our little cheerleader

i get so tired of this site not allowing me to put as many pictures as we want, but i guess i'll work with what i've got. here is another picture from the children's museum. jess loves the cowboys so that is why olivia is a cowboy's cheerleader.

 

trick or treat

grand rapids children's museum has family night every thursday, this past week it was trick or treat night, so we took the kids for some fun. here are the highlights!

 

a couple of funny faces

esther just started making this weird face when we were taking her picture, but we couldn't get it at the right moment. this is like the after effect, still really funny!!!

then, there is garrett, who may be the worst eater ever. he was eating some yogurt and all of a sudden we looked up and he was wearing it. we tried not to laugh, but it was very funny!!

 

some pics

i wanted to have a little fun with the kids and there is a tree in a yard next door that is just beautiful right now. i thought that it would be a good photo opt for the kids so i put them in this tree. as you can see, though, garrett didn't really like being up there with nothing to hold to other than his sister and i'm sure that he thought at any moment she would push him out...

then he started to enjoy it i a little bit, so here he is with a little smile on his face. he is enjoying himself now.

and then here we have olivia who as long as she has the spotlight, she is happy. here she is with muffy the bear.

here they both are, though, showing us just how much they love each other. i think garrett was getting ready to scream at her to get off of him soon. blessings from the crisp house.

 

snow in october?

yeah, that's right, we got some snow last night. how do i feel about this? i think it stinks. anyway, just thought that you might want to share in my suffering. (by the way that is the lead pastor's pope mobile, i didn't want you to think that i drive a grandpa mobile, no offense david) have a good day!!!

Pumpkin Picking

We took a trip to a farm to pick out our pumpkins for the season, it was fun for the kids to see a real pumpkin patch and the farm had really cute decorations out too. Here are some pictures of our time there. (Olivia took the picture of Josh and me - she does such a good job!).

Go Uncle J

For those of you who don't know my brother J started med school this fall at Virginia Tech. He's doing well and he and Cheryl are getting used to being in a new area. My mom and dad visited them a couple of weeks ago and found this shirt at the Goodwill store, and so Olivia would like to say, "Go Virginia Tech! and I'm proud of my Uncle J!"

sleeping pictures

Here's hoping that this blog will let me upload the pictures! I know the one of Esther isn't a sleeping picture - but she's so cute, isn't she?

just words

I had planned on blogging this weekend with pictures (that won't upload) about some good advice my dad gave me when we were less than enthused about our new arrival. Because life has been so crazy with 2 toddlers and a baby, we thought we were going to lose it! Dad said, "Go look at your kids when they're sleeping, then you know why you love them - and it's so easy." It' true. The most beautiful times as a parent are looking at your kids in peace, when they don't talk, scream or fight. However, in light of what has happened in our church family this past weekend, we have a truly new appreciation for every interruption, every middle-of-the-night cry, every time they do something that's NOT suppose to be funny, but is, and we have to laugh.

Our youth pastor, Tabor, and family were torn apart this weekend by tragedy. Julie and Taylen were on their lay to visit Tabor at a work project at the parsonage when she was hit from behind by a truck carrying milk. Unable to stop the truck pushed the car and crushed the fuel tank, causing it to explode. Sixteen month old Taylen was killed on impact, Tabor was the first on the scene to pull his burning wife from the car. Julie is now recovering at a local hospital and is unaware of anything that has taken place. Tabor is showing the true character of a man of God and being a shining example of hope and peace to others who are hurting. I write all of this to say that the lessons that we can learn from this horrific event out number the words I have. But here's what I do know, I hug my kids more, for a longer time, and tighter. I hug Josh more, longer and tighter. We tell each other, "I love you" more often, and with more passion. I take the time at bedtime to listen to Olivia babble on, when I know she should be asleep, just because I can. I let Garrett play with my hair whenever he wants, even when it pulls or hurts, just because I can. I pick up Esther everytime she crawls over to me, even though I know I'm going to spoil her, just because I can. Every moment is special, every word meaningful, don't waste a moment of time with your family! Don't be too busy cooking, cleaning, talking on the phone, watching the TV or playing on the computer, to play catch with your son, read to your daughter, have a family wrestling match, color a picture for extended family, eat a meal all together around one table, or gather around a piano, guitar, trumpet, etc and praise the One who makes life sweet.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Lord, this is my prayer, that you will restore Tabor's broken spirit. Your timing doesn't always make sense and we wonder if you knew what was going on. . .But I believe that in the midst of this tragedy Your glory will be made known. Maybe not today and maybe not a year from now, but you are still THE God and are enough! Thank you.

Daddy's Home!

I just wanted to take some time to let you all know what a great guy I married. With Josh working more hours at the church than we were previously used to, it's been quite the adjustment for the family! The kids love when Josh comes home and greet him with wide open arms and squeals of delight. For those of your who don't know, there will be one more Crisp kid to greet daddy at the door in about 9 months. This came as quite a shock - we were REALLY trying to prevent this at this time - but I guess our plans are small compared to God's. So we'll have 4 kids in just over 4 years - CRAZY!! God's grace is sufficient and that's all we can lean on right now! We'd appreciate your prayers as we try to adjust to the news! We are excited at the same time, because our kids are such a blessing, all children are - we just didn't think they'd be coming this close together. It's going to be one BIG party at the Crisp house for the next 20+ years - everyone is invited to come join the fun! The more the merrier!

Esther's new trick!

So, I've posted about the two older Crisp's and now Esther has something she'd like to say..."I'm getting soooooooo BIG!" She is 8 months old now and pulling herself up, cruising, and now using a toy walker to walk across the room. I am NOT encouraging this behavior, but daddy is! I do not need another early walker (G walked at 9 months).

Our little Photographer

Woodchips+finger
Look at this stud! We bought him these jeans and hat the other day - and he won't take the hat off! Even to sleep in! And for all of you who know him, (mr. I-have-to-play-with-hair-to-fall-asleep) you know that's a pretty important hat!
Soccer ball+finger
Garrett, like every other kid, has an obsession with taking pitures. Unlike is older sister, who only takes pictures of people, Garrett has a more creative eye and likes to take pictures of things. Do we have an artist in the making?? What do you think?

Smarty pants!

I don't know how many of you can sympathize with having a 3 1/2 year old who thinks she's 13, so here's a little insight. Slamming doors in anger and frustration is the #1 way Olivia communicates these days. Tonight she was giving me instructions on what was to go on the basement while we were practicing her letters. And speaking of letter writing, here's a sample of her work. She's been writing her name for almost a year now, so I thought I'd start teaching her the other letters of the alphabet, needless to say, she pick up on it really fast. We were writing in chalk on the driveway and I wrote CAR where the car gets parked, and without my help or knowledge of what she was about to do, she when a few feet up the drive and wrote CAR too. Pretty legible, hu?

Playin' in the rain!

So, this is my first attempt at blogging - hopefully I won't need to call Josh and have him walk me through it! Josh has been letting you all know how we've been doing and that's great - but here's a little look at my everyday life with the kids. Because we live out in the middle of no where (which, for the record, is the most peaceful, beautiful middle of nowhere I've ever lived), anything to keep the kids happy is fine with me! So, on this particular day I let the kids put on their rain gear from "Aunt Ange's store" and play in the rain. Olivia is the cutest ladybug I've ever seen and Garrett is ready to fight fire!

a blessing from God

we have been blessed by being here. the church had a pounding, which is where the people of the church welcome the new staff by bringing in groceries. we were so blessed that we wanted to show you how much they gave. not only that, but i also wanted to say that our cupboards will never be this full again.
we really love this church and though we are still getting our feet wet, we are trying to jump in the ministry with all of our hearts and we pray that God will use us in a huge way. not that it would be because of us, but because He chose to use us. we are willing to do whatever it is that He is calling us to do. All praise goes to Him, who is Holy!!! Let the Name of the Lord be praised!!!!

our other visitors

jess has been trying to get accustomed to all the bugs and critters that have been around our house so now she has taken to catching them and taking pictures. she caught this toad a couple of days ago and then this leaf bug was on our house this morning when we went outside.
garrett has been having nightmares (literally) about all of the bugs. he wakes up screaming about ladybugs! it's so funny! anyways these city folks are trying to get used to the way of the country. we'll get used to it eventually.
blessing!!!!