Love

Well, what do you know?  The Boba Wrap fits big sister...and she is quite pleased to love on her baby brother!

The Littles

This picture was from a few weeks ago..trying to capture those first sweet smiles.

The two little brothers.  Can't believe the chubbiness of those 10 week old baby cheeks.

We're having some warm/humidish weather today.  It makes that riot of curls become even more curly. 

 Love them both so much.

Farming Young

I guess his brothers think 5 weeks is a good age to start playing with tractors!

Folding, folding...

..folding laundry with baby's help :) 

And the laundry never seems to end with seven of us now.  Seven?  Oh, that sounds like an army!

Oh yeah, I think it's kinda boring sometimes too!

{baby R ~ 2 weeks}

Today's Blessings

Praise God...

~ tomatoes beginning to ripen in the garden ~

~ 1 1/2 inches of rain in the guage this morning ~

~ piles of cucumbers ~

~ the anticipation of fresh peaches soon delivered ~

~ memories of a fun weekend spent out of state with family ~

~ 2 treasures found in the chicken house ~

~ and the thumpa-thumpa-swish-swish sound of baby heartbeat ~

...from whom ALL blessings flow!

Sweeter Than Applesauce

Thanks to the generous sharing of my in-laws, I have 50 lunch cups of strawberry applesauce in the freezer...and the anticipation of many more boxes to come.

{16 month old boys must think apples are the perfect toy.  Yes, the apples are going to have a few bruises!}

And those curls?  Love 'em!

My Littlest Helper

Why Do We Have Toys?

At almost any given time, if you stop in at our house, this is what you will find!  

Since When?

...are you big enough to do this?  You are 11 months old now and speeding toward your first birthday.  But in my mind, you should still be snuggled in the cradle.  The months are speeding away.

Btw. That stand-up-in-your-crib-and-cry thing that you do at nap and bedtime cause you can't figure out how to sit down?  You can learn how to "get down" by yourself any old time you please.  Thank you.

Cracked Wheat French Baguettes and Rabbit Trail Thoughts

 I discovered something about myself today.  I think I use baking as a way to ignore the fact that I need to be doing something else.  Bread is way more inviting than laundry or cleaning, right?  And my family needs to have something to eat.  Who wants to get out the vacuum when the kitchenaid is more fun?

Anyway, I tried a new recipe today.

After a sweet honeymoon in the Canadian Rockies {some 13 1/2 yrs ago. gasp!}where the restaurants seemed to all have delicious bread, the two of us have a love for the perfect crispy-on-the-outside-yet-soft-on-the-inside bread.  Maybe it was the fact that we were on our honeymoon that made the bread so yummy?  

I've never mastered the perfect recipe, but I haven't exactly tried too hard either.  This recipe caught my eye. Since I had laundry and cleaning calling my name, I got right to baking bread. 

Letting the yeast work it's magic.  Except I don't put stock in magic.  As a side note, I bought this towel at the flea market.  While shopping with my sister-in-law and her 6 {or so} month old triplets.  Now that is an interesting day.  Getting stopped every 5 minutes to be asked if they are twins and answering "No, they're triplets. The third girl is right over there."  Speaking of laundry, my one baby causes enough laundry.  Can't imagine the piles she had with the girls.  Oh?  We're talking about bread, not laundry?  Sorry.

The recipe says to store uncut bread uncovered at room temp.  So our baguettes await.  The final verdict is out until tonight.  Will they pass the scrutiny?

And since it currently looks like this outside, I think I need to go make some soup to go along with them. 

Or do that laundry and cleaning. 

And why do alot of my posts have to do with food?  That must say something about me :)

High Chair Remodel

Our high chair was in serious need of a remodel.  It has been well used...

 ...obviously!

 I had decided awhile ago that it needed redone..(months ago when it hit me we would be having a baby who would eventually need a high chair!)  I'm not too fast with executing some of my ideas.  It ended up being harder than I thought.  I'll never admit to using my hot glue gun in some places rather than my sewing machine.  wait. did I just say that on a public blog? :)

And the sweetest part?  My dear 8 month old son who gets to use it!

Girlie, Girlie!

12 hrs. old...my twelfth niece...Miss Polly

Checking her out

I have a feeling these two cousins will do a little picking on her!

Miss Polly's next oldest siblings...do you think she'll get any lovin'?

Where is the Time Going?

7 Months

~almost sitting~rolling,rolling,rolling~ nose bulldozing..trying to get somewhere~liking his "big boy" food an awful lot~full of smiles~

Five Months Today

Five Months and much loved!

Did You Hear My Thankful Squeals?

'Cause this baby slept from 10:30-6:00 last night! Whoo-Hooo!

Our Newest Blessing

A gift from God

We are praising around our house...

We have a new little one to snuggle...

Healthy baby boy...

Safe delivery...

Baby Liam, 5 lb. 9 oz, 19 in. long...

God is Good!

Blessing from Above

Which will it be..

Pink or Blue?

Check back in March,

And we'll tell you!

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord...

Psalm 127:3

Family Night

I think these two pictures scream anticipation of being old enough to do this:

(Not sure this is a safe way to play on a trampoline!)

Inside Picnic - talk about cheesy smiles! (I guess I did say "SAY CHEESE!" They were extrememly obedient!)

Sweet Cousins

Grandma with her arms full!

Christmas Celebration

Stocking Stuffers...all wrapped and ready to go!

Trent and I both got a chance to hold all 3 baby nieces at once. What a sweet armful! They were good as gold the whole time. (how good is gold anyway, and where did that saying come from?!?) If you notice..they aren't even unbundled yet. That about tells you how long they were there before we were begging to hold them!

I think the girls were quite pleased with new dresses for their dolls.

Amazing how the boxes are sometimes just as fun as the new toys!


BigM's first 'real' Legos. All we have had are duplos. Now we are graduating up to lots of little pieces. If he spends as much time as his daddy did playing with them...he will be one contented child.

As I contemplate Christmas, I have to wonder if we sometimes miss the meaning. Ok. Yes, we miss it alot. Our children are excited and thankful for their new toys. Are we excited and thankful about the gift we have been given? Jesus Christ...a gift to all the world....Savior of the world. Are we excited when we wake in the morning about our gift? Do we want to tell others?

Sometimes I think gift giving gets tedious....and overdone. And I wonder if it causes us to lose our focus. If somehow we could show and teach our children by the giving of gifts that a much greater and most important gift was given to each of us. That Christmas isn't about toys and food.

It is about Jesus...My Savior. Given as a gift to me. And to You! Are you thankful for your Christmas gift?

3 Sweet Blessings

What an amazing miracle and surprise for Christmas! Three healthy babies!



Baby A - 5 lb 13 oz



Baby B - 6 lb 7 oz



Baby C - 5 lb 15 oz

Yes! There are three babies. I am now an eyewitness! They are sweet as ever. I didn't get much more than a peek at them.....I'm so anxious now for a chance to get my hands on them!