Kassi's 30th Birthday/Weekend at Gulf Shores

For several different reasons we were not able to make the Lakes Family beach trip this summer after so looking forward to it. James was pretty crushed because he had talked all summer about building a sandcastle and had not been to the beach since he was a baby. We are so grateful that our brother-in-law's parents let us use their place at Gulf Shores for the weekend and that I got to celebrate my 30th birthday there as well. They had also let us use their place seven years ago for our honeymoon but we hadn't been back since, so it was so special to go back and bring the boys with us. I prayed that they would see everything the beach has to offer in those couple of days and we sure did: crabs, a jellyfish, and even dolphins on the last morning. James absolutely love the sand. He literally rolled around in it and made "snow angels." Jude was pretty content with the whole situation too, but that's his way. We got to enjoy several yummy restaurants (Thank Dad & Mare and Mom for the extra birthday $$ for the trip!), mini golf, and picnics at the pool after our mornings at the beach. Here are the pictures in several posts:

Summer Highlights Four

We started preschool about two weeks ago. I am homeschooling for preschool, and after several years of talking and praying we feel lead to homeschool starting out in the elementary years and reevaluating year by year. (The reasons are many: christian education being so important to us, more time with our children,  knowing the personality of our child, and flexibility with life in ministry. It's not for everybody, but (for right now) it's for us and the way we sense God leading our family. Isn't it great that we live in a country where we can choose!) There was a possibility of teaching two days a week with a homeschool co-op in the area this year that didn't work out in the end (the original teacher ended up working out), but I'm really hoping that both James and I can get on board when he starts kindergarten next year. This year we are doing All About Reading, Five in A Row, and then as many real-life, hands-on activities as we can! We will also probably add in the second year of Awana Cubbies to finish up where we left off at church last year since our new church isn't currently doing that program. 

Before a Birmingham Barons game (our first!) with our church

 Jude's First Haircut! He was perfect and didn't fuss a bit. I waited as long as possible but the hair was in his eyes all the time. And his curls are still very much there after that first haircut!

An after shot when we got home from his first haircut. 

James is 4.5! Maybe I can do an update on life with James at 4.5 soon!

James is painting and it was Jude's first time coloring (aka eating crayons!)

Summer Highlights 3

Early in the summer we went to the grand opening of the children's exhibit at the Southern Museum of Flight and made a 2 second news clip (we had to rewind and pause multiple times for James to see himself!) and at the end of summer we went to Desoto Caverns because James won a family fun pack from our library for summer reading. It was our first trip to both places. I love Birmingham!

We've enjoyed the backyard this summer especially with our little walker who took off around 14 months.

Summer Highlights 2

We enjoyed The Fourth with Stephen's Family. It's been a tradition for several years now.

I'm Back (and Summer Highlights too!)

I'm back from my unofficial, unannounced blogging hiatus. I decided after Jude's birthday that I was going to take a break for the summer to focus on sunshine, outdoor adventures, and two busy boys. My heart just needed some time of peace, and I just needed to be quiet. After looking high and low (and sending resumes for months) since the beginning of 2014 for church positions, we turned down two at the end of May to await the outcome of a ministry opportunity that we actually didn't search for where we'd be serving alongside a friend. We had prayed through all the possibilities, and we truly believed it was the direction the Lord was leading us. And after several years of waiting for that open door, our hopes were high and disappointment was higher when we learned the church had decided to go with the other candidate in the end. I don't question God's sovereignty but it still doesn't come without any pain. I had just come to the point that I had grown weary in waiting and so I spent the summer unplugged from the blog and wrestling through that with God...And about three weeks ago God, in His infinite wisdom and impeccable timing, provided more and better...He provided exactly the position that we needed. And I can't wait to share more about all that God orchestrated very soon. It's all Him and I want Him to be glorified in it all...He is so good!

But first, here are some of our summer highlights because the boys are changing so fast (probably in several posts and in no particular order! Controlled chaos is my season right now so bear with me.)

Dressing like Daddy for a Father's Day Card we made. 

 Cow Appreciation Day 2014

We participated in cow appreciation again! I think this was the fourth year. And even though I always say "we never win anything", we actually got a runner-up prize from our local Chickfila = free meals and a huge stuffed cow James named Fluffy. :)

We enjoyed Tree Top (similar to Chucky Cheese but more to offer) with Nana and Grandpa. 

We used ibotta rebates (a new fun app!) to purchase Planes Fire and Rescue tickets (and I chopped off my hair!)

Jude does this constantly. 

 I've taught many kids to swim but it was pretty special to teach my own big boy this summer. He's so proud of himself and says "I'm a man now..!" Ha!

Their personalities captured: Bossy firstborn and mischievous baby brother!

Father's Day Breakfast 

I had a special date with my firstborn this summer! It was good for us both!