Not the same child

While some of this looks the same--- let me assure you it's not!

Yes, its the same railraod tracks, the same hobo stick, and even the same beloved brown bear...

But this far from the same child!!

Now this child is young girl who misses nothing. This "child" is learning to read, knows how swim and ice skate, is strongly opinionated regarding her clothing attire, claims to know who her Mother-in-law will be, already has her wedding planned ( including the cake). She thinks the entire world is here to meet her needs at a moments notice, and has her parents firmly under her control.

But this child also now knows the meaning of family, what sharing and loving is about, and how wonderful friends are. This child knows who JESUS is and how much he loves her and she wants to tell others about His love for them. This child gets in the car and asks to sing some "Jesus music", because it makes her happy. This child talks constantly about what Heaven will be like, and how happy her Papaw Keith must be up there in that place with Jesus.

No, this is not the same child from those first pictures on the railroad- she has changed and grown and continues to inspire me every day to be more, to see the world thru new eyes, to trust and love with my whole heart.

This child spends her days growing and learning in awe--- but oh what she teaches me!!!

videos of skating progress

Olympic Bound!

Kenli has decided that ice skating is her thing- and she is proving to be quite good at it. She completely skipped Snow plow 1 class and after starting half way thru the session, still passed snow plow 2.

Spicy Girls at the Beach

Our 2nd day in Chicago, we headed to the beach. All the girls were "digging to China", and then burying each other in the hole.


Charlotte

Kenli and "spicy boy" Jackson

Chicago

We are home from our Spicy Girl Reunion. The girls (and parents too) had such a wonderful time. Thought we would share a few pictures from our trip.
We were so glad to finally see this sign:


Our first glimpse of the Sears Tower:

We had lunch at my favorite resturant. I had been promising Kenli since my trip to Vegas to take her to the Rain Forest Cafe. So as soon as we got checked in to our hotel, we were off to lunch in the Amazon.

Upon arriving back from lunch, Sarah was just checking in at the hotel. Kenli and Sarah had some one on one play time before the others arrived.

Not much later we found that Charlotte and Ella had arrived as well. And then there were four.

This is Spicy Charlotte from Minnesota. Her birthday is just one day before Kenli's.

This is Spicy Sarah from Missouri:

And Spicy Ella from Texas:

It always amazes me how well the girls get along. They act like they have never been apart. You would think it might take them a little while to warm up to each other- as most are that way at home- But not these spicy sisters. I suppose the bond they share is stronger they we will ever understand. They were each others first family. And now we are all "family" .

A day with Audrey

We are headed to Chicago for our 2nd "Spicy Girl Reunion". Kenli was really sick during the renuion last year. She hasn't had anything more than a runny nose all year and the morning we are leaving-- 103.6 temp!!! Just lovely. a quick trip to the Dr., a Dx of an ear infection, and a bottle of antibiotics later, and off we go!!

We stopped in Cincinnati at Chuck E Cheese for a playdate with Audrey. Here they are enjoying a virtual roller coaster ride.

They had a blast!!

Chicago-- here we come!!

Happy 4th of July

A look back at the past years: 2008:

2009:

And 2010: Oh how she's changed. My baby is growing up so fast.


Happy Forth of July to all of our family and friends both near and far!!!