Fall Family Pics :: Family of Four

And here are the family pictures of the four of us.  I will save the one we picked for our Christmas card and share it later.  These are my people, my heart in photos.    

Fall Family Pics :: Hudson & Greta

We had our family pictures taken again this fall by Danielle Rowland Photography on Sunday, October 23rd.  It was a perfect fall afternoon for pictures...the fall colors were beautiful, there was no wind, and the temperature was lovely.  Here are some of our favorite pictures of Hudson and Greta.  We are so grateful for these two, their adorable smiles, their blond hair and blue eyes, and the way they adore each other (most of the time).  

So Very Grateful...

The season of Thanksgiving is upon us so I wanted to share a few of the things, captured through random iPhone pictures from our days, that I am so very grateful for.  

I am so very grateful that our kids are good travelers and for our mini van that is safe and dependable.  This picture was taken upon our leaving to meet Bapa and Mimi for the kids to spend the weekend with them.  I am so very grateful for my parents and how they love and serve us well.  

I am so very grateful for the many families at Timberline Church who packed shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child this year.  We collected 244 boxes for children around the world, providing them the gift of God's love, hope and grace.  

I am so very grateful for the flexibility homeschooling provides.  Hudson did some disking with Daddy while working on his writing.  

I am so very grateful for one of our favorites times of the day...snack and story.  I am so very grateful for huge piles of library books to laugh, enjoy, and treasure together on laps.  

I am so very grateful for weekends with my favorite three and smiles and snuggles from my girl.  

I am grateful for days inside to paint, build forts, and bake cookies.  

I am so very grateful for a growing boy, strong, healthy and confident and being able to buy him new shoes (that have laces).  

I am so very grateful for a husband who graciously guides, teaches, cares and leads.  

I am so very grateful for friends, serving together and building relationship.  

I am so very grateful for fall walks in the stroller with this smiling beauty.  I am so very grateful we can share in conversation together while watching for dogs and talking about her baby doll.  

I am so very grateful we got to do this fun paper mache art project with our friends and the joy it is to create, build and work on something together.  

I am so very grateful to have a daughter.  

I  am so very grateful for all the lovely fall days we have had to savor and enjoy time outside.  

I am so very thankful for a husband who partners in Hudson's education, doing science experiments with him (this one was to learn about soil erosion).  

I am so very grateful to own so many toys, to learn through and play with.  

I am so very grateful for dates with this guy, connecting with friends, and the fun it is to cheer on a team (even though their football team is not that good).  

I am so very grateful for our Kindergarten coop and the friendships we are cultivating.  

I am so very grateful for consignment store finds, like this adorable turkey outfit for $6. 

I am so very grateful for the friendships with our three Malaysian girls, Husna, Hani and Atika.  Our family is blessed by spending time with them.  

I am so very grateful for happy kids that are good eaters.  

I am so very grateful to be a part of the Creative Curriculum Children's Ministry Team at our church.  Using my teaching skills to plan lessons, projects and games that allow children to interact with God's word and make it real to them (or just to plan a fun turkey craft for their Thanksgiving party) has been a blessing.  

I am so very grateful for opportunities Greta has had to build new relationships with other little girls.  

I am so very grateful for gifts cards, meals on the go, and time to do errands alone.  

God is so good and I am so grateful to see life through the lens of His goodness.  What are you so very grateful for today?  

1st Horsey Ride

Greta likes horses and had never had a ride, even though we had tried to get her one, so I reached out to Debby, an acquaintance of mine who I knew had a horse.  I asked Debby if she would be open to coordinating a horsey ride on Greta's 2nd birthday.  It worked with her schedule and the location was close to our house, so things lined up perfectly.  We met Debby out at the barn around 5:00.  

First we helped brush the horse.  

This was a great way for the kids to get comfortable around the horse.  

Scout is 21 years old and Debby has had him for 3 years.  I don't know much about horses and don't have experience with them, but Scout was super calm, mellow and a perfect horse for a toddlers first horsey ride.  

Hudson was more hesitant than Greta and wanted her to ride first.  

We honestly had no idea how this was going to go.  Greta wants nothing to do with dogs so I was prepared that she would be scared and not even want to go near the horse.  But, she impressed us and sat on Scout immediately and gave us a smile.  

We did a lot of laps around the indoor arena.  

I think its safe to say that Greta LOVED it.  She was so proud and stayed so calm.  

Then it was big brothers turn to ride.  

While Hudson was riding she looked at me in all seriousness and said, "I ride more Scout please."  Debby was kind enough to let her ride some more.  

After we were done riding we helped Debby take off Scout's saddle and watched him play/explore a bit in the arena.  He rolled around on his back in the dust.  Then Hudson was interested in helping to scoop up the poop he dropped.  We even stayed to walk Scout out to the pasture with Debby and say goodnight to him.  We didn't leave the barn until about 7:15pm, which is basically their bedtime.  We headed to grab some pizza for dinner and called it a fun filled birthday celebrating our favorite girl.