Happy Father's Day

Before we were married, Mike joked that he would like to have 4 sets of twins. 
8 kids!  I thought he was crazy.

Nearly 14 years later, with 11 kids, 3 sets of "twins"*, I am so thankful he is the father of my children and my partner in our crazy good life :)

He leads us on adventures, is teaching himself Latin, grocery shops, works to hone his chess skills (to keep challenging the kids!), pitches whiffle ball and kicks the soccer ball in the yard, colors pictures, pre-reads the kids school books just to be able to discuss, wrestles, cuddles babies, serves "daddy dinners," dances with princesses, reads "Lord of the Rings" aloud, watches baseball and cheers with the kids, leads Bible study, carries kids on hikes, rocks babies in the middle of the night, buys flowers for his girls, plays us classical music, takes me out on weekly dates(!), cleans load after load of laundry, works to keep the house running, stops along the trail to admire bugs and plants, looks at stars, supports us all. 

He is quite amazing. 
Happy Father's Day!

This year for Father's Day, we were able to spend time with both of our fathers!  Happy Father's Day to the men who have played such an important part in our lives and are Grandpas to our crew :)


*Our "twins":  Burke and Davis are 9 months apart, Hiwot and Maegli are 6 months apart, Addy and Emory are 10 months apart. 

Kid's Camp

The past several weeks, we've been busy checking off items on our bucket list.  We asked our kids for a list of special things they wanted to do before we move to the other side of the state:  swimming beach, SkyZone, General baseball, ComeUnity Cafe, Abyssinia, Memphis Zoo, Nashville Zoo, North Park and Three Way playgrounds, farmers market, VBS, and Kid's Camp.  Amazingly, we've been able to check off everything!  

Kid's Camp was at the top of the list.  We were fortunate (praise God!) the timing of camp this year fit perfectly with our move schedule.  The kids look forward to getting away for 4 days and 3 nights with this church camp - and this year it provided wonderful time for long good-byes with close friends. 

This year seven of our kids participated (we had a very quiet house for a few days!) - bunk rooms, sugar cereal, sleeping bags, Bible study, dance PJ parties, skits and competitions, candy prizes, hiking and sports, water balloons and slip-n-slide, decorations and crafts, deep conversations and important lessons.  We so appreciate the love and teaching the leaders pour into our kids each year at this awesome camp.  This has been a highlight of their summer for many years. 

*Tesfaye and Hendrick were especially pleased the big boys cabin/room won the top prize this year - for the third time in the past five years.  Points are awarded for cleanliness, participation, team spirit, helpfulness, daily competitions, and room decorations.  Way to go big boys! 

We are all hoping and praying we will quickly find a new church family in our new town.  We look forward to building new relationships and having fellowship.  We also hope to find great youth programs!  We have certainly been fortunate with all the relationships and opportunities we've had with local churches these past 11 years.  We're going to miss them. 

Swimming Beach

We have been so spoiled having this beach in our neighborhood.

We load up with towels, buckets, shovels and swim belts, and venture 1-mile down the road for a sandy beach "vacation."  It's fantastic!  

I feel very strongly that lake swimming is perfect for kids.  There are no waves (as much as we LOVE ocean waves, the calm lake water is much better for beginning swimmers), and (unlike a pool) each child has the option to go in only as deep as they're comfortable.  Addy sits in just inches of water, staying cool and splashing, while her sibling take turns (10 minute shifts) sitting with her.  Dabney and Maclaren venture out to about 2 feet of water, filling buckets, running and jumping in, laying on their bellies kicking and "swimming."  Kolpin goes out a bit further, sporting goggles, karate chopping the water, and puttering around with a noodle.  Maegli, Hiwot, Burke, Davis, Tesfaye, and Hendrick all swim, diving down to the bottom, out to the floating dock, jump competitions, fish chasing and chicken fights.

The big kids have all learned to swim at the lake.  Starting on the shore, working their way deeper, going out with mom and dad, using the extra help of a swim belt, and eventually graduating to independent swimming.  They all love the water.

We have been spending as much time at our beach as possible before our move.  We really going to miss living on a lake.   

We'll have to find a great swimming beach in East Tennessee - it will be worth the drive :)

House

Before our entire house is packed for our move across the state, we wanted to capture the space in pictures.  This home has been the backdrop of so many precious events and memories - as well as the backdrop for the majority of our pictures these past 11 years. 
It's seen many transformations over the years, to make it work for our family.  It's worked beautifully.  I want to remember this house.  I want our children to have pictures of the space they've lived their first years. 

*Our house was featured in an architectural magazine after it was built in 1976!  This "project" house, built partially underground with a wall of windows at the back, was designed to be a self-heating/ self-cooling home - neither system in play at present.  While it did work, the design didn't factor in the humid Tennessee air.  We have been thankful for central air and heat :)
I'd love to get a copy of that magazine! 

The main living space of our home, our great room - school room/playroom/ craft room/ music room/ library/ living room/ dining room/sun room/ bike track:
(the oak pedestal table is a recent acquisition for our new home!)

Giggle

Beach

We're going to miss this beach!

2 months

Our sweet little girl is 2 months old!  A lot of changes have come to our family these past two months: newborn, new job, and soon to be new town and new house.  This beautiful babe has been such a blessing to us all at a time when our entire world is changing.   There is nothing better than snuggling with a newborn :)

We love our Emory Ann!

At 2 months old:

chubbing up nicely

11 lbs 3 oz

sleeps 4-6 hours at night

loud cry (!)

nurses 8x a day

baby acne

can't handle mama having caffeine 

(I've gone caffeine-free!)

has a blow out nearly every day

sweet snuggles

cooing 

long fingers and long toes

quickly falls asleep while being carried in the sling

loves to be held

starting to smile :)

prefers to be held upright

sleeps swaddled

likes to be moving

soothed by a paci, but gags on it initially

wears 3 month clothing

expressive eyebrows

is a marvel :)

 

It's crazy and exciting (and slightly overwhelming!) how much our lives have changed since this beautiful girl entered our world.  Our adjustment to a new normal will happen in an entirely different town!  

I am so thankful for sweet Emory.  She has been such a sweet distraction and joy, forcing us all to slow down, marvel, and reflect on the goodness of our God.
Children are a gift.
Emory is a gift :)