Fall~Family~2013

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family."

On our trip last summer-

An autumn view out our back door

Pelicans! One day we had these beautiful birds circling over above our place--I wish the picture could've done them justice!

Damien and his pup, Caleb, who has fit in to our farm and family nicely this past year-

Mommy and girls in our matching outfits

And we were matching well enough again that we had to take another picture...Mommy waited a long time to get two little girls to wear look-alikes with!:o)

Kaiti and Aliyah in their dresses from Pop and Grammie

Leaf raking time! The trees in our yard are finally big enough to make a bunch of leaves in the fall.

They raked them up and loaded them up...

...and hauled them to a pile where we used them for a marshmallow roast:o)

Jensy with his wheelbarrow from Tim & Joanna

Jensy

He looks like, "I did it!"

It was such a warm lovely day!

Throwing leaves which is fun...until little pieces get in your hair and down your neck!:o)

The middles and littles:o)

The girls holding kitties...Caleb says, "Me too!"

Aliyah and Nellie

A yummy supper of farm-raised, grass-fed steak, "Lydia potatoes", peas, and salad...but best of all, the people who sat around the table!:o) "Relationships create the fabric of our lives. They are the fibers that weave all things together."

That candle flame hit Aubrey at just the right place~ Probably couldn't have gotten it that 'on' if I'd have tried!:o)

"We are sisters!"

Jensy and his beloved little cat, Bowen

Taking our Christmas family picture before Chad leaves for OK~ From Psalm 33, "We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone." We bless the Lord for His great mercy and loving kindness to us...and for the wonderful gift of 'together'!

Just too cute to pass up!

I know this isn't a recent one, but it was too cute to pass up, just like the rest of them here!:o) And yes, she's in my big wooden salad bowl:o)

Awww...what a difference a couple years can make!!!

Aliyah and Abby

Aliyah and her little friend, "Z"---could they look any "cooler" or be any sweeter?!

Aliyah and her baby Bella

In the rock garden...

"Baby steps"

Aliyah and Trixie

Our little rosebud

Princess Aliyah and Baby Bella

And I couldn't resist this adorable one, even though she looked like such a sober princess:o) However she wasn't just a princess on these pictures, someone just reminded me that she was a "princess mommy"! I think I rather like that term!:o)

Solo....She has taken to the stage! Well actually this was taken after church, as you can see that someone left their dinner dishes behind, but she is a great singer for a two year old!

And who cares if it's a real microphone or not!

A duet with sister...they're good at it! Was it "I Am So Happy" or "I Am A Promise" or???

~with her curlys~

In her sailor dress from Pop and Grammie

Reflective...

Shmile, Baby! (That's what Nana would say:o)

Aliyah and Lucky; or beings she can't say her 'k' sound yet, "Lutty":o)

Blessings on you, Baby Girl!

For Chad...

I decided it was high time to do a "Chad post"...somehow I missed making a post just for him. So here goes, as you can see there were just so many good ones...where do you stop?! (That is if you're a proud Mom:o) And I guess I had some catch-up to do so...

Chad is a guy who "wears many hats"-- in more ways than one:o) Meet Chad, the farmer!

Peanut, our tiny farmer-to-be~

Goat farmer:o) That was back in the day...he's a cattle farmer now-

Chad Boy, The excavator! (At White Sands in N.M.)

Follower of Christ---(this was taken after his baptism)

The Baker...he used to make the best sour cream cookies!:o)

Helping friends in their bakery...happy memories!

The Designer...

The Builder...

As you can see, this one has stuck so far!:o) (In Haiti)

The Scholar...

The Graduate!

The Wonderful Big Brother!

"He ain't heavy, he's my brother!"

Even big brothers get tired!

Chad and Kaiti when they're both awake:o)

Brothers...

...are just the BEST!

With Baby Jensy

Napping out on the swing with a bigger Jensy

Didn't I say he wears many hats?!:o)

Not only many hats, but he changes his "hair" too!:o)

This time he's letting little bro wear the hat!:o)

Awww, isn't this one sweet! Who could ask for a nicer big brother?!

Chillin' with Baby Sister

Many hats...Literally!:o)

A lap full...yep, he's one awesome big brother!

The Actor:o)

With his partner in crime, Josh...someone had to be on the wrong side!:o)

I don't know exactly what "label" this would come under...but it might look very familiar to anyone who knows him well:o)

The Thinker...

The Hiker

The Master BBQ Chef...he can grill a 'mean steak'!

 

The Fisherman

Mostly large mouth bass taken from a nearby pond. The picture above was a spoonbill that they caught on the Osage River-

And I had to include one with his good buddy, John:o) Every-now-n-then they'll set a trotline in the river and pull in a huge one. Makes for a great fish fry!

And one of the best things, a Dearly Loved Son, to quote some of the words of blessing from Jacob to his sons...Chad, "you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of my strength, The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power." And, "May the God of your father help you; may the Almighty bless you with the blessings of the heavens above, and blessings of the watery depths below...May the blessings of your father surpass the blessings of the ancient mountains, reaching to the heights of the eternal hills." Amen!

We love you, Chad!

Grandson...also firstborn on both sides!

And I don't know what to label this except "Dress-up"...

...and "Fun":o)

...AND MORE FUN!!!:o)

The Camper

Happy campers? Or are they just tuckered out from a hard day of play?

The Climber

Who has progressed to this...Yes, this really is what they do for fun!:o)

Mom only looks at pictures like this after they happen!:o)

The Archer...

The Deer Hunter

The Turkey Hunter

The Antelope Hunter

The Musician

 

Starting out with Suzuki Violin

Singing with "Grandpa's Neighbors" at the Homeschool Music Fest

And he even plays beautiful piano!

The Traveler

Chad and his truck- on the Black Range in New Mexico

On the way down from the mountains in Haiti

The Best Man

At his good friend, Matt's wedding---and he truly is one of the best men around!:o)

One of my favorite pictures... I think of all the time he spends with others, whether it's his friends or family, and how much of himself that he shares with all of us...this is one thing that makes him such a nice guy to be around and one thing that makes him so special to all of us!

          Considerate  
Honest

   Admirable

      Determined

"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." Chad, you have become a wonderful young man, equipped with everything you need to fulfill your destiny as a man of God. Before the foundation of the earth, He planned for your life and the span of your days. We are beyond blessed that God has given you as a gift to our family, with the special place of firstborn. We bless you with the promises of God and with His everlasting love, wisdom, peace, and joy. You are His and have been set apart from the world for his holy purposes, as  leader among men and a glory to His name forever. May God continue to keep His hand of favor upon you and prosper you in all that you do; and may you love the Lord with all your heart and serve our Lord Jesus Christ all the days of your life. We are so proud of you, and love you so much...always!