Flashback Friday- Eden on her first b'day

Abraham Piper, the birds, and the bees...

One of the funniest parent-child convos I've heard in a while...and you know I hear some doozies!

Edenisms, Part 25

Today when I picked Eden up from school, I saw another mom with her son, Henry, a boy in Eden's class. I said, "Eden, do you ever play with that boy, Henry?"

Eden said, "You know that guy that sings our favorite song? Say What You Need to Say?"

I said, "John Mayer?"

She replies, "Yeah, John Mayer. Henry has one of those pushed in things on his chin like John Mayer."

More Fun than a Barrel of Monkeys

Adopting - told by Eden

Your Grace Is Enough

Goodbye Training Wheels

Coinkydink?

I had to change my background when I saw this cute template- it looks like the bedding I bought for the new babe. I have looked all over for pics of it (I swear I posted them before!) but I cannot find them!

Ode to My Nieces, Keely & Kelsey

Happy Birthday to Keely and Kelsey, who turn SIXTEEN today! I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday that you guys were running around hitting each other, calling each other names, and pestering us. Oh wait, that was yesterday. Anyway, we love you!

Here are some of my favorite quotes from these notable twins.

Dan: These southern girls love the sweet tea!
Kelsey: Yeah we used to drink sweet tea in Oregon. Wait, is Oregon in the south?
---
Keely [referring to her sister's boy-craziness]: I'm not in the boy business.
--
Eden: How do you spell 'please'?
Keely and Kelsey in unison- P, L, Z.
--
Keely: My eyebrows can do the Worm.
--

(I don't usually post birthday posts for my nieces and nephews, but I will try to start! Forgive me if I miss some--I just had been wanting to post that quote of Kelsey's since they stayed with us in June!)

Be Still My Beating Heart.

Have you ever just looked at your child and wondered why God blessed you so much? I love this girl. I am so biased but she is a fantastic artist! I love the free way she expresses herself. She's quite obsessed with animals right now so that is alot of what we see in her drawings. She's come up with this curly Q thing too that you can see in the cat.

This Was Just Too Funny

I think we're in store for a little of this as well now that we have one in school.

Flashback Friday

Daniel Loves Shadley! The Grimes Love Story :)





Since I did not do a specific post on our anniversary (Dan and I both forgot that day until well into the day), and since Andrea requested wedding photos, I will use this Flashback Friday to write our Love Story for posterity's sake. Here ya go, kids.

Spring of 1992...Dan and I work on the yearbook committee together. I'd seen him across the band room working the tympani and I was smitten. I asked my friend to ask him if he liked anyone (remember, we were in junior high). I don't remember alot of what actually happened, but before you knew it, we were sitting together on the bus and he was walking me home several blocks out of his way. One day, he even saw my dad at the gas station and introduced himself. We were 14.

Summer 1992....Shadley, fearing Daniel's jump to HS meant impending doom for their budding romance, breaks it off in the spirit of "enjoying 8th grade with my friends."

Fall 1993...Band Camp starts...oh yeah...we have the same carpool driver! Thanks Mandy Runyan and Angie! If it weren't for my BFF's sister being good friends with his sister, we might not have gotten back together! We all piled into the little Oldsmobile and sweated it out while we learned Kansas songs in marching band arrangements (seriously). It was awesome.

September, 1993...Dan asks me to the Homecoming Dance. I'm psyched. Cut to two hours later, Dan's band gets the emergency task of filling in for the cancelled DJ. I am dateless. But Dan is cute as a drummer.

October, 1993...on the bus to Valley Fest marching band competition. Dan seems uncomfortable the whole time. He finally gets the courage to ask me to be his girl. Then he says, "Do you ever get gas pains?" Apparently it was more than teenage angst getting him that day. From that day on, we're inseperable. I am a freshman and he is a sophomore.



(this is at my 16th b'day)

1996- Dan graduates and moves to Iowa City and travels home almost every weekend!
1997- Shadley graduates and moves to Iowa City.
1998- Dan gets an internship in New Jersey. He is really bored and making way too much money for his own good. While shopping for a calling card, he buys a diamond.
July 17th, 1998...Shadley comes to visit Dan in NJ. He seems agitated. She is tired. He drives to a really nice pier, leads her to a bridge over a small body of water. He fumbles in his pocket and kneels down. Shadley is in shock. They have talked about marriage only to say that they do not want to get married until after college (this was Dan's idea). Dan pops the Big Q and Shadley says, "Of course!" and then feels stupid. They can hardly eat their $50 meals at Il Porto. The waitstaff congratulates them, and a small boat of people applaude! Later that week, they go mini-golf to celebrate!


(a very bad engagement picture--yikes)
Fall 1998...We live apart for a while so I can try a school in Omaha.
Spring 1999...Shadley moves to Cedar Rapids to live with Tiel while she takes classes at Iowa again. The wedding date is set to August 14, 1999! Only 6 months to plan! Later that spring, Dan and Shadley decide to commit their relationship and themselves fully to Christ in all aspects of their lives. This is a major turning point.






August 14, 1999...The big day! It is hot and humid and there is NO A/C in the church. 400 (can that be right?) people maxxed out our small town church. The reception was held in the basement. The happy couple drove off that night to Plum Creek Inn in picturesque Thurman, IA. (google it) We spent our two-day mini-moon in Omaha at the Family Fun Center playing air hockey and skee ball. Did I mention we were 21? We ordered pizza and drove back to Thurman with it. Ah, romance.
Spring 2000...We had our "real" honeymoon in Colorado! We spent a week in Steamboat Springs at Shadley's great aunt's cabin. Awesome. I got lost on my way to a spa! Thankfully that nice public transit driver drove me right to the cabin door so I wouldn't get lost again.


Basically, long story long, we lived in some crazy places, shared life with some great friends, served alongside some awesome Jesus-followers and basically were blessed like crazy. In 2000, Dan graduated from college, and in 2001, Shadley followed. A month after graduation, Baby Grimes was on her way!


March 2002...Bought first house!

May 2002...Moved to the new pad.
October 26, 2002...The day we became a family! Eden Lily was born, weighing 7 lbs 8 oz. Her daddy was completely in heaven.


September 1, 2005...Family of four! Elly Lyn is born at 7 lbs 5.5 oz. We wonder if we will ever sleep again.



August 2007, we begin pursuing the adoption of our third child! If only I had a picture to post!


That is it. We are best friends and a great team. God has so blessed me with my husband. I am thankful every day that this example is the one that is set for my girls. Love you, Hon!

Edenisms, Part 23 with a hint of Quite Ellyquent

I am not sure if this is from a movie or what...

"Sometimes, I think I am so romantic, I could marry myself! But how would I kiss my bride?"
--Eden at bedtime

Not to be outdone, this directly followed:
"I'm pupating my hand."
--Elly

This Story is Classic "Us"

Today we were getting into the van at 6pm to run errands together (classic us) and hit Panchero's (classic #2). We all piled into the van, and I said, "The cups!" If you are not a Panchy's regular, you may not know that you can bring your plastic cup back into the restaurant for a 50 cent refill. We are frugal, well, as frugal as one can be who condones eating out at least once or twice a week at the same tortilla-pressing establishment (classic #3). So, then Dan and I stared each other down to determine who would have to go back out of the van in the rain and get our reusable cups (classic #4). Dan lost. I laughed. As Dan was running inside, Eden asked, "Mom, why does Daddy always have to do everything?" I said, "He doesn't have to do everything." Eden questioned again, "But why does he always get you stuff?" Seeing a teachable moment, I said, "Honey, Daddy doesn't have to do that stuff for me, but he does it anyway. It's called--" Eden cuts in, "Serving each other. I know." I turned to her and said, "That's right!" She said, "I don't go to Christian school, but I DO know that!"

What We Did This Summer...

Got dirty.

Swelled up.

Waited.

Had meaningful conversations with our friends.

Learned a new skill.

Swelled again.

Got a new 'do.

Hung out the cuzzes.

Said sayonara to something special.

It's been quite a summer! We also played with Nia, swam at the Sundblads, ate lots of grilled food, flamingoed, sandbagged, praised God for His provisions, and loved life!

Fun on Hickory Street

This summer has been particularly fun since we realized that there are some pretty awesome neighbors just around the corner. We've spent several days with the Ramsey Kids and the Sittig Kid.

Luke, a.k.a. "Yukie"

Hannah (she and Luke are 3.5 yr. old twins)

Natalie who just turned one! We got to watch her last night while her parents went out for an extremely short night! Maybe they were worried we wouldn't give her back? She's soooo cute.


Elly and Miss Addy playing dress up, as is the norm here in Princessville. The fact that we have made such great friends can be credited all to Erek and his wisdom teeth and Kate's stomach virus! Last minute sitters were needed, and voila! New friends.

First Day of Kindergarten!

Dropping Eden off at school today was about as easy as it gets. There were no tears (except mine, later walking out), and she didn't look back, not even once, to see if we were there. She was up at the crack of dawn (5:45am) getting dressed and ready!


Posing by our picture tree.


This little one might have a harder time with it than Eden.

Ready, set...

Go! Doesn't she look like a big kid!!!

These are the things she told me when I picked her up today:
1)Mom! You're late on the first day!! (in my defense, I was not late, but the line was long!)
2) Did you know there are these beans that have caramel on them? (baked beans)
3) In Music class we read a book about jazz!
4) One girl got in trouble a thousand times!

So, there you have it.