Mothering matters. .  .because today makes a difference tomorrow.

Grace and Ethan    Yes, I love the color green.  Dad, I know what you would name Ethan if you were talking to him while he was wearing his green pants, “Mr. Greenjeans”, right?  Those of you who know my Ethan know that he can totally pull of the green pants, they are HIM to a “T”. 

Caleb  Oh well, what can I say?  He’s a dream-boat!  As Uncle Jason says, “He has tennis balls in his cheeks”.

Our Thankful Book   This is an idea I came up with just the other day.  I bought this blank book on Friday and it stays out on the counter for anyone to write in. . . just things we’re thankful for.  It’s already fun to read and puts a smile on my face.  The kids can write anything they want, however they think it’s spelled!  (like Grace’s, “hoses”—she meant houses) 

I’m generally a very happy person, but~
I get stuck in a rut at times.
I hole myself away in my little world until I feel as though the walls are closing in.
Until I feel like “if I clean up one more mess. . . . .”
Until the stress is like a weight.
That’s why, today, I am so thankful for my sister.  We’ve gotten closer in the past 6 months.  Now that she’s married she has that contentness and calmness, like she finally has someone to complete her.  And that has made our relationship better as sisters.  Amanda is an extrovert, I am an introvert.  I cannot believe how much energy and sparkle she has after having N. only a month ago!
She gets me out of the house.
Out of my little cave.
Yesterday she was here and we just sat outside and talked and sat inside and talked.  She comforted me when I thought Caleb was dying from tipping over in his high chair.
Today we went for a walk and to the park.  I took a big quilt and some magazines and my camera and watched my little sister play with my son.
I’m so thankful for my sister!

After The Rain. . . . .

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Are you interested in your family history?  Here is some information about my own family.  I left LAST NAMES out, for sake of privacy:

My Maternal Great Grandparents, Anton and Lucy Belle had 15 children!  Esther, Wesley, Richard, Theodore, Harold, Mary (my maternal grandma), Lucy, Lena, Lawrence, Roger, Betty, Ethel, Joann, Joyce, and Rita!

My Maternal Grandparents, Theodore and Mary, had 6 children:  Chris, Cindy (my mom), Carol, Teddy, Mary Ellen, and Colleen.

My Parents, Greg and Cindy, had 5 children.  Shanda (that’s me!), David, Amanda, Nathan, and Isaac.

And I, with my husband, Rich, have 5 children.  Jacob, Ethan, Grace, David, and Caleb.

I’m in a family history mood! 

PS, I’ll have to do my Paternal side later. . . . . .

Angie had her kittens yesterday!

She had them in the drop ceiling in my office.  See my purple organizers?  They are directly overhead.

Now when I am typing and reading your blogs, I hear little kitten
noices. . . . . . . .quite distracting, I’d say!

She had four. . . . . .

Oh dear!  How exciting to have kittens in the ceiling!