Pay it Forward

This past Tuesday the kids and I were at the library for story time. Kanaan usually sleeps right thru it, but Keira really enjoys singing the songs and listening to the stories. Well, story time was over and we were heading back up to the front to check out our new books. I knew that our last books/CD's were overdue (by like a week, ugh) and we would have a fine. I just didn't know how much. I get up there, and the lady says, "ma'am you owe $2.25." And it needs to be under $1.00 in order for me to check anything out. I didn't have that much, but I did have $1.25 in change!! So I dished out what I could. But technically speaking it still wasn't under a dollar. So I was beginning to prepare myself to calmly and rationally explain to Keira that we weren't going to be able to get library books this week - no big deal. That's when the lady beside me in line threw out a dollar onto the counter and said "here, use this." I looked at her and said that it was no big deal, thank you anyway. I appreciated the gesture, but no thanks. She persisted and simply said "Pay it forward." And at first I kind of just gave here a questioning look, but she said it again and I asked 'are you sure?' She simply nodded. I just looked at her straight in the eye and said thank you. I must have proceeded to say thank you like 20 times after that, but I just felt an overwhelming urge to hug her. I think I just patted her arm instead, but tears even welled up in my eyes and everything. You just don't see generosity like that anymore. For a complete stranger. God is everywhere and I saw him this week. :)

I love fall!!!

Can I just say that I LOVE fall! The warmer days, the cool evenings, wearing jeans and sweatshirts, the BE-A-U-Tiful fall leaves! This past weekend I was able to make the drive from Huntington to Fort Wayne a couple times and there's a stretch on 24 that is just amazing this time of year. The leaves were definitely in their best. God is so creative.

The kids and I were also able to take a walk out at one of our parks recently. Keira and I collected some leaves and acorns for a couple fall projects. It was great to see all the leaves falling around us and hear the wind - so peaceful. I think we were the only ones there! Here's a couple pix of us enjoying the out of doors :D

Summer is over the fall is here...

Sitting all by myself in this scratchy green stuff. Lots of fun to grab and pick up though!

I like being outside Mom!

Our favorite sibling pose

And they all fall down

My big girl

Cheese!

We had a good time

Enjoying the fall leaves

They really do get along so well together. Can't wait till Kanaan is old enough to move about and 'play.' Happy Fall everyone!

Thankful Thursday

This has been a great week! One of birthday celebrations, great fall weather and fun family time.

I turned the big 3-0 this year and Jason orchestrated a great day. I started off by having breakfast at good 'ol Bob Evans and came home to the picture above. I am so thankful for my husband. I definitely felt special on my special day.

I am thankful for my now 3 year old!! She is pure delight to have around. She is so helpful around the house with Kanaan, she loves to sing songs that she has made up, she loves bags, purses or any other sort of thing that holds her assorted collectables around the house, and she loves clothes! Keira has grown at least an inch over the summer and enjoys changing her clothes at least 3-4 times a day!!.

I'm thankful for cake!!

Thankful for cards! Keira especially enjoyed her princess cards and I think my official count ended up somewhere around 61!!

Thankful for books! Thankful for story time on Tuesdays at the library and thankful for time spent in the word for me and the little one's thru AWANA and BSF.

Thankful for family :)

A month of firsts

This has been a great month! A month of firsts around here...

Keira's first hair cut! Daddy cut it himself and it turned out really cute. You can kind of see it in some of the pix below. It was just enough to cut out the baby hair scragglies.

Kanaan is starting to really be able to sit up all by himself. He lasts for a little while and then takes a roll, but it makes play time a lot easier. I don't have to hold him all the time!

First foods! Kanaan had sucked on some apples and watermelon thru the course of the last couple months, but I busted out the food processor this month and made the 3 P's! Peaches, pears and potatoes. Here he is eating pears. He LOVED them. Ate two whole cubes on the first go around!

Keira got her face painted at this years Pioneer Festival. She sat really patiently and looked super cute with her butterfly!

Mommy's first half marathon! I did it!!! Chell and I ran the whole thing together with Daddy, Keira, Kanaan and Nana cheering us on. We crossed the finish line together at 2hrs. 17 min.

Catching Up

Is it August 30th already!? Time has just flown here at our household. The past couple months has brought a flurry of activity...including putting our house on the market and finding a new one. Jason and I got to talking that come Christmas time 'wouldn't it be nice if...' we were in a new house, in a new neighborhood, we had enough room for family to come and visit and not sit on top of each other... and the ball began rolling from there. The deck stairs were finished, the front door was fixed, the whole house received a fresh coat of paint, and the projects continued. Needless to say our house is on the market and we have both found and made an offer on another house. The offer - accepted! The catch is that we have to sell ours before the deal is final.

Keira is totally looking forward to her birthday coming up in October. We recently attended another friends party who turned 3 and she is SO ready for hers. If you ask her when her birthday is she'll enthusiastically reply that it is "2 months. How old will you be? 3!!! How old are you now? 2!! " She has the finger motions down as well. The real treat is when you ask her what she would like for her birthday :)

Kanaan is 5 mo.! He can roll from belly to back and just recently (like last week) rolled from his back to his belly. He has become quite a vocal one too! Loves sticking his tongue out and making this throat, tongue, scream sort of thing. Very fun for big sis to try and mimic. Our mornings are far from quiet around here.

Summer has brought some traveling to OH in the beginning of August to see my Uncle from WA and his wife and 6 kids! It was great catching up with the Bowser side of the family, playing corn hole and even taking a trip to the water park. For Labor Day the kids and I will head to IL to see my Dad's new place.

Here's some random pix throughout the summer...