Free Night

Since school started, we have had one dilemma after another. Ryan had a small procedure, then Malia got hand, foot and mouth disease, then Andrew and Ryan were both hit with the stomach flu epidemic of 2011 (which also took out half of our youth group). This, in addition to the usual stresses of going back to school, has made for a not so pleasant month.

Tonight, however, God gave us a break. Everyone was healthy and, for once, we did not have anything on our overflowing calendar, so we decided to sit in the backyard, grill up some hamburgers, and play in the sprinklers.

Hopefully we will have a few more nights like tonight, before it gets to cold to enjoy outside.

Back to School!!

This morning was the first official day back to school.

Malia headed back to the infant room at Montessori.

Andrew started in the "big kid" class at Montessori, and Kai is starting 1st grade.

I love this last one... it shows so much of their character. Kai is lost in thought, Andrew is cheesing, and Malia is looking around seeing what she can get into.

My kiddos are wonderful!!

Weekend at the Lake

There was a rope swing, jet skis, a hammock, and nature.

There was a ton of delicious, feel good, food.

There were no computers or cell phones. There was a TV, but it played mostly cartoons.

The biggest disagreement was whether or not to give points to baby talk or banshi as languages in a game of Scattergories.

Laughter was heard throughout the house.

It was a perfect weekend spent with friends at a lake house, generously offered to us by another friend.

Thank you for a wonderful memory.

Family Heirlooms

I have been on a blogging hiatus the month, due to the fact that a youth pastor's family's life is extremely busy during the summer. One, or all of us, have been busy doing mission trips, retreats, VBS, or fun activities with the youth. It is times like these where your church family really does become an extension of your real family.

This past week we finally got some free time.... so what did we do, we busy ourselves with home improvements, of course.

These two items both belonged to late grandmothers: the mirror to Ryan's and the table to mine. They were both nice pieces, they just did not fit our personality.

It is amazing what a little spay paint and glaze can do.

Before:

After

Before:

After:

We have also painted two rooms, painted all the trim in the downstairs portion of our house, and are putting in wood laminate flooring. We will have those before and after pictures coming soon.

If you want more amazing before and after pics, go check out this blog. I give it credit for finally giving me the courage to tackle these projects. I am addicted to it!!

And a special thanks to all the youth that came over and helped with our various projects and childcare needs.... like I said earlier, we see you as family and I don't know where we would be without you!

6 months

I have kinda glossed over the fact that Malia is 6 months old... I don't know why. Maybe, it is because having three kids is incredibly time consuming. Maybe, it is because she is growing up too fast, and I don't want to admit my last baby is quickly become a toddler.

I don't know the reason, but we can not deny that she is growing fast!! Here are her month by month pictures to prove it.

1 month

She was so tiny (Malia was my smallest baby, only weighing 7 lbs 1 oz.)

2 months

3 months

She is an extremely happy, easy going baby. She smiles at everyone she meets.

4 months

5 months

And here she is sitting all by herself at 6 months!!!

Just a few Malia facts:

• She loves to eat anything and everything you give her.
• She absolutely adores a little blue stuffed owl.
• She loves to give open mouth sloppy kisses.
• She is a waterbaby, just like her brothers.

We love you Malia, happy belated 6 months!!

Rest and Relaxation

After Ryan returned home from his first (of many) summer church trips, Kai and I took a much needed break from the younger children and headed to the pool. We went to the Conroe Aquatic Center with some friends, and spent the day relaxing, splashing, and getting toasted by the sun.

The pool was really cool. It had two big slides for the big kids and a great play area for the little ones. Plus, there were so many life guards patrolling around the area that I did not feel bad at all for laying around in a lounge chair while soaking up some sun.

I did get in the pool to play a few time... and was able to capture this very rare footage of me being silly. Enjoy!!

Kai Van Gogh

Kai took an art class this past week. He went to class Monday through Thursday for 4 hour each day at Lonestar College in Tomball.

He learned about different artists, different mediums, and different styles of art.

He created many original masterpieces.

I think I might have to frame the shooting star!!!

My baby's got talent.