first time

First time we bought ice cream from the man in the music-making ice cream truck.

july evening

our house

(is a very, very, very fine house)

OK, so I told some of you shortly after we moved that I'd walk around and take pictures of the place we now make our home...but I never got around to it.  Here are some.  Come along with me on a tour.

Here's the street view.   Let's head in the front door...

...which takes us right into the living room (and you can see on into the dining room/kitchen and through to the backyard).

Our wall of fame...I mean, frames.  ;-)  

Now let's head into the kitchen.

Looking the opposite direction, note my favorite thing in this room - the pallet shelves B.J. made for me by hacking the ends off the pallet that used to hold Bien & Bunny's hay back in Iowa.  Very, very handy for holding Bibles, Sunday school materials, etc., especially since the dining room is a bit of a tight fit when everyone's seated at the table.

OK, now past the dining room and down a short hallway.  You'll first encounter the bathroom on your right...

...then the boys' room on your left...

...B.J.'s and my room at the end of the hallway...

...and the girls' room just to the right of ours.

Now back to the kitchen, around the refrigerator, and down the stairs you'll find this big room where the kids play, I sew, and where I'm typing right now...

...and the room where you'll sleep when you come to visit!  :-)

Now, back upstairs and out the patio door next to the dining room table.  I'll just pan the backyard.

The garden.

And in case you're singing Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in your head, we've even got two cats in the yard.  Here's Sunflower...

...and Twinkle.  We took them with us from Iowa, and they are doing fine.  The kids love them as much as ever.

And here's the back view.  Thanks for taking the tour!  Hope you're better able to picture us in our house now!

The important thing... *

* Credit: Margaret Wise Brown, The Important Book


The important thing about yesterday was that it was Nathan's birthday.
The important thing about Nathan is that he is a 2-year old boy.
The important thing about this 2-year old boy is that he loves trains (as well as anything else that goes "vroom!").
The important thing about trains is that you can make a birthday cake that looks like one.

The important thing about birthday cake - and Oreos - is that they have frosting.
The important thing about frosting is that it is sweet.

The important thing about being sweet (if you are a person) is that others are more likely to give you gifts on your birthday.

A train to hang on the wall from Willem (I know, white on white doesn't show up very well).

A train to color and a train book from Leah.

Hmmm...something from Caleb...

...a truck!

Vroom!

The important thing about a gift is the face of the person opening it.

The important thing about your face is your smile. 

The important thing about your smile is that it means you are happy.

And the important thing about you being happy is that it makes us happy, too.

We love you, Little Man!  Thank you, Lord, for entrusting to our care this Nathan, truly Your "gift."