"Kari, they are down there playing nicely together..."

 Ted said as he came up the stairs, "...I'd ride it out for as long as you can!" Then he hugged and kissed me goodbye.  I am taking his advice!  A quiet start to a busy weekend!

Sometimes...the blessings are right underneath your fingertips!

It is the everyday sort of blessings that I am counting! 

Sparkly fingernail polish, stamping with my sister, coffee with my husband, helpful voices, freshly washed sheets, completed errands, sticky breakfast table, cheap stamps, girly hairdos, unrequested boy hugs, opportunities to serve, discounts, sidewalk chalk, holding hands...

I think if we stop looking at what we don't have...and start looking at what we do have...we would see many blessings that we are neglecting to count every day!

Twelve years

When we said, "I DO!", I know we had no idea what we just signed up for...for life!  Our lives have been in constant change ever since August 18, 1998...and I am so thankful! I don't think I can list every change that has taken place over the last twelve years!  It is a good thing I have kept record here for the last few. 

I do know of three very important changes that were made...2001, 2002, and 2003! 

We are very different people because of these three changes...and many other changes that God has brought about in each of our lives.  I can say with great confidence that God is good...all the time! 

I look at these two pictures...taken a couple weeks ago...and I see many things!  I see unconditional, sacrificial love.  It is not about two people who grew to love each other and said, "I DO!" anymore.  I see growth as individuals...and as parents.  We don't know all the answers, but we know Who does.  I see a man at peace.  Sometimes, peace can cost a great deal!  I see children at peace.  They know their boundaries are designed in love and obedience to our Heavenly Father.  I see a wife/mother who still has much to learn.  I see a husband/father who takes his role very serious.  He seeks to protect and lead in every area of life.  I see incredible answers to prayer.  Life is sweeter today...because we realize that God gives us all things...each day is a gift!  I see consistency that is paying off...even when it is hard to remain strong and true.  God expects us to be faithful to His words.  I see a man who loves me...and does things that take the pressure off me.  He is wise.  He works hard to see and understand what is going on in our home...and then lead us down the right paths.

I see twelve years of our life...wrapped up in these two pictures.  Full of blessing and full of change amidst trials and joys.  I am thankful for twelve years that God has given us together as husband and wife...and then as father and mother to our children!

Savoring the remainder of summer

We went to Target today...but not to do school shopping!  We went just because...we needed soap and wanted to pick out new nail polish.  Everyone else in the city is school shopping or sitting in the classroom already!  We enjoyed the beautiful day and did a couple errands that ended with a slushie!

Teddy "did boy things" with Papa and then came home and continued throughout the afternoon...cutting with a knife and playing with the fire!

Dad had a great idea...we took a walk as a family to the Dairy Depot.  The kids were on bikes and scooter and the adults walked.  It was a beautiful night for a walk...with a treat as the destination!

I took a trip down memory lane with my "twinklecote" vanilla cone...the same exact thing that I would get at the DQ in Lake Nebagamon!  I haven't found...didn't really look...this crunchy coating anywhere for all these years...yet, here it is almost out our front door! 

Everyone is tucked in bed...full of summer fun...and the scent of the fire hangs heavily in the air...inside and out.

It is beautiful today!

Thank you, Lord, for a beautiful day! 
The heat and humidity have been replaced with blue skies, cooler temps, and refreshing breezes which have carried away the mosquitoes...for now.  How quickly a change in weather can affect a change in attitude!  I am actually looking forward to mowing today and arranging a fire for later tonight per request of three very polite children, "PULLLLEEEAASE, MOM, may we have a fire tonight?!  It isn't too hot!"

What a gift to get for an anniversary!!!

Happy Anniversary to Sean and Becky!!! Sweet baby girl, Avery Noel arrived at 5:35am this morning.  She weighs 6 lbs. 5 oz.  We prayed for her to arrive safely...and here she is...all cuddly and warm.  Becky is tired, but doing well.  Sean is looking forward to introducing Emily and Alec to their new sister this afternoon.

What a wonderful blessing on their 12th Anniversary!

More fun with cousins

A birthday bouquet for my sissy-poo.

When the children are busy...we get to lay around and talk...uninterrupted! 

Swimming all afternoon!  Thanks, Papa, for letting us spoil your peace and quiet!

Silliness at the supper table!

Aunt Mari almost fell off the bench!

We crammed as many things into our time as we could...it just never seems to be enough time!

They wanted face paint.  I kept them occupied while Mari made sure everything was gathered and put in the van.  The girls bemoaned the fact that they never got to do their nails together.  There is always next time!

The house is now so quiet and empty!  After they pulled away, we painted another face and then the kids went over to see Grandma at Little M and S's.  Ashlynn was able to put into words her feelings about saying goodbye again, "We waited and waited for them to come...and it just went...poof.  We didn't get to do everything we wanted to do.  They get to go see Grammy and Grampy.  Now what are we gonna do?"  That's what I walked around wondering...

Well, I have a load of towels I can wash! 

 And we can always look forward to the next time we can get together!

Fun with cousins

After a leisurely morning and an afternoon at the pool, it was time to come home and clean-up for supper and church.  Being a little slow-moving in the mommy department, we put our heads together and put a plan together.  We, sissy-poos, think alike when it comes to making sure six children don't get the better of us...after all these years...it finally works!  I wonder...is it our age? our children's age? or the fact that we figured out how much time things take?  We had plenty of time!  We, sissy-poos, even got to paint our nails!

Boys doing boy things!

Girls doing girl things!

Boy's imaginations...knife, scissors, duct tape...

Girl's imaginations...girly  movie, paper, crayons, tape, markers, stapler, paper...this was after the clean-up had taken place!

So much fun...in such a little time...makes for six sleepy heads!  There are two in this picture...can you find them?

There are two boys in that mess...somewhere!  They did eventually find their way out!

It happens...when there is so much to talk about...you can't go to sleep early!  The moms suffered from the same issues...but we don't record those moments to visit again!  We just keep our contacts/glasses out of reach till we finish our first cup of coffee and take a shower!  What fun it was to have our house full of cousins...and my sissy-poo!

Their early arrival saved this momma's sanity!

They got here safe and sound!

They  made good time and rolled in right after I had just told our kids, "Go find something to do...a watched pot never boils!"

We have talked and drank coffee.  The kids...disappeared and have played together so nicely.

They were up early this morning and enjoyed Curious George together.  Now I am getting the "I'm hungry...my tummy is empty" whines.  I had better get cracking!

The countdown has begun!

It started with an hour and seven minute phone call this afternoon...we couldn't help it.  We didn't even try to help it.  It has been too long...it is time for a visit.  And...it is official...the big girls are more excited than the little girls!  In exactly, seventeen hours or so, the girls will out-number the boys two to one!!!  My sissy-poo is coming...and she is bringing the cousins too!!!

Chasing away the dull-of-mind-feelings we have by...

brushing up on some review papers in Arithmetic, Phonics, and Language each morning. 

reading from readers that came with our curriculum and making new friends with some classics.  I was feeling very dull of mind as I began reading The Peterkin Papers.  I don't believe I have ever read this book.  They had to "ask the wise woman from Philadelphia for advice" in order to solve their problems.  After the first story, I was clued in to these poor souls.  They had trouble with their dumb waiter too. I asked the kids if they knew what a "dumb waiter" was.  "Oh, it is someone who..." started Ashlynn.  Uh, no, they didn't know till I explained it.  Then they recalled it..."Yeah, there is a dumb waiter on Nanny McPhee!  Remember, guys, the kids used it."  Hence, another reason for the need to read...all of life doesn't need to be explained in terms of movies!
**However...there is a sequel coming out this summer...Nanny McPhee Returns...so we will have to plan some time to rent that dvd!**

Heat, humidity, rain...and the Sugar Creek Gang!

We are so thankful for the arrival of a box last week...a box of help to pass the Dog Days of Summer!  With rainforest like weather, the mosquitoes chase us indoors and the humidity keeps us there!  Although there are a variety of books to read, the Sugar Creek Gang dvd has captured our attention.  For once...a dvd that isn't full of smart alec kids, body jumping music, and other behavior stunting attitudes.  There are good lessons and good clean fun in the adventures (or misadventures) of these kids.   I fear it may be worn out by week's end.  Children's book writers of today have nothing on Dragonfly, Bill, and Poetry!  We had borrowed a couple from the library long ago.
Our children keep asking why we haven't gone to the library lately...we have so many books here that we haven't read yet!  It seems silly to me to always go to the library for dvds, when we should be going for books!  Dvds are great!  But a constant diet of dvd entertainment is making for lazy brains and no imaginations.  I am constantly encouraging our children to read.  So lately, we are doing it together in hopes that they will soon have a desire to go solo!  Alisa is already on board and often goes in search of a book...without being told.  Many of the students I taught loved to read.  I tried very hard to offer a wide variety in my classroom.  I have left many books behind in the classrooms where I taught. I have kept many books to share with our children.  I have moved them several times.  I have protected them from little hands and water damage.
Books are wonderful friends.  But there are some books that are not suitable friends!  Just because a book is marketed to and for children, doesn't mean the content is God pleasing.  Everything that I give to our children to put in their mind...better be measured by God's Word first.  There are good things available...I just need to use discernment when I am making the choices!
I am still trying to encourage our children to reach out and make a good friend...on their own.  They see us reading.  We read to them.  I know they will love those new friends...and won't have to utter those words, "I'm bored!" because of the wonderful adventures they can have. We're pulling out a book for this afternoon!