Summer is here!

Our summer days have a rhythm now- morning "blessing hour" where we bless each other by tidying up our home and tending to things around the yard and animals. Then we move onto music practice, reading and math review. After that we tend to gravitate to the outdoors, to pool time or mud kitchen, naps for baby girl and weeding the gardens for Mama. Our days are full and overflowing but rich with goodness and beauty. We went strawberry picking on a big girls and Mama date and made jam.  We made a house from a box, explored a pond and swam with cousins and friends.  

Eleven Months with Phoebe

Phoebe Hope is eleven months old! It's hard to believe that she's been here with us for almost one year and yet, we can't imagine life without her. Our dear girl is so busy these days.  She's taking steps and standing on tables and chairs, pulling every book off the shelf and eating everything in sight.  Phoebe is especially in love with bath bubbles, the chickens, faces, (her face in mirrors), smashing food, and emptying cupboards. She loves putting things in and out of containers and laughs hysterically when she spills things.  She is also fascinated by mouths and watches ours intently- mouthing sounds we make and trying out new words. Her vocabulary exceeds 20 words but her favorite words are: Lena, Emmie, all done, thank you, Bapa (Papa), kitty and buck buck (chicken). She has mastered the  "Dot grin" and loves watching Emmie play cello and Lena piano.  We rejoice in God's goodness to us through his gift of each little person in our home!