Daniel's Soup

We went out for Pho with Dad and Mom a few weeks ago, and discovered that a dipping sauce bowl is just the perfect size for Daniel!  He was so pleased with it ...

Mm-hmm, thanks ...

(How are people doing this?)

Like this, see?  Now you try ...

Uh-huh, sure Daddy, this feels easier. 

But this is even better!

Wow, thanks, that was great, can I have some more?!

A Muddy Picnic

One gorgeous sunny day about three weeks ago I decided that a picnic would definitely qualify for school for the day!  So we went to Surrey Lake Park, walked just until the first bench, hung around there for a couple hours.

Daniel fell asleep on the way there ... aren't sleeping babies great?! :)

exploring their surroundings

getting so grown up ...

retrieving carrot sticks

nothing wrong with good clean dirt, right?

swampy mud is so yummy!

Nathan spent most of the time constructing a bridge over the really muddy part to get to the water

He did a good job!

(I took his pants off before I put him back in the van!)

Thanksgiving Lists

I helped the kids with "What I'm thankful for" lists this Thanksgiving, and this is what they said:

Nathan:
"I'm thankful for ...
that we have a nice house to live in
that we can live with Uncle Steve and Aunt Susan
that Uncle Steve just finished getting the hot tub ready
and that we can go in it
that the Lord Jesus died on the cross for us
that we have cozy beds to sleep in"






Kate:
"I'm thankful for...
God
Jesus
the hot tub
clothes
beds
Babcia
Grandpa
that we can have sleepovers
Daddy
leaves
paper so you can color
sharpeners"








Anna:
"I'm thankful for...
Babcia
Grandpa
the Lord Jesus
toys
pumpkins
pencils
pencil sharpener
leaves
ground
Kate
Nathan
Mommy
Daddy
Daniel
Abigail
Bethany
Melissa
Aunt Susan
Uncle Steve
Great Grampa
Uncle Seth
Aunt Erin
paper
swing set
a wall
door
window
couch
my hand
fruit
clocks
beds
butterflies
bowls
plates
spoons
forks
table
cups
store
signs
counters"

First Steps

Daniel took his first steps at the meeting room on August 4 -- just stood up in the middle of the room and took four steps!  I was right there watching him, and Jeff was also near; he turned around in time to see him get up and do it again :-)

(He had taken steps before, but the most I'd seen was two steps a few days before, little sideways steps)

After we got home that evening I tried to catch it on video ... and succeeded, amazingly enough!  Here he is showing off a twig.

Joy in the presence of the angels ...

July 26, 2013
Kate started it.

"I don't think I'm going to Heaven, Mommy."
"Why's that?"
"Because I keep on being bad all the time."
Now, I'm quite sure she was saved last May, but what a great conversation opener!  We talked about the finished work of Christ; how you can get to Heaven; how you can't get lost again; why we should try to be good anyway; etc.
Then Anna, eavesdropping from across the room, jumped in.  "I know how to get to Heaven."
"How's that?"
"By praying to have all your sins washed away."
"Have you ever done that?"
"Umm, no?"
"Would you like to right now?"
"Sure."
"Okay, go ahead."
Bowed head.  Silence.
"What am I supposed to say?"
So she repeated after me as I led her in a simple sinner's prayer.
No thrilling excitement afterward, she hasn't even mentioned it since, but there is joy in my heart, and now yours, and even more up in the presence of the angels of God!

showing off a leaf she found at Brooks Camp

Daniel 12 month Photo Shoot

These pictures were taken on his actual birthday ...

... this was the photo shoot a couple days later.

Where did it go?

Oh yeah, I got it.

Um, yeah, did you want to see it too?

Just a rock, Mommy, very nutritious!

He had been able to independently stand up for about three weeks, but these are the first photos I'd gotten of it