Natalie starts Rice Cereal!

"Look, Mom, I'm a natural at this eating stuff" Natalie seems to be saying. She has been 'eyeing' everything that Mom, Dad and J.D. are eating. And, last night, she got her first taste. I think she thought it might be more tasty... nothing like a little bland rice cereal for the beginning eater.




She took about 5 bites... most of it ending up dribbling down her chin. She did a really good job for her first eating endeavor.



Then, it was J.D.'s turn to eat dinner. I put him in the high chair and was shocked by how BIG he looked in the high chair. I still think of him as a little guy... but these pictures really help me keep it in perspective. He is growing and growing and growing... not to mention talking, talking and talking!

The perfect Youth Director!

On Sunday night, our church hosted a goodbye party for Jason. After the close of the event, a group of Senior High guys kidnapped Jason and had some fun... take a look at the pictures below!



Yes, they carved our church's initials "AEP" into the back of his head. Then...


They gave him a mohawk... I just can't even bear to show you the picture from the front....

Needless to say... he thought it was so fun, so cool and so wonderful... and he even thought he might keep the new look until he got to Colorado on Saturday. (Thankfully he caved and let me shave his head on Tuesday before we had to go out in public together... )

Talk about first impressions... he is going to make one on Sunday when we are introduced to our new church... and he is BALD! I guess this is just one more reason why he is so good at what he does... he loves the students... and loves what they come up with as fun and harmless. And, yes, I know it is fun and harmless... but I have a two day limit on this kind of stuff:)

And, I am sure gladd we had the family photo below taken last week!

Family Photo

This is our first family photo!
We had this done on Friday morning- it was fun! J.D. loves a camera... he starts saying 'cheese' even before you turn it on... and Natalie is so personable these days- she smiles for everyone!

Love to everyone!

MiniVan Mama and other updates

It is official... I drive a minivan - and I am proud to say that I LOVE IT. Some wonderful friends of ours sold us their Honda Odyssey... I am constantly amazed at how God provides for our family through creative ways.

So, I am finding myself thinking... "what errands do I need to run today??" It is so easy to get the kids in and out of... and J.D. has discovered that he can watch the Wiggles in the van, too. He has started to sing along with the Wiggles songs... when I say sing... I mean say an occaisional word or two. We will be driving down the road and the song "Lights, Camera, Action" will come on... and J.D. will add "WIGGLES" when appropriate and "GO, GO, GO" where it fits, too. Any of you who know Wiggles know exactly what I am talking about...

Natalie is very close to sitting up on her own. We work on this every day. She is growing like a weed. It is amazing to think that she is close to six months old. It just seems like yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital. She is yet to sleep through the night consistently, so the days are long and the nights are short, but she is SO worth it. She smiles, coos, giggles, tries to imitate your facial expressions... too fun! And, she is a SCREAMER. Girls make different sounds than boys... J.D. was never a screamer. Natalie will scream at the top of her lungs at the most inappropriate times... like when the whole church is quiet or the dressing room is full of women looking in the mirror (not a place you want to hear screams).

Going to bed... Jason is rocking Natalie to sleep for the third time tonight... we keep thinking she is 'down for the count' but oh, no, that would be too easy... she is a tricky one.

Goodnight

Go West Young Family! Go West!

The Smith Family is headed to beautiful Colorado Springs! Jason has accepted a call to Village Seven Presbyterian Church as the Senior High Youth Director. We are excited about this new phase, chapter, adventure. Colorado Springs is a beautiful place. Pikes Peak borders the city to the west- and in every other direction you can see for miles and miles and miles and miles!

Jason leaves for 'The Springs' on August 16th. He will begin his new position on August 28th. He will live with one of the church families for about a month before the kids and I join him.

Here are the things we are praying for- and would ask you to join with us:
1. Safety in travel for Jason as he drives from Annapolis to Colorado Springs Aug 16th- 19th.

2. Safety in travel for Carrie and the kids- as we fly from Annapolis to Colorado Springs Aug. 19th (we have to change planes in Dallas... and it is just me and the kids... I am praying for angels in the airport!!!). The return flight is Aug. 26th- same request.

3. That we would find a house that meets our needs, that we can afford, and that we can move into within a month. Hoping to have a move in date around September 26th.

4. For Jason as he starts his job, lives with a family from the church and will be without us for about a month.

5. For me and the kids- as we are on our own for about a month after Jason leaves... pray that children would sleep through the night and take naps at the same time during the day.

Thanks for your prayers!