This past few days has brought a couple of new things for Mr. Jed.

First, he has been having some mommy and me swimming lessons!  He most certainly did not like them at first, but after a rough first week, a nice weekend of practicing and a good day today, he was all smiles!  

Other new things:

8 months old!

Crawling all over.

Pulling himself up to a stand - not just on something with a handle, but on the wall as well!

Trying to walk, although he cannot do this yet, it does not stop him from letting go and trying!

His head met my tile and they do not get along!!

His FIRST TOOTH!!

I could not have anticipated how much I would enjoy and savor every minute of my time with Jed.

Grandma loves her little champion!

AND

Grandpa is already "whipped" by this little boy.

He is already plotting their first day on the golf course together - of course Jed's daddy will be there too!

A TASTE OF ISRAEL

This past June, Eric and I were thrilled to be able to go to Israel and experience walking in the Holy Land.  It truly was amazing to see the places where the Hebrew Nation walked and lived and where Jesus walked and taught!  I know it's cliche but the best description is Scripture in 3-D!!

 Standing stones at Tel Gezer 

 In an underground city/dovecote

Hiking in the Wilderness of Zin.  One of the many "Wadi's" in the wilderness.

 It was pretty steep getting out of the Wadi!

A refreshing float in the Dead Sea

 Watching the sunset over the Sea of Galilee

Crossing the Sea of Galilee

Climbing Mt. Arbel near the Sea of Galilee

 Finally made it to the Top!

In an old Synagogue (3rd century)

 Magnificent Roman ruins at Beth Shean

 Our teachers standing in front of a cave north of the Sea of Galilee in Caesarea Phillipi

 Eric in an Israeli bunker - from this area we could look out over Lebanon and Syria

 Eric was baptized in the River Jordan!

 In Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea (This was one of Herod the Great's finest cities)

At the Wailing Wall (West Wall) in Jerusalem

Family!!

Just wanted to share a recent pic of my girls, Lauren on the left and Allie on the right!  

You can follow Allie's blog here!

We look forward to every chance we get to be together.  With Lauren in southern California, it does not happen as much as we would like!  So it's special for us when it happens!

I cannot believe how time goes by.  Eric and I are treasuring every moment with our family!

  

CATCHING UP!

I love being a grandma!  It's all the fun and you still get to sleep!  We have had some great family times recently.  Here are a few pictures!

Auntie Lauren and Jed hanging out on the weekend of his dedication!

Grandma helping out with 4th of July pictures on the beach in Carmel

Grandpa and Jed swimming in the pool

I have decided to put my achiever aside and not try to catch up with the gap in my blog.  It's not easy for me, because I want to start where I left off and catch up!  So, in the next few days, I will start with recent pictures and I will be OK with that!

Better Late Than Never!!

So, way back in November, baby Jedidiah was born.  A boy!!!  He made his appearance after several weeks of mommy being on bed rest and on some pretty strong medication to keep him in!  

Here he is in all his glory!!

Family Time

Sisters!  Lauren bonding with baby Penner

                                              

Lauren and Bensen, Christina and Eric's son.  Lauren was in their wedding 

a few years ago.  Cristina is having her 2nd baby (a girl) about two weeks

before Allie!  

                             

 Lauren with Allie and Cristina - Auntie Lauren is so excited for two babies this year!!

           

Lauren having some bonding time with her dog Arla!! Lauren

raised Arla from the time she was 8 weeks old. 

                                    

Allie, Jesse and baby - I think its a girl!!

We had a chance to be together as a family over the Labor Day weekend!  It was great to have Lauren home and we had a chance to celebrate Allie's birthday as well.