playing house

When my siblings and I were kids, we spent many, many long summer afternoons in and out of the play house and the basement, "keeping house". I have thought back to those days many times in the past few weeks since the temporary state of our home means that we are kind of piecing life together and finding multiple uses for the many wonderful things that people have so graciously allowed us to borrow. We have concluded that while playing house was a fun game for when we were six or eight (or ten or twelve) years old, it becomes a little bit more challenging when you are a real family living real life. But we are getting along very well, and cherishing this time in the U.S.

Besides, we really don't spend that much time at home... we're on the go a lot, and when we're not, I have a little girl (now a toddler! she's finally walking!) who is pulling out her shoes and pointing to my purse and begging to leave the house. A couple weekends ago we kept busy spending time with Matt & Kim and family, recording a CD with my Zehr cousins, helping out with a wedding shower for Andy & Laura, and the like. Two weekends ago we enjoyed being around here more - going to a pond with Grant's cousins on Saturday morning and the Sunday School picnic on Sunday afternoon - as well as a quick trip to Champaign for the Showcase of Homes and Olive Garden with Brent & Janelle. Last weekend we got to get together with some good friends - our prayer group, and Brandon & Corin and Kylin, which we enjoyed immensely. This past weekend we tried to stay positive considering that I am now past my due date... my family came our way last evening and we did a little trip to Wildlife Prairie Park and out to eat for Dad's 50th birthday. Grant has been filling his days with work and it is a good routine for us - so thankful for all God has provided this summer.

Like I said, Ivory is finally walking and that makes our little newcomer seem much less overwhelming. She's steadier and more independent every day (in more ways than one) and although these new freedoms present their own challenges, she is much lower maintenance than she has been in past months.

We would really appreciate your prayers for baby boy's birth, because after doing some research and talking to the doctors, we are going to try a VBAC (normal birth after c-section). There are some risks involved, but we've had many green lights and feel like we should go forward with it. I plan to deliver at OSF St. Francis in Peoria.

Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks:

Playing in puddles after the rain

Visiting Daddy at work and eating lunch with him

Such a fun morning swimming and being together with other moms and kids from Princville church

Watching fireworks - the noise didn't bother her a bit, and she loved this little lawn chair that Mom brought for her.

Prayer group

Playing at the park with Kylin

We got to see Adrienne on Saturday! It was so fun. 

A trip to Wildlife Prairie Park - my Dad's 50th birthday is today, so yesterday my family came our way to spend some time together, which we thoroughly enjoyed. 

So hopefully the next time we post, there will be exciting news!