to. . . . hills and watching the weather

I'll miss. . . the beach with friends.