I got up last night at 1:45 to nurse Sarah-dumpling and found a hot feverish Caleb flopped on the couch, sound asleep. He is the latest sick child. Jacob is still sick, Ethan is almost totally recovered, Grace is recovered but is now afflicted with poison ivy, David is sick and can’t talk (lost his voice), Caleb is sick, Seth is FINE, Sarah is FINE, Mama is FINE.
And of course, as you know, Rich is away but I am feeling joyous today because he’ll be home tomorrow afternoon! I am thrilled that he can come right home instead of having to go into the office to finish up the day. HE said he could be here as early as 2:30. I can’t wait to see him.
I woke up this morning at 6:30 and found Caleb and David awake and watching a cartoon. The day started too early but I got a lot accomplished so far; pancakes and cheese scrambled eggs for breakfast. Babies changed and dressed (and one had a bath). David had a bath. I made hummingbird solution for my feeders, which is something I’ve needed to do for about a month. I watered my hanging baskets, cleaned up the kitchen, took my shower, and went to the library (I took Ethan and he watched S and S while I was in the library. I had to pay for a book……and check out more, along with some videos as a treat for the sickies.
On the way home from the library, I stopped by Mr. G’s garden produce stand to buy tomatoes. I noticed he had some perfect cucumbers so I bought a whole lot of those, and some dill. I came home and boiled up the brine to make more refrigerator pickles.
The kids are all watching Toy Story 2 and Sarah is asleep, so here I am for a moment!!!
I wanted to post some more pictures from our weekend back home, almost 2 full weeks ago now.
These are all from my parent’s house. We got together on Saturday evening. Two of my brothers were there, and my sister was also there. We missed our youngest sibling, Isaac, he couldn’t make it out this time.
********************************************
Dear Dad, patting little Sarah. My sister Amanda is showing Naomi Sarah’s little feet. We were all outside together, my brother David grilled some meat and we had a picnic dinner. It was a gorgeous evening.
My handsome brother Nathan, with his cutie pie daughter, Makayla Lynn~
My brother, David, and me…holding my two babies~
Mom gave us a garden tour. She absolutely LOVES to garden. Whenever I can’t reach her on the phone, I think she’s out in it, working. The book, The Secret Garden comes to mind….
Rich took this, because I wanted to be in the picture. That’s my tall son, Jacob, next to me, along with Ethan, my sister in love, Maria (David’s wife), and niece Abbie. My mom is wearing purple and is showing Abbie the growing things.
My sister in love~ Melissa ~ (Nathan’s wife)
Jacob picked a container of yummy cucumbers~
There are lots of wild blueberry bushes and all of us spent some time picking, including Seth. This was only Seth’s second time at Grandma’s house, I am sorry to say. I can’t believe how fast time flies by.
But Seth loved the berries and soon figured out how to pick them and eat them. Too bad he eats both the ripe ones AND the green ones! Mom sent us home with a bag of berries and they sure tasted WONDERFUL in pancakes and muffins. A taste of home, for sure.
We had a little bonfire so that the kids could roast marshmallows and makes s’mores. Once again, Uncle Dave was in charge and he did such a good job making sure they each had a turn and things didn’t get too crazy.
So, they thought it would be funny to stick a cucumber on a twig and roast that, too. We all encouraged Nathan to try it…turned out to be quite entertaining.
Mom laughed so hard.
Naomi gave Sarah a ride in the stroller with her doll:
We went back over on Sunday before we had to drive home. I got this one last picture of MOM, with Caleb and Sarah~
It was so good to be home again for a little while. I can’t wait to go back again soon.
Okay now that I am officially homesick I think I’ll try calling Dear Dad to tell him the pictures are up.
((love)) Shan
Good to be Home 
My kids LOVE Journey Cake, Ho! Such a fun book, but I always feel bad for Johnny having to leave…..I would’ve gone with him! =) Such a beautiful family you have, it must be so fun to get together with everyone. Your parents property is so pretty. I bet you miss them. I know for me, it would be hard to be apart from my family. Hope everyone feels better soon over there. Summer doesn’t seem like the time to be stuck in sick, those days are reserved for January! 😉 lol
Aaaw! I loved all the pictures. Your parents are so joyful to be surrounded by their family, it is evident in the pictures. When are you coming home again? Love, Lish
Happy family momnets. Love it! Seth reaching for berries is so cute. Sorry to hear that your kiddos are still sick. Praying they recover quickly. Rich will be home SOON!!
hope the kiddos get to feeling better,it’s never any fun thats for sure. Looks like you had a great time!
Praying the kids feel good again soon. Great pictures of some great quality family time. 🙂
Praying all in your house are well soon!!! Also, praying for your husband’s safe travels home. Going home does the heart good!!!!
Hope everyone gets well soon — and you stay well!! I can relate to poor Grace’s affliction as I got into poison ivy too and have it all over my ankles!! Bummer!! Love the pictures — so happy you could have some fun time with your family.
I hope the kids feel better soon & Rich gets home safely. Love your pictures. Such wonderful memories!
awwww…family times are some of the best! Glad you got to enjoy some time with yours~
what a wonderful time with your family. I often dream of what it is going to be like when my kids get older and have kids of their own. I look forward to sitting on our porch with kids, walking around on our acreage, picking vegetables from my garden. I see your mom and she looks so happy, so blessed. I am sure she is a very thankful woman to have such a beautiful family. So priceless Shan..
awww so glad to see your family could visit your family and your sisters in love and other family members seem to be wonderful. hopefully rich will be able to come home soon and hopefully the kids will be feeling well
I always love seeing the pictures of your beautiful family all together. What wonderful memories!! I hope that all of your little sickies get well soon, and that you stay strong and healthy!! I am so excited for you that your hubby is coming home soon… MY man is coming home soon, too, and every time I see or hear about any homecoming of any sort, I get double excited!
Great pics of the family all together. Hope your young ones are well soon. Blessings to you, Colleen
Your parents sure live on some gorgeous land!!! Wow, I can’t get over how lovely it is, they are very lucky. 🙂 Glad you guys had such a nice visit, I loved all the pictures. ❤
GREAT time great memories Love ya ~ SIS
When I read your post two words come to mind. LOVE and FAMILY
I don’t have access to picking blueberries, but, this time of year, I buy them cheap in the stores. Last year, I put them in sour cream snap-on-lid containers (one pint size) and froze them. We just finished pulling out last year’s berries and they were like brand new. I loved having REAL berries all winter!
Shannon, I’ve missed you and I didn’t even know it! Been away from Xanga for awhile, came back and started looking up old friends…. and immediately saw that your family has grown! My has it grown! I so love your posts, full of goodness, kindness and genuine love for your family, and all of us as you share your life with us. Thank you so much for posting. Your family is beautiful! God Bless!
What a wonderful time with family…your pictures transfer me there…almost as if I was an observer from the outside looking in!
Isn’t it great to sit in a circle like that and be with family?I wish I could garden like your mom does, it is very cool that you have her to call up for questions on the subject!I love the shot of just Nathan towards the end of the post, it is a great portrait, and I love the one of your mom laughing!