Nitchfield News

Finally Done!

2012-01-26T13:29:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to post a before picture, because I'm sure you all can imagine what an absolutely plain green stocking looks like. Over the last few nights I've taken time to finally embellish Stephen's stocking. I chose a crown shape since Stephen's name means "Crowned", and since Christmas is the birthday of the King. It also happens to be an easy shape for the artistically challenged to draw. ;-) I'm quite happy with the end result - cute, but still masculine looking. So there you have it! Now it's time to put away those last, few lingering decorations . . .

Learning Something New.

2012-01-23T11:58:00.000-08:00

One of my Christmas gifts has allowed me to delve into the world of Digital Scrapbooking - and I'm having so much fun! I've always loved the idea of scrapbooking, but the practicalities of it have put it out of my reach. There's the expense, the storage, and how in the world would I get out and put away all that stuff in the limited times I have when the kids are up?

Well, with digital scrabooking, I can do (and store) everything right on my computer. Plus, there are a lot of great free kits out there, and all the "materials" are re-usable! I've had some varicose vein problems this pregnancy, and it's given me something very fun to do while I'm keeping my feet up in the evenings/nap times.

So, for my show and tell, here are two pages I've done while learning how to use everything - one with Honeymoon pictures and one from last winter. I still have a lot to learn, but I do know enough to have a lot of fun!

Old Fashioned Fun

2012-01-16T08:42:00.000-08:00

These are some pictures I didn't get up in December. Here's the story:
For the past several years Kyle has been talking about getting a train to go around the Christmas tree. He's priced different models, shopped on e-bay, and generally looked around for a long time.

Last summer, the topic came up when Kyle was talking with a gentleman from town. He said he had an old train that had been sitting around for twenty some years that we could have. Sure enough, a few weeks before Christmas he brought it over.

At first we talked about putting it up on Christmas Eve - I didn't want to have to play Train Police for too long! But Kyle wanted to get to enjoy it longer. We ended up putting it up a week before Christmas, but only putting the train on the track when Kyle was home in the morning or evening. It worked out perfectly!

The kids were entranced, especially our little cow-on-the-tracks-Stephen. Best of all, being an older model, the train actually played real Christmas songs! Things like "Angels We have Heard on High", "Silent Night" and "The First Noel". Bet you won't find songs like those on modern Christmas, oops, I mean, Holiday trains.

Anyway, it was a fun treat for us all, and the train is definately getting a second life of enjoyment!

Something new for the New Year

2012-01-11T20:26:00.000-08:00

It is with great amazement that I present to you a recipe from . . . me! I'm not one of those innovative - in - the - kitchen types, so it's pretty exciting to come up with my own recipe, even if it's only soup. This one came about when I was throwing together a vegetable soup for supper. I had in the sausage (in our case, venison sausage) and veggies, but it just lacked something. Then it occurred to me that everything in the pot went well with . . . cheese! And since my Mom makes a fabulous corn chowder with cheese in it, I knew that adding it in was, in fact, possible. So here you have it:

Cheesy Sausage Soup

1 onion, chopped
5 small potatoes, chopped
2 sliced carrots
1 C. frozen green beans
1 small summer sausage
2 C. chicken broth
2 C. water
1 can corn
1-1 & 1/2 C. grated cheddar cheese
Boil first seven ingredients until tender, about 45 min. Add canned corn and allow to warm. Turn heat down to simmer and add cheese, stirring in a little at a time. For best results, eat during cold weather.

And because I always like a post better if it has a picture . . .

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! (Pass the chicken soup, please.)

2012-01-05T17:31:00.000-08:00

Yep, we've had lots of good times over the Christmas season. Cookies were baked and eaten - especially eaten - gifts were exchanged, family was visited and the hours were sometimes late. Not surprisingly, after all this carousing we now have colds. ALL of us. So we're back snuggled in at home with the Vicks-VapoRub and homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. Life could be worse.

Here's some things I'm thankful for at the moment:

-Kiddos are still sleeping fairly well. Makes a big difference.

-A well stocked pantry. I've been able to put off that big grocery run for several days now til it's not so cold and we're feeling better.

-New Christmas toys to play with and new books to read. :-)

-A Special Someone who brought me Dark Chocolate M&Ms. What a guy!

Seasonal Stuff.

2011-12-19T18:58:00.000-08:00

"The Virgin Mary had a _____ ___."

So did her cousin Elizabeth, come to think of it.

I guess we're just keeping with the season. 'Cause we're having one too! :-)

Cabin: Indoors

2011-12-17T06:45:00.000-08:00

You can't stay outside all the time when you're in Wisconsin in late October. Never fear, there's lots to do inside!
Checking out the new - old - toys. I remember playing with some of these!

Eat. We love to eat.

Laugh, tell stories, read books and try on hats.

Play games. Lots of games! Believe it or not, this was the serious picture. We got in a couple of rounds of Acquire. I'm pretty sure I won this one.

Alaina learning our family's traditional cabin game, "Wahoo!". Grandpa Bud made the game board from a spare piece of counter top, and we never go home without playing at least one round. Thanks for making it happen, guys. It was SO much fun!

Cabin: Boating

2011-12-16T18:24:00.000-08:00

Perhaps if it would snow around here, I would have something a little more Christmasy to post. As it is, here are some more pictures from our fall trip to the cabin. We made it out onto the lake!

But first, some hot cocoa to make sure we stay warm.

Learning to coordinate their rowing . . .

And we're off! It was cold and windy, but very exciting!

Our two man-power motor. At least this motor didn't get dropped in the lake! But that's another story for another time.

I love sharing these simple joys!

Cabin (but no fever)

2011-12-07T15:10:00.001-08:00

Here's another excursion from the archives. I hadn't been up to my Grandparents cabin since Alaina got her first tooth. So we planned a mini vacation after Kyle's busiest time of the summer was over.

We all had a wonderful time just getting away together! The kids were thrilled with the fun change of scene.

Nothing like Dads and Uncles for rousting out a little fun!

Looks like it's time to get that boat out on the water, huh?

T.G.P.P. Part Two

2011-12-03T06:22:00.000-08:00

Back in the Pumpkin Patch. There was way more there than I could capture on camera!
Have you ever seen so many varieties of squash before?

A little break from the walking. They did a good job at providing seating here and there.

Outgoing Alaina got one of the caretakers to take a break with her. He asked her how old she was. Her answer? "Seven and a half."

???????????

He didn't fall for it.

Each of the kids selected a prize specimen for us to take home.

All worn out after a fun afternoon!

We're Baaaaack!

2011-12-01T17:55:00.000-08:00

Prepare yourself for a picture blitz - we've got a lot of catching up to do! We'll start with our fun fall outing - the Great Pumpkin Patch. It seems a bit wrong to put up pictures like this on December 1st . . . oh well.

I'd never been before, but I think it might have to become an annual trip.

Alaina loved the little child maze (they had bigger ones that we didn't attempt). She could have played there for an hour!

Our apologies to Ken Ham. Here we are in front of the very in-authentic ark. It was cute though!

The animals were a great favorite with Stephen. We could hardly drag him away from these ducks!

Kyle had the idea to come and really made it happen, and I'm so glad he did! It's a rare outing that really is fun for all ages and this place fit the bill.

Everywhere you turned there was some thing fun, interesting or fall/decor inspiring!

Stay tuned for part two!

An Interesting Post Without Pictures

2011-11-14T05:40:00.000-08:00

Alas, still cordless here. However, the lack of pictures on the blog for - how long has it been? - allows me to share some interesting stuff. Something that you might have figured out yourself if you had been able to see pictures of the past, say, four to six weeks. You can mull that clue over for a minute if you'd like.

So, what do extra naps, compression socks, folic acid, giving up jogging and the date May 1, 2012 have to do with each other? They all stem from the fact that we are fifteen weeks along with our darling Child Number Three! My computer doesn't make a happy face big enough for how thrilled we all are! Alaina is looking forward to having a baby in the house, and thinks it is a new brother, no, new sister, no - well, she's happy about the baby. Stephen, of course, is to little to know anything, but he is happy and busy with new words, new teeth and his beloved cars. And we (we, being Kyle and I) are letting the happiness sink in.

Baby and I are both doing well - again no sickness. I can't say how grateful I am that I get to enjoy being pregnant - and I do enjoy it! What a blessing. We're about a month away from a sonogram, so you've got time to get in your guesses. We did get a hint - maybe - from the heartbeat at this last visit, but I don't want to prejudice your votes. I will just say that Kyle and I have both been thinking girl, Alaina changes her opinion from time to time, and I have not heard from the rest of the family.

So, post your guesses, and maybe by the time we have the sonogram, I'll be able to post pictures.
:-)

Here's the Deal

2011-10-31T11:47:00.000-07:00

Hi all! You may be wondering why I have not posted in so long. You would really be wondering if you could see all the fun pictures that are sitting on my camera. Unfortunately, I left my camera cord elsewhere, so I can't get pictures from my camera to my laptop. Somehow, It's just not as inspiring to post without pictures, especially as this tends to be a picture-heavy blog. Thus, the lack of updates.

Just thought I'd let you know what's going on. I'll try to come up with an interesting post sometime soon - pictures, or no pictures! In the meantime, happy fall everyone!

14 months

2011-10-14T07:38:00.001-07:00

It's so fun to watch Stephen become more and more interactive! I have not been as good about getting pictures of him (surprise, surprise), so when he was outside "helping Daddy" at lunch time the other day, I thought I'd better get a few shots.

He loves to play outside! Flowers, rocks, balls, leaves, there is just no end of interesting play things.

He also loves the animals! He can say "kitty" (or something like that) and has this little noise that he makes for the chickens.

He's as sweet as can be, but all growling, running, figure-it-out boy!

Trial and Tribulations

2011-09-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

No, not my trials and tribulations, that was the name of the second event at the Pioneer Village. Our town was the site of the only trial in which Lincoln represented a slave owner, and it seems to have been a turning point for him.
Anticipation! The trial took place in 1847, so I got to make a 1840s dress for myself. I love the '40s, such a classic and flattering period.

Back in the schoolhouse again. The whole village was alive with reenactors, and the kids added a lot of life to the scene. And they were great fun to be with as well!

A different view of my dress, which, because of unforeseen life circumstances, I ended up making in 5 days instead of the planned for two weeks. Not something I hope ever to do again! I could have pulled that off with ease when I was single, but let's just say I'm still not ready to look at my sewing machine yet. I hope to have recovered in another week or two. Or three.

We had a lot of free time in the afternoon just to talk to the other reenactors and enjoy ourselves - and we did! Kyle came out and we had a little date afternoon. It was SO much fun.

We really enjoyed the reenactment of the trial - very interesting and well done. Do you see that bonnet in the midst of the crowd? I loved some of the other outfits! (Should have taken more pictures.)

At the end of the day, Kyle brought the kids out, and here we are with Mark, Lauren and the horse. Truth to tell, fun as it was I was very glad to see my little people again. We went around and looked at everything together. Just a fun, fun day, and well worth the crash that came afterwards - I really needed that nap. I'm so blessed to have an understanding and indulgent husband!

Anyway, it was fun!

Brush Arbor

2011-09-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

It might be a bit confusing, but there were two events at the same location in the past two months. Both involved dressing up, and both were very fun! The first was and old fashioned Brush Arbor meeting.

In the mid 1800s people would construct a building, or arbor, out of brush to house a visiting pastor for a series of meetings. In late July all our local churches worked together to host a weekend of evening meetings, and on one afternoon they had different reenactors at the Independence Village just north of town, showing how early American culture was impacted by the Bible.

Haley and I were delighted to pitch in and plan some things for the kids. They got to interview the barber/undertaker . . .

. . . and watch the blacksmith at work! He was quite a character, and very fun to talk with. We also made a stop at the jail and the general store.

Haley and I led the kids in a round of croquet, and we also had old fashioned games for them to try. Corn hole toss, string games, graces, marbles, checkers, a clothes pin game and stilts were among the activities available.

We also studied a bit from the New England Primer and wound up with a mini spelling bee. The kids were delightful to work with and, although the afternoon started out quite hot, we girls loved dressing up! It was a really fun weekend!

Just Life

2011-09-19T05:56:00.000-07:00

Stephen is staggering around everywhere now, and quite thrilled with his new skill. It's so fun to be big!

Something fun to do with and Aunt. Like those lips?

Fresh pears and apples - must be time for a smoothie! It's getting fairly cool now, so that might be the last one for a while.

I'm not sure why this one is turned, but Alaina decided she should take her nap on the piano bench. Had to snap a picture . . .

Happy Monday everyone!

A Word from the Socialites

2011-09-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

It's been so long since we've posted! I guess we've been a bit worn out by all the daily busyness.

We have been having fun with company lately. We just finished a wonderful visit with the G. family, which inspired lots of good cooking on Kyle's part.

Alaina and Stephen loved the extra attention from Jaimie! (Thanks guys for coming down - let's do it again!)

I have also been working like crazy on a sewing project - there should be lots of fun pictures to share soon.

Happy lovely, fall Thursday!

Haley's Here!

2011-08-30T14:39:00.000-07:00

We've had her, all to ourselves, for almost a week now!

Are we having fun, you ask?

Oh yes, we're having fun!

Down on the Farm

2011-08-27T06:39:00.000-07:00

On our last trip down, we stopped at an orchard to buy fresh peaches (boy have they been good, and you should taste Kyle's Strawberry Peach Jam!).

We got a little ice cream to share with the kiddos too.

It was the perfect summers-day event!

Sittin' out with Grandma.

And eating sweets with Grandpa!

Somehow there ended up being a lot of ice cream on this trip. Ah well, it is summer!

He's Walking!

2011-08-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

All of a sudden, on Aug 18th (was that a week ago?) Stephen started walking. Four to seven steps at a time, walking! (The pictures are from his birthday.)

He's getting quite proficient now, staggering all over the house and all tickled with himself.

It's so strange to look around and see your baby's head about a foot higher than where your used to seeing it! Sure is fun though!

Gettin' Girly

2011-08-18T13:19:00.000-07:00

Last year's visit by my cousins was interrupted by Stephen's birth, ten days early! This year we really got to enjoy being together, without any surprises. ;-)
We did a lot of fun girl stuff together - there was a lot of talking, music and yummy food - and I finally got to try out something I thought would make a fun group craft. Can you tell what it was?

Flower pins! Very easy to make, and sew fun to wear that we had to model them all! Thank you ladies for taking time out to spend with us. I just can't say how lovely it was!

Mid-summer Yummies!

2011-08-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

With most of our yard flowers ending their season and the summer produce coming on, I've been as busy in the kitchen as ever. And while the finished product isn't quite as pretty and blog-worthy, it sure is tasty!

Summer Dresses

2011-08-13T07:44:00.000-07:00

Bright colored dresses . . .

. . . for bright, shining faces!

I raided my stash of bright swatches to make coordinating dresses for Alaina and her good friend Madeline.

They were so fun to plan and make! I loved the look of the apron on Madeline's dress . . .

. . . and the silly kittys and green ruffle on Alaina's.

I got them done just in time for Madeline's party - the first birthday party Alaina has ever attended. Can you tell she was excited?

A race well run.

2011-08-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

Grandpa Bud Lainio - October 26th, 1925-July 24th, 2011I'm grateful for:

-trips for ice cream

-games he never just let me win

-serious talks

-patient instruction on how to ride a bike

-unexpected humor

-vacations together (long and short)

-knowing the correct way to spell Mississippi (Capital "M")

-love, encouragement, and countless hours of time.

How blessed I have been by the time and love invested in me by all four of my Grandparents!

The Big Number 1!

2011-08-02T11:40:00.000-07:00

What delight this little man brings into our lives! He is such a sweet, happy little fellow, and all boy (he mostly speaks in growls, at the moment). What a long way he has come in a year, huh?

Today, we are thanking God for the gift of Stephen!

The Forth (part 2)

2011-07-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

What better July activity than swimming, right?

Stephen enjoyed himself a lot - especially when he got out of the water!

The menfolk took Alaina to see the local parade - she was most impressed by the dogs someone standing near by had brought along!

Happy Birthday America!

Jolly July

2011-07-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from our July 4th weekend. We had fireworks (late night showing, so only adults went), home fireworks and sparklers, some music some games and LOTS of food!

The menu included kabobs, fresh cherries, homemade ice cream, BLTs, corn on the cob, root beer floats, Kyle's nachos, oatmeal cookies, watermelon, biscuits and gravy, and triple chocolate cake.

Yes, you should be drooling.

We had a blast! Sorry, couldn't resist. And we really did.

S.C 9 mo. pt 2

2011-07-18T05:46:00.000-07:00

Or we could just call it a Monday dose of cuteness!

Happy Monday!

Flowers for the Fourth.

2011-07-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

I finally broke down and bought some flowers - I needed some red! But carnations last for ages, their snuggled up with some roses on my table at the moment.

Stephen's 9 month pictures

2011-07-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally have his pictures. No fault of Elisha, our excellent photographer - she had the pictures ready right away. We've just been out of town so much, and when I was finally ready to get them, her family was sick, and I didn't want to risk it! Anyway, here they are, and aren't they darling?

I was hoping for a good picture of his snaggle tooth! He's got his four front ones now.

Laughing at Mommy. We did these at church, and you can tell that Stephen felt very comfortable in the familiar surroundings.

I'll put some more up later this week, but I'm so pleased with these, I just had to share right away!

Latest Stitches

2011-07-09T01:28:00.000-07:00

Fresh from the sewing machine. I love making these!

My computer's winning again (thus, it stays sideways), but I do like the back.

No, I didn't sew his clothes, but doesn't he look like a natural driver, handling rush hour with unruffled calm? Just had to stick this one in here. ;-)

Before He left . . .

2011-07-08T01:36:00.000-07:00

. . . for his new job in Uganda, we got to spend a couple of days with Uncle Andrew, and also see most of the rest of the family. From the pictures I remembered to take, you'd think we spent the whole time looking at picture books!

Actually, we had a lovely picnic and got to look at lots of pictures, chat, etc. but I was too busy having fun to take pictures! Andrew, we're glad you get to come home so often, and we're praying for you as you start this new adventure. I had SUCH a good time!

Sugar & Spice

2011-07-07T01:25:00.000-07:00

This is what I did with the last roses of the summer.

I'm glad Kyle didn't mind having these on his dining room table for about a week. ;-)

Father's Day Surprise

2011-07-06T08:03:00.000-07:00

Wow, how did we get so far behind? I'll have to do some catch up blogging this week, since we have lots of pictures of our fun times.

We ran down for a surprise visit with Kyle's folks for Father's Day. We had such a nice visit!

Alaina especially enjoyed her time with Papi. She loves being his "sweetie-pie" and sharing little games with him.

No one else makes hats so fun!

2011-07-04T00:31:00.000-07:00

Something Happy

2011-06-30T00:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a little happy something I made about two of weeks ago to take down to my Mother-in-love.

Those regal lillies smelled so good!

Summer Evenings

2011-06-29T07:22:00.001-07:00

Reading books.
Riding together. (Oh how they love to do things together!)

Helping Daddy settle the chickens.

Won't be long before we're eating these! Good thing they are only cute when they are little. ;-)

Midnight and moonlight

2011-06-27T05:48:00.000-07:00

Here is something I've been waiting to do using our roses, lillies, purple cone flower, cardinal bush, wildflowers and dark lettuce! It's fun to see how many different color schemes can be found in the yard. ;-)

Happy Monday!

Big Stuff

2011-06-22T06:21:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a ride with Daddy!

Yes, the first picture is sideways.

2011-06-18T08:30:00.000-07:00

I could tell you why, but it's a long frustrating story, so let's just say the computer won. Oh brother! However, if you tilt your head, you can see two little arrangements I did last month. I was so pleased how the colors looked with my blue ball jar!

Even earlier in May, Kyle's mini iris was in bloom and I put together this bunch from the "yarden" (yard and garden).

You can't see it very well, but there are actually two shades of iris in there. They really took off this year - great fun!

Patchy Spring Dress

2011-06-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest project from my sewing table - something pretty and easy!

My Aunt Kay cleaned out her fabric stash and sent it to her sewing relations. When I saw these blocks left over from a quilt, I couldn't pass them up - the fabrics were so pretty!

Together with a few other scraps from the stash, there was just enough to make a tiny dress - with hardly any left over!

The fabric was so nice to work with and the pattern was as simple as can be, which made it such a fun project!

This is definitely a dress I'll make again, just for the simple joy of it. I can't wait to see how it looks with the bright swatches I have!

Thank you Aunt Kay for sharing! Now, what shall I make next . . .

Happy Days

2011-06-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

Remember this little shot with the babies from last year? Well, my dearly beloved friends, the G. and K. families, came to the Convention last week and stayed for a few absolutely wonderful days! It was SUCH FUN to get to visit!
Here are the babies this year:

No matchmaking comments, please. They will marry who the Lord has for them, and it probably won't be each other, so just relax and enjoy the cuteness!

My little girl had so much fun with Shelby and Celene! It was fun to see the dynamics this year, since they have such an expanded ability to imagine and pretend.

The girls played so kindly and patiently with Alaina, who thoroughly enjoyed herself. (She is still talking to Celene and Shelby on her pretend cell phone.) Hopefully Stephen's interest in Ginetta won't be quite so dangerous next time! (Another baby! Can I eat it?) Thank you so much for making the trip out! Spending time with you all was such a treat, I enjoyed it more than I can say. I'm so grateful for such a friendship!

Today

2011-06-11T14:17:00.000-07:00

We're back from a wonderful trip to the ICHE State Convention, and a visit to my folks house with some very dear friends, so there's lots of updating to do. For now, I thought I'd stick up some pictures from today, just for fun.

Kyle brought me some lovely flowers from the yard last night, and this is what I did with them. Don't the just say "Summer"? It could use a few more roses, but I have to wait until the sun turns them the right shade of pink.

The roses were a wedding gift (thanks again, Mrs. Capp!) and the rest of the flowers were grown or transplanted by my Beloved.

We are right in the middle of strawberry season (Yea!), and we had five HUGE bowls full to process last night. Kyle started in (he'd already put three gallons in the freezer by himself) and I asked if I should help with the strawberries or play with the flowers. He told me to arrange the flowers because he wanted to see what they would look like when I was done. :-) I love that man.

Here is Little Blossom with the flowers she picked for me, all by herself. Last night I noticed her at the table messing around. Unbeknown to me, she had picked me some fresh clover, and was taking out the dead dandelions she had gotten last week and was trying to put the new flowers in! I think she learned it from her Daddy. I am a blessed woman!

Little Man Takes a Stand

2011-05-24T15:25:00.000-07:00

These pictures are from the beginning of the month. I walked into the living room one morning, and this is what I saw.

The 9-month-old had learned to climb! He loves to look out the window, and it is one of the first things he does every morning.

Another first (today) would be Alaina's asking "Why?". That will be the first of many, I'm sure!

Would you believe . . .

2011-05-23T01:19:00.000-07:00

. . . that these exotic little beauties are all blooming in our yard, right here in the Cornfield Midwest? I'm enjoying the artistry God placed in these tiny, perfectly designed machines. What a delight!

We're back!

2011-05-20T11:14:00.001-07:00

Computer problems are solved (whew!). It's going to be a busy weekend for us, but I'll take time to put up a long, picture-ful post soon. Just wanted to say hi!

Oh, one funny little thing. Alaina was singing about the fruit of the Spirit the other day, and said, ". . . kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-fulness!" Hmm, I don't think I need the help of the Holy Spirit to display that last one!

May the Lord help you have a less "self-ful" day! ;-)

2011-05-09T07:20:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends and Family! We're having computer problems, so there will not be much new here for a bit. Check back in a week or two. Happy May to you all!

A Modern Nosegay

2011-04-29T01:52:00.000-07:00

Am I enjoying the bounty of our yard? Yes, very much! This time I decided to go for a more modern look with bright and frosty greens and a mix of texture. The wrapped stems make it look like a miniature bridesmaid's bouquet!

I used violets of different shades, road weeds, mailbox weeds, and front-of-yard wild flowers. Thankfully those lovely, fuzzy leaves did not leave me full of tiny stickers, as I feared at first. Whew!

"If God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you?" - Matt 6:30

Easter Fun and Joy

2011-04-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

It seems like over the years Easter has gathered a lot of fluff that can either serve as fun family-time or a way to hide from the significance of Jesus' death and return to life. I enjoy the fun of egg dying and hunting, making pretty treats, etc. as long as they don't obscure the real joy of Easter. (Although I have to say that my best Easter ever didn't have much of the fluff. It was spent at the graveside of Elizabeth Barton, my childhood best friend, and that day I understood and experienced the joy of Christ's work on the cross at a whole new level. I will never forget it.)

This happened to be a year when we made time for some of the fun activities and when I have taken more time meditating on the cross than normal, so here are some pictures of our fun, along with a quote that captures my meditations and my joy.

"Because Jesus was filled with horror and cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" we are filled with wonder and cry, "My God, my God, why have you accepted me?"

Because Jesus cried, "Father, forgive!" the taunts we hurled at Him at the cross are transformed into praise for His generous mercy.
Because Jesus said, "I thirst," we can drink from the fountain of living water and never thirst again.

Because Jesus said, "Woman, behold your son" and felt the pain of separation from His earthly family, we can experience the blessing of being united with a heavenly family.
Because Jesus cried, "It is finished!" our new life can begin.

Because Jesus committed His spirit into the Father’s hands, God commits His Spirit into our hearts." - Counterfeit Gospels by Trevin Wax

Happy Resurrection Day!

2011-04-24T03:23:00.000-07:00

"Because He lives, all fear is gone!"

An Old Fashioned Nosegay

2011-04-21T02:40:00.000-07:00

Since February I've been hankering after flowers in the worst sort of way. When Kyle thoughtfully brought me daffodils, I feasted my eyes on them down to the last bit of green. Now that yard flowers are here, I'm indulging myself in various table and windowsill displays.

Exhibit A is a nosegay of violets, framed in their own glossy leaves. We have an abundance of these little beauties, mostly growing in an area that is supposed to be Rocks Only. However, it's difficult to kill off something which is irresistible in of itself, aside from fond associations and practical value.

That's right, practical value. Did you know that violets are edible? That makes them perfect for Flowered Ice Cubes! Wash your violets, put them in half filled ice cube trays and freeze. When they are frozen, fill the trays the rest of the way, which will trap the flowers in the middle of the cube.

"The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Is 40:8

Meditations: A Divine Contrast

2011-04-15T14:30:00.000-07:00

It's been interesting reading a biography along with a study of the life of Christ (see reading list below). Fanny Crosby, the blind author of Blessed Assurance and over 3,000 other hymns, was remarkable in many ways. Her steady faith in God, begun in childhood and renewed as an adult, and her cheerful acceptance of the difficulties of her life make her a role model in many respects. She worried her friends with her generosity, giving freely both of her money and her poetic talents. She had a passion for helping anyone in need and right up into old age when her writing days were over, she continued to be active, wherever she could give a hand.

Fanny Crosby also had some glaring flaws which mar the beauty of her life. As in any other honest biography, there are mistakes, controversies, wrong decisions or sins that make the reader cringe in reluctant sympathy with the faults we all share as humans.

What a glorious contrast to study the life of Christ! Jesus never asked for forgiveness, (something which would be a weakness in any other man) because he never wronged anyone. He had no need to retract or revise anything he said. There is no taint of self in anything he did (how different from me!). He shows perfect justice balanced with mercy, and mercy without weakness. The only sections of his life and words which make me cringe are those which expose my own sinfulness! The people who were closest to him, who watched him night and day, recorded his sinless perfection. Even his enemies couldn't dig up anything to accuse him of or use against him! The closer I look at his life and death, the more I love him and admire his beauty.

May we, "who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory" be transformed into his image!

85 degrees!

2011-04-11T13:37:00.001-07:00

We got in on the midwestern heat wave yesterday by trying out our new (to us) deck furniture!

We also got in lots of walking/playing while it was so warm and inviting. We even have violets up. :-)

Sometimes it's nice just to hang out at home.

Spring Reading Lists

2011-04-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

I made it to the library recently - yea!

I'm reading:
Fanny Crosby by Ruffin
The Incomparable Christ by J. O. Sanders

Alaina likes:
Corduroy by Don Freeman
How Big by Corinne Malvern

Stephen likes:
Any book he can get his hands on
Before his Mother sees him!

Re-fashion: Little Teapot Playdress (guest appearance by Little Boy Blue)

2011-04-04T08:37:00.000-07:00

Editorial Note: This is take three with the pictures - I hope it works! Loading the same thing is getting a bit old.

Here is the other play dress I made recently, starting with a plain blue tee and some fabric from my stash.

This time I made the waist a little higher, a la Jane Austen. (In practical honesty, I must add that this makes it a little tricky to put on.)

I made the ruffles from the cut off bottom of the shirt - easy and fun!

After taking a few shots, I noticed that Stephen happened to be wearing the same color! So I plopped him in front of the camera for an extra dose of cuteness.

It seems like matching clothes always happen better by accident than if you try to plan them.

I thought I'd try to do the word-out-of-blocks thing again, but someone is now too old (ie, too active!) for us to do that anymore!

Just wook at dose widdle chubber cheekies!

Okay, okay, sorry. I'm over it.
I think I'll go kiss on the real thing. ;-)

2011-04-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

Oh, how we love it when our man is home for lunch!

Of This and That

2011-03-29T03:23:00.000-07:00

We've been busy of late with our little everyday events. Here are a few of them.

We got out for a lovely dinner date shortly after our anniversary - thus the big smiles! It was such a sweet evening, and always fun to take a moment out to reflect and be grateful and just enjoy each other.

I'm putting away more of the little baby stuff, and the high chair just came back out for Stephen. Alaina has been so cute "exercising" with me lately. On warmer days in the stroller she acts as my personal trainer - "Go fast Mommy!".

Kyle has been an inspired chef cooking up cream puffs, cherry pie and even grilling out a little! Here are some pictures from our lemon meringue evening. We all worked on the pie, then I read poems by A.A. Milne while we waited for it to cool.

Andrew (my older brother) used to make us lemon meringue (How old were you? Somewhere between 9 and 12 perhaps?). As you can see by Alaina's face, it was just as good as I remembered it being!

Our little sunbeam is developing a taste for classical music. He thinks the William Tell Overture (as sung by his mother) is hilarious!

:-) Happy Tuesday to you!

Our table at 9:28pm.

2011-03-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

You know how interior decorators are always talking about adding "humor and whimsy" to a room?

We've got it covered.

Re-fashion: Three Posey Playdress

2011-03-14T18:05:00.000-07:00

Before

It's hard to believe that it's been a year since I made my first tee-shirt dress! We got a bunch of wonderful hand-me-downs at Christmas, so it was time to make a few more.

I loved wearing dresses when I was little - just ask my Mom! I think the best time to teach modesty and femininity is during these early years, so it's fun to have an easy way to add dresses into Alaina's everyday wardrobe.

These are so easy, inexpensive and fun to make that they are perfect to play in! I think it's important for a little girl to have some dresses she doesn't have to worry about getting dirty, and these fit the bill. Just add stockings, leggings or shorts for modesty and you're good for anything from tea parties to cartwheels.

I'll try to get some pictures this week and post her "Little Teapot" dress soon. It's the same concept with a totally different look. Oh yes, and the total cost on this one?
$0.74

Bath Babies

2011-03-07T18:13:00.000-08:00

Bath time boy (above) and girl (below) at about the same age. I have fun comparing!

I'm hoping that all these March showers will bring April flowers . . .

Rolling and Eating and Crawling (Oh My)!

2011-03-03T07:46:00.000-08:00

Seven months yesterday, Stephen is really taking off in his physical abilities!

He has branched into the world of solid food and (contrary to the expression above) seems to really enjoy it! Life will never be the same for him - in a very delicious way.

He is also rolling, doing the combat crawl, sitting up and as of Feb 24th, crawling on hands and knees! Life will never be the same for me either. ;-)

He is actually at that nice stage where he is mobile enough to entertain himself without getting into trouble too quickly.

He is so friendly, cheery and responsive. We are all having a lot of fun and excitement around here.

My little helper is also growing in every area - talking, singing, physical ability and fine motor control, etc.

She loves to sort silverware and "help" me wash dishes (or in this case, potatoes). I feel very blessed to be entrusted with these two little lives to superintend!

Three Happy Years

2011-02-23T05:14:00.000-08:00

I wish I had words for all that is in my heart! Thinking of my Husband fills me with profound gratitude and holy ambition. It is a privilege to live with him, to learn with him and to love him.

Thank you, my Beloved, for the time that is past and the time that is ahead.

With all my heart, your Wife.

Re-fashion: Sweater 4, Pleats and Bows

2011-02-21T05:31:00.000-08:00

And now, the Last One.

The pleats took a bit of figuring, but were well worth the effort!

This is the only one I wasn't tempted to keep. It was two sizes too small! ;-)

STREP THROAT :-(

2011-02-18T03:34:00.000-08:00

On the other hand, here is some good news:

He noticed.

He remembered.

He brought me daffodils!

And on top of that, he still does dishes!

If there have been too many sappy posts of late, please remember that I am in love and forgive me. ;-)

Re-fashion: Monday's Sweater on Tuesday!

2011-02-15T08:20:00.000-08:00

I'd love to say that this is late because of our Valentines festivities. Unfortunately it's because I have something between a glorified cold and a mild flu. My Beloved is taking good care of me and Alaina is feeding me hot yogurt, chicken water soup, and chocolate chip juice from her kitchen.

This bright happy sweater is now in the possession of my bright, happy sister!

It wasn't the design I had originally planned on for her, but I couldn't convince her to let me keep it and make her another one. I am glad you liked it though, Birdie!

Time to get out the vote!

2011-02-09T05:51:00.000-08:00

Yep. Six months is a good time to tackle the question "Who does this baby look like?". Do you have an opinion? You're welcome to leave it in the comment section. Now, the big question! Does Stephen look more like . . .

. . . Daddy (the baby) or . . .

Mommy?

Take a look and let me know what you think.

Just for added fun, here is Big Sister at about the same age.

Happy comparing!

Re-fashion: Sweater 2, Corsage in Neutrals

2011-02-07T07:22:00.000-08:00

Happy sweater Monday to you all!

This was a fun one! I made the folded rose (there are directions online) and leaves from scraps I already had on hand. I tried serging the edge of the flower fabric, but it was too distracting. So I simply cut out a strip and put fray check on the edges.

In case you're wondering (like my Mom was) where I get time to work on stuff like this with two tiny ones, I'll tell you. First of all, this is what I do for fun. I don't watch TV, I don't text, I'm not on facebook, and sometimes I just don't feel like reading. Also, I work in tiny steps. Ten minutes here, twenty minutes there and the occasional, glorious half hour. I might cut something out while my hubby checks his e-mail after the kids are in bed, or stitch a seam while the cleaning chemicals are working on my toilet. ;-) In the Christmas rush, I've even been known to rip out a seam (yes, I make mistakes) while nursing the baby. And while they may look like it to non-sewers, none of these projects actually take long.

Iced In

2011-02-04T09:41:00.000-08:00

Yep. Like the rest of the midwest we've had our share of snow and ice this week. Since we didn't loose power, we had what felt like a two day holiday together!

Kyle kept us happily fed with 3 delicious meals! I love the yummy eats and the cooking break this gives me.

He also assembled our new bookshelf. This enabled/inspired me to unpack five boxes worth of books and other stuff - yippie!

Everything is encased in ice, with a dusting of snow on top.

Our view is breathtaking - I'm not good enough with a camera to do it justice!

I can't resist bragging on my hubby a bit! Not only does he take time on top of his full work day to take care of the trash & pick up whatever I need from the store - those are little kindnesses he does year round. Since the storm he has also faithfully taken out and brought me my mail and run things to and from the garage so that I won't have to go out in the ice! Being married to a man who practices servant leadership is a wonderful thing.

Here's another fun thing for us. On Sunday Kyle assembled the easel his sister gave us. We're enjoying it tremendously!

Just look at that. In one year she's gone from just signing "milk" to drawing smiley faces! How does this happen?

Six Month Stephen

2011-02-02T09:19:00.000-08:00

Re-fashion: Sweater 1, Refined Ruffles in Lavender

2011-01-31T08:41:00.000-08:00

Now that all the Christmas surprises have been opened, I can reveal the projects that kept me busy in December. I decided to get four plain-jane sweaters and pretty them up for four well beloved ladies on my christmas list. I had SO much fun doing them! I'll be posting one every Monday for the next four weeks so you can have a break from cute baby pictures. Just for variety, you know. ;-)

Sorry, no before pictures, each one was just a normal sweater. I couldn't find any ribbon that matched this one, so I made the ruffles from a special occasion fabric. I used the "wrong" side of the fabric, which had a little sheen to it without being gaudy. I also decided not to gather the ruffle in the middle, which made the look a little more interesting.

One day I think I'm going to make one of these for myself!

Simple Craft

2011-01-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

On a weekend not long ago, Kyle wanted to do something fun with Alaina (other than going out in the single digit weather). We found a fun and simple craft idea that was actually do-able with a two year old!

We cut the fingers off a rubber glove and drew faces on them for finger puppets. Our colored markers didn't work very well, but the sharpie was great.

Alaina enjoyed it, but I think Kyle and I had the most fun! The Girl spent most of the time watching us play with the puppets.

Now that the chicken-footed man has slipped past security into the presence of the queen, what will he do? To be continued . . .

(Considering the age of the audience, I can assure you it won't be anything scary or stressful. I'm guessing he probably wanted to borrow the royal dehydrator to preserve the rest of his strawberry crop.)

I'm glad Kyle reminds me to make room for fun times like these. Such fun!

Something on my mind.

2011-01-26T08:49:00.000-08:00

The question isn't "Are we busy?". Busyness is not a virtue. The question is "Are we busy doing the important things?". - Nancy DeMoss

The Siblings

2011-01-21T08:50:00.000-08:00

Do they look alike? I don't know, but at two and five months, they are already starting to enjoy each other as sister and brother.

Stephen loves to watch Alaina - she is pretty active, after all. He also thinks that she is the funniest thing ever! He laughs at her during the most unexpected moments.

Alaina brings Stephen his toys and is learning to set them gently and slowly on his lap. She is quick to let me know if he spits up or works his way off his blanket. She tells him "Good morning Stephen.", "I love you Stephen.", and on a few occasions when she has startled him into crying, her "I'm sorry Stephen!" has been quite sincere.

It's so fun to watch these two!

Re-fashion: Weekday Ruffle Flats

2011-01-18T09:44:00.000-08:00

Here's the "Before" picture on a little project I did in my spare time last week - it was a fun one!

Ta da! Girlie, ruffled everyday shoes.

I picked up this pair of shoes at least five years ago for less than $10, and just haven't worn them much. I think that's about to change. ;-) The ruffle fabric was something I have on hand, so no money down for this project. Happy, happy!

The rest of the story. ;-)

2011-01-15T07:37:00.000-08:00

The cold weather solution. . .

2011-01-13T19:24:00.000-08:00

. . . for a bad hair day! (My bad hair day, not hers.)

A new-from-Christmas hat!

Thank you for the hat, girlies! Call me when you have a moment, as I'm missing you horrendously.

Oh, by the way, the camera is new from Christmas too. Yea!

"Aw, cute hat Mommy!" (Yes, she is talking that much!)

Dressing up is such fun!

Our Christmas Morning

2011-01-05T09:38:00.000-08:00

Early morning family time.

Stocking surprises.

A Christmas morning feast.

How I treasure these times!

Birthday Morning Surprise

2011-01-02T14:03:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Big Girl!

2010-12-24T10:48:00.000-08:00

Meditations: The Christmas Spirit

2010-12-21T09:21:00.000-08:00

Three more days! I don't know about you, but our house is filled with bright decorations, Christmas carols and (as you can see from my last post) lots and lots of goodies! We got our Christmas CDs out shortly before Thanksgiving, and ever since then I've been thinking on and off about the concept of the "Christmas Spirit".

We all know that Christmas is supposed to be a time of giving, but something we read last spring in Knowing God by J. I. Packer gave me a new perspective on it all.

The Christmas spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor - spending and being spent - to enrich their fellow humans, giving time, trouble, care and concern, to do good to others - and not just their own friends - in whatever way there seems need.

Our culture applauds giving elaborate gifts to people we like. There's nothing wrong with giving gifts, I'm excited about the things I am giving this year! But how different is Jesus' kind giving. He gave up everything, he actually became poor so that he could meet the needs of his enemies, those who could not give back. That's radically different from what we normally hear described as the Christmas spirit. It is something we can only begin to emulate when - in the words of the verse Packer uses to close his chapter - God "enlarges our hearts" (Ps 119:32).

Along the same lines, I heard a brief comment on the radio about putting Jesus on your list of people to get gifts for. We're talking about something different from tithes here, what the old testament calls a "freewill offering". It seems like such an obvious thing to do - it is His birthday, after all - yet it's something I'd never considered before.

So as we count down to Christmas, those are some of the things on my heart. I want to give like Jesus does. I am praying that the Lord will continue to enlarge my heart. And I would encourage you to put Jesus on your Christmas list. He is very easy to buy for!

Christmas Bakers

2010-12-17T14:30:00.000-08:00

Big Stuff

2010-12-08T08:29:00.000-08:00

Yes, big things are happening around here. And I don't just mean getting the Christmas tree up. I mean big things with little people.

"Who, me?"

Yes, you.

On Dec. 3 (let it be recorded for the history books) Stephen Christopher rolled over! No one, of course, was as surprised as himself. It hasn't happened since but I've got a feeling about this one. When he gets moving, life is going to be exciting!

Or perhaps I should say, more exciting.

Alaina wanted a picture with her baby. Speaking of which, I must say that her baby has a much better life since Stephen's arrival. Before, Baby was hugged, rocked and fed. Now she is hugged, rocked, fed, changed, burped and washed. She sits in the bouncy seat, bumbo seat, car seat and swing. She is covered up for her naps and wears a hat on cold days. Clearly our horizons have expanded. ;-)

Our other big stuff has to do with the girl. She's moved to a big bed! (Not a moment too soon.)

Naps and all have gone well (no problems getting out of bed) and she is quite happy with the change. Several times a day she will announce "big girl" so I think all of our talk about it has made an impression.

That's our big stuff!

Observations at 4 months

2010-11-30T14:41:00.000-08:00

Friendly

Focused

Nosey

Strong

Cheerful . . . and utterly irresistible!

So much to be thankful for!

2010-11-30T14:20:00.000-08:00

I love Thanksgiving! I love the amazing example of the Pilgrims, the time for reflection and gratitude for God's providence, the big family meals. It's like Christmas, without the to-do list and commercialism. :-) Here is a glimpse into our Thanksgiving celebrations.

Some Indians (friendly Wampanoags, fortunately) joined my side of the family, although one of them had a cold and changed clothes before I caught him on camera. We also got to visit with Jim K. which was great fun.

My little cousins Leslie (L) and Sidney (R) were so fun to talk to and play with. Does anyone see an orange tint to Haley's skin, or is it just me?

Alaina showing off her scarf to Papi. I will (reluctantly) refrain from posting the darling pictures of the Aunts and Cousins singing The Itsy Bitsy Spider, since it was an early morning pajama party.

Uncle Kenny, Emily and the Nitchfielders out for the Christmas Light Parade. We really got into waving! The floats displayed such creativity and it was fun to do a parade at night.

More than a week spent with family - such a treat! Now it's time to get out the tree . . .

My latest sewing project . . .

2010-11-16T16:13:00.000-08:00

has been a Sunday dress for Alaina. Kyle's Mom gave me the fabric a while back, and when it occurred to me to use it as a (much needed) dress, I knew just what to do!

I love the way it turned out! The little button detail on the collar was especially fun to do.

Our wonderful photographer, Elisha, did some pictures with bubbles. The perfect idea for a busy toddler. ;-)

They turned out to be so sweet! Great idea.

Anyhoo, that's something I've been working on for fun lately.

3 months

2010-11-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

As you can probably tell, we've had some life circumstances that are keeping me busy - amazingly nothing to do with the little ones! My priorities have been paired down to the basics of late - loving on my family, choosing to rejoice in the Lord and remembering that all trials are temporary and for our good. :-)

Here are a few pictures of the three month old that make me smile.

Stephen is so strong! He can hold his head up for a long time and is always trying to sit up. I don't remember Alaina doing that at his age.

He continues to eat and sleep well, and he loves attention from anyone. Such a sweetie.

We actually got some family pictures done recently (whew!) and I hope to be able to put a few up soon. Just had to say hi in the meantime. ;-)

Parade!

2010-10-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures from the homecoming parade. We all made it out, and I think we adults enjoyed it as much as Alaina did! Stephen slept through the whole thing under the care of Kay W. Thanks Kay!

A Candy Land themed float.

Alaina got a HUGE bag of candy.

Me and my girl.

Autumn Splendor

2010-10-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

All from our yard!

Coxcomb, Mums, Black Eyed Susan's, Mini Daises and assorted ornamental weeds. ;-)

You know you live in the country when . . .

2010-10-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

. . . your one-year-old daughter's 200 word vocabulary includes the words "tractor" and "combine". ;-)

Sweet Stephen

2010-10-11T12:42:00.000-07:00

Our Little Munchkin is now nine weeks old. He is 15 lbs, very good at holding up that heavy head, and loves to "talk". What a wonderful little guy he is!

He started sleeping 6 hour stretches at about six weeks (even earlier than his sister!) and is now settling into a good 8-10 hour night, for which his parents are profoundly grateful! Like his sister, he has been a very easy going baby.

In some things however, his own little characteristics are starting to show. He loves to smile! You don't have to work very hard to get a huge grin from this little guy! (Getting good pictures are another thing.) We're guessing he may have a cheery disposition.

One last picture. Our stroller has come into it's own. ;-)

A Follow - Up Post

2010-10-08T07:33:00.000-07:00

Following up on my June post: I was due on August 12th and delivered ten days early on August 2nd, Aliza was due October 12th and delivered nine days early on October 3rd! We almost had a perfect pattern going there, but little Ginetta Kate switched things up so she could be born for her parent's anniversary. Good choice Little One!

Congratulations to you all on the safe arrival of little Ginetta Kate! We're so happy for you!

My "Art"

2010-10-04T05:44:00.000-07:00

A still life.

Action shots.

Just look at that face!

And this face. ;-)

Future bookworm.

Re-fashion: A Mama's Dress

2010-09-30T05:51:00.000-07:00

Here's a project I started before Stephen arrived, and just finished. I started with an old, a-line dress that's been hanging in my closet for ages . . .

. . . and turned it into this!

I love all the ruffles, flowers and feminine details that have come into style! (I've always been a girly girl, just ask my Mom!) Now I'm having fun incorporating them into my wardrobe.

I cut off about 5 inches from the skirt and used the fabric to make cap sleeves and a button placket (nursing friendly ;-). Then I added ribbon and lace from my scrap stash.

Ta da! Modest, feminine, inexpensive and long enough for very tall me. :-)

There's only one problem. Now that I've got it done, it's turned cold and I'm going to have to wear it with a sweater!

Photo credits to my kind and patient Beloved.

Down on Grandpa's Farm

2010-09-27T12:49:00.000-07:00

With Stephen turning 6 weeks, we decided we were ready to make the big trip down to Kyle's folks so he could meet his Grandparents. The trip took an extra hour, but he only started to cry the last ten minutes. Good boy Stephen!

Meeting Mimi. I guess I got to busy visiting, because I didn't get any pictures of it, but he got to meet Aunt Gretchen and Uncle Kenny too!

Since Alaina still sleeps in the pack-n-play, Mimi and Papi had a special bed all ready for Stephen - a portable, antique bed.

It was great!

Alaina had lots of fun with Mimi's toys . . . and a few things that were not toys.

Stephen hanging out on the kitchen table.

Alaina loved Papi's hats!

She even got a few of us adults to play dress up with her!

We're looking forward to next time!

Smiles

2010-09-27T12:46:00.000-07:00

Out and About

2010-09-23T04:37:00.000-07:00

We've had some adventures lately, most of which have involved learning the new dynamics of travel for our family. Not long ago, we decided to take a little one-night vacation at a local hotel. We had so much fun!

Alaina was so excited about the pool that as soon as we arrived she started saying "Swimming? Swimming?"

Deedoo wanted to go too, but we told him he couldn't because he did not have a swimsuit.

Daddy + Mommy + Water = Happiness.

As soon as we got out of the pool, Alaina's request switched to "Pizza? Pizza?" (We had told her we would have pizza when we were finished swimming. She is talking more and more every day.) Boy did we get pizza! It was as big as Stephen!

Stephen employed his sweet-and-charming-baby manners, (more on that later) and Alaina was thrilled by the whole experience, so it made for a special time, just us four.

Coming soon: Down on Grandpa's Farm

Things I'm Learning

2010-09-12T15:41:00.000-07:00

- Life always looks better after a nap.

- Children are one of the most precious tools which God uses to show us how self-centered we are.

- Play pens and paper plates are a boon to Motherkind.

- I can do all things, but only through Christ, who really does give me whatever strength I display!

Happy Monday to all!

Goodbye Sleep

2010-09-05T03:46:00.000-07:00

Goodbye Sleep

Now, Sir Sleep, we'll say goodbye,
I will not see you much. I know,
For I can hear a tiny cry
Which tells me that my sleep must go.

But while you're gone I shall posses
A little mouth which cannot bite,
Small fingers grasping tenderness,
And staring eyes, with wonder bright.

The eyes will soon with knowledge glow -
I pray they'll keep their brightness still.
Some teeth will come quite soon, I know,
And fingers grow to toddler's skill.

And so, Sir Sleep, though you'll be missed
And though for your return I'll pray,
Yet still I'll cherish, treasure, kiss
The things I have while you're away.

-G.J. Phillips

Back in the Land of the Living

2010-08-30T06:52:00.000-07:00

Whew! It's good to be back. I was more or less sick all last week and (obviously) blogging was one of the many things that simply did not happen. ;-) I'm glad it was me, though, and not the children!

Alaina is talking away with new words added almost daily. She is starting to make appropriate comments on her own, saying "thank you" and "good job". Stephen is a little darling! So far, he's had enough awake time during the days to pretty much eat and go back to sleep at night. A couple of times he has even given me four hours of sleep in a row! I'm so grateful for all these little blessings.

Kyle is my hero! Whether it's getting the kids rolling in the morning so I can sleep in, taking the evening shift, stopping at the grocery store or taking Alaina on errands with him, he does so many things to make life easier for me. I can't say how much I appreciate his help!

We've also had some sumptuous meals from the kind ladies at church and some help from a certain Miss Sarah that have made this little rough spell much easier. I am reminded again how much I need the body of Christ.

Let's see, what other tidbits of news do we have from around here?

-Uncle Andrew came down for a visit. Great fun!

-The mice are gone, so now we're feuding with spiders of various sizes.

-Our air conditioner is broken. I'm glad we put in a new one by the bedrooms!

-Kyle has made all sorts of delicious things, Berry Crisps, Applesauce and Blackberry Currant Jam.

- Alaina's recommended summer reading: King Bidgood's in the Bathtub.

More later. Time for lunch!