Be Not Moved

In YW we recently tried to recreate the poster of the 2013 youth theme: Stand Ye in Holy Places. 

After the girls posed for individual pictures, they had fun making other silhouettes. Here are a few of my favorites:

It turned out to be a very successful activity. 

One Wonderful Year

Owen turned one yesterday! One whole year. One. It flew by. 

I couldn't get really great pictures. The sun was glaring through our blind-less windows. (I really need to make a decision and do something about that. Our neighbors are probably getting tired of the peep show.) Not to mention this kid DOES NOT COOPERATE for the camera. All four of us are practically standing on our heads to get this mild expression. He really is quite a smiley boy normally. 

The kids chose what his cake would be. They helped in the decorating too. He loves the book A Very Hungry Caterpillar so they thought it fitting.

Ethan and Addie made cards. This is Addie reading her card to him. It was so sweet.  

Her card said: Dear Owen, Happy first birthday to you! I know it's exciting to have your first birthday today on the eighth of October. I just want to tell you something that I love you very much and that everyday I love you more and more. I just want you to grow up...I want to see how cute you'll be...Love, Adelaide

Ethan's was a poem: 

To my favorite bubby

who is also kinda chubby

His birthday is October 8

So that means it will be GREAT

Can you guess who's grandpa's name is Ken?

Why of course, it's OWEN!

And then there was cake. The bib he is wearing is also a birthday gift. Addie spent her own money on it. She skipped by the toys and chose it because he would not be able to pull it off like he does his others. (Smile)

One year. I wanted to cry the entire day. I didn't. But if I had, they would have been happy tears, not sad. We just love him so much and are so glad he is a part of our family. 

September

September came and went. I keep vowing to post more frequently, then break my promise. So to my very few, yet very important viewers, I apologize. 

Our baby was eleven months in September. He became more and more of a lovable little pill with every single day. 

Owen and I took an impromptu trip to New York to join Randal on a business trip. We met up with a number of good friends, drove by our old house, shopped at our favorite grocery store (Wegmans) and embarrassed Randal by bringing a case of spaghetti sauce home on the company plane, in front of his boss. We had a great time. 

We picked apples and pears. Tons actually.

I'm not exaggerating. The kids are picking machines. We did pick tons. I had to bottle them all week last week as a result. We're set for a while. Trust me. 

And how this kids managed to be covered in glitter at an apple orchard I'll never know. The nut.