Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Stockbridge
The main thing God has done for us in the last year is to provide our family with real, Christ-centered community with our peers. Honestly, we returned to Albany from Colorado two summers ago not sure how this would come to pass but certain that it must. We knew we could not continue on as isolated as we had been living. And almost a year ago, in November we were invited to dinner at a new friends' home, and another family was there. That was the beginning (for us, not them) of our "church" small group. We all attend the same local church. We all have kids - each family's oldest child is in the first grade this year. And we all want to follow Jesus in community with others. So here we are - four families, 16 kids in all! We paused this fall to remember God's goodness and to have some fun in Stockbridge, MA.
Here's our newest - Isaiah, just one month old.
Almost all of the kids. I don't know what it says about me that my baby is in the picture - the only little baby of our bunch to be placed on the lap of an older sibling, who is sitting on metal bleachers surrounded by lots of friends. But, Will is in! Just in case you wondering - that's 10 boys and 6 girls.
Stephen captured these pictures. They are amazing. I just chose some of them. . . . .
A neighbor told me today, "I think Samantha is at the peak of cute-ness." I agree - there is something coming together with her personality and appearance and the way she carries herself. It mostly says, "FUN!"
I have intended to, but not gotten to, post about Anna Kate's other front tooth, which fell out about a week or so ago. Both top front teeth - gone! Waiting on replacements.
Here's our newest - Isaiah, just one month old.
Almost all of the kids. I don't know what it says about me that my baby is in the picture - the only little baby of our bunch to be placed on the lap of an older sibling, who is sitting on metal bleachers surrounded by lots of friends. But, Will is in! Just in case you wondering - that's 10 boys and 6 girls.
Stephen captured these pictures. They are amazing. I just chose some of them. . . . .A neighbor told me today, "I think Samantha is at the peak of cute-ness." I agree - there is something coming together with her personality and appearance and the way she carries herself. It mostly says, "FUN!"
I have intended to, but not gotten to, post about Anna Kate's other front tooth, which fell out about a week or so ago. Both top front teeth - gone! Waiting on replacements.
Saturday, October 09, 2010
sisters
It was such a beautiful day on Thursday - after solid days of rain, all week long.
Despite my efforts, I couldn't get all three lovely sisters looking lovely at the same time. So, instead of keeping them to myself, I'm sharing anyways. Enjoy.
Despite my efforts, I couldn't get all three lovely sisters looking lovely at the same time. So, instead of keeping them to myself, I'm sharing anyways. Enjoy.
apple picking, again
Two things inspired us this week for art. One, Grandma Sheehan recently mailed us new fingerpaints. Two, Aunt Heather asked for a picture of the fall leaves (I think she might have meant a photograph, but Anna Kate immediately thought, "picture"). So, we set out to use our fingerprints to make leaves.
We are friendship partners again this year with two U Albany students who are here from China. They are both sophomores this year. We all went apple picking last weekend. What a beautiful day it was for apple picking! This is our third time picking this fall. I am enjoying the fresh apples and all the baking it inspires. Two of our new favorite apple desserts: caramel apple pudding cake and apple-blackberry cake. Gramma Maggy and Grampa Bill gave Samantha this wagon last year for her birthday, and it sure has been helpful in the orchards. Lucy is riding with our two 1/2 bushels of apples.
Anna Kate took this picture of Will and I. He loves this pose in the ergo.
We are friendship partners again this year with two U Albany students who are here from China. They are both sophomores this year. We all went apple picking last weekend. What a beautiful day it was for apple picking! This is our third time picking this fall. I am enjoying the fresh apples and all the baking it inspires. Two of our new favorite apple desserts: caramel apple pudding cake and apple-blackberry cake. Gramma Maggy and Grampa Bill gave Samantha this wagon last year for her birthday, and it sure has been helpful in the orchards. Lucy is riding with our two 1/2 bushels of apples.
Anna Kate took this picture of Will and I. He loves this pose in the ergo.
soccer
A couple of Saturdays ago, I asked Dave to take pictures during soccer. Apparently, that was a brainstorm because he got great pictures!
That's Anna Kate, #13.
Anna Kate with Ethan. We are in a church small group with Ethan's family, and it has been a huge blessing, quite literally.
That's Anna Kate, #13.
Anna Kate with Ethan. We are in a church small group with Ethan's family, and it has been a huge blessing, quite literally.
Fall Getaway 2010
Honestly, I didn't take a single photo while we were on Fall Getaway. I packed our camera. I even carried it with me sometimes. I brought the battery charger and extra batteries, both of which were plugged in charging (for when I needed them, presumably) in our room at the camp. Well, I didn't take a single picture, but I did "borrow" some from others.
The weather was great this year. And when your entire family of 6 is living in one room, literally, it's great to have good weather, so you can be outside.
Of course, one of my personal highlights for the weekend came in the form of our dear, good friends who work in Ithaca. Between us, we have 8 kids - and Anna Kate, at 6 and a half - is the oldest; 4 boys, 4 girls. One of the things that keeps us going in New York, a great gift for us, is working alongside, and more importantly sharing life with this family.
I think this is one of my favorite pictures because this is how Steph and I do life during a conference: Steph, pushing my stroller with one of my children and one of hers, because I'm carrying another one of my children. Hopefully, at the time, we knew where the remaining 5 children were . . .. I'm sure we did. (I only lost Samantha once the whole weekend, but that's a story for another time.) We just "share the load" because often these conference weekends mean Dads are working long and hard.
Abby, the daughter of one of the families on our local team, and Will enjoyed a swing together.
Amazingly, a highlight for Anna Kate for the weekend was other families' babies. Here she is with Ruby, the youngest Betts.
The weather was great this year. And when your entire family of 6 is living in one room, literally, it's great to have good weather, so you can be outside.
Of course, one of my personal highlights for the weekend came in the form of our dear, good friends who work in Ithaca. Between us, we have 8 kids - and Anna Kate, at 6 and a half - is the oldest; 4 boys, 4 girls. One of the things that keeps us going in New York, a great gift for us, is working alongside, and more importantly sharing life with this family.
I think this is one of my favorite pictures because this is how Steph and I do life during a conference: Steph, pushing my stroller with one of my children and one of hers, because I'm carrying another one of my children. Hopefully, at the time, we knew where the remaining 5 children were . . .. I'm sure we did. (I only lost Samantha once the whole weekend, but that's a story for another time.) We just "share the load" because often these conference weekends mean Dads are working long and hard.
Abby, the daughter of one of the families on our local team, and Will enjoyed a swing together.
Amazingly, a highlight for Anna Kate for the weekend was other families' babies. Here she is with Ruby, the youngest Betts.
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