Back to school!

 Ta-Dah! 

 mom! no more pictures!

 it's official: look at the backpack. 

 obviously heartbroken.

 putting her bag and headband into her locker

 can't quite reach

 ok, she's goin' in.

 SJ handing in her "I am special" packet

 Yes, Schaeffer is one in the middle with dark brown hair

school: the best nap-prep around. 

How many first days of school do you have before they loose their novelty? I love the first days of school. I love the anticipation, I love how they're all chock full of opportunity and I love nervousness in pit of the stomach. I love the closet full of tag-on clothes. I love the new friends and old friends revisited. 

I love it all. It almost makes me wish I was back in school. Especially if I got that closet. 

Welcome to Stevensville!

 almost up the walk

 unlocking the door

 Schaeffer Jo helping Griffin turn the key

 walking into our new chapter of life

 Griffin & SJ's first picture in the new house

 our first family photo

 SJ camping out in her princess tent 

my sweet goodnight kiss

After many many weeks of uncertainty with the closing process, we were overjoyed when we received the call that the keys were available for our new home. 

With that said, in the week before we received the long-awaited call, I feel victim to a nasty stomach virus. It was rough, and really took me many days to recover. Then, when I was finally well, SJ fell prey to the same horrible, no-good-very-bad bug. 

We rejoiced, that God's timing was so good, that when the blessed call came, everyone was healthy--and we could go into our new home vomit-free. 

hahaharderrharhar. Not more than an hour after we closed the front door were Griffin and I scampering for something (ANYTHING!) that could catch and retain vomit. 

So, needless to say, the sweet pictures above in the princess tent--all for show. 

Project: 40 days of blessing

Not to rock the boat, but the Ott family will have 2 blogs for the next 6 weeks. We're embarking on a project called singled-hearted: 40 days of blessing.

To learn more about it, click over to our new blog @ http://40daysofblessing.tumblr.com/

Yes, I'll still be posting pictures here & regaling the tales of Schaeffer. Hope you'll join us on our adventure!