The rest of Sage's One Year Pics

So these are old. I mean like three months old. Whoops. Beautiful pictures taken by Carly. Check her out if you need someone..she does an AMAZING job.


So well here they are. I guess I need to get them posted before we take some family fall ones.

This is the face, Carly got after telling him "no" as he climbed to the top of the ladder. It took a moment but it came - full puckered lip. 

And the very best...I think it could make a comic strip. 

See if you can tell the story. 

We know the innocent one, uh? Oh sweet sweet Ells. You love to pick and pester. And then there's Shadd not sure if he wants to be included in this trouble. 

A day in the life. Not much more perfectly captured. 

Little Man

Sage is offically a little man. Got his first professional buzz. And he looks at least a year older. Amazing. Here is a before and after. 

The little dude is growing up.

I never really thought he looked just like D till he started sporting the new cut. His expressions are a carbon copy of D. Melts my heart.

Its thursday

oh boy. thursday again and no other blogging. well i guess if i remember this year it can at least be through my thankfuls. nothing at all wrong with that, uh?

um and yes there is officially my own gratitude notebook laying on my counter. now if only i can discipline myself to stop and write down the moments. time will tell.

so without further ado...this weeks...drum roll please. just kidding.

1. fall is coming - secretly love the season. always wanted a fall baby. maybe someday. maybe. (no babies on the way for this momma - although all my loving on my newest nephew and other little bugs doesn't help) but really who doesn't love rolled jeans, loafers, sweaters, no coats, football - i mean best season ever hands down
2. how my shaddy keeps begging for chili (its like already hot buddy)
3. how sage mimics his brother and sister - tonite he was reading in his crib alongside his brother - every so often checking over to make sure he was still on board.
4. how big sage is. i mean he is still teeny yet he acts like he is 5.
5. what a big protective brother shadd is. i'm one lucky momma. he will watch him carefully if i need to run into the house for something or take ellsyn to the potty. not many moms can leave there 5 year old in charge. but he is the greatest or at least i think so.
6. reading big books like heidi and polyanna with Ellsyn & Shadd.
7. quiet run in the country. yep we live close enough
8. crazy adventures hitting up the hwy 141 garage sales with my momma and the kids. lets just say we are lucky i only have three currently otherwise we are in need of a trailer or something.
9. new recipes - baked chicken fajitas. i got rated a 9 out of 10. too big chicken pieces was my fault
10.  my mother in law's cinnamon rolls - she did just win the state fair contest with her caramel rolls and got 3rd for frosted ones. they are the BEST!
11. apple support - finally after lots of searching figured out a problem in photo editing.
12. tuesday morning bible study
13. deep friendships
14. full summer nights - playing with neighbors, bike rides, ice cream, errands, playing at the park.
15. flexibility with d's job. love that he can come home early, go in late. be around. very very thankful!
16. 10 am pool available = life saver

Nothing too crazy for us this weekend yet I doubt much blogging will happen. D's running to work tomorrow. Funny. But a great way to squeeze in the 16 mile run he has to get in this week. Last weekend he ran to Panera Bread, his choice for me to grab some bagels. Always thinking that guy. In a few weeks he's got to get 20 miles in and might just run to Wtown as its about the perfect trip pre church don't you think. Why oh why did he sign up for that marathon. I guess we are only young once uh?

Oh yeah and hoping to catch the sweet corn festival parade, plus maybe snag a few ears of corn. Another one of Shaddy's favorites. He ate three ears yesterday for lunch. Not much else but how can you complain.

So what have we been doing?

Heres my wrap up through pictures.

a little mini golf

chilin out with dad

crusing around town

garage sales

the pool

treats 

playing inside

playing in our back yard

playing in our front drive

and a summer staple - SLEEP: wherever, whenever

I haven't had the big camera out much but able to snap a few to capture life at the our house in full summer swing. Oh I'm getting ready for fall. Yet that means my last to cherish with Shadd before he's off to school. I'm far from ready for that day! They just grow up way way too fast. 

Thankful Thursday, uhm Saturday

It has been quite the week. We have been busy. And we weren't supposed to be. Thats summer though, right?

So so much to be grateful for. My devotion today was on how often we question the evil of the world as if we are entitled to the good. But the good should demonstrate a creator. The verse was from Romans, a favorite of mine.

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

Romans 1:20

We stop and question His authority when tragedy strikes or natural disasters happen. Yet we never stop to wonder why beautiful wild flowers sprout up all over the earth, the miracle of childbirth, or how each creature was created uniquely. 

We take for granted the good. We fail to thank our Creator. Instead we lose joy as we don't experience true gratitude for all things. Its the simple, the small, the unnoticed that make a difference in turning me toward Him. 

1. songs that speak straight to my heart

2. patience in waiting on Him

3. tuggings at my heart

4. Sage's continued independence

5. Sage's increased vocabulary - Curious George rolled off his tongue the other day

6. the miracle of childbirth

7. beautiful skies

8. fall weather

9. great friends for my kiddos

10. the bond of sisterhood in Christ

11. busy weekends

12. fresh sweet corn and tomatoes

13. pool access and how much progress Shaddy made this year. He went under!!! Post to come. 

14. my increased patience

15. accident free days - Ells had some this past week

16. kiddos that transfer to their beds from napping in the car

17. a hubby who will do almost anything, almost.

18. an amazing sermon series - challenging me to live it!

19. where we are (location wise)

Be thankful. Be intentional. 

Camp Shadd

We celebrated the birthday boy last Friday night.

Everyone was invited (family) to camp out at our house. Although Shadd was bummed we had no takers and even the bigs didn't sleep outside due to tiredness and a momma who really just didn't feel like it. Even bigger bummer. I have promised we will camp out this summer though. So maybe we will go and camp out at Papa and Frama's or something.

I was begged all week. "Mom. Where are my decorations." I guess I kinda went overboard last year with the angry birds theme. Setting the bar too high. So I got my act in gear and cranked out some decorations. Although I failed to get a picture of my directional left over barn board sign which was by far my favorite part.

Then we just enjoyed our family. Playing outside in the pool and sprinker. Water guns, balloons, swings, etc.

Everyone minus E, Cousin S and new cousin Q

Loving the new swing set

 We opened presents. By far Shadd's favorite part I think.

love this expression. enjoying each card???

Sporting his new hat from Uncle J

Asking his great grandmas to read their cards

We also did a little fishing. Off the deck of course. It took a lot of enticing as Shaddy really wanted another homemade pinata but it just didn't fit the theme. I think he finally got over it. 

Shadd's prize

We ate a ton. 

Burgers,  dogs, fruit and of course a perfect cake (thanks to Aunt K) and daddy's yummy homemade ice cream.

We even did s'mores. We were all stuffed but there is nothing like a camp out with out s'mores, right.

Celebrating 5 was fun. We love hosting birthday parties and we are ever thankful that our entire family - both sides lives close enough to attend. Love that!