Surprise!

I know that you've been missing me. I've taken a step back from my internet time recently and this poor blog has been severely neglected. But never fear the Kipp family has been growing quickly. Since I last posted we've celebrated birthdays and births of babies, friends who are leaving, friends visiting from all over, and new friends taking new places in our hearts (because the old places are taken, you know). We've been to the zoo and the pool as much as humanly possible. We're planning trips to Nebraska next week, Florida at the end of summer, and again at the end of October. We are laughing a lot and eating popsicles. We are amazed how Penny learns something new LITERALLY every day. And how Max is suddenly like 8 years old instead of 3. It's been an awesome summer so far folks.

I don't anticipate blogging regularly here in the next few weeks. Maybe an update here or there when I get the chance.

A few funny things.
This morning in the car Max told me he had sprinkles on his arm. I asked him how they got there (he didn't really have sprinkles) and he told me it was because he eats donuts (note that he doesn't even like donuts with sprinkles, he's strictly a cream filled fan).

Also today in the car he was playing with an old cell phone and told me to hold on a minute because he was busy texting Pop Pop. And calling him. Both. At the same time.

May 13

June 13

taken today

just a pop in

Just a few things that are floating around that I wanted to say.

First I can't believe Max turns three tomorrow. Like literally can't believe it. I'm in denial.

Second, I did the Race for the Cure last weekend in honor of Barb. It's always so much fun and so inspirational!

Third, I am a busy little beaver putting together things for a craft fair in June. I've never done one and I have no idea what I'm doing and I just keep making things. We'll see how it goes. I'm at least sharing a table with a friend so I won't be alone all day. But whatever doesn't sell is going up in my quiet little etsy shop I've been plotting and planning. I even got my super talented cousin Brittany to make me a logo. She made me a few to choose from and so I might use some similar ones for different things, but here's my main one. She's the coolest and is letting me pay her in yarn goodies.... sounds great to me!

click on it to go to my shop (which is empty right now)

Fourth, we had Penny dedicated during service last week. There were four other little ones dedicated and three baptisms. What an awesome testimony for our church and all the families present! It was so awesome.
(excuse the blurry picture, the lighting in our sanctuary is a photographer's NIGHTMARE)

Fifth, I know my hair is really long in the picture above. The longest it's been in years. I can put it in a pony tail. I've got a hair appointment today and am contemplating a much shorter 'do. We'll see if I have the guts to do it. :)

Thirteen- 35 and 10

I remembered to take a picture on the 13th (January, February, March) this month, but then forgot to blog. I've been forgetting to blog a lot... We'll do something or I'll think of something and say to myself, "Don't forget to blog that," and then I promptly forget.

Here's the pictures....

Here's some things that are important to our family right now.
1. Penny's first word: A-da (for Daddy)
I swear she also says Yesh (for Yes)

2. Penny also waves, gives kisses, crawls, climbs, stands up, cruises the furniture, and climbs the stairs. And she dances. A LOT.

3. Max turns 3 in 3 weeks. I don't know how I'm going to handle that.

4. I'm signed up to participate in a local craft fair, sharing a table with a friend who makes jewelry.

5. Adam just started softball practice and Max is very proud to say that his Daddy plays baseball.

6. When I ask Max about things (like how he got so cute, or so big) he tells me it happens while he's sleeping.

7. He also tells us that his stuffed animals are being loud and talking to him when he gets in trouble for not going to bed.

8. He loves his sister so much that he wants to hug her all the time and she keeps trying to get away from him.

9. He also pushed her down the other day. I didn't see it happen, but he told me he did.

10. Max likes to stay in church service long enough to sing the songs. But he always sings the theme songs to his favorite television shows instead, even if he knows the songs.

11. Penny has picked up signing just like her brother did, and now tells us "more" and "all done" for various activities (mostly eating).

12. Max has started to recognize letters and shown an interest in learning letter sounds. But he still does not consistently know his colors. But can count to 20 or so. I'm guessing he's leaning more toward and engineer than an artist.

13. We hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!

 What a difference a year makes... this was taken last week... (also note the new ring sling I made, Penny and Max both love to ride in it)

This was taken April 13, 2010 (exactly two months before Penny was born)

A trip to the ZOO

 First, cute pictures of my kids... Today was a free day at the zoo and Adam took a little time off work to go with us. I promise that camel is not dead. I made sure it was breathing before I made Max stand in front of it to take a picture. I guess I didn't know that camels laid down like that to sleep. I assumed they either stood or laid down like a horse or cow. Man that camel looked dead.


Oh my word, it was one of those weeks. We kept getting pummeled by one thing or another. It's kind of ongoing so we aren't out of the clear yet, but our God is good. All the time. Yes, ALL THE TIME.


I've had a really great chance to hear some women speakers in the past few weeks. It started with the Hearts @ Home conference a few weeks ago but has continued and this past week I've heard two women speak and they've used the same verses. These are also verses that keep popping up in Adam's sermons, in my Bible study, in encouragement from friends, in song lyrics, just about everywhere. Apparently they are verses I need to be paying attention to. Here are the three that keep smacking me upside the head.

2 Timothy 1:7
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Ephesians 3:17-19
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I've begun to notice a theme. I'm working on the things God is starting a change on in me. It's not always what we want to hear, but listening is better than not. Just as I always tell Max, it's always better if we obey the first time, I just need to be obedient.

Just a quick Hello

It's one of those days that will probably be one of those weeks... You know the kind, where it takes 25x longer to do ANYTHING than it should. Where you pick up something and put it away to find 5 more things where they shouldn't be. You get to the post office and realize that the address you need is at home.... That kind of week.
But that's ok. God is working in the lives of people around me, and I see His will being done, and I can feel His grace and hand upon my life. So I'll take this week and know that He has ordained it and will use it to His glory, because it's definitely not being used towards my own.

 My big boy wanted to be carried around (a little sibling jealousy has been going on) and when he climbed in the wrap, he hugged me and told me to never let him down. Makes my heart melt.

Baby Blue Eyes blowing a kiss trying on a Mama-made dress.

::Right Now::

I love a little boy who dresses himself...

and dresses himself

I love a little girl who is getting so big! (9 months!)

We love the park

I'm reading books about farming. I'm so not a farmer, but I like the idea of farming.


I'm totally proud that I have little sproutings of green peppers, jalapenos, and yesterday we started tomatoes, basil, and cilantro.


I'm sad I kills some tulips before I could get them in the ground.


I'm excited I actually got my magazine pile down to 5 (it was about three feet tall all together)


I'm loving having the windows open, time to play outside and when family comes to visit.

It's very quiet in the house while the kids nap and I'm listening to jazz music.


I'm excited for MOPS tomorrow. I love MOPS.


I'm still thinking about all the fun I had last weekend at the Hearts @ Home conference.


I love these rainbow cupcakes I made for Max's preschool class today in honor of St. Patrick's Day (these were the last of the batter that Adam and I got to "taste test"

Loving all the babies that have been born this week.

Love that I have a girl who's as interested in yarn as her Mama

Here's my photo of the kids from the 13th

Some thoughts on Lent

I was at the library this morning and there was a group of moms with their kids and they had the charcoal crosses on their foreheads. At first I just saw one of the children and I thought she just had a dirty face. Then it clicked that today is Ash Wednesday. I thought about the Ash Wednesdays when I was a kid. The beginning of Lent. The beginning of Filet O Fishes every Friday (I know some people who don't like them, but I do!). The beginning of giving something up.

Even in college I still celebrated Lent even after I had "left" the Catholic faith in exchange for Protestant. I still gave something up, still sacrificed something.

But I've had occasion to think about what Lent means this year. You see I'm crafting along to the Lenten schedule. I'm doing a knit a-long (KAL) ending with a scarf representing major themes in Lent. Each piece is a mystery until that week. This first week is knitted in green with a grass pattern in the knit symbolizing creation.

I've decided I like the idea of adding something to Lent instead of giving something up. Christ gave so much for us, sure He sacrificed (the ULTIMATE sacrifice) but in doing so gave us everything we could ever need.

On a related (I promise) note. I love the Food Network Star and have watched both seasons. I was especially thrilled when my favorite Aarti from last season won. It turns out she's a believer and has her own personal blog. Her thoughts today on Lent echoed mine.