Birthday Wrap up!

We are winding up our birthday celebrations this week.  We had 2 big lunch outings.  The first was with Uncle Kirk and Aunt Jenni and Matt, Jon, Jacob.  We don't see the Walkers much so it is a real treat when we can be together.  Grandma Carol was busy that day so she really missed out.  We did miss her that's for sure!

The 2nd birthday lunch was with our older kids in Indianapolis.  We met at the Mongolian Barbeque Grill.  It was a neat place.  You pick your meat, veggies, sauce, spices, etc and then carry them up to a big grill where they grill it with big prongs in front of you.  They also served rice, wraps , and lettuce at your table to eat with the stir fry.  The kids loved it and the day was beautiful.  The family besides us 4 was Luke & Susi, Nick, Autumn, and Sweet Nolan. 

Below is our October birthdays' gang!

 

  Goodbyes are always tough.  Our kids (and us) love these big siblings and they never want to leave.  Family is just so valuable to us!  We love the family God has blessed us with.

This is our send off picture below but Sweet Nolan was running down the sidewalk being chased by Grandpa.  I think Nolan was winning the race!  What a fun little guy he is! 

We can't really have Fall/Halloween without pumpkin carving.  This was a good Saturday morning project.  We had to do this nasty deed indoors though since it was freezing outside.  The pumpkins were plenty cold!

We did our annual Operation Shoeboxes with Samaritan's Purse.  This is an important task for Josh & Cate since they always tell us about receiving shoeboxes one year at Kings' Garden Childrens' Home.

A good way to end the weekend was to hit the pond on the kayaks.  It was a beautiful day and there was no wind so off they went.  They are getting the hang of the paddles and were even able to race. 

 

There's just something about being on the water that creates peace inside of me.  Seeing Josh & Cate happy in their kayaks brought tears to my eyes.  Everyone deserves to be loved.  We love you Josh & Cate.  Happy Birthday!

Choosing joy,
Chris & crew

Birthdays, Birthdays, and More Birthdays!

Josh and Cate have birthdays 1 day apart plus we have another son, Nick, that shares a birthday with Cate.  Nick's wife, Autumn, is also in October plus our Grandma Joan is the same weekend as Josh & Cates so again I say....birthdays, birthdays, birthdays!  The partying started on Friday, October 18th with a bowling party with friends and will end on  October 27th when Susi gets back from Europe and we can celebrate with the older siblings.  A crazy long 10 days of celebrating!  And here we go....

Friends party at the bowling alley:

Now we move on to Saturday, October 19th, which was Grandma Joan's 83rd birthday.  We celebrated with her and other family at her home in Covington Commons.  Thank you Aunt Dawn, Uncle Tim, Aunt Kim, Uncle Tim 2, and Grandma Joan for the fun gifts!  We love you!

 

 

Grandma Carol and Grandpa Bob stopped by later to give Josh & Cate a birthday present.  This is one this momma requested   At first they weren't too impressed!  I mean electric toothbrushes don't see super fun but after using them a few times the kids seem really excited over them. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa.  We do like them now!

 

Cate had asked Grandma Carol for deviled eggs for her birthday so you know how Grandmas are!!!

 

Next was Sunday and a beautiful day outside so we gave the kids a big gift from us. Kayaks for the pond!

 All of this excitement and the actual real birthdays haven't even happened yet.  Wow!  Stayed tuned for more next week.  These are the birthdays that keep on giving. 

 

We are thrilled to bless Josh & Cate and we love that our family blesses them too.  We want to lift our family up in every way we can.  Psalm 139:14 says I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.  We tell Josh & Cate everyday that God made them and they are children of the King!  We love the Audio Adrenaline song that says "Every child has a dream to be loved!...Boys become kings,  girls will be queens wrapped in your majesty....When we love the least of these!"

 

Choosing joy,

Chris