The Stephen Clan

Today, we took a drive out to Orrville for a short train ride on the ORHS.

There was an old train car that we were able to explore. It was fun to look inside and get a glimpse of how travel used to be many years ago.

Porter & Daddy Checking Out an Old Train

Today was pretty cold. Here are my boys in their matching jackets.

Here is a picture of the three of us boarding the train. Porter liked being in charge of the tickets.

Porter was all smiles inside of the train! He really enjoyed himself on this mini-adventure.

We also stopped by the Smucker's Store & Cafe for some delicious sparkling apple cider! Yum!

In Celebration of Fall

October 26, 2012

Daddy and Porter are certainly a rascally pair!

Today is absolutely gorgeous! The sun is shining, there's not a cloud in sight, and the temperate is perfect. In celebration of this beautiful fall day, Porter and I headed to West Branch State Park for a stroll along the beach.

Porter loved running on the beach!

Porter Running at West Branch State Park

He also loved finding lots of shells, rocks, and driftwood to throw into the lake.

Although he was covered with sand by the time we left, he had a wonderful time!

Porter Finds a Big Stick to Throw into the Lake

Check out the video below:

Beautiful Fall Day

October 22, 2012

Today, we drove out to Kingsway Pumpkin Farm in Hartville, Ohio to find a few more fall decorations. We let Porter pick the pumpkins and gourds. We were only planning on buying one or two, but every time we looked, Porter had added a few more to the wagon.

We left Kingsway with 10 gourds, 3 ears of Indian corn, and 2 small pumpkins. I think we're set for fall!

Pumpkins & Gourds

October 14, 2012

Here's Daddy and Porter hanging out in the dogwood tree in our side yard. Brian always loved to climb trees as a boy. I think it is safe to say that Porter has inherited this same interest!

Tree Climbers

Like Father, Like Son

October 13, 2012

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking. Don’t settle.”

~Steve Jobs, 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

These are words of wisdom for us all. I especially hope that these words resonate in the hearts of my children. Life is too short to waste it on meaningless endeavors. Porter and Stella, I earnestly pray that at a young age you discover your God-given purpose, and you go after that purpose with everything you've got. This is your life's work. Don't waste your time, and don't settle on anything else. Follow the path that God has laid out for you. I promise, the journey will not be bland or boring, but incredibly dynamic and adventurous. You will live out-of-the-box lives. Don't settle on good enough, and don't settle on the world's definition of success. Do your work all to the glory of God. There is no greater hope I can have for your lives than this.

Don't Settle

October 10, 2012

This morning, I tried to take some pictures of Porter sending a visual message to his little sister, Stella. As you can see, this idea didn't pan out as well as I had hoped.

The best photo I got was the one found below, but it resembles a mug shot more than an act of love.

When pictures aren't doing the job, we try videos. Here is Porter's recorded message for his baby sister:

Stella, I Love You!

October 9, 2012

“So, let’s encourage our kids to draw outside the lines, wear clothes that don’t match, make messes, make mistakes, think really big things. Build their confidence to be active generators rather than mere passive receivers. And continue to listen and encourage them when an old, industrial-era teacher comes along to squash these better qualities. Because it will happen at some point either as a kid or as an adult. Creativity is an act of open disobedience against the norms. Creativity is an act of courage.”

~Chris Bailey

Creativity

October 6, 2012

...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...

...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDMA KAYE...

...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Happy Birthday to You...

October 4, 2012

Brian and I are big fans of fall, and we're very happy that this season is finally upon us.

The trees in our neighborhood are beginning to change colors, and our little dogwood has already turned completely red. It's absolutely beautiful!

Like most little, red-headed boys, Porter loves to play in the leaves. This is a good thing since our yard accumulates quite a few during these lovely fall months.

Fall, we are so happy that you are here!

Fall Is Welcome Here

October 3, 2012

We're very fortunate to have Blu. She has the patience of Job as well as an incredibly sweet demeanor.

Although Blu is no Keata Bear (no dog past, present, or future could ever fill Keata's white boots, in my opinion), Blu is wonderful with children and is the perfect companion for Porter.

Blu is always near Porter's side, whether in the house or out. Utilizing her great sheepdog abilities, she keeps her eyes on him outside and makes sure he does not stray from the yard.

She is always ready and willing to play, and even when Porter torments her (which he does), she never gets irritated or snippy.

Blu is a very important part of our family, and we love her dearly!

True Blu

October 2, 2012

Although our little one didn't want to cooperate at first, after 45 minutes of coaxing, we finally got the ultrasound shot to confirm that we are in fact having a baby girl!

Stella Opal Stephen looks in all ways to be a very healthy, baby girl. She is extremely wiggly and spry! On December 10th, we will get another opportunity to see her before her grand entrance to this world. We are really looking forward to this date!

The Stephen Clan

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Porter's First Train Ride

October 27, 2012