Camryn

I got home yesterday after spending a week with Sarah, Tyson and CAMRYN. Seriously I'm going through withdrawal - so I thought I'd make myself feel better and post some pictures.

Tyson calls this the "baby burito". This swaddeling technique works! Sarah and Tyson wrap her up when it's naptime and she calms down and goes to sleep.

Occasionally she would get one arm free, but she still slept.

She does not like baths, but she does like having her hair washed.

Beth came for the weekend - she just couldn't stay away.

We went for walks - the weather was beautiful. Camryn slept every time!

She is so loved.

Sarah and Tyson are doing a great job.
CAMRYN - YOU ARE SUCH A BLESSING!

Camryn Joy Kirksey

Camryn is here! Welcome to the world sweeetheart.

Israel

We returned from our trip to Israel late Wednesday night and I wanted to post a few pictures. Actually I'm going to post a lot of pictures so get ready. It was quite a journey for us and I don't just mean in miles. I really didn't know what to expect from this trip. I read about Jesus, I pray to Him, I praise Him, I sing to Him - but now I've been to the place where he was born, where he walked on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where he preached the Sermon on the Mount, where he died. It was kinda overwhelming and very real.

So I think I'll just post Day One today and the others as I have time.

We started our first day in Caesarea - an ancient city on the coast of the Mediterranean. A lot of what we saw was built by Herod the Great to impress the Romans. First we visited the theater where Herod made a speech in his royal robes and Acts 12 says he was immediately struck down and eaten by worms because he didn't give glory to God. Anyway our guide says most likely a public address like that would have been here.

This is our guide Heni an Arab Christian who pretty much overwhelmed us with information the whole time.

Our preacher Jeff Christian reads from Acts 10 about Cornelius getting a vision from God to send for Peter - he was living in Caesarea.

Here's Greg taking it all in.

Herod built an amazing palace on this point.

Herod's swimming pool - freshwater.

Paul also made his appeal to Caesar in Caesarea and was sent to Rome from here. The next picture is the aquaduct that served the city. One of our group decided he could stack some rocks and climb on top.

We, however were not so adventurous and walked down to the beach to touch the Mediterranean. Oh and please don't judge my hair in any picture you see of me. I couldn't get my curling iron to work the whole time and I need my curling iron.

Haifa was our next stop. Heni said it's a city known for it's religious tolerance in this violent country. We went to an overlook - the Ba'Hai temple is in the background along with Mount Hermon. Again the hair - it was windy ok?

We drove to Mt. Carmel and had lunch - I ate a falafel every day at lunch - Greg ate something called a schwerma which is chicken in a pita. Anyway good food. On to the site where Elijah had his confrontation with the prophets of Baal. Heni read the story from 1 Kings 18 .

A view from the top of the mountain down into the Kishon Valley - Elijah had the 450 prophets of Baal slaughtered there.

On to Meggido (also referrred to as Armageddon) - one of the most ancient sites ever excavated on the planet according to Jeff (our preacher). "It is actually an artificial hill formed by thousands of years of building, each new city being built directly on top of a recently destroyed one." (Jeff again).

The Solomonic Gate - obviously built by Solomon.

A Canaanite alter.

As I took this flower picture, a large group of F-16's flew over with all their power and noise. Just a reminder of how complex and unsetteling Israel can be.

SOO - a little long. I'll try to reign it in on my next posts. We were there for nine days and I took around 400 pictures. Just think it could be worse!

You Better Shop Around...

This past weekend, Matt & I had a chance to go see Sarah & Tyson ONE last time before Miss Camryn Joy's big arrival. I think we are all getting one last visit in before the big day, Tyson's Mom was coming in the afternoon we left. We got to their house around 7:00 Friday night and they took us to this great pizza place, which I can't remember the name of (oops!), we had so much fun listening to their stories and eating ALOT of pizza. We got Matt back to their house so he could rest up for the Texas Half the next morning, and got the tour of Camryn's new room.

The next day while he was running we went SHOPPING! Tyson & Sarah had a few more things to get for Camryn at Babies R Us and I am the lucky one who got to go with them. I think they have the largest Babies R Us in America at their disposal. Maybe I am just used to ours in Tyler which is a corner of the Toys R Us, but this one was as big as a Target, amazing! It was also completely overwhelming, there aren't a few kinds of cribs and car seats but HUNDREDS! Tyson & Sarah were so calm and collected and knew just what they needed. Here are all the pics, yes, I was that obnoxious person following them around the store taking pictures, but I am a proud aunt and I knew my Mom would be proud too. I had so much fun with you guys, and I can't wait to see her sweet face!

Proud Mom & Dad getting started!

Extensive Diaper Genie Research

Seriously, hundreds of choices!

And when you can't decide, just get them all!

The end result!

This is the thanks I get!

I recently did a favor for some friends and this is what I got as a "thank you". My name - in chocolate - wow. How fun is that!

Camryn Cutie

Last Friday Sarah had a 3D sonogram and here is a picture of the picture.

I know it's kind of hard to decipher, but basically this is a picture of her face - her mouth is slightly open, her eyes are closed, and her hand is curled under her chin. What you can't really see is the adorable dimple in that cute little chin!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the land, our family was gathering, a celebration was planned.

The presents were wrapped.

The puppies were walked.

The girls started cooking.

The boys talked and talked.

When what to our wondering eyes did appear, but Grandaddy Grubb in suspenders, hear hear!

The dogs were excited. Tanner started to dance. But with our Amazon lists, nothing was left to chance.

Beth got her mixer and Jake got some sweaters. Tyson got a movie and Matt got some letters. (Actually it was a compilation of the New York Times front pages for the last 100 years, but I couldn't fiture out how to rhyme that. Also it was a surprise gift from Sarah and Tyson.)

There were cookbooks and cameras and doggie toys. There was a Beatle's anthology for my special boy.

But the person who received the most numerous gifts was our dear sweet Camryn - we love you - that's it!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM TYLER