Berry Sweet Birthday

 Our baby girl is one year old.  Although it doesn't seem possible that a year has passed, quite a few days of juggling has occurred since we brought her home from the hospital.  Allegra had a sweet day with her family on the actual day and then she had a few friends who have been involved in her first year try some strawberry cake in our backyard.  

With the gorgeous weather, outside toys took center stage for our one year old, and Allegra can now be found cruising in her new red car.  (Driver's License not included)

Aren't you glad that she has older siblings to push her around?

Is there anything better than singing the birthday song to a baby for the first time?

This big boy cherishes his sister and still asks to have her sit on his lap daily.  He prays for his big sister as she goes into school and tells her every day she needs to work hard to clip up.  

Be still my heart!

Kurt had a successful trip to Guatemala.  He and the rest of the team of seven stayed healthy and although their focus was prayer and encouraging the mission team on the ground every day in Chichiesntanago and do a few home visits, Kurt was able to see patients in the clinic there one day of his trip.  

And we were so glad to have him home once again!!!

New Possibilities with Spring

Easter was a lot of fun at our house with three.  We were blessed enough to participate in THREE Easter Egg hunts so we are good for the next decade when it comes to plastic eggs.  The Easter Bunny brought the kids superhero capes which explains the costumes.

 

 Allegra didn't get a cape but she was pleased with her bunny ears to celebrate the season.

Our adopted family, the Hamricks, continue to grow and they just adore having a baby to play with.  

Allegra has graduated from army crawling to knee crawling and she has figured out how to crawl down the front and back steps.  No walking yet but she loves being held and cuddled and who would want to walk away from that. 

Siena has been working on her Biblememory verses for a few years and has over 20 locked away in her memory.  Carson is quite the protege and aims to be just like his sister so he has a verse he wants to share as well.

Kurt & Siena have gone to the Daddy Daughter Princess ball the past three years and she looks forward to it more and more each year.  She asked Kurt to wear a bow tie and he complied with his date for the evening.  They went on a carriage ride and were treated to ice cream after dinner.  My hope is that Siena will know what to expect in a man because her Daddy has showed her how special she is on the inside and out.    

The Best Part of My Day

Every day is a gift and while I worry about all that needs to be done, I worry about missing each precious moment with these kids.  I don't want to miss a smile, a laugh, an opportunity to make a memory and then the horror of forgetting these precious memory.  I analyze how to be a better mom and what new thing I should be teaching these information sponges that soak up so much around them.  It's a wonderful time and a time that I know is fleeting which is why I ache to share every moment with you and yet, be present in the moment that is occurring right now!

Siena is advancing in her gymnastics and really has the shape for all that tumbling.  She is ahead of her class in school and has taken quite well to reading and writing is her favorite thing to do.  She is prepared to do well in 1st grade and her teacher predicts that she will be a teacher when she grows up.  Her favorite chore at the moment is to do the dishes by hand.  She isn't very good but practice makes perfect and she enjoys practicing.  I think the step stool makes it fun too.  She insisted on attending a baby shower I was hosting a few weeks ago.  She is stuck between the worlds of little girl and big girl -- still wanting to run and play and wanting to grow up to be somebody important.

Carson wants to help out as well and his favorite line is, "What's my next job?"  He adores both of his sisters and still asks to hold "Baby Awaygrah" Grace and sing her songs in the morning.  He looks forward to Tumbleweeds every Monday and can nearly do a handstand.  He desperately needs a drink as soon as he gets up and the liquid consumption does not cease until he falls asleep.  He is never without a water bottle in his hand.

Everything is new for Allegra and she is FINDING everything too.  She has conquered the step into the sunroom and had her first swing ride.  Oh how I wish you could see that face and hear her giggle.  She stands in her crib so we had to move that down.  She claps her hands all the time and follows each of us around the house on that tummy crawl of hers.  She is adorable in every way, even when she scrunches up her nose.

The best thing about our kids is they understand what it means to be family.  Siena wants to spend all of Daddy's free time playing and he is a pretty good jungle gym.  Just today we asked Siena what the best part of her day was and her sweet answer was, "Coming home to be with my family."  That's funny: that was the best part of my day too. 

Love & Prayers Make A Home

Happy Valentine's Day!  We hope you have found some unique way to show those around you love.  Our home is filled with love these days.  We hear it often because we say it our kids often.  Carson is very quick to say, "I love you Mommy and I love you still."  Carson has a tender heart that he wears on his sleeve, which means he loves BIG but gets his feelings hurt easily, or is that just because he is three? 

Allegra is 10 months today!  It wasn't that long ago we were anxiously anticipating her arrival and the kids would ask how much longer until baby would arrive.  She has the brightest smile and has learned to clap her hands.  Siena usually has her propped up somewhere so Allegra can be part of the fun.  Gone are the days of passively sitting by and just observing what everyone else is doing.  

Allegra doesn't get up on her knees to crawl and she is not walking at nine months like Siena (FINE by me!) but she knows how to get around.  She is usually chasing me around the house, room to room. 

 We went out to eat to a hibachi grill this month and Siena attempted to catch food in her mouth and Allegra gave her approval to the show.  Carson....well, he was hiding under the table for fear of the fire.  And I think Kurt & I were the only ones that truly appreciated our food but we are giving them the chance to enjoy new foods.  

Welcome to a small dose of the New Year's Sermon Series at World Outreach.  It is our church's objective to find creative ways to reach new people who would not typically attend church, draw them in with something they are interested in (free cupcakes and doughnuts are in there too) with the hopes they are intrigued enough to return again throughout the year and learn more about God's plan for them.  And so our children reap the benefits of this by getting to meet the Star Wars crew and Superheroes (Spiderman is Carson's favorite).  We realize that Pastor has spoiled our kids and they will never know what a typical church service looks like but they are so excited for church every weekend and seriously, what more could you want?!?!

 This weekend there were no characters but our kids are quick to step in.  A photo booth was available and not only did we get a few pictures together but they pulled in one of their many friends and grabbed a couple snapshots together.  Watch out world!  These two love on everyone they meet and they don't know a stranger!!!  They are quick to win anyone over with their smile and charm!

The theme of the sermon series is "Let's Pray" and Pastor is encouraging us to incorporate short prayers into our daily lives.  Our kids have been practicing this since they could talk and their prayers are just precious.  Carson prays for the leaves and the grass, for the stop sign and the beach.  Siena prays for those sick and hurt.  Their hearts are so tender and thoughtful that these prayers must fall so sweetly upon God's ear. 

Since We No Place to Go, Let It Snow!

As I write this current addition of the Knoll blog, I am enjoying the breath taking snow that has continued to drift in all day long.  It's possible we have been transported to a mountain cabin somewhere because this is just not possible in middle Tennessee.  The cul-da-sac is covered as his Kurt's tracks from earlier, and we had enough to create a good-sized Olaf.  In our 13 winters here, we have never seen so much continual snow during day light hours.  It's about as close as we have gotten to a Midwestern snow which is something we all miss.  There is something incredibly special about the first snow of the season.

We got Allegra out for just a few minutes so she could experience this white stuff called snow, and the kids were in and out all morning.  While Mom took care of hats, coats, gloves, boots and lunch, Dad helped out with the sledding and snowman architecture and the four-legged ones kept watch. 

Olaf was well made with two button eyes, a carrot for a nose, a scarf and two twigs for arms.

Allegra continues to be a source of joy and light in our home.  She is the kids 'play toy,' as expected and has to be rescued by Momma from time to time.  She has quite the appetite for baby food but is not as fond of finger foods.  She is weighing 17 lbs 8 oz., can army crawl better than any solider and can bounce just like Tigger.   

Siena has become such a great helper to me and is willing to help me out with tasks around the house.  She continues to breeze through school, adding to her long list of sight words, and recognizing words as we go about her day.  She is also doing very well with single digit addition.  She enjoys her time away, but she has truly become appreciative of her family and being at home with us when school is not in session, like today.  

Carson is our adorable cutie pie with so much charisma, and we can thank his sister for aiding him in being so advanced in his speech and interacting with adults and kids.  Play dates are now focused around him for a change, and he can play with others like at the Discovery Center where he played PA office with his friend Faith, or his favorite, Tumbleweeds, a tumbling class for 3-5 year olds.  

It's Still Christmas, Even If It's Not White

We had a busier Christmas season than usual and a much WARMER season.  We had our very first Christmas school program, the stomach bug, a few going away parties, a few birthday parties, work parties, and life in one month.  But I am sure your schedule was just as busy and so was everyone I spoke with.  I was reminded this week that Christmas is just one single day and it will return again next year, so I had to change my perspective, take a deep breath and remember that the Savior's birth was not meant to cause so much frustration and bustle.  We are here to celebrate, teach and commemorate this special occasion; not judge the wrapping of the gifts or the mass cookies produced.  

Siena performing on the front row of her kindergarten Christmas program at Black Fox.  No, I did NOT get the memo that she was to wear red, so she is the only kid in lavender (her favorite color).  But that is our little girl, the one who sticks out of a crowd, for a good reason.  There is no doubt that God has a plan and a purpose for this gal because she is so unique and beloved by all. 

The weather did not dip below 50 degrees all month, I believe so we did wear shorts most of the month.  Christmas day found us in short sleeves with the air conditioning on (The humidity made it impossible to be without), recovering from a tornado watch two nights before.  No white Christmas for us, but if I recall, there wasn't snow on the first Christmas in Bethlehem either.  So again, I had to change my perspective and remind myself that Bing Crosby didn't have snow until the end of his movie either.

Allegra is 8 months old and is army crawling all over the house.  She goes straight for the dog water and anything else that is down that is not appropriate for the mouth.  She has joined the kids in the bathtub and playing all around the house.  Carson and Siena continue to hug and love on her and treat her as their own baby doll.  It broke my heart to take down the baby swing this month, but she would rather be moving than to just observe our goings and comings. 

 Our family at the Christmas Eve service at World Outreach. 

Christmas day was simplistic and wonderful at our house.  We did not have big gifts and honestly, the kids were super excited about the smaller things like a Spiderman watch and our new Beta fish, Rosie.  Kurt made cinnamon rolls for us and we spent the morning in our pjs. 

 

Allegra had a beautiful 1st Christmas and how could she not when she has two older siblings to teach her all about the excitement around the big day.  She was also serenaded by carolers on Christmas Eve, dear friends who had not yet meet our newest addition. 

May your new year be bright with hope and joy and may our holiday experiences bless you.