September days gone by!

The other day I found Kyler happily sitting on Jon's guitar case. He loves music and listening to Jon play and sing. I think it's so sweet that he acts like such a big boy. He was so proud of himself sitting on the guitar case.
My first try at making almond milk....yes Kyler has a soy "food sensitivity". Of course he does. The Dr. says to me over the phone, "I guess you will have to make almond milk if you can't find it." WHAT? Yes, another thing to do every other day!

And yes, here is the first almond milk response. Its a no go. I still haven't given up...he's still drinking soy...but I'm hoping sometime he will be drinking almond milk! He spit it right out onto his bib.

The boys sporting In n Out burger hats that Gma sent in the mail. Gabby didn't want to wear her's....I think she thought there wasn't enough pink or purple on it so why should she wear it?
Our little Cardinals fans...thanks, Gma. Gabby says, "DADDY! Its your team!!!" and then proceeds to play soccer :) but Kolby is getting the football idea. Cinderella Baby just wants some undies.

Just a short little update on life in Sept. I'm a horrible blogger!

First week of school for us

Here's our kindergartner! He took his "pet" Harley to school with him the first day.
Kolby started Kindergarten on Sept. 13! Angie is his faithful, loving teacher and he LOVES her! She teaches him Tues-Thurs from 9 a.m. to noon. Then Fri & Sat I teach :)
Even though they don't really get to "go" anywhere we they filled their backpacks and we took pics of course! Gabby does go to Ellie's on Tues mornings to have preschool for an hour with Ellie and Veronica. Then Ellie comes to our house on Thurs mornings and I facilitate.
Gabby LOVES saying she is a preschooler. She loves to learn and have "friends". We find her in her room talking to all her "friends" who aren't really there....Every morning at breakfast the kids are so excited to do the date and weather.

So we are finally in full swing around here and the first week flew by with lots going on (plus visitors from KY). Here is a glimpse of our weekly schedule:

Monday: Day off
Tuesday: Kolby school till noon. Gabby preschool from 9 to 10. Arabic at Manel's from 3:30 to 5:30 (me and all 3 kids).
Wednesday: Kolby school till noon. Gabby & Mommy preschool time. AWANA 4:15- 5:45 (Jon & I are leading the Jr. Highers this year...it will be the first Jr. High group! I am SO EXCITED I am beside myself really. Last night we kicked into youth ministry mode as we were planning...it felt so good to do something I KIND OF KNOW and enjoy!)
Thursday: Kolby school till noon. Gabby & Ellie here for preschool. Arabic at Manel's from 3:30 to 5:30.
Friday: Kolby & Gabby & I do math as much as we can. 4:00 Jen's house for an arabic lesson with a believer.
Saturday: We try to do science! Church at 4 and the rest of the night is spent in fellowship with our fam here.
Sunday: "Sheraton" time for me! Jon goes to "church". The rest of the day we spend playing and getting ready for the week.

Well, those are just the "big" things that must happen during our days :).

Kyler's one year photos

thanks to Angie :)

Happy 1st Birthday, Kyler

The Birthday boy opening his gifts yesterday after lunch...
With 2 older siblings it was hard for him to get at his presents however....thanks for the guitar, Grandma...and for the airplane, Nana....
and for the car, Grandpa! Kyler can eat apples like this now! Its so nice! If he's fussing all I have to do is peel that kid an apple and he's happy for 30 minutes. He's trying to get his sixth tooth in.
We got him this little music "station" at Toys R Us in France. He loves it! As does Kolby and Gabby. Looks like my camera is still set on American time...it really is Sept 11! oops.
Getting ready to celebrate with gluten, dairy and egg free banana cake with our friends at Veronica's house...thanks Nana, for supplying the party supplies! Kyler was ALL smiles for his big day!

Kyler's birthday week

September started out hot here...Kyler found joy in the hose while Jon was watering the grass one night. It was funny b/c Gabby and Kolby just watched him, scared to get to close b/c they didn't know what he would do! He was crazy, spraying himself in the face and anyone who would dare to walk close by.
On Friday we headed to Marsielle, France for a visa trip. Oh darn :) I know I know I'm spoiled. I forget how cool our life is sometimes. We get a little distracted by the stress of it all. But when we sit back and try to de-stress we again realize what a huge opportunity we have to see the world right now. The first day was bad b/c we tried to go to Toys R Us and IKEA. We did make some purchases which of course I am super excited about...but again, it was stressful. The rest of the time in France we just took walks and did some hiking. A much better way to slow down and enjoy seeing new sights. Here our the kids at the beginning of a little hike we took.
Kolby snagged the camera on this walk and took about a "milk-ee-an" photos (K's word for "a lot").
Jon's a crazy man and has spent several visa trips running up this CRAZY hill to see this Catholic church...he told me it was just "a little walk"! Yea right! A little walk straight up for a long time!! But of course he was right, the view at the top was worth it and the building itself was pretty cool. Gabby somehow twisted her ankle the day before so it made it a little tricky...
So on the way down the hill while I took pics here is my hero to the rescue...almost one year old strapped to the back, pushing the 3 year old and then carrying her (along with the heavy backpack) down yet another flight of stairs! Oh it was pretty funny!! I will have to put all these photos on kodakgallery.com b/c they are pretty sweet.

Elijah & Brittney

Gabby has finally fallen in love with reading. It seems like Kolby was born with this love. But Gabby, not so much. Not until recently has she started asking for me to read to her ALL the time. I'm used to this question with Kolby, but it's new for me with her. And its so different with her b/c she wants to read different things then Kolby...you know, like girl books! Love it! I get to read princess books and Strawberry Shortcake. Also she REACTS to everything in the book. Kolby will sit for hours silently while I read and read (I had no idea he ever heard a word I read until I figured out he was practically memorizing everything). She laughs, points out everything, asks a million questions, and names each of the characters ("This is Gabby, this is "Tolby", this is "tyler", this is Ellie). She is for sure a verbal processor like her mother!

She is a big fan of the "Beginners Bible" that we received from a friend a month ago when they moved back to America (that is also where the fabulous Strawberry Shortcake book came from). We were reading "Chariot of Fire" (from 1 Kings 19; 2 Kings 2) the other day. When we got to the part about Elijah being taken up to Heaven in a fiery chariot Gabby shouts out, "That little boy going back to America, Mommy?!!! Like Brittney does? To see her mommy & daddy & sister?" It made me laugh so hard. The poor thing associates anyone that has to go away with going to America. Bless her little heart! Our kids are troopers. They have had to say many goodbyes this year already. Its amazing to me how at such a young age they can remember people they love so well. So if you have been one of our beloved guests...just know you are still being talked about weekly, maybe daily!

Brittney was our last victim. She endured 5 weeks of me & my children bossing her around! Thanks to her Kolby is getting really good at reading, Kyler has hope to lead a normal life despite allergies (we are getting in good with a great doctor thanks to her and her fam!), and Gabby only likes to wear braids now. (Brittney, those earrings are hot don't deny it! I know you ACCIDENTALLY left your pair here...right?!? Miss your positive attitude around here!)

Thanks, Momma

I've been trying to finish this entry for days...so the info is a couple days off..

Today during nap time Kolby actually fell asleep (b/c we went swimming in an awesome pool this morning thanks to our friends Zack & Corrie!). I went in to check on him and he looked cold so I covered him up with a blanket. He opened his eyes, smiled sweetly, and said, "Thanks, Momma," then closed his eyes and fell back to sleep.

I realized at that moment of sweetness that no matter how many pep talks I give myself during the day, I continue to let my stress get the better of me. Kolby, you are so sweet. Naturally, you tend to be more sweet than mean. It seems like your un-sweetness is only learned from us, a response to our stress. Upon waking, for 2 seconds, you sweetly smile and use your manners?! But other times, during the day, your un-sweetness emerges somehow. You are so sensitive. No matter how hard I try you can sense my emotions...even if I am conquering the bad ones. I'm sorry I don't enjoy you more. You are so creative and go on and on with make believe stories. You are still into pirates and spooky ghosts. 99% of the time you are the "King of Golden" and at least once a day you bring up how we should only worship God and not golden idols. I rarely have to entertain Kyler b/c you are so into him. Yesterday in the car you were pretending to eat his hands and feet, all the while slobbering all over him and yourself. He was cracking up. Whenever he nears the steps you say, "Mom! Kyler is going to fall off the steps!" or "Mom, Kyler is trying to climb the stairs!" You have also really progressed with your mad reading skills. I can't believe in just a month or so WE will start Kindergarten! I never would have thought I would get to be a teacher...and it's even better that I get to be a teacher to you. Lots of new for me and you, buddy.
You teach me everyday. We noticed a few days ago that you have a tooth growing up behind your baby teeth (on the bottom). At breakfast you were asking me what would happen with your teeth. I said that maybe you would have to have a baby tooth pulled out by the dentist. You replied, "Let's just pray about that. God will heal my teeth." Faith like a five year old.

Kolby, thanks for having grace for your parents as we learn to parent. You are our best oldest child :). I love you and hope you will always know that...despite the stresses we face everyday with you either sensing them or getting the bad end of the deal. You really are such a good little boy. And this video cracks me up! I know it looks a little abusive...but I swear Kyler was laughing so hard I had to get the camera instead of telling you to stop hitting him in the face!!