The biggest excitement in our house this weekend: no more crib! Amelia has graduated to a big girl bed. After falling/climbing out of the crib about a week ago, we figured it was about time. She has done great so far! Although, I fear I have kissed nap time goodbye for good.

Mommy and Amelia trying it out

It also is the new favorite place to play.

James and I were thinking about how small she looked in her crib when we first brought her home...

a Message

A message for Amelia's Great-Grandfather, Dad-dad. She, of course, becomes a little more shy when the camera is out. But just so you know, she always wants to wear these pjs and when I say they are dirty, she asks if mommy can wash them. They are getting too small but tonight when I asked what pjs she wanted to wear she said: "Sponge bob. Sponge Bob is happy, and I am happy too."

Pumpkin Patch

This week we took our annual trip to the orchard for hayrides, pumpkins and family fun. This was the first year Amelia seemed to understand what was happening which avoided outburst of tears a couple times. And she is still talking about it and how much fun she had.

Amelia and Daddy before the fun.

on our hayride checking out the apple trees

There was so many pumpkins! But Dad and Bug found a good one!

Amelia liked sitting on all the big pumpkins.

We also decided to go through the corn maze since Amelia's favorite past time is to walk. We made it out with minimal trouble. Amelia was a great decision maker on which way to turn.

We had a great family day and Amelia survived without a nap!

Happy Fall!

Campout

We had a wonderful weekend; one of my favorite weekends of the year. Every October, my family meets at a campgrounds in Illinois to hang out and catch up. We lovingly refer to it as Campout. We've been going to the same place for 28 years and even the smell of the place brings memories. We had lower numbers this year due to other commitments (38 in total, when usually we have 50+), but coffee was still drunk around the clock, fires were still going, stories were still told, and we all enjoyed a relaxing and wonderful weekend together.

Here's some pictures of Amelia:

Amelia talking with Uncle Charlie

Amelia with Eliana, the newest member of the family. This is my cousin's granddaughter... yes, that is correct, my cousin is a grandmother.

Amelia had fun all weekend with her cousins and is still talking about them all. This is Tara who she made play with her most of Saturday.

Much frisbee golf is played... people of all ages

Enjoying just walking around outside.

Each year we set aside time to talk about what God has been doing and have 2 or 3 people share from their lives. (James actually shared this year. If you would like to hear that ... I posted that HERE.) I am so thankful for the like-minded souls, both in crazy humor and, most importantly, in Christ Jesus. Thankful for the encouragement and challenges these people give me, thankful we share in a Christ-filled heritage, and thankful for the unique opportunity to apart of a family that is this big and this close.

Looking forward to next year!

Cookies

Amelia and I made some sugar cookies this weekend, one of Daddy's favorite. Amelia got to decorate for the first time too. She did a fabulous job of both decorating and making a mess. But it was fun to finally be able to do it with her. Looking forward to Christmas cookie decorating and many more times in the kitchen with my girl.

And of course, a taste test when we were done!

One more thing: This week was our first choir Sunday of the season. I enjoyed it very much. We sang this song ... Great I Am. Take a listen. I've been singing/thinking on this for a few weeks now. A reminder of the power and the majesty of our God.

Have a good week.

My Posts have been few and far between for the past couple months, I know. Maybe sometime I'll get back on track ... for now, here's a few things that's been going on here...

1. Things are back in full swing now that summer is officially over. Our fall small group is now meeting weekly studying the life of Joseph. We are enjoying that. I have also starting a side-by-side group with about 6 other women of all ages. It is unlike any other bible study I've ever been apart of; we meet once a month, each month focusing on one specific spiritual issue and well as one specific practical/household issue. It is a great way to learn from other women, get ideas on household management, parenting, and so on as well as accountability and prayer. Choir has also started back up and I am still loving that which is encouraging me to look at how I worship and WHO I worship.

2. Amelia. Well, as you can guess, she keeps us very busy. The kid doesn't ever hold still, except to read.

She is talking in full sentences and you can understand most of it. :) She stills likes to do everything by herself, and she is still crazy as ever. She ready to potty train... I'm sure of it. Mommy is not :) But we are going to try and tackle it here next month. Oh, and the crib will be out soon, too. She also was sick last week. My suspicion was Strep until she started coughing... Croup. Blah. Thankfully after a short trip to the doctors and some steroid pudding, Amelia is back to her charming self.

3. We are LOVING this fall weather. Now ready for more sunshine and less rain. Last week, Amelia and I went with some friends from playgroup to the Orchard to pick apples.

It was funny to watch her try and pull the apples off the tree and with only minimal help from Mommy, she got a full bag. The next day we made some applesauce and she is still talking about picking. Looking forward to more fall activities in the coming weeks.

4.Last week, Daddy took off 2 days from work and we had a great LONG weekend as a family. Thursday, we took a trip to the Zoo in the morning. Here's Daddy and Meals on the train. We have so enjoyed our Zoo pass this year.

We spend the rest of the weekend at the park, walking around the outdoor mall, playing outside, recovery from colds. On Friday, James and I decided to have a special date night in celebration of James passing his last test (yes, I know, that happened months ago). We had a early dinner at the Capital Grill downtown which was amazing and then headed to the IRT to see Dracula. It was great! Excellent play and a perfect night with my husband.

5. I've been trying some new recipes lately... always fun. The list includes Plum-Vanilla preserves, Pesto chicken stuffed shells, and THESE Double Coffee Brown Butter Blondies ... wow! If you are looking for a rich dessert... I would recommend them!

September

September always makes me think of my Grandma. I don't know if its because this month is the anniversary of her "graduation day" (the day she went to be with Jesus), or those clear, high 70 degree days that fill September ... there is something about those days that I can almost sense her presence. Regardless, year after year, September brings memories.

I also just started reading a book by Patti Davis (Reagan's daughter) called "A long Goodbye." A book of her thoughts and happenings during her father's death and his journey through Alzheimer's disease (the same thing that took my Grandma). Obviously, only spurring my thoughts of Grandma. Davis claims that even though the disease took away her father's memories, and, ultimately, his life, it didn't seem to change his soul. Something I recall of Grandma: the more she lost herself to Alzheimer's, the more the Christ-like "glow" could be seen in her love of her family, children, her servants heart, her peace...

Since I became a wife and mother, there are many times I wish... I so wish I could sit and share my heart, my prayers, my life with her to seek her wisdom and, I'm sure, perfect practical advice. And often I feel like I probably already know her responses and her encouragement but I am really longing for her presence. Being one of the younger grandchildren, my time with her was short, but her influence, her love was felt. And the more I'm drawn to my memories of her, the more I'm drawn to the Lord, her Lord and mine. Her life was a testimony of His grace and those times I wish to know what Grandma would say or think, I find Christ. Her example of a godly wife and mother, sister, friend, and daughter of God, pushes me to seek Him, to find myself in Him, and hopefully emulate the same light Grandma did.

Thankful for my heritage. Thankful for September.