My husband, Rich, has been home on vacation since Christmas Eve.  It’s been so nice having him home with us.  This morning he is out running errands with Jacob so I thought I would sit down and put some pictures on here from the last few days.

This is a picture of Jacob’s birthday snow (from December 31)…it snowed pretty much all day, Rich planned on sledding with the kids but they didn’t because it was too cold and windy.

Twelve candles on Jacob’s ice cream cake this year, and his favorite gift right next to it (an army tank) ~

The next picture is of the family all around the table, except for the photographer/mama ~ I wanted the picture dark so we could see the glow of the candles. . . . .Caleb ended up leaning right over to help Jacob blow them out, blocking Jacob’s head entirely from those pictures.  This one was the best.

Caleb preferred the blue icing, and we caught him carefully scooping and eating it off the leftover cake after he had finished his piece.  He was blue all around the mouth.

Not only did we have a store-bought ice cream cake, but we also had homemade ice cream with it!  We used my new ice cream maker attachment for my Kitchen aid mixer and it worked great.  We made chocolate and it was so good.

Every year Jacob and I stand side by side for a photo.  He is not quite standing straight in this one, but he is almost as tall as I am now.

When I made Jacob’s birthday slideshow I felt bad because there were no pictures of just Jacob and his Dad.  So, on Jacob’s birthday I made sure to take a few of just the two of them together.  I love these photos.

And I also love this next one.  The sun was shining so brightly yesterday morning and I caught Rich hugging our little Caleb in a sunbeam. . . . .

Other members of our family include C.C. , Grace’s bunny ~ 

And my cat (I love my cat!) Spot ~

Isn’t he pretty?  He loves to leave me mice on the porch.  Sometimes the whole thing, sometimes just one end or the other, sometimes both ends without the middle.   I guess it depends on his mood.   LOL I’ve gotten used to it but my friend Kathy can’t stand it if she happens to see a piece before I’ve kicked it off the porch.

Wow, these random photos make for some pretty interesting topics, huh?

Lastly, here are some pictures of some teeny tiny shirts that I stitched, for Seth.  I hesitate to actually call it embroidery, because I really didn’t do anything fancy….just plain stitching to personalize little Gerber t-shirts.  These shirts are so small, he won’t wear them long. . . .I told Rich I’d have to keep making new ones in the next size up.

This one is my favorite ~

And here’s a picture of all three of them ~

I am 34 weeks along and really must get organized.  We plan on buying a playpen to use as a portable crib for the main floor of the house (which is the floor our bedroom is on).  Our last playpen was worn out and we had to get rid of it.  I think I will order one online today.  Rich is picking up a dresser this morning and it will be so nice to put the little clothes in it later, I already have them all washed.  I also need to stock up on diapers and things.  I would put it off until the last minute, but my mom says “now” . . . . 

I had a doctor’s appointment this week and I got to go all by mys
elf while Rich stayed home with the kids.  Everything is going well.  I have another appointment in 2 weeks and then I go weekly until he is born.  My Doctor wondered if I was planning on an epidural. . . .I told her that I am playing it by ear this time.  I did not have one with Caleb (there was no time for one) and it went so well that I might try it again.  I would prefer no drugs but I’ve had epidurals before (when I had Grace and David) that were such a blessing, too, *smile* so I am keeping an open mind.  We’ll see!

I feel great, just a lot more tired than usual but that’s to be expected.  I know God will give me the grace and strength I need to get through the next month.  For now, I plan on doing what HAS to be done around the house, and letting the rest go if need be.

Well, I guess that’s it for now.   Happy weekend and Happy 2009!

Love, Shanda

“We will be glad and rejoice in Thee.”  ~  Song of Solomon 1:4

“Since, O sweet Lord Jesus,  Thou art the present portion of Thy people, favor us this year with such a sense of Thy preciousness, that from its first to its last day we may be glad and rejoice in Thee.  Let January open with joy in the Lord, and December close with gladness in Jesus.”  ~ C.H. Spurgeon

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW.”  11 Corinthians 5:17

Jacob was born a few months after Rich and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary.  It’s hard for us to imagine what our life would be like without him!  What a pleasure and joy he’s been along the way.  We couldn’t be prouder of our firstborn son.

His birth twelve years ago taught me what the strength of mother-love was really like.  I’ll never forget the first time I saw him and held him, I was amazed at the love I felt for my baby. . . . . .my heart grew in ways I never imagined when I became a mother.

I love you more than words can say, Jacob.  Thank you for being such a bright part of our family.  I hope you have a wonderful birthday today and that we can laugh and celebrate all day long.  You are supposed to get a birthday snow storm!  Dad says he’ll sled with you later.  Love, Mama

The gang dressed for church this morning.

This was Caleb’s first time in a suit, it used to be his big brother Ethan’s, then David’s, and now his.

David’s bow tie (today was the first time he ever wore one) bugged him so much that when I picked him up from Sunday School, it was pulled off, along with his top button.

It’s nice to see the personality in Ethan’s face, isn’t it? 

Before:

After:

Yup.  Presents were opened and children (all but one–do you see him?) cleared out of the livingroom by 7am.  Rich and I wanted it to last longer, but there was no holding them back. 

After a while, in the midst of the children’s playtime, I made them all sit for pictures…with their favorite gifts.

Grace, with her new doll Nellie:

David, wearing his new superhero get-up, oh how I love this picture!  It makes me laugh and laugh—quite possibly (now that I think about it) not the reaction he wanted.

Here’s another, because I can’t resist:

Caleb, and his new trains:

And, other of him too, because I can’t resist and it makes Caleb and I both giggle:

Jake and E, with their new legos and other stuff:

The white sheet as backdrop?  Totally blocking a room of mess. . . . . . .

A couple random shots:

I liked this picture, all the kids are in it and sitting still.

Rich took this one without me asking him to.  He said I looked cozy.  He always spoils me for Christmas, and this year was no different.  In this photo, I’m looking through a new cookbook.

My absolutely favorite gift?  A Christmas card with a list of dates for the year that he took off from work. . . . already scheduled vacation days, so that he can be in charge of the kids and I can have free days just for myself to look forward to.  I couldn’t even speak, I was so touched.  I was choked up, all I could say was a shaky, “Can I have a tissue please?”   My first day off is January 20th. 

The Godiva truffles and hot cocoa mix, Kitchenaid mixer ice-cream maker, books (one of which is linked at the end of this post), a gorgeous floor lamp from Pottery barn, information about two mission style end-tables on order from our favorite country/furniture store (for our bedroom), and big bag of loot (including the dearest *MUSHROOM salt and pepper shakers*) from Anthropologie were also greatly appreciated and squealed over. 

Merry Christmas!

“Life is a series of moments.  Each moment should be welcomed in joy and relinquished in joy.”  ~ Deepak Chopra

I spent time with Grace this morning, “decorating” her for some Christmas pictures.  I think her favorite part of the experience was the makeup.  When we were done with it, she looked at herself in the mirror for a while.  She didn’t know it, but I was watching her and enjoying the way she so innocently looked at herself.  She is a beautiful girl and I don’t doll her up very often at all, and this was good for her.  I could tell she felt pretty.  All girls need to feel that way now and then.

She wore my makeup.  My golden necklace and golden earrings.  My true treasure is my girl.

Some portraits:

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. 

~Laura Ingalls Wilder

quotes from Alexandra Stoddard:

“Amidst all of our activities, it’s essential to remember that all we have is each day.  There are no days that are more important than the one we are now experiencing.”

“Approach the ordinary with a sense of abundance”

“We can never get it all done, nor should we attempt to do it all.  I have learned to leave things undone in order to do other things. . . .the important thing is to take time to do what you believe are your top priorities.  List them in order; you are in charge of your choices.”

“You’ll never be able to keep up with everything without giving up life’s true richness—time to reflect, to read, to wonder, to dream.  When things get too busy-busy, too stressful, and you are nervous, anxious, and worried, –walk away.  You’ll come back with a clearer perspective.  Give your soul some undivided attention.  Unplug.  Awaken your senses to new heights.”

My dear friends, my wish, my prayer, and my hope for you is that each and every one of you has a wonderful and meaningful Christmas.  You are so special, such a valuable and unique individual, created by God for His glory.  Seek Him with all your heart and thank him on your knees for all the gifts He has so generously and mercifully given.  I will be doing the same.  “Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”  Jesus Christ is The Reason we take the time to celebrate on December 25, nothing on earth can com
pare to what He is and does for our souls.  Let Him overwhelm you with His love.  Take the time to make your relationship with Him sweeter, and more intimate, despite all of the things that need to be done at this time of year.  Time with Him is what’s truly necessary and makes life so very fulfilling.  The closer we are to Him, the closer we grow to one another.

Merry Christmas!

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  Luke 2:14

Oh how wonderful to wake up to a world of white!  I just can’t resist the outdoors after a heavy snowfall, would you like to go on a little walk with Ethan and me?  Get bundled up in your warmest winter clothes and boots, put someone in charge of the kids, and come along! 

The first thing we do is stop to look at the pond, all covered in a sheet of ice and snow.  The tall pine trees are so lovely, aren’t they?  I have snow down my boots already and stop to tuck my jeans in the tops to try to keep out the cold stuff.

Here we are, looking down at the stream.  There is a pretty picture everywhere we turn.

You and I will stay here while Ethan goes down to get a chunk of ice from the stream.  I would rather keep my feet dry, wouldn’t you?

Now we have made our way very very carefully *don’t slip!* down the bank to the stream below.  The water is running cold and smooth in it’s bed, and looks so refreshing that Ethan stops to take a drink from it. 

 When we lift our faces to look up at the treetops, soft and silent flakes of snow land on our cheeks.

Our walk takes us in a wide circle and we enjoy so many sights….including tracks of little animals across the top of the snow.  There is a silence in the snowy woods that you can’t find anywhere else.  After a while we get cold and tired so we make our way happily into the house to help the little ones bundle up warm for some sledding. 

Caleb loves to sled with his Papa.

They are all outside together, making winter memories.

This is the view off our front porch, later, as Rich is snow-blowing the lower driveway.

While they finish up their fun outside, we make some cornmeal muffins.

Soon the little ones come in hungry for a snack and asking for hot chocolate, too.

Caleb stuffed himself with about five muffins.  That sure hit the spot!

Since we ran out of mix, we’ll have to make the Hot Chocolate from scratch.  Thankfully there is a recipe printed on the Hershey’s cocoa container.

Favorite Hot Cocoa (serves 6, I had to tweak a little to make an extra 2 cups)

1/2 cup of sugar
1/4 cup Hershey’s cocoa
Dash salt
1/3 cup hot water
4 cups milk
3/4 tsp vanilla

Mix sugar, cocoa and salt in saucepan; stir in water.  Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils; boil and stir 2 minutes.  Stir in milk and heat.  Do not boil.  Remove from heat, stir in vanilla.  (* For an extra treat, I got out my immersion blender and blended it up to make it foamy on top*)  Scoop into mugs, pass around the bag of marshmallows and enjoy the love!

Thanks for spending time with me this morn
ing.  I think I’ll stay in the house now, and cozy up.  Guess what I was doing at 3:00 am this morning?  I was in the livingroom, sitting by the fire, munching toast and yogurt.  Yes, I had a powerful hunger in the night and couldn’t ignore it.  Needless to say, I’m sleepy today and after all the fresh air, I’m ready to find some blankets and a good book.  Maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to snooze.

Happy Saturday!

Love ~Shanda~

There as I made the cookies……..

and there to keep me company as I rested.

He found a cozy spot and stayed for a while, uninvited, but I didn’t mind.  He kept reassuring me, “I won’t hurt your baby belly!”

I kissed his foot a few times.  Ethan took the pictures.

As much as I love having new babies, there’s always something a little sad and sentimental that tugs at my heart when I prepare to say “good bye” to the “old” baby.  Caleb has been a constant, deep joy to me for the past 3 and a half years.  When his baby brother is born things will be different….better of course, but different.  I’m sure I’m not the only mom to go through these feelings.

I hope everyone “out there” is having a good day.  We’re doing fine here.  Jacob was sick all night and couldn’t sleep but seems to be getting better today, an encouraging sign was when he started talking again….as I made the cookies he talked and talked about outer space.  My back was turned to him and I was smiling as I twisted the dough for candy cane cookies, smiling to be a listening ear for him.

Grace and Jacob are both persuading Ethan, and claiming his allowance to “help” save up for the things THEY want….Jacob wants a lego set and Grace wants a new cat.  Ethan’s sweet temperament and willingness to help makes him an open wallet apparently?  I sense an opportunity for a life-lesson coming (for all three of them).

David had music class at school and came home wanting to sing to me.  He is banished from my room today, for making a mess in here yesterday and not cleaning it up.  My collection of art work from him keeps growing.  It’s getting quite funny.  (It’s the “MOM” written on each one that gets me, although one of them had the MOM crossed out and ETHAN written on it instead). 

We are expecting a winter storm tomorrow afternoon.  I think David’s teacher is anticipating a snow day because she sent his Friday homework folder home with him.  We’ll see if she’s right. 

Ethan memorized two poems today…both about trees.  He copied them down in his journal, and added a picture of himself, one that I took two years ago of him standing in the forest.

Oh!  And I ordered that Rosie train that Caleb had mentioned the other day…..I got an email from Barnes and Noble offering me 25% off any one item and free shipping in time for Christmas (if I spent a certain amount).  So I bought the train and a couple things for Jacob’s birthday, which is the 31st.

As for me, I am about to go make some hot tea and crash on the couch.  The children are all in their rooms.  Caleb still naps and the other ones know that this is quiet time.  I’ll have a good hour or so to recharge.  After rest time begins official “waiting impatiently ’til Daddy gets home time” during which I look at the clock way more than usual. 

One week ’til Christmas!

Love, Shanda