We're Alive

Since I haven't been blogging, I'll give you a little taste of what we've been up to. As you can guess, things have been pretty busy around here.

My sweet husband encouraged me to train for a 10K race with a friend (although I feel as though "train" is hardly the right word for a race that's 6 miles). I finished. Stephen and Charis were cheering me on at the finish line.





In the midst of Stephen's heavy, heavy work-load, he planned for us to take a 2-day trip to Williamsburg. There were a million other things he could be doing, but he chose to leave it all and get-a-way with me. What fun it was to steal away with my best friend and have 48 hours of uninterrupted alone-time. W&K, you're the best, by the way. Thanks for taking our girl.




Here's our we're-late-for-church-but-taking-a-pic-in-the-worst-possible-light Mother's Day picture.



Today Charis and I explored outside.



This girl really knows a plane when she hears one.





"Eww, yuck," she says about some dirts and rocks that she picked up with her fingers. Oh brother!




The predicament she got herself into is simple: the ball is in the grass, and that'd be fine if you didn't mind the grass underneath your feet.



She eventually warmed up to the idea.

A Few of Our Favorite Things

Recently Charis and I have enjoyed building forts to play under. . .

and reading library books under the big comfy gi-gi. . .

Here, she's making a fish face for the goldfish in Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Rainy Day

Stephen conveniently forgot his lunch today, so Charis and I ventured out into the rain to drop it off. Every time we pull up to the church, she exclaims with glee, "DADDY!" Charis got daddy time and chocolate out of this little venture, hence the ear-to-ear grin.

And you're not missing much hair action under the hood. While the back is growing into a voluminous bundle of hair (almost pony-tail length), the sides still show little sign of growth, which leaves our little girl with a mullet and a mo-hawk at the same time.

Our First Snow

I am happy to report that we finally had a real snow. I'm not talking about a dusting that causes Marylanders to go nuts about, clearing out all the bread, milk and toilet paper at Target. I'm talking 4-5 inches of snow. So we bundled up, grabbed the sleds and hit the hills.


Below Charis is doing the hand motions to the, "Poop," song (a.k.a. Pooh), as she so clearly pronounces, that goes something like, "When I up, down, touch the ground it puts me in the mood. Up, down, touch the ground in the mood for food. I am stout, round, and I have found speaking poundage wise, I improve my appetite when i exercise!" (and no, I don't have the lyrics memorized...yet...I googled them). What a smile that jingle brings to her face.


As Stephen and I rose in the morning to snow-covered everything, we reminisced about our cozy, white winters back home. For all of my Southern friends, I'm rejoicing with you in this dumping!

Busy Babies Briefly Sitting Still

Sweet-Heart Dinner

Yet again, the pc admin. team oo-ed and ah-ed us at the sweet-heart dinner. Multitudes of people served to pull-off this unforgettable evening. God's gift of romance was highlighted in a myriad of creative ways and there was beauty in the details. I am amazed at the care we are receiving here and God's love for me displayed through that care.

Baking Day (I know, boring title)

One morning it actually snowed here, so Charis and I shut ourselves inside and baked. I took a stab at a healthy home-made granola bar recipe (not so tasty). I also made granola (which Stephen loves) and bran muffins to freeze.





Charis likes to sit in her bar seat and watch me bake. She smiled, took her necklaces off, put her necklaces on, sang. What a bundle of joy!







Here's the beautiful, Anthropologie apron that Stephen gave me for Christmas. Now I have a skip in my step when I cook.