memories

Ben and I have spent the last hour looking through 11 years of photos. We're gathering pictures for someone's special something. Can't give it away online. I would hate to be that person.

Anyways, we have laughed so hard. The people. The memories. Seriously. One of my most favorite things in life is the way that God intertwines people's lives. The people that come and go. And come and stay. Either way, it's beautiful. It's important. It's life changing. We're meant to impact those around us.  My heart is so full. There is a lot of joy in these pictures. And a fair share of sadness and heartache. But the only way I can really think to describe all of it is John 10:10.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

This picture may have made me laugh the hardest.

happy birthday, nuru

Nuru International is a mission dedicated to ending extreme poverty and it just turned 3 years old. Many of the people involved, including the founder, several board members and staff, are friends of Ben's from his college days at WVU. Several we have reconnected with since moving back to Morgantown.  I wanted to share this birthday video with you b/c what they are doing is indredible. If you are interested in learning more about Nuru, please visit their website.

game day

So this past weekend, we took our kids for some good quality time with their grandparents. We stayed up way too late and got up earlier than I wanted to.  John and Shawna stayed with us for the weekend. Saturday morning we went to ESPN's Game Day at the Lair which a really fun experience. And most of Morgantown really behaved themselves. According to a twitter I saw, there were about 13,000 people there.

View from Stalnaker Hall

 We spent most of the time on the Lair near the band.

Our view of the jumbo screen.

 The huge dude in front of us the entire time.

We tried to tailgate in the afternoon but due to parking and rain we ended up at home napping. I'm good with that. Our friends Seth and Stacy came over to cook out and then we rode the hot, sweaty, crowded PRT to the game. 

We stopped by a friend's tailgate - we know them from church and young life and the circle of State Farm agents that never ceases to amaze me.

The Good Year Blimp

The band was awesome as always. We didn't get to sit with Seth and Stacy - we were each on the 40 yard line. Just not the same 40 yard line. But hey, who can complain about free tickets?  The atmosphere was amazing and crazy. Although it being a 8 o'clock game gave everyone a LONG time to drink. You get the picture. The game was a little bit of a bummer. But so thankful to have been able to go with Ben.

built by the home depot

In case you live under a rock (or at least outside the great state of West Virginia) you most likely know that ESPN's Game Day is in Morgantown this weekend. Their first time ever. For the WVU vs. LSU game. It's a big deal. They set up camp on the Mountain Lair (so have some students so they can get great spots for Saturday morning's show). Yesterday, we went after school with Uncle Charlie to see if we could catch a glimpse of anyone even semi-famous. No luck. But the set is pretty cool! My goal for tomorrow is to at least see the show from a distance - the top of High Street or something. I don't have to get too close unless the opportunity presents itself. Just want to be part of it. 

Let's go Mountaineers! 

mid-september pictures

So it's the middle of September already. The middle and end of months freak me out a little bit b/c they just keep coming. And it's another month in the books. Yikes! 

Kindergarten is getting better everyday. Ted now asks me to not walk him to the bus so he can get on by himself. He says he loves Kindergarten and that he's going to "rock it" today. Art and Music are two favorites. He started fall soccer this week. Loves it! He's super into learning to read, spelling words and reading chapter books together which is fun.

I'm working 2 days a week. Trying to stick it out one more year w/o working more full time. Sophie is going to "Tuesday School" - a Mom's Day Out - one day a week. I love it. She loves it. I so wish it was 2 days a week. It's so cute. I share a sitter with a friend one day a week. It's crazy when I can come home to work and no one's here. A taste of next year when Sophie will do PreK. It's a freedom of sorts. I'm enjoying my other days with Sophie. We have a lot of fun together. 

So, some pictures from the first half of the month . . .

We spent the morning of the Marshall game at Urgent Care for Ted. He ended up on some sort of antibiotic. We missed Ben's first sermon at South Ridge Church. Bummer.

So then we had to wait at CVS for the prescription to be filled. So we played in the toy aisle.

Sophie had some blood work done last week. She has inherited her father's elusive veins. She got stuck in both arms and they had to dig around. She was a TROOPER! The ladies were so impressed with her demeanor and not crying that they gave her a coupon for a free smoothie at the coffee shop in the lobby.

I got Ted a notebook that we write in a couple of days a week. A journal of sorts that will help him with spelling, writing and reading. And will hopefully turn into a habit in a spiritual sense. It's already fun to look back at it!

Ted likes to make lists of words he "knows." Once we hit phonics we'll be golden. He has to learn to spell and write Theodore at school. He's been practicing a lot.

Sophie is a water coloring fool these days. Sometimes she water colors the table, her shirt and most of her arms.

Sophie on her way to school. This was actually her second week b/c the first week it was pouring down the rain and we didn't get that far.

game day

The plan earlier in the week was for us to go tailgate as a family and Ben would go to the game. But Ben scored us 4 (free!) tickets. So, we decided to take the kids and see what happened. It was a beautiful day and fun to see all sorts of friends all over the different lots.

View of the stadium from WVU Hospitals.

Walking to the game. We always park in the surrounding neighborhoods and make the short hike to the stadium.

Ted and I sat in the Allevato's seat on the student side. This was our view of the field. Ted asked LOTS of questions about football and was fairly engaged with the game. I didn't feel like a great football tutor. Too bad the first half STUNK! We left and they scored 3 touchdowns before we got home.

Oh, hi there band! Ted loved it.

John & Ted

Ben & Sophie sat in the upper deck, first row at the end of the blue sign with some friends from Charleston. See them?

This was their view. Great seats too. I like the view of the entire field myself.

The halftime show was neat - a salute to all the branches of the military.

I found Sophie sitting 2 rows up after the halftime show. We made it through halftime and then came home.

Ben was kind enough to carry my bag.

Ted went shirtless for awhile.

Everyone had a great time and the kids did a great job. 

I was going to do our annual game day picture, but by the time we got around to it, the humidity had gotten the best of my hair and we were all gross and sweaty. Yes, I'm vain. I would much rather have a good picture go down as our annual game day picture. Next week!

family bike ride

As the kids get older, it's getting more and more fun. Ted is playing fun board games (not just Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders) and they are even playing together nicely. It's a gift to not have my eyes on Sophie at every moment of every day and that she can even entertain herself. 

So Saturday, we did something I've been wanting to do for a long time - we took a family bike ride! I want to be a bike riding family. It's fun, it's good exercise and Ben loves to ride bikes. So it's something we can all do together that everyone enjoys.

I rode Ben's old bike. All we had to do was change out the pedals so I didn't have to buy bike shoes. Ted rode his bike.

Ben pulled Sophie in the bike trailer. I bought that thing about 2 years ago at a yardsale. We've used it a handful of times but totally worth the $20 I paid for it!

We started on the Deckers Creek Trail near our house and rode to the Mon River Trail. Sophie wore her helmet all morning - while we changed out pedals, pumped up tires, loaded the van with 3 bikes and a trailer and got water bottles ready. An hour and a half later while we were assembling everything at the trail, she was a sweaty mess.

We made a pit stop at the playground at The Wharf. It's such an odd playground and my kids aren't quite big/strong enough to do everything yet.

They had the most fun on the actual big people exercise equipment.

I think that a bike rack might eventually be a good investment - for the longevity of the interior of our van and the safety of those within. This was definitely a happy heart moment!