Halloween Cuties!

Ben sucking on markers while decorating his first Jack O'lantern

Sofia refusing to use a knife to decorate her pumpkin "That's dangerous," she said.

Noah Sofia and Ben

Trick or Treating!

Great Fall Fun this year! The kids loved decorating pumpkins. We love carving and roasting the pumpkin seeds. All of our pumpkins are of the smiley variety. I just think a big orange ball screams "happy" not "scary." We have my family over for dinner and then we go trick or treating with the kids. This year cousin Noah got to come over. What Fun!

Punkin Patch

Sofia used to be afraid of the ponies, not anymore!

A Pumpkin eating dinosaur

How tall is Ben?

Sofia and Daddy's first camel ride

We had so much fun at the Pumpkin Farm! We started out with some pony rides. Ben didn't enjoy them so much this time but Sofi had a blast. Then we took a hayride to the pumpkin patch. We stopped to watch the dinosaur eat some pumpkins. I think that is just the most ingenious way to do something fun with extra rotting pumpkins! We had roasted sweet corn, played in two different corn mazes. To end the day, Sofi and daddy took a camel. Sofi suggested it and we were so surprised that she really wanted to be so high up on the camels back. It was a super fun way to celebrate fall!

An Afternoon at the Farm

Bella and Talia feeding the goats
Ben, Sofi and Camden

A couple Fridays ago we went to Heritage Prairie Market and Farm. We wanted the kids to see a real working farm. Everyone there was so generous. We got to taste some yellow watermelon adn feed the goats. We walked around and saw the herb and vegetable gardens and horses. We talked about how food grows in the ground. It was a beautiful afternoon and we all enjoyed ourselves very much.

Day at Lake Geneva

The great Sand Hill

Daddy and Ben in the water!

Sofia and Brian enjoyed burying eachother

Playing on the shore!

We spent three days at the beach this summer. The kids love it! We would pack a lunch and head up in the morning. Ben would take a nap while sofi played on a sand hill. When Ben woke up we'd eat and then sit on the shore. The beach in Fontana is awesome. It was never crowded even the week of the fourth of July. These pics were taken on Labor. Amazing!

Curious Sofia goes to the big city!

Brian and Sofi enjoying the observatory

Ben is such a happy guy!

Washing windows just like Curious!

The aftereffects of a S'mores sundae

I've been a little lazy about blogging lately so I thought I'd catch you up on one of our adventures. A couple Sundays the weather was so wonderful we dediced to run into Chicago and play. We started with lunch at Gino's East. We followed that up with a trip to "wash windows just like Curious George does!" We had a spectacular view from the John Hancock tower. We wandered around Michigan avenue and then finished our afternoon off with icecream treats from Ghiradelli's. It was a super fun day!

Ahoy Mateys!

The girls on the Safari Express!

Tabby and Sofia

Big Boy Ben on the little train!

I'm loving this!

Last week we went with Tabby and Carolyn to Pirates' cove. Even though it was at least 95 degrees out, everyone had a great time. At first the girls were a little tentative about trying the different rides. By the end of the day they were running from one ride to the next. Even Ben loved the Safari Express and the little trains and rode all by himself. He had so much fun. When he had to get off the little trains he would point at the train and cry. Lucky for us, there weren't a lot of people at the park so they got to ride each ride over and over again.

Ben turns 1!

Tissanie and Ben celebrate!
Ben enjoying his new sunglasses
Ben enjoys his birthday cupcake!

Two days after Ben officially turned one we had his birthday party! Our friends and family came to celbrate our little man's first year. It was a great time. Of course Ben got too many presents. He loved his cupcake!

The Springs

Down town Colorado Springs

Garden of the Gods

At the end of June I got to visit my best friend Jenny Johnson in Colorado Springs. Ben and I surprised her for her baby shower. It was my first time traveling since I've had kids and my first time traveling with a baby on an airplane.

The trip was well worth it! It was great to be at their church. I loved the anglican service patterned after those in Africa and Asia. It was easy to feel connected to God's bigger story. After the service, Jenny and the children had a bake sale to raise money for their sister church in Rawanda. They raised money to buy families goats and chickens to improve their nutrition and their family finances by selling extra food that the animals produced.

It was amazing to be in the mountains. On Monday we had dinner on the mountainside by a little creek. We also spent some time wandering around Manitou Springs. It's a little tourist town outside of Colorado Springs. Manitou had natural soda springs. You can walk around town and drink out of the salty, bubbly springs. The first time I had some it wasn't exactly what I was expecting.

The next day, and my final one in Colorado, we walked around Garden of the Gods. These beautiful rock formations are part of Colorado Springs. It was a beautiful place to walk, talk and pray and enjoy the beauty of God's creation.

At the Zoo!

Sofia always love the carousel!

Ben wanted to keep on going even after

the ride was over!

Brian, Sofia and Ben waiting for the dolphin show


Sofi loved the fountain!

Ben and Ben

The Cicada invaders

Friday we spent the day at Brookfield Zoo. We take an annual trip to the zoo and it is one of our favorite days of the year. Each year the dolphin show is a highlight and of course this year was no exception. Later, we even saw the dolphins swimming underneath the pool.

This year there were a few new highlights as well. First we made our way over to the exhibit called the Living Coast. Inside you see fish, sharks and penguins. But the highlight was the fountain outside the exhibit. We didn't have a swim suit for Sofi but we had an extra change of clothes so we let her run around and play in the fountain. I think getting all wet in her clothes made it even more fun for her.

In Tropic World we got to see two orangutans named who shared names with Sophia and Ben. So we took picture of each child with their "namesakes." Do you see any resemblance. It's interesting how people interpret life within their own worldview. When we were watching the gorillas I heard one woman remark, "When we see these animals nursing and taking care of their young, I don't know how people can't believe in....." My head filled in the blank "God" but she said "evolution". Now, I definately don't think that beliving in God and evolution are mutually exclusive. It was just interesting to me how people see things differently. I couldn't help but think of God, his creativity and his sense of humor as we saw the different animals.

The cicadas were also a big hit. Everyone in Chicagoland has been talking about the Cicada invastion for about a month, but Elgin has been a big dissapointment. I haven't really seen any cicadas to speak of, even in the older downtown areas. But, we were not dissapointed by the Cicadas at Brookfield Zoo. There were sooooo many! As the day went on they got louder and louder. Claudia even had a close call with one as it tried to fly right into her mouth! All in all it was amazing to hear their powerful song. Only summer brings with it an energy like that!

A Wonderful Mother's Day!

Sofi and Daddy flying kites

Sofia, Ben and mommy!

Great Grandma Lupe and Ben

I know this mother's day post is a little late in coming, but we had such a great day I just had to write about it. On Saturday we had lunch at my aunt's house to celbrate with my mom and grandma. It was a beautiful day. We played outside, took photos and everyone received some new additions for their gardens.

On Sunday we went to church in the morning and then came home to grill out. After naps we went to the park to fly a kite. It was Sofi and Ben's first kite ever! Sofi was great. She ran after teh kite and even flew it herself. Ben just enjoyed all the action. After the park we headed to Dairy queen for a banana split and a strawberry shake. It was a sweet ending to a wonderful day.

Congratulations Tissanie!

As most of you who read our blog know, Tissanie is a like a daughter in the Heinrich family. I (Claudia) have mentored her since she was thirteen years old. This Saturday she graduated from Judson College! It was such an honor to be there as she walked across the stage. We are so proud of her and look forward to all that God is going to do in her life.

Elgin Christian Development Corporation

Community Baptist Church has started a new ministry called the Elgin Community Development Corporation. This non-profit organization works to make our west Elgin neighborhood a healthy, safe and connected place to live.

Even though the ministry is just beginning, we are already seeing God work on our behalf. A few highlights follow:

• a woman from Kosovo who is expecting a baby has been helped by the ECDC. Last week she attended church for the first time.
• A young girl in the churches Kids Club ministry, which Claudia directs, choose a Bible over toys, games, puzzles and candy. We pray that she will continue to choose God in her everyday life. And we as a church are committed to supporting her.
• When people come to the church for emergency needs like money for rent, food etc., they are being referred to the ECDC for holistic help with budgeting, setting goals and life planning.
  

We are excited to see what God is doing in our neighborhood!

Big Boy Bath!

Toys in the tub

Ben in his bath seat

Sofi and Ben love the bath

These are just a few cute photos of Ben's first big boy bath. He really enjoys tub baths over the ones in his baby bath tub. Sofi and him do great in there together. As he gets older it is so much fun to see them playing more and more together as brother and sister. Nobody can make Ben laugh like Sofi does.

They other day we were at a friends house and Sofi saw their big dog. She said, "Grab Ben, let's go!" It was so cute to see that even thought she was afraid her first concern was for Ben. I told her not to worry. This particular dog is more afraid of us than she was of it.

Curious About Sofi's 3rd Birthday?

Sofia blowing out the candles!

Sofi's favorite new book

Tiss and Sofi decorating her cake

Sofia turned three years old on February 12th. We had all our friends and family over for a Curious George themed birthday party. It was a ton of fun and we could tell that Sofia was so proud of herself and so excited to be having her own birthday party. She had a list of requirements for her party and thankfully non of them were too hard to meet. Sofi wanted party blowers, goody bags, a pinata and party hats. When we were putting together the goody bags she exclaimed, "My friends are going to be soooo happy!" She was definitely excited about all her presents but it was great to see that she was thinking of her friends too!

She also requested that we make her birthday cake and that it had to be chocolate. Our friend Tissanie came by and we all decorated it together. It was really fun to do it ourselves.

We can't believe Sofi is already three years old! What an amazing blessing.

Mr. Ben

Mr. Ben is the nickname we have given Benjamin in lieu of Benji and Benny. It just kind of happened. He'll always be Mr. Ben to us!

These are a couple of my favorite pics. I love him in his little hat. The second photo is of his first atttempt at baby food. He likes to eat but it definately is taking him a while to get the hang of it. He's allergic to eggs so since I am still nursing I have had to stay away from some of my favorite foods.

We'll miss you Riverwoods!

This is our last family photo as Riverwoods employees. We have been at Riverwoods for so long and now Brian is starting a new ministry with Community Baptist Church. The new ministry is call the Elgin Christian Development Corporation. The mission is to bring wholistic Christian Community to West Elgin. We are excited to see what God does in our neighborhood. But, we'll miss Riverwoods!

I am so escited to be able to post again. I don't know what was going on before but for all of you who are waiting for more Heinrich family photos your time has come!

Can't Post Photos!

Ok, for all you bloggers out there, I need some help. I have been trying to post some Christmas pictures on this blog for almost a week. Every time I try to upload photos the "your pictures are uploading" icon freezes. I've looked at the blogger online help and nothing gives me any idea of what is going wrong.

For our friends who want to see cute pictures of our kids, don't worry! I have not been slacking. I'm sure I'll figure this out soon!

Look back at Summer

It snowed last night and we are home from church this more due to the kids being sick.So I thought it would be a good time to work on our family blog and look back at some warmer summer days. My goal is to update this site once a week.

This was our last summer in full time ministry at Riverwoods Christian Center. We have served there as a family since 1998. I spent two summer working as a camp counselor during my time at Wheaton. Tissanie has been a huge part of our lives at Riverwoods. Most of you have heard of how she has been a blessing to us and what a treasure it has been to walk through life together over the last 9 years. When we met Tissanie was 13 year old involved in programs at Riverwoods. Today she a senior at Judson College. One of the funnest elements of our relationship has been seeing how special her friendship is with Sofia and Ben.

This year is brining many changes for our family. We look forward to sharing what God is doing in our church as we start a new Christian Community Development Ministry. So far Brian has been spending time developing a vision for the ministry, recruiting a board and doing all the legal things necessary to exist as a not-for-profit ministry. We are excited about being a part of God's Kingdom expressing itself right here in our neighborhood.