Tupperware Party, Anyone?

Things got quiet this morning. I rounded the corner to see this.

Looks like Macy figured out how to open cupboard doors :)

Macy Update

She's crawling, she's pulling herself up, she's shuffling around - holding on to furniture. Her curiosity is boundless. "No, no" has become a regular part of our language. She has a lot to say, we just don't have a clue what it is yet. But her words are always punctuated by laughter and smiles.

Back to School!

With backpacks over our shoulders and coffee in hand - it's our first day of school and we're off to our first class. Inductive Bible Study: Mark with Dr. Joe Dongell.


(picture was taken 7:45am, Sept. 6)

Cutco has competition

Amazing how sharp a baby's teeth are! And she's definitely experimenting with them. Ask the lady at the ice-cream social the other week who had two central incisors make contact with her lower calf! Well - that's one way to meet people... "Hi, I'm sorry my daughter bit you..."

Sleeping Beauties

When we said we'd wed, I remember one thing in particular that family members and college roommates felt it necessary to warn me about. "Good luck," they'd say, "getting him out of bed in the morning!" They were right.

Five years of marriage and I have been largely unsuccessful at getting him out of bed in under four alarm soundings.

Until just recently. It seems that Macy has a unique power to lure Jeremy out of slumber that no other person or machine has. She often ends up in bed with us early in the morning and inevitably crawls over to him and starts patting his face, sucking on his face... whatever it takes to get that smile out of her dad that makes her giggle.

And while Macy usually wins this exchange by coaxing daddy awake and out of bed... every once and a while they both win -

Labor Days

In my naive optimism I set out to repaint my china cabinet over labor day weekend - thinking it would just be a matter of slapping ona few coats of paint. It had been the Martha Steward Green you see on the hutch below. Thank goodness I didn't tackle the process alone. My mom-in-law (and eventually father-in-law and husband) all contributed.

(sanded hutch and primed buffet)


As these projects always are - it ended up being more than I'd bargained for. After having sanded, stripped and scraped the green paint off - it was finally time to paint. A coat of primer and two coats of paint later - this is our NEW china cabinet!



It certainly gives me a new perspective regarding the oft used expression, 'allowing God to strip me...' - not only how painful the process of stripping can be, but how ongoing - there are just so many layers. And even more significant; the commitment it requires on God's part.

Ending the Summer with the Summers

Jeremy's parents and brother, Nathan, spent the last weekend of the summer with us.

We went to Shaker Village,


Took a paddle boat down the Kentucky River


Played tennis, ate well, and refinished a china cabinet (see next post).

Christmas in July

In the heat of July our little family of three unwrapped a special present; about a month of no work, no school... it was wonderful.



What did we do? Mostly we spent time with family and spent time with each other.

I watched my favorite channel...

Jeremy got reacquainted with an old friend...


We visited family in Florida...
(Hemmingway's restaurant in Sarasota's St. Armand's Circle)


(Macy taking a break from shopping along St. Armand's Circle)



(Macy with her GREAT {insert wonderful, fantastic, etc. here} Grandma Buckles)


(Macy with her GREAT! uncle Bob)


(Macy with her double great aunt Mary)


And spent precious time with cousins

Camp Speaker

I had the opportunity to be the speaker at a week-long children's camp in Michigan called Simpson Park at the end of June. I was a bit intimidated because I have very little experience speaking to kids! However, the week was amazing. We walked through the book of James together with teaching in the morning and preaching at night. God met with us in unique and life-changing ways.

Campers Mallory and Lauren

Camp director, Kurt.

A special thanks to my friend Lindsay who came along and took care of Macy while I was preparing, speaking, or hanging out with kids.

reunion

At the end of June I(Andrea) spent a weekend in Holland, Michigan with two dear friends from College: Holly (Hontz) Ward and Amy Garrington










Holly's daughter, Ella (three months older than Macy) was also there and these two future college roomies did well keeping each other company.





Holly's Dad saved the day by rescuing both babies from their naps and bringing the heavy loads upstairs!