TWO!!!

WHEELS!!!!

Kyndall's birthday post is coming soon . . . but this exciting event happened Saturday and I had to get the pics up. So excited for our big guy and his new skills and getting over the big crashes he had before! YAY!

I laughed because they wanted ALL their pads on . . . good thing! Only a couple spills though . . . and then, of course, I had him freeze so I could snap a pic. No blood, don't worry!! :)


Anderson had fun trying to keep up with the super-fast-pedaling-Connor!! My bet is that his training wheels will be off REALLY soon. That is how things work around here!!!


Kyndall pushed her trike around. She wanted to keep up with the action!


Anderson had a couple good crashes. And then Kyndall would copy him. Nice.

After all that pedaling, a celebration was in order . . . so we headed down the road to IN N OUT! Yummm!!

On a jet plane . . . for two weeks?!?!

We got word from Jon that he is safe and sound at Hope Academy in Calcutta (Kolkata), India!!! I told the kids that Daddy was in India, and Kyndall quickly said, "No!! Daddy on airplane!" Oh my. I guess she thinks that he will spend the entire trip on one since we talked so much about him getting on it at the airport. Too sweet!

We can't wait to hear about the adventures the team is having. Exciting for sure!

We love Daddy!!!

Jon left this morning and is headed to Calcutta (Kolkata), India for two weeks. He is going to be at Hope Academy with a team from our church (8 high schoolers and 5 adults). They are going to do a Bible camp for the kids and do other projects there as well.


The kiddos and I went to the airport to say good-bye. They are sure going to miss their daddy while he is away. Thankfully, they are excited for him to meet Akash and hear all about his life in India. I am excited to see what God is going to do in and through the team! I just know that
He has great plans!

Praying for safety and abundant blessings . . . and maybe just a little extra sanity for me!

Our EXTENDED Family!

This summer, our family decided to sponsor a child in India at Hope Academy through NEED, Inc. Our church is involved with this school which is located in one of the poorest areas of India.

When we first made our request, we looked at the available students and found one to "fit" us. We really wanted a boy for Connor and Anderson . . . and one close to their age. So we chose one on the list. Later we found out that he had already been sponsored and were asked if we could be assigned another kid. When the information arrived for our child, we found out that his birthday is just 12 days before Connor's! How perfect!!!

So, since July, we have talked about and prayed for this sweet kid. But recently, a team from our church went to the school and we now have REAL (not just the token mugshot) pictures and sweet stories about him. Our dear friends who went on the trip say that little Akash would just FIT PERFECTLY with our family. Isn't that so cool?!?! They actually said that he reminds them a lot of Connor. We are thrilled to have this glimpse so that it makes our sponsorship even more meaningful!!!


Akash is the boy in black that is looking toward the camera.


Here he is getting his Christmas present with a member of our church's team. Doesn't he look great in his new uniform?!?!

It really is amazing what can be done for these kids with a small donation each month.

More of Anderson's Birthday!

Jon and I LOVE planning games for our kids' parties . . . and thankfully our kids love to play them since it would break our hearts to make them play them unwillingly. Ha! Here Anderson and Tyler are attacking the villains with a squirt gun.

Our birthday boy with another amazing "Aunt Jen Masterpiece".


The big brothers . . . Connor and Jared . . . so fun to have cousins so close in age!

We are so thankful for our little Andy David . . . an incredible brother, a fun son, and an amazing kid.

While we were sleeping . . .

What happened last night?

A. Connor got bored last night, found a Sharpie and wrote on his siblings.
B. Anderson got bored last night, found a Sharpie and wrote on Kyndall and himself.
C. Kyndall got bored last night, found a Sharpie and wrote on herself and Anderson.
D. Dad got bored last night, found a Sharpie and wrote on Kyndall and Anderson.

Hint: When in doubt, always pick C.

OH MY!!!



Doesn't the poor baby look tired after such an eventful night?!?!



Andy was almost in tears when he saw himself.

Kyndall had a yucky nose and cough last night. Jon brought her downstairs to sleep on the floor with him. Anderson got up too . . . and fell asleep next to Kyndall. With everyone snug, Jon fell asleep. But . . . Kyndall must have had a burst of energy! She found my basket with Connor's sight word book and my Sharpie for writing the cards in the dark and started getting creative. I am actually thankful that only people (and one pair of pajamas) were marked on. Oh my! My mind went crazy thinking about the walls, floor, sofa . . . AHHHH! Jon woke up when she started marking on him at about 2:30am. So funny! He had black little scribbles on his chin when he told me this story. Andy didn't wake up till the morning. What a surprise in the mirror he had!

Connor was bummed that he missed out on the events of the night. Go figure!

My heart is blowing BUBBLES!!!!!!!

Here is a picture of Connor and Jon when Connor was 5 months old.



Here is a picture of them last night . . . almost EXACTLY five years later!!!!!



These are super simple books, but he is really really reading them! I think the most wonderful thing for me is that he LOVES it! We have a bunch of sight words we practice at home and he found them in the books and was so proud. Some of his sounding out is funny . . . like becomes lick, happy turned into hoopy, and others kept us smiling too. We are loving this new stage!