Farmer's Market

My dad's new favorite thing is the farmer's market on Saturdays. He's always been a big fan of fresh fruit and veggies...so this place is perfect. While we were up, Sophie and I went with him for a fun time with Poppy! And, of course, I couldn't miss the opportunity for more pictures!

Family Pictures

The whole group L-R: Amy, Dave, my Mom, my Dad, Uncle Phil, Aunt Neva, Josh, Me, Sophie, Uncle Rick, Taylor, Eric, and Aunt Kathleen. If you're missing from this, send me a picture and I'm sure we can photo shop!



Josh and Me and Dave and Amy:



All of us with Dad and Mom:



Grandma and Sophie:



Poppy and Grandma and Sophie:

We are FAMILY...

Right after getting home from the retreat, we all left to go up to Portland for the next three days. Josh had seminary starting, but we also got some wonderful time with my family! Sophie loves Poppy and Grandma's house. Uncle Dave and Aunt Amy also came up. My Uncle Phil and Aunt Neva were here from Maryland. My Uncle Rick, Aunt Kathleen, Tay, and Eric came over and we all had a mini family reunion...everyone who wasn't there was missed very much. Micah and Heather are starting their teaching year in Germany and Joel and Lauren are still in Maryland with Blueberry. It was so much fun to have everyone together. Sophie, of course, soaked up all the attention she's grown accustomed to.

On our way...



Sophie helping Daddy study for seminary...



And getting her own story too...



She's getting so good at taking bites...



And modeling Poppy's video game headset (she was so pleased)...

Mommy's Time Away...

This past Tuesday and Wednesday, I went away to camp Tadmore with some friends of mine for the pastor's wives conference. It was a very enriching time of fellowship and teaching; I was very thankful to Josh and Diane(my mother-in-law) for watching Sophie so I could have time away with the Lord and dear friends. I did miss Josh and Sophie very much even though it was only one night away; it's probably a good thing!

Sophie loves her friends

My lil' gal is blessed with some special friends. My dear friend, Michelle, has Maddie and Grayson (who is only 2 weeks younger than Sophie). The three of them have such a great time playing, I just thought that you should all see who they are. Even at her age when I tell Sophie we're going to see Maddie and Gray...she gets a big smile and starts kicking her legs (which is "Sophie" for I'm super pumped!) Maddie is one of the only ones who can get Sophie to do her deep belly laugh...those who have heard it, know what I'm talking about. It's the deep laugh that sounds like a pretend doll because it's such a classic laughter sound. My favorite sound...my Sophie that happy, she just can't contain it!

Sometimes it will happen...

Now that we have internet, we also have cable. It has opened up many new opportunities that our previous 4 channels just did not allow us, like HGTV. I'm obsessed with this channel because it's all about remodel and decorating. Granted, I'm usually giving my opinion right along with the "professional" because, let's face it, sometimes they just don't know what they're talking about!

Josh said that I'm not allowed to watch anymore, because he thinks that much decorating is unhealthy. I just told him that when he's at work, sometimes it will happen!

Date with Daddy

Sophie got to go on a special disc golfing date with Daddy last night and she had a very fun time...she's getting quite good at eating, I mean, throwing the discs.

Here she is getting her stuff ready to go:



Here she is playing hard...working on the technique:



There's always fun to be had with our great daddy!

Thank You Fisher Price

So, my friend Michelle (based on her adorable family blog) won the opportunity to host a Fisher Price party. They sent her boxes of free and wonderful...did I mention free...toys that kids got to play with and then keep. All we had to do was hang out and then send in our opinions. And anyone who knows me, knows that I would have such a hard time with that! :-) Sophie is very excited about her toys.

Here is the party and the toys (Sophie wouldn't hold still long enough to be in any pictures...big surprise):

I love my family

Sophie is going on an adventure...

My darling girl may not know our words yet, but make no mistake, this girl is great at communication! This morning she was very insistent on having her backpack on...the backpack that is basically her same size. She got it for her birthday, so I've just been using it as her diaper bag. It was very full today and pretty heavy for a little girl, but she was determined. I think she had it on for around 10 minutes. Her adventures even led to explore the container cabinet, what luck!

Borrowing a quote

This was on a friend's blog, but I liked it so much because it's a good reminder when storms of anxiety may arise.

Hope...
Let nothing disturb you.
Nothing dismay you;
All things are passing:
God never changes.
Patient endurance attains all that it strives for;
Those who have God find they lack nothing.
God alone suffices.

St. Teresa of Avila

Our Monkey

Yesterday, I was really excited when Sophie climbed up onto her little child's chair and sat at the matching table to play blocks...until her confidence became too much...when we had her do it for Josh's mom later that day, she kept on climbing right onto the table. She then sat there smiling like she had just accomplished a great feat. Waving hi to everyone with a big smile she played momentarily with her blocks until we could take her off. We all had a good laugh when she was distracted with a different toy.

On the Farm...

A few weeks ago, Sophie and I went to see the animals at Lone Pine Farm with our friends Michelle and Maddie and Grayson! It was so much fun. I wasn't sure how Sophie would react, but she loved seeing the animals and even tried to feed them some grass!
Then to make it a true day out, we had to have ice cream!

IT'S TRULY COMING BACK!

So, yes...until this point I have, according to my blog, been pregnant with my now one year old daughter all year long! Ha Ha
In actuality, we have just not had internet connection at home. I did have Sophie and she is now a happy toddler. Life is going to change in blog world though...

COMING SEPTEMBER 4th, A WHOLE NEW KINTIGHFAM WILL APPEAR! We are getting our connection back and the bloggers rejoice. There will be stories, pictures, and a whole lot of happiness to go around.

STAY TUNED...

Where has time gone

This summer has seemed to fly right past us. So much has taken place in our lives this past month and a half and we are learning more every day about how faithful our heavenly Father is. I finished my nanny position and am very thankful that I'm about to become a mommy...I miss James and Hannah so much. I then took a trip to Maryland with my family for my cousin's wedding (I promise pictures are coming). Josh braved it alone for a week...then told me I couldn't do that to him again :-)

July has been filled with youth group trips and outings, providing solid ways for the students to grow closer to God and each other. I squeezed in two baby showers--Josh and I are feeling extremely blessed and spoiled with everyone's love gifts. Our baby is going to be so provided for.

As August begins, I am very excited that I can see the day where pregnancy will be completed. Sometimes I still wonder if that will ever be true! We have 13 more days if she makes it to the due date, but I wouldn't mind if our precious girl begins to practice being early to life events!

I'll be back with pictures of summer soon and we'll keep you updated for our daughter's arrival.

The sneaky one...

Hannah, the little girl I have nannied for the past year, is growing up so fast and learning the ways of the world so quickly. Even at almost 2, she knows that if she wants something, she will take it...even if I have already said no!

I was talking with her brother James, when Hannah runs in from the kitchen and lays down on her tummy rather fast. The guilty smile on her face only added to my amusement. I said, "Hannah, what do you have..." Then comes what I have laughed about several times since, "Nusing (pronounced "Nothing" with a "S" sound!)" I said, "Hannah, show me." She then opens up her sticky hands that are full of watermelon pieces that had previously been removed from her. Needless to say, I had to stop laughing before I could get her in trouble.

She can barely talk, but she already knows how to hide. How often are we that way with our heavenly Father?

It's gonna get crazy...

Well, it seems that summer has landed upon us! I feel like we were busy before and now we will be crazy busy. Everything has a time and a season under heaven, and I feel like we put everything in the summer season :-)

We will already be celebrating our first anniversary in 11 days. Yeah--God is such a faithful Father watching over us. I do laugh, however, at what an eventful year this has been. Teaching us both so much. I am excited, as we will be going away for a few days. Josh is surprising me! Yes, I did make sure it was a surprise (something is planned) as opposed to an adventure (we have not a clue as to what we will do)!

July is full of camps and camping trips and last youth group memories. A lot of chances, we will have, to spread the glory of Christ in our home town...speaking of which, please pray for our neighbors that we've been sharing with. Hopefully, they will come to VBS and maybe even church.

Only 9 weeks left until Baby joins our life. It doesn't seem like it can go fast enough but I know we'll get there and wonder how time flew. It will be so wonderful to welcome this new little one into our family. The doctor says she is healthy and strong and getting bigger...as am I :-)

We praise the Lord for His goodnesses in our life and pray that you do the same, in whatever lessons He has prepared for those who love Him.

Every Little Milestone

Well, our baby girl is finally getting big enough that when she moves or kicks, you actually can see my tummy move as well. It's pretty funny really. As I carry her for just a few more months (on the inside at least!), I am continually amazed at how God designed all of this to work. Nothing short of an amazing miracle that we are so blessed to be a part of. It brings a new meaning to the phrase "Our GOD is an awesome GOD"

Lately...

So, I've decided that I can't wear anything that I really care about anymore, because in my pregnant state I seem to spill anything and everything that I eat :-) The other day, it was salsa and today I'm soaking a shirt to remove ketchup! Good thing this doesn't last forever...I'd run out of unstained clothing!

Mexico '07

Just some pictures from our mission trip to Mexico...

Okay, so some time has passed...

It was embarrassing when I realized how long it had been since I updated our page! Not that you would know (from my page), but don't worry we made it home fine from Mexico! And now, it seems that summer is already fast approaching. That's the way it is when your job is working with students...you revolve around those academic breaks. We are just turning our calendars to May and I already feel as if June, July, and August are already mapped out as well.

Yesterday I was snuggling with my friend Jamie's brand-new baby Clara and getting very excited for my own. It's a little easier to imagine as I feel her moving almost constantly now and we're beginning to get the nursery set up. I love decorating in general, but there is something wonderful and uniquely special about preparing a room for a little person inside of you.

The upcoming excitement in our lives is that we have to begin taking the "birth classes" next week. Yes, it is a little early but with my clinic, you have to do them 2-3 months prior and our June was too full. SO...here we go. HA HA. Stay tuned for what I am sure will be an exciting time for all.