phone pics; little snapshots of life

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Shanda

Caleb, Seth, Ethan, and David were inspired by the Duck boys.

Seth was so cute on a Sunday morning that I asked to take his picture; he struck a pose.

Oh Grace! Why do you want to read that??? (sister of five brothers)

David caught a bullfrog out of the pond.

Seth had a tick on him; I was able to pull it off but it was a sobering reminder of the problem we have around here with ticks. If they are in your area, be diligent in keeping them off your pets and children (and self). But don’t let them keep you out of the woods!

With my littlest love.

Sarah thought the artificial flowers in the dentist office were real, she smelled them and said they smelled “like chocolate”.

Something got this catfish out of our pond and killed it. Rich and Ethan stocked them a couple years ago so we are sad about it.

At the end of the day I used to hold babies in my arms, now I have no babies. However, I do have cats and a handsome husband ready to snuggle.

Boys on couch. Ethan and Jacob have been sleeping in the living room every night, they think it’s cozier than their own bedroom.

Ethan ready for church on Sunday morning.

Billy cat

I finally put pictures in the locket Hannah gave me for my birthday.

We went to the diner for breakfast yesterday.

We had no milk in the house and the boys had dentist appointments anyway. So we ate and then went to the dentist. It was fun.

Sarah and I had a little walk around the ponds together yesterday afternoon; my darling chatterbox. I picked her up several times for a squeeze.

Chickens in the forest sunshine.

I saw this Carl Larsson painting this weekend and immediately wanted to repot my plants into unifying terra-cotta planters.

So satisfying!

Sometimes my heart hurts because life is so beautiful and short. Sometimes I wish I could freeze time. I never want these days to end and yet I know they must someday. Whenever I feel this way (overwhelmed) I think of how grateful I am to have Jesus….and I am not without comfort for the days to come.

“Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:25a

springtime and baseball

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Shanda

It’s funny how the thoughts go back back back to childhood … today was opening day for little league (after church) and I couldn’t help but think so much about my own younger brothers and all the years of watching them play at the fields. Our sons Jacob and Ethan are too old for little league, today we concentrated on David and Caleb….Jake and E weren’t even with us. SO WEIRD. They are growing up and away, little by little. Yes, the older boys stayed after church for the fellowship lunch, and then Wally was going to go over some Javelin tips with Jacob again. Jacob throws for school, and with Wally’s help he beat his own personal record on Friday at the meet.

It’s quite chilly outside today so after several hours I asked my husband if he would drive me, Grace, and the little ones back home. I am currently and happily under a blanket with my feet on a warmed up corn bag with Seth at the end of the couch. Grace is on pinterest next to me and continuously laughing at someone’s “funny” board. Sarah Joy is sitting next to her, watching a movie. (“Once Upon a Forest”) Billy Cat is stretched out so softly next to my legs and Sherlock is curled in a ball by Sarah. We all have our pajamas on already.

I was on pinterest and somehow got to thinking about Trailing Arbutus. Do you know that lovely wild flower? I remember my Grandmother liking it, and it grew in the woods near our home when I was a child. It grows close to the ground, but getting down into the forest leaves to smell it is worth it. It smells wonderful, better than apple blossoms even. I haven’t seen the flower in years and years. There were pictures of it on pinterest so I pinned one and then thought about Yellow Violets. As a child, I remember finding them just one time. I had walked deeply into the woods on Grandpa’s property and was thrilled to discover a bunch of yellow violets…at that time I had not known there was such a flower. I picked one and added it to my bouquet. On the way back home I stopped and showed it to Grandma and she smiled. She knew exactly where I had been. It is a nice memory for me, I felt that we shared a secret delight together. I learned a lot about the flowers and things from my mother, who in turn had learned them from her Mama. And now, when I go for walks I cannot help but point things out and tell my own children about them. Beauty from God.

We spent time outside on Friday. It was a beautiful day. I found the children up on the hill behind the house exploring, and then Sammy jumped up on the fence from the neighbor’s side. She was exploring, too. Isn’t she pretty against the bluest of blue skies?

Daffodils are in bloom and the fuzzy buzzy bumble bees love them.

I am amused by the lengths a bee will go in order to collect pollen.

When we walk by the edge of the smaller pond, hundreds of bullfrog tadpoles ripple away, out of the shallow water. Going up closer to investigate will scare the last brave ones from the edge. Once they swim into the deeper water, it’s funny to stay and watch them go up to the surface to breath. There are SO MANY, if they all develop into full grown frogs I am afraid we will have a Biblical proportion of them (like a plague). Parker the dog enjoys the challenge of catching one in his front teeth. He does not let the tadpole touch his lips at all, just the teeth.

He detests bullfrog tadpoles.

After he brings one back into the grass and lays it gently down, he gags in deep hisses.

He can’t resist the urge to pick it up again with quivering lips and dainty teeth.

He plays with it a minute, rolls on it, and then goes back to get another.

No, he can’t bring himself to do it twice. Once is enough.

Tadpoles are cold and slimy, and they disgust him.

We look at wild flowers next.

Sarah likes to ask me if she can pick one. I say “yes”.

Seth goes across the monkey bars and I ask him if he can go all the way. He has to work, and I marvel at the bodies of young children, so light and mobile and strong.

I tried to help him once but he panted, “I want to do it by myself!”

He made it across and was proud of himself.

After throwing tiny pinecones into the long pond and watching the fish grab them and pop them back out of their mouths, we headed to the stream.

A hen came over to see what was up. So very nosey! What a busy-body!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next day, Saturday, it rained and rained all day. The boy’s Little League Opening day was cancelled.

It was today instead. We went to church, came home to quickly change, and then headed to the park.

It was a big to-do with “thank you’s”, dedication of benches (in memory of those who passed away over the last year), trophies, a presentation of the banner for last year’s winners, etc, etc, National Anthem sung, players name’s announced (including our Davy’s) and then….finally….the first games of the season.

Caleb

David. Please keep me in your thoughts as I try to keep these pants white all season.

Sarah had a ring pop.

The movie is over, it is time for me to serve a little something for dinner. It will be an early bedtime for Seth and Sarah tonight.

Have a blessed evening, my friends.

You are loved.

{this moment} two cats & a girlie

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{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.

davy makes awesome stuff

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Shanda

Dedicated to inventors, crafters, and 11 year old boys

***

David, 11 years old, has been extra productive lately.

During this year’s spring cleaning itch, I completely organized all my sewing stuff into plastic containers with labels and everything.

DAVID is taking advantage of these newly organized things more than I am at this point.

If he has an idea, he follows through until it is a completed project.

(I need to learn this virtue.)

With his two little brothers stuck like glue to his side, he made a basketball hoop for the basement.

It is put into place with about seven tacks and also includes yarn, cardboard, and tape.

They were thrilled to tell me that it works great.

I didn’t see it until days later when I was downstairs collecting laundry and it stopped me in my tracks.

I got right up close to see the details, laughing with delight.

He even broke the heads off the longer tacks, for extra security. This thing isn’t going anywhere.

****

I found him rummaging in my sewing stuff again about a week later, needing velcro.

“How do you put this stuff on, can I use glue?”

“You need to sew it so it’s strong enough to pull apart.”

“Okay.”

I left him to it, wondering what was coming next.

With a plastic cap, staples, elastic, velcro, paperclip, tape, and legos, you too can make a spiderweb shooter!

****

Yes, he is very fascinated with spiders now, thanks to watching the Spiderman movie.

He came off the bus yesterday with a big piece of yellow construction paper.

He had drawn a spider stencil on it of his own design.

He went downstairs, emptied Christmas stuff out of a long box, and tacked the paper to the bottom of the box.

Then, he took my seam ripper and lightly traced over and over each line, to cut each section (we don’t have an x acto knife).

When he was done, he had a stencil of his very own making.

Next, he came to me and asked if he could use his new Easter shirt to paint his stencil on.

I, of course, said “yes”. There really was no other answer.

He ran off again to work and the next thing I knew, he was coming upstairs with his creation.

He wore it to school today.

***

When I was driving him to practice yesterday I was complimenting him on his inventions and creations and I asked him, “What will you be making next?”

He shook his head. All my compliments had made him feel amazing. “You’ll find out in the news.”

the easter seth was sick

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Shanda

**Happy Resurrection Sunday**

Easter morning. The family all got up and started getting ready for church and then Seth threw up.

I had a blessed day caring for my small son, but I did miss the church services….beautiful Easter morning, I love it and what it means to my soul.

Ethan and Jacob were feeling “off” as well, but they got dressed and went along to church with Rich and the other siblings.

Since I didn’t have to get myself prettied up, I had a few extra minutes to spend on the girls. I curled Sarah’s hair up (like a flip)…but since her hair is so straight it didn’t last long. Isn’t she a darling in her pink and gray dress? I’ve always loved the look of those two colors together and I was so pleased when I found this pretty dress for her.

Grace wore an ankle length black skirt and simple gray sweater, with my cross necklace. I curled her hair a little, too, for soft waves.

I feel sad when I look at this picture because Seth was so deflated and ill…..but I still think he’s a beautiful little boy and I love this picture of Caleb and Seth, they are good brothers to each other. They fight over legos but have the best times together playing and jumping on the trampoline.

This was the best we could do for a group picture.

Ethan and Jacob both threw up during church.

While they were gone at church with their Dad, Seth was sick about 10 times. He was so comforted by me patting his back over the toilet and I would look away and wait until he was done (he was a very violent and thorough throw-upper), wipe off his face, and tuck him back onto the couch. It was a beautiful day and at one point he said, “Maybe the air would feel me better”, which translated means: “I need to go outside.” So, I spread a thick blanket on the grass and we went outside, where he promptly fell asleep under his blanket (I was worried he would get burned so I put the blanket over his head).

(Hours later, after everyone was home and it was late afternoon, Seth again got up off the couch with his blanket without a word and proceeded outside to sleep. So dear.)

While Seth slept I went into the forest to work on the Easter nests. I gave each child 7 eggs with candy inside, a chocolate bunny, a big glitter egg with candy, easter goldfish crackers, and a little gift just for them. David and Ethan got fishing stuff, Jake and Grace received art supplies, Sarah a “my little pony”, Seth a Spiderman ball, and Caleb legos.

On my way to the house, I stopped by the chicken coop and gave the hens some colored paper grass for their nesting box. 🙂

I have to say……by yesterday he was all better and was twice as mischievous and busy as usual….Rich and I both thought that maybe he was making up for the day of sleeping on Sunday. I’m thankful it was just a 24 hour bug. Jacob and Ethan went to school on Monday but didn’t eat. After a good night’s sleep they are feeling much better this morning.

Easter dinner was delicious but the boys were sad because they couldn’t eat with us. Ethan missed the mashed potatoes and Jacob missed trying the lamb. Yesterday evening I fried up some leftover mashed potato patties in butter for them and their tummies appreciated it (comfort food).

I set the table with pretty tablecloths (I even had the time to iron them, and I hate ironing), our easter egg tree, and pastel fiestaware. We had roast lamb, apple crisp, salad, and fluffy mashed potatoes. Rich loved the meal and ate a lot of lamb. It was the first time I made it and we liked it.

This poor daffodil has been frozen several times since it first grew. Still pretty, even with a few rough edges.

The first violet of spring; February’s birth flower, for THIA, and all my February sisters. 🙂

They are growing along the pathway to our side steps.

9 easter ideas, won’t you add the 10th?

Posted on April 19, 2014 by Shanda

My friend Danielle posted the most adorable springtime portraits of her children on Facebook the other day and I asked her if I could please share them here on the blog. She graciously gave me permission. They are absolutely precious, and will bring a smile to your face.

I also thought I would also share some Easter ideas with you, and perhaps others (yes you, my friend) might enjoy sharing their traditions with us, too, in the comment section.

(a glad easter)

Resurrection Sunday has deep and beautiful meaning for all lovers of Jesus Christ. In fact, Easter is my own personal favorite holiday because of the joy I feel in my heart as I meditate on all my Lord and Savior has done in atoning for our sins on the cross and conquering death on the third day, when he rose up from the grave. This is why I believe, first and foremost, that telling the “old old story” to our children should be the highest priority on this important weekend. There are so many ways to make this a special weekend for them, but if I can only do one thing, I will share the gospel TRUTH at their own level here at home, and take my children to church. Soul-needs come first.

But what other things can we do to make this springtime celebration fun and memorable for our families? Here are some simple but lovely ideas:

1. Decorate eggs (bet you didn’t see that one coming!)

You can use vegetables to dye eggs, or kool aid, or regular food coloring. But however you do it, it is fun to afterwards rub each egg with a drop or two of vegetable or olive oil. In this way, your eggs will glow like polished marble.

2. Make an Easter Egg tree

I love seeing the colorful plastic eggs dangling from little trees or bushes outside in the neighbor’s lawn. At our house, we decorate an artificial indoor tree at every holiday. This morning Grace helped me hang it with eggs, ribbons, and green plastic grass. We put our tree on the table as a centerpiece.

3. Make hot cross buns for breakfast (served with an icing cross on top, these buns are “traditionally considered blessed and believed to impart powerful protection.” (quoted from the book Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions)

I am rather busy this year, so I bought mine from the grocery store. But if you would like to make them, here is the inspiring Tasha Tudor’s recipe, of which she always made “a large quantity to serve at tea on Good Friday and for breakfast on Easter Sunday.”

1 cup milk, warmed to 110 degrees
1 packet yeast
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups unbleached flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup currents
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

In a small mixing bowl, stir the milk into the yeast to dissolve, adding 1 tsp of the 1/2 cup sugar. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, the remaining sugar, the cinnamon, and the currants. Add the milk and yeast mixture and mix well. Cover with a warm towel, set aside, and allow to rise in a draft-free place for 30 minutes. Add the salt and melted butter, being sure that the butter is not too hot, so as not to destroy the live yeast. Knead the dough lightly on a generously floured surface, then place in mixing bowl, cover again, and let rise until double in size, 1 hour or so.

Shape the dough into 12 buns and place on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet. Cover and let rise until double in size, about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the buns in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, until nicely browned. Remove from the oven and cool on racks. When the buns are cool, make an X on top of each one with a tasty tube filled with a mixture of:

1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
1/8 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tsp. light cream or milk, or enough to make the icing easy to spread.

4. Easter Basket or Nest for each child..

At our house, we have each child go outside in our woods and make their own little nest out of twigs and pine needles, leaves, and whatever else they can find, like charming, busy little birdies. Oh they have the grandest time, especially my older teenage boys (kidding). It’s all worth it on Sunday, when they troop back to the woods to discover all the wonderful goodies that the Easter bunny (me) has left them.

5. Egg hunt

I have heard they are great fun.

6. Living Easter basket

It’s too late for this year, but another idea is to take a basket, layer it with gravel and potting soil, and sprinkle fast-growing ryegrass seeds on the top. Keep the soil moist and place the basket in a warm, sunny spot. Once the grass is high enough, you can add little Easter toys and figures within it.

7. Do the chicken dance

repeatedly

8. New clothes

Use Easter Sunday as an excuse to freshen up the children’s spring/summer church clothes. I usually buy the boys each a new shirt and the girls each a new dress. I also buy snow white tights for Sarah (or ruffled bobby socks if the weather is warm) and proper footwear (pink glitter of course!) Don’t forget to buy yourself a new outfit, too, if needed.

9. Prepare a Feast

This year I am roasting a leg of lamb. I am also making a pan of apple crisp, a nice salad, mashed potatoes, and corn.

10. ?????

Leave a comment telling me what you or someone you know (like your grandmother) does for Easter!

This one gets me every time:

Utter adorableness!

Here is the link to my friend Danielle’s Photography Facebook Page: InJoy Photography

Happy Easter to my wonderful blog friends! xo

PS, most ideas were gathered from the book Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions, Reviving Victorian Family Celebrations of Comfort & Joy, by Sarah Ban Breathnach

{this moment} my husband

Posted on April 18, 2014 by 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.

at the end of the day.

the sisters of the family

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Shanda

a simply wonderful life

Rich and I have two beautiful daughters.

About four years ago they looked like that up there^^

Since it’s spring vacation this week, I had a little extra time to take a few sister pictures.

I bought new shirts for them at target; Grace can wear a size 14/16 and Sarah Joy a size 4, from the girls department.

I waited ten years to have two girls but can you believe this is the first time they’ve dressed alike?

And now,

get ready,

for an explosion,

OF PINK……..

“For there is no friend like a sister
In calm or stormy weather;
To cheer one on the tedious way,
To fetch one if one goes astray,
To lift one if one totters down,
To strengthen whilst one stands”

Christina Rosetti (one of my favorite poets)

Saturday to Tuesday

Posted on April 15, 2014 by Shanda

I cleaned the entire house all day on Friday.

On Saturday morning I woke up and we had four extra people in the house; our wonderful friend GB, with his three children. (Rich had stayed up to welcome them).

I made baked oatmeal and roasted sausages drizzled with maple syrup for breakfast.

Big Mike (Jacob’s buddy and our “8th child”) arrived with Cardell and Jimmy. Ethan S. arrived.

The kitchen and living room was filled with boys checking airsoft guns and ammo.

Trying on safety gear.

LOTS of teasing, talking, and laughing.

The 8 of them ran off into the woods, including Rich and Seth.

I saw Cardell and Seth, after a while, team up …. Cardell even picked him up in order to run faster into the woods. So cute.

I went to go get Davy from his friend’s house, to take him to baseball practice. I left him there to go back home.

In due time, I went back to the field to get him (15 minutes away) and took Seth with me.

Came back home…..for lunch that day we had sandwiches.

I put dinner in the crock pot; 2 pork tenderloins, a sliced onion, a sliced green pepper, and BBQ sauce.

Left at 1:30 with 8 year old Caleb. He was going to a birthday party. We went to the mall to get a gift and I dropped him off at the party.

I GOT TO SPEND ALMOST 2 HOURS ALONE AT THE BOOKSTORE….

While I was gone, the girls joined the guys for another airsoft battle.

GB left to take Myriah to her friend’s house.

I picked up Caleb, went to grocery store, went back home.

Meanwhile, Rich left to take Davy to a second ball practice.

I finished up dinner. We had bbq pork sandwiches, cole slaw, and I can’t remember what else.

Mike made gallons of lemonade. Jimmy took out the garbage.

GB got back in time for leftover dinner and then he got to work in the kitchen. He made 2 lasagnas and a pan of ziti for us to eat after church on Sunday.

Billy-Cat kept trying to jump on the counter.

GB talked to me all about his new girlfriend. (they are both christians) He has a great testimony.

All the kids hung out together…Dave was home again and in his pj’s in the rocking chair.

Everyone colored with little Sarah, including me. I love coloring. We had like six hands working on the same page.

Happy music was playing, we hummed or sang or whistled along.

I went to bed at about 9:30 and that was Saturday.

*****

On Sunday we all got up and got ready for church.

GB sang a solo (what an amazing voice he has!!) and gave his testimony.

After church we came home to warm up dinner and tidy up the house.

Rich left to take Seth to his little league meet and greet.

Mike was here for dinner.

GB’s salad was made extra special with avocado, strawberries, and goat cheese. It was delicious.

He had a job as a cook in his younger days.

He was in the Coast Guard, too. This guy has lots of great stories.

The kids adore him from their camp in the summer. Rich met him last year and they became good friends.

Sunday evening we had bible study. I made a pan of brownies, a crumb cake, and a spinach-dip bread bowl.

The dog ran through the study and then Billy Cat jumped up on Gary’s lap (the pastor leading the study).

David and Daniel had made a big triple batch of Davy’s special pretzels and he begged to bake them up.

It was about 8:00 pm when we got started, everyone around made a pretzel. I just had to laugh.

You roll out a gob of dough into a three foot long rope and then twist it into a big pretzel. Then, you dip the raw pretzel into a baking soda bath, and bake it in the oven. When they come out you brush melted butter on top. YUM, SO SO GOOD!!! The triple batch was entirely gone in no time.

GB played the camp video from last year.

Kids made a fire outside in the fire pit.

They had music playing outside and all the fellowship between them was so precious to hear….so much fun.

I went to bed around 10:30. Ethan S and Caleb S spent the night; the kids all stayed up really really late. I heard stories of Grace and Ethan S jumping in the pond at 10:30……and Myriah fell over wood while running in the dark and hurt her leg. They were playing manhunt.

Yesterday, (MONDAY) GB left to go stay with Gary (our pastor and his good friend of 18 years) and his kids stayed here. My own children have spring break.

They all spent a lot of time outside; the weather was GORGEOUS. Davy caught tadpoles, crawfish, frog eggs.

I did my nails on the porch with kids surrounding me. It was fun to have them here….we love to talk and laugh.

I feel like my brain is fried. In a good way. (I truly love these days)

Jacob had a track meet at 1.

I went grocery shopping, sipping an iced coffee as I shopped; the sugar and caffeine pepped me up.

Ethan had practice at 2:30. His first after recovering from his yucky bronchitis/pneumonia type sickness (whatever it was)….

Grace had music at 1.

I took Emily with me to watch the meet and Myriah watched the other kids. (thank you, m!!)

Rich came home at 5 to take Caleb and Seth to practice.

We had leftover pasta for dinner.

There was a lot of jumping on the trampoline.

I love this picture of Emily and the dog…..she was so good to him and he adored her.

Grace and I had to take Sammie to the vet’s this morning (TUESDAY) for her surgery. She was supposed to go last week but we could not find her. Rich has nicknamed her “Slinkie” for a reason-this morning she ran away from us AGAIN and got into her favorite hiding spot; the drop ceiling downstairs. Jacob had to wake up and help us. We disarranged the ceiling until we grabbed her. We drove through the rain with tired eyes to the vet……..I got Grace a sandwich at McDonalds and we had a sweet time together first thing in the morning.

When we got back home I made scrambled eggs with cheese, ham, and toast for breakfast for the rest of us.

It’s been raining all day and the kids have watched two movies. We watched Secondhand Lion while I folded socks, and they watched Spiderman while I finished up my bible study lesson and took a catnap in my room.

Myriah slept until 12 today….she was exhausted….the sweet girl needed some good sleep.

We had mozzarella sticks and melon for lunch, some of us had pb and j.

In a few hours our guests will be going to Youth Group with Jacob and Ethan and our visit with these delightful kids will be over.

Tonight another guest arrives; Erinn is spending the night with Grace here at our place.

I have to pick up the cat at 6:30.

*****

THEIR FAVORITE THINGS:

GRACE: it was either airsoft or watching our movie. that movie was fun.
JACOB: it was probably airsoft. either airsoft or manhunt
DAVE: shrugs shoulders. has nothing to say.
ETHAN: taking a walk at 3 in the morning. playing apples to apples.
CALEB: when we got to play airsoft
SETH: my first baseball practice
DANIEL: playing airsoft
EMILY: playing manhunt
SARAH: playing in the bath with my ponies and these.
MYRIAH: playing airsoft. when i was president, that was the best. people were trying to assassinate me. and other people were trying to protect me. staying up until 2:30

*****

“I don’t wanna leave! I don’t wanna go to NY!!” Myriah

“I hate how when we get down to the last couple of hours we get desperate when we don’t know what to do.” Jacob

“This game is addicting.” Jacob, playing a new app

“Did someone say they had an addiction?” Mother

“I’m addicted to breathing. Every time I try to stop my head gets really light.” Grace offered.

*****

I had to write all this down so that someday when my life is slow again I can look back on it and laugh.

{this moment} new driver

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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. ~inspired by soulemama

…….