www.amydeboer.com

So...check it out. I'm official!

I have my own website now at http://www.amydeboer.com/ for all of my photography and design stuff. I'm super excited about it, and I have been having lots of fun building up my portfolio and coming up with some new birth announcement, invitation and christmas card designs. Feel free to check it out and tell everyone you know. ;)

I'll still be keeping up on the blog, but I have been a little slower on the posting since I've been trying to get things started up with my business.

Hope you all had a fantastic summer!

I got it, Mom....

Joel and I had to have a quick chat in the car after he had a meltdown with some friends.
Once we started on the road, I began my little parenting schpiel on how it's important to share and be patient. I had barely begun when Joel cut me off saying, "I GOT IT, MOM! No whining. No crying. I got it."

Wow. Am I already getting cut off during my parenting lectures. I asked him what a better choice would be next time he is tempted to whine or cry, and he told me that he'll just give me a thumbs up.

I'll let you know how that goes.

Grace is generally busy doing whatever Joel tells her to do! Today, they were pretending that they were flying an airplane to Colorado when Joel decided that HE needed to be in the front seat of the plane. He got up and barked his orders, "Grace! Get in the back seat. I'm driving!" To which she immediatly got up and moved to the "backseat" of their imaginary plane. Unbelieveable! I may need to see if Joel is interested in a little subcontracted parenting duty. I can't even get her to listen to ME that well!

Grace and I actually had a little solo girl time tonight. She was running a temp today so we had to stay home from Curt's work party up in Grand Rapids. Joel and Curt had a great time while Grace and I snuggled, read books, and generally had a relaxing evening. I'm looking forward to Joel starting preschool this fall so that Grace and I can have a little more girl time. She is so stinkin' sweet.

August already...

I haven't been the best blogger lately. Summer is flying by and I have barely posted. Joel and Grace are growing like crazy. Overnight, clothes and shoes seem to be shrinking on them! Grace is looking so tall and she suddenly has lots to say. She doesn't care one bit that we only understand a handful of words. She just keeps on chatting away. Her favorite person in the world is Joel (or "Jo Jo" as she calls him). The first one she wants to see when I get her up in the morning is big brother. They have become quite a duo. I love that they are starting to play together more and more. We love our Gracie girl more and more every day.

Joel continues to be our little character. A few days ago, I was loading Grace into the car to go run some errands. Joel came outside and noticed that it had started to sprinkle a bit. He ran back into the house and when he came back, he was holding the work goggles from his tool box. I asked him why he needed his goggles, and he told me he didn't want to get any rain in his eyes! He fell asleep on the was home from the store, and I just couldn't resist running in and grabbing my camera. He was just too cute.

Other than Joel and Gracie, I have really been enjoying my camera and photography classes. I've been working a lot this summer on setting up my own photography and design business, and I can't wait to get that going. My website is under construction, but I'll be sure to share it soon. Here's my two favorite kids in the world...do they look so big or what?!?!

She's a supermodel

Grace had fun being my little model yesterday. She even tried a few poses (without any direction). What a girl!

Joel even tried to get in on our little photo shoot...but this is what happens when I ask him to smile. Hmmm.... Very natural.

I love Joel DeBoer.

So...I was on a walk with the kids the other day, and I started humming. Joel asked me, "Mom, is that a song about Jesus?"

It wasn't. So, being a "good" mom, of course I said, "Yes, Joel. It's a song about Jesus. Do you know any songs about Jesus?"

"Yeah."

"What is your favorite song about Jesus."

"Ummm...I think I like Jesus' Eye of the Tiger."

Interesting. I didn't know there was a "Jesus" version of Eye of the Tiger. I'll have to check that out on iTunes!

4th of July

Here are some pics from our Fourth of July celebrations. We walked in a parade with Grandpa DeBoer's tractor. That was lots of fun (especially when Joel got to throw candy to the crowd. He loved it!). We also got together with the Knight Family for a yummy barbeque, and we watched some great fireworks, too. The kids had a blast. Here are some of the highlights...

Joel & Gracie liked to drive the tractor

(or at least they felt like they were driving!)G&G DeBoer with Gracie, Joel, Carter and baby Makenna.

The J-man. I'm starting to see freckles on that nose! The Irish genes are winning! Awww...Gracie girl.

The cousins...

Joel loves Uncle Chris...

Daddy & Joel... Great Grandma Knight and Grace.Great Grandma & Grandpa Knight...

Strawberry Pickin'

We went strawberry picking this morning so I could stock up on jam for the year. The kids had a blast. Gracie ate more strawberries than I thought was possible...stems and all. Joel was an excellent helper. They were rewarded for all their hard work with a trip to the park and an ice cream cone on our way home.

Long Time No Post...

Yeah. I'm a slacker. But in my defense...it's beautiful outside and we've been having lots of fun around here. Joel and Grace seem to be growing by the minute. I called Curt at work this week to tell him that I was sure Grace was bigger after her afternoon nap than she was before! Since I know you all enjoy the pics more than you do my nonsense...I tried to post a bunch of shots of the kids so you can see how big they're getting.

Here's my little supermodel. She doesn't even try to take off the sunglasses. Anything that she thinks makes her pretty ("pitty!"), she LOVES. She walks around the house with my purses and stares at me while I put on makeup waiting to get a little dab of lip gloss. Man...girls are so different than boys, and I'm loving it!And here she is on a less glamourous day. Gracie...meet pudding.Joel and Grace really do get along well together. It's been fun to watch them this summer. She definitely knows how to drive him crazy, but for the most part they play nicely.Here's my J-man in the tub...getting so big and handsome. He tells me all the time that he's almost FOUR (not until March!). His new favorite thing is knock knock jokes. So if you have any good ones...let me know. Perhaps the funniest thing about this knock knock joke phase is that we have discovered that Curt can NOT tell a knock knock joke!!! He messes it up every time which cracks me up even more. Sorry to sell you out, babe, but it's just too funny.

Now that it's summer time, the kids are loving eating outside. We have picnics at the park or in the backyard quite often. So...when it's not nice out, they like to have picnics on the living room floor. Here's Gracie having some cereal. I think this was just Joel's clever way of convincing me that he can eat in the living room. Man, he's smooth!And...here's why I don't usually like having them eat in the living room. I will find cereal in couch cracks and toy drawers for the next two weeks.Joel, Grace and I hit some garage sales this morning and found some steals. Here he is in my new rocking chair for outside. And Grace with some sidewalk chalk. She does more eating than drawing. I actually looked up how much chalk one needs to eat before a parent needs to be concerned. The answer...a lot.

Muscle man... C'mon. This is just funny.

I think this is payback for all the times Joel has gotten Gracie. It's amazing how fast kids learn the "big brother trade." I was personally a victim of this for years. How many times did my brother trade me 8 pennies for a quarter?? Too many, my friends. The really sad part...I thought I was getting a deal. Also...wicker rocking chair...garage sale. $5!! Love it!This was our other big find at the garage sales. A seesaw for $5. What better way to start your weekend than a bevy of spectacular garage sales. Mmmmmm....

Love this. Joel and Dad.

Love you all! Hope you are enjoying your summer!

My Parents...Published Authors!!!

Many of you know that my parents have a full-time marriage ministry called REAL LIFE ministries. Over the past twelve years, they have gone from Illinois to Michigan to California to Colorado...from full-time jobs to full-time ministry. They have taken many big steps of faith as they have followed where the Lord has led them.

They have been working on a marriage book for the past few years and it is finally published. I have a copy of it, and it's just fantastic. If you are looking for a great book on marriage, this is the one you need! Seriously. If my endorsement is not enough to sway you (which it should be!), check out the endorsements from Josh & Dottie McDowell (Campus Crusade for Christ), Dick & Dee Eastman (Every Home for Christ), Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian (co-founder of Willow Creek Community Church), or Ben & Lauretta Patterson to name a few...

Check out their ministry and website at http://www.reallife.us.com/. You can order the book directly from the website.

Congratulations on the book, Mom & Dad! I love you and am so thankful for both of you.

Chicago Here We Come...

The kids and I headed down to Chicago this past weekend to visit family and celebrate my sister Cate's graduation. She just finished her Masters in Social Work at UIC. She also found out that she won the PACT fellowship in Boston. Only ONE social worker is placed each year, and she got it! We are so proud of her! Way to go miss Harvard fellow!
Curt drove down on Saturday (after winning the first annual Amy Winter Memorial Golf outing...way to go, babe!) Andy, Al & Amanda...I wish we could have all been there. We can't wait til next year!

It was great to visit with my Gram, my aunts, uncles and cousins and of course my mom and dad. We even fit in a trip to the zoo. Too fun!

Gracie & Pop Pop...

Gracie and Nonie...

I made Gracie a tutu!

Tiny dancer...

Gracie & Daddy

Gracie's new outfit. She thought she was quite the supermodel!
Stealing Auntie Cate's shades...
Checking out the Rhinos at the Lincoln Park Zoo...

When we got home...Joel had his very first dentist appointment. He did fantastic! The dental hygenist was very sweet to him and let him play with the water squirter and air blower. He thought it was great. She was actually able to do a cleaning on him which is more than we expected. She said he was amazing for a three-year-old! As we were driving home, he was flossing his teeth in the back seat telling me how important it is to keep your teeth clean!