it finally happens

Today we are going to close on our new house. So that is good :)

Yet this means, a lot more projects to be done (as we don't have many, at all, now that we are renting) and grass to be cut. We are really excited about finally moving and being in a settled location. We'll try to put up pictures soon so you can see what it looks like.

More fun, fun, fun

It has been great to have the family together this week. Though tomorrow and Saturday I (Mike) will be gone to Promise Keepers.

It is def. starting to become Fall around here. Let's just say it is cold in the morning (not something I missed being in GA). It is actually really nice to have the changing of the seasons. The weather is pretty nice and it helps to not be so hot all the time. The boys have not seemed to notice too much. They have not minded having the jackets and sweaters on.

Please pray for us as our moving to a house is no hold. There are a few things that need to get completed before we sign and move. Hoping to not take too long, we are hoping to get settled and stop thinking about moving or the fact that we are in a constant state of transition.

Excitement

Today is the day Amy and the boys get back home. I am so excited to have them back!

I can't wait to hear what all they did and learned. :)

More ADORABLE pictures from the Fort

Wes takes step

In the last post, Amy put some pics up for all to see. (Yeah, after a long wait there are finally recent pictures)

The ones of Wes are him taking a step. He decided that since he was away from home and his daddy, he would take a few steps. As you see from the picture, he was more than overjoyed with himself.

Amy was great enough to get some video for me to watch. I am so proud that he is starting to walk, though I'm not sure if we are ready for two walkers.

3/4 family vacation

This week is a good week, sorta. Amy and the boys are up in Fort Wayne enjoying some time with family. While Mike is in Albion, enjoying some time with Sticky and Sadie (who don't seem to move too much during the day with no one home).

It has been a sad few days for me (Mike) without Amy and the boys. I had the day off yesterday and forgot how different it is to not have anything to do. I can't speak for Amy, but I have gathered that they are having a good time. Lots of fun stuff going on and the little stinker (Wes) took his first step while in Fort Wayne. :( for Mike. But I'm glad family gets to be there for this cool moment. I'm sure I'll see him walk enough over the next few years.

Just wanted to update.

short vacation

The past few days we have been in Cincinnati with friends and family. We decided that we wanted to try to make the trip with the long weekend (which means I had Monday off). We left Sunday after lunch and got back last night around dinner.

It was a great trip. A blessing to see old friends that we haven't seen in a long time. The boys did great on the trip (we tried to time things around nap so that helped a lot). We stayed with our friends Jeremy and Jessica. We had a great time just relaxing and talking with them. Nathan, Wes and Mike got to make smores on Monday night. Well, Wes slept through the entire thing.

Sticky and Sadie also went with us and got a chance to hang out with Leo (Jeremy and Jessica's dog). A great time was had by all.

Amy and I are always blessed when we get together with friends. And this trip was no different. It is wonderful to hear what God is doing in our friends' lives and how things have changed over time. Lots of cool stuff going on by the way.

Again, I wish I could put some pictures up....

first football game tonight

Tonight, we are going to the high school football game. We are excited because we think it will be great for Nathan and Wes. We know Nathan will love it (at least as long as he can for a 2 year old). We're hoping Wes has enough interest or people to interact with to not get bored. We'll see, it should be fairly chilly.

We expect to see a lot of people we know, since over 1/2 the town goes to these (so we've heard). :)

uh-oh

Yesterday when Amy and the boys picked me up from work I was playing with Wes in the back seat. He dropped one of his toys on the seat and I said "uh-oh." You know, not thinking anything of it. Wes copied me and said "uh- oh" :)

It was so cute. Now he won't stop saying it. He has now joined the ranks as a copycat. His favorite words right now are: uh-oh, boo, and woof.

volleyball game

We went to the high school vball game last night. First time for Nathan and Wes to go to something like that. It was pretty fun. Overall, the boys did great. Wes just wanted to crawl around and be thrown in the air. Nathan watched for a bit and then just wanted some snacks :)

Its nice to be able to do stuff like that, now that Wes is a little older. And hopefully when we move we'll be able to walk to the school for stuff like that. Its just so dark when the games are over.

Anyway, just wanted to let you all know that we have a life outside of our house. Still don't have one outside of church stuff :)

More to come... (will we ever get pictures?)

new house

This week has been pretty busy, so we haven't blogged about this new development. About a week and a half ago we made an offer on a house and were accepted. (btw, its a lot different real estate market around here) We don't know for sure when we close and move in, but at the latest it will be the 20th of next month. We are pretty excited about the new house and its location. It is right behind the school and close to the park (as well as being "in town"). We are going to miss living next to our friends and the people who let us rent their house, but we know we won't be too far away.

We just wanted to let you all know what was going on. Please be praying for us as we make this transition. There are a lot of things we have had in storage for over a year, so we don't even remember what all we own. Again, I wish we could put a picture of the house on here, but I can't. But our move will change that as we will get internet at home and I will be getting a new computer at work soon (hopefully this week) and I will be able to do it from work now too.

Anyway, just wanted to update.

family visit

Today, we get to enjoy another family visit. (One of the great things about living semi close :))

Amy's mom and sister are coming in for a few days. Nathan is super excited. As are Amy and I. Wes doesn't really show too much change in facial expression (but then again he doesn't really understand all we're saying). We're all looking forward to the time we get to spend. Tonight is going to be pretty segmented, due to our small group that meets at our house, but we will just consider it special boys only time with the family.

Hopefully, we will be able to post some pictures in the next few months :)

No really, I've tried everything I can think of to get pictures on my computer at work, but alas it is not going to cooperate. So, until I get my new office computer or we get internet at the house or we move, you won't be seeing any pictures on here. That is, unless we can try to do it on a friend's computer.

rain, rain, rain

Today and yesterday have been filled with one thing... rain (as if the title wasn't enough of a clue).

We needed the rain. Amy mentioned yesterday that she looks at rain differently now that we live in an area that depends so much on rain. I agree. Its not a problem when you know your friends really need it for their crops.

Other than the rain, things have been rather dry :)

Wes is really starting to want to stand next to everything and will even stand on his own for a brief bit. Nathan is really growing into a little boy. And his memory is incredable. Everyday it seems like he amazes us with what he remembers.

We've been able to have a few visits from family lately and that has been great. And we look forward to many more to come. More later...

lots going on and no time to write

and we don't have any internet at home.

Let's see what has been going on: Summer in the Son (a great week with some of the high schoolers), getting settled into our temp house (fun, fun, fun), VBS this week (getting to know some of the middle schoolers and other adults), Pork Day (best one ever), Wes is really trying to start standing and walking, Nathan is learning lots of new words and putting words together, and lots of little stuff that goes with moving across country.

We'll try to write more about Pork Day and the boys soon.

(I need to get back to work)

We are here

I know its been over a week, but its been pretty busy. We are here in IL. No phone or internet at home and some limited at work (due to being in the country and in some sort of "valley" that won't let the technology of the 21st century into the building :)). So, we haven't been able to do much updating.

Just wanted to let you all know we are here and safe and happy. Next week, we will be going with the high schoolers to Summer in the Sun. It'll be a great way to get to know some of the youth better as we start the ministry.

Hope to have some pictures up sometime soon (probably a few weeks).

Bob, are you serious?

Bob, are you serious?
Originally uploaded by lilkup.

Here is Wes on the Bob the builder ride at Chuck E. Cheese. He didn't seem to impressed with Bob, just look at his face (esp. the eyes)

Nathan's new hat

Nathan's new hat
Originally uploaded by lilkup.

Another great pic of Nathan playing with his favorite toy. The hat is one of Mike's old ones that Nathan wanted to wear - it doesn't fit that bad.

What is he eating?

What is he eating?
Originally uploaded by lilkup.

Its Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper. But he really didn't eat it. Amy did accidently try to feed it to him, and he hated it. (Thankfully) He was a lot more willing to eat the baby food after he tasted this spicier mexican treat.

Amy takes a swing

Amy takes a swing
Originally uploaded by lilkup.

Here is a pic of Amy taking a practice swing with a seven iron. We never got to go play golf, due to bad weather. But I (Mike) like to believe that I would have still won, mainly because Amy has never played a round of golf before. It was a fun day.