the park

Just a few photos from a random trip to the park, in the last couple of weeks, showing off Grant's favorite slide ;) We love the park but it is almost to the point where I dread taking him, or even walking through when we're going for a stroll, because he screams when we don't stop or when we are playing there and have to leave. I am ready for this phase to pass!

the hunt

I think we waited until the coldest day we've had yet to go on our great Christmas tree hunt! Grant liked the smaller trees, the ones more his size. We didn't waste any time finding the "perfect" tree for fear our fingers would freeze before Frank got it chopped down.

Dad & his little helper making the tree fit just perfectlyAlso, here is #24 of the 31 Biblical Virtues to pray for your kids.

A servant's heart. "God, please help my children develop servants' hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men" (Eph. 6:7).

Have a great week everyone!

Thanksgiving weekend

We had a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving including a fun time at an indoor water park with Frank's family over the weekend. Grant absolutely loved the water and enjoyed going down his first water slide by himself, countless times...of course we missed getting any pictures of that!

18 months young

As I mentioned in the previous post, we are all fortunate and thankful to be healthy in our house these days. We had a great time with Grandpa and Grandma O visiting, dragging them all over town doing things we like to do such as swimming, going for walks, painting, playing, playing, playing! Always sad to see them go but Christmas is just around the corner so we'll see them again soon.

Since they departed we've managed to stay busy and are getting ready to celebrate Frank's birthday tomorrow! This weekend we celebrated with Frank's family and had some early birthday cake which Grant and his cousins thoroughly enjoyed.

It's amazing to think that our little guy turned 18 months old last week. His dr appointment went well...which means he did scream and cry through most of it, particularly his shots, but his doctor said he looks great and is healthy and doing his "Grant thing!" Meaning he's holding strong in the 3rd percentile for weight and at 70% for height ;) Long and lean like his parents.

Lastly, another biblical virtue to pray for your kids. #23. Faith. "I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them" (Lk. 17:5-6, Heb. 11:1-40).

Healthy

Where have we been for the last couple of weeks? Well, thankfully, we've all been healthy and having a great time! Grandpa and Grandma O made a quick visit and kept us busy as you'll see below.

Grandma made an amazing advent calendar for our family and Grant can't keep his little hands off of it!

Grandma joined us for art class with our friends Erin & Wes

...and even more fun at the Children's Museum

Brushing teeth ;)

An early Christmas present from Grandpa & Grandma O and he loves it!
Check out that electrifying hair!


The box was a lot of fun too!
Having fun at a pizza parlor

Our little bucket head ;)

Frog Prince

Thankfully Grant was back to his usual chipper self on Saturday so our little frog prince got to enjoy his first night of real Trick or Treating! We stayed in the neighborhood but by the last house he was reaching and picking out his own candy and saying thank you. His costume was adorable and warm thanks to Grandma R.

With some of his loot
Last year he only got to lean against the tree in our front yard and eat some leaves ;)

fever, fever stay away

Poor Grant had a fever last week for 2 days and then the virus stuck around for another couple of days finally putting him in the clear around Sunday. We, therefore, cancelled a number of activities and were hermits in effort to contain our germs and not spread the love to our friends.

Most of you know this is a true test for me to stay in the house but we did it and it seemed to do the trick for Grant, however, this week we continued to lay low in hopes of all of this flu & cold business to stay away from us and we again find ourselves with a feverish little boy?! Last night it started and it continues to hang on, I HATE it when he's sick.

Here are a few photos from our recent activities...you'll notice they're all at home!

31 Biblical Virtues to pray for your kids

22. Contentment. "Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength" (Phil. 4:12-13).

Grant's pumpkin in our garden, now proudly displayed on our front porch

I cleaned up Grant's pool and put it in the garage with some toys for the rainy winter months

Grant and Daddy cheering for the Huskies on Saturday

This poor pumpkin has been thoroughly searched

This is what you do when you are confined at home for days on end...build forts ;)

art class

Monday is art day so today I managed to take a few, very quick, photos in class. I even managed to do so without getting paint all over the camera and Grant swimming in it in my hands-off absence ;)

We started off very tame with choosing from a few paints on a paper plate, however, he did end up with some black paint on his rear end?!

Next came the art easels, Grant's absolute favorite, he's obsessed with the paint brush in the paint cup...

He's loves getting it on the floor which is a no-no from the teacher and why we both end up barefoot by the end of the class!

Final masterpieces! What do you think? Couldn't that bottom painting be a red airplane and a pink person being chased by an alligator?!! ;)

oregon coast

We had a delightful weekend visiting friends who invited us to stay with their family over the weekend at their beach home. The weather was beautiful yet chilly but more than we could have asked for or expected this late in the Fall at the coast.

Grant playing with his friends Luke & Hannah

Yes, the water was FREEZING but a lot of fun...Grant eventually lost his pants since they were soaked ;)

Watchful Daddy with Grant in a puddle playing

I'm convinced the favorite part of the trip for Grant was Shasta, his new best friend

Grant at the zoo last week with his friend Juliet

Lastly, I am again behind on posting the 31 biblical virtues to pray for your kids so here is #21:

Responsibility. "Grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load" (Gal. 6:5).

Have a great week everyone!

Love,

Abby