The Oster Five

Oster Update

2012-02-06T04:34:00.000-08:00

When our days get busy and routine, I take fewer pictures. I apologize for the lack of them here on Osterfive, but I figured a verbal update would be okay.

ADOPTION: We are nearing the end of our paperwork for Bethany Christian Services. Once our references are in, we will meet with them and set up a time for them to come and view our house and meet our children. All of this is part of the homestudy process. After our homestudy is complete, all we will need is to attend their orientation class (sometime in the spring) to be in their pool of adoptive parents.

We are already in the pool with the local adoption lawyer. All that is required there is to turn in a family profile. The bulk of the paperwork there comes after being chosen, but because of our work with Bethany, most of that would already be done if we get chosen through the lawyer.

The way domestic adoptions work now is that a birth mom chooses whether she would like to go through a lawyer or an agency (like Bethany Christian Services). She goes to the lawyer/agency and looks through pictures and profiles of families and chooses one she would like for her child.

One of the ways couples can approach adoption is just by getting the word out that they are interested. Many times someone they know will know someone who might know someone who is considering adoption for their child. This might prompt them to go the lawyer/agency and actually request a certain family.

KIDS: Naomi and Jacob are enjoying school. They recently received their reviews for their achievement. They both are doing very well! Jacob received excellent marks on everything--he's an overachiever in the classroom. Naomi is working hard on her reading and math. She finds science and language easy. We're so proud of both of them! They both are going to an art class and loving that, and Jacob is also loving a little weekly soccer clinic at the Covenant gym.

Bethany is my constant companion. She's growing up fast and her gift of social intuitiveness is growing. She occasionally comes out with very thoughtful questions and/or comments that surprise us with their understanding. All three of the kids are really excited about the adoption, but Bethany is the one who asks regularly, "When is that other momma going to have a baby in her tummy?" My answer? "I don't know, Bethany. God will choose the very best time to give us our fourth child."

NATE and OLIVIA: We too have a pretty regular schedule these days. Nate works out and goes to Bible study and choir and goes to work. I help out at Choices, PRC, go to acupuncture, exercise, clean, cook, and teach. We both spend good times with the family and with each kid. We are reading Talking with Young Children about Adoption and finding it very interesting. I just finished The Book of God--the Bible in novel form, and it was good! I definitely recommend it. Day in and day out we are learning what it is to walk with out God.

So there you have a bit of an update.

Thank you very much for your prayers for a speedy and smooth adoption process and for patience and open-heartedness during it.

Thanks, Grandma!

2012-01-26T12:51:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the package in the mail and the new clothes!

We love them!

(Sorry I didn't catch a pic of Naomi in hers yet.)

What We've Been Up To

2012-01-22T17:46:00.000-08:00

Lots of play time!

Finger knitting (and attaching a rosette made by Granna)

Shooting Daddy's new gun

A Momma-Daughter Date where we made chocolate cakes in mugs,

Had a menu picked out by Naomi

complete with pomegranate juice in wine glasses.

We watched Soul Surfer

and fixed Naomi's hair.

School for Jacob

2012-01-10T12:27:00.001-08:00

Jacob's teacher sent over this pic from school today. She was a bit surprised to find him all the way in a tree on the playground.

Sunset Park and Grandma Street's House

2012-01-02T18:02:00.000-08:00

This is the place where Nate always came with his Grandpa to skip rocks and hike. Nate really enjoyed giving the kids a rock-skipping lesson while we were there.

Much has changed since Nate had last been here. The trails are now a bit more like sidewalks. : )

Thanks, Grandma Street, for the new dresses

(and the legos!)

St. Louis Museum of Transportation

2012-01-02T17:58:00.000-08:00

Christmas at Grandpa and Grandma's

2012-01-02T17:54:00.000-08:00

On Christmas morning, we went to Jon and Abby's church and then came home for a big turkey dinner and presents.

Thank you Grandma and Abby for all the wonderful gifts!

Christmas at Home

2012-01-02T17:50:00.000-08:00

Christmas Party at Home 2011--

We have a few traditions for our home Christmas

the kids each get three presents under the tree

and we stuff their stockings and then hide them around the house before we look at what's in them.

Bethany's three gifts were

A Veggie Tales karaoke cd player

A Curious George Collection with book and cds

and

The Lion King blu-ray/dvd

Naomi's three were:

A wonderful collection of Roald Dahl books

11 Webkinz stuffed animals

Soul Surfer blu-ray/dvd

Jacob's three were:

The Bat Cave (thanks Downes boys for the suggestion)

Cars 2 blu-ray/dvd

A set of Level 2 and 3 books about Thomas, Lightning McQueen, and Transformers

After opening presents and having monkey bread and bacon, we ran an errand and went to Sticky Fingers for lunch. We spent the evening watching The Nativity, another tradition (and a great movie!).

A Few Random Christmas Pics

2012-01-02T17:28:00.000-08:00

Our psychedelic Christmas tree as seen through special glasses

(thanks Lisa for the pic)

Melissa and Doug castle from Grandad

Naomi in her one-of-a-kind shawl made by Granna

and her cute side braid

(so very Naomi)

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T18:13:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone!

I promise I'll post more Christmas pics soon, but for now hop over to

Of Such is the Kingdom

to see some of our prayer requests for 2012.

Christmas with Grandad and Granna

2011-12-26T15:47:00.000-08:00

The Littlest Angel

2011-12-17T05:16:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-17T05:14:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Take a little Christmas walk around our house...

More Happy Birthday, Naomi!

2011-12-04T12:34:00.001-08:00

Thank you, everyone, for all the gifts!

And thank you, Grandma for the clothes, money, and ipod speaker!!

Birthdaying at Granna's house!

Thank you Granna, for all the presents as well!

More Sarasota

2011-12-04T12:23:00.001-08:00

Thank you so much, dear friend for such a wonderful visit! It was perfect in every way!

Yes, she loved the hubby more than me. Next time, Rissa! I'm bringing candy!!!

Our Father paints a masterpiece every time.

Sarasota!! #1

2011-12-04T12:10:00.001-08:00

For my birthday Nate took me down to Sarasota to see my good friend Esty.

We left the kids with Granna.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Beautiful!

But the best thing about that bridge, was...

that it was taking me to Esty's house!!

First sunset at Esty's own personal beech (hee hee), the actual most beautiful beach in the U.S.

Siesta Key Beach

Met a little friend on a biking trip with Nate

Introducing the beautiful (and talented) Rissa!

And the bathing beauties

Can it get any better than this?

We're already planning a trip back!

the Graham man

Lukey

and Ethan Baby (not so Baby anymore)

Just over the left shoulder...

Yes, those are knee socks and a metallic bathing suit.

Priceless!

Missing Pics: Happy Birthday, Momma!

2011-12-04T12:06:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday, Naomi!

2011-11-26T17:25:00.001-08:00

For her birthday, I thought I'd take a little walk down birthday memory lane...

no digitals of the 1st, so here's a 9 month for ya'

birthday number 2

only digital pic from around her 3rd birthday

party for number 4

birthday morning pancakes for number 4

pics for the invitation for number 5

birthday morning pancakes for number 5

number 6

number 7

And yes, she's 8!

Today's partying included having pancakes, seeing Hugo at the theater (excellent, btw), going to Texas Roadhouse for lunch and a huge birthday ice cream, making brownies (all by herself), and playing a family card game. : ) It was a great and memorable Happy Birthday for the lovely oldest Oster.

Happy Birthday, Naomi!

You are growing more lovely every year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-25T13:22:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving family and friends!
We here in the Oster household are so thankful for our many gifts! We are thankful for each other and for you! We are also thankful for our new bit of news:
We are going to have another child!
We've started the adoption process. There is paperwork and a home study and then possibly a lot of waiting between us an our fourth child. Probably domestic. Possibly siblings. Definitely lots of love!
So happy Thanksgiving and I hope you're having a great weekend.
Lots of pics of Nate and Olivia's time in Sarasota are coming soon.

Ballet Recital

2011-11-17T17:31:00.003-08:00

before B decided she didn't want any pics of herself : )

getting ready to dance

Naomi receiving her trophy at after the recital

Great Yard Find

2011-11-17T17:31:00.001-08:00

All of the kids were ecstatic about finding these in the woods the other day. They spent a good hour building a good home for them in the muddy roots of a tree.

Camping 2011

2011-11-09T14:34:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, we packed up nearly every blanket in our house, the children, the tent, the bow up mattresses, and...

went to Vogel State Park for a little camping!

We roasted hotdogs and marshmallows, hiked, played mini golf, cooked our bacon over an open fire.

(Did I mention it got down to 32 degrees at night?)

On Saturday morning we packed up in the warm truck and drove up to Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in GA for a short hike straight up to the top.

On the way home, we enjoyed hiking around the Ocoee and pulling over at every beautiful spot.

Praises to a God who has created so much beauty!

Soccer 2011

2011-11-09T14:03:00.000-08:00

On a cold Saturday morning in October (the morning after a certain team won a certain important game) Jacob's team finished up their soccer season. The boys had a good run with a good coach! (Thanks, Daddy!)

Mini Shots Photo Shoot

2011-11-03T17:29:00.000-07:00

Announcing...

The first ever...

Amazing...

Wonderful...

Oster Family Professional Photo Shoot!

What you see here are the proofs of the 2nd bests. Grandparents: please know that you will receive the best of the 5 of us, the best of the 3 kiddos and the best of each individual kiddo--and those are not shown here (you'll be surprised--these are super good; those are even better!).

So, if you see one here that you just must have, I've included my friend Angela's pricing list at the bottom.

Thanks, again Angela!

Angela has used sepia/b&w for some of these, but they can be printed/given digitally in color as well.

8 Wallets - $10

4x6 - $6.00 each

5x7 - $12 each

8x10 - $30.00

8x10 canvas on matboard- $50.00

8x10 gallery wrapped canvas –

¾ ‘’ deep$100.00, 1 ½ ‘’ deep $125.00

11x14 - $40.00

11x14 canvas onmatboard - $60.00

11x14 gallery wrapped canvas –

¾ ‘’ deep $150.00, 1 ½ ‘’ deep $175.00

16x20 - $50.00

Digital prints $10.00

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T18:31:00.000-07:00

We use Halloween as an excuse to celebrate together as a family--to make memories and to have fun.

Carving the pumpkin

They all wanted something "scary and funny." Momma did her best.

Tonight we dressed up and hit the Marvin and Massey beat. There are tons of trick or treaters who frequent those two streets. So many do that the mtn. police actually block off Marvin.

While teaching ballet today at the elementary school, I noticed a huge bunch of balloons up on the stage in the gym. The PE teacher said they were left over from a pumpkin event the school had last week. When I asked what would happen to them, he said we could take them. So, after giving all my ballerinas a balloon, I took them trick or treating and handed them out to eager kiddos.

Tinker Bell and the Big Bad Wolf

Two of our tiny trick or treating buddies

Nate dressed up as a crazy Cardinals fan. It's fun to dress up as one own self, isn't it babe?

Insect Play Trail

2011-10-27T18:19:00.000-07:00

While biking on the Riverwalk Trail, our family discovered this trail of little play grounds made up of bugs and their habitats. It really is amazing! Each little playground has an informational plaque telling about the insect. Read about the insect + act out the insect + play on the insect and in its home = true learning about the insect!

peeking out of the caterpillar

playing on the beehive

stuck in the spider web

Thanks for coming with us to the park, Granna!

An Incredible Week!

2011-10-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

Read the story of our week here on Of Such is the Kingdom.
Here are some more pics to go with the story...

Bethany

2011-10-14T12:21:00.000-07:00

Bethany

I am 3 years old.

The yummiest food to eat is pizza.

My favorite thing to watch on tv is Martha Speaks.

My favorite book to read is Henry the Babysitter.

The best thing about our house is friends.

The best person on earth is Ari.

I am really good at (being cute).

My favorite thing to play with is Polly Pockets.

My favorite colors are pink and purple.

The best place to be on earth is in my room playing.

When I grow up I’m going to work on a computer like momma.

If I could do anything I wanted all day long I would play.

I really really do not like to eat potatoes.

My best friend is Ari.

Jesus is God.

When I was little I used to play with cars.

A word that tells about me is “legos.”

This year I have learned about A and B and D.

October 14, 2011

Jacob

2011-10-14T12:18:00.000-07:00

Jacob

I am 6 years old.

The yummiest food to eat is ice cream

and pizza

and cake

and salty pretzels.

My favorite thing to watch on tv is Transformers.

My favorite book to read is my monster truck book that Grandma bought me.

The best thing about our house is that it is yellow, my second favorite color

and that the inside is really nice.

The best person on earth is God.

I am really good at building legos

and racing

and coloring

and riding my bike

and riding my four wheeler.

My favorite thing to play with is legos.

My favorite colors are blue and yellow and green.

The best place on earth to be is in my bed.

When I grow up I’m going to be an astronaut.

If I could do anything I wanted all day long I would EAT!

I really really do not like to eat squash and peppers.

My best friends are Bjorn and Bailey.

Jesus is God and Jesus.

When I was little I used to say, “Ga ga!”

Words that tell about me are “funny” and “great at school.”

This year I have learned about the planets and birds.

October 14, 2011

Naomi

2011-10-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

Naomi

I am 7 almost 8 years old.

The yummiest food to eat is macaroni and cheese, ice cream and pizza.

My favorite thing to watch on tv is princess movies and Star Wars.

My favorite book to read is a book called Fairest.

The best thing about our house is it is close to my school

and I know lots of friends.

The best person on earth is God and the nicest person on earth is Addie.

I am really good at finding cool things, addition, +2’s, and science.

My favorite things to play with are my princess dolls.

My favorite colors are red and pink and purple.

The best place on earth to be is Addie’s house.

When I grow up I’m going to be a doctor AND a regular momma.

If I could do anything I wanted all day long I would read.

I really really do not like to eat squash and cooked spinach.

My best friend is Addie.

Jesus is God.

When I was little I used to like taking naps.

Words that tell about me are “funny” and “pretty.”

This year I have learned about the solar system and

about birds, mammals, and fish. I am going to learn multiplication.

October 14, 2011

Tellus Science Museum in North Georgia

2011-10-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

On our way home from getting the camper shell, we stopped by the Tellus Science Museum and Planetarium. It was great! This huge dump truck is the first thing you see as you pull in past beautiful manicured lawns.

Inside the museum, this giant dinosaur (replica of actual fossils) is the first focus.

We went right through the hall of dinosaurs and ancient animals.

T-rex

And after a 30 minute flight through outer space including learning constellations and landing on one of Jupiter's moons, we explored the hall of transportation.

I think space flight most captured Naomi and and Jacob's imaginations.

And...here's where my camera battery went dead!

We also got to play in the "big back yard" exhibit where everything science is presented hands-on. It was really amazing! Everything from sorting to magnets to weather to solar and wind power to light was explained and portrayed for the kids to experiment with. We'll definitely go back when we have more time!

Truck with Camper Shell

2011-10-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

The Truck

2011-10-05T18:47:00.000-07:00

To Grandma's House

2011-10-05T18:37:00.000-07:00

Giving Maddy a ride

On a walk

Handsome man

Fall beauty

Beautiful girl--getting older every day

Grandpa and Grandma's House and wee Bethany

oh and the truck. : )

Fall beauty everywhere

Finding a snake skin.

I know you're going to be mad that I put this up, but you look great!

This is Grandma after double knee surgery. She is up and around and even outside! Be impressed!

Finding a tiny frog

and loving him

First Day of School Pics (Finally!)

2011-09-21T17:59:00.000-07:00

Jacob's Birthday!! (2)

2011-09-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

Jacob's Birthday!!

2011-09-12T18:02:00.000-07:00

Friends and Coolidge

2011-09-04T18:40:00.000-07:00

Last week we had the opportunity to meet up with Troy, Heather and "Zoo-anna"--friends who were passing through on their move from Texas to New York.

Bethany's View

Here, Let me try.

Jacob's View

I particularly like this view from Jacob.

Back to momma's camera work.

Bethany and Suzanna

Cousins Photo Shoot

2011-09-04T18:25:00.000-07:00

Canoeing at the Chattanooga Nature Center

2011-08-17T17:15:00.001-07:00

Staycation Day #2: DUCKS

2011-08-17T13:25:00.000-07:00

Half truck, half boat, the Duck Boats were built during WWII to haul soldiers. They are now used for sightseeing tours in cities like Chattanooga. We rode the DUCK through downtown and past most of the major Chattanooga sights on the Tennessee River.

Staycation Day #1: Rock City

2011-08-17T13:14:00.000-07:00

Camp G & G

2011-08-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

Swimming, snacks, a trip to Noccolulu Falls, fishing at Cheaha Lake, playing in the basement, riding the truck, making paper mache boxes, and more snacks
Thanks, Grandad and Granna for Camp G & G!

The Oldest

2011-08-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

In case you missed it, Naomi's hairstyles, fashion, and crafts were featured on Of Such is the Kingdom last week. Check it out!

Bethany's Ballet Camp

2011-07-24T16:57:00.000-07:00

Naomi's Ballet Camp

2011-07-24T16:19:00.000-07:00

Naomi did a great job at ballet camp this summer!

She's a beautiful ballerina!

What's next for the prima ballerina? She's trying out for the Nutcracker in September. Details on that to come soon.

Naomi

2011-07-13T07:25:00.000-07:00

Naomi

You're my first, my fashionista, my inspiration.

You're the leader, the planner, the innovative one.

You love, love, love books and reading--to snuggle in your bed with a good long mystery is a perfect treat.

You love to go out, to be with friends, to see and do new things.

You are a collector: from bugs to bunnies, you love to count, arrange, and organize.

You will tell it like it is and you adore being first and right.

You chafe at not being finished, dear daughter.

You have a radiant, confident beauty from within that attracts many friends.

Girl after girl chooses you (and you alone) when she can only have one friend over.

This you take in stride without pride.

You have always been of teenage temperament--easy going and happy one minute, moody and downtrodden the next. It is a challenge (that I love) to get close to you.

You love to cook, and when I suggest that you cook a meal by yourself, you beam.

You encourage me to make every day special from flowers on the table to written agendas to ice cream ideas.

You dance.

You dream.

You write.

You sell lemonade with a passion and donate the money to children in Haiti.

You say things like,

"Daddy and Jacob haven't had a boy outing in a while. I think Daddy should take Jacob to a race or something this Saturday while the girls stay home and watch Anne of Green Gables."

You are infinitely girly and yet you have plenty of time left over to dig in the dirt, find worms, chase spiders, set up cages for neighborhood rabbits, and plant a garden.

You come up with outfits and ask me to take pictures to post on the blog.

You are happy, you are peacemaker, you make us all better.

I love you, sweet oldest one, my goose.

Bethany

2011-07-13T06:53:00.000-07:00

Bethany

You're my snuggly one. You're the third, the easy baby, the one who taught us how to really love.

You're the red-headed personality. You love to say really sweet, wonderful things and you love to scream with a blast that can make us all want to run and hide.

Your happy place is in my lap.

You adore your brother and sister with a love that demands full attention.

You are the sensitive one who understands feelings. You can sense that someone needs encouragement or a smile or a wave. You turn heads and cause smiles to appear at the grocery store.

You are a silly one. You love to laugh and will copy the antics of your brother and sister with gales of giggles.

You love shoes with a passion and try them on liberally throughout the day.

You choose your own clothes and can almost dress yourself already.

You are potty trained and delight in the fact that you can do it by yourself.

You don't let your own imperfections worry you in the least.

You are the opposite of uptight, and you seem to know that is what we all need in a little sister.

You love to swim and play with water

and serve us tea.

You love to have your nails painted and your hair fixed and you

toss your hair with your little hand.

Swirling skirts are very important to you and ballet is your ultimate dream.

(And next week you'll have ballet camp for the first time and make some of those dreams come true!)

You love princesses; you love them because they sing and wear pretty dresses and have long hair.

You love books and dolls (all with names) and your pink blanket.

Your blue eyes and coy smile can charm the uncharmable.

You love to take your daddy's face in your hands and give him a big smack.

If Momma's not pleasing you, you might decide to scream very loudly for Daddy, as if he can hear you from work.

You are my armful of hugs and kisses, my sunshine.

Jacob

2011-07-13T06:35:00.000-07:00

Jacob

You're my boy, my bundle energy, my tender hearted strong man.

You're the one who opens doors for your sisters both literally and figuratively.

You stretch us.

You love speed and cars and legos and dressing like your daddy.

You are good at all sports--throwing a football with a perfect spiral, hitting balls farther than we thought possible, loving the sandlot games, kicking goals.

You are so strong and heavy and solid.

You love to snack. You'll eat carrots by the bushel and peanuts by the can, and granola bars by the box if we let you.

You love all things art. When you hold a crayon or a pencil or a marker, it becomes a tool for beauty.

You swim.

You run.

You bike.

You ride the four wheeler.

You forget to complain.

And when you're hungry or tired your distress comes out through out-of-control emotion.

You wake up happy most days. You go to bed easily most days.

You read with an intensity that causes your brow to furrow.

You play the silly man to make your sisters and their friends laugh.

You are always hungry. You love your best buds and continue to love them even when they move away. You love for me to scratch your back at bedtime, and you're favorite song is one I made up about Jacob being a wee little man.

I love you, my buddy, my Jacob man!

I'm Linking Up With...

2011-07-08T12:19:00.001-07:00

Monday
Menu Plan Monday, On the Menu Monday, and MMMmonday. Motivate Me Monday and Makes My Monday.
Tuesday
Linked to Top Ten Tuesdayand Lucky Linky Tuesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Tuesday Twister, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table, Anything Related, Delicious Dishes, Hearth and Soul Hop, Don't Waste Your Homemaking, Graceful Abandon's Blog Hop, Creative Bloggers, Tuesday Tastes, and Tasty Tuesdays over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam and Shades of Green. Sweet Shot Tuesday
Wednesday
What's Cooking Wednesday, 5 Minutes for Mom , Parenting by Dummies,Go, Graham, Go,Jolly Mom, A Lot of Loves, Live and Love Out Loud, Hobo Mama, Momspective,Momma to 4Blessings, Slice o' Heaven, Ramblings, A Mom's Choice, Shibley Smiles, Natural Parents, Life Down Our Lane, Better in Bulk, Dagmar's Momsense, Marni's Organized Mess, Not Quite Susie, Grampy's World, Frugality is Free, To Be Thode, Here and There, Green Momma,Joy of Desserts, Bethere2day, Baby Baby Lemon, Happily Blended, Supermom, I Thought I Knew Mama, Experimental Mommy, My Thoughts, Mrs. Marine, A Beautiful Mess, Seven Clown Circus, Miss Mommy, and Goodbye Disposable. Works for Me Wednesday.
Thursday
Thrilling Thursday,Thursday Pink and Green,Transformation Thursday,Cheap Thrills Thursday, It's a Keeper, Taking Time Out, Things I Love Thursday.
Friday

Linked with Frugal Friday at Life As Mom and The Shabby Nest. Also linked with

Finer Things Friday, Show Off Your Stuff, , Hookin' Up with HOH, Strut Your Stuff, Get Your Craft On, Nifty and Thrifty, Tot Tuesdays, Foodie Friday, Friday Potluck, Toot Your Horn, DIY Wednesday, Look What I Made,

Friday Favorites, Feature Yourself Friday, Frugalicious Friday I'm Loving It, Friday Foods, Finer Things Friday,

Also linked with Fun Mom Friday over at Please Pass the Salt, Party Mindie Style

Fun Summer Challenge,

Sunday

Relax and Surf Sunday, Party Mindie Style, Say Hi Sunday, Let's Get Social Sunday, Super Stalker Sunday

Market Place Day #4

2011-07-06T18:31:00.000-07:00

Come take a walk with us through Market Place, Lookout Mountain Pres's VBS, June 2011

Marketplace Day #1

2011-06-27T12:37:00.000-07:00

Ari's 4yo Birthday Tea Party

2011-06-27T12:35:00.001-07:00

Happy Father's Day, Daddy Man!

2011-06-27T12:30:00.001-07:00

We showered him with homemade cards and presents

(Cardinal chairs, pants, and a #1 Cardinal Dad tee shirt)

and hugs and kisses

and we're proud to call him Daddy-Man!

Happy Father's Day to Daddy, Grandad, Grandpa, Grandaddy, Grandpa Street and all the daddies out there!

Water Steps Play Date

2011-06-27T12:21:00.001-07:00

Beach Trip 2011 #5

2011-06-14T09:09:00.000-07:00

Beach Trip 2011 #4

2011-06-14T09:04:00.001-07:00

Beach Trip #3

2011-06-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

From our beach house in Fort Morgan, it was about an hour's drive up to Mobile to see the USS Alabama ship, submarine, and museum.

Beach Trip #2

2011-06-14T08:36:00.000-07:00

Beach Trip 2011 #1

2011-06-14T08:33:00.001-07:00

Memphis, 2011

2011-06-14T08:28:00.000-07:00

STL #3

2011-06-14T08:18:00.000-07:00

STL #2 May 30th

2011-06-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

Happy 3rd Birthday, Bethany!

To the STL Zoo

And to the Cardinal's Game!

(who put a trash can in a photo spot?!?)

STL #1 Bethany Celebrates Three

2011-06-14T07:58:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday, Bethany!

Jacob's Art Camp

2011-06-14T07:35:00.000-07:00

Wheelbarrow

Butterfly

Jacob was in a little art camp with an artist who has a studio up the street. He's not quite finished yet, but here is what we've seen so far of his portfolio. As ever, we're proud of his artistic abilities, and it's fun to see them manifest so young.

Caterpillar

Dragonfly

Last Day of School 2011

2011-06-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

Jacob's Last Baseball Game

2011-06-14T07:22:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday, Bethany!

2011-05-31T08:32:00.001-07:00

Can you believe that this little laughing girl is three years old?
(pictures of birthday festivities to come soon.)

You Might Have Missed...

2011-05-31T08:20:00.000-07:00

If you haven't been keeping up with Of Such is the Kingdom, you might have missed these goings on in the Oster world:
What will go down in history as The Tornados of 2011
The T-shirt dresses the girls got for Easter
The momma bird the kids have been driving crazy
My trip to Louisville, KY to cook, learn, and soak up some art at the GE Momsperience Blogger Conference
Just didn't want you to think we've been bored around here!

Walk for Life

2011-05-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who supported the kiddos in the Choices PRC Walk for Life! We enjoyed walking and supporting the unborn and their mommies!