Family PIc April 2015

Family PIc April 2015

Saturday, August 15, 2015

FIRST CAR - TITLE IN HAND!!

It's been increasingly difficult to share vehicles with 2 teenage drivers in the house. 

Our spare vehicle is a 1973 Chevy pickup that is most reliable taking the trash to the dump and hauling wood.

We weren't especially comfortable with the boys driving it longer distances to classes or ball practices/tournaments.  So, I was usually left home without a vehicle while one of them took the van.  Poor me! ;)

Nathan will be a senior this year and has been talking about getting a car for probably 2 years now.  But he began looking, realistically, about 6 months ago.

Last Friday, he purchased his first car - on Kedesh's 4th bday.  He laughed and told her he bought her a car for her birthday.  She might actually think it's hers - lol!

Pretty proud of this guy for working hard, saving his money, and being patient.  I admit, it was pretty surreal watching Nathan hand over his money to the seller.

He wanted something different.  Anyone who knows Nathan wouldn't expect him to get any type of car that a "normal" 17 yr. old might purchase.

But, when Nathan saw the Jaguar on Craigslist, I scoffed.  His daddy, on the other hand, encouraged him to check into it.  Go figure! 

And, the rest is history.

His brothers and sisters had to check it out the first chance they got...




 
Then, we had a little photo session with just Nathan.  He was pretty excited, can you tell?



 
Nathan, of course, had to clean the car inside and outside - every nook and cranny. 
 
To do this, he enlisted the help of a couple of his siblings, who were gracious enough to help...
 




 
And, he ended up waxing it "until the cows came home!"



It's been quite a week getting all the paperwork completed at the local DMV (Boy, could I write a post about THAT experience...but I'm trying to keep this upbeat!)

Registration and property taxes are paid, tags are on, extra keys have been cut, and the new title with his name on it came in the mail today...and, just like that, my firstborn owns his FIRST CAR - TITLE IN HAND!






Friday, August 7, 2015

Happy 4th Birthday To Our Little Songbird!!

Four years ago, today...I had just given birth.

Our little girl was born at home, in a tub of warm water, face up...looking right into our eyes.

 

It was one of those surreal moments I will NEVER. EVER. FORGET.

For days, we ooooo-ed and ahhhhhh-ed over her.  We found ways to attach bows to her tiny head and dressed her in lots of pink!

 


photo credit:  Storing Up Treasures Photography

Kedesh Elizabeth has continued to bring us joy and laughter.  Her smile is one of those smiles that radiates and lights up an entire room.


 

AND SHE SINGS OR TALKS NONSTOP! 

She talks to herself in the mirror while she washes her hands or brushes her hair...

She sings while she plays with her toys...

She talks to herself (or anyone who will listen) as she walks outside...

She sings as she plays on the swing...

And as she floats in the pool...

And if she is sitting at the dinner table, there is a constant little buzz of noise from her end of the table.

If she falls asleep, we suddenly realize how quiet it gets!  I'm not kidding!  (It's like the sound a house makes when the electricity goes out.  Everything shuts down and you realize the quiet is a little eerie!) 

I JUST LOVE THAT ABOUT HER!

Kedesh adores her big sister probably the most, because they are a lot alike and share a special sister-bond.




But her big brother, Caleb, is no doubt the one she runs to when she is seeking a special favor or protection from someone "being mean."  Her "Blub", as she calls him, (She couldn't say "Caleb" for years.) will always give her that sweet snack she wants, or pick her up and love on her if someone has hurt her feelings.  She has him wrapped around her little finger and she knows it!



And, Caleb...he just smiles.  He loves her to pieces. 

When Kedesh was a baby, Caleb was always the sibling who could get her to fall asleep on his chest.  He was the one who would hold her for hours while he read in the evenings.  So, they really do have a special bond.


So, today, we celebrate 4 years with our little gift - our beautiful little girl!

Happy 4th Birthday, Kedesh!  We are so glad God gave you to us!