hope this finds you in the midst of warmth & love this holiday season.
2011 has proven to be a year of hard work for us. and we couldn't have made it through without you. we love & cherish you all!
we have BIG news! no... its not another baby : ) We will be moving at the end of year to Florida where both sets of Matts family lives. Matt will be working with his dad to help start a home health care business. Matt has always wanted to work with his dad, and this job will be a great opportunity to help feed all the growing boys in the house! We will keep you posted as we transition into this next phase.
now here is a small glimpse of what everyone has been up to. Occasionally there will be a link you can click that will take you to a blog post from Kristi who has been documenting the life of the family in a more detail (and with great pictures).
ben...
turned 4! and we had a super hero/ spiderman birthday for him. he still talks about it. he's very into super heroes and has just scratched the surface of star wars & transformers. he started big boy swimming...aka without water wings or floats this summer. he's a fish and daredevil. he also started preschool this fall. and he's totally rockin' it. he loves playing with his little brothers. it's such a beautiful process to watch as he learns how to be the big brother.
gabe...
turned 2! he's become known to most everyone we meet as "gabers". he moved from diapers to big boy undies. although he still adores his paci & blankets. (it's a work in progress...) his hair is getting grown out and just now starting to look good. the long hair just suits him...wild just like he is. it was discovered that he gets car sick after several hours in the car without a break. he is talking in sentences more and cries when he can't get his words together just right. he loves the beach, running around, wrestling, trains & the iphone.
sam...
turned 1...a minute before his little brother! this first year is full of so many new experiences but one that he loved most: water buckets on the back deck. he waited until his birthday to try walking and he hasn't stopped yet. he loves singing himself to sleep. he loves to snuggle. he is following in gabe's footsteps of being a messy eater. and his latest testament of boyhood...climbing the chairs to get to the table or counter.
matty...
turned 1...a minute after his bigger brother. he is the peanut butter to sam's jelly. he learned how to walk 2 weeks before his first birthday. one of his favorite things is going to the park with wide open space to explore. he's an over achiever, goal pusher, go-getter. he loves climbing anything in sight. he still loves to be held or worn. he is a slow, picky and not as much of a messy eater.
kristi...
turned 28 & celebrated 6 years of marriage! she has enjoyed nights away from kids, learned how to do lots of things while juggling 4 kiddos, in the process of becoming a packing/moving master, taking another adventurous shot at keeping up the blog, trying to cook more, rekindled an old flame for working out, loves to snuggle sleeping babies, chases running balls of energy otherwise known as little boys, finding joy & peace in living with less, does preschool pickup with all the boys in tow, learning how to become intentional in relationships, fiercely lovin' on her husband, sings worship/ lullaby songs to her boys after bedtime prayers.
matt...
also turned 28 & celebrated 6 years of marriage! he's worked hard on several recording projects, got the house fixed and sold, raising rowdy boys, leading worship at new life virginia beach, associate pastoring at big house church, professional mover, fiercely loving his wife, being a tenacious fantasy football owner in the GCWFL, and consistently leading this family to the cross. and now is the time for a new challenge/ adventure. currently becoming a medical care expert. he's changing things up for 2012- leaving full-time ministry and joining in the new family business BrightStar Care Emerald Coast:: life care, kid care, medical staffing.
as we are in the midst of moving & transitioning our family to florida, please keep us in your prayers. we're praying that 2012 is a year of settling for us...i'd say slowing down, but we all know that our family just can't do that. so be sure to keep up with all our new adventures here! and if you'd like our new address, please email me or let me know via facebook.
living in His peace & walking in His grace,
the ruckels :: matt & kristi....ben, gabe, sam, matty
2011 has proven to be a year of hard work for us. and we couldn't have made it through without you. we love & cherish you all!
we have BIG news! no... its not another baby : ) We will be moving at the end of year to Florida where both sets of Matts family lives. Matt will be working with his dad to help start a home health care business. Matt has always wanted to work with his dad, and this job will be a great opportunity to help feed all the growing boys in the house! We will keep you posted as we transition into this next phase.
now here is a small glimpse of what everyone has been up to. Occasionally there will be a link you can click that will take you to a blog post from Kristi who has been documenting the life of the family in a more detail (and with great pictures).
ben...
turned 4! and we had a super hero/ spiderman birthday for him. he still talks about it. he's very into super heroes and has just scratched the surface of star wars & transformers. he started big boy swimming...aka without water wings or floats this summer. he's a fish and daredevil. he also started preschool this fall. and he's totally rockin' it. he loves playing with his little brothers. it's such a beautiful process to watch as he learns how to be the big brother.
gabe...
turned 2! he's become known to most everyone we meet as "gabers". he moved from diapers to big boy undies. although he still adores his paci & blankets. (it's a work in progress...) his hair is getting grown out and just now starting to look good. the long hair just suits him...wild just like he is. it was discovered that he gets car sick after several hours in the car without a break. he is talking in sentences more and cries when he can't get his words together just right. he loves the beach, running around, wrestling, trains & the iphone.
sam...
turned 1...a minute before his little brother! this first year is full of so many new experiences but one that he loved most: water buckets on the back deck. he waited until his birthday to try walking and he hasn't stopped yet. he loves singing himself to sleep. he loves to snuggle. he is following in gabe's footsteps of being a messy eater. and his latest testament of boyhood...climbing the chairs to get to the table or counter.
matty...
turned 1...a minute after his bigger brother. he is the peanut butter to sam's jelly. he learned how to walk 2 weeks before his first birthday. one of his favorite things is going to the park with wide open space to explore. he's an over achiever, goal pusher, go-getter. he loves climbing anything in sight. he still loves to be held or worn. he is a slow, picky and not as much of a messy eater.
kristi...
turned 28 & celebrated 6 years of marriage! she has enjoyed nights away from kids, learned how to do lots of things while juggling 4 kiddos, in the process of becoming a packing/moving master, taking another adventurous shot at keeping up the blog, trying to cook more, rekindled an old flame for working out, loves to snuggle sleeping babies, chases running balls of energy otherwise known as little boys, finding joy & peace in living with less, does preschool pickup with all the boys in tow, learning how to become intentional in relationships, fiercely lovin' on her husband, sings worship/ lullaby songs to her boys after bedtime prayers.
matt...
also turned 28 & celebrated 6 years of marriage! he's worked hard on several recording projects, got the house fixed and sold, raising rowdy boys, leading worship at new life virginia beach, associate pastoring at big house church, professional mover, fiercely loving his wife, being a tenacious fantasy football owner in the GCWFL, and consistently leading this family to the cross. and now is the time for a new challenge/ adventure. currently becoming a medical care expert. he's changing things up for 2012- leaving full-time ministry and joining in the new family business BrightStar Care Emerald Coast:: life care, kid care, medical staffing.
as we are in the midst of moving & transitioning our family to florida, please keep us in your prayers. we're praying that 2012 is a year of settling for us...i'd say slowing down, but we all know that our family just can't do that. so be sure to keep up with all our new adventures here! and if you'd like our new address, please email me or let me know via facebook.
living in His peace & walking in His grace,
the ruckels :: matt & kristi....ben, gabe, sam, matty
