These are in random order, however, it's good to catch up a little!

Early December

Mark took me to Stillwater for a night at the Rivertown Inn. Highly suggest it to anyone looking for a

 nice B&B.

February 

 This is what happens when your house is being prepared to "show". We are moving! The next step toward the Philippines.

March

Ian and Dad looking all adorable. He wants to be just like dad. Not a bad desire at all.

March

 First time for Emmaline to be out in the snow. She isn't really walking yet, though she is very close. She just stood... 

January

 This is from several months ago, she want even close to walking, yet I found her on the table. She LOVES to climb. Plus, a photo of some of her first pig tails. :)

December

Original House of Pancakes during Christmas break with the Grandparents!

December

The girls and their dolls! What a Christmas.

It was so fun to have both Jack and Corine and Elizabeth come for Christmas. This time our water heater didn't break!

Best Buds. Best Cousins! as Ian says, he's not my friend, he's my cousin. 

January

Emmaline so happy now that she can finally see.

Two weeks after she got her glasses, we were able to schedule for her to get tubes. 

January

prepping for surgery. 

THEY CHANGED HER LIFE!!!! (the tubes)

Always tries to do what Ian does. Maybe she will start early...

Some family time at the Mall of America.

March

                                               

This is where we will be moving! God provided a wonderful house for us to rent. Each step along the way, God's provision and sovereign hand have been such a comfort. I'm so thankful that He is directing our future and has our immediate needs taken care of. I've been rebuked time and time again by how he  takes care of things in a way that is so much better than I could have imagined. 

Fall

The fence mark has worked so hard on...



Leaves we've been raking...



Ian's costume...



Birthday date with honey...



Ian pretending he is sleeping beside Mark...



Playing in leaves at grandparent while in Illinois...



Almost here-Emmaline!



- Posted by Amy

33 weeks along, a birthday, and a very busy husband

   Can't believe how quickly time has flown by with this second pregnancy. I've had my attention on little Ian this go around. The laughs, hugs, smiles, snacks, naps, quick trips to the store, long moments trying to think through schedules, and prayers before bed have all added up to a very different 7 1/2 months. (Much different than I had leading up to Ian's birth.)

     Motherhood truly is a joy. With Ian at 17 months I pray that I'll be as consistent as can be with rearing him in 'the way he ought to go' during the next (very) busy months. We are eagerly awaiting little Emmaline's arrival. Mark had worked so hard the last several weeks after work and crammed lots in each weekend to prepare for this winter. We've had a list of projects: fence in the back yard, replace furnace, dresser for Emmaline, reorganize pantry, prepare kitchen area for our downstairs, go through bins and change out Ian's clothes. Mark has mostly finished the fence (pictures to follow). He has worked out all the details for our soon to be replaced furnace. Also, he made my birthday very special by completing the last to items on my list before Emmaline's birth.
    Friday night mark and I went on a fun lengthy date to IKEA for my birthday. We ate there and walked around for hours. It was so great to spend that time with him. We came back home with a dresser for our little girl and a shelf unit for the pantry/ kitchen area to fix our "problem spots". Mark really has done the work of several men with all these projects. I'm so thankful for his love and service to me and our family. I've been given quite a man. I praise the Lord for him.

- Posted by Amy

What we brought home from the Ultrasound...

I am 20 weeks along with our second pregnancy, and feeling wonderful. I thank the Lord for the strength and the energy He has given over the last 4 months. I was for certain that we probably would have another boy, but thought it would be fun not to find out this pregnancy what the gender of the baby would be.  I really wanted a boy first and I got one and have been enjoying every minute with little Ian. 

but... 

I guess the anticipation was getting the better of me.

 Mark and I 

really have trouble picking out names...

 and

WELL...

  I'm glad we found out because we are really bad especially with girl names. Mark never likes what I pick for girls. So now we have a few months to get one nailed down.

I was so excited and giddy when I found out that it was going to be

a Girl!

First Time with Crayons