We Are Blessed!

I have been so thankful lately for all that God has blessed us with. We are so thankful that we are Zach's parents and that we get to spend time with him everyday and watch him learn, grow, explore, and experience the joys around him. I am so thankful for my amazing husband who works so hard and selflessly cares for both Zach and I everyday. For those of you who dont know he is now the only pastor at our church which is a huge job, but he is handling it in such a graceful way. Not only that, but he is an inspiring preacher and I am blessed to learn from him each week. I am thankful that God has provided us with such wonderful family and friends all over the country and I am so grateful that each are a part of our lives and we are a part of theirs. I am finally so thankful (I promise I am wrapping up!) for the opportunity to be a part of this pastoral counseling program and to be able to learn such important skills and grow in such a significant way. I am truly so thankful for you too, thanks for reading! 

Here are some pictures of the past few months adventures: 

He ran into the living room from the kitchen to look out the window 

and watch the ride-on-lawn-mower across the street. 

Still intrigued

Making sure I can see it too

Shopping 

Cool helmet daddy!

Let me give it a try...

...there thats better

Dancing with the helmet on.

The playgroup band practice. 

Mommy's waterbottle is much cooler than mine!

Taking a break from sweeping to play with the trains

Sitting in Eric's cool chair. 

My favorite!

Thanks for the wonderful tricycle Papere!

I ride it everyday!

Watching the rain with Stella

Stella loves to give me lots of hugs and kisses

Stella and I take turns in the car

How Lucky Can a Girl Get?

Modeling the desk area

Modeling the spacious closests

I love my sister!

Saying goodbye to dad

Total excitement all weekend long!

Modeling her cute bed

Good friend Lindsey

Excitement even in Costco

Documenting Costco

Excitement at Target

Malia wasn't even embarrassed by her nerdy sister hanging 

out the car window and taking pictures.

Signing up to be a Young Life Leader...She's so wonderful!

Beautiful California!!!

And I am talking about me. I am so blessed to have been able to share such a special weekend with my sister and my parents over labor day as we flew out to California and got Malia settled in for her first year of college at Azusa Pacific University. I know that her time there is going to be absolutely amazing and it was a once in a life time experience to be able to watch her excitement as what she has been working towards for so long was finally happening for her. We shopped til we dropped...sometimes it felt like literally...and set up her room and made it very cozy. We met lots of people, explored the area, found the nearest Trader Joes and Ikea, and even fit in a trip to the beach. I was away from Zach for the first time, and at times I felt a little sick to my stomach and like I was missing a limb, but we both made it through and I am not planning on leaving him again until he leaves for college! I love you Malia and I am so excited for the journey you have ahead of you! 

Growing Up Before Our Eyes

It seems like we have gone through a big transition lately from the infant stage to the toddler stage. Technically I guess that happened awhile ago, but during these past few weeks he has become very independent and he really seems like such a big boy now. He has been walking all over the place and is really gaining confidence. Now when I take him places that he knows well like his friends houses, the gym, the church, or when we come home, he insists on walking in and out on his own. I have to remember this and leave for time everywhere we go, but its so cute and he is so proud of himself that its worth it. He certainly feels like he has a new lease on life as usually when we are out in public places he clings to my side, but the other day we were at the splash park with some of his friends and we had taken a break to eat lunch. At one point I turned around and Zach had his watering can in hand and was heading back towards the fountains to play, completely unconcerned about whether I was going to come with him or not. Its quite a development as instead of always feeling his little hands wrapped around my leg I have to watch him like a hawk or who knows where he will end up. Since he insists on walking outside now rather than just teetering around the living room as he was doing before we decided it was time to buy him his first pair of walking shoes. That was quite an experience! We went to the woman that everyone in our area talks about as being the expert baby shoe sizer and now Zach has his new walking shoes that he is quite proud of. He loves to put them on and admire them as he walks! 

He is also starting to say more words like: "Go Dog Go"= "Go Gog Go" (The name of his favorite book for the moment), and I have become MOM instead of ma ma ma ma ma, and Andy is DA in the tone of "dad I need to borrow the car." I guess he skipped mommy and daddy altogether and went right to teenager talk. The way he talks lately I am expecting the eye roll to come next. He has also started to pray before he eats which is pretty cute. Andy and I pray with him before dinner which he watches in delight and then when we are done he bows his had and mutters in a very low voice "ga ya ya ya yar." Super spiritual little guy! 

Since my last post we have been on two little trips. We were back in Colorado for a week for Andy and my 10 year high school reunion-SO Much FUN! We also were in Concord New Hampshire last weekend with all of Andy's family to celebrate his grandmothers 90th birthday party. We got to spend time with lots of Andy's extended family that we dont often see and Zach got to play with some of his 2nd cousins that are around his age. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed getting to see more of New Hampshire. Other than that we are trying to soak up the last few days of summer by playing at lots of pools and parks. Keep us in your thoughts next weekend as I (Beth) am going to California to help my sister get settled in at college and Zach and Andy are having a boys weekend! I am sure they will do fine but its me I am worried about since I have never been away from Zach for even a night and this will be three nights. Yikes! 

Zach sitting on the steps at Grandmom and Granddad's house in Colorado.

Taking a break from swimming at the Kentlands pool and eatting his favorite thing in the world- Trader Joes Cheese Puffs with his buddies. 

Cheese Puff Face! 
Giving his friend Natan a ride in the truck. 
So strong! 
In New Hampshire playing with Nate.
Andy teaching Zach how to blow on a bottle and make a whistling noise. What an important skill to have, right? 
At a brunch in Henneker, NH watching Grandmom and her brothers sing a special song for Grandma Lois. 
Screaming and jumping in balloons with Danny! How fun! 
This is Zach's new favorite toy. He climbs in and out of it, opens and closes the door, beeps the horn, checks the trunk, and opens and closes the gas tank. All very important jobs that need to be done many times a day! 
He couldn't resist this cute picture of his little curls while he was driving his car. 
Climb in...climb out....climb in....When his friend Stella was here playing this week they were actually able to both sit in the car at the same time and would take turns turning the wheel.  
Daddy and Zach at the splash park. 

Stella likes to play in the tupperware too! 
Snack time with Stella!