Kiddie Pool Party

Today, June 17th, was the first day this year we could set up our kiddie pool because it has been so cloudy and rainy!  Two years ago we were able to set it up a whole month earlier--fun to remember back to when the kids Summer's age were so much smaller and now their little siblings are that size!  Anyway, I didn't get any pictures of them swimming today, but I did snap a cute one of them eating lunch.  I love that Colton is eating his PBJ and goldfish crackers with the "big kids" :-).  Looking forward to more sunny summer days!  I love this time of year!

Colton, Adry (turned around on chair), Faith, Summer, Noelle, and Addison.  Little brothers Brody and Rylan are eating with their mommies :)

Two Firsts

Well, today each kid had a "first"--Colton's was a "physical" first and Summer's was a "spiritual" first.

For Colton: While he has been walking more than he has been crawling, until today, once he fell, he would crawl over to something and pull himself up in order to walk again.  Today was the first time I saw him (twice) stand up on his own without pulling up on anything :)!  It was fun to watch!

For Summer: For the first time today she prayed (all on her own) without me even around and without it being a mealtime/bedtime prayer. 
The scenerio:  I told Summer to clean up her room (like she does every day after her quiet time).  She cried for 10 minutes because she didn't want to (she literally had like 10 things scattered in her room and could have cleaned up in a fraction of that time!).  Anyway, while I was making dinner she came downstairs (she couldn't come down til her room was clean) and told me:
 "Mommy, I didn't want to clean up my room, but I prayed to God to help me to be obedient and then I cleaned my room."
I almost melted it was so adorable and so, so, so rewarding to see her putting into practice what I have been trying to teach her!  When she is disobedient we often stop and pray for God to help her heart to be obedient, and often something along those lines is in my prayer for her when we pray together each morning after we read her Bible story, but I had never heard her do it completely on her own.  Definitely rewarding!  I was pretty pumped!!

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

To our silly and goofy, 

fun,

fix-it-all,

 jack of all trades,

creative playmate,

 creator of fun traditions,

 master of zillions of voices,

 Saturday morning breakfast chef,

songwriter and performer of made-up songs,

weather man who teaches the kids to like thunder,

best "leg-propelled-kiddie-airplane-ride" giver,

speedy jogger-stroller-pusher,

humble but strong in every way,

totally self-less and generous, 

always hardworking,

prayer warrior,

 godly example

 DADDY,

We love you so much!

Love, Colton (1 yr) and Summer (2.5 yrs)