thekublerhomestead

Meeting our sweet little love

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 22:36:00 +0000

I'll never in my life forget this day. We tried to adopt for 5 years. The Lord was faithful through it all, and even though we never got a placement, we know there was purpose in us walking through it. We did have a failed placement, but I'm so thankful to be able to pray for that sweet little girl for the rest of her life.

Last year, we decided to foster instead of using a private agency. We decided to do both fostering and foster-to-adopt. Really, we just put our "yes" on the table for whatever the Lord wanted us to do.

All the paperwork, classes, training, and waiting were all worth it when she was handed to us on July 19, 2018. My 29th birthday.

We had received the call just the previous day. A little girl in the NICU needing a placement. We said yes immediately. She was supposed to stay in the NICU a few more days, but our of the Lord's grace, she was passing all her tests and got to come home on my birthday. I'll never get over that. It wasn't a coincidence.It was a sweet gift and blessing from the Lord.

We watched the car pull up in our driveway, and we all ran outside to get our first glimpse. She was so incredibly tiny. The social worker put her in my arms and it was an immediate love. We spent that first night cuddling the mess out of her and asking ourselves over and over again if it was real life. We did skin to skin for most of the night and just soaked her up.

She's one of the best things to ever happen to me. We have no idea what the future holds for this tiny babe, but we will cherish each day with her and never stop praying for her. I just can't believe she's here. She so deeply loved by so many. Her story is divine intervention from the Lord. He has already done so much in her life these last two weeks. We can't wait to see what He has in store for us. We are so massively thankful He placed her in our home. We love you so much little one. You are home here. For however long the Lord sees fit. You are a Kubler while you're with us, and we love you like our other kubs. You are constantly a picture of God's love for us and our adoption into the Kingdom. I can't say it enough, we love you. We pray daily over you and your bio family. We pray for redemption and protection and salvation for all who have the blessing of knowing you. Little Love, welcome home.

The first pic of her we received via text. I over analyized every inch of this photo.

Waiting on our girl...

SHE IS HOMEEEEE

LOOK AT HER BEAUTIFUL FACE!!!

I just can't handle her.

So many tears. SO much joy. SOOO much love.

Big sister taking her role VERY seriously.

This big brother is smitten!

Their bond was immediate.I can't imagine doing life without that man.He's the best daddy.

Check up for this tiny love and she's doing so well!

MELTED

First bath!!

She's in heaven with her little sister here

meeting granddaddy and mandy

just truly so happy

we can't stop cuddling her

oh little love. You are a joy, a delight, a dream come true, an answered prayer. We love you as much as humanly possible. What a privilege and honor to call you ours for the time being. Whatever the future holds, our lives are in-explicitly better because you are here and we get to watch you grow for a time. We love you!

June Recap 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 03:09:00 +0000

Sweet sleeping girl

sno cone date with friends!

Warm nights outside with our CG people!

Where's Abe?

Girl's Night Out

Another year of swim lessons!!!

pool time after swim lessons!!

pool side napping!

Be still my heart. This kid.

C has really been into Volcano's lately. When we read about the devastation in Guatemala, C asked what we could do to help. We brainstormed and came up with the idea of him drawing pictures for $5 a pic! He drew close to 25 volcanos and raised $300! We were so proud of him and all the hard work he put into drawing volcanos.

Lo got a big girl haircut! She's such a beauty!

Back porch hangs!

C took these photos, haha.

This was one of the biggest reasons that we bought this house! The spacious land allows us to host events for our church. This was our first time hosting a church wide cook out and baptism service. I couldn't help but tear up at one point. The Lord has been so good to us. It's our desire to always use this home to glorify him and be hospitable to others. This was the first of many nights to come.

She got just a tiny bit of marker on her, hahahahaha.

Picking blueberries!

Love these people of mine!

My friend Anna's little boy, Lee. First time meeting him and I never wanted to let him go!

Snuggles with my Lo

They did this all on their own after helping me bake. Goodness I love their bond!

Outings to the library! And yes, Abe is naked because of a car vomit crisis. Don't ask.

My sweet baby boy

Our Anniversary and FTN date nights!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 02:56:00 +0000

Nine years married to this fella. It's like we blinked and here we are, but at the same time it also feels like another lifetime when we got married. We've grown and changed so much over the years for the better. Marriage is never easy and we've definitely had our hard moments, but I'm so thankful the Lord never leaves us were we are. Doing life with this man is a blessing I'll never be deserving of. In nine years, we've moved 4 times, gone through several job changes, been on numerous trips, and had four beautiful babies come into our family. Nine years and a lifetime to come! I love you babe!

We celebrated at our favorite restaurant, The Beauty Shop. Then we walked around the new Crosstown Concourse, got ice cream, and talked about our marriage. It was a sweet night of celebration and yummy food!

This month was rare in that we got a lot of date nights! WHOOP WHOOP! Josh's second job at Fund The Nations hosted a company night at a Redbirds game! We haven't gone to a game since the early years in our marriage, so this was a different date night than we are used too, but we had fun!

We also celebrated FTN's 10 year anniversary! Josh has been working with this company for a few years now and it's been a massive blessing to our family. He loves working there. Most of his very good friends work alongside him. I'm thankful he can go to work everyday to a place he loves with coworkers who are such a huge part of our lives.

We ate yummy food, took silly pictures and then had our own version of the "dundy" awards (The Office awards).

Summer days and Fire trucks

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 21:39:00 +0000

This is our second summer to play in the fire truck water hose at the local library. Last year the kids were to big on running in the water pouring out the top of the truck. But this year, C was all about it. Abe had the time of his little life playing in the run off water. And willow pretty much just begged for and ate snacks the entire time haha. We stayed for several hours and just had such a blast!

Abe and his little love Wynnie

Fun at Granddaddy's

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Sat, 09 Jun 2018 02:13:00 +0000

We are so thankful and blessed to live close to all of our family. We visit Josh's dad as often as possible, and the kids love going to granddaddy's farm to play and see the cows. Josh's nana currently lives with them, so it's extra special to get to visit. She keeps us laughing, and the kids love playing with their auntie Ashley and Jamie. Thankful for sweet photos like these to look back on one day.

Fostering Kubs

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 00:56:00 +0000

^Right after we had our fingerprints taken in March.

I can't believe how much I've fallen behind in blogging. I'm currently posting and back dating blog posts from almost 7 months ago. It got a little out of hand. Then it just became way too overwhelming, and I almost gave up on this little blog. Abe's monthly updates are what kept this little blog hanging in there. This blog (how many more times can I say the word "blog") has always been a scrap book for me. It's where I keep our life documented for my kids to one day have and remind them of sweet memories we shared. I really don't think I can ever let it go, atleast not for now. So thank you Abe for being born and keeping this blog going. I mean, thanks for being born for many reasons, but obviously this little blog is the true purpose of your birth. (read: that is sarcasm)

I've kept my instagram pretty updated. It's like blogging on speed. It's so quick and easy to post and all my images are shared on my Chatbooks app which then automatically prints them into a book. 21st century, man. But, my kids LOVE the chatbooks and IG is so easy to post to that I often post big updates there, and then completely forget about this little corner of the web. So with that all being said and goodness that was a little bit much, we've changed our adoption route!

Way back when, like ages ago, like yesteryear and then some, we started this adoption journey. You can read all about it if you like at the tab above appropriately titled "adoption journey". 6 years we've been in the adoption process through an agency. We were on waiting lists and then paused and then waiting and then a failed match and then paused again. All the while the Lord was slowly changing and convicting our hearts on Foster Care. We weren't opposed to it by any means, but we really just thought it would be something we pursued once our kids were older and grown. Right before we were matched with our birthmother, Josh and I had a very spur the moment conversation in the back yard of a friend's home right after we had helped them move in. He approached me about ending our time at the agency and pursuing fostering. Unbeknownst to him, I had been praying over fostering for months. I kept wanting to tell him my heart had changed, but I wanted the Lord to do the same work in his heart as He was doing in mine. So for months, I just prayed and waited on the Lord. Then on that humid sticky day, after he had just moved a massive table to their backyard, he sat me down and purposed this idea. I couldn't help but laugh and tell him all that had transpired in my heart the past few months. We decided right there that we would pursue fostering. Well, a month later, we were matched with our birthmom and learned we were pregnant all on the same morning. I was confused why the Lord did all that work on us and had lead us to fostering, but we moved forward with the adoption. Sadly but in the Lord's will, our birthmom decided to parent, and then we were paused with our agency because of my pregnancy with Abe. When he turned 6 months old, it was a no brainer that we would pursue fostering. It was very bittersweet to say goodbye to the agency we had been with for so long and invested so much money in. Walking away would mean losing thousands of dollars we fundraised and paid for. THAT WAS HARD. But still, the Lord told us fostering. We know he had us at the agency so we could meet that birthmom and forever pray over her. I still think of her often. We know He can use those funds we invested to help other families adopting through them and cover hospital bills for their birthmoms. It's extremely humbling to let go and trust in the Lord when other people personally invested in your adoption. But still we trust.

^During our weekend long training sessions.

So, the day before Josh's birthday, on the 27th of February 2018, I emailed the state and applied to be foster parents. Four days later on March 3rd, we met our social worker and had our orientation. Three days after, that we had our fingerprints and background checks completed. Then at the end of March, we completed all of our training over a weekend. We started our homestudy in April and used that month to make some needed improvements to Abe's room so that we could set up another crib in there. We completed our homestudy late May and received our activation email June 5th!

And now, the real waiting begins. We are foster/foster to adopt parents. We can't wait for this journey to start. I feel like we are standing at the front of massive stone floodgates knowing that at any second they are going to burst open and flood our lives with all sorts of terrifying goodness and heartache and happiness and trusting in the Lord like never before. It's weird to be standing on this side of the gates knowing what's coming and then also not knowing at all. Like Michael Scott infamously states, "And I knew exactly what to do but in a much more real sense I had no idea what to do". That is the mantra of my life right now haha.

I've shared more details on our fostering journey and how to become a foster parent on a highlight reel on my IG. It's located on my profile. If you're are curious about the steps taken to become a foster parent, you can learn more there.

Novel completed. I guess that's what I get for waiting months to update. You're a real tropper if you hung in there and read that in its entirety. I won't be sharing much detail of our foster kubs journeys publicly. Simply because their story is not mine to tell, but I will share court dates and such to rally for prayer. Please join us in praying for our future kubs and their birth families. Our desire is to love on those birthparents as much as possible.

May Recap 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Thu, 31 May 2018 18:50:00 +0000

This month was packed full of fun. First Abe's birthday, then vacation, then Abe's party, then memorial day cookouts and mothers day! It was a great kick-off to summer!

Birthday boy and his pancakes!

Poor little guy had HFM on his birthday!

Still happy as a clam!

Our rose bushes bloomed. She asked if she could have these flowers for wedding one day. Yep, that's what she asked. My goodness I don't even want to think about that. But, it would be a precious idea!

I Just LOVE his curls

Mother's Day with some of my favorite mamas!

So thankful to be these kub's mama.

One Year Check up!

morning quiet time with daddy

I just love his precious pooh drawing

besties over for dinner!

morning cuddles with my main girl

Abe and the watermelon. A series.

COUSINS!(minus stone)

Playground fun

Dinner with Nana

Sweet Sweet summer time

A because this was Abe's birth month. Here is a little look back over the last 12 months. GOODNESS HE'S SO BIG!!

Abe's First Birthday!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Sun, 13 May 2018 17:17:00 +0000

I just can't believe that this boy is an entire year old. What a joy this past year has been watching him grow. He brings so much joy into our lives and I truly can't image life without him. We decided to have his party the day after we returned from vacation. I still can't decide if that was good timing or not haha, because it atleast made me have all the party prep done before we left for vacation. I was so stuck on what little theme to have for his party. I just was in such disbelief that it was time to be planning it. Time had flown so fast and I just wasn't ready for him to be one. That's when I decided to do a "time flies" theme. I love to go big for the first bday, but to do it on a budget is always a fun challenge. I scored pinterest and came up with a few ideas on my own. It was so fun planning and ended up being very inexpensive. We had such a fun day celebrating this boy!

I'll let the pictures do the talking on if Abe liked the cake or not.... haha

We love you Abraham Robert!!!!

Family Beach Pictures 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Sat, 12 May 2018 16:17:00 +0000

The beach was always absurdly windy every night, so this year I decided to take our beach pics around the square of the little community we ate dinner at almost every night (Seaside). Goodness I love these sweet babes. So thankful for such a fun vacation!

I truly couldn't choose which were my favorite. So, of course, there is an overwhelming abundance. Ha!

mjhjhkjh

2018 Beach Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Fri, 11 May 2018 16:01:00 +0000

We decided to take our beach trip early this year along with some friends. We stayed in Santa Rosa for the first time, and we fell in love the beautiful water and quaint little town. I was so curious how Abe would do with the sand and water. At first he was a little unsure, but then he wouldn't stop throwing it or pouring it all over himself.

That first night we went to a fun family hangout spot called The Hub. It had a lot of little eateries and a big green field for kids to play on. We got ice cream and watched a movie on the big projector screen. We stayed out late, and the kids had a blast!

We spent every morning at the beach for several hours. Then, we would head to the pool for swimming and lunch. The kids would then nap while I layed out and josh worked or relaxed. The kids were exhausted each day and took great naps.

We checked out a neighboring community for dinner and then walked around the little square with kids before getting ice cream.

I woke up a few mornings before the kids to walk the beach alone, have my quiet time, and just soak in the stillness.

We made the 45 min drive to our favorite sno cone stand in Destin. It's unparalleled to any other sno cones we've ever had. The kids thoroughly enjoyed them. Just wish I could figure out a way to have them shipped here, ha!

our last full day on the beach! These little fish have my heart!

The morning we left, me and the kids went down to the beach for one last walk and sea shell hunt. Oh how I wish we could have taken the whole thing home with us.

So thankful for another sweet vacation with my crew!

ABE IS ONEEEE!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Sat, 05 May 2018 20:01:00 +0000

A YEAR OLD. HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE!!!

You've gone through so many fun changes in this last month of your babyhood. You can now army crawl and correctly crawl (when you choose, you are the fastest when you army). You mastered pulling up, and you even like to walk when we hold your hands. Your top four teeth have completely come through. You can say daddy, doggy, duck, hey, and dada. You really only say mama when your cry gets escalated if you are mad. You love to wave bye bye and point to your nose when asked. You've switched to whole milk and drinking out of a sippy cup. You are still a great sleeper and napper, but can miss a morning nap if we are out running errands without a meltdown. 12 month clothing is the best fit, and we are close to switching to size 4 diapers. You 21-22 pounds. Bless your heart, you broke out in Hand Foot Mouth the week of your birthday, but that didin't stop you from being your happy self. You LOVE to laugh at your siblings, swing, take baths, and eat. You also love playing with the big kids and reading books.

We are headed to the beach this weekend and I can't wait to see you there for the first time. I'm so curious if you will enjoy it.

We are having your birthday party the day after we get back, I can't wait to celebrate you. This past year has been the best year of our lives. You have filled our home with so much joy and happiness. Everyday I have kissed your cheeks off, loved on you, and praised the Lord for blessing us with you. My sweet Abraham Robert, our lives our better because you are in them. Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

April Recap!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 21:46:00 +0000

Finally we started to get some warmer weather! We spent a lot of this month outside playing! We also painted Abe's room and got it ready for our fostering journey!

This kid LOVES the swing!

First time to Taco Bell. They loved it haha!

Cut all the hair off and it feels so good!

Sweet boy at the library! I can't get over his curls!

Canaan colored willow a crown so she could have a hat like him. He's the sweetest big brother!

Story time with daddy!

Always going...

C drew this cross and I love it so so so much! Planning to keep it forever and ever.

My little mini me

Goodness I love these three!

She's doing so well with her tracing!

Something about this boy in a baseball cap just melts me

Hello SPRING!!!

i mean, this baby owns me.

Checking out his new school! We can't wait to start Classical Conversations next year!

Little girl treasures

ZOO DAY!!!

Happy Easter!!

Abe is 11 months!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 19:53:00 +0000

Sweet boy, you are 11 months old!!! I'm truly not ready for this last month. I know it's going to fly by and I hate that. One month until I have a one year old, I'm not ready. This month you are doing so much better with crawling. You still aren't up on all fours, but you are a master at your army crawl. You talk and talk and talk all day long. I'm guessing you weight around 20-21 pounds. You are still in size 3 diapers but that's going to change soon. You wear 9-12 month clothing and are close to only being in 12month strictly. You are cutting in your four front teeth, but they haven't quite broken through. You love love love to eat and really aren't that picky. You are still getting 4 bottles a day.

We sure do love you so much little one. It's such a joy to watch you grow. We thank Jesus for you daily!

MARCH RECAP

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 04:24:00 +0000

March was full of days at home and prepping to become foster parents! (more on that to come).

He's so close to turning one, and I am not ok.

FIRST FISHING ON OUR POND!!!!!!!!! They were so proud to be fishing with poppa. Josh's dad bought them these poles at Christmas and they've asked almost every week to use them. They were so excited when poppa came over to fish with them. They each caught 3-4 fish each!

The sun goes down so early, so we've been getting creative at night. This night we started wrapping sticks with yarn to make a fun mobile.

First smores in our fire place!

Little man standing tall!

They asked me to take their pictures haha:

Foster training!!

He finally let me put his hair back in a man bun. He DID not like it, and it only lasted for five minutes, but I couldn't get over how different it made him look. I will always cherish his beautiful curls.

She's too much!

exploring the land

hanging out with granddaddy and mandy!

SOMEONE LOST THEIR FIRST TOOTH!!!!!!!!!

Easter Egg hunting with friends!!

Egg dye!!

Sweet cuddles with my boy!

I have no idea what they are doing here. HA

Abe is 10 months!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 19:26:00 +0000

time is truly flying and I'm just so thankful for each and every stage of babyhood. You are such a laidback baby, which we are so thankful for. You feel so much younger than 10months because you are still refusing to crawl or pull up on things. Part of me loves this because you feel younger ha. The other side of me worries for your developments, but we know that babies just do everything in their own time. In the week since you've turned 10months, you've been steadily on your tummy without hating life and therefore really acting like you want to crawl. Maybe month 11 you'll decided it's time.

You LOVE C and W, and you love when they act silly. You learned how to wave bye bye and scrunch your nose in this hilarious overly cheesy smile. you clapped a few times on your own, too. You are loving real food and pretty much prefer it now. You are taking 4-5 bottles and eating 2 meals. You weigh over 19 pounds... probably closer to 21. You are still sleeping amazingly through the night and take 2 naps a day for 2-3 hours each.

You've started talking in the cutest gibberish I've ever heard and you get really serious when you do it. You also started shaking your head and then head banging when you are being silly. You think it's so funny.

We love you so much sweet boy. Every month with you is just such a sweet gift.

February Recap!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 04:34:00 +0000

This was such a sweet month at home. January was so busy, but February was full of rest and days at home. It was so needed after such a busy season of moving, Christmas, and traveling. Spending every day with them at home is such a joy. The days can be long and hard, but I'm so thankful for this privilege and honor of being the mama.

growing boy!

I walked in on C reading to them. HEART EYES.

She was so tired this sweet girl just fell asleep right on her floor.

Cousin SLEEPOVER FOR THE WIN!

Building legos with dad!

He is growing so fast, and I just don't like it.

The days are sparsely warm but when they are, you will catch us outside.

Lego building machine!

Cousins and sister wrapped him all up in blankets and bows haha.

one tired but very happy mama.

Movie night with just my big guy!

These two little ones are sure to be fast friends... maybe one day spouses! ahahahaha.

park days!

I take way too many pictures of my kids sleeping haha.

Another sleeping picture, but this girl cracks me up!

Took this little series of pictures one day. They just make my heart burst.

Thanks Feb. You were grand.

Abe turns 9 Months!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 00:43:00 +0000

oh my sweet Abe. 9 months looks mighty cute on you! We haven't gone to your check up appointment yet, but I'm guessing you are around 19 pounds. You are almost grown out of 6-9months and ready for 9-12. You still have no desire to crawl, but you are starting to get frustrated that you can't reach toys you want. You clap every now and then, mainly say dada (but we've heard a few bye bye's), and you'll wave bye bye every now and then. You are talking in gibberish a lot more but no real distinct noises.

Due to thyroid issues, my milk dried up this month and you are sololy bottle fed. I think that's what has helped you put on some chunks. You are taking great, long naps twice a day. You've started cutting your third tooth, but it's coming in slowly. You really love playing "where's abraham" and can do it all by yourself. Canaan can make you laugh harder than any.

You are STILL the HAPPIEST EASIEST go with the flow baby. You truly make me want so many more. We love you so much sweet Abraham. You are such a joy!

January Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 04:14:00 +0000

This was such a fun month! First our Chatty trip, then snow days, and so many fun memories in between.

Josh took C to a Grizzly game. I couldn't handle how big and cool he looked!

my sweet boy!

Visiting granddaddy and Nana!

bedtime stories

sweet girl got a haircut and curls:)

So thankful to spend time with Daniel and Rebekah while they were in town from NZ. We loved getting to spend Christmas and fun nights like this with them.

so thankful for these kubs.

We've been reading The Lion The Witch, and The Wardrobe as a family at night. C drew this one day after our reading. I can't handle how sweet and good it is!

reading at Mudgy's house.

sweet sleeping girl.

I took willow out on a date night. She requested a picture with C and then with me before we went to the movies.

Josh and I were able to sneak away to Chatty again for a work conference Josh had. My parents kept C and W. It was a super quick trip, but we had so much fun. Abe was an amazing little third wheel. He was so good the entire trip!

at the booth for Fund The Nations

Singing songs and just being adorable!

We host community group every sunday night in our home. These people are family to us.

sweet friends

Snow Day

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 03:27:00 +0000

We were so surprised to have two really snows this month. The kids had prayed for weeks that we would get to have snow in our new house. We woke up one morning to such a great dusting and we were thrilled. Then a couple weeks later we got another great snow. The kids were so thrilled.

We kept saying how it felt like we woke up in Narnia.

They have three layers of everything on. Poor low can barely move, hahaha.

We attempted to make a snow man but our fingers could barely stand it.

The homestead blanketed in snow is like a dream.

I spy with my little eye, three little snow bunnies...

The perfect nap

And what is a snow day if there isn't hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies.

We constantly are in awe of this home and land. Each season here has brought the sweetest memories and blessings. We are so undeserving of this homestead. Praise be to the Lord!

Abe is 8 months!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 03:41:00 +0000

I blinked and you're 8 months. You started saying DADA this month and it just melts me to my core. You've started some other jabbering, but DADA is definitely your favorite. You have no real interest in crawling. I'd say youre 17 or 18 pounds. You've really become clingy to me this month. You've always been clingy but this month, if you see me walk in the room and I don't immediately pick you up, it;s over. HA! I can't say I hate it though. :) You are still the happiest, smiliest, most fun little babe. You only cry when you're waiting for your food or overly tired. You're wearing size 3 diapers and in 6-12mo clothes. We went out of town this month and you handled your second road trip like a champ!

Oh sweet boy, we love you so much. There truly aren't enough words to express it. You are such a blessing to us. Each day a gfit. And i know that's all so cheesy sounding, but it couldn't be more true.

Chatty Trip with Redeemer Family

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 02:57:00 +0000

We were able to get away for a few days with the other pastors and their families to Chattanooga. It was a quick trip, but we had a blast. We rented an Airbnb and crammed into it like sardines.

We went to the aquarium the first day. The kids had so much fun exploring and just being with one another. We ate lunch downtown and then went back to house so littles could nap. We spent that night at the house just relaxing. The guys planned out some of the year ahead. We ended the night with The Office and good conversation.

The next day we went to Ruby Falls. We were all surprised by how beautiful the falls were. The kids thought exploring the cave was so neat.

It was brutally cold that day, so after the falls, we headed straight back for the home.The kids napped and these little ones played.

That night we went downtown for some Brazilian food. The cold was so harsh but the meal was delicious!

We ended our trip with a visit to The Chattnooga Choo Choo hotel. This is a spot that we visit every single time we are in Chatty. C loves climbing all over the train.

We got hot chocolate from a sweet little chocolate shop across the street from the hotel. It was such a fun trip with our fellow pastors and families. We love these people so much and feel like the luckiest people in the world to get to do life with them.

December Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 02:12:00 +0000

Our favorite month of the whole year surprisingly didn't fly by this time around. We enjoyed every slow day and every fun event. It was a little chaotic since we had just moved in, but we were sure to decorate and partake in all our normal traditions.

making salt dough Christmas ornaments with these little squirts.

Hanging with Granddaddy and ashleigh!

a quick kiss before our annual Christmas party

little man was exhausted from late night hangs at lolli and poppas

First we stuff our faces with Five Guys, and then we head to Starry Nights. It's one of our favorite traditions each year. This year we capped the night off with some cupcakes from Muddys.

slow mornings cuddling in our christmas jammies

Having a fireplace this year felt like such a luxury. We burned a fire almost every night that we could. The kids loved playing and just sitting by the fire. We spent many late nights laying on the couches waiting for the fire to burn out.

She was flat out exhausted one night and fell asleep coloring a Christmas tree. She's the sweetest.

They loved decorating a santa sleigh. Well, let me rephrase, they liked decorating the sleigh but they LOVED eating the sleigh! HA!

Another one of our favorite traditions is matching pjs with allthe weaver cousins. The kids make cookies with Lolli too! It's such a fun night. We added 3 babies to the crew this year!

Christmas 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 04:39:00 +0000

Every year our Christmases just get sweeter and sweeter. Our family traditions have stayed mostly the same. We spend Christmas Eve with josh's mom. This year, his brother was in town from New Zealand. We loved getting to meet his new girlfriend and spend the holidays with them.

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Christmas morning fell on a Sunday this year. We decided to wake up early and do a yummy breakfast and gifts before church. I made a yummy candy cane danish and quiche. My parents also came over to spend the morning with us.

all ready for church!

Christmas evening we headed to my parent's house for Christmas with my family. I forgot to take pictures really, but it was such a wonderful time. We ate a big dinner and then opened up gifts with our huge crew.

Since my sister lindsay was also in town from Australia, we spent many nights after christmas at my parents house to spend time with her. These photos of willow were taken over the course of those nights. Needless to say, she was exhausted just a little bit by all the festivities.

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Abe is 7months!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 17:29:00 +0000

here he is. 7 months.

shocker that I'm emotional typing this. He's growing so fast and I'm just not ready for him to not be a baby. Truly, he makes me want 17 more babies. I just can't get enough of him. He's always so happy and laid back (unless he is hungry). He LOVES him some mama, and I love it! He will cackle so hard at C and just watch him play. He is still a small little love so he is just now filling out 6month clothes. He naps twice a day and loves all food. He is sitting up like such a champ. The bouncer seat is his favorite toy. He just is so smiley and cuddly and all things perfect. Abe, i love you so much it hurts. Forever my baby you'll be.

Tree Hunt 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Kate Kubler) — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 03:59:00 +0000

I look forward to this day every year. Our annual tree hunt has become a fun little tradition for our family. Josh's dad owns a nursery and blesses us with a tree each year. This makes it extra special for us. The kids love to run around and "try out" all the trees. They also love to play and hide under all the surrounding trees. We started this tradition when C was only 2 months old. What a joy to keep it going!