Copycat

 

From the looks of this picture, you would think we've spent our summer teaching the 2 year old to read!  But no, he just models what he sees.  I feel like my mom when I say for the umpteenth time, "Please put your book down and eat!"  I wanted to have children that liked to read.  But at this rate, they'll be hiding in the bathroom...reading in front of the wall heater to avoid being put to work.  Just like their mother someone used to do!

Love

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

Sugar Snack

The children kept saying, "I'm bored"  and "I don't have anything to do!"

So I put them to making cookies.. without my help. 

They did a pretty good job working together.  And the result?  Yummy!

{recipe here}

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.

Somehow He Knew...

...in his 4 year old heart...that this construction paper cross...placed by my bedside...would mean alot to me. 

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:2

Our Florida Trip in a Nutshell

 Fun on Grandpa's Swing

 Strawberry Shortcake on the Patio Table

 Fun in the Sand

 Testing the waters

 Visit to the Alligator Farm

 Praying.  Oh wait, I think they're snoozing!

Visit to the market to bring some freshness home!



Birthday Parade

All of our children's birthdays fall from the middle of January to the first part of March~  It's one big party bash for a few weeks around here!

 

 No picture of the Lego cake allowed.  It was quite disastrous, looking a lot more like some cheap off brand of building blocks rather than the much-loved Lego.  {What 7 year old boy doesn't like Legos?}

And my attempt at a lower sugar cake for the family members that prefer not to eat too much sugar was pretty much a bust too.  Chalk it up to experience~A birthday cake is just better if it's unhealthy!

He liked the lamb, and managed to destroy most of its face.  {note~it's not a great idea to let a one year old cram his mouth FULL of cake.  yikes!}

And this one tells a story.  He is quite pleased to be four, although he keeps asking when he'll be five??!  We sang to him when we were in Florida.  He didn't have a cake or candle yet, but we sang anyway.  He sang along through the whole song, then smiled and leaned over and blew out his pretend candle, and then leaned his head back and let out an adorable giggle!   

And my oldest.  Ten Years Old.  TEN! 

I could say that "time flies when you're having fun" but that's an overused cliche.  It is true that time flies, though.  And she's growing up.  Fast!



Like Father, Like Son(s)

Sunday afternoon Naps

Sunday evening popcorn ~ and the little guy was eating it {little pieces!} almost as fast as Daddy!

I just couldn't resist a picture of the plumbers pants.  He just couldn't seem to keep his pants on :)

Ticket to Ride

This game is a favorite at our house right now.  The box says for ages 8+, but if a child can read, he/she can play this game.  It's also fun for adults...just enough strategy to keep "game-players" like my husband interested, but not too hard for "not game-players" like me. :) 

Thanksgiving 2010

Pumpkin Cheesecake...oooohh..la..laaa.. 

Baby L ~ 9.5 months

Need a babysitter?  Buy a Droid!

Pesto Chicken Pizza

Spread pesto on this crust. Or any recipe that you like.

Saute some onions and peppers...this wasn't quite enough for a 15 in. pizza.

Layer peppers and onions, chicken, fresh tomato slices, feta.
I've made this twice. We really like it the first time, the second time it seemed dry. Maybe it was the smallish amount of peppers and onions that made it seem that way. I will try it again.

We got to enjoy a birthday/pizza night with her. (and the rest of hubby's family too, of course!) Now that she lives in a seems-like-forever-away state, the opportunity doesn't come often enough.

She made a similar pizza..I think the fresh mushrooms would be delicious.

Applesauce

Thanks to my mother for offering her house and help..to my sister for her willingness to endure a day of my son picking on her son...to my in-laws for generously sharing their apples...and most of all to God for growing the fruit..I am so blessed!

My mom doing what she called the "grandma job"!

Not able to wait for the sauce!

Our littlest helper... 4 1/2 months

We stopped counting somewhere around 40 quart. Not sure how many apples we started with and not sure how much sauce we each ended up with...but I AM SURE that we have enough applesauce in the freezer to last through the winter.

(Sorry, H, that I don't have any pictures of you working...either you didn't work or your daughter thought you weren't interesting, since she took all the pics!)

Fourth Fun

{Exploring the woods along "grandpa's" river}

{Who knows how many Oreo's}

{Sparklers that grandma found tucked away in the cupboard}

{..and a picture of the box they came in...just cause I thought they were neat!}

{Croquet}

{Lots of bubbles with the cousins}

We had an old-fashioned picnic down by the river. Fried Chicken..Potato Salad..Watermelon..and Brownies.

We did go into town to watch fireworks. No camera, No pictures!

Happy Ninth!

Yes, this is a belated birthday wish for my oldest. Our life is pretty busy... new baby..school..funeral this week...and I just plain forgot about a blog post!

Here she is..... 7lb 4oz of sweetness!

Her birthday gift.

Another birthday at our house! L turned 9. {halfway to 18...yikes!}

Her favorite activities: Paint. sew. craft. read. dolls.

She has always liked to play with her dolls. Now she is starting to like to make things for her dolls, rather than just play "house" all of the time.

She always has her nose in a book in any spare time. I find myself saying things to her that my mom said to me: "Please don't read at the table" and "No, you can't finish the book before you do your chores."

She is a good big sister to her 3 brothers, and a great help to me.

Happy {belated!} Birthday, Sweet Daughter!

Nostalgia at Naptime

I'm feeling a little sad/nostalgic. My baby is closing in on 3 weeks old already. Time seems to be moving at lightning speed. I'm really trying to focus and enjoy each day AND each night time feeding.

And my 3 year old? No longer wants my help to get to bed for his nap. He likes to close his door and crawl up on his bed without me. When did he get so big?

I'm Three!

Three years ago, we were blessed with our second son.......

He was a very easy, content baby. Set his own eating/sleeping schedule and just easily transitioned to sleeping all night. His first protest to life was when we decided it was time for him to stop sucking his thumb!

He's my dark brown eye, blond hair sweetie! At three, he's just beginning to talk alot...and I think his favorite thing to say is "Mommy, wook {look}!" He's full of energy and likes to sing...although he sings whole songs on tune, he only gets a few of the words. His latest songs are: Here I Am to Worship {I really don't know when/where he heard that one!} , Jingle Bells, and Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday to You, LittleM!

Birthday Breakfast

So today is my birthday. {31st..to be exact!} My dear family cooked up a scheme to surprise me with breakfast. And I would have been still snoozing while they fixed it, but it happened to time to feed the baby. So I sat in the rocking chair and pretended that it was normal for my daughter and husband to be sneaking around in the kitchen at 6:30 in the morning!

My two biggest boys - waiting patiently

The chefs - sweet daughter with the idea, sweet husband with the kindness to help her pull it off!

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes - they sure know what kind of recipe this mama would pick!

Complete with a gift of bubble bath - they do know what I like !

This little plaque was tucked down in the gift...it has the verse John 16:24 which says:

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

I decided to put it on the little stand beside my bed. Because I'm sure that the time is quickly coming that when I hear a cry in the night I will groan {big-time} and wish I could stay snuggled in my warm covers. {speaking from experience..this isn't the first time I've had a newborn!} So I put it there to remind me to ask the Lord for strength, love and patience when I crawl out of bed, again, to care for our sweet baby.

So it has been a special start to my day. I have a family that loves me. Oh that I can show God's love to them as I care for their needs.

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!