Missing You Grandpa

Little Miss Fix-it

Ah, the joys of learning to use tools!

Kip is a joy to be with these days!  While she can be shy at first with new people, at home she is self-assured and self-sufficient.  She insists on doing most things by herself and is bound and determined to do everything Gus and the grown ups are doing.  My favorite anecdote from her recent adventures is the time (a few days after she saw me putting on chapstick) that I walked in and found her smearing a gluestick all over her lips:)

It is also so much fun to listen to her talk.  She repeats everything, learns new words everyday and can usually communicate what she wants and needs.  Here are a few of her new phrases and words.

up please: uppies
here they are: here y ar (said with cutest inflection!)
drink: gink
paci: pappy
cheese: cheeeeee!
cat: ca-ca
dog: dog dog
gus: guh!!!!!!! (although lately she has been adding the "s" occasionally)
all done: au dun
again: 'gin
open: opee
Go Cards!: Go cars! (with arms in the air)
I love you: I nuh new

A Day At The Farm

A few weekends ago, we made our annual trek out to Sequatchie Cove Farm for some blueberry picking.  The picking was great, the kids had a great time and we made it back with over a gallon of blueberries.  The cheese from the creamery, however, only lasted the first 10 minutes of the ride home.

  

  

  

Now

I've been trying to live out this quote from Ann Voskamp:

"Now is not a forever grace, but an amazing grace. 

Do whatever it takes to wake to wonder right here."

So here are some snap-shots of our "now."

2 possible career paths?

Gus seems like he may be working on following in his great-grandpa Deterding's engineering footsteps.  He has been begging to watch this video about gears multiple times everyday and his favorite activity is to take things completely apart to see what's inside.  Of course, then we have to figure out how to put it all back together!  I have a feeling that it won't be long before I'll be totally unable to answer his questions about how mechanical things work.

On the other hand, he can often be found making up silly songs, and occasionally dressing like this:

yo.yo.

Let's hope he picks the first option.

Art

These are all pictures Scott took on our trip to Nashville. He's really talented, huh?