A New Chapter

 Thanksgiving Sunday - it was a beautiful afternoon!  Enjoying the sunshine and each others company - capturing the moments!  Partners in crime - Love where the Lord is taking this young buck, excited to see him pursing God's call for his life! 

 Grace beautiful girl who loves all things pretty and has quite the social life  Izzy loves all things nature, has a beautiful rock collection and is incredibly smart! Maddy - the sweet princess who would love her hair curled everyday for school, would wear dresses EVERY day no matter what she's doing, and loves to look her very best! Such a sweetie!

 Such a beautiful autumn day spent with friends at the market Kombucha tea - a new favorite of mine! Cathy's Kombucha has been the best I've found so far! I notice a huge increase in my energy levels as I've been drinking it regularly. It's also a great antioxidant and detox. Many other health benefits as well, plus it tastes amazing!

This little guy...well not so little anymore turned 16 September 27th, so to the Licencing office we went!  Of course he passed with flying colors! So has begun a new stage in all our lives! So excited for him and his new-almost-found-freedom! Thankful for YOUNG DRIVERS CANADA!

Back to school - minus one who is at the stage where pictures are pretty much out of the question!! A favorite picture taken while waiting for the bus!

Labor Day weekend three of us made the trip down to Warrenton, Illinois to visit Daniel and see where he was attending school and to meet some of his friends! So worth the trip! CMI headquarters - so excited for what God has in store for this guy!  Me and my best friend! So thankful to be able to spend a bit of time with him - even if we didn't get too much one on one time - we were together!  The zoo - watching the Puffins!  Us - in a cave!?  The Graham Cave a few miles from our hotel. Notice the one standing on top the cave! Was a lovely state park, but a very humid day! The three that made the trip  My handsome brother  Us hibernating in a bubble pod elevator to the top of the Gateway Arch, St. Louis  The Gateway Arch and the Courthouse  The St. Louis Cardinal Stadium  At the top of the Gateway Arch \ The oldest church in St. Louis It was a very short trip as we both had work...

So this is all the pictures I have to show for now! Other than the 2 or 3 that I was able to get!  My ever growing family!  Some of my favorite people right here folks! We laugh together, we cry together, but most of all we stick together!

A Summer Day "Off" needs to be spent at the beach!  So much fun burying each other in the sand, playing ultimate Frisbee in the lake, getting burned, swimming for many miles, and making the moments count! Thankful for each and every one of these moments! 

How we have fun on rainy days!                                                     Nothing like a Jacuzzi filled with bubbles and kids! 

I was able to throw a small "shower" for this lovely couple. So blessed with the support of many people!  The welcoming table  A view of half the lawn - so many came out to show their love and support for Aaron and Hannah - so blessed we all are! A photo booth I quickly threw together - was a big hit!  A little side note here: this is a masterpiece for me - something I've been wanted to do for quite awhile, but anytime I have tried - had not given myself enough TIME! This right here folks (for those of you who don't know) is Croquembouche -  it's a french pastry which is made of cream puffs dipped in candied syrup and after it hardens it "cracks in your mouth" but the cream still is as delicious as ever! My great-uncle who has studied under different pastry chefs in France was there...so I was super nervous, but very excited when it turned out thus! Please excuse my enthusiasm! A fun and random game - the guys made bouquets and the...

Every year the weekend before Mother's Day I try and get a shot of each of us siblings to "change" mom's wall in her dining room - it's something I started about 5 years ago... it has become something she has really looks forward to! ( this is not my picture) Chris & Jenelle These two very special people have moved to Swaziland - a very small, landlocked country within Africa, and very close to South Africa. They had been there since October 2014, but were able to make it back for a little over a week during Aaron &   Hannah's Wedding! It was so nice to see them again, but it was such a busy time that we really didn't get much time together. They are loving married life and are happy to be serving God in this capacity! Can't wait to visit them over Christmas!   Aaron & Hannah These two got married July 18th, 2015 and as well been loving married life! Their dating relationship was a quick one, but voila - here they are...