In Loving Memory

As most of you know, we lost Mike's mom on the 3rd of December.  The last few weeks have been difficult in so many ways, but we have also enjoyed great times remembering Roz.  Today, December 21st, would have been Roz's 65th birthday.  We are going through all of the emotions of sudden loss, feeling angry that she was taken in such a seemingly unjust way, but feeling comfort in God's sovereignty.  We know her joy is complete now, and for that we rejoice.  We are thankful for our wonderful memories.  Our greatest sadness is that our kids will not have a chance to know her better, and feel the depth of the love she had for them.

We are so thankful that Roz was able to spend 10 days with us last February.  We had such an amazing time together!!  Her are some pictures from our visit.  We love you Roz!  Happy Birthday!

A glimpse at November

Madison's Thanksgiving program. 

Brennan's School programMacy swinging at Pine Cove.

November seemed to fly by.  We had a great month.  We were at our regional conference near Tyler,Tx for a few days and it was really great.  Mike and I both felt very encouraged, and the kids had the time of their lives.  They just loved it! They were all so exhausted each of them fell asleep at the dinner table at one time or another!

Both the big kids did really cute programs at school. Brennan sang one song, and then spent the rest of the show hugging his classmates.  Madison was gone for the few days before her program (b/c of Pine Cove), so she tried on a few of the songs, but the rest she just giggled through.

On Thanksgiving, Macy and I joined Mike's Aunt Susie, cousin Virginia, brother Charlie and one of their friends for the 'Turkey Trot'.  It is a 5 mile run/walk in the heart of Austin. It was really a great way to start the day- with about 13,000 other Austinites!

FUN!

Mike has been taking the kids in the hot tub in the evenings, and they have been SO happy!  Macy and I keep hoping to join them...but it always seems to happen at a time when Macy needs something inside.  I love hearing them laugh and play.  One night Madison came in (for a bathroom break) and was so excited....she was telling me all about how they were star gazing and how daddy had found a planet.  Sweet moments.

My CRAZY Husband

Check out Mike's latest post http://mikekrieg.blogspot.com/ to seee what he has been up to lately.

Halloween and more...

We had such a fun Halloween here in Austin. Really, everyday is Halloween as Brennan almost always chooses a superhero costume over regular clothes. And why not! I wish I could do that!

We had a fun party with International students and then we headed out for trick or treating and then home to hand out candy. Last year it was all so new to the kids, but this year they didn't miss a beat. They were trick or treat pros :). I was suprised, but happy, at the end of the night to hear Madison say that she like handing out candy from our house better than going out and getting candy.

So, what did we do with the mountains of junk that made it's way into our house...well first off, after the kids went to bed a lot of the candy made it's way into the birthday pinata (I know, isn't that mean...don't tell them), and then the kids made an offering to the 'Sugar Fairy' the next night. (don't worry, they still had plenty). So, they gathered candy, put it by the fireplace and the next morning, it was gone and the sugar fairy had left a little toy in it's place. Good deal don't you think! Well, Madison thought it was such a great deal that she gathered up a second pile of candy the next night for another 'exchange'. On night three, she was disappointed that she didn't have any more candy to give. Oh, and by the way, along with her candy offering she left a great note telling the sugar fairy that this was all stuff that she really, really liked...not the gross stuff...in hopes that she would get an even better toy. I LOVE kids.

Speaking of loving kids, here are a couple of fun things they have had to say:
Brennan: I was trying to explain to him what a gift card is (not easy). As I went through my explaination of how you have to put money on it and then you can buy things, he listened intently. Very much wanting to use the card that he had just gotten (just an empty one from a lady at the checkout counter at Target) , he says, "So, you have to put money on it? (thinks some more). Like, you mean, we can just tape money all over it?" HA! I love it!

Madison: Yesterday on PBS, there was a Sesame Street commercial that had Michelle Obama talking with one of the puppets. I looked at Madison and asked, "Maddie, do you know who that is?" She said, "No." I said, " That is Michelle Obama. She is the first lady." To which Madison replied, "No she is not, Eve was." :) So sweet...and true ;).

Brennan's 4th Birthday

Our sweet little guy turned 4 on Thursday!  I can't  believe it!  He was so excited about school on his birthday because not only were they celebrating his birthday, they also got to wear their Halloween costumes and have a party!  Unfortunately, about an hour and a half into school I got a call from his director saying he had a high fever and I needed to come and get him.  I was so sad.  He was laying on some pillows in the office, sound asleep with a 104 degree fever.  The rest of the day was spent sleeping and cuddling (which I didn't mind at all), but by the end of the day it didn't really feel like a birthday since he was feeling so poorly.  He did perk up enough to open a couple of presents and eat a cupcake :).    Then, on Sunday we had some friends over and celebrated him!!  It is hard for me to believe that he is 4.  There are days when he seems so grown up and then there are days when he is just my baby.  He is growing into a very fun loving, tender, and kind little guy.  He is endlessly optamistic - you can always catch him saying, "but it will be ok though!".  He cherishes his friendship with Madison, and has a very hard time when she is away at school.  He tends to overwhelm her when she gets home because he just wants to be near her.  He enjoys the 'power' her has over Macy...a little push or a shove when he walks by...but it is clear to see how he adores her.  He is reduced to tears if he feels he or someone else has hurt her.    He is obsessed with his daddy...and dominates Mike's time when he is home.  He is a different super hero each day and wants to be wrestled, tackled, chased and tickled all day long.  He is blessed with an endless imagination ( just like his dad :)).  He is generous with his hugs and kisses and would never let a tear drop from my face without running to get me a kleenex and gently rubbing my back and telling me that it is all going to be ok.  He is 100% boy and 100% tender and loving. 

Brennan, I pray you never lose your passion to love people deeply. I pray you will always be a boy inside who embraces adventure and revels in the little things.  I pray your determination and tenacity would be chanelled into service for the Lord.  And I pray that you never forget that you are wonderfully made and fully loved.  Happy Birthday sweet boy.  I love you.

A few recent pictures

My parents were here this weekend, and my sweet mom took some photos of the kids (even more sweet than normal since this time she had a sinus infection and the kids were all sick!). These are the few she has sent me. I will post more as she sends them. I just can't believe how big they all look.

Macy Grace is 1!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am a bit slow getting this posted, but on the 4th we celebrated Macy's 1st birthday.  I honestly can't believe she is one.  I always get emotional around my kid's birthdays.  I love each stage, but I do wish I could freeze time and keep them little.  Macy is an absolute delight.  She had a very mellow first year.  She just took life in...watched Madison and Brennan a lot, took a lot of car rides and stroller rides...but recently she has found her voice and turned into a little fireball!! She keeps us laughing all day.  She is opinionated and silly and into everything!  Her favorite thing to do is to crawl slowly towards some 'no touch zone' and when she knows she has your attention she turns on her turbo boost and high tails it where she knows you don't want her to go and cracks herself up laughing while you are chasing her down. 

She is still a finiky eater...she prefers yogurt at every meal.  She doesn't care what kind...cow milk, goat milk, coconut milk...and it really doesn't matter what you add to it - plain, spinach, applesauce, avacado...it just has to be some variation of yogurt.  I don't know, maybe it is the texture.  She has discovered her sweet tooth.  I think she got that from me and maybe from having access to much more junk that the others did. 

She communicates with ut ohhhh, mama, dada, a bit of sign language and lots of pointing and grunting (and I mean lots - until you get it right!!)

She is still pretty easy going around new people.She does not tend to be very clingy to me most of the time, which is nice.

So, there is a little glimpse in to the personality of our precious blessing. 

Happy Birthday Macy Grace!

One day while the big kids were out, Macy ruled the house and LOVED every minute of it.



Macy has discovered that she loved to swing in the back yard.  There are lots of grunts and points to the backdoor.  Too bad for her it has been a hot and rainy month.

Here is my birthday girl on her birthday morning...she was over the moon to see a ballon (which I must confess was just one of the free ones that they give out a the grocery store...but it is still fun :) )

       

   Mom and dad and the birthday girl.                                      

I am one and I have a cupcake!

And a few gifts which Madison wrapped and helped her open.

It's time for School!

Our sweet Brennan started preschool this week!!! He was nervous about going - which was a huge surprise to us because he is so social- but it only took a couple of minutes and he got into it. He loves his teacher Ms. Brenda and he has already made a little friend!

My Big Girl

I can't imagine that 5 years have flown by and my baby has started Kindergarten. It is Wednesday and I am still crying! Although I am thankful that I am the one crying and not Madison. She is really enjoying school. She really likes her teacher and has already made some little friends! Here are a couple of pictures of the week.

Macy- 11 months!

Here is our little Macy Grace in her 11th month!

A Busy Summer

The summer is coming to a close and it has gone by much too fast. I am finding that I am SO sad for school to start. I really enjoy slow mornings with the kids and us all being together. We have had a couple of slow weeks here to recover from a busy July and I am very thankful! July started off with a drive to Houston after our AC died :) and then we packed up and headed to Albuquerque for a few days to visit my Aunts and Uncle. It was such a fun visit for me and for the kids. So fun in fact, that I forgot to take a single picture while were were there. After that we headed up to Ft. Collins for staff training. We got to stay with Greg and Danica on our way to New Mexico. To say that the kids had fun there would be an understatement! Max and Madison and Brennan must have run 50 laps around the house in these outfits! It was so fun and refreshing to reconnect, even if it was just for a night! In Ft. Collins we lived with Dave and Megan and their three kids! It was a blast! Our kids were so happy to have 24 hour a day playmates and living life with friends for 10 days did my heart good! Brennan found the true boy inside on a little hike we took one day! One of the other MAJOR! highlights from the summer was getting to see Cheryl and Lena who have been here in the states this summer. on our way home we took a quick little tour of The Garden of the Gods. And on our way to and from training, we stayed on Co. Springs with the Josts and thanks to their planning we got to see all sorts of fun friend like the Vincents and Thad. And, with Tom, Trisha and Thad as our witnesses, Macy started to crawl!! Thanks for rejoicing with us that night guys!!! SO, while July was rich with fellowship, it was in some ways bittersweet. We are thankful for where the Lord has us, but we deeply miss our friends. We are choosing to be full of gratitude for the times we are able to be together, and praying that there will be more times together soon

Macy gets a bath in the sink at Nana and Papa's.
Nana and Macy taking a little walk.

On the way to Houston we stopped in Brenham at the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory for a tour. I have never seen so much ice cream in my life...and at the end of the tour they give you a BIG scoop of ice cream :)

The girls are in a little window where the stores have matching clothes in both sizes, so we are having fun with it.