beautiful stuff!

these 2 in the mornings. they are amazing. they play SO well together.

this girl. it seems like i turned around and, all of a sudden, she's grown up. i love our 30 minutes in the mornings together after the 3 grade school kids ride off on their bikes to school, and sawyer and levi start playing whatever the game of the day is :-)

i was filling our car up with gas. i was standing there for a LONG time...it's a big tank! sawyer opened his window and said, "mom, guess what? i love you!" cute boy...

our church had an evening of worship this past friday night. they recorded it and it will be on sale on itunes, etc. super exciting!! rebekah and i were kind of coordinated (not on purpose) so we had to take a picture!

telling me one of her many stories from her day :-)

i've pretty much kicked my sugar cravings to the curb. but, girls, there are a couple days a month that NO amount of self control will work. i totally forgot this cookie dough was in the freezer...until i was desperate :-)

fun games on saturday...joshua first...(he's in the yellow shorts)

my parents came to cheer everyone on!

sawyer...

joshua had another game...and lincoln had a game (and scored a goal!)...but i had to come home and get our house ready for 40 people that were arriving at 4 pm.

i LOVE that this table wasn't nearly big enough for all the people that were here! we hosted a fellowship gathering for our adoption and orphan care ministry at church. it was a great evening...people that might adopt one day...people that are waiting for their kids to come home...and people that have adopted (and survived to tell about it! :-))

i am cooking more than i ever have, i think. now that i'm eating so many more vegetables and all. i used to bake a lot. and cook enough to feed my family.

now, every sunday i stock up for the week...i cook 3 sweet potatoes worth of crispy things. it's takes 1-1 1/2 hours to do it!

i also caramelize a couple onions...

i use both of these on salads all week long...yum!

just hanging with me while i cook...

i DID bake something also. this pumpkin buttermilk bundt cake with brown butter icing.

have you ever used powdered buttermilk?? me, either! but it worked just fine!

my family was all in shock that i made a dessert. they ALL loved it!

so much beautiful stuff...i'm overwhelmed!