Steve and Jenny Valentine

Karis was excited to have her own camera to take pictures and video with ... she captured some fun moments from our travel across the ocean ... Enjoy! Before we left Orlando selfie Boarding our airplane in Orlando Uno in the Frankfurt airport on our layover Very tired mommy rocking Olivia in Germany during our layover My cake snack on the airplane going to Poland We "we are almost to Poland" selfie "Flat" grammy and grandpa on the plane ride The Walking life our new friends-part of the Nungesser family (Mr. Richard is silly!) Mrs. Brooke out for lunch About to eat in my first cafe selfie juice for kids in Poland In bagel B LT during our house hunting adventure (well, this is not our home) in lego creation my little sister That's all for now ... Hope you enjoyed adventures with Karis!

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...

Just because I like looking at the kiddos at similar ages, in similar poses... Karis - around 13 months old on a trip to the beach Isaac - around 14 months old on a trip to the beach LOVE these two beach babies!  Definitely similar in looks, yet still very different!  Both of their sweet smiles light up our days!   Thankful for them.

There are days I have with my daughter that I sit back, smile and marvel at what the Lord is doing in her little life. Yesterday was one such day and even today she was just so sweet and I treasure such moments with her! Karis, since she was old enough to talk (so pretty much the past year and a half), has brought much joy wherever she goes and lights up a room with her big grin! She has also begun to have a heart of service, which Steve and I can only attribute to the Lord's working in her life, because only He can make a heart be filled with love for others. We love watching her play in the little toy kitchens at other's houses (because we dont have a play kitchen at our house she especially enjoys the treat of being at someone's house who does have one) as she busily puts together "tea" for everyone and then proceeds to serve all the guests who will accept her cups. It warms my heart because we have prayed and continue to pray that she be filled with a love for...

I often wished I had enough time each day (where I didn't feel tired) and could write for hours on end, especially about my precious children.  But reality with two small kiddos (both now on the move), life just doesn't allow for that right now.  And that's ok.  I like to post updates about my kiddos so that our family (who mostly live far away) can have a glimpse in the day in and day out of these precious babies they don't get to see so often.  Since trying to recap an entire year would demand more than one blog post for Karis, I decided that it would be fun to recap with pictures only.  Pictures that show a highlight from each month over the past year of her life.  Seeing that it's already November, I'm two months past when I wanted to post this, but better late than never, haha! AUGUST-taken on her 1st birthday after her party SEPTEMBER-Karis is into everything, and always VERY curious! SEPTEMBER-fun family day at the beach OCTOBER-O...