Scrapbooking with Charity

Charity and I spent the last few days of their visit working on Madison's baby book. Okay, really we started and finished the book in a few days AND completed Evie's book, while adding a finishing touch or two to Jared's. Charity also spent some time scrapping pictures from our last few months in Austin. It was GREAT to get these back-burner projects done and it was even better to do them with such a dear, creative friend!

The birthday flower pot layout was perfect! Charity spent more

than an hour designing and completing this layout,

and it is one of my favorites!

Jared lost his first tooth

Jared got his first loose tooth on Thursday night. By Friday afternoon is was pretty wiggly and easily came out with a washcloth yesterday afternoon. Yay!

Grains of Sand

After much consideration over a name for our homeschool, I settled on "Grains of Sand."
My inspiration for this name came from Isaiah 48:17-19:

This is what the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for [your] benefit, who leads you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to My commands. Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. Your descendants would have been as [countless] as the sand, and the offspring of your body like its grains; their name would not be cut off or eliminated from My presence. (Holman CSB)

God teaches us for our benefit....I teach my children for their benefit
God leads us in the way we should go....I want to direct my children on a godly path
Pay attention to God's commands....mediate on the things of God, not the world

Backyard Fun

Seriously, priceless!

Indianapolis, IN

We drove home from Chicago on Sunday, July 5th. James & I remembered that the last Starbucks on the way home was in Indianapolis (unless you wanted to drive out of your way), so we made a pit stop. We were happily surprised to find out the fireworks had been rained out on the 4th and we only had to walk around for an hour or so before they started! Downtown Indi was very nice and the people looked soooo normal...

especially after a weekend in Chicago! :)

The fireworks were FANTASTIC!

Site-seeing in the Windy City

Finding this ultra-cool McD's was not as easy as one might think!

Inside was a tribute to each decade since their opening in the 50's. I used to be a fan of Oprah.....not so much anymore, but I couldn't resist a photo op. Yes, that is a "Venti, non-fat peppermint mocha, with whip, iced" I'm holding; sure wish I had one right now!

Ice cream at Navy Pier.

Buckingham Fountain

Landmark formerly known as the Sears Tower.

Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago

I adore this picture of Jared and Evie looking at the bear through the "tree trunk."

Check out the look on Madison's face!! She LOVED watching the polar bear swim towards her.

Sharon Woods Metro Park

After an afternoon at Inniswood Gardens, we headed to Sharon Woods Metro Park and grilled out again.

Inniswood Gardens Park

On July 1 we headed to Inniswood Gardens Park. This park is one of the most beautiful gardens I've visited. Sadly, we hadn't been there since Renae's visit--last August. The kids had a great time running around and the weather was, again, fantastic.