Seth turns six years old today and received his first wristwatch. It’s adorable when he calls out the time. He also received a lego set from Uncle Dave and Aunt Maria, a remote control car which every child in the family loves to play with, and a wallet with twenty dollars to put inside of it.
He has requested a turtle cake. I mixed up the batter and baked a round cake, and a dozen cupcakes. Later on, after they cool, we will put the cakes together as a turtle and frost them green and brown. Seth scraped the batter from the bowl and had to have his face washed.
Our fifth son Seth is a loving, energetic, impulsive, happy, bright little boy just like his brothers were before him. He teases and laughs, jokes, and dances. He burps and toots. He is healthy and strong. He has a thin, wiry body and his Dad calls him his little Scrapper. Rich says the part of Seth he loves the most is his fearlessness. My favorite thing about him is that he endearingly calls me “Moo-Moo” and still loves to be by my side constantly, talking to me, hugging me, kissing, and snuggling. He still says, “I want you, Moo-Moo! Can you come sit on the couch with me?”
He is in Kindergarten and learning so many things.
He wrestles and has a lot of talent and heart.
I put a little extra time into his birthday portraits this morning because we are having a snowstorm and school was cancelled. I wet his hair down, washed blue candy stains off his lips and put some clean clothes on him. I bought two photography apps for my laptop to edit the portraits with and enjoyed looking into his handsome eyes as I played with the editing tools.
Outside the window there are snowflakes blowing around from the sky and off the roof of the house, snow on the ground is slowly getting deeper, and hungry little chickadees line up to select sunflower seeds at the feeder. The nine of us, and our six pets, are all snug and warm in the house. Jacob is putting dinner into the crockpot for later and Grace is reading a book, The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier. It is actually Jacob’s reading book for school. It looks as if she’ll have it completely read before he does, which he finds somewhat annoying.
David and Caleb are playing together in their room and Ethan is drawing. Rich is working from home and the two little ones (birthday boy and his sister) are taking naps. We were up late last night *having a super bowl party* so they are tired and need a snowy day sleep in the afternoon.
{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. — capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Last night was Senior night for wrestling and Jacob was honored.
It’s sort of sad and terrifying to have an 18 year old Senior Son in the house, but he is so ready for life! Yes, he still needs a driver’s license, college education, a good job, but he already has the important things– a good upbringing, good attitude, good looks, and good woman. 🙂
Is there anything cuter than watching the boys dive into the middle of the mat right before a meet? These kids are so fun and good natured. They are a joy to watch.
There was this handsome assistant coach………..
He got to shake the principal’s hand and I was given some beautiful flowers, which I took home and divided up between myself and the sisters.
The other team did not have a guy to wrestle Jacob’s weight class so Rich bumped him up to wrestle the next weight class.
Jacob made the hometown proud with his aggressiveness.
And he came out on top for a pin and a win.
Well done, Jacob! I am so proud of you but I’m also sort of sad to be watching all these “last times.”
What a great morning this has been, sun shining and so much accomplished like laundry, cleaning bedrooms, dishwashers, and matching tons and tons of socks. I started a new photo album on FB of my church family, which I’ve wanted to do for a while. And Sarah Joy had a bath. She is feeling much better today for which we are thankful. Everyone has had the stomach bug except Ethan and Rich, time will tell!
Aunt Colleen made an apron out of old blue jeans yesterday! We were messaging on FB and she inspired me to make Sarah a purse out of the jeans I ripped when I fell on my knee. Here are pictures:
The apron:
and the little purse made out of the back pockets sewn together back to back:
When Sarah woke up I gave her the purse and she said a soft “thank you, mama.”
Sewing is great but what about something else to make? Like a science project? I’m constantly growing mold in the fridge and the shower, but lately I’ve been in the mood to do something more challenging and this is the area in which Davy-do has become my inspiration. Perhaps you too would like to do a simple science project. How about homemade slime?
Here is Davy’s original recipe, with original spelling. He was so kind to write it all up for the blog.
What you will need
1. 1 1/2 T. of elmers glue
2. laundry detergent
3. food coloring (optional but your choise of color.)
4. water
5. flour
6. 1 bowl
Steps! Put your 1 1/2 tablespoons of glue in the bowl then pour 1/4 of a cup of water in it, then put 1 tablespoon of laundry detergent in it. Next let it sit for 2 minutes, then pour it all out on a flat surface that you don’t want wet, quickly scoop up your slime and put in a small container, nows the time to put 2 drops of food coloring in it and store if you want it thicker add flour, the more you put in the thicker it will be.
I have so many questions!
And a few opinions. One of which, as a mom, I do not suggest allowing the food coloring to be used. It’s just really stressful. Also, the laundry detergent is not a good idea. My little scientist used so much that my hands felt funny after one touch of the slime….also, doing laundry now gives me flash backs to the slime situation, because of the aroma. Other than that, you’re good to go with this one.
He moved on to recipes from outside sources, all of which used GEL & CLEAR ELMER’S GLUE(s) and borax. I have gotten him about 7 containers of glue so far and he has had the most wonderful time making slime. We have it in baggies and bowls all over the place but he still doesn’t let the little kids play with it. (he is very possessive of his slime!) The recipe is here.
And/Or you can make a rubber egg. This was sooooo weird. He let the egg soak in vinegar all day long and the shell turned rubbery. He loved his rubber egg so much but I accidentally dropped it on the floor after playing with it. It broke, the dog ate it, and he will never let me hear the end of it.
Last but not least he has been making “instant ice” with FIGI bottled water. He requested FIGI water one day and I forgot to get it at the store so after I dropped off Ethan at school I had to go to the store AGAIN because I was afraid of disappointing my little scientist. Thankfully the local grocery store had it in stock.
Here is the fun explanatory video on “instant ice”: click here
Dave loves to watch youtube videos to inspire him to try different experiments. I can’t wait to see what he tries next!
“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23:6 (yesterday, early morning) The snow was falling and blowing all over the place….the flakes were small and icy cold.
(yesterday, around noon). The snow was till coming down and the road wasn’t plowed.
When the snow let up in the afternoon, Rich went out to plow the driveways with his tractor. Ethan, Seth, David, and Caleb got dressed to play on the mountains of snow their Dad made.
Torturing his brother.
They came inside with blotchy skin, it was so cold that it took a little while, and some hot chocolate, to defrost.
We began to see a little traffic on the roads again.
Sarah began throwing up.
Grace and Jacob, who was recovering from being sick, played a card game. David searched the cupboards for something to eat, Rich was in the other room on a phone call.
The rest of these pictures are from this morning. We rarely get a snowstorm that causes us to have to shovel our porch.
“This is ridiculous!” ~Sherlock the Cat
Shadow of the house where I was standing on the porch, and drifts against the garage.
You would think that with a three car garage I would not have to deal with this.
Sherlock is cute because he likes to all of a sudden dive into the snow and play like a crazy cat. it was too much for Parker the Dog, so he pounced on the cat to play, too.
(Emily are you reading this? I love you!)
a walking path through the snow
I took this picture back in the house, through the glass door. The chickadees line up to get a sunflower seed from the bird feeder.
Seth was the last child to leave for school this morning. He walked carefully to the bus. He normally runs full speed, perhaps he didn’t want to go?
***
This morning was a two hour delay and frankly, we needed it. I woke up to discover that Rich was already gone to work and all seven children were awake. Sarah was sick on the couch, and Ethan was making french toast. As soon as my door opened Seth ran to me and asked if he could have a piece of French toast, too. I stumbled into the kitchen and used the last of Ethan’s eggs to make Seth his requested breakfast.
Grace wandered around asking me for safety pins and I told her where to find them at my sewing table.
Jacob wanted french toast so I gave him directions on how to make the egg dip for the bread. I made myself a cup of coffee and added French Vanilla creamer.
By the time Jacob was done making his breakfast, Seth asked for another piece, so this time I used Jacob’s left over egg.
David made himself scrambled eggs and asked me to put toast in the toaster for him so I did.
Sarah asked me to sit with her. I got my Bible from my room and began reading the portions for the “bible in a year” program, with a reading in Exodus, Matthew, Psalms, and Proverbs. I read it all out loud to her. I read about the Nile being turned into blood and you should have seen Sarah’s face. She gasped and was properly disgusted. She asked several times, “Is this true?” and I was able to say in a motherly sort of tone, “This is the Word of God, and everything in it is true.” We laughed over the names in the genealogies of the Israelites. She said she thought they were weird names and I told her she was smart. (I was impressed that she listened so intently, but when you’re sick you don’t have as much fight in you.)
Grace was trying to wear a pair of pants that fit almost perfectly; the waist was about 2 inches too big. First she pinned them and then she tried a belt. She was getting annoyed with the pants so I had her slip them off in my room and I took them in on my sewing machine.
As I sewed, screaming began in the boys’ room. David found Seth playing the DS and took it away from him and Seth screamed at him and came to tell me about it. My bobbin had just emptied (of course!) so as I talked to him, I got out my manual and refilled the bobbin, letting Seth help me by pressing the pedal. “Slowly, Seth! Slowly!” David came and perched on my bed and I stopped what I was doing to say, “Dave. SETH was not the problem in this situation. YOU were the problem. If you see Seth doing something that you don’t like, you need to come straight to ME and I will help you. You are NOT Seth’s parent, I am his parent. You are only Seth’s brother so he is offended when you boss him around.” I made him give Seth back the DS (which Dave had put in his own dresser, even though it wasn’t even his) and then of course the GAME cartridge was missing, so I had to send Dave back to give Seth the game. *sigh* David was upset and wondering why HE was “always the bad guy.”
I got Grace’s pants taken in and now fit perfectly. She was happy and asked if I would put her hair up in a bun for her.
I left my room and immediately smelled burning eggs. Caleb was trying to make scrambled eggs and he did really well except he didn’t scramble them as they cooked. Instead, he stood there and watched them burn, wondering when to “flip” them. I ran over and flipped the eggs over and sure enough, there was a smoking, burned skin that I promptly tore off the top. I took the egg patty out of the pan and placed it into the bowl containing french toast egg dip remnants. I got Caleb a plate and some cheese, hoping with the cheese to make the eggs more palatable. He didn’t complain or say anything. He just ate them. I’m sure they had a taste of ash and cinnamon to them, but like I said, he had no comments.
Sarah was thirsty and requested a gatorade. I went in the pantry but did not find any so I got her a juice pouch. She wanted it in her teacup so she put the straw in and squirted juice into the cup, and some onto the coffee table, too. I got the wood cleaner and paper towels to clean it up.
I sat Grace down and put her hair in a pony tail, then braided it and sent her upstairs to pin it into a bun herself. I noticed later that it didn’t happen. She smiled and said that she gave up. She went to school with just a pony tail.
I noticed Jacob and Ethan both quietly reading their Literature books and secretly fumed, wondering why I hadn’t seen them doing their assigned reading YESTERDAY when they had the entire day off. I may have even said something sarcastically but received no reply.
Finally, the High School bus came and took four children away to school. I had another hour to get Caleb and Seth ready by washing faces, making sure their teeth and hair were brushed, and turning on an episode of Arthur. I had nuts and a banana for breakfast and Seth ate a hotdog, a bowl of applesauce, and half a banana so I think it’s safe to say that his appetite is back after having the stomach bug.
I emptied a dishwasher, loaded the other one and pushed “start”. I scrubbed off the island.
Eventually, the other two boys got on their busses and I could breathe a sigh of relief. I love them all to death, I was amused by the chaotic morning, but I admit it was nice to have them leave for school.
I know the photo quality is terrible…this was taken at twilight yesterday…if you read yesterday’s post you know I’m dealing with a house full of sick people this week. Well, Seth is healthy now and not only healthy but twice as active, impulsive, and mischievous as usual. (I’m blaming the meds he’s on for his cold)…anyway, after an afternoon of dealing with his shenanigans, it was finally almost-but-not-soon-enough-for-Seth time to go to wrestling practice. I still had to go to the bathroom, put on my shoes, and grab Rich’s dinner, so I sent hyper Seth out to wait in the car, with the admonition to “not turn it on!!!!”
*I’m impatiently going out the door into the frigid air to go on my THIRD trip of the day to the High School.
*I’m leaving sick children calling out to me for one more act of service before I vanish.
*I’m crying for my mom.
*I’m cursing the stomach bug.
*I’m hating the sport of wrestling.
*I’m limping on my bad knee.
*I’m feeling old ugly and worn down.
*I’m hungry and need a warm meal.
When I see this:
All of a sudden, the Lord restored unto me my sense of humor, I took a crappy picture, drove him to school, and was still laughing about it in my bed last night as I fell asleep. Dear, dear little boy.
But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”
Tread in solitude your pathway, Quiet heart and undismayed. You will know things strange, mysterious, Which to you no voice has said.
While the crowd of petty hustlers Grasps at vain and meager things, You will see a great world rising Where soft sacred music rings.
Leave the dusty road to others, Spotless keep your soul and bright, As the radiant ocean’s surface When the sun is taking flight.
from the German of V.Schofffel, read in a recent Streams in the Desert devotional by L.B.Cowman
Hello, friends.
How are you?
My family is passing around the stomach flu.
Seth began it last Thursday, a week ago now. On Friday he was well but we kept him home. Rich had his team from work here for an off site meeting on Friday.
I woke up that night sick to my stomach and was sick all day Saturday. And by sick I had thoughts of death being a pleasant alternative, it was awful.
Rich had Jacob, Ethan, Grace, and Sarah at a wrestling tournament. Coach D. had David, Seth, and Caleb at another one.
On Sunday Rich took the children to church and I was still recovering. While they were gone I opened all the windows, turned off the heat, and aired out this sick house.
On Monday, the children had the day off from school and I had to take Jacob, Grace, and Ethan to the school early for another wresting event, and then David (along with Seth, Caleb, and Sarah) to the orthodontist. Also on Monday, I took Seth, who was coughing nonstop, to the doctor’s office. He had an ear infection. So we also stopped at the pharmacy.
On Tuesday, Caleb was sick with the stomach bug and I fell down on the ice and hurt my knee. Thankfully, it was only badly bruised but my fiesta bowl smashed.
Wednesday, Caleb was still sick. I called Paula to tell her I had to miss CBS. Ethan stayed home from school because it is mid-term exam week and he didn’t have any testing. Jacob called me at 9 to ask for a ride home because he didn’t have tests either, and his girlfriend Emily did not go to school because she was sick. Sarah and I picked him up and we went to the library for a little while before coming home. At 3, I had to go pick up Dave from the middle school because he stayed after for math help. When I got home Rich and I met with the guys who will be replacing the floor and shower in our bathroom. Rich left with the boys at 4. They had a wresting meet which their team won. Rich came home briefly to get Dave for practice and then left again for the High School. I read a really long version of Hansel and Gretel to Seth in his bed and he played with my hair while he listened, and then had an hour of quiet (watched Hinterland) before going to bed myself, and falling into a deep sleep.
That is, in a nutty nutshell, what I’ve been up to since the last time I blogged.
Today is THURSDAY, (I think) and David was supposed to get his braces put on….. but when I got up this morning at 6:15, David was on the couch……..the next victim of the stomach bug.
Caleb is no longer throwing up but he is weak and weepy so he is home today as well.
Jacob, Ethan, and Grace are at school for mid-terms and I did 5 papers with Seth last night, trying to get him caught up on his Kindergarten work. He is at school today.
As for myself, I must say, it has been one thing after another as usual, but with sick kids at home I have not been anywhere all week except for the daily running back and forth from the schools and that nice little break at the library yesterday. It has been overwhelming to say the least but every day there are things to be thankful for, (like a hot bath) and I write them down in my journal. I am exhausted and last night I was yelling about tuna fish, but I think today will be a quiet day….currently, David is asleep and Caleb is playing a game on the iPad.
I did manage to read a book on the kindle….Etched in Sand, by Regina Calcattera.
I took these pictures of Grace on Sunday, in the misty rain, after she came home from church.
It went nicely with one of those marinated pork tenderloins that you can buy and just roast in the oven for half an hour, and a salad.
There has been a great deal of coloring happening. And a lot of playing with mama’s salad spinner (better than any toy). They spin their little animals in it, and marbles.
Sarah Joy colored this one. I love it.
This girl has been a bright and happy ray of sunshine during this crazy week. She’s happy and talkative, so cute, I’m so thankful for her (for all of them!!)
{this moment} ~ 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.
The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life. ~Robert Louis Stevenson
1. boys love going outside
2. my beautiful billy-cat
3. dripping icicles
4. portrait of Seth (I was trying out a new lens)
5. portrait of Dave
6. portrait of boy and mom
7. children’s favorite way to eat a banana
8. Dave telling me about wrestling practice, when he got choked by his headgear.
9. drawing a secret picture on white paper for sarah
10. the secret picture, revealed with water color paint
11. not happy because mom tried to help, but painted it wrong.
“One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.” Iris Murdock
See how pointed and sharp the corners of this first place wrestling metal are? Hold that thought.
Thank you for the get well wishes for my husband. He still has groin and hernia pain but he is happily limping around and getting better by the moment. He went to school last night to coach, and he went back to work today for a half day. His spirits are such that despite any odd shooting pain he may feel, he is joyful because of the relief in having the hard parts over.
Somewhat ironically, on Saturday and Sunday when their Dad was recovering from his wrestling injury, all five of our sons were participating in wrestling tournaments.
Uncle Jason watched Jacob and Ethan both win their weight classes in the J.V. tournament on Saturday, while Rich and I were waiting to leave the hospital.
On Sunday, I left Rich at home with the girls and drove an hour away to watch David (12), Caleb (9), and Seth (5), each wrestle in their first tournament of the season. Ethan was there as an assistant coach.
The school was loud and hot. I was thankful for my tank top that I wore layered under a sweatshirt. I was thankful for the concession stand so I didn’t have to be concerned about food and drink. I was thankful for the bathrooms everywhere. I was also thankful that Jacob and Michael came later on in the morning, to watch with me. Finally, I was thankful that Sarah Joy was at home with Rich and Grace.
(Jacob, Michael, and Ethan, and Seth)
Seth was adorable. He had been itching to wrestle for over a year. Last year he was a spectator of his older brothers. Now he is finally an athlete on the team and he smiled the entire time. He was a joy to watch, in fact, I got a little sentimental at times watching him.
This is the video of his first match ever. I started taping right at the starting whistle and Seth immediately pounced on his opponent.
Caleb’s group wrestled in the morning, too, and he did well but lost each match.
Here is a video of a portion of one match:
Over several hours, Caleb wrestled three times, and Seth wrestled four times.
I am happy to announce that little Seth ended up winning all of his matches and was given a first place metal.
He said, “I knew I was a good wrestler!” and then later on, “I wish Dad was here!” He was as proud as a peacock and I was, too.
He never got tired. In fact, he never stopped moving.
He was so active that at times I sent him over to hang around with coach, so I didn’t have to defend myself any longer.
(Mike took this picture as Seth was trying to perform moves on me.)
He wrestled everything that day; the wall, the floor, his mom, his teammates, his coach, his brothers…….
…..and then……
Dave and I were talking, sitting cross legged on the floor. Seth was hanging around, swinging his metal (see first photo) when suddenly it accidently bounced sharply off the back of Dave’s unsuspecting head. (Seth felt terrible).
We immediately stood up and when Dave looked at his hand after holding the back of his head, it was covered.in.blood, my friends. Blood dripped down. I rushed for the paper towels…….poor Dave could not see the wound so he was scared, but after cleaning him up and looking at it we knew that he was okay to continue wrestling, it was a only a very small cut.
His coach is from the era of “brothers and boys throwing a punch now and then is healthy and normal” so to encourage and distract Dave I heard him say, “David, when you get home later, when mom’s not looking,” he punched his palm, “punch him in the kisser!”
Coach and I took Seth’s metal away from him.
David was a wreck. He was upset, pale, and had to struggle to hold back tears. My heart sank.
He lost his first match, and in the midst of it, they had to stop and wrap his head all up in gauze to stop the bleeding.
He felt so self conscious and foolish that right after losing, he went in the hall to hide. I went out to find him and encouraged him to use his feelings to be aggressive, rather than give up. I told him I was proud of him. His coach did a great job of motivating him, too, and I went back to the stands to wait for his next match.
He fought hard and to my surprise, won it. Coach didn’t know where I was, so when I went to the team to congratulate Dave, he said, “Did you see David? I couldn’t find you! He did great!” I had watched it all from the stands, sort of hiding, myself.
And, to make a perfect ending to a crazy-day, he also won his third and final match.
The relief was visible on his face, and he went to collect his hard-earned metal.
Well done, my son. You are well on your way to impressive manhood.
The wrestling for our family was done, but we stuck around to watch just a few more teammates.
Mike took the other boys in his car, so Dave and I had the car to ourselves. We stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts on the way, and he read a book while I listened to the radio and drove us back home again. It had been an exciting day. To say the least.
I was rather tired of all the excitement, to tell the truth. How thankful I am for a loving heavenly Father. We can trust Him completely with every moment of our lives, so that even during busy seasons of life, a peace that passes all understanding is there from above to nurture us along. He gets all the glory for everything and always and His loving hand is so blessedly and obviously underneath us all, holding and loving us, even during the most difficult of times.
“This is the blessed life—not anxious to see far down the road nor overly concerned about the next step, not eager to choose the path nor weighted down with the heavy responsibilities of the future, but quietly following the Shepherd, one step at a time.” F.B.Meyer
