LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens. Psalm 8:1
My brother Dave just called to tell the children to go outside and admire……
MARS,
JUPITER, and VENUS.
Underneath the quiet sky, there were five excited children running around, and a happy mama snapping pictures, breathing deep the soft dark air, and smiling. Thankful.
It’s a gorgeous night for planet gazing.
more info about this week’s night sky here
((BEFORE))
I caught up with the laundry this weekend. Honest! 
Hello, friends! It’s so lovely outdoors. Spring has arrived, I do believe. I had a little pb and j picnic under the pine trees with Seth and Sarah today for lunch. Then, we went for a ramble down the trail, across the field, and through the woods. Sarah learned a new word, “discusting”. She learned it when she heard me say it after I step into some dark brown mud. We’re safely home now, and the two little ones are in their cribs for naps. I just made myself some peppermint tea and thought I would sit down to post pictures from my weekend. Did you have a nice one? Yes? We did, too.
On Saturday morning, I discovered that one of my birdfeeders was broken and on the ground. My chickens were happy with the available sunflowers seeds (on the ground so convenient for a treat) but I was not. Imagine my surprise when Rich went out to run an errand and came home with a new feeder for me, even nicer than the old one. It holds a lot of seed and looks so nice out there, the birds are already using it. Thanks, honey! I went outside to get a closer look (he even filled it up and hung it in place for me). While I was out, I saw one of Davy’s projects.
His intent was to catch a wild bird (and has had success in the past), but unfortunately, this time the chickens ate up all the seed, and the cats couldn’t resist attacking the string.
The girls (and I don’t mean my human girls, ha ha) are enjoying some tender new grass…..and the occasional bug or two.
I have all kinds of things coming up in the flower gardens. These are tulips. What a delight springtime is, to see the newness of life all around us~
Ethan did a little boating with the kiddie pool and a long stick. He calmly rowed his boat gently across the pond (it took a while, but E has patience).
At one point, he conversationally said to me, “I think there might be a small hole in this pool.” He kept rowing until he made it to the other side.
I saw a robin on the top of a pine tree.
Ethan went on to fishing. He sure loves the outdoors. About a month ago decided he would like to work in forestry conservation when he grows up. (stay tuned)
He was joined by a brother. Aren’t they so sweet?
And then another brother.
Rich found me outside (after he had a nice 2 mile run) and we watched the children playing, enjoying the beautiful cool spring afternoon.
Davy practiced his front flips on the trampoline.
And this is little Mr. Caleb. They both say, “Watch this MOM!” a lot.
Meanwhile, Ethan got his hook stuck in a tree. He climbed out to the end of the tree (bending it way over the pond), and fell in the icy water.
This was all done without any drama, with an occasional request for a stick or scissors. (we never did figure out why he needed the stick)
We didn’t know what was going on until we saw him at *this stage in the game*, back in the “boat”, and trying very hard to untangle his line.
He did get it, eventually, and was pink and shaking by the time he got his Dad’s pole reassembled. And that was the end of fishing (and boating) for the day.
This morning, in the early morning sunshine Sarah colored. She ended up doing more peeling off the papers on the crayons than coloring. She was quite industrious about it.
Seth was gone and quiet for 5 minutes (yes, that’s all it takes) and all of a sudden I wondered if he was gone outside somewhere, lost. Or writing all over a wall. Or, something worse.
Thankfully, I found him right away, in the boy’s room downstairs, playing with lego horses. He played by himself long enough for me to ask him several times if he was sick. “No!” he kept saying. You see, he is usually all over the place like the energizer bunny, and is hardly EVER quiet and/or focused for long periods of time. When Sarah discovered what he was up to, she also (of course) wanted a horse. A horse? Of course!
About a month ago, Davy brought home from school a form for SPRING PORTRAITS. Frankly, I was shocked. Now we’re taking TWO school pictures of the children? Is this necessary? After all, I already shelled out $$ for five pictures packages in the beginning of the school year. I made the decision (it wasn’t hard) not to order, and didn’t fill in the form, but, guess what? They took his portrait anyway and sent them all home with him on Friday. I have the option of purchasing all the photos for the low-low price of 44 dollars!
The nerve! But, look at them! They’re wonderful! He’s so handsome! We all, the whole family, were impressed by these pictures!
I just can’t get over the feeling of being “tricked” somehow, into buying something I didn’t want.
Bless his heart, Davy is also proud of these pictures, and asked so dearly, “Can I please just have one sheet, Mom?” I notice him looking at them when he doesn’t think anyone is watching. So you can see how torn I feel. It’s the principle of the thing. I do want the portraits, understandably, what Mama wouldn’t?
Well, that’s it for today.
Oh wait, I almost forgot. Just one more picture (I think I can already hear the “well done’s” and feel the pats on the back!)
((AFTER))
Have a grace-full happy day!!
Shanda
A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see. inspired by soulemama
“Dining with one’s friends and beloved family is certainly one of life’s primal and most innocent delights,
one that is both soul-satisfying and eternal.” ~Julia Child
The kitchen is the busiest room in our house, and not only for eating.
Davy conducts science experiments (baking soda and vinegar, salt and water).
The naughty dog steals dirty dishes and carries them away to lick.
We sit at the table and read.
Cupboards and drawers open and shut.
The cats come and eat from their bowls.
Coffee in the mornings, tea, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks. Hugs and kisses.
And nine nice people, all in a family, running into each other as we all buzz about getting drinks, eating, or (most often) cleaning the place up!
I’ve been snapping kitchen pictures here and there, over the last week or so and thought I would post them today.
Candy is a rare treat here, but someone (I confess) couldn’t resist some butterfinger chocolate eggs.
On this day, we had mints. I went downstairs to dig my tangerine fiesta carafe out of storage, it looks so bright and cheerful on the table. As I was digging, I also rediscovered an old picture of my husband…….
homemade berry cobbler, pineapple banana bread
We ate one loaf and then, after wrapping it and letting it “season” for a day, I put the other one in the freezer. I’m going to get it out to serve to the ladies tomorrow, at Bible study.
Unsalted butter, tastes so creamy and delicious on warm banana bread.
Soft, late-in-the-day sunshine, on the wall.
HLC Violet platter, gift from my Aunt~
My brother David went on a trip to Greece with his wife last summer and brought me back an olivewood spoon and fork serving set.
One of the children ran my beautiful spoon through the dishwasher (a big no-no for wooden things) and it became quite dry, I wasn’t sure how to remedy the situation. Thankfully, when Rich and I were out on a date, we found the solution in one of our favorite kitchen stores.
Now my wooden spoon is happy again. The creme is made of beeswax and mineral oil, so I feel good about using it. Highly recommended! We found it at Stonewall Kitchen but I’m sure it’s sold in other stores, as well. I’ve been using it on my other wooden handled spatulas and scrapers, and wooden spoons, too.
Hope you’re having a lovely day, we are, too, here at the homeplace. (in the kitchen and out)
Sarah Joy likes stars, and cars. They are a good way for her Mama to teach her the colors, too.
“purple star, pink star, red star”
“yellow car, red car”
How are you today, friends?
I went to Target today and left the littles at my sister’s house so they could spend time with their (BFF’s) cousins. So cute. Thankful.
Seth fell asleep on the ride back home and ruined his nap. boo.
I had a DD chai tea, yum.
It’s in the 50’s here today, which is downright springlike, here in the Northeast. It’s making me feel giddy.
I hung clothes out on the line to dry in the cool sunny breezes.
Thank you, for being you.
“There’s no other love like the love for a brother.
There’s no other love like the love from a brother.”
~Terri Guillemets
My brother David and his wife Maria visited us this weekend. We don’t get to see them very often and they hadn’t been to our place for quite a while.
They got up early Saturday morning and made it here before the older boys were even awake, so Dave went downstairs and surprised them.
Everyone was happy to have their wonderful Uncle and Aunt in the house for the day, it was a huge treat.
The little ones put Uncle Dave to work, making lots of paper airplanes out of construction paper. Sarah even got (a pink) one!
This was my absolute favorite picture of the day, my brother with my baby, and look at her cheek (she smiling big!).
We played UNO and Aunt Maria taught Grace how to shuffle.
Maria with Abbie and Grace.
Maria taught the girls some Greek (her family is from Greece), and also did Grace’s nails and hair.
David took this picture, and all the rest of the following ones, too. (thanks for sharing them, Dave!)
My brother Isaac, my sister Amanda, myself, and brother David. There are five of us siblings (I’m the oldest), Nathan wasn’t with us this weekend.
Naomi and Weston with patient Snickers, the cat.
We named Davy after his Uncle (and, although he doesn’t look it here, he truly does adore his Uncle David!)
Jacob was being silly and put a dinosaur on David’s head!
Uncle Dave never forgets a birthday (or a Christmas), there is always a card sent for each child with money in it. He has such a kind, sensitive heart. He and Maria are such a blessing to our family.
Uncle Dave and Caleb with mean faces!
And then, silly faces!
And how’s this for ADORABLE?
************************************************
How’s your day going, friend?
I’ve been puttering around here at home, with my little sidekicks.
Seth and I made berry cobbler and banana bread=the house smells very good!
Blessings to you on this fine day~
ethan!
He’s one of the sweetest boys ever. 14 years ago, Rich and I welcomed him, our second born, into the world.
Thanking God today, for this precious gift, this son of ours.
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father…..” James 1:17
A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.
~inspired by soulemama
Snow day! No school, so I have all my children home with me today. The first thing I did this morning was make a quick list of things we could do with our day.
It’s almost 1:30 now, and it’s been a nice morning.
The snow is gently falling, so quiet and pure white.
Jacob and Ethan are trying to find shovels so they can work on the driveway.
Seth and Sarah are napping. The other three are having quiet play/reading time.
I did dictation with David and Caleb. Dictation is when the teacher reads aloud to the students and they copy down exactly what they hear. It helps with several skills; listening, spelling, sentence structure, handwriting…..etc. Today I used a sentence from Stuart Little (and put the book down for the picture). After they were done, they drew the picture, too. It was delightful fun.
“Everyone thanked Margalo for saving Stuart’s life;
and at suppertime Mrs. Little presented her with a tiny cake,
which had seeds sprinkled on top.”
Out of the bosom of the Air,
Out of the cloud-folds of her garments
shaken,
Over the woodlands brown and bare,
Over the harvest-fields
forsaken,
Silent, and soft, and slow
Descends the snow.
~Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow
(I got a big kick out of the helpful labeling.)
I’m currently reading this great book, and found a quote last night that I liked, that made me think of my friends here.
“Odd, to feel as though you knew someone quite well whom you had never met.”
Enjoy your day, dear friends, whether it’s sunshine or snow, quiet or loud, or ever-changing as the hours pass……..(like most of these busy mothering days).
PS, This morning I pulled on a sweatshirt and didn’t realize that there was another long-sleeved t-shirt stuck inside it. I spent hours feeling so plump and round, wondering, until to my astonishment, the extra shirt fell down and out as I ran downstairs after putting Sarah to bed! What a nice surprise, to instantly lose that bulky feeling! LOL
I try to give them constructive things to do and sometimes it simply backfires on me!
Last week, I used up the last of my quick oats and (’cause I’m such a thoughtful mama) gave the little boys the tall, empty, cardboard container to play with. They used it for drumming on, and also to make up a new game called, “POPCORN”. You play this game by filling the container up with blocks and then shaking it up and down, letting the blocks fly out all over the room.
Well, no surprise that the container soon ripped and was promptly thrown out.
No, no, that was not surprising. But, what WAS surprising was when Seth played with blocks this morning, remembered his beloved POPCORN game, found my almost-full container of old fashioned oats in the cupboard and emptied them all INTO MY SINK, so he could have it!
It was even more surprising that I did not see him do it at all. (How???????) I found the oats hours later, after we had gone out shopping and I was putting the groceries away.
Last night Rich was gone with the three older children, and I was plumb tired. I decided to show Seth and Sarah how to insert coins into David’s and Caleb’s piggy banks. (Rich collects all his loose change into a big plastic bag). This was great fun for all four children. They were so busy and cute, especially little Sarah Joy.
Here is a picture of her doing it this morning. (I had emptied the bag of coins into a shoebox.)
Cute and harmless, right? WRONG. Actually, to tell the truth, I did already learn this lesson when a very small David inserted coins into our CD player in the van. Alas, I forgot all about that…….so…..this morning, as I was emptying the dishwasher, Sarah saw some familiar looking slits and ran to get some pennies………which are now down there:
You just can’t make this stuff up.
Another story? Okay……
Last week, I got an order from Pottery barn (shoe racks and a storage bin for the porch) and the children wanted to play with the boxes.
Well, poor Caleb. He decided to SLEEP in the big box, that night. He did, he fell sound asleep in the box. However, he had it ON his bed, and it fell off with him in it.
And now that boy has the biggest goose egg and bruise I have ever seen, on his forehead.
(I took this picture this morning, he looks so tired!)
The bruise is over half of his forehead! It’s a mercy he was okay.
When things like this happen, I call out, “Just something else to put in the family history book!”
