t a d p o l e s
“And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life. . .and God created every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 21, 22
Yesterday evening, after Rich and I got back home from our date, I bundled up Sethie in a couple of blankies, took my camera, and went outside to sit in the sunshine, down on the bank of the pond, to watch David and Jacob as they worked on filling up a rubbermaid container with tadpoles. Caleb watched with me (he still won’t touch the things) and Ethan was fishing at the other end of the pond. They always love having Mama has an audience, they show me everything they catch. They talk to me the whole time. I love listening and watching them enjoy God’s big beautiful world.
“God does not give grades for studying the book of the heavens and the earth. His reward is to fill his students with wonder and praise…they gain the assurance that God understands them and is attentive to the details and needs of their life.” Bob Schultz
There were large tadpoles, fat ones, little ones. . . . .all the sizes made Caleb laugh and say, “They’re a fambly!” (family)
The littlest one, the baby of the fambly~
Jacob made a discovery. This creature was about 3 inches long and resembled an insect. Sure enough, when we looked it up this morning in Anna Comstock’s wonderful Handbook of Nature Study, we found that it was a Giant Water Bug. None of us could bring ourselves to touch it and the boys did not add him to the tadpole collection, he got put right back into the pond.
The boys….(by the way, Grace is normally right there with them, catching things, but she was in the house yesterday)…..
“God created the heavens and the earth to be experienced, not just read about or lectured upon.” Bob Schultz
Rich came out after a while and he took this picture of Caleb kissing his Mama. His kiss took my breath away, wow, Caleb is a good kisser! It lasted about 10 seconds and left Rich and I laughing and laughing.
(Too bad about 20 minutes later he started complaining that his tummy hurt and he bent over and threw up! Rich teased me by saying that he got sick from kissing me. I just hope I didn’t get Caleb’s bad germs. He was up a few times last night to be sick. . . .but so far this morning he is fine. There’s never a dull moment around here!)
I’m so happy that my sweet six children get to grow up in the country. However, even before we moved to this place three years ago, we enjoyed the outdoors in the backyard of our house in the suburbs, and all the different parks we visited. I think it’s important to be outside as much as possible. Not only do we learn a lot, we also sleep better at night! 
Here are some pictures that we took this morning. . . . . .
Is an occasional cup of coffee (half-caff) bad for an eleven year old? Ethan made himself a cup this morning and sat on the couch, enjoying it immensely. (Bethany, he has his new webkinz with him, that you sent for his birthday! That was so very sweet of you!)
Seth is enjoying some new dangling friends.
Is there anything nicer than a sweet smelling baby nuzzling into a Mama’s neck?
YES! Two nuzzling babies!
Seth put his little face right there in that spot in my neck and fell right to sleep. It was so hard to put him down, but I did, and he’s fast asleep right now in his playpen in the livingroom. He’s still sleeping long stretches at night. We all think that Seth is just the most wonderfullest baby ever. 
Grace said this morning, “Seth is a smart baby. Whenever he wants Mama, he just cries and she comes.”
It’s been so nice to sit here and write. I’ve missed blogging lately. I will probably share some random photos tomorrow from the past week that I haven’t had a chance to post yet. I have been busy, almost too busy to THINK, but as I sit and contemplate this morning, I find that my heart is still ever so very content and thankful for the life God has given me. Thank you, loving God, for blessing me with a nice calm morning, so that I could sit here and remember the many ways you bless my life. Thank you for my children and my husband, and our happy home. Thank you for friends and family, and for the lovely world you created for us to enjoy.
Well, it’s time to get on with my day.
Thanks for stopping by and visiting my little place here on xanga, God loves you!
Have a blessed day my friends~
Love, Shanda
PS, I CANNOT BELIEVE IT’S APRIL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good to be Home 
I have to admit it’s been a long time since I saw a tadpole:) I’m sure they boys love that. I agree with you about being outside. My kids are very much outside kids to. I love sitting out there watching them & listening to them play. I hope noone else gets sick. Ethan looks so grown up sitting there drinking coffee:) I don’t think it will hurt him. Enjoy your day and thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures with us!
That last pic ~ so very sweet ~
the tadpoles are H U G E !! i don’t think they grow like that up here do they?(maybe they do) i’ve missed your blogging too! (I love how Grace figured that out..thats sweet!)
Happy April to you! 🙂 I love that your kiddos get to explore the countryside…and that they are willing to pick up tadpoles (which Im not!). Right now I have a crawfish living in a goldfish bowl on my microwave. 🙂 My girls take the net to the creek and catch all sorts of yucky things and want them to live in the house with us. (rolling eyes).
I can see why your family think Sethie is the most wonderfullest baby! 🙂 He’s adorable.
Poor Caleb! I hope he is on the mend today. Marissa has been having a yucky tummy as well. She was sick Sat. Night and Monday night. So we went to the Dr. yesterday and she is now on antibiotics for an ear infection, and the Dr. thinks she has a stomach bug. She only ate a piece of toast yesterday…and the Dr said no dairy for at least 2 weeks! That is going to be the hard part…she loves her milk and cheese.
Thanks for sharing the photos – I hope to post later on today. Love You!
i love the pictures.
Great post — You have such a beautiful family! — I’m babysitting Levi today and we don’t do much “snuggling” anymore — he’s too wiggly!! Enjoy these times — believe me, it goes so quickly!!!
All I can say about the tadpoles is “ew”. I love baby in the neck. That is the best. I loved what Grace said about Seth being smart! So cute! Babies are geniuses. They know it works! 🙂 Have a good day, friend.
I love this post, Shan! Caleb’s kiss made me smile. Jake likes to give me long kisses too. He grabs my face with both hands and plants one on me. Makes me laugh! My kids love coffee too, so we keep decaf on hand. Bethany was happy to see Ethan enjoying his webkinz. Hope Caleb is all better. I still have sick kiddos. My friend had her baby boy yesterday, and I was able to go see her and hold the baby after Ryan got home last nigh. He is so sweet! Have a great day!
Loved all the pictures was your date with Rich nice? The picture with caleb and seth on your neck is my favorite! hope you are enjoying your wednesday…I am very excited about Saturday at your house! I would call to chat but can’t find my phone….uggggg have a great day love ya ~Sissy
What a great day–I love “taking” a peek into your home! Did you have a fun date night? When I was little I drank a lot of coffee milk-I don’t think I acquired a taste for coffee until after I had kids .
The tadpoles are great – how cool!
The babies snuggled in your neck is so so sweet!!!
The water bug was quite the discovery, it looks huge, no wonder they did not want to touch it!
Your hair looks really cute, how do you like having it that short?
I hope hope hope you do not get sick!
I am looking forward to the next blog with random shots from the past week!
Love, JO
What great springtime pleasures! I love the picture of the 5 boys!
I especially loved the tadpole fambly and the last one – as a matter of fact I enjoyed every one.
Oh, ooey, slimy tadpoles…..aren’t they great!! I love the miracle of the tadpole. What a transformation to a frog:). Seth is getting so cute. No more “little baby” look. Don’t you love those one piece outfits without the legs. Great for those half comatose night time diaper changes!!
Except for that MASSive water bug, this was the sweetest, most precious post! The tadpoles are adorable! But the children…ahh! THEY win the prize, especially that munchable little Seth! Love, GAil
The pictures look great, Shanda!! I loved the one of Caleb kissing you…how sweet! He will love it 15 years from now 😉 Seth is the sweetest baby! I love holding him when I am there =)Hope you have a nice weekend!! I will reply your message by the weekend when I figure it out then…Happy April — Janice
Oh….such a perfect post for the first of April!Glad you are doing better…God is good.Amen?Amen.
What a wonderful “fambly” you have! Love the picture of ALL the boys out enjoying nature…I am sure it will seem like no time at all and Seth will join in. In the meantime, he is such a cute little snuggler. So glad he is sleeping well. Caleb’s big kiss was so cute! I am sure mommy will treasure that pic. I prayed that you won’t get sick. As long as you limit the caffeine, I am sure the occasional coffee is OK for Ethan. I see so many kids get into the sodas and caffeinated energy drinks here…I worry about them stressing their organs. Thankfully my David is very practical about all that,and likes water, milk, juice, and tea. An occasional root beer is his treat.Lord bless you. Always love it when you can blog! Jenny
Ah Shanda I loved reading this:) I just love your fambly:):):)
I have a Jonathan that’s throwing up!!…Hey…Caleb and Jonathan:)
You’re so right to spend time outside….I so need to do that more as it balances me!! There always seems to be too much to do inside!
Did you get my PM a few days ago?
That water bug is Eeeww! YUCK! Aw! I can’t beleive how quick Seth is growing! Love you, Lish
Oh lovely spring!
It’s good to read your posts again. Life is grand isn’t it?
I think my favorite is the last pic…aww…!
I’m always amazed at your tadpole post each year. Your guys are true guys!!!Have a blessed day. ~Polly~
Ok, first of all YUCK on the tadpoles, but my boys would totally say, “cool.” :o) Seeing all your boys together in that is amazing! WOW! God has given you an army of soldiers right there! What a blessing and a serious calling to be moms. Seeing little Seth all nuzzled into your neck was precious! Oh how I miss that! Have a great weekend!
I love the quotes, I’m going to copy those down. I agree that lots of outdoor time is important..I’m trying to get even better about going out with the kids. I’d love to live in the country someday. We are blessed to have a small wooded area behind our house and 5 different nature preserves/state parks all within about 5-10 miles of our house. I took some pictures recently that I’ll post when I get a chance. 🙂
How WONDERFUL that you live in a place where your boys can be boys! I wish this for my son! Can I send him over your way? 🙂 As I read your posts and see your pictures I wish you lived closer to Michigan as you seem to be a “kindred spirit”. 🙂 God Bless, Erin