Progress report

Three years ago we planted these two maple trees (you can read more on that event in an earlier blog)!  Each fall I've been taking a pic with the kids to watch the growth!  They are certainly getting taller and taller as I had to stand WAY back this year to get the tops in the picture!  It's been fun to see the kids grow in the pictures too, Miss Greichaly is now Turner's age/size at the time the trees were planted and Carter is inching closer to the top of our fence:)  You'll also note we (yes, I did help!!) removed another tree from the left corner and planted a third maple tree!  Can you tell what else has been added in the past year?

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Grow trees grow!!
Steph

sCHooL dAyS

It's hard for me to believe the summer has come and gone away already!  I didn't have much time for blogging, so perhaps a summer wrap-up will appear soon.  For now, we are excited to have a FIRST GRADER and a brand new PRESCHOOLER in the house.  They couldn't be happier and it's a joy for me to see them learning and growing!

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."  Ecclesiastes 3:1

My three loves on Carter's 1st day of 1st grade!

First Grader

Settling in!

Miss Schmid

K-6 gather in the foyer for a special 1st day huddle!

Finally... Turner's first day of preschool!

Lil' Sis walking him in!

Diving right in on the art project!

All smiles!

Looking forward to the year ahead of new friends, the beginning homework, field trips, lunch duty at school for me, and everything God has in store for us!!

xo,

Steph

G = 18 months

Seriously, how did this sweet sleepy babe...

turn into this rambunctious 18 month old SO FAST?!!!!!

Miss Greichaly has added nothing but pure joy to this house over the past year and half.  Well, sure, we've had our moments, but one sweet smile and it's over... the joy is back!!

We love your fist pumps, your sweet little songs and those feisty curls.  We love the way you get excited when Dadda gets home or when Mamie comes over or when we facetime with Nana.  We love the way you wake up happy and how you are becoming such a social butterfly.  We love the way you jump right in when the boys are all wrestling and how you start dancing the minute you hear music play.   Most of all we love watching you become your own little person, a spunky little girl to be exact!

You are our little piece of sunshine!

Greichaly at 18 months:

Growing vocabulary:

• Bapple (for applesauce), Momma, Dadda, Mamie, Ner-ner (Turner), Pa-ba, boys, suit (swimsuit), side (outside), bye-bye, bagel, down, bow, hi, dog, dink (drink), my (mine), no, ya, bird, moo, baa, woof-woof, ear, nose, socks, shoes, more, peas (please), shirt, baby, bible, Ga (God), ball, book and I'm sure a few more, quite the little talker she is!

Favorite activities:

• Playing outside, bike rides, pushing babies in the stroller, climbing, running, singing, swimming, bathtime, reading books, coloring and getting into whatever her big brothers are playing with!  

Favorite foods:

• Applesauce, bagels, grapes, oranges, pineapple, graham crackers, oreos & ice cream! 

Can't imagine life without this little gal! 

Happy 18 months, Greichaly Mae, we love you to pieces!

"may they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength... "

Judges 5:31

This is our prayer for you sweet girl, that one day you would grow to love the LORD and SHINE for Him!!

**Photos by Ashley Nicole!

The ((Kindergarten)) Graduate - 2012

It's hard to believe the school year has come and gone already and we now have a 1st grader in the house!!!  We are so proud of this kid.... he came a LONG way over the course of his Kindergarten year!  It was so much fun to see him make new friends, learn to read, navigate his way in and out of the school on his own, perfect his handwriting, run his first race, compete in soccer with his fellow kindergartners, create a ton of amazing pieces of artwork, and so much more!  We have so much love and appreciation for Mrs. Coler (his teacher) and the entire Lincoln Christian family!  What a blessing for him to able to attend this incredible school.  

Below are some pictures from the cutest graduation ceremony ever!

Carter with his buddy, Graham

Carter & Mrs. Coler

Way to go, Carter!!

We love you!

May's Question of the Month

Question:  Where did Greichaly get her tendency to participate in mischievous behavior from?

Answer: Guess it *might* be her mom.

Steph at age 1

Greichaly at age 1

I couldn't help but laugh when I stumbled upon Miss Greichaly and her dumped cereal today.  My mind immediately recalled the above photo of myself in the same predicament.  In fact, I had recently considered "staging" this.... guess I just needed to be patient!  ((special thanks to Mom for scouring the archives for the picture this afternoon!))

Annual Line 'em Up Photo

About this time every year during a visit from the Engel kids, I coerce the children into lining up for a photo.  This year they outgrew the red wall we had been using, so we chose a new spot.

This is a significant week to post this as it marks as last as "friends in the neighborhood".  We have been so blessed to have these dear friends within walking distance for the past FIVE years, it's hard to imagine what life is going to be like without them on the other side of the park.  BUT, no fear the line-up pictures will go on.... as long as I'm alive anyway!!!  AND, more importantly the friendships we made and cherish (and so many wonderful memories) will go on forever!!!

" A friend loves at all times."  Prov. 17:17

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Nothing but love for the Engel family!
xo,
Steph

April's Question of the Month

Question:  Where did Greichaly get her curls?

Answer: Definitely from her daddy!

Todd at 15 months

Greichaly at 15 months