Cards

Traeger and I have been challenging each other to a card game called Speed.

Traeger loves the competition and holds his own.

Ataly colors or reads next to us playing cards.

Mole friend

After church we found this mole aimlessly running around in the parking lot.

The kids wanted to bring it home and make a special home for it.

Roof

Bright and early Saturday am the Stamos crew came over to help us install a new roof on part of the house. Just like any project there's always the unexpected hiccup. Our roof project proved no different. The part the guys are working on here was partially rotted out. In no time, they had new boards in and were on their way to installing the remainder of the shingles.

Teamwork at it's finest.

While the guys worked...Traeger and Ataly helped pick up shingles and nails, but mostly enjoyed climbing up this ladder to check on the guys to make sure all was well.

Ataly was fascinated by sawdust and spent a lot of time playing in it too.

Something sweet

The kids lovin' that I baked chocolate chip cookie bars and they got to lick the beaters.

I love that licking the beaters immediately takes me back to sweet memories I have of doing the very same thing when I was a kid. Thankful for the sweet reminders of God's goodness in my life.

Choosing to cherish

I love that my baby still likes to occasionally sleep on my chest even though she takes up over half my body. Before I know it this day too shall pass....I'm choosing to cherish it while it's here! When Luke gets home from work, he moves them to their beds.

Making applesauce

In Traeger's class they were working on the letter A. They made applesauce....what an appropriate activity to do in the fall while working on the letter a.

The kids were fascinated with cutting their own apples, watching the apples cook down and then throwing them in the food mill and watching the applesauce drip from the mill.

Traeger's turn to work the mill.

While Traeger was doing this part he said, "mom when I made applesauce with Nana we didn't have to do this part." I was shocked that he remembered making applesauce with Nana a couple years ago. I'm sure will make his Nana's heart happy too. I love how their minds work...they are like steel traps.

Traeger's friends at his table all working together to make their own applesauce.

Traeger and his buddy.

No sugar or anything else added...they all gobbled it down and asked for seconds.

Happy 56th birthday Grandpa Bruce

The night before Grandpa Bruce's birthday, I decided it worked out with our schedules and I wanted to surprise Dad on his birthday, so I planned to head south right away Sunday morning. We arrived just in time for lunch. My mom caught a glimpse of the kids before we made it to the door and started screaming in joy that we had made the trip. My dad calmly got up and greeted us and thanked us for the surprise. The house was filled with the buzz of the Packer game playing in the background, a fall like smell permeated the house from the delicious food mom was cookin' up and there was a joyful commotion of the cousins playing around the house. What a special blessing this birthday was to celebrate with Dad. After he fell 15 feet (from a barn onto concrete) this summer, it was a stark reminder that life is short and it could have been a different reality we were embracing this Sept. By God's grace, we got to celebrate Dad's life!

a man who loves the Lord more than anything else...

strong...steady...patient...good listener...fixer upper...wise...tender...are just a few qualities that we love about how God has made my Dad!

Happy birthday Grandpa Bruce...you're worth celebrating!

Peaceful moment

I love catching these two in peaceful moments of side by side play.

Ataly doing what she does best...dressing up and singing.

While Traeger plugged away at his school books...a favorite of his these days.

The turtle about to jump ship and move on to something else.

Interrupting to capture a shot has a way of breaking up the moment.

It was well worth it, though.

Supper date

We love meeting up with the Arndt family for supper dates at McDonalds. The kids enjoy being together with friends and the adults cherish the time to catch up with one another.

Playing catch

"Ready for my hardball?"

Here it comes.

He's got his eyes on the ball and glove in position...

but this time it smacked him in the face (yes, a hardball)

As far as we know there were no loose teeth.

Back at it with no fear, but with a tennis ball this time.

River play

The Briggs took Traeger with on their adventures down the river.

Luke, Ataly and I rode our bikes down to observe the amusing adventure.

Helpful hands

Traeger and Daddy exercising their muscles while serving R's family.

Here's the crew that came out and helped a student's (from the youth center) family move.

Ataly worked so hard...she crashed on my lap while the rest of us chowed down!

Playdate

A playdate with 11 kiddos, 6 and under was loads of fun!

1st day of Pre-K

After months of questions about when the first day of school was, I made a countdown to Traeger's first day of Pre-K.

All the boxes were marked off and the much anticipated day had arrived.

Traeger was ready to go.

I was thankful for the opportunity to help out in his classroom the first two days of school.

No tears the day of...I shed my tears a couple days before the first day of school. I was so excited for Traeger and I knew he was ready. Yet this mommy's heart was heavy with thoughts of "how does time go so quickly?" It certainly motivates me to keep treasuring and cherishing each and every moment because they go fast. One of the blessings I feel like my parents gave me was the confidence to spread my wings. I desire to provide the same to my kids. I now know (because I have the parent's perspective) they were sad sitting on the sidelines watching me fly away, but at the time I only felt their confidence, encouragement and joy in the new adventures I was about to encounter. They always said, "you were leaving the nest from the day you were born." It's so true, but as a mom now there's a desire to want to hold a little more tightly than what's helpful. I'm excited for Traeger to continue to spread his wings and fly off to different adventures that God has for him. These days that just means we're starting a chapter of them being away from us. My heart is thankful though that the adventures come moment by moment and for today he still gets to come home and be loved on, trained up and in all things pointed to Jesus so that he can confidently go back out do God's will for his life.

Saying goodbye to Daddy.

So sad...

Actually, in our heart of hearts, we are thrilled that Traeger gets the opportunity to venture off and start a new chapter of his life. God is good and we are confident God is going before him and with him. So thankful for that promise.

"There are two lasting gifts we can give our kids...one is roots, the other is wings."

Snowman

Ataly was excited to show me her creation she made with the shower toys....a snowman!

Piggy back ride

Labor Day weekend 2011

The kids waiting out on the curb for Nonnie and Grandpa Bruce to arrive yelling at the top of their lungs "Grandpa Bruce....Nonnie!"

Traeger all smiles when he got to wake up and snuggle between Grandpa and Nonnie.

Grandpa Bruce showing Traeger how to fix a leaky faucet.

I have a love/hate relationship with Ataly's love of life and living it at full throttle. She challenges me to live more freely, but at the same time keeps me on my knees. That girl loves living life at the limits. I guess it just forces my dependence and trust that God goes before her and with her no matter where she is. This mommy can only protect so much....right!

Yahoo...life is good!

******

Sunday after church we headed east to meet up with my sister's family at a hotel with a waterpark.

The kids zonked after a full day of fun adventures with their cousins.

The girls chowing down on pancakes before the waterpark fun began the next morning.

The boys refueling while watching a morning show.

Let the waterpark fun begin...

1..2..3...GO!

Taking a break to float down the lazy river.

Ready, set, go...

Traeger made it to the first log....

and all the way to the last without dropping in.

The log float was definitely a favorite this year.

Ataly braving the bigger slide....and LOVED it!

All that playing made for a sleepy Ataly and Grandpa.

I count it a blessing that we get to walk this journey alongside these special ones we get to call family. So many fun and precious memories made together this Labor Day weekend.

Thanks Nonnie and Grandpa for all your special love and generosity...

We love you like crazy!

Our love tanks are full and thankful for God's sweet blessings in our lives!