Merry Christmas to Ian's family

Ian's players..

On not understanding our limits...

In the window...
On the tool bench...
Climbing up to the piano...
The night we broke our collar bone falling out of the high chair.

The sling only lasted two days. It's been about two and a half weeks, and I think he's healed. We're missing any pictures of Asher climbing on the stove, the counter, the high chair, and walking across the kitchen table. I guess I never go for the camera at those times.

Colonial Williamsburg

Would you believe that the only two pictures we took while we were in Williamsburg were the drum and fife detail and Ian sitting on an 18th century "throne" at the Gaol (Jail)?

Frosting sugar cookies

HAM!

Gabe's secret ingredient.

The artist at work again.

Becky baked cookies with the kids yesterday. When I returned home I helped the kids "frost" the cookies. What a mess. Gabe still doesn't understand that you don't immediately eat what you frost. Micaela and Nathaniel did well, but still managed to lick every finger in between cookies. They had fun. We laughed alot. The cookies are cute (gross).

Micaela Performs

Nathaniel's Masterpiece

The tongue really does help.

ASHER

Terrifying isn't it!

Micaela's new interactive dress up doll.

I'm cute and handsome just like uncle Nader.

Gabey's Three!!!

Have you ever seen a drum playing Mandril?

Nathaniel the Monkey. Bananas Rock!

Welcome to Gabes' Jungle.

Lions and TIGERS and bears..Oh my.

An Up and Down Day

I'm still fighting a sinus infection, which now feels more like flu. My head has quit draining, and I have tremendous pressure in my head and behind my eye. Ian was gone for four nights/five days, home one evening after work, and then not home again for the last two nights. I am tired and very achey. I'm dealing with it ok....

This morning the kids did normal school type things. Asher threw rice crispies as far as possible from his high chair, Gabriel monitored everyone's activities and played cars, Nathaniel did one lesson every three hours- I guess that means that he only did one lesson today- and Micaela did nearly all the subjects.

We had an interesting interuption as well. Our long lost missing kitty returned. He left as a real baby while we were in CA, today a young male orange cat came to our yard, allowed all three older children to manhandle him, was carried all over like a doll and purred, and then he inspected every square inch of the front porch and all of the small trees in the front. I'm almost certain it was the same cat. He was very clean, well fed, and had a collar. I suppose we can't keep him. Anyway, then he was treed by our overly friendly dog. He was high, and Micaela was sure he was stuck for good. By herself she pushed the playhouse under the tree, climbed to the top and called to the kitty to come down. Kitty didn't think that was wise. Micaela cried and begged me to call the fire department. Mommy didn't think that was wise. Because of her desperation, I went to the garage and got a ladder, climbed way too high for any balance- impaired pregnant woman to attempt, stretched to get the cat, got scratched several times for good meaure, and finally rescued poor kitty. Micaela was thrilled. She immediately ran to pick up the cat, who amazingly did not protest. She carried it through the dieing lily beds singing loving kitty songs to 'her.'

When the kitty ran back home- wherever it's been anyway- Micaela sat very still and quietly at the swingset. Crying real tears, and sobbing every once in a while. She does love kitty cats. Since the kitty ran away during their wedding, I think Aunt Michelle and Uncle Nader should replace the kitty and fund its upkeep. What do you think?

Anyway after we lost poor kitty again, we did history, cleaned up a little, and I made dinner. While I made dinner, Micaela and Gabriel sat at the bar. Gabriel watched in awe as I sliced sweet potatos. Micaela gave Gabriel a phonics lesson that I'm sure he never heard. She started talking and explaining, and read over 30 pages of Pyramid (phonics exercises) to him. She never seemed to notice that he was not listening.

While dinner was in the oven my head was throbbing. I gave the older children two choices: go outside and don't come in till dinner or go to bed for the night. They all went outside. At dinner Gabriel got in trouble for playing with Asher's food three too many times. I sent him to bed, because at this point my mental/physical state was declining.

After dinner, I did not clean up and I sent Micaela and Nathaniel to the play room with paper, scissors, and glue. Asher stayed in his high chair because I was pretending to make him eat his sweet potatoes. In reality, they joined the rice krispies in the floor. I lay on the couch because my back started aching like the flu. Yuck! Anyway, Nathaniel wet his pants after I told him to go to the bathroom, he couldn't tell me where, so there's a puddle somewhere I haven't found. Instead of putting on pj's, he riled up Gabe who was already almost asleep, and Micaela played dress-up with everything in her dresser. I lost my temper. I yelled and screamed and stamped my foot, and yes, spanked in anger. I sent them to bed, all crying and now I feel terrible. I hate being sick, and I hate the part of me that rises to the surface when I'm exhausted and feeling sorry for myself.

Any advice for gaining self-control as a harried mother of many littles?

The travelers...

I left Ian and Micaela at the airport this evening. Micaela read signs the whole way to the airport. Things like Title Max and Sitar Indian (but not Cuisine), Hamilton Place, and Exit. After the airport I sat in a traffic jam. Ian called after they boarded, and then I cried. I've never cried before when he has left. Micaela's never even been gone 48 hours. I've never missed them so much. Anyway, moving on... I heard from them during their layover. Ian said she has not stopped talking the whole time, and she's constantly reading signs like Delta, Men's Restroom, and Don't Leave Baggage Unattended. He's tired. He'd like a nap. Maybe when they land and someone else can talk to her. Have I ever noted that she loves to read No Smoking signs. She says it loudly and pointedly, and I feel so guilty like I've been smoking around my kids. It's embarrasing.

What goes in the laundry...

Today I did a big load of jeans. At the end of the wash I found two pennies, three acorn caps, one acorn, two marbles, a rock, two small rubber airplanes, a hot wheels car, a broken piece of blue polished glass, and my very own debit card. I should check pockets, but it is an awful lot of pockets! De'etta, you're not allowed to scoff at the number of pockets!

Nathaniel again..

Micaela (reading a book title) "Who built the pyramids?"

Nathaniel: the Jip-chins.

An Ode to a Cricket

Each night before bed
As the sun sinks red
The chorus begins
From our insect friends
They sing through the night
Quite nicely till light --

But lately, I confess it's been rough

We've had a dissentor
A loud singing tenor
Who sits below our screen

Screaming his song
Out loud all night long,
And never stopping to breathe.

Next to the house
He's warm as a mouse,
And sings faster than all his friends.

His lack of concern
For tempo has earned
Both of our disrespect-

I can not sleep
For hearing his cheep
And that's why I'm not in bed.

Sunday

Yesterday we stayed home from church. Ian and I were tired and achey, Micaela and Asher had high fevers, Nathaniel was coughing and snotty, and Gabriel was simply Gabe. We took a long drive in the country, got lost, decided to visit my Grandparents, had lunch, went to an apple orchard for dumplings and ice cream and then came home through Chattanooga, where Micaela picked up a winter wardrobe. I wanted to share some of Nathaniel from yesterday.

At breakfast: Dear God, thank you for the food, and thank you for making the food, and thank you for making your own glory cause you're soooo beautiful. Amen.

In the car, Micaela: Nathaniel, where are you going?
Nathaniel: to heaven.

At lunch: Dear God thank you for all the food, and for the corn, and for making our bodies, and for giving us the food to make our bodies grow cause we want to grow. Amen.

Birth choices- a vent

I'm sooo discouraged about this upcoming baby's birth. The OBs here are unwilling to allow me to labor. They have given me a choice of a) schedule an early c-section (because hospital policy requires the OB to be present at a VBAC labor at all times, and they don't feel like sitting around to wait on me-a paraphrase of his words) or b) homebirth. Of course he was not that keen on the homebirth option. Anyway, I'm not so much either. This pregnancy has made me nervous because of my bleeding episode (which I suppose is entirely normal, just not for me), and also I'm not ready to choose from any of the available midwifes. One is just too far away. She's the same distance as our last midwife, but she doesn't do in home visits for prenatal care. That's a lot of driving with a lot of little kids and a lot of gas. One is too expensive. Several are two new agey, feminist, weird for me. So what am I to do? Unassissted is just NOT an option. I'm 14 weeks now. I need to choose soon, or no one will want to take me but the surgeon. AARRGGHHHH

In the middle of all this turmoil, I don't even feel ready to care for a new baby yet. I'm not excited like I should be, I'm nervous. I do not want a third cesarean. I do not want delivery complications. I want to have all this settled so I can get excited about having a baby. What I need is to find out I'm having a girl and start pulling out my cute little girlie hand-me-downs. Or find out I'm having a boy and start buying cute clothes because all of my boy stuff looks ragged.

What I really need is direction and peace. I only know one place to get that.

The hobgoblin

I have been very patiently waiting for UPS to bring my packages. I am absolutely sure that the companies I ordered from at 8:00 Friday morning must have shipped my item Friday afternoon. They are great companies. It's UPS. I know it is. I had tricked myself into thinking that the little brown fairy UPS man would come and sneak up to my door to drop those packages, not Monday, but perhaps Tuesday if he were really magical. Wednesday it would be entirely possible. Thursday it is certain. He surely will deliver today, but he hasn't. He has ceased existance as the little brown fairy and become the great brown hobgoblin. Nasty creature, doesn't he know we're waiting? Nathaniel asks everyday for his lesson books! No one is permitted to leave me a comment explaining that the companies I ordered from have up to a week to process my order before shipping. Don't say it. It's that nasty imp- the hobgoblin UPS man.

***Update: I have been informed via email that at least one of my packages is in route via DHL. My humble apologies go out to the nice brown fairy UPS man. Ugly yellow trollish DHL guy. :)

An afternoon update

Micaela finished everything, stamped for a while, watched a movie with me while the boys were still asleep and Asher played, and then we started the cookies. She's been good all afternoon.

Baking cookies woke everyone up, and we are anticipating our first batch.

Confession: I didn't have chocolate morsels. I chopped baking squares. I licked the cutting board before I washed it. Something has happened to me in the last five years. I have lost my last shred of dignity. Next I'll be licking the board and forgetting to wash it. When I am a mother retired (when my children don't live at home and are not with me daily) perhaps I will recover myself.

A nice day

Monday was horrible. Micaela has had a disobediant streak in the last week or so. Monday it became outright rebellion. We did not do any school (or anything but clean); although, I did attend a Bible study. It was nice becuase it gave me a break from her and gave her some time to be alone. She was in the room with the adults because I thought it inappropriate after having such poor behavior at home to get to play with all her friends. I gave her busy work to do, and she did it quietly. By the end of the day she was ready to obey as she put it, and Ian and I had a very serious talk with her. She is on trial this week. Tuesday her behavior was 100% improved, even though she was not allowed to attend her ballet class. She did her Tuesday and Monday lessons in half the time that it normally takes to do one day's lessons- because she didn't fidget or whine a bit. She actually had a cheerful disposition! Read: A joyful heart makes a cheerful face said over and over and over again :) I only had to spank her one time. Compared to the day before it was a miracle. She only whined/complained 4 times that day. I kept track because Ian asked me to. Today has been about the same. She's finished with all the school we've done so far, and she's done it neatly and correctly. We played outside for an hour or so, had a snack, she collected acorns and now they're all in bed. And she didn't even complain about taking a nap. It's like a different child. I don't remember the exact verse, but it's something like Evening, morning and noon I will complain and murmur to you and you hear and bring peace to my heart- psalm 55: i forgot. So anyway, that's all I could think of Monday night/Tuesday, and God has heard and brought peace to our hearts/home.

In other BIG news: TODAY NATHANIEL COUNTED TO SIX!!!!!!! I told him I'm going to bake cookies this afternoon, and he can have as many as he can count! He is soooo excited.

First Steps

Today Asher took his first steps, but instead of letting go and taking a wobbly step andt then falling, he took five steps from the couch to the play kitchen! He didn't wobble a bit! YEAH! I hope I get the next ones on camera.

Fall must be coming soon!

It was cold last night. We left the windows open- probably too far open, and woke up around 4 shivering. After checking on the kids (whose windows were only cracked) we piled on the blankets and enjoyed the chill. Tonight is supposed to be colder. We are not ready for cold weather. We have been anticipating (but ignoring) our need for a propane tank. We know that we can't make it through the winter without heat. However, we did not anticipate our clothing dilemma! Today I went to get Gabriel a pair of pants because he's grown out of everything he has. I went to the garage to snag a pair of Nathaniel's from last year when I discovered that Bubba totally skipped 3T winter stuff. We don't have any that I can find! That is almost unbelievable. We've had hand me downs from lots of people, not just Nathaniel. How could we miss 3T long sleeves/pants? I must be mistaken. I'm going to have to check the attic.

In other news, today was not a school day, but we did use clay to make a cuneiform tablet like they did in Sumer. I mean, if they used flat head screw drivers and rolling pins. The kids enjoyed that, but only daddy was skilled enough to actually shape the figures.

Also, Ian did a little science reading for Micaela, Nathaniel, and Gabriel. We were all in the play room (which is now gated), and Ian asked "Who likes butterflies and moths?" All three said ME! as loud and long as they could- right as they were finishing Asher bellowed "ME!" That was funny. While they were reading, Asher stood at the boys work bench (that we had just organized) and took all the screws out of the tray and placed each one in a different hole on the table. Very clever we thought, but not quite our idea of organization. After he was done playing tools he unloaded the bottom shelf of the kids' book case and held a loud conversation with his shape sorter wagon. The kids all call him Asher Disaster. I guess he deserves it. Then the science lesson was over, and the kids all had brownies and a cup of milk before worship and bed.

Ian and I are sitting up quietly and it's so nice. We worked hard to finish some small projects around the house today, and although there's quite a bit to be done (the house is not clean by any stretch of the imagination) it feels good to know that some things that have been nagging us are finished.

Back again :)

Well, this is what is going on in the Big Woods-

We're studying Ancient Egypt and having fun. I'm stealing De'etta's craft ideas because I can't buy my own books right now :) and Micaela's having a good time. She definately identifies idols as evil, so that makes me feel better. We've enjoyed Sumerian cuneiform and Egyptian Hyroglyphics.

I've been faithfully doing math, and Micaela loves it just as much as ever.

Nathaniel daily asks me for lessons. He's learning the short vowel sounds (very slowly), and the numbers 1,2 and 3. He already knows to say 4,5,6,7,8,9,10- but three is VERY hard to remember when your name is Nathaniel. He can recognize the written numbers 1 and 2. He can definately count up to two objects, but anything three or more is classified as 'a lot' with an especially serious look on your face :) It's really funny.

His coloring is improving as is Micaela's drawing. We have started a nature notebook. We find a still bug or catch a lively one and talk about it's body and the shapes of its body parts. As we talk, Ian or I will draw the shapes and fill in the details to make a decent looking bug. Micaela has really enjoyed this. She 'copies' our drawing on her own, and then I write a few lines about it- where we found it and something distinctive about it. She copies that along with a date and a name into her notebook, and she loves it. I'm using a primary lined journal with space at the top for pictures.

She still loves spelling even though I'm incorporating daily oral spelling quizes over the words. I may be a little crazy- I didn't realize till halfway through the book, that she was not learning to spell. She was just doing the lessons like puzzles with the list in front of her. Of course, I knew that, but it took a third person to suggest to me that perhaps she should be spending more time on the lessons and actually remembering how to spell the list words. Duh. Even a genius can't think of everything, right? Anyway, she's still covering two lessons a week, but the words are so simple at this stage that she can spell most of them before the lesson. Except today, the word was fill- not fil. I explained twice (after a second mistake) that we double the l after the short vowel sound (I feel smart because I learned that off of an amazing phonics webpage). By the end of the lesson she said 'I know mom, just like the s in boss.' Ok, she learned something! And I don't think she's ever read boss. I was impressed with the application- but how will I explain the difference between but and butt? Could someone teach me phonics?

Inquiring minds want to know why love, cove, shove, Jove, dove the bird, and clove are not said the same way. My amazing phonics page was only an excerpt from a book, and so it did not cover exhaustive phonics.

School is very nearly all I think about right now, so I don't have anything especially fun to say. Asher is a mess, and he's watching everything. He's just waiting for the right moment to get in on the action. He loves to find his way into the boys' room and play with their toys while they are playing. Gabriel is still attempting to use the potty consistently. He thinks it's much easier if you're naked. Unfortunately, I can no longer allow him to be constantly naked, so he's had a few accidents.

Days have been much cooler here, and the children have enjoyed playing outside and having picnics. We've been fascinated by the humming birds using the feeder on our front porch. They're not afraid- they just buzz right by your head. If they weren't so neat, they'd almost be a nuisance.

On tickers and updates..

I assume that anyone looking at my blog is seeing my tickers mess up. Or is it just me that sees the set up icon posted everywhere? If they're not working in a few days, I suppose I'll just remove all the tickers and start posting other buttons to hold my interest.

In other news tomorrow (or probably Monday) Micaela and I (and a partially attentive Bubba) will begin studying ancient cultures who placed a heavy emphasis on idols. I'm nervous about teaching this subject, but I'm convinced that I shouldn't avoid it. We begin with Egypt and before the end of the year will have covered Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome and scattered others in between. Up to today our history has mainly been focused on creation, flood, and 'prehistory' so this has not been an issue. I'm certain that studying the Egyptian pantheon has value- knowing their beliefs helps us understand God's dealings with the Egyptians in scripture, but I don't want magic or the occult to become fascinating. I want to cover Egyptian history without skipping or emphasizing their religion, but I'm chicken to introduce it.

Also- yes, Mother, I know it's about time- I'm determined to start math next week. It's just one more thing, and I've been avoiding it. Micaela asks daily for math, but it has lots of 'pieces' and my house is already such a mess that I don't want the pieces out. But I'm going to do it. And I'm going to continue to organize my mess. First I'm shipping 3/4 of all my toys to my mother's house, which is perfectly okay since most of them came from her and she's on vacation and cannot defend herself. haha. Not really; although, most of them did come from the collective grandparents' quarter. In reality I'm saving for rubbermaids. And I think we're going to do a two week toy rotation. I'll probably get busy on that about the time I start nesting with this baby, so I'll let you know how it's going in February.

Which brings us to the baby. No news I guess is good news. I have not bled again; although, I'm tender in the abdominal area. Not painfully, but noticeably so. I am concerned that maybe I'm bleeding internally a little. I have no idea- I did not discuss this with a doctor, it just makes me wonder since she said the word hemorrage (which I'm sure I can't spell) and I feel like you do after you have a baby and your fundus is huge and needs to be massaged. My next ultrasound is scheduled for the 13th. Hopefully we will see the baby growing normally and the blood clot shrinking or gone. Also I'm very grateful to the church we've been attending. They have called or visited us several times since Tuesday morning (it's only been two days, but it's a small community). It's nice to know that so many people are concerned and praying for the baby.

I just can't seem to keep up :)

Well, for a couple of days, the kids and I went to my mom's house. They got to swim in the pool for the last time before it's closed for the season. They really enjoyed it, and this was the first time that I've gotten to see them swim. Gabriel and Nathaniel have NO fear. It really suprised me that Nathaniel was that adventurous. Micaela is super cautious in the water, but not paralyzed. I don't think she'll learn to swim well if she continues this way. She fears going under, hates water in her nose and won't even try to really swim. Gabriel just bounced around the pool from one foot to the other, never even minding whether he could stand or not. He'd also jump in over his head and wait to be rescued (without fear). Scary!
Anyway, when we got home I got busy with schooling, cleaning, cooking and hosting. We've had several families over for dinner lately. Micaela got to attend a birthday tea party and really enjoyed herself. Afterwards that family came over, and we used our campfire to make smores. It was hot, but the kids loved playing in the back yard and eating junk.

I'll post a few pictures of the kids later, but mostly please pray for our baby. I have a subchorionic hematoma- a hemorrage between the placenta and uterus. It is small, but may lead to miscarraige or later to preterm labor/placental abruption. Ian and I are very close to choosing a hospital delivery this time for that reason. We need peace about my care-giver, the place of delivery, and the health of the baby.

Just for fun...

Take the Quiz here!

:: L I Z Z Y :: You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of silliness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed.

Like mother like daughter :)

I have been reading to the kids from The Hobbit this week. The boys are mildly interested in the words hobbit, dwarf, troll, goblin, warg, elf, and shape-changer. Micaela is following the story pretty well; however, I can never really tell as I'm reading that she is actually listening. She sits with her own book, a big hardback copy of Heidi, and sounds out all the small words from every page. Yes, she is reading, speaking, and listening all at one time. How do I know? I can see and hear her reading, and she's able to retell the story of the hobbit the next day before we start reading again. It's funny and impressive all at once. Scary too, I always skated through school not really paying attention. I learned enough, but I know I should have been more diligent and pushed myself harder. I hope I can challange her as she grows.

Firsts

Asher's first homemade, whole wheat cookie. The first fruit (a nectarine) that I allowed him to gum to death all by himself.
His first round of funny food face pictures (we did this for all the kids).
Trying to share.
His not quite first carousel ride, but the first that he really, really liked.
His first apron? Ask Micaela, maybe it's his first time playing doll, except he is the doll?Asher's first hat. Well- it's Gabe's or Bubba's hat, but it's cute!Asher's first boots!

Just in case you ever wondered...

Two year olds can NOT be trusted with a bottle of sunscreen. Even if it is sitting high up out of reach on the back porch. It is possible that the two year old may empty the entire brand new bottle out on your concrete porch and then commence rubbing it in. He may then enlist aid from his conspirators- those elder siblings who should be guiding him away from wrong by their exemplary behavior. If any of that should happen my advice is to give them a big bucket of water and some scrub brushes. Let them scrub the porch for a few hours. It won't help. The sunscreen will be there for weeks, and be slippery for days, but it'll be just as fun for them as rubbing it in was. Did they learn a lesson? No, they begged for days to clean the porch again.

Up late?

You never know what's sleeping in your bathroom...

On climbing trees...

Micaela loves to climb trees. Nathaniel desperately wants to love to climb trees.
He finally made the attempt and was so proud of himself. Now he climbs everthing- as long as Micaela does it first! He's followed her to the top of the swingset, to sit on top of the play house, to the top of Ian's truck, and now into several of our smaller trees.
Gabriel is still working on actually getting off the ground.

A small miracle...

Since the 27th of July I've been following the progress of a black swallowtail caterpillar. I had no idea it would stay on the same plant for so long or somehow manage not to be eaten by a bird (or anything else)! It is still there today, and it has grown. Last week, Micaela and I both drew him into our nature notebooks. I can't wait to see if he makes a chrysalis there. I should have been taking pictures, but I never thought he'd make it. It is raining quite hard just now, but when it's sunny again I plan to get Micaela to take pictures of it. I just read that these caterpillars overwinter in the chrysalis, I suppose he's got a while to go!

Some recent photos

This is a picture of the front of our new house.. and the back of the 'new' van.
This is the back before the play equipment came from my Grandparent's yard.
These are the kids modeling the barn. I know you can't see much of the barn. It's a barn. It needs paint. It has a tin roof. It's dark and dirty inside.

This is Micaela and Nathaniel playing train. Appaerantly this is what you wear when you travel by train to California. Those are the floors Ian laid, but in this picture we hadn't yet put down the baseboard. I know. I have a fettish for green walls, I guess.

These are a few of the lilies that bloomed before we left for California. This picture was taken in the small lily bed. I didn't get pictures of the big one in bloom, but you can see we have a lot of colors.

This is Asher being confined in the stroller, so I can take pictures :)

Science Lessons

Last week we read in our nature reader about how the mommy mud wasp (I've always called it a mud dauber) makes a mud nest, lays her egg, and fills the nest full of spiders for her baby to eat when he hatches. Then she flies away and never comes back. We talked about how God provides for the baby mud daubers through their mother. Today we found a mud dauber's nest in the barn. Ian took it out and handed it to Micaela (in my mind I'm wondering if those spiders are alive or dead...). He didn't hear our lesson, so we explained to him what we had learned. Ian decided to cut open the nest so we could see inside. We found a white grub (the baby mud dauber) and about 10 living black widow spiders. The grub was eating one when we opened it. I've decided that mud daubers are NOT pests, and we will leave their nests alone :) It was fun to get to see the science lesson. Micaela said it was so cool.

On Southern hospitality

We've been blown away by the friendliness of our neighbors. All month we've had several people bringing squash, okra, cucumbers, tomatos, and now corn to the house. Last week we picked blackberries, and tomorrow we're supposed to go to P&J's down the road to learn to shuck corn. We can take as much as we want to freeze. Tonight the neighbor accross the road sent some more corn. His daughter and granddaughter brought it as we were reading stories to the kids, and putting them down to bed. She probably didn't know what to think of us. I'm sure my mouth was wide open-I said thank you like 10 times, and I didn't know whether to say yes or no when she asked us if we like okra. Micaela said okra was her favorite, so I guess we'll be getting some later. I feel guilty taking all this produce! I'm very grateful though. Money has been tight, and this has definately been a blessing!

Things I hope to remember and get into scrapbooks...

A couple months ago Asher became fascinated with the kitchen trash can. It has a lid that flips up and down. He was probably just 9 months old. I would say 'no-no' really loudly and firmly, and he knew to stop- momentarily. Once I said 'Asher No No,' and he turned, made an ugly face, pointed his finger, and said "DO DO" (as in dodo, not due). At that point I knew he was ready for spankings. hehe

On the subject of aquiring verbal skills, just a few days ago Asher was laughing at his brother Nathaniel and tried to say Bubba several times. We were at the doctor's office, and Nathaniel was doing something funny. Asher would laugh and clap and say Bub-bah.

While we were at the office, Micaela got some shots. They boys were absolutely amazed. They watched in wonder as the nurses uncovered the needles and put one in each leg. They were long needles! I couldn't stand to look. Nathaniel tried to comfort his sister when it was over. He has a gentle and quiet spirit. It's just not often part of his body :)

Today Nathaniel put together his very first interlocking puzzle. We have puzzles with three pieces, five pieces, eight pieces, and so on. He decided to start with the 24 piece puzzle. It took him about 40 minutes to work it. 15 minutes to take it apart piece by piece, and then 30 minutes to work it again. Then he took it apart and worked it again. I'm very proud of him. It's funny to see him concentrating so hard.

In other news, Gabriel has spent the last several weeks in his new-to-him yellow rubber boots and Nathaniel's fireman hat. He's worn them to Walmart, to the office, to the park, to Nana's, to Nana's YMCA pool, to VBS at the church, to the playground, to the doctor, and of course daily in the yard. He does not wear socks. His feet- and his precious boots- STINK!!!

Also Gabriel prays. This is typical meal time prayer. Thank you for Bubba, thank you for Caela, (squinting around the table) thank your Mama, thank your for Caela, thank your for Bubba, thank you for Daddy, and thank you for Asher baby, and thank you for MY BOY!!! Gabriel calls himself My Boy. If you ask his name he says right away- No, I'm not Gabriel, I'm the BOY! When he sees his reflection he says That's My BOY!

I know I have things to remember about Micaela too, but I can't remember them. She is so filled right now with the wonder of the growing things at our new home. She loves the gardens, the trees, and yes, the mushrooms. She's also into bug collecting. She picked up a gigantic buzzing/singing cicada- as big as her hand- to stick in her bug cage today. YUCK!

It's been a while

It has been a while, and so many people have asked us to keep updating. Here we go. We officially own our home in Georgia, about 25 minutes from Ian's office in downtown Chattanooga. We have 6 mostly cleared acres on the top of a mountain (more like a hill). It's really pretty property, and there are flowers and flowering shrubs everywhere. The children love all the room to play, and we look forward to adding some livestock and a vegetable garden in the coming years.

We live in a rural area and have been attending a small local church. We really enjoy the teaching and feel very welcomed by the people. My dad and his parents were members of that church when my dad was in grade school. Some of my grandparents' cousins and nieces still attend there. Several different families have brought us fresh garden produce, and once we got to visit a cow farm around the corner to go pick the biggest blackberries I've ever seen. Country churches are definately different.

As the newest ticker proclaims- yes, we are expecting our fifth baby, and (hopefully) she will be born before Micaela turns 5. Since we all want a little girl, I half expect twin boys. I think that would be a fine joke, and be a lot of fun for Nathaniel, Gabriel, and Asher as they grow. I have experienced some morning sickness (day-long sickness) this week, and that is NOT normal for me. I've never been sick during a pregnancy- except once with food poisoning. Anyway...

We are also planning a big cowboy birthday party for Nathaniel and Asher in August, so if you live close plan to be here :) I hope to let the kids have a camp fire and make hot dogs and s'mores that day- in addition to having target practice with coke cans and water guns, roping practice with a 'cow bale', and either horse or wagon rides. Even though I'm completely horrible at crafty things, I intend to make cowboy and cowgirl outfits for my kids. We'll see how that goes.

I have to go now because my little Ash is wanting me. He makes faces and grunts. I have faith that some day he'll talk. I suppose he'll be nearly two though before he's interested.

A Day at the Dock.

Today we took the kids fishing for the very first time. God is awesome. Both Nathaniel and Gabriel caught fish. Micaela decided that fishing was boring and that she didn't really like it that much. That was ok with me because I was really hoping that it could be a guy thing for the boys and I.

The night before we went, Nathaniel carefully informed us that we would not be using hooks because they hurt the fish. I think he became confused when he heard me tell Becky that I was thinking of taking the hooks off the first time around so that no one would get "hooked". I'm glad I didn't. Nathaniel managed to hook his pants while checking on his worm, but that was the worst we had to deal with all morning.

Becky and Asher came along too. If you have geese or ducks guard them when Becky is around. I don't think Becky has ever fully grown out of the "Duck chasing" phase. Since we have been married I have seen her chase ducks, geese and pigeons in at least 5 different states and as many countries. Today she was close enough to pet one on it's back. The kids thought it grand fun until the goose turned and let out an enormous HOOOONNNK!

After fishing the kids and I went out to the new house for a soil inspection. I love watching the kids as they first get out of the van. Micaela hits the grass running and immediately takes a victory lap around the yard. The boys, on the other hand, fall out of the van collecting sticks, rocks, ants and anything else that can be used to hurt or be hurt with.

Micaela has taken to fixing her own hair. She does fairly well most days. Below is not a picture of one of those days. Every now and then she thinks everything in her hair tie box would look nice in her hair...all at once. Below is a picture of one of these days.

The Cutie Bug Ball

These pictures were taken week before last. I took Cinderella, her cowboy, their tiger, and their brother to a park to ride the carousel- where I actually couldn't take picture because I was holding Asher, trying to keep Gabe from falling off his horse, and waiting patiently for Nathaniel to fly off of his. After the park we ate lunch with Granddad (my dad) at a deli and then had ice cream. The kids loved it. Afterwards we met Nana (my mom) and walked from the park- which is on the Northshore of the River- accross an old bridge to the south side to visit the Aquarium. It's a big river. Ever since Gabriel has noticed the rivers as we cross. They walked in their costumes and everyone admired our little party. Several people stopped my mom to compliment her on her cute children. I know. I still don't look old enough to have more than one child.