Moms'n'Tots

We're back in the swing of things for Moms'n'Tots after a few weeks of fun and relaxation. These photos of our five sweeties are from a trip to the paddle pool. There are several of these free pools in parks around Copenhagen and the kids really had a ball. Lots of splashing and a few accidental face plants later the kids were cooled off and worn out, ready for lunch. It's been so nice to recharge our batteries a bit in the sun. It feels as if there hasn't been nearly enough sun this year. In fact, Ruby actually goes around singing "Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day!". It's become a bit of a mantra.

Little Miss Camilla is the Scot in our group. She's a smiley baby and has pretty amazing legs...well, hips really. If she's sitting up and sees something that shes wants in front of her she just does the splits out the sides and suddenly her legs are behind her. I swear this girl is going to be a gymnast! Camilla's mum is a doctor and soon to return to work after nearly a year of maternity leave. Thankfully, she'll still have Tuesdays off so we won't lose them completely from our group.

Nathan is eagerly awaiting the arrival of his new (probably!) sister this fall and is pretty obsessing with Max and babies in general. He's a smart cookie and definitely ready to be the "Big Boss" around his house! We're going to lose Nathan and his Mommy next month when they move back to the States... before long it might just be Ruby and Carter again!

Carter is cute as ever and full of energy. He's always big into splashing when we go to the pool... unfortunately he doesn't take it quite as gracefully as he dishes it out. Then again, I'm not sure any of us like getting splashed as much as doing the splashing!

Well, I didn't make Max get into the icy water this time as he was happily napping in the stroller. I did get the next shot in the park after he woke up. It sure is a treat having such a happy baby!

This week we started our new book, Becoming a Woman of Faith by Cynthia Heald. It's a bit meatier than some of the other books and I hope that we'll each grow a lot through it. The three older kids are getting to the age where there seem to be LOTS of squabbles going on, usually very noisy and/or messy so we have lots of interruptions. I trust that God is going to bless our efforts though. Here's a great quote from Ruth Paxson that really hit home with me:

He has called us into fellowship with Himself; He has owned us as His possession and has assumed the responsibility for our control and He will not lay it aside. What He has begun in us He will continue. His work in us does not depend upon our love for Him but on His love for us; not faith in our faith but faith in His faithfulness is what He wants from us.

What a great reminder and what a relief.