The house is still and quiet, and as I sit at the computer I can see the most lovely sunrise occurring, in all it’s streaks of pinkness (in a light purple sky)….Seth is moving around inside me, he must be getting bigger because I can feel him bumping into my ribs, his movements are more like shifts now, rather than kicks….the children are all starting to stir, I hear the bathroom doors open and close now and then. The door to my room is open so I can see and hear the fireplace in the livingroom. I do so love the way a quiet morning begins, gently and peacefully, with my heart thankful that the Lord protected us all through the night.
This morning I thought I would just sit and look at some random photos from our weekend. We had such a nice one, full of family time, eating, shopping, church-family time, fun and games……..
I think my favorite memory is from Saturday morning, when David came into the kitchen, with still-sleepy eyes, “Do I go to school on this day?” he asked…..”Nope!” I said, tapping him on the nose, “Today is SATURDAY!!!!!”
“Then we can make pancakes!” he replied, and how could I refuse? I offered to turn on cartoons but he insisted on helping. What a dear boy. I usually run around setting the table and warming the syrup as the pancakes fry…..and thankfully David was keeping an eye on things. He waiting patiently for his pancake, and hoping to help me flip them over. He even has an apron on. One of David’s quirks is that he does NOT like syrup on his pancakes, “JUST BUTTER”.
Here is my family, all sitting around the breakfast table. The paper taped to the china cabinet is our homeschooling cursive writing chart. Behind the door is a bathroom, and behind the shutter-type doors is my washer and dryer.
Rich and I thought Caleb was cute when we noticed him putting his dishes in the sink after breakfast. And, he didn’t throw them in this time!
We decided to go to the mall later on that morning. After everyone was dressed, I took a picture of my husband and his boys (Grace wasn’t in the mood to get her picture taken).
And Jacob took these next ones:
At the mall, we ate lunch at an awesome restaurant for the very first time, Bertucci’s, *I LOVED IT*, we all did. It’s an Italian place. The waiter gave the kids the typical crayons and menu to color, and also a ball of bread dough. The kids got to form it into whatever shape they wanted and then they baked it for them. David was so surprised, “I made bread?” The food was excellent, especially the bread basket….the rolls were warm from the oven, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, served with a plate of olive oil and spices. Rich and I shared a cup of soup and a small pizza (with fresh mozzarella, and veggies, and goat cheese on it). The children each picked their own meals and everyone ate everything all up. It cost Rich and I an extra 25 dollars to bring our youngsters along on our “date” but it was totally worth it. The meal was a lot of fun and the kids kept saying things to make us laugh. For instance, Ethan (after the meal was all done and he was stuffed) said, “Wow. When I came in here my pants just barely fit me…and now they DON’T.” 
Back at home, Rich and I had a lot of fun with a new game. Maybe you need an idea for a gift to give for Christmas…..I can recommend this, it’s called “Bananagrams”. Our three older kids can play, too.
On Sunday, we went to church and then to Costco to get our Thanksgiving turkey. Guess what? While we were at Costco, we bought gas for the van at only $1.79 a gallon! It was almost unbelievable!
All the sitting at church really did a number on my lower back and hips so needless to say, I spent almost the entire evening on the couch, trying to rest up and get comfortable again. Rich was in charge and when it was time for bedtime snacks, I took these next couple of pictures. When Rich needs to talk to all the kids at once, he makes them all sit up straight and fold their hands. Jacob and Caleb each had their lego creations in front of them.
Then, when the bedtime snacks were all planned, he got them all standing and lined up in an orderly fashion. I laugh when I look at this picture. Jacob, Ethan, and Grace have had a few years of experie
nce and are standing like little soldiers, while David is flapping his arms and little Caleb was just about to twirl out of line……(back to his legos)…..
But he quickly got placed back at attention……
They all marched to the kitchen, where the boys all had cereal.
But Grace had her favorite snack, *which she eats almost every day*, an entire can of corn.
At least she’s getting lots of fiber! What a girl.
And that was our weekend in a nutshell. I went right to bed last night at 7:30 and watched a little bit of “Sense and Sensibility” before turning out the light at 8:30. (Rich stayed up watching football in the livingroom). I’m up this morning feeling nice and rested and ready to face the week. Thanksgiving is Thursday, Rich and I will be home making our meal together. We are looking forward to a cozy day of spending time together eating and watching football.
While I was writing all this, Jacob, Ethan, and Grace all got into their snowsuits and are outside skating around the edge of the ponds (not the middle!!!). It’s been so cold that the ponds are both frozen over like sheets of glass.
And, Davy-do made his own egg breakfast. He wanted to surprise me.
I suppose it’s time for me to get David ready for the bus. I hope you all have a wonderful day.
Love, Shanda
Good to be Home 
What a beautiful family! I love reading about you time together. Thanks for sharing 🙂
What a nice weekend, Shanda. The pictures of your little brood lined up listening to the “Captain” are so cute. 🙂 I love the loving and tender insights into your home. Your a very blessed lady. 🙂
What a fun, family post.
I love the picture of the kids sitting and listening to their father speak. What an incredible gift to them to have a father they can respect and look up too. So glad you had a happy weekend.
CUTE pic of David staring at the pancakes. You are glowing, Shanda. Hmmmm ~ I love Scrabble ~ may have to check that game out ~
Sounds like a lovely weekend. We like Bertucci’s too. Was the mall crazy when you went? We went that way in the afternoon and it was insanely busy.My kids came home from church yesterday morning sick. 😦 Ainsley’s fever seems to be gone this morning, but she’s still coughing away. Lorelei is still sleeping, and I hope she sleeps off the sickness. We’re deciding whether we’re going to leave today or not…
This was an enjoyable post, for many reasons! But I have to talk about Bertucci’s!!! 🙂 We ate there recently in Alexandria, VA for the first time… and definitely NOT the last time!The food was fabulous! We all loved it!I didn’t know that it was a chain.
Have a great Monday!
what a beautiful post! was your life always this tranquil? LIke when you were a “new mom” with a couple toddlers/preschoolers? Sometimes I read your blog and wish I could just come observe for a day, be a fly on your wall perhaps, to get some pointers on child rearing, gentle mothering, ect. Sometimes I feel like I’m a child raising children…*sigh* You inspire me Shanda! THank you =)
Love hearing about your weekend with the family we have a few sickys over here 😦
*****The first time you went to Bertucci’s was with me! (and the ladys from the church)! LOL …remember we got lost trying to find the place in the dark!
Talk to you soon love- your favorite one and only sisiter
Oh I want a copy of the first picture of you and Rich I love it!
@annamanda – That was Bertucci’s? How funny, on Saturday it seemed like a totally different place…..wonder why? LOL Of course, that ladies night out was about 3 years ago now and I had newborn Caleb with me, too…..anyway, we’ll have to meet at the one in M. sometime when you’re done with work! xoxo
HAHAH yeah that would be fun by the way you look great in all the pictures and I am not just saying that!
i’m showing this to mark! what a great idea to have them all lined up and attentive, my kids are usually scattered all over the place and we have to catch them to talk to them!you would have thought we would have figured this one out by now! LOL
That is one HUGE bottle of dish detergent! Wow! LOL!
I love how they baked the dough that the kids got to shape, my kids would love that!
The sitting up with hand in the laps reminds me of the Gilbreths, I am impressed!
Cute pictures of you and Rich!
What a great weekend you all had. I was just thinking this morning about games for the children. Bananagrams might work for the older ones. What games do you all play with the younger ones? I think I will need something besides UNO really soon or I will go crazy. Any suggestions.
A whole can of corn! — what a nice post of family fun!
RE: Picture #2 . . . So, when Seth arrives, who gets to squish up against who at the table? I saw your empty spot and wondered if you have a leaf for your table????!!! LOL
I love that Grace ate a can of corn! Too cute. Just curious about the snack before bedtime. . .is that a Sunday night thing? The pictures of you and your husband are so lovely, you do glow. . What family fun, thanks for sharing.
Oh. .. we all love board games too. . .I’ll have to check that game out. Some of our favorites are
Ticket to Ride, American Trivia Game, Rummikub, The Settlers of Catan, Sequence, I spy word scramble, Clue and Apples to Apples.
Lovely post, Shan! You have such a beautiful family! Grace and her whole can of corn cracks me up. Haha!! Your gas prices are better than ours, but at least ours are lower than they have been. Happy Monday to you!
Thanks for the game recommendation. I think Christmas this year will be focused on things we can all enjoy together. I am amazed at how you fit all those pancakes on the griddle. I think mine is the same size, but I can never get my pancakes to be the same size consistently, thus only cook 4 or 5 at a time.
I am putting this out there but you can ignore…I’d love to hear more about your discipline ways with the kids, even if you prefer to message me instead of post. I’ve started doing something similar with my kids when I need their attention, sitting with hands on their laps.
yup…I got gas today for 1.59! It feels so goooooood. Just got done going to a bakery outlet and to the grocery story… few..I am exhausted. :]anyways hope all is well…looks like it is 🙂
I like corn like Grace does to….there are those SteamFresh bags with corn…you pu the bag in the microwave and it steams the corn so very nicely….little salt and pepper on that, and you og it…yummy!
my days start with a bang!!!!!!!! my loudest child wakes up and that pretty much starts everything rolling:)
You look real pretty in green. Jacob did a wonderful job with the photos!
I’m looking at everyone around the table. When the new baby comes you will all fit perfectly at that table! Three to each side and one at each end! You are so blessed and you are a blessing to us out here in Xangaland. Thanks.
An entire can of corn!?!?
(I know, sad. You write this beautiful post and all I can comment on is the CORN!!!! LOL!)
I love the pictures…they’re all so wonderful. I feel so sad that we keep missing each other. 😦 I was so sick yesterday, I didn’t want to bring it to church, but I tried going last night, and ended up leaving early. I miss seeing you. I hope you have a lovely day today.
Hi Shanda!
I loved your post. Your family is beautiful and I really like your husband’s “hup to” teaching with the kids. They look like they respond to it very well! My Rich, would love that too since he is former military. He has been known to implement some of the military ways with our kids at times and it is such a neat, orderly way of doing things and the kids don’t mind a bit. They like the order. Thanks for sharing such a fun family week-end with us. And….yes, you are glowing! I would love to see a tummy shot!
Have a blessed day,
((((hugs)))))
Jana
That comment from Ethan was hilarious! Jeremy thought so too! A bowl of corn???? I really loved the pictures of you and Rich. Jacob does really well at taking pictures!
How cute is that picture of David watching the pancakes?! The one of all the kids lined up is cute to. That is funny that she eats a whole can of corn. Your pictures are very good. Your weekend sounds very enjoyable!
I saw that game on Amazon yesterday and thought “I wonder if that a fun game?” lol
Have a blessed day.
The pictures your guys is great. And the one of you and your hubby is really great too!I hope you have a truly wonderful Thanksgiving as a family as you worship HIM and thank Him for so many blessings!