Steve and Jenny Valentine

Today was low-key for the most part {yet not}!  I say low key because we didn't do a whole lot, but in the same sense we did way more than we would usually do in one day {which resulted in a no napping day for Karis and a screaming fit at bedtime}...WHEW! It was a fun day, though, and I spent each moment during the day taking advantage of extra snuggles and sweet conversations {or just staring at my sweet baby girl}.  She is three today, yet it seems like she's already been three for a while {after all since she was about two and a half she's been telling people she's three}.  Daddy is out of town for business and comes home tomorrow. We are all excited for his arrival home {especially Karis because that means more presents to open!} It's hard having him away on such a special day, but we also know and appreciate {and talk a lot about} that he is doing what God has called him to right now to help provide and care for our family.  We had lots of fun face time con...

7/23/13 - Two things: Karis likes taking pictures and Jenny is NOT a morning person. 7/24/13 - We've been letting Karis ride her bike in the house a lot lately, mostly because the rainy weather doesn't let us get outside to play and Jenny has been sick. 7/25/13 - What child doesn't like playing in mud puddles? This is about the only thing that we could do outside today with all the rain we've been having around here! 7/26/13 - Well there ya have it folks...baby number three for our family is due to make an arrival in the Spring :) 7/27/13 - Grammy and Grandpa came to town and so did the gifts for the kiddos! 7/28/13 - We always enjoy sunsets out our back door. Spectacular! 7/29/13 - Isaac first playing with crayons...yes he does have it on his face. This is what happens when mommy turns around for 30 seconds to grab something off the counter ;)

Again, another double week of pictures. It's been a crazy month for our family with sickness and ailments. We are thankful to {hopefully} be coming through to the end of this {for now}! So here are Weeks 28 and 29 in pics... WEEK 28: 7/9/13 - Karis always wants to make sure her babies are fed, so she nurses them as she sees fit. Today she decided that they both should be nursed at the same time! 7/10/13 - Brother/Sister snuggles. These two really love each other and it's been so neat to watch their relationship grow together over the past few months. 7/11/13 - Karis can trace letters and has been doing so for a few months now. Today when we were outside playing with chalk she drew a H and said, "look mommy I drew an H all by myself"! Very impressed with our {almost} three year old! 7/12/13 - It's been raining a lot here in the afternoon time {which is usually when we'll venture outside to play} and so we've had to improvise with some in...

I'm feeling pretty humble and grateful for some sweet neighbors today. Our neighbors are the type you HOPE you end up with when moving into a new neighborhood! All of the neighbors we have here are the type of people who don't just offer to help you, but actually do. This is rare folks! When we first moved into this neighborhood, I wasn't too sure I was going to like it just because of its location, but the price was affordable and we moved in just months before Karis was born.  To my delight. We began to meet our neighbors little by little only to find out we have really AWESOME ones! Most of them have small children and its been a joy to watch our kids become friends and play together the past three years. These are neighbors we've shared meals with, gone on adventures with, borrowed eggs and spices we don't have at the moment and taken care of each others kids on occasion. Neighbors we have shared our struggles with and found joy in investing time in their lives....