It was a Blessed day.

Grandma Karen (Matt's mother) Baptized James yesterday afternoon.  I was obsessively checking the weather to make sure we could still have it outside.  And God delivered!  I don't remember the last time we have had a 80 degree day in October.

James' ceremony was very unique.  What I like about having the children baptized at our home is that we get to decide how the ceremony will go.  We get to choose our pastor, choose our verses, choose our time, choose our clothing, and have it be very intimate. In this case, it was family only.  (Except we were missing a few important people due to my laryngitis...I mean who really wants that as a party favor?!  Not my 94 year old grandma nor my 12 week old niece.)


James is wearing a baptismal gown that my grandfather, his great grandfather, sent home during WWII.  My uncle, my grandparents first child, was born during the war.  I believe he was two years old before he met his father.  Grandpa mimi sent this to grandma while he was in Italy.  All of my aunts and uncles have worn it, many of their children, all of my siblings, and now both of my children.  Needless to say it is very special to me.  

I spent weeks thinking about how I could transform our backyard into an "altar" for his baptism.  Again God delivered with a very beautiful backdrop of Autumn and all I had to do was add the finishing touches!

 







The photo on the left is before and the one on the right is after I had set it all up.

Poor James was woken up for the special occasion, as you can see he is thrilled about it.

 Grandma Karen did a beautiful job of baptizing both of our children. Three years ago she did Keira's and yesterday she followed that up with another stellar performance! It is so special to have someone so close to us perform the ceremony.

Auntie Kara and Auntie Katie are James' godmothers.   The photo at the left shows Katie holding him during his blessing, I LOVE this photo, it brings tears to my eyes.  My sisters are more important to me than anything in the world. I don't know where I would be without them.

 

Likewise, Auntie Kara is equally important to us. She is Matt's older sister and one of his very best friends.  I often look at Keira and James and hope I can raise them to be just like Kara and Matt.  So far, in my opinion, we are doing pretty darn good. See exhibit A just below this.  See exhibit B here.

She genuinely loves her little brother, it always amazes me how much she does.  I didn't realize that sibling love was innate-I thought it had to be taught. You see, I am the youngest so I never had to accept a sibling, I was born into it. Thank you for loving me Krissy and Katie.

And finally-Grandparent love. I know that you love my kids more than you love me but I still don't understand that love.  I know someday I will learn what it feels like to be a grandmother, if I am blessed, but until then I will just take it all in. 

What I can understand it what it feels like to be a mother.  I never knew how much you loved me mom and dad, not until Keira and James entered our lives.  Wow. Just Wow.  Now I appreciate it, I am sorry-but a child never loves their parents like their parents love them. If you disagree with me fine, but I know for a fact that Keira and James will NEVER love me like I love them, and that does not make me sad. It makes me excited for them to feel the love someday, and then in turn, I get to feel that grandparent love that I don't quite yet understand.

 It was a Blessed day, I feel so special that God thinks this highly of me to give me such beautiful children, such an amazing husband, and such loving family.  Thank you God.

I had to include a picture of James Thomas and his twin-Thomas.

James Thomas Anderle

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

James 1:5-6    

Tired and Lazy

I am not proud of my lack of blog posts.  I am a huge picture fan and honestly I find myself reading less and less blogs and simply scanning the photos.
This is why I will just do a photo dump, because I am really lazy. Lazy AND tired.

Now enjoy looking at my beautiful children...because Lord knows I do!

Last swim of the season.  

First day of school and Daycare for our 2011-2012 year.

 Here are a few of my beautiful Keira.  We made cookies on our "last day of summer"  matt banned them from the house so he kindly packed them for me to bring to school and share with my coworkers.  I ate them all.  Every last one.

mmmm, this is our favorite part.
I DARE someone to warn me about e coli.  

 These are of when we were at the State Fair this year.  You can see the sleep creeping up on her in picture one only to have it totally consume her in shot number two.  This is pretty out of character of her, how cute that she had the Oink Booth hat on?

 I had to make this one extra big so you could see the details in it.  Ten points to the person who can name what is going on behind her.  100 points if you don't live in Minnesota and can still guess.

And it is just not fair to have an extra large shot of sister and not include one of Jamers. 

 Keira was so generous with her ice cream cone.    He had his first taste...What a better place to do it than the Dairy Barn?

 These two were taken at the Gopher game last weekend.  I LOVE the attitude in the first shot.  So much for a Gopher Christmas card picture this year.  The second one is pretty darn cute too THis shows their personalities perfectly.  James, sitting patiently as can be while Keira dances in her Goldie Dress. "James  wook how pwitty I am.  See how I am a cheear weader wike dis?"-as she tumbles to the floor in a mock-flip.

I have no other explanation for this one except for the fact that it captures my sweet little James.  I love my kids. (and my husband too)

Congratulations Laura!

Your name was lucky enough to be pulled out of the hat.  Literally my husband reached in and pulled out a paper with your name written on it.  Please contact me for further details!

I am doing another Amelia Bee blanket give away!

I would love to award another reader with an Amelia Bee original blanket! ( a $35.00 value)

James' Amelia Bee

All you have to do is comment and tell me why you think you deserve a blanket.  I will be awarding one reader a gender neutral baby blanket.  Be sure to include  your email address so I can contact you!

If you want a second entry be sure to "follow" the Life With Kim blog.  Include this in your comment.

The drawing will take place on April 16, 2011.  Enter today and tell your friends!

Chapter three is completed!

Many people commented that they thought the title of my last post was a little deceiving.  "Working on Chapter 3" does not mean we are pregnant with a third child, and if we were I can promise you I won't post it in a blog before I even tell my husband.  I think.

So don't let the title- "Chapter 3 is Completed" throw you off too much. I just wanted to share Keira's 3rd birthday invites and her video.  I haven't been very good at keeping a baby book, nor have I done a stellar job of ordering pictures and putting them into an album.  So, instead, this is what she gets...a dvd compilation of her life in photos.  Lets just hope that DVD's are obsolete when she actually is interested in watching them!  ("mommy, what's this?" as she points at a VHS tape.)

Princess theme!

And the video, I cry a little every time I watch it!

Keira Kimberly Chapter 3

Working on Chapter Three!

As Keira's third birthday is just around the corner I have started working on Chapter Three of her life movie.

 This is way easier said than done.  As I am sorting through pictures and videos from the past year I get all choked up seeing how much she has been growing and changing.  I often catch myself watching videos of her, listening to her little two-year-old vocabulary and voice.  I can not believe how much change comes in one short year.  This time last year she was still using some sign language to ask for something, often resorting to a little swipe of the chest instead of actually saying "Please".
  
  Now that I have been working on her video for a couple of weeks and have gotten very little done, I thought I should probably post her past chapters and her birthday invites.  Maybe this will motivate me a little to finish what I have started.

Keira's first Birthday invite.  The theme was puppies (her favorite at the time)

Keira Kimberly Video-Chapter One

Invites for her second birthday-the theme was garden!

Keira Kimberly Video-Chapter Two

Coming soon- Keira Kimberly Chapter Three video and invites!

I'm Baaaaaaack!

So life may have gotten a little crazy and I abandoned my blog for over a year... but hey, I'm back now and that's all that matters.

I love reading blogs but I have found I really enjoy reading short and sweet posts. I also like when there is a ton of pictures so, if you are anything like me, here you go!

Photo by Gina Lang Photography

Reason #1 why I have been on hiatus-My sweet little girl. Last time I posted I hadn't even been back to work yet, and now she has been in daycare for over a year and a half. She has been growing and maturing SO much lately. Just yesterday she told me that I couldn't go to her birthday party. It was so sweet. (Insert eye roll here)

Photo by Gina Lang Photography

Reason #2 I have been neglecting everything else in my life. What a joy this sweet little boy has been. I can not begin to tell you how much fun it is to be a second time mom, life is WAY easier the second time around. I am nervous to say this but he is a super sleeper with an amazingly calm and patient spirit. I am told he takes after me. (Insert double eye roll here.)

-and there you have it...short and sweet.  And now I will post some more pictures.

Keeks meeting JT for the first time.

Taking care of her little brother.

I just think she looks so darn cute here.

Sweet sweet JT