Spring is Here!!

We've had lots of days of sunshine, some rainy days, temps ranging from the 70s to still having frost warnings at night---spring is here!

Lots of kids climbing trees---



Lots of green grass to be mowed-----


And a couple of birthdays----

And we also had a fashion show! Ellie is very interested in trying on numerous outfits each day.

A note every mother likes to receive

In 2003, I received the above note from Jack who would have been 6 at the time. I have it in my room on a "keepsake board" with special things from the kids.

I have so many things that I love about being a mother. I feel incredibly blessed to have five special people that call me Mom. So much of what I know about mothering I have learned from my mom, who is the most giving person I know. I have an wonderful role model in Mom, and she is definitely my mentor. Mom has lived out her love for Christ through her actions. Looking back on my childhood, I felt appreciated for who I was as an individual (sometimes hard to do when you have five siblings). I have learned from watching Mom what true patience is, how important showing interest in your kids' lives is (whether it is taking a break from chores to snuggle and read or always making them feel like you have open ears and are interested in what they are saying), and that having fun is important too! Mom had quite the variety of personalities with all of us and gave me some great advice about appreciating each child. She said she always felt it was so important to love each child for who they were and to gently guide them in both their strengths and "weaknesses" (maybe characteristics we would consider bothersome but great for an adult---being strong-willed, etc) One other thing that I have learned through "seeing" with Mom is to always have gratitude, in every situation--to always find things to thank God for. Many days I will remind myself of Mom's ability to not complain but to give thanks. What a blessing she is!

As I looked at our five children today, I appreciate the gift God has given me and pray that I am able to raise and nurture each one of them to love Him deeply and to please Him throughout their lives. I look forward to the day in Heaven when I can meet the little one we never got to hold here on earth.

I am so thankful today that I am a mom and that I have Mom in my life! And I am thankful for the sweet notes my kids give me:)

Overheard

Today I was enjoying a tuna sandwich. I made a batch of gluten free bread yesterday, and the bread was so soft and fresh. I have always loved good bread and since going gluten free, find having good bread such a treat! And the bread was good today!

Ellie sat down by me and started eating her cheese sandwich. She asked me what I was eating and I told her a tuna sandwich. She asked for some, and I handed her the sandwich so she could try it. Her response:
"Ew, that really stinks. Could you put it away?"

My kid who will eat anything wouldn't touch a tuna sandwich:)

What's new around our house

We are so happy that it is May and the flowers are starting to bloom, the grass is getting green, and the trees are starting to bud. So, what have we been doing since my last post---

Jenny started off the winter with a special ride with Jessi---
We had our first snowman


And some sledding on a little hill


and much bigger hill.




We got cabin fever and made a huge pile of blankets and stuffed animals.



Here it is after it collapsed


Many, many hours were spent in "the best seat in the house". Lots of books were read and many different people claiming the "spot", even Mom and Dad.



We celebrated some birthdays---




Got dressed up (Ellie makes a great Spiderman)~


Fell asleep in some wonderful spots---Nate on the couch and notice Ellie tucked into her Tigger couch--
We tried out some new professions:

Air Traffic Controller


Beautician



We played a LOT in and with water---

We took a trip to the zoo with our cousins on a warm (for March) day---

And we spent time playing with our farm animals.

As I look back over the winter, I am so thankful for the many wonderful memories we have made. The kids have all had new experiences. Jenny is volunteering with an animal rehab center and was able to help feed an eagle, falcons, owls, a hawk and a fox. She helped at a science fair and held the falcon and fed a flying squirrel. She is loving getting to know more about animals and how to keep them in the wild.

Jack continues to shadow technicians at a local Apple dealer. Wednesday afternoons are his favorite time of the week! He has his own computer lab and is the one we go to with any computer issues. He also got his Timothy Award for AWANA this spring which is quite an honor. To get the Timothy award, one memorizes over 400 verses!

Joe taught himself how to play the recorder. Joe has an incredible gift with little ones---whenever he is with kids younger than him, they all want to be with him all the time. Now we can call him the Pied Piper---he plays his recorder, and the kids all follow behind! I think Joe has grown four inches over the winter as evidenced by the change in the length of his pants. Joe can create all kinds of neat things---lots of art projects, creations out of this-and-that found around the house, and paper creations.

Nate had his adenoids removed last month. He has struggled with congestion for years and has had trouble sleeping this winter. He seems to be recovering well, and we are praying that with the better sleep and overall change in congestion, he will continue to communicate more and more. He loves to jump on the trampoline and helps us all get our daily exercise. He also loves the zoo and all the animals there and now that it is getting warmer, we'll be able to visit more often.

Ellie is our 3 year old going on 13. She has such an independent spirit and is capable of so much! It amazes me how different all five of our kiddos are! God truly created each one with such different strengths and sweetness---how blessed we are to know these five people! Back to Ellie, she keeps us on our toes and fills our hearts with joy! She loves to be the one praying at dinner and never forgets anyone. She is quite the conversationalist and has been known at times to embellish her stories (for example, telling a friend that she broke her leg---now where did that come from?).

This month we'll be finishing up on school for the year, working on some projects around the house (including hopefully finishing a lot of the barn painting), and just enjoying the beauty of creation. Just this morning Bill and I were enjoying coffee on the deck. It was wonderful to soak in the sunshine and listen to all the birds sing! Spring is so refreshing!

Our Faithful Friend

Chuckie, our miniature pinscher, passed away this fall. We had her for over 15 years, and she was such a part of our lives. A dog truly is man's best friend---an example of unconditional love.

Chuckie was such a companion for me after we got married, and Bill was traveling every week. It was so nice to come home to her! Bill and I didn't know how she would adjust to Jenny---she walked over to Jenny's carseat, smelled her, and walked away. Chuckie actually loved chewing Jenny's little socks and toys. She also put up with the kids that followed, not always appreciating being chased and tormented, but absolutely loving the "treats" they gave her off the high chair.

Chuckie had many nicknames---Lead Belly, Chuckie Munackie, Letisamus., Houdini.

We all had a hard time adjusting to life without Chuckie. She really had a wonderful life---from her days sunning herself on the porch in Redondo Beach to barking at all the kids coming and going to school by our blue house to all of the fun she had with country life. Here are some pictures of her getting "warm" in our weather--from a fireplace and in the sun:)

I sure miss having Chuckie cuddle up in my arms on the couch and snuggling by my legs under the covers. She was a one-of-a-kind pet!

We miss her but are grateful for the memories we have!

Overheard

Last week I was sitting at the desk working on the computer. Ellie came up to me, and it was obvious she wanted to start up a conversation. Here is what she said:

"Hey Mom, do you have any money?"

Now where would a 2 year old come up with that?

Living the country life

Sorry for the huge gap in posting here---life's been full of a lot of happenings---will post on later but wanted to share something that happened today.

We had a beautiful day---around 75 degrees and sunny! Wow, hard to believe it's November. We went outside this afternoon to do some raking. Joe and I were coming back from dumping a load of leaves behind the barn and saw Jenny and Ellie. Ellie looked so cute running in her bare feet with a pink striped shirt and jeans on and her hair flying in the breeze. The thought came to me how blessed she is to have this house and the country life as the only life she's known---she so loves being outside and experiencing everything.

Jenny was all excited to show me a bug she had found and after I looked at it, Ellie got closer us. I looked at her, trying to figure out what treasure she had found and was holding. I looked again and realized it was a MOUSE! A DEAD MOUSE! EEK! Yes, I did scream! Ellie was stroking her new friend, obviously a victim of one of the cats. Well, Miss Ellie did not want to give up her new find. I again screamed and told Jenny to get it from Ellie (I didn't want to touch it!). Somehow, we got Ellie to drop it, and I carried her in to disinfect her hands. She kept saying "I want my mouse" as we washed her hands.

I came back outside about two minutes later, and she had it again! I don't know how she got it. The mouse now "lives" in the high grass, hopefully hidden from our little treasure hunter. She sure does get to experience everything!