11

Ok, let's go back in time shall we?

Busy preoccupation has had the upper hand for far too long.

And I miss this little corner of my world where I am free to share my thoughts, document milestones, and everything else that falls in between.

 

So before moving forward, let's go back to November.

November 20, to be exact.

The day our firstborn turned 11.

 

At 11, Austin loves all things ninjago, pokemon, mario, board games, and playing and watching most any sport, tho his absolute favorite is football.  He still has a heart to please and a competitive drive that motivates.  He loves school, his friends, takes his big brother role seriously, and makes us proud :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For fun, I interviewed him again...

1.  What is your favorite color?   Navy Blue
2.  What do you want to be when you grow up?  Secret Agent
3.  What is your favorite toy?  Ninjago legos
4.  What is your favorite thing to do with dad?  Play football
5.  What is your favorite thing to do with mom?  Read books
6.  If you could have any super power what would it be?  super speed (like Dash)
7.  Favorite Subject?  Math
8.  Favorite TV show?  WildKrats
9.  Favorite Movie?  Ninjago Final Battle
10  Favorite Food?  "big long thing" and chocolate
11.  If you could choose your name what would it be?  Xavier
12. What is your favorite sport?  Football
13.  What is your favorite book?  Lord of the Rings and Hardy Boys
14.  If you could travel anywhere where would you go?  NorthPole
15.  Favorite game?  Settlers of Catan
16. Best part of being 11?  More responsibility.

Happy Birthday Austin!  We love you!!!

Just Pics

I am terrible at remembering my camera lately.

Scrolling through my phone, I realized that I actually have a few tucked away :)

 

For the books, a few more pics from our fall.....

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A delightful day lunching at the airport viewing area!

 

What happens when Dylan is driver.

 

So thankful for modern technology, and the ability to take a picture of Austin's homework to send over to Tim while he is out of town, because I am not smarter than a fifth grader :)

So much easier to explain over the phone!

 

The last shards of my flowers.

Hunting with dad!

 

More sparrow on the grill for this boy!

 

Enjoying the fishing pond at church.

 

A delightful day away shopping with good friends!

 

Enjoying the park on the last predicted warm day of the season!

 

Earning her keep!

 

Another succesful sewing project.

 

 

Killing time at the library.

 

 

 

 

 

Bobby's scarecrow project.

 

We got our skates on!

Happy Thursday all~

Birth Order

Last Sunday over dinner, Tim was pressing Stella for details on her Bible story during church.

After much prodding, we figured out she learned about David and Goliath.

Her slant on the story...
 " I think David shot the big guy in the head with a pistol. "
 

 {Ok,ok,  I asked her what type of gun, and she confirmed it was a pistol} :)
 

While driving in the truck with Tim the other day, she causually turned to him and said...

 "Dad! Did you know that Jesus DIED?" 

Tim welcomed the invitation for meaningful, heart molding conversation with his girl, and began to ask her questions.
 

And then she turned to him and casually mentioned...

  "Yeah, I'm pretty sure he died in a car accident."

 

Oye.

Parenting a 10 year old and a 2 year old, and all the ages in between at the same time lends to be tricky.  A delicate balance to meet them all where they are at. 

 

Because Austin and Sydney are so close, we naturally tend to clip along pace with them.

Our nightly devotions have moved from Bible stories, to more thought provoking questions.
Clearly we need to focus more on the basics with the littles :)

 

Where I used to take the big kids to the library for story time, the little 2 now tag along to soccer practice.

 I used to spend my nights on the couch, reading book after book that was thrown at me, now I shoo the little 2 away, so that I can give my undivided attention to the homework that needs to get done.

 

I don't have a picture of my biggest 2 playing Angry Birds on my iPod and iPhone side by side on the chair, because they weren't tired from being ripped out of bed to take the big kids to school in the morning.  They were busy dressing up and playing make believe together,  watching and re-inacting Cinderella.  For a solid year of his life, Austin carried around hangers, and  told anyone that he met that he was captain hook... and he was so serious.

Back then, I would look for ways to get out of the house, now I look for ways to stay home :)

At 3, Dylan droned on in prayer for everthing his little mind could think of. Rocks, dirt, trees, tree roots, specific types of bugs, etc. until our food went cold. And yet, Ellery skips a few meals per week, due to her refusal to utter the words to a simple memorized childs prayer. Ok, bad example, she's just stubborn. :)

By age 3, Austin was already sleeping on the top bunk because he was so old, yet we just finally moved Elle out of the crib last week.
 

I could go on and on, comparing our kids, and what feels like 2 separate phases of life sometimes.
I apologize this post is so scattered, but birth order and all that it entails fascinates me.

Each of our children has a special place in our family.
Each one a precious gift from God.
Created and gifted in our care exactly as and when He intended.
Each one so special and unique in their own way.

My prayer as a parent is that God works through us to equip them and help them learn all that they are meant to be as His children.

 

 Happy Tuesday all~

Reason # 437 I love this person....

...tho working out of town, 3 hours north of here,

 

 

 he left in the middle of the most beautiful fall afternoon we've had in awhile, to swing thru town to pick this little gal up for her pre-school dad's night.  (One hour of pizza and playing on the playground :)

Because he knows it IS a big deal. 

Only to turn around mere hours later, and head back north.

Love him.

 

Happy Thursday all~

Sweet Specs

Every girls dream....pink glasses.

Ha! Ok, maybe just this girls dream :)

 

After a long stretch of headaches, things are looking up.

 

And doesn't she look so studious? :)

 

Happy Tuesday all~

A little before and after

 

This blog really stinks lately.

 

And it bugs me, because I truly enjoy writing, and getting these milestones and memories down on "paper".  I know that someday I will look back fondly on this phase of life, and forget all the miles I put on my van each day, the chaos of laundry, the homework struggles, and trying to figure out how to clean up Ellery's pee off  the mechanical firetruck outside of Old Navy....or the chair in the ortho waiting room...or the bolt of fabric at Joannes.  Good grief, the stories I've got tucked away.

 

Baby steps.

 

Austin got braces last summer.

His mouth wasn't quite ready for full blown braces, because he still had a few baby teeth to lose.

However, we were begining to notice that he constantly held his hand in front of his mouth when he was talking, to hide them.  And there was also the concern that he'd get hit in the face with a ball and knock them out, since he couldn't really close his mouth.

 

Sadly, the kid got my mouth.

Ha, I should dig up pics sometime, I was a real dish at his age. 

 

So, "Phase One" of the plan was implemented.

 

 

 

And the poor kid had a rough time with them.

 His gums became very angry with all the metal in his mouth.

  After a few set backs, "laser surgery" to remove some his gums, fever and infection,  and 4 extracted baby teeth later, he was thrilled to get them off again! 

 

 

 

And it's good to see him smile again :)

 

 

Naturally, corn on the cob, marshmellows and gum were in order that first week.

 

And we're gearing up for phase 2 :)

 

Happy Wednesday all~

 

Just a little more summer...

A few more summer pics before I will call it complete....

Unfortunately, my camera was out for repair for the majority of the summer, so I don't have a ton of pictures for the books.

 

I am always amazed how fast summer flys by.

Every year about 2 weeks prior to school getting out, I get all anxious and overwhelmed that I won't know what to do with these kids all day, every day.

 

 

Once again  my worry was in vain, as there was never a dull moment this summer.

We spent our days soaking up the sun,  hanging out with friends and family, and crossing things off our bucket list. By the begining of July, Dylan informed me he was starting to get sick of pools and lakes :) 

 

 

 

 

We went blueberry picking on one of the hottest days of the summer, and I am once again reminded that we must stick to larger fruits. Somehow the kids just don't have the same zeal I have for getting the job done :)

This is how far we got, when he dared ask if we were almost done......

 

Tim's brother got married!  More of a spring event, but I never posted pics :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

We made a trip to Chicago, and took the annual cousin photo.

So thankful to have 2 more babies in this years picture  :)

 

 

 

 

 

We spent a delightful day with friends at the Hopkins cottage.

And....

I got up on ski's!!!
(sort of :)
 

 

Next year I'm hoping to join this crowd... :)

 

 

Tube rides were in high demand...
 

We once again camped for a week with dear friends.

And it was delightful this year. 

No flooding or cold weather or power outages....only water with "bacteria":)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Tim and I celebrated 14 years of marriage!

 

 

We were able to get away to a quaint little bed and breakfast in Ludington where we so enjoyed dinner, strolling through town hand in hand checking out antique stores, playing tennis, walking by the water, and sitting around drinking lots and lots of coffee and talking. 

I bought a membership to a local wild animal park.
We loved it, and I think we visited every other week, all summer long.
Ellery LOVED the petting zoo.

And they got pretty resourceful at finding discarded bird food sticks :)

It was a good summer :)