Joel- 8 Months...

Little Joel is 8 months.  He loves to sleep, eat and play with his siblings.  He is a fun little guy.  At 8 months, Joe finally learned to sit up with toppling over.  He is into people's faces and loves to squeak and use his voice.  He is a sweet little pumpkin.  

Snow crafts

Snow Memories...

In January, I enjoyed taking snow hikes with the kids.  We looked for tracks one day in the snow!

Jeremiah built a snow fort and when it was really frozen- the kids found a pond to ice skate on!

Lego boys

 Jeremiah was a part of a Lego Club this year at Co-op.  They made a model of a swimming pool and how water was brought to the pool and then made a display board and showed it off.  It was so cute to see!

Happy 100th Birthday Gigi!

February birthday month would not be complete without Gig's 100th birthday party!  

Michael's grandma- Thelma Lydia Renner (we named Lydia after her) just turned 100 this month.  A lot has changed in our world in those 100 years.  This dear little ladies is a bundle of energy, lives on her own in independent living, still paints beautiful cards and pictures (she is an artist), and teaches me so much about generosity and thankfulness!  She never complains.  I have the privilege to clean for her twice a month and she always encourages me when I am there.  I hope I am like her when I grow up.  Her life has been far from easy- mother of 4 children, with one child lost at a young age.  She raised these kids mainly on her own as her husband left her.  She worked full time and raised her kids and the Lord has grown her heart to love Him more.  She studies the Bible, attends prayer meeting, plays cards with ladies, writes encouraging notes, types emails on her computer and just is an amazing gal.  A friend and I were talking about "building our house,"  that right now we are building a house for ourselves that we will live in for the rest of our lives.  Gigi has built her house on the Rock of Christ and it stands and is a testimony in old age to those around her of faithfulness, love and generosity!  We love you Gigi!

Happy 7th Birthday Jeremiah!

 Jeremiah just turned 7 years old and is in first grade this year!  He is full of life and still full of lots of energy!  He loves to play outside and run and dig in the dirt.  He loves to be with friends and loves to talk and meet new people!  He looks at a playground and says, "I can't wait to meet new friends."  Jeremiah is getting good at helping around the house and shoveling snow for neighbors.  He loves to listen to a good audio book and loves to build with legos and play with anything.  The imagination is huge at this age.  We are thankful for this growing little boy.  

 On his birthday, we were supposed to have co-op but instead we had ice so they canceled most everything for the day.  Instead, we did school, took a snow ice hike with a penguin for penguin week.  And we enjoyed a hike with the cousins and some hot chocolate and cookies when we got back, even if we didn't have enough snow to sled.  So thankful for this little buddy!

Joel- 7 Months

 Little Joel at 7 months!  Some friends put his hair pretty easy into a mowhawk- poor boy.  

Joel is the only child so far to not jump in this jumper- he hasn't figured it out yet.  He just learned to sit up and loves to rock back and forth and loves sucking his two middle fingers.  He has figured out his voice and how to make funny noises and loves to grab for people's faces.