Please don't report me to Social Services!!!

Ok, so now that we have a little puppy our neighbors let us borrow this not-so-little crate. Well...I can't keep the kids out of it. They think it is their little clubhouse. Ryland likes to tell me he is having a party and takes ALL his toys in there. Seriously, I know this can't look good...but boy does this make it easy to get stuff done...JUST KIDDING! I try to keep them out, but they just look like they are having so much fun. Check out Addie's crazy faces as she is trying to do her best wild animal impression! What wild animal makes those crazy faces? Only she knows!

Another fun thing lately is their new Power Team with the neighbor kids. They apparently have a clubhouse of sorts and go on little adventures between the 2 houses. Ryland, AKA #12, will say "Go see Power People" and I think they are about to turn Leyla into wonder-dog. It's fun to have neighbors with young kids!

We also just had a great weekend with my mom, AKA Nana, and Grandpa Ted. We went to the Virginia Creeper, highly recommended by Annie, and really had a great time. Our camera battery died, but we did get a couple shots on Richard's phone. Ryland was in a little pull-behind wagon type thing. I didn't realize how much dirt he was getting in his face until the end...poor little guy, but he didn't complain much. I think he is most happy covered in dirt!

Four!

Wow, I am at a loss for words...my precious little baby girl, my first born, my little dancer, angel, princess, and bunkin head...has blessed our lives for 4 years. In these last 4 years her life has brought laughter, tears, smiles, humility, vulnerability, inspiration, and blessing! I have had many moments of feeling "in over my head," and more than once needed to ask her for forgiveness, but through it all God has been changing me, humbling me, and preparing me for the road ahead which, as much as I want to freeze this age, I am thrilled to travel with her (and hopefully she will still WANT me with her as she grows into a little teenager...yikes!). I love her with all of my heart. I love that I see bits of Richard, my first love, in her. I love that I see Christ's love in and through her. I love that she has taught me unconditional love. I just love Addison Grace King and she is now 4...our still little very BIG GIRL! And for her big birthday we had a great party with family and friends to share this big day with. Here are some pictures from the big day and the BIG SURPRISE!

She was thrilled with all of her presents, but this fishing pole from Poppy got a little extra hug!



Even Ryland came away with a present from Poppy!

We played some great games...this one a particular hit. I think we will decorate her secret passage way with these feet and hand prints from all her friends and cousins!

THE PRESENT...it is a bottomless box with a puppy in it. She started to tear the paper off but we kept saying "just pick it up." So she picked it up while still focusing on tearing off the paper, not noticing the little pup crawl out from underneath. She finally turned the box over to find out it was empty and sadly tossed it down thinking there was nothing in it and it was just a trick. Meanwhile the puppy is scurrying off...eventually she realizes the puppy was in the box and is hers, but boy did it give us some laughs. It is a riot to watch back on tape too! And needless to say...she is IN LOVE, as are we!

Here are just some pictures from my few flowers in the back yard. Next year we will do better, but the kids really do love helping me out there...especially if it involves water in any way. Some of their favorite things now are...getting wet (whether via a pool, hose, river, shower, rain, etc.), picking up bugs (Ryland especially loves to pick up ants...and he is even drawn to bees - it is AMAZING he hasn't gotten stung yet!), going to get coffee (I am afraid we are starting them young thinking that coffee is a treat...they get choc milk), playing with the new little neighbor boy (I think Addie has a bit of a crush), playing with dogs (please come over and visit our new little pup...she is a cutie!), and playing with each other (their relationship is really precious and I am so thankful for their friendship). I could go on...and maybe I will later, but now I must get to bed so I can get up in the morning early and run. I have a new goal of running a half marathon with Annie in October...there, I said it, it is out there somewhere in cyberspace written in invisible ink...now I must follow through...right?!

We love you all and thank you for being a part of the last four years of Addison's life. We are so blessed to have such a great community of friends and family to ride this journey of raising a precious little girl. You have all touched her life in a special way and helped shape her into the spirited, loving, and joyful little girl she is.