More from the fair haired child

And then there's this . . . from my treasure box

"once a shark got me and shoved me into the Christmas tree for jail!" 12/7/09

I told the girls I'm going to give them grace this morning. Annabelle smiled, pointed to her tray and said, "I want my grace right here." 12/10/09


"Soon I'll be going over two to three." 1/18/10

"Good my grief it's cold outside!" 4/9/10

"Mom, I'm cold. . . . . I'm coldilocks!" 4/10/10

Annabelle: "mom, can I go swim in the sprinklers?"

Me: No, you can't go outside by yourself

A: but mom, God is with me . . . He always walks around with me.

Me: yes, that's true, but it is not wise for me to let you go by yourself without human supervision.

After a little thought, Annabelle settles for a pretzel. 7/24/10

"The Bee -eye-Lee-eye-Lee,

yes that's the book for me,

I stand on it - all alone -

The Bee -eye-Lee-eye-Leeee!"

Annabelle just looked at Oliver and said, "his head is way too big on him. He needs a much smaller one." 6/3/10


 "Do you want to hear some breaking news?" (I would have been worried with this one, but the look on her face told me she was pretty confused about what she was asking.) 6/7/10

 "Gum will make me concentrate better." 6/13/10


at bedtime tonight, I had to have a somewhat serious discussion with Annabelle about listening to instructions and obeying them. When I asked her if she understood she paused and then through her own impish grin and in a sing-song voice said, "don't smi-ile!" 6/21/10

"I love riding alligators . . . .up and down, up and down . . . " 6/24/10

"Mom, when we are monsters, will we have trees for ears?" 6/29/10

Annabelle in a corner playing by herself, pulls play money out of her purse and quietly exclaims, "Fabulous!" 7/18/10

Annabelle: "Ooooh, Mommy! You look sparkly!" 7/13/10

Today Annabelle is walking around with a mosquito net over her head, calling me "my child" . . .

holding out the kleenex box, "will you open this my child?"

listening to Enya's Wild Child, "I like onion's music." 11/16/10

I wish there were a way to peak into her mind.

But then again, she gives me a peak nearly every day.

Her Name

Our puppy has a name.

Meet Corduroy Purple Bear

We decided to go with a favorite from children's stories and of course the purple must stay.

She's a very sweet girl, the perfect addition to our family.

                                             These two are very nearly the same size!

Birthday boy in the house

Yesterday was Noah's 9th birthday. We spent the night before in Roscoe IL with family celebrating his cousin's birthday and picking up our new puppy.

Today we had the family over to celebrate this great boy.

not this one, though he's pretty great too. Grandma and Grandpa sure think so!

This one! the one punch drunk with puppy love. The one who has stolen my heart and melts me with his dark chocolate eyes. The one with a servant's heart and a deep tenderness for the things of the Lord. He's going to do great things someday and I know this because he's already doing great things now. He's got what it takes. It thrills my heart to see how the little ones look up to him already.

i think their older cousin C is teaching them the finer points of gel window art.

I don't know but she may be telling him how to take care of split ends. That would not surprise me at all.
cousin M with a knowing look and a twinkle in her eye. She's such an amazing girl!

Best buddy B, because what's a space party without your right hand man?

Oh right. And this happened two nights ago. I may post about it later.

Cupcake frenzy from the cupcake Grandma.

The eldest lady in the family holds a tete a tete with the youngest and littlest lady.

Gotta love the technology. Aunt Jayme, faithful as ever to attend every party via skype from Boston.
No, it's not a frog it's a rocket ship!

Clever placement of the candles makes this rocket looking ready for blast off!

Happy birthday Noah!

A new addition

Introducing the newest member of our family! Purple girl was born August 23 into a litter of 13! Her mama's such a trooper. The breeder color codes the babies and this one was dotted with a purple spot on her shoulder. Of course my girls were thrilled and want to keep calling her purple girl. She still has no name that we all can agree upon.

We picked her up yesterday, on Noah's birthday. That's why he has such a goofy grin on his face. He just turned nine and he has a puppy. She's the family pet, but he reminds me, we did get her on his birthday.

Cooper, the resident Jack Russel doesn't quite know what to think, but he hasn't realized she's a dog yet.

for a new look

Did you notice? Something must have happened to the link where I pinched my last background. The colorful cut paper flowers are missing so I am faced with a decision: use another free background, or perhaps purchase a custom made one.

As I am determined to come back to regular blogging, and thereby exercise my stunted writing ability and exorcise the cursed writer's block, purchasing a custom template is rather appealing.

However, I can be slightly parsimonious and may just stick with another freebie.

Pop in now and again because one of these days I'll be sportin' a new look.

Swimming lessons

We have the best swim instructor. She loves the kids and well we love her. lots.

Grace is so amazing, she even lets Aurora join the underwater circle. Do you see her there on Grace's shoulder?

Annabelle has no trouble holding her breath and going under. She barely puffs out her cheeks even. Just smiles and bobs under, sometimes not even closing her eyes.

Bronwen on the other hand is much more hesitant - and is always the last one under, and won't get the top of her head wet.








Really, they're all very comfortable in the water.

Memories in Sweden

When I was in college Grandma, Aunt Bev and I went to Sweden where Grandma's brother's family lives. Here we are in one of her neices front yards. I'm terribly jet lagged but enjoying the trip of a lifetime.

I had promised to take Grandma some day. I'm so glad Aunt Bev could come along.

Painting

I'm painting again and it feels good.

surprises

This happy little fellow was not planted by me.

He appeared in my flower bed - which is really more of a weed bed right now - and has brought with himself a cheery promise of hope.

Every time I step out my front door he's there smiling at me. I know He's smiling at me too.

The helmet of Salvation

The helmet safeguards your mind with the hope of salvation.

We must be cautious what we fill our minds with.

It is our saving help from the power of sin.

Bearing one another's burdens

June 14

On the day that my aunt and uncle celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary, she was told that she had pancreatic cancer. That was April 6, 2010.

In a whirlwind of 10 weeks that is rocking our world and yet feels achingly like an eternity the cancer has ravaged her body.

Today they have given her a time-stamp of 3 days to 3 weeks until her body will fail and she will die. That's it, her temporal body reduced to statistics, the seconds and minutes ticking away.

June 21

This has been such a difficult post to write. I have struggled with this burden, praying for her healing and knowing that God is fully able to restore her to perfect health . . . yet wondering if the healing will be earthly or heavenly. God has given us so many verses as we stand in the gap for her, yet the doubt creeps in.

My parents just returned yesterday from South Carolina where my aunt lives. She is Dad's baby sister. They went to pray with her, touch her, be with her.

July 6

This morning, very early, before the sun even thought about rising the Savior whispered her name and she went to him.

brothers

And while we're at it, I can't tell you how much I wanted these two boys. I did not imagine how far apart in age they would be though.

Still, Noah is so glad to have a brother and I know that these guys have what it takes to be best buddies their whole lives through. Its a good feeling as a parent to see that Oliver has such a wonderful big brother to look up to and follow. And I know that Noah will always watch out for his little brother and be there for him.

Now, take a look at this fantastic shot.

It was a complete accident.

That is a yellow finch flying through the for ground and it looks like it has caught the eye of our neighbor's stealthy huntress.

I didn't notice the bird or the cat were even in the shot until I was looking through pictures later.

I just thought you would like to see that.