Gratitude
Yesterday Caleb woke up for the third morning in a row with yucky red eyes so I finally took him to the doctors. He wore a bright red shiny super hero cape.
He was all stuffed up with a terrible sinus infection so he is on antibiotics now.
When we were waiting for the prescription to be done I took him to Panera. He was still wearing his cape but I never thought anything of it except for now and then when I noticed some smiling looks from other people.
When he ate his cookie, he lifted his plate to lick it.
I held myself back from reprimanding him, he’s only four; and I actually, thank you Lord, felt honored when he held his plate out to me and said, “Taste my crumbs.”
I did.
I had left Seth home with Jacob. He slept the entire time I was away. As soon as I got home, I threw my coat on the couch and went in my room, where I had left him two hours earlier in his playpen, sleeping. He was sitting up, silently. Oh how my heart melted when he smiled at me and I scooped him up.
Yesterday afternoon all the kids had dentist appointments. Even though Caleb had his sick eyes, I still went so that the four other children could have their cleanings. As we were waiting, I happened to notice David, with a chunk of hair missing, about the size of a silver dollar, off the top of his head.
“What happened? Why did you do that?”
“I did it at school, with a pair of scissors. No one noticed. It was sticky, so I cut it off.”
When he came out from his teeth cleaning, the dental hygienist congratulated me on my pregnancy, she found out from David. “When is she going to have the baby?”, she asked him. “In two years.” “Is she having a girl or a boy?” “A girl.” Bless his heart.
Ethan made a pillow this week. He embroidered a house and a sun on a piece of felt, and then I sewed it into a pillow for him. He is dying to crochet a blanket. I am worried about what all this time spent with me is doing to my boys. But then, after about a gazzillion swords made from all sorts of sticks and tin foil and cardboard, and lots of fighting and battling, I don’t worry anymore.
Last week, I was hugging Caleb on the floor and I wasn’t going to stop until he said something. He finally said, “Let. me. be. free.” I chuckled over that one for days.
Grace has been busy cutting paper snow flakes and taping them all over every wall of her room. She is also hanging paper chains across her windows. She’s getting ready for Christmas.
Jacob is excited to help cook Thanksgiving dinner. “You can sit on the couch, Mom.”
Yesterday I gave Seth a frosted sugar cookie (store bought) in his car seat and he loved it, but when he was done he was absolutely covered everywhere with thousands of crumbs.
We watched the movie “Babe” the other day and when it was over, the kids all clapped and clapped.
I’m really sleepy today but I’m happy. I love my life and am so grateful for each day.
My great Grandma made this sweater for ETHAN, 11 years ago. She has since passed away but her handiwork continues to make my heart happy. I have three of these sweaters for the little ones, and they’re so nice. They have a zipper up the back.
Freezing orange juice in cups, with a spoon, was all the rage here lately. Caleb made his own and said, “Mom! I can spill my own juice in a cup now!” Every time I turned around, he was checking to see if it had frozen yet.
We found an empty bee’s nest on a low branch and I took pictures of it. The next day, Ethan brought it to me, branch and all, so we hung it in the office.
I found Seth picking garbage. This is the reason why the can is up on the counter most of the time now.
I took this picture last week when I was too tired to make dinner and Ethan made it. He still needed my coaching though (he made homemade sausage and gravy) so I brought my rocking chair and sat while he cooked. At one point all the boys were around me so I snapped their picture.
One morning Seth woke up early and after breakfast, he fell back to sleep with his Papa.
It’s sunny but chilly outside today. I’ve been cozy in the house, spending time with the children. We are looking forward to a lovely weekend and tomorrow we have a special outing planned, which is Grace’s birthday gift from us this year. The days are flying by so quickly and so many things happen that it’s hard to keep track of it all. I just wanted to sit and type some little things out today, to help me remember.
Gratitude ought to be, and I believe it is, in the heart the most powerful force in
human motive. ~Charles Spurgeon
Good to be Home 
What an awesome quote! Love you. Loved this post. Gave me lots of smiles.
Sweet happy everyday things to remember! How is Rich feeling? So cute to see him and Seth sleeping together. My David used to wear his Indian costume I made everywhere when he was 8 years old. One of his older brothers soccer teammates asked, “why is your brother dressed up?” Another teammate answered for Dan. He said,”Because he is 8 years old and it is fun!!” I think people enjoy seeing someone having that kind of fun, don’t you?
“Taste my crumbs.” I just love that. I’m glad you did. I’m glad you treasure these special times and write your thoughts and memories down to treasure again later. I did that, and now, even though my girls are grown, I can enjoy remembering! I remember Hannah found and fell n love with this “old lady hat” at a garage sale, so I bought if for her dress up box. Well, she wore it everywhere. It was the dearest thing! A discreet navy blue with a veil. We got a lot of looks at the grocery store. LOL! She also found a pair of long white formal gloves, which nearly came up to her armpits! (She was four) She loved that hat and the gloves. Such a little lady!
What beautiful memories~ Thanks for letting us peek in ~Cinnamon
Such a nice day. 🙂 Lucy just let me get dinner in the crockpot. Incredible! 🙂 I have chatted on the phone, cleaned up a bit, and did a post that took me FOREVER. Waiting for my iphone to arrive!!!!
“Let. me. be. free.”Doesn’t the verbiage of children crack you up? When Jesse couldn’t take me to a cancer appointment, our pastor/friend drove me, walked around the mall with our girls, and then picked me up and returned us home. He said Luci had him laughing. At one point her sisters were teasing her about acting like a fairy princess. He said Luci’s reply to her sisters was, “Poof! Be gone with you!”I loved reading the rest of your memories, too!
lol lol my Drew does the same thing with the trash and ours is on the wash machine most of the time!!
What a great reason to cut off a chunk of hair – because it was sticky! 🙂
I wouldn’t worry about your boys being creative. My husband once crocheted an afghan when he was young and laid up with a cracked ankle. He turned out to be a man in a man’s world. I should dig the afghan out of the attic and take a picture of it!
I love reading about your family. 🙂 It makes me want to appreciate life more seeing it through your eyes.
What a clever place to put the nest!! And the garbage…eeek!! Sweet pictures Shanda.
Again…a wonderful reminder to enjoy this family God has given me. Guess I will try again tomorrow…
Well… since you are going to be pregnant for two years I can see how you’d be too tired to cook Thanksgiving dinner 🙂
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Such sweet memories! Aren’t you so happy that you have this blog? I sure am. :o)
Love the baby pic in the blue sweater, he looks like a literal doll! I love it !The crumbs on the plate is a perfect little true story on life…. I say yes, try the crumbs too… Just as you did. I kind of think God says….”Bravissimo Mommy”I really do.Some may say, take the time to smell the roses, today I say take the time to taste the crumbs….Beautiful. Enjoyed seeing all of your children and the red cape sounds wonderfulll. Love, ~amelia
I just love this post…was in your neck of the woods twice in October! Headed to MA for my high school reunion and visited Dad in Plymouth and then went back two weeks later for some family business. Thought of you!
I gave you an award. Come check out my blog to see what it is…..http://ajoyfulnusiance.blogspot.com/BTW, the bees nest is actually really pretty. 🙂
Why don’t I recognize the office?! I do not remember the white shelf being there. The bee’s nest looks VERY cool, I think I know where he found it, I saw it when I was there. I would want to cut it in half I have always wanted to see what they look like inside.Seth looks very peaceful sleeping with his Daddy!