Minister's School Week

It went by way too quickly.  Our fellow preachers/pastors/friends come from across the US to attend Minister's School in KY, and we make a week of it!  The memories we made this year are priceless.  I wish we could do it all again this week.

All dressed up for church!

Brother Brian and I pick on each other a lot!

I sure missed seeing his sweet wife!

Elias really wasn't sure about this horse.

Sweet Samuel on the playground

Boys marching around the playground, 

making up words to a song.

Daniel was making up an obstacle course

with make believe laser beams.

This is what our van looks like when 

you have to pile all of the children in one 

vehicle while the other vehicle gets a new tire.

We were tired... 

There was a LOT of playing, driving, then napping.

Sharing snacks and tired faces

Giving his girl a hug

Jenna and Karaley

Playing on the Old Union piano

Napping again

Special notes left behind from the Keens

on our white board -

we sang this song with the Keen family 

when we were in Alaska 3 years ago.

Sweet encouragement from the Keens.

:)

Long Awaited Visitors

We have known for quite some time that some visitors would be coming to our house this month.  We had no idea all we would be facing at the time of their visit, and we are certain that God knew we would need their encouragement and presence more than ever during this particular time.  Having them here is no small thing seeing as they would be coming from Alaska!  We love having them, and our boys adore Brother James.

Daniel was so excited that he remembered he had a suit that had been given to him in a storage bin in the garage.  I wasn't sure it was in his size or in decent shape, but Daniel wanted so badly to find it so that he could wear it when Brother James came to preach at our church.  Thankfully, it was the perfect size and BRAND new!

From the moment they arrived to the night before they left, my heart was full!  I could not thank God enough for His perfect timing and for blessing us with friends like He has.  We are so unworthy, but I am so grateful for the late night talks and chocolate cakes.

Whispers

In their new suits -

Sunday best, of course!

James and Brian

Jenna and Mary

Our Boys with the Keens

Pop-In Visits

My boys are so blessed.  I mean it, they really are.  They can almost be guaranteed that at least once a week, they are going to have a visitor.  The visitors usually range from week to week, and most of the time they see their Mimi, Grandpa, and Pop at least once a week or more!

My heart melts when Daniel cuddles up to his visitors.  He gets so excited upon hearing the doorbell ring or the repitition of knocks; he cannot wait to see who is behind the door.  Pop always gives me a forewarning of a few minutes that he's on his way to see the boys, but I don't think Daniel or Samuel would mind if he showed up by surprise ANY day of the week.

Daniel reading his Veggie Tales bible storybook with Pop

Samuel loves getting his Pop time as well

Both boys getting Pop's attention

Showing Pop how he can crawl!

Very interested in the story

I realize that not every child has a great-grandparent like my boys do.  Pop is the best influence my boys could have.  I've grown up admiring his love for the Lord, and I have always enjoyed heeding his advice.  I know he won't always be around, but I am eternally grateful for all he does for my family.  These sweet visits from him feel my heart with joy...  Something about watching your children play with the grandparent you loved so much as a child is beautiful.  I cannot thank God enough for moments like these.

He's Decided on a Best Friend...

We thought for sure Daniel would like Pierce, and we knew he'd become great friends with Addy.  We were thinking maybe it would be his security blanket or even one of his toys, but Daniel has decided that his Uncle Andrew is his best friend.  Of course, he's only 4 and a half months old, and we're sure he'll make other friends, but as of lately, the buddy he likes the best is his Uncle Andrew.  See what we mean?

Grabbing at and Laughing with his Uncle

 

Kicking Uncle Andrew's face

  

Just being good buds

  

Uncle Andrew has even been the very best teether...

  

Uncle Andrew trying to get Daniel's attention

  

Playing with his Uncle

 

Becoming Buddies

Jennifer, my childhood/high school/lifelong friend, and I had baby boys within a few weeks of each other. Daniel was born on April 20th, and Pierce came along on May 11th. She and I went through pregnancy together, and it was such a relief to have someone to unload everything on, complain with, and simply just be fat pregnant together. We, of course, wanted our boys to meet each other. Though they had met before, Jenn brought Pierce by to see Daniel, and they are both at the age where people are just so fascinating to them. Here are a few pictures of their meeting...

 Daniel was asleep when they arrived...

Daniel finally woke up to say hi to Jennifer.

Daniel and his mommy with Pierce and his mommy

 

Daniel really liked Pierce; he just HAD to touch him.

Will you be my friend, Pierce?

Pierce and Daniel: The very beginning of becoming buddies

A Day in the Life...

You wouldn't think it, but babies have busy days. A couple of weeks ago, Daniel had such an eventful one himself that I couldn't help but share it with you... (Sorry I'm so late getting it posted - that's a day in the life of being a Mommy.)


Daniel started his morning in his bouncer, saying "Hello" to his animals... and his Mommy, of course.

Daniel's Animals from Jenna Johnson on Vimeo.

Daniel soon got over the bouncer and decided the Bumbo would be best.

However, his teething situation kept getting the best of him, and we had to pull out this guy.

He got over that too. Bouncers and swings do nothing for Daniel, but his exersaucer that was given to him really got him excited! That is, until he got over-zealous and gave himself his first bump.

Daniel's rough morning ended with this red spot and a long nap after screaming over it...

When he woke up from napping, he wanted his daddy.

Then, a big surprise for Daniel! His Pop came by, and they had a TIME in the living room floor.

He even had Daddy rolling with him, too!

After all that playing, his teeth got to bothering him again, and nothing would help, well, except for Daddy's thumb.

Daniel in the Past Few Days...

Daniel is 9 Days Old...

How exactly is that possible?! Everyone has told us to enjoy each minute because babies grow up so quickly... We believe it now that we have our own. Daniel looks quite different already. His hair is lightening up, his eyes are brighter and wider, his cheeks are chubbier, and his squirminess continues to increase before our eyes.

We didn't write about his first week, but on Monday, he was a week old. He's done so much in just a week; we'd like to share it all with you...


Thanking Mommy for a Good Meal


Loving on Daddy


My First Walk and First Time in My Stroller


The Way I Always Sleep


With My Grandpa


My First Camo Shirt, Ready for Hunting with Daddy


Taking an Evening Nap with My Daddy


My Big Grin for the Camera