The children have been swimming in the pond almost every day.

I like to take my pretty quilt and go sit down at the pond and watch them.

On Friday, Sarah slept under the trees in the shade while the others swam.

Ethan gave his chicken a ride on the swing.  But I really took this picture because of Seth and his daring climb.  Seth has no fear, I have to feel it all for him…….can’t take my eyes off him for a moment!

Friday evening:

The sky that evening was so beautiful….

we ended up having to get out of the pond because a storm came in. 

I took some pictures of Sarah Joy in her fancy dress before she grew out of it……it was a gift from one of my xanga friends.  The dress and bow are darling, she’s so cute in it.  Grace and I think she looks like a baby ballerina.

Rich got home Friday night shortly after 9.  I want to say thanks to all who prayed for him.  His flight was almost delayed on Friday……but all ended up just fine and we spent a very happy Saturday and Sunday together again.  We kissed a lot. 

On Saturday Grace and David were invited to a pool party.  After I took a chicken to the vet (she had a sore on her foot), I dropped them off.  Then, I came home and Rich and I put Seth down for a nap and left Jacob & Ethan to babysit Caleb (and Seth, who was napping).  We went out for lunch and then went to pick out a new dryer.  We drove on back roads instead of the highway and we discovered a great meat market on the way home.  We picked up some hamburgers, steaks, hot dogs, and ribs to grill.  When we got home, we all walked the 1 and a half miles to go get Grace and Davy back from their friend’s house.  I love walking with the family, we talked and laughed and got too hot.  We ended up going out for ice creams when we got back home.  The only bad thing was that during our walk I was holding Sarah in the Ergo.  Because I couldn’t carry it around my neck as usual, I put my camera in the back of the stroller, not knowing that Seth’s sippy cup with water in it was leaking…my camera got drenched and is slowly drying out.  So far it is not working, but I have hope!  Live, camera, live!  Come back to me!

On Sunday we went to church.  Rich taught Sunday School and the Lord orchestrated it so that his lesson and Pastor’s sermon went hand in hand.  Its always a thrill when that happens.  People had questions during S.S. that Pastor was able to clear up w/out even knowing about our class.  After church we stopped by the grocery store.  Rich and I went in and got stuff for a sandwich lunch which I made and we ate, on the way home.  We also went through the McDonald’s drive through…I love their iced mochas, yum!

Today my friend Kathy (and her five children) are coming over to play with us.  My new dryer will be delivered and then this afternoon Jacob has an orthodontist appointment.  It’s going to be a  busy (but fun) day, and that’s why I wanted to hop online earlier ….. to say hello …. Happy Monday!! 

I got the camera out and took some pictures this morning of Sarah. 

She’s changed during this last week, beginning to wake up to the world around her, moving her eyes to see, smiling at her Mama.

It’s not possible to slow down time for real and the days are just a galloping, slipping, racing by.

At least here in my online journal I can freeze some of the moments in photos and words.

“Little sack a sugar I could eat you up!”

She’s got the same dimple on her chin that her Papa does, and everyone else except Davy-do.

Davy has my chin. 

This darling yellow outfit was Grace’s, once upon a time.

It’s got eyelet lace trim, light pink baby bows, a nice thick substantial fabric, tucks and ruffles, and a bonnet!

Seth is 17 months old now and quite active.

For instance, I’ve caught him coloring on the wall this week.  And then on the floor.  And then on the TV.

That’s just one example. 

Oh, wait here’s another one……

He does NOT leave Sarah alone.  I have lost count how many times I got that baby to sleep, only to have Seth wake her back up when I was off doing something else (like finally eating lunch or drinking my coffee!).

(notice our new hardwood floor?  we had them put down in the l-room, master, and kitchen)

Our girlies (buckeyegirlie has me using that little love-name now!  love it!)

Oh I am so thankful to have TWO GIRLS.  What a treasure and a joy!  Thank you, Lord!!!!!!!!!!!  I still can’t quite get over the fact that Sarah is finally here!  It has been an amazing year with this gift of a girlie arriving into our family.

And of course I am also thankful for our five boys as well.  They’re all such interesting people, quite fun until around about 6:30 in the evening and I’m totally exhausted from running around all day.  Doing what Moms do.  You know.

Which reminds me, Rich is coming home tonight.  When I think about it, I want to cry, I’m THAT lonely for him.  Please pray that the last portion of his trip, this evening, is smooth and uneventful.  He won’t be home until close to midnight……ugh…..hopefully I’ll wake up and notice him when he slips into bed with me.

There are a gazzillion things I could write about this week, a gazzillion little stories of a moms adventures with seven children…….but unfortunately I can’t think of most of them anymore.

I’ll just leave you a few of examples:

Me:  noticing David had several small bald patches on the side of his head:  “DAVID!  Did you CUT your hair?”

David: with a guilty expression:  “Noooooooo, I didn’t cut it, I used one of those mustache things.”

Also, the hardwood floor guys were here laying the floor in the kitchen on Wednesday.  I was home with the kids, and we were all hanging out in my room with the door open.  I put a Veggietales show on my laptop for them, and when the theme song came on I WAS DANCING TO IT LIKE A LOONIE, just in time for one of the workers to come in to ask me a question!  That was quite embarrassing.  You see, I don’t dance like a loonie for anyone except the kids.  I stopped, turned red, and muttered, “You caught me!  I was just entertaining the children.”  Ha ha, I can’t remember what he said in reply…….yikes……

And, Ethan got to see an incredible sight.  He witnessed two big bull frogs fighting, on the bank of the pond.  He said they were wrestling around!  I didn’t know bull frogs got that mad, did you?

And lastly, the children separated George from his hens and took him to their fort on the other side of the pond.  George got worried about his girls and immediatly FLEW into the pond and SWAM to the other side!  I didn’t know roosters could/would swim, did you?

Happy Friday to you~

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.

I John 4:18

“It is not work that kills men; it is worry.  Work is healthy; you can hardly put more upon a man than he can bear.  Worry is rust upon the blade.  It is not the revolution that destroys the machinery but the friction.  Fear secretes acids; but love and trust are sweet juices.”  -Henry Ward Beecher

Where am I going?  I don’t quite know.
Down to the stream where the king-cups grow-
Up on the hill where the pine-trees blow-
Anywhere, anywhere.  I don’t know.

Where am I going?  The clouds sail by,
Little ones, baby ones, over the sky.
Where am I going?  The shadows pass,
Little ones, baby ones, over the grass.

If you were a cloud, and sailed up there,
You’d sail on water as blue as air,
And you’d see me here in the fields and say:
“Doesn’t the sky look green today?”

Where am I going?  The high rooks call:
“It’s awful fun to be born at all.”
Where am I going?  The ring-doves coo:
“We do have beautiful things to do.”

If you were a bird, and lived on high,
You’d lean on the wind when the wind came by,
You’d say to the wind when it took you away:
“That’s where I wanted to go today!”

Where am I going?  I don’t quite know.
What does it matter where people go?
Down to the wood where the blue-bells grow-
Anywhere, anywhere, I don’t know.

~A.A. Milne

We went to a library book sale two weeks ago and I found a green, hardcover copy of When We Were Very Young, a sweet book of poetry by the wonderful A.A. Milne.  I was sitting on the couch reading through it the other day, when I came across this poem, and I thought it was precious.  It reminded me of all the countless walks I’ve gone on with my dear friends…my children…especially the little ones who have no idea “where we are going”, but they are so happy to go with Mama anywhere she takes them.  I took Seth on a walk on Monday and another on Tuesday.  These pictures are from his very first walks on his own two feet, as he is usually riding in the Ergo baby carrier.  I was so tickled by him and his explorations in the stream, at the pond, on the trail, and through the woods. 

Iridescent dragonflies flittered about, one landed briefly on the top of Seth’s head.  The wind was gently blowing warm, woodsy-perfumed air around us, and I could hear crows cawing to the left of us, up in the trees.  The stream is low and we need some rain, but Seth had such fun splashing in the nooks and crannies and climbing up on the rocks.  He collected pine cones, stirred with sticks, and threw some little stones, quite pleased to be free outside in God’s big beautiful world.

The hem of my skirt got wet in the stream as I sat on the perfect chair made for me, of one big rock.  I took pictures, I watched and smiled, I closed my eyes and breathed deep breaths in and out. 

On these hot summer days it doesn’t take long for a little boy’s wet sneakers to dry again, out in the sun, ready for tomorrow’s next adventure, “anywhere, anywhere, I don’t quite know.”
 

“But while in the busy household band
Your darlings still need your guiding hand,
Oh fill their lives with sweetness!”
~Anonymous

I’ve been busy since the moment I woke up this morning.  I’m making myself sit for a moment and put a blog up and drink a big glass of water. 

Rich was home all last week and I miss him today.

It is hard work taking care of a newborn plus six other children.  I feel like there is not enough of me to go around.

But, we had our meals.  I did 2 loads of laundry and hung them out on the line.

We all went outside together during Sarah’s early morning nap.

We found some blobs of jelly like pitch on a tree and thought it was neat.

We played at the playset and trampoline, I watched flips and handsprings performed by G and D.

We collected the eggs and let the rabbit out of her cage to explore.

We gave Seth a ride in the wheelbarrow.

When we came in I read some books to the little ones, and our daily Bible portion to all of us.

I nursed Sarah.  Changed lots of diapers.  Put Seth down for a nap.

Ordered ice cream from the Schwan’s woman for later.

The children are all resting now and I am on my way to bed, too.

I have a headache and am sooooo sleepy.

First, some pictures;

The first two are of Sarah Joy.

We had hardwood floors installed on T, F, and S.  The house was in a shambles and I spent most of my time on the porch.

Sarah’s temporary bed was the chair next to me.

I left her for a while and when I came back I had to laugh because she made herself comfy by stretching out her little legs.  So cute!

We all went for a short walk.

I balanced the camera on a pole to take a family picture.

The dog has a way of turning to look at us during pictures, so I threw a rock toward the camera at the last second, to make him turn around.

Rich, with a big baby on his back and a little one in his arms.

Even though it was hot and muggy, Rich is dressed like this because he cannot stand bugs.

The three corner flies are awful and they LOVE him.

I have to beg him to walk in the woods, the bugs eat him alive.

Another family picture, at the big field. 

Jacob took this one of me and Sarah Joy. 

I think she’s beautiful.  Those nice round cheeks and the little double chin, so cute! 

On our way back home, I took one last picture…of Rich surrounded by his boys. 

Rich leaves tomorrow for a business trip and will be back on Friday.

Please pray for his safety as he travels.

In preparation for his absence, I got to go out for some girl-time with my sister this weekend.

We went to the bookstore and a couple stores, then out to dinner.

It was so fun!  It was just the two of us, and Sarah.

We talked and laughed a lot.

I can’t tell you how thankful I am for her!

I hope all of you have a good day!

~ Shanda

“Make your home a garden of flowers,
Where joy shall bloom through childhood’s hours,
And fill young hearts with sweetness.”
Anonymous

Five years ago today we welcomed our fourth baby boy and we named him Caleb James. 

He was my baby when I first starting blogging here on xanga.

He looked like this:

And now he’s five!  I just can’t believe it.

Happy Birthday Caleb!

PS, I took the top picture today.  Isn’t he cute?  Rich and I gave him some dollar store toys to unwrap here at home and then we all took him to the toy store to pick out his own presents.  He got a Buzz Lightyear lego set, a bionicle, and a book. 

One of the things I love about family life is being able to share in each other’s favorite activities.  Now that five of the children are old enough, Rich is thrilled to have his very own team of runners.  During the last four evenings, after the heat of the day, he has told the children to get their socks and sneakers on so they can go running with him.  They all pile into the vehicle, and he takes them downtown to the local High School track.  After they are done running, the children report to their Dad how many laps they did so he can translate the laps into miles & praise them (he reports to me when they get home, and I smile, because he’s happy and proud of them).  They do very well, but Jacob especially has recently turned into quite the runner, running up to four miles (16 laps) nonstop. 

On their way home, they swing by the ice cream place for a treat. 

Rich says he is making memories and he’s right.  The children love every minute they spend with him. 

After a yummy lunch at our local Elvis-themed diner, even though I said Don’t Be Cruel, Rich got rid of my maternity clothes!

He crammed them right in while I was leaning out the window of the vehicle yelling, “NO DON’T DO IT!”

*sigh* I always have second thoughts.  Just the other day I was cheerfully packing them away and saying good riddance, but when it came right down to it, it seemed so final to give them away.

The perfect black maternity dress.

The ultra comfy khaki pants that were just the right length.

The summer sun dress that I bought when I was pregnant with Grace.

The cute slim capris from GAP.

The orange shirt from my “feeling fruity” pictures.

And more.  Two big bags full.

All gone.

For the entertainment of my family, I was my dramatic self saying eloquent good byes to all those nice clothes, and the memory of wearing them during my seven pregnancies.

I honestly am sorta sad, because I’ve never gotten rid of my maternity clothes before.  But, why hang on to things I won’t use again?  So it seems a little bit like the end of an era for us. 

As we pulled out the driveway, I comforted myself by saying a prayer that they would be found and used by an extremely thankful pregnant mama-to-be.

And Rich said that later on today, if I still want them back, he is sure we can cram Caleb down in the donation box to get them out again.

So we went to the movies! 

We had such a wonderful time with family this weekend. 

My parents drove out on Friday and stayed with us until Sunday.

Dad found a new favorite song and was determined to get Jacob and Ethan to learn it, too.  He gave Ethan a guitar lesson on the porch.  Caleb is leaning on Grandpa, listening to the music.

Then Jacob joined in, too.  Later on, Grace wrote down the notes so she could play on the piano.  Mom, Amanda, and I sang. 

The album the song came from is titled My Cry Ascends.  If you want to hear part of it, click here and listen to # 15, “Blest is the Man”.  We bought the album for our ipod and they did some practicing by playing along with the ipod.

The basketball hoop that was given to us a few months ago has been such a blessing.  Mom and I had so much fun watching everyone play a game together on Saturday.  Dad played, and Rich, Jason (my brother in law), Amanda (my sister), Isaac (my brother), and Jacob, Ethan, and Grace.

We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch and made potato salad, corn chip salad, fruit salad, and other yummy things.

After Jason and Amanda left, Mom and I went to a library book sale with Jacob, Ethan, Grace, and Sarah.  We got there toward the end of the sale and were able to get books for only a dollar a bag.  We got some wonderful books and came away so happy.  I even found a book about airplanes for Davy, who wants to build one so he can fly to Grandma’s house. 

On Saturday evening we went out for ice cream downtown.

Grace and David, with mint waffle cones.

Caleb, with soft serve chocolate, in a waffle cone.

Going out for ice cream is our favorite family activity in the summertime.

Ethan had some sort of mixed mixture.

Mom and I had hot fudge sundaes.  

I shared mine with Sethie. 

Dad likes to be silly in the photos.  He laughs so hard when he sees the pictures.

Isaac, and Dad hiding behind Isaac’s ice cream.  (and the backs of Caleb and Ethan’s heads, as they watch the entertainment)……

Baby Sarah did not eat ice cream.  She was mad.

I looked over and was able to catch this sweet moment between Seth and David:

Isaac and Jacob

Mom, Caleb, and Gracie:

Rich and myself, with baby Sarah:

Here I am with my Dad and Mom, back at my house….Caleb is sitting on the driveway behind us, playing.

Mom took this picture of me with Sarah.  My Dad’s Bible is sitting on the porch railing…I didn’t crop this picture because I liked seeing his big Bible.  He and Rich had some nice conversations this weekend about spiritual things.  Dad did his devotions out on the porch, early one morning.  I’m so thankful for his example and encouragement to us. 

Sarah slept all night on Saturday night, she was so tuckered out.  From 8:30-5!!  It felt so good to sleep!

Rich with his tiny little girl (on the hammock)~

Last night we had a beautiful sunset, of soft pink clouds~

What a happy weekend we had.  It continued into Sunday, when we were all in church together.  We didn’t fit in the pew so Jacob and Ethan got to sit in front of us, with their Uncle Isaac.  I missed most of Sunday School and some of the sermon, because I had to feed Sarah in the nursery.   

After church Mom and Dad left to visit Amanda and Jason, and Rich and I took the kids to a picnic.  It was a terrible hot day, but the children had a great time. 

Rich was able to take most of this week off for a much needed vacation.  He is busy right now installing a couple of a/c window units here at home.  It’s supposed to be a hot day and we hope to spend some time relaxing today after such a busy weekend.

My goal for my blog this week is to post one picture a day, of whatever special family activity we spend together.

Love to all~

Shanda