the mcintires

Mesmerized

2011-08-15T23:14:00.001-04:00

Mesmerized
Originally uploaded by The McIntires

we now live here:

2011-06-28T21:10:00.002-04:00

i've decided to combine my photography blog with our family blog. we realized that our family blog has been completely neglected and i was totally feeling overwhelmed with the thought of trying to update both. so please head on over to the new 'THE MCINTIRES' if you feel so.

mr. clapper

2011-05-11T08:24:00.002-04:00

for the past week little boo has been clapping up a storm! everything receives his applaud. big brother finally has someone who completely appreciates his antics, even when they involve terrorizing finny. oh, and sitting up.... psst, it's a breeze.

Month 8

2011-05-10T16:51:00.004-04:00

Dear boys,
So i'm sitting here with Finn quiet in his crib and big brother Owen "resting" and quietly interrupting me every 20 seconds, which is exhausting, even more so than the already busy day we've had. It seems that we have finally come up with a doable routine and in many ways the days are getting easier. There are so many times that i've wanted to sit and write, basically every month goes by and i do want to update, but boys will be boys and the many interruptions are expected but overwhelming.

Finn - you are a joy for us, constantly smiling and happy, such a beautiful boy. you're still army crawling, and getting mighty fast at it too. sitting up is coming along, but you still need someone close to you to catch you when you start to tip. baby food is a breeze and i'm trying to teach you to sign 'more', but i think you've figured out that if you bang on the table you'll most likely get your way. when big brother decides that you've had way too much time playing with a certain toy that he has deemed his, you freak out, and it scares him into quickly giving it back to you. i'm pretty sure chasing him is your absolute favorite thing to do. Your squeals are priceless and all you want to do is grab O's hair.

Owen - you are growing up right before our eyes and becoming quite the big man of the house during the day. i've seen your protective side while taking care of little wild thing, picking him up and holding him when he cries. you reassure him in such a sweet, yet loud and sometimes insistent way "IT'S OK, FINN!!!!!!" over and over again. i am so blessed by your sensitivity towards others too, holding the doors for girls, and telling me that you love me - right before you ask for a lollipop. the crazy things that come out of your mouth are priceless, one-liners that are forever kept safe by twitter.

All in all the past few months have been fun, as well as exhausting. I'm sure this entire summer will be filled with many starts and stops, with the "starts" being mad dashes and the "stops" being screeching halts. I pray that you boys survive our crazy mad life. Know that I am quietly looking for ways to prolong our days and minimize our rushing around, to enjoy the stillness around us, even if its just for a moment (when little wild thing is sleeping).

love, mama

The boys

2011-04-02T12:45:00.001-04:00

why didnt i think of ear protection?!

2011-02-26T13:49:00.003-05:00

so the other day, while i was feeling like just the maid, i decided "hey! why am i the only one that vacuums? my boy has two hands and two feet!" so, i just asked him. and he was so excited. that is, he was excited to clean his room, not his brother's.

5 months 1 week

2011-02-22T16:37:00.004-05:00

Dear Finn,

so i was reading past posts and have realized just how much you are the second child. i'm sorry son, but we are a busy family and you've just been along for the ride. its true, i hardly take any photos of you during the day, and when i do get around to it, they are from my phone. i just havent had the gusto to pull out the big camera and sit down and take photos of you, let alone edit them and then post/write. but, that is going to change. i promise. starting tomorrow, or thursday. guess i should charge that sucker up.

i really do love that we documented O's first year the way we did, and i'm regretting not doing that so carefully with Finn. so.... dear finn, in your world lately:

you roll over. at 5 months, just last week, you rolled over for the first time in front of GG. i was so excited that she was able to experience that with us. it's just back to front, and you get pretty upset that you get stuck, but i'm sure that in a few weeks you will have it down.

you eat baby food. honestly i'm kinda excited that you have started on solids. hopefully it will mean longer naps during the day. you're eating bananas, apples, pears, sweet potatoes, and peas. i just pulled out owen's little seat for you and even though you slump a little, it's easier than mr. fluffy bunny chair, who's ears are permanently stained orange.

so i'm not really sure how much you weigh right now, but i'm guessing it's about 16/17lbs. my right arm is jacked from carrying you and your large car seat, and i really cant wait till you move into the regular car seat. i think i'll switch out when you start sitting up. my back cant take having to lean so far into the car to get you in and out.

i was just saying to your daddy the other day how i cant believe how quickly these past few months have gone by. you are such a joy to have around and are constantly smiling and laughing. you love your brother and are so much happier when he is around, and so am i, he entertains you and checks on you all the time. his favorite thing is to growl at you, which i'm pretty sure you love. God blessed us incredibly with you and i could'nt imagine our little family without you.

love,
mama

finn

2011-02-03T09:29:00.001-05:00

finn
Originally uploaded by The McIntires

finn at 20 weeks

a little crafty crafty

2011-01-11T15:44:00.005-05:00

....in the effort to get back into blogging..... here we go.....

over the past few months i've been perusing different blogs and all the while wishing i was as talented or as creative as he/she. a few days ago i came across made by joel, a really awesome blog. so we took one of his great ideas and went to town, literally! we made a city block, which i completely copied his style and designs, but oh well.

O has this box of blocks that only come out once in awhile, so i snagged one and creativity was born! we both spent an hour or so just creating and dreaming up scenes. O isnt quite finished his, but i love the colors he choose! i really cant wait to see what he thinks up for his buildings.

next on the list is to add to the city blocks with city people.

Month 3

2010-12-15T10:23:00.001-05:00

Dear Finn,
You are 3 months! We made it! You truly are the happiest baby, and it is so refreshing and wonderful. Things are becoming easier and I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel in regards to you sleeping through the night. Our routine right now is pretty crazy, getting your brother to school and timing naps in your crib, I'm still trying to figure is all out. You sleep so well in your car seat and I guess for right now I just need to be ok with that.

Plaid is back!

Mornings are getting better, though you still wake up crying, ready for your bottle and someone to be with. You really like being around, in the mix of all the action. It's as if you are afraid that you will miss something if you close your eyes. As soon as you are fed, we come downstairs with Owen and you sit in your swing and just watch your brother or whatever is on tv. Many times you end up falling asleep in the swing and I'm able to get a few things done before the morning is up.

Owen loves you so much! He is constantly saying how great you are and how he thinks you are the best thing. You are always staring at him and when you hear his voice, you quickly turn your head to try and find him.

Love,
Mama

Month 2

2010-11-15T16:23:00.000-05:00

Dear Finn,
Boy, was your brother so concerned for you! I think you received 2 shots and O kept reassuring you "dont scream bloody gurder." He really loves you so much. I am so thankful that he takes such good care of you. He always wants to help and and is good at distracting you when it's your fussy time, which just so happens to be right when i'm trying to fix dinner. Your aunt beth told us of a miracle cure for this colicky fussy behavior, called Colic Calm. Only a mere $20 of insane greatness! Honestly, we used it for a week, and it has turned our fuss head, drama queen *according to the nurses at the hospital*, into such a pleasant infant. You are getting so big already! You weigh 12lbs, you little chunker. As much as I cant wait for you to become more mobile, I am praying that I enjoy this time and I know that God has blessed us with you.

Month 1

2010-10-15T16:34:00.000-04:00

Dear Finn,
You are 1 month old already! I have to say, time sure does fly when the days run all into each other. At times I feel like I'm losing it and other times I have everything under control. It sure is different having two boys, and I think I'm going to love it after we get through these first few months.... 3 months here we come! They keep saying things start flowing and working out around then.

Nights are so rough right now. Your daddy and I share the burden, I mean JOY, of feeding you at night. He takes the 9pm and 12am, and then I'm up for the 3am and 6am. Whew... I didnt miss this at all! My brain feels fried and I cant finish sentences, and then get frustrated at O for not getting what I mean. He is slowly starting to understand "mommy talk". Just the other day he patted me on the head and said "Start brain, start!"

You truly are a blessing to our family and I'm so thankful that God gave you to us. I honestly cant imagine our lives without you. When I think of our future with you in it, I just smile and envision so many adventures that we all are going to have.

Love,
Mama

Thursday night

2010-09-13T14:41:00.005-04:00

...started like this
and then moved on to this :)
and then BAM

Rick + Faith

2010-08-28T16:48:00.000-04:00

Sunday afternoon bike ride

2010-08-10T22:45:00.003-04:00

Quite a pair

2010-08-07T21:27:00.004-04:00

I was telling them "Whatever you do, DON'T LAUGH!"

Ava

2010-08-07T21:25:00.003-04:00

Volleyball

2010-08-03T22:16:00.002-04:00

Cadillac Mnt.

2010-07-08T07:59:00.000-04:00

Camden, ME

2010-07-07T07:35:00.001-04:00

Good Cloud Day

2010-07-01T22:45:00.000-04:00

Grampy

2010-06-27T11:19:00.004-04:00

The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 25, 2010

Most of my clearest memories of Grampy begin about ten years ago when I started having weekly Friday lunches with him and Grandmama (now "GG") at their home in Valley Forge. At that time, my workplace was only a couple of miles from their house and so it was a quick trip over and back during my lunch hour. During lunch Grampy actually never really said all that much; it was always GG and I doing most of the talking. But this was something I came to respect about Grampy: he chose his words carefully. He only spoke when he had something to say; the world would be a better place if more of us followed his example.

Grampy liked to have his lunch at noon. Exactly noon. Early on, I would arrive at their house around 12:15 and sometimes Grampy would be sitting in his chair at the table - ready to eat. GG would immediately take the hot lunch (always a hot lunch) out of the oven and we'd sit down to eat right away. Over the years my arrival for Friday lunch got later and later (today we usually eat at 1:30!) and I am grateful to Grampy for his willingness to wait for me.

Four and a half years ago, Owen started joining us at Friday lunches. Owen made Grampy smile more. And especially in his final years at the Wayne Center, as Parkinson's disease slowly robbed my grandfather of his ability to move his body and speak his mind, Grampy seemed to love seeing his Great Grandson. Grampy would reach out to Owen, beckoning him to come closer. He would laugh at Owen's silly antics - often the only sounds Grampy made during our visits.

What a privilege it was for little O to be able to get to know his Great Grandfather. And I too consider it a privilege to have had such a great man as my Grandfather. Husband to my Grandmama for 64 years - he was an example to me of enduring love and faithfulness. Member of the Gideons International, often spending Saturdays on college campuses giving Bibles to college students - he was an example to me of genuine Christianity, and a strong link in the Legacy of Faith into which our son Owen was blessed to be born.

Oh that we may follow in your beautiful footsteps, Grampy.

-----

Kenneth Lloyd Morse | Electrician, volunteer, 88

Kenneth Lloyd Morse, 88, of Berwyn, an electrician and community volunteer, died of complications from a neurological disease Tuesday at Wayne Center.

Mr. Morse was operating Ken's Electrical Service in Maine when he was recruited by Eastern Baptist College, now Eastern University, to work as head electrician. He remained at the school for 18 years.

After retiring in December 1987, he volunteered for 13 years at Manor Care in King of Prussia. He visited residents and assisted with the guinea pigs, rabbits, and dogs that were used in the pet-therapy program, his daughter Bettie Ann Brigham said.

Mr. Morse was born in Windsor, Maine. Unable to care for him, his brother, and their three sisters, his parents offered the children for adoption. His adoptive parents raised him on a farm in Bangor, Maine. With their help, he located his siblings with whom he had kept close ties, his daughter said.

During World War II, he served in the Army Air Force in Alabama, where he met his future wife, Alice Kreamer.

After his discharge, he served an apprenticeship and became a master electrician. He was very mechanically inclined and could fix anything, his daughter said.

Mr. Morse returned to Maine for summer vacations and enjoyed fishing, hunting, and hiking there and in Central Pennsylvania. He was active with Gideon International and the King of Prussia AARP.

In addition to his wife of 64 years and daughter, Mr. Morse is survived by a daughter, Jean McIntire; a son, Gordon; two sisters; a brother; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday at Upper Merion Baptist Church, 585 General Steuben Rd., King of Prussia. Mr. Morse donated his body to science.

Obit in the Philadelphia Inquirer on June 25, 2010.

shirt

2010-06-24T23:47:00.001-04:00

We'll miss you Grampy

2010-06-22T22:58:00.002-04:00

J.C. Ryle said this about prayer:

2010-06-14T23:22:00.004-04:00

"Pray daily for a great outpouring of the Spirit on the Church and on the world. This is the grand need of the day—it is the thing that we need far more than money, machinery, and men. The "company of preachers" in Christendom is far greater than it was in the days of Paul; but the actual spiritual work done in the earth, in proportion to the means used, is undoubtedly far less. We need more of the presence of the Holy Spirit— more in the pulpit, and more in the congregation—more in the pastoral visit, and more in the school. Where He is, there will be life, health, growth, and fruitfulness. Where He is not—all will be dead, tame, formal, sleepy, and cold. Then let everyone who desires to see an increase of pure and undefiled religion, pray daily for more of the presence of the Holy Spirit in every branch of the visible Church of Christ." – J.C. Ryle

(via Tom Hud)

More OBX

2010-06-06T22:54:00.014-04:00

What a great week. The highlight for me was hanging out with these six little ones. They are so awesome.

watch out

2010-06-06T20:20:00.001-04:00

this is the look i usually get from him, right before i get whacked in the head with his badoo (blanket).

OBX

2010-06-05T15:47:00.001-04:00

OBX

2010-06-04T23:36:00.001-04:00

mommy's day

2010-05-19T07:31:00.000-04:00

"swim team"

2010-05-10T16:04:00.002-04:00

today was Owen's first day of swim lessons. we had a bit of unlocking of little hands clenching my shirt and leg, but after the instructor was able to get him in the water, he calmed down. it was a bit of an interesting experience: the head guy calls his name, your instructor Scott comes into the grandstand and drags your child off, and into the pool they go. you can hear occasional crying or screaming, me hoping that Owen isnt the one doing the screaming.... but then it's all smiles on the walk back to the stands to meet the parents. on the way out he said he had a great time, but that he "might cry tomorrow though".

Reece

2010-05-08T22:42:00.002-04:00

our boy

2010-05-04T03:14:00.009-04:00

Babies!!

2010-04-21T01:50:00.008-04:00

Maelle Erin Starke
Born Sunday, April 11 at 3:05PM
Congrats Russ and Lisa!

Nolan Gregory Lusby
Born Sunday, April 18th at 5:01AM
Congrats Greg and Carla!

He fell asleep so I kept drivin

2010-04-10T21:31:00.002-04:00

soccer

2010-04-09T08:27:00.000-04:00

Struble Trail

2010-04-08T16:58:00.003-04:00

blue marker, yumm

2010-04-06T16:54:00.000-04:00

lovely day

2010-04-02T09:24:00.006-04:00

He loves her

2010-04-01T00:03:00.000-04:00

memory lane

2010-03-27T23:16:00.000-04:00

NC visit

2010-03-26T21:37:00.000-04:00

Owen won

2010-03-24T22:16:00.000-04:00

the crew

2010-03-13T22:07:00.000-05:00

I love these people

2010-03-12T05:17:00.005-05:00

a lot!

singin

2010-03-01T21:55:00.002-05:00

lots and lots of snow

2010-02-15T21:54:00.014-05:00

while you were shoveling

2010-02-13T22:22:00.007-05:00

Thank you Meme and Ken for an awesome trip! And thank you to our awesome friends and neighbors for shoveling us out while we were gone :)

snowpocalypse radar

2010-02-12T11:32:00.002-05:00

remembering

2010-02-11T08:20:00.003-05:00

so yesterday was full of absolute craziness, in fact, the past three days have been a blissful, wonderland of excitement for all of us. but, in the midst of all of that, there was a bittersweet rememberance of my mom. the 10th marks my moms 2yr anniversary of passing and these years have felt both short and long, it feels like she was just with us and at the same time it feels like an eternity ago. there are many moments, especially recently that i wish my mom was here to enjoy with us, many revolving around owen. so many times i wish that i knew the stories of how she raised us, i have a hard time keeping up with one kid, how did she handle three of us?! as time passes, my memories of my mom become sweeter and sweeter, i begin to see and understand how she showed her love to me.

Welcome Reece!

2010-02-09T21:02:00.003-05:00

Reece Raymond Boyles
Born Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 9:38 am
8 lbs, 9 ozs and 21-1/4"
Congratulations Joel, Beth and Jackson!

panorami

2010-02-07T22:04:00.003-05:00

A weekend of fun with these guys and this guy.

Four

2010-01-29T22:55:00.003-05:00

Visiting Grampy

2010-01-15T21:58:00.000-05:00

RADIATE recap

2010-01-09T23:39:00.001-05:00

Prettttty

2010-01-09T17:21:00.006-05:00

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T22:25:00.002-05:00

sledding

2009-12-20T23:21:00.003-05:00

This Morning

2009-12-20T08:38:00.009-05:00

christmas program

2009-12-19T11:06:00.000-05:00

:)

2009-12-06T23:38:00.000-05:00

valley forge hiking

2009-12-06T15:11:00.000-05:00

son+sun

2009-11-27T21:37:00.002-05:00

Hiker

2009-11-22T22:08:00.001-05:00

Six

2009-11-15T15:41:00.003-05:00

I arrived home from work one day last week
and she had Death Cab For Cutie playing in the kitchen.

And this one simple thing caused a wave of joy to fill my soul
as I thought about how perfectly happy I am to be with her
and how perfectly suited we are for each other
and how the more time we spend together the sweeter it gets.

The more time I spend with her, the more I like her
The more I like her, the more time I want to spend with her
and the cycles goes on
and the love gets deeper, more real, more true.

Six years of this, six years today
and I pray for sixty more.

polaroid

2009-11-12T15:24:00.003-05:00

my boys

2009-11-12T14:05:00.000-05:00

i'm in love with these boys.

Conshy

2009-10-30T22:26:00.002-04:00

springton manor

2009-10-29T07:57:00.000-04:00

current wallpaper

2009-10-28T02:18:00.002-04:00

Who is this kid?

2009-10-24T15:21:00.002-04:00

Photos by Michael Hagan.

Foster Kade Designs

2009-10-23T07:13:00.002-04:00

yesterday was amazing and overwhelming for my dear friend
creative, inspiring

for the past few years i have followed an awesome "mommy blog"
called dooce and dooce decided that not having one of these was
too much for her

so kudos to ang! congrats on your new found overwhelm'ness
of having too many orders and only two hands....

Foster Kade Designs
order one today
for yourself
for a friend

challenging

2009-10-16T17:25:00.004-04:00

Two seriously challenging Tweets from the great John Piper today:

"If I read as many books as most men I should be as dull-witted as they" Thomas Hobbes
(I don't read many books)

and

"They have great cause to consider if they are Christ's friends, who seldom converse with him in their closets." Thom. Brooks
(I don't find enough solitude)

Owen at Longwood

2009-10-16T09:23:00.000-04:00

target run

2009-10-09T22:42:00.000-04:00

lovely new haircut

2009-10-09T22:39:00.000-04:00

Alice + Ken

2009-10-09T22:30:00.002-04:00

My awesome grandparents.

GG and Grampy are such good sports

2009-10-09T22:15:00.000-04:00

highland orchards

2009-10-03T08:06:00.004-04:00

yesterday ended up being quite a beautiful day. we headed out to highland orchards along with ever other school group in the area. see more here: FLICKR

Commute (noticing)

2009-09-29T23:25:00.010-04:00

Psalm 104:3
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.

26 songs, 58 hours, 800 miles

2009-09-27T22:57:00.002-04:00

Radford University CRU Fall Retreat

Meet the Forresters

2009-09-27T22:41:00.001-04:00

Aaron + Joanna + Nash + Ethan = Awesome

memee and poppop's first house

2009-09-22T09:38:00.000-04:00

owen's eye view

2009-09-21T17:12:00.001-04:00

long night

2009-09-21T14:10:00.002-04:00

birthday dinner

2009-09-20T23:22:00.001-04:00

inner harbor

2009-09-20T14:12:00.000-04:00

Preschool

2009-09-15T06:47:00.002-04:00

michigan trip

2009-09-07T22:04:00.007-04:00

hangin out at Bubba's

2009-08-31T22:18:00.000-04:00

who needs Olan Mills?

2009-08-23T15:33:00.007-04:00

It'd been too long »

because we had to

2009-08-22T14:04:00.003-04:00

A couple of new low-budge self-portraits for RADIATE09.

buds II

2009-08-18T13:56:00.003-04:00

Owen and Foster

Very productive at work today

2009-08-12T00:19:00.006-04:00

buds

2009-08-08T22:33:00.002-04:00

Owen and Judah

while O is occupied....

2009-08-07T11:02:00.002-04:00

for 5.2 seconds, i thought i'd post some more photos from the zoo trip last month. i've been a bit lacking on taking photos the past few weeks. spending my time on this and this, searching for inspiration. all i think i need to do is look right in front of my face at who's staring back at me, a beautiful son.

HOT

2009-07-29T23:55:00.002-04:00

PARTY!

2009-07-27T08:20:00.001-04:00

a few weeks ago we spent the day celebrating one of owen's favorite girls, Addie. it was her fourth birthday..... and we had a blast!

longwood kids

2009-07-24T07:54:00.006-04:00

yesterday we spent an awesome time at the most beautiful garden around with the lovely omalleys and weldons.

zoo

2009-07-23T07:31:00.002-04:00

on monday we enjoyed the zoo with some friends who had the ever so coveted deluxe deluxe pass. you know, the one that gets you on EVERY ride! the one that makes coming to the zoo the next time a possible nightmare because mommy is now cheap. we've taken up a few budget/money rehab habits lately, and as owen clearly announced to daddy yesterday, "mommy and i are not spending money," i think it is catching hold. we are doing ALL free things and the goal is to make it to the first of the year with only spending money on the essentials. join me and encourage me!