wonderful visit from the chapmans...

a couple days ago, the chapmans came down with new baby silas!!!
he is SOO cute and reminds me of staughty a lot...
and somehow these 4 always require a bath at some point in their playing =)
we walked the land and they played in the creek...esme was walking along a tree overhanging the creek and slipped and fell plop! right in and under the water....she was quickly fine wrapped in daddy's warm tshirt and on his shoulders though =)

caption...

clare: come on!! look happy!!!!
(and then he does)
clare: yes! that's it!
josh:i am thinking of putting you down!!!

that goofball!

he has always been able to make me laugh =)

i love my buddie...

being silly

this is our attempt at a romantic picture by the trees! ha!

thanksgiving...number...um...i have lost count!!

for josh having to work on thanksgiving day, we sure have made up for it with celebrations here and there and everywhere!!!
we went to my dad and sandra's today...it was so nice...i MISS seeing my brother and monica...and my dad and everyone else a lot! the wetaher was lovely and it was just a nice nice day...

kimmy!!

my dear kim is up with her family from tampa...for thanksgiving...so we stopped by there to see her enroute to my dad and sandra's house!
it was SOOO good to hug her neck if only for a moment...

clay and katie's house...

this is a studio clay built in their backyard...isn't it perfect!!!!!
we love IT!!!!
can't wait to have a home that feels like this!

today

visit to clay and katie's this morning...to their amazing little brick house in the backyard...to get an idea of what our house will look like...about 4 times bigger (the footprint) i love it so much!!!!

the last leaf picture is hilarious to me...bc josh didnt' want to play in the leaves until he came up with the bright idea to throw a bunch in my face!!! ha!

www.thekidshouldseethis.com

all i can say is that if you do not look at this site everytime she posts a new video on it...you are still happy and well i am sure, but o you are missing out on something special.

i can be absolutely by myself and in such laughter (watching cows enjoy jazz) or in tears (music created by a ball rolling down a 'hill') or just plain mouth gapingly in awe (bike rider, jet man, etc etc etc)

here is the impression i often get....
you know when you were in highschool and there were those people who were geniusly creative though some might have called them 'weird' ? you know what i mean? the one who could hammer out a whole recognizeable song with his fingers drumming on his desk...or the one who could draw crazy stuff on their folders...or who started a club for 'people who liked orgami'....
well, i feel like this site is full of those wonderful people all grown up!!! and now they are our artistic blood in our culture...and cool! there is a guy on here how makes all kinds of music in a laundry mat...and another who makes orgami that when you put it in water it unfolds into something gorgeous (i cried when i watched it)...or a slow motion movie of jello =) i LOVE it!!!!

so do my kids.
so CHECK IT OUT...put in on your favorites...whatever...but don't miss it.
http://www.thekidshouldseethis.com/

ps..for the record, i have no idea why 'i love you forever' book is posted to your right...i love the book! just no clue why it is there!

photo shoot for "the smile train"

the nicest family!!!!
friend of a friend of a friend...who lives here in columbus and her beautiful kids....
i took some photos yesterday to add to our smile train can for the cleft palate kids (which i have been mispelling..ha! pallet is wood, palate is the mouth! =))
anywho....i am continually amazed at this move to columbus as how much God has blessed us ...
there are so many families who feel like such kindred spirits...

and our jar is now just over $225!!!
next will be a little "run" at our place here in ellerslie...in a couple weeks....should be fun!
and then we'll tally and see how much we have!

now inside and happily dry