Proof that he climbed in there voluntarily (Kate actually caught this picture)

NOT a bad idea, Ben... NOT a bad idea......

This doesn't give the best idea of what it will be like in the end (esp. since those 2x6's will eventually be a wall covered in cabinets) but... I had to show a bit of my husband's awesomeness since he did such a good job on the future-family-room windows. And there's my little girl vacuuming sawdust. What a helper. :)

This pic is for my mom b/c she couldn't come see it the other night. The new windows in the kitchen... just a tiny taste of what it will be someday -- and notice that it's not a picture of "things with no people." ;)

She wanted me to take a picture of the finished product to put on the blog

Kate working diligently on her first paper

We sat down to start homeschool and look who popped himself right up on to the bench. :)

Today is a BIG day for Kate!! It's her 6th birthday AND her first day of Kindergarten at the Anderson Academy for the Extremely Gifted and Adorable. :) She wanted to start school ON her birthday.

Happy bday, sweet girl - and happy first day of school.

Numbers 11:4-6
Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving and the people of Israel also wept again and said, "Oh, that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at."

"Obsessing on an unmet desire takes away our joy and delight in all that God has provided for us TODAY... If we focus our thoughts on looking only at what we hope tomorrow will bring (or what yesterday had), we will miss the pleasure of today. Life is made of todays, not tomorrows. What do we have today? Whatever it may be - a good friend, a hug, a freshly baked bagel, sunshine, a place to call home - can bring us joy because it is God's gift for our enjoyment. Taking joy in the little things is... CONTENTMENT."
- Lydia Brownback

Oh... I love you cheeseball...

A little background on this picture... our little Ben LOOOOVES to help Todd w/ the remodel. He's so funny! If you give him the option of a pile of toys and a few tools in a half-demoed room, he'll pick the tools everytime. And he loves just following Todd around "helping." It's pretty cute. He even has a preference for certain tools... Todd has a tool bag w/ various sized socket wrenches and screw drivers in it. Ben will pull each one out, look at the tip to see if it's the one he wants and if it's not, he puts it back in the little slot where it belongs... and he just keeps going until he finds the one he wants. It's pretty funny to watch.

ANYway... here's Ben helping when Daddy's not even home. And as you can see, he even got into some paint. I had to take a picture b/c I knew someday it would be funny (it wasn't funny at the time)

Kate, you crazy girl - why would you WANT to get in this picture?

Ben fell down right before this picture and Eliab didn't like getting his picture taken, I guess. It makes for a hilarious picture though, don't you think??? :D

Hi Eliab!

Sarah and Sam came over the other day to visit and brought Eliab (of course). Ben was curious about his baby cousin... or was it the pacifier he was interested in? :)