Brought to you by Blue Bell

You can't tell, but J is wearing a Blue Bell hat, standing in front of a Blue Bell truck. They provided free popsicles at the park the other day. I think this was his first ever popsicle. And H is playing with a Blue Bell balloon. I was trying to capture him crawling, but he didn't do it just then, but - he's crawling! And he got his top two teeth a few weeks ago, so now he has two top and two bottom ones. It's a lovely sound when he grinds them together. Just love that.

Summer on Amity Road

Benjamin performing feats of daring with a bum hand. GO BIG GUY !

Thought I'd post a few pictures from the thus-far summer. Lynn and David working on CKS 's table. Lynn also did a massive cleanup of the Ping-Pong Palace.

Conversation overheard between Sophie and Benjamin...

Sorry, Keri, if I steal your thunder, but I've just got to report this funny before I forget it...

Keri says one of Sophie's new phrases is "I'm going to be a lady." When? "In 3 minutes." Benjamin, overhearing this dialogue and our mirthful responses to it, immediately chimes in, "I a lady!" Long conversation ensues about the categorizations 'lady' and 'gentleman' and who falls into each. Now when mentioned, Benjamin always replies, "Sophie a lady, I a man!"

Father and Son

This was taken at a goodbye party for Mary & John Puryear, who moved to San Antonio. They are part of our group of friends who are Catholic; Jackson spent most of the evening running around with children's rosaries (brightly colored, large beads) around his neck. They seemed to feel both awkward about this and thought it was cute. :) Friend Arlen took this picture and sent it recently. He said he was making a singing noise to make Jackson notice him, so J was responding with his own tune.

Children's Day at the Park

taken by Jasmine, a playgroup friend

Engagement

Wonderful family,

Here are some pictures of summer vaca in Corona del Mar....

First it was like this:

Then I did this:

Then Lynn did this:

Then we went here (Little Corona, just South of Corona del Mar) :

And I gave her this:

And it ended like this (looking out from Little Corona) :


We love you all very much and are looking forward to seeing everyone. We've got better pictures of the ring on film, which we hope to send out shortly. Tentatively, the date is set for Dec. 29.

The Perfect Gift

OK, you guys made me cry! Sophie was trying to figure out what was wrong with me as I sat reading the blog yesterday with tears streaming down my face. I explained to her that I was so happy it was making me cry, and she said, "I make you happy, Mommy!" (She says that a lot.)

All that to say, you couldn't have given me a better gift for my birthday than your words of encouragement and affirmation. I understand that when asked, my wonderful husband let you know that "words of affirmation" are my most heartfelt love language, so I really appreciate the time and thought you put into celebrating me with words. I've been struggling lately with being positive and feeling "put together" in any sense, (the very least of which has been the dismal state of my toenails; I hadn't had a pedicure in Flagstaff since I moved here, so I splurged and got one yesterday, though I don't do the little flowers anymore, Emily!) So your words were even more poignant and made me want to be the person you all see me as!

I am so blessed to have become a member of a family that has welcomed me so completely. Words are inadequate to express my gratitude for each of you, though I try on a regular basis in my prayers. Besides, you're all a whole lot of FUN and at the top of my list of my very favorite people to be with. Thanks for giving me the perfect gift yesterday. I had a wonderful birthday in every way, and this blog post was a big part of that. I love you guys!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to an amazing friend

Today is Keri Weirich Wright's birthday, so on this day we want to say, "Boy! I'm so glad you came into our lives!" with a few thoughts about. . .
1) First getting to know you. Emily says: "Josh and I were some of the last in the family to meet Keri when she and Cody were dating. Whenever I asked anyone what she was like, they always said some variation of 'She's very put-together.' I wasn't quite sure what they meant until I met her and one of the first things I noticed was that not only did she have perfectly manicured toenails, but she also had little flowers painted on them. Whoa, put-together indeed!" Ruthie says, "I agree - my first impression of Keri was that she was a powerhouse. She came into the HR office at Biola having gotten the Writing Director job at Torrey, and determined to do well (she was made for that job), and there was no doubt in my mind she'd be amazing. It wasn't too long after that that I got to know her personally, and was amazed by her depth, loyalty, wholeheartedness. After M & I introduced her to Cody (just had to point that out again, that WE are responsible for their marriage, Sophie's life, etc.), we were so hoping they would "click", because Keri was just so great. My main impression of her then was her joyfulness, which is rooted in her trust in the Lord."
2) Knowing you now. Emily says, "One of my most special early memories of Keri was when she called me to ask me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. I was so touched that she would immediately and generously say to me, 'You are my family now.' Thank you, Keri. I love you." Ruthie says, "Along the lines of what Emily said, one of the things I love about Keri is her commitment to us. We're sisters, and I know I can't do anything to make her love me less (or be less loyal to me). I feel safe and comfortable with her. Other reflections on what I like about Keri: She's fun - she's always ready and willing and preparing for a party, always thinking about how to make life fun. It's contagious! I like how her eyes sparkle and I like the creases around her eyes! I like that she's always willing to talk - I never feel in the way or intruding when I call. I know she'll listen enthusiastically to even the most mundane details. She's just a great friend. I like that she's an idealist, and I think in the right ways." Matthew says, "Keri is genuine and unpretentious and always easy to be with. Perhaps her most amazing quality is being able to match Cody's boundless energy."

from Sarah: "Keri, with joy, I wish you the happiest of birthdays! You are a wonderful daughter-in-law and you have blessed and encouraged me often with your enthusiasm and unconditional love. You are wise and discerning and "very fun to talk with about all kinds of stuff!". Your love and devotion to Cody and Sophie are always a comfort to a mother and grandmother. I love you dearly."

from Bill: "Keri: The first thing that comes to my mind in remembering you is your positive attitude. You always seem to have a positive thought or outlook, not in a Polyanna La Ti Da sort of way, but genuinely a positive sense of things. May God continue to honor your trust in Him and the Peace of Christ surround you. BB"

from Ruthie: "Keri, I am so excited about sharing the years ahead with you. Whenever something interesting happens, I want to call you immediately. I hope that one day we'll live close enough that we can swap our hours of phone conversations for hours of face-to-face time. I love you."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KERI!

Jacksonlocutions

Here are a few of my recent favorites:

The other day Ruthie and the boys got back from running errands, and I was upstairs studying. Jackson immediately ran to the bottom of the stairs and yelled up to me, "Hey, Daddy, come talk to me. I'm a male!"

Ruthie often has to tell Jackson not to say her name repeatedly when he's asking for something. Recently when she called his name he responded, "Mama, don't be saying my name over and over."

Another funny parroting story: I thought JRW might warm up to having his hair washed if I let him wash mine. He thought this was a good idea, so I asked him what we needed to do. "First," he said, "you play with letters," and he dumped all his bath letters out for me. As he began to pour water over my head, he bent over to look me in the eye and said cheerfully, "Now don't cry, Daddy. If you don't cry, you get to watch Elmo!"

Ruthie couldn't get the iron to work as we got ready for church this morning. Jackson walked in and said, "Mama, it's not working?" When she said that it was not, Jackson reached up, poked at the steam button, and turned the dial. Then he said, "It's okay," and walked out. A second later he poked his head back in and said, "You're welcome."

Ah, but Jackson's capacity for role playing extends much further than the paltry powers of "Daddy at Bathtime" or "Bob the Builder." When R and I searched in vain for keys the other day, he assured us, "I'll find it. I'm God."

And this final one comes under the heading "Conversations I never thought to think I'd never have."
[While changing JRW's diaper]
JRW: (Holding the diaper rash cream and moving it like a puppet) "Hi, Daddy, I'm Mr. Diaper Rash Cream."
Me: Well, hello, Mr. Diaper Rash Cream, how are you today?
JRW: I'm doing fine. I want to go on Jackson's bottom, please.

Adventures in Toddlerland

We're discovering more and more each day just how quickly our little baby is growing up. The other day we were visiting Meme on Mt. Nebo and she had a rich, fancy chocolate bar sitting on the table. Benjamin went for it immediately and we found him trying to gnaw the wrapper off with his teeth. We dutifully instructed him that this was not his chocolate bar and that eating the wrapper wasn't the proper method for consuming gourmet chocolate anyway. And we thought we had laid the matter to rest... Some hours later, I noticed that Benjamin wasn't in the room. When I called for him, I heard a muffled "No!" I followed his voice to Meme's bathroom. He had shut himself in with the chocolate bar, chewed through the wrapper and consumed half the bar before I got to him. When I opened the door, he yelled, "Go away!" and shut the door in my face! I know I should've punished him, but I couldn't stop laughing and neither could Josh when he found out. Oh well.

more Baby David and Baby Harry

Simone made a Saturday trip to Austin a few weekends ago, and she had David dressed in an outfit my mom had sent Harry as well. So being the cheesy, ooey gooey mothers we are, we took plenty of matching photos. 

Baby David and Baby Harry

Simone's little boy David, Jr., is 2 months older than Harry, and they have no choice but to be friends (as evidenced in photo #2):

Matthew's new fancy office in his new fancy building

Okay, so it's a cubicle with 30 other grad students, but it's a fancy cubicle with lots of storage space and we're so excited! We've been pondering ways to decorate it (along the lines of sending the things M likes but I don't to the office!)

Early June, Benjamin & Jackson in Hot Springs

MUSCLES!

Homecoming

Josh and Emily and Benjamin were reunited with much rejoicing. Benjamin was a brave boy and faced each crisis with" Mommy, Daddy, Paris!". Bill, Meme, Sally, and I are big BWW fans now!