lately grams

ahhhh... it's been over a month since i've done lately grams! a lot has happened!

follow me on instagram... @albark

(my account is private so please request to follow).

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1) our amos turned 2... & we celebrated at the zoo! 2) date night with my amos at whole foods. ;) 3) playing with amos's new birthday toy. 4)-7) went to nyc to visit my sister & my brother & sister came as well! good times! 8) race car driving. 9) jude learned to ride a big boy bike & we pretty much go for walks/bike rides everyday! 10) sammy being sammy. 11) my handsome guy turned 30! we celebrated with a "build your own ice cream sundae" bar! 12) we're outside a lot these days! 13) strawberry coconut milk ice cream on the front porch. 14) these boys are buds. 15) walked to our farmer's market & picked up some ranunculus. 16) mommy & sammy went on a date to see sesame street live. he was sooo excited! 17) our neighborhood is amazing!!!! i could live here forever! 18) so richly blessed with these boys, this weather, our home, this city (just to name a few)! 19) see... bike rides happen A LOT in our home! 20) fort, toy story 2, snack & cuddling on a rainy day. 21) free ra ra riot concert by the river! 22) THIS MAN!!!!! 23) these 3 love "herbie" so we had to get a picture! 24) just talking on the "phone" (read wooden block). 

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funny/favorite/current things...

*these boys are saying a lot of funny things... mainly sammy right now. here goes...

*jude... "some-ping" (something). "ca-prize" (surprise).

*sammy... "no worry, i fix it" (don't worry, i'll fix it). "bip bop" (flip flop). "dookies" (cookies). "my belly so hun-gy". when i correct sammy he usually says, "well" & then has some reason for whatever he's doing & there have been times when he doesn't have a reason after the "well". sammy just told me today, "my best mommy ever". :) :) :)

*amos... "moo me" (excuse me). when amos doesn't know what else to talk about he asks me where some of his favorite people are... multiple times a day he'll ask, "aunt shan go?" (aunt shannon lives with us & she's usually in her room, but he asks me over & over everyday). ;) 

*michael is ALMOST DONE FOR THE SEMESTER!!! it's been a LOOOONNNNGGGG semester!

*yay for warmer weather!

*yay for summer & here's to lots of adventures with our boys!

*we got approved to adopt our little girl... so here we go! lots of paperwork! lots of months waiting! we cannot wait to hold her & love on her!!!

al

the way i see you : week 4

a weekly collaboration of momma's capturing our children the way we see them. 

   the anderson crew

  pillow thought

 little band of brothers

  the wiegands

  kerubo mama

  after His smile

  kate&kuby

  shelby and brandon 

See Week 1 here  

See Week 2 here

See Week 3 here

Inspiration for series from You Are My Wild

instagram contributors: 

@ponymaude @larashoop

some exciting news: due to incredible feedback, the way i see you series is going to be continuing for just a little bit longer!! there will be some new blogs joining in with some of the current blogs consistently each week. the weeks will alternate between photos taken with our smart phones and photos taken with our DSLRs. 

Even More Exciting News: YOU have the chance to make a guest appearance. each week, email kate&kuby (you must be a follower) a full sized photo of someone you love the way you see them that you would like to have featured along with your blog link (if you have one). two images will be chosen. next week is the first week we will be using smart phone images (no editing done outside of the smartphone please:) feel free to continue to use the hashtag #thewayiseeyouchallenge on social media for your photo to appear as the instagram contributor. use subject title "TWISY week 5" in your email for next weeks photo submission.  

thank you for all the wonderful feed back! this series has been a blast:)

al

"the gospel in her home" (little/dirty hearts)

a few nights ago during family worship we explained to the boys that their great granddad passed away & went to be with God in heaven. we talked for awhile about papa, grandmom cerny & their big sister caroline. we talked about dirty hearts made clean by Jesus. we talked about how we have to believe that Jesus paid the debt for our awful sin by dying on the cross that we may be forgiven. & jude asked questions. he talked about caroline & grandmom cerny & how papa is with them in heaven now. we talked about how we would never see them (those we loved) on the earth again. we talked about things that they cannot fully comprehend yet. but jude is understanding pieces. & we prayed... jude prayed, "Jesus, i'm a kid, i'm just a kid & You love kids. make my heart clean." & i cried with gratitude to a gracious Lord that is revealing His gospel to little/dirty hearts. He's beginning to open jude's eyes to his need for a Savior. he's understanding slowly why Jesus had to come & die on the cross.

oh i'm so thankful for a Lord that reveals more of Himself moment by moment & day by day & year by year. we are learning more of His character, seeing more of His good gospel, we are being changed by who He is & who He's always been. our eyes haven't always seen Him the way we do now. & one day we will see Him fully & we will fall down & worship for all eternity. these moments & days & years are just small glimpses of what glory will be seen. today we are full of worship & gratefulness & maybe somedays we lose sight of the gospel, but one day soon it will be all we see. oh He's good!!! come Lord Jesus!

read brit's post & tiff's post
al

jamaican red bean soup

this is one of our favorite meals for when i don't have time in the evening to prepare dinner! i've adjusted it from this recipe. 

what you'll need:

*1 Tbs oil (i prefer coconut oil)

*2-3 cloves minced garlic

*1 diced red pepper

*3/4 of a diced red onion

*1 large diced sweet potato

*3 Tbs diced fresh parsley

*2 tsp curry powder

*1/2 tsp dried thyme 

*1/4 tsp allspice

*salt & pepper to taste

*2 cans of red kidney beans, rinsed & drained

*1 cup to a whole can of coconut milk

*1-2 cups of water (or broth)

*1-2 cups chopped kale

make it happen:

put oil & garlic in the crockpot on high while you prepare the other ingredients.

add everything but the kale & cook on high for 5-6 hours.

add the kale & stir in until wilted. 

serve with a little sriracha if you like it spicy. 

enjoy!

al

the gales

sweet sweet sweet friends... & super cute!

we adore these people & miss them so very much!

al