I am so tired tonight.  Rich is gone at a Bible study while the three older children are at youth group.  I just got David, Caleb, Seth and Sarah to bed so I have a few minutes to blog before I also go to bed for the night.   

I wake up every morning at 5:30am. The older children get up at that time, too.  I usually get my coffee made at 6 and sit on the couch with it, talking to my older ones as they get ready for school and make their lunches.

By the time they get on the bus at 6:30 (and Rich leaves for work), Seth is usually up.  I wake Caleb and David up at 6:45.  I get their breakfasts and get them ready for school; clothes, socks and shoes, lunches and so on.

This morning, Sarah woke up last.  I gave her breakfast and waved to David and Caleb as the bus picked them up for school.  Always lots of talking going on.

It took me a solid  hour to fold and put away 4 loads of clothes.

Run the dishwasher, straighten every room.

Read to the little ones.

One thing that is hard right now, is that I can’t leave Seth with Sarah at all.  He ends up hurting her somehow, not sure why.  To hear her cry?  She was crawling up the stairs today as he was coming down and he kicked her in the cheek, just hard enough to make a mark for about a hour.  It’s so sad.  However, they did play for  little bit, nicely, too.  It was so cute to see him try to get her to play ball with him, he was pretty patient about it.  “Throw it to me, Sare!”  And she would walk to him and hand it to him………

Sarah went back down for a nap at about 9:30.  Seth and I went outside to play so he could get some energy out.

He had LOTS and  LOTS of energy today.  He’s such a wonderful, happy, handsome boy.  He tires me out! 

We went down to the stream after untangling the dog’s chain for him.

Seth “fished” with a stick.  He would hold it in the water and then lift it up and say, “See my fish!” and I would say, “It’s a big one!  Want me to get him off the hook for you?”  it was all pretend, of course.  He asked me too look at his fish about 25 times. 

The sun was so pretty as it shown through the trees in the woods, and on the water of the stream.  I thought about getting my camera but didn’t…..I ended up making a little table of food for the fairies.

Later on, I ran back down by myself to take a picture;

I remember when I was a child I would go through phases, usually when I was spending a lot of time in the woods, when fairies would become almost real to me.  It was fun to think that way again today, although it was hard getting started at first.   Every day life gets so busy, it’s hard to find time to imagine things. 

Later on, after Ethan, Jacob, and Grace got home, Ethan took the dog for a walk. When he came back, he had this milkweed pod to show me.  He thought it looked like a pinecone on the inside. 

I feel bad because I did look at it at the time, but it was in the midst of so many other things, and I did take a picture of it but I wonder if Ethan truly felt like I was giving him time……..I’m hope he did.  I love my children so much.  I try to hug them all, pat them on the back, tell them I love them, smile at them all. 

Seth was high-energy today and took a short nap.  He locked himself into the bathroom.  He runs around, he slams into things, he kicks and plays and talks and yells and doesn’t sit still EVER unless we are reading books or he’s watching his favorite videos; thank goodness for SPOT, BUSY TOWN, & BLUE’S CLUES.

While I was trying to get Seth to rest, Sarah and I did have some alone time together.  I played dolls with her.  She had a doll that needed her hair fixed and some clothes on.  We borrowed her big sister Grace’s doll things.  Sarah points at her doll’s face and says, “Baby!” and holds her dolly gently.  She’ll be a good mama someday.

When David and Caleb came home from school at 3, Caleb immediately put me to work applying his temporary tattoos that he got from school yesterday.  I had told him this morning I would.  I think he has five tattoos all about being safe with fire, and how firefighters are heros.  He ran around without a shirt, the better to see the tattoos.

The older children did their homework right away, so they could go to youth group.  They made a pizza and snacked on it as they worked.

David and Caleb kept getting on each other’s nerves so we had a talk about speaking kindly to one another, and working together to play and do fun things.

I like the children to all get fresh air every afternoon so I went outside with the younger ones.  I decided to make an easy craft with Seth and it actually amused him, so I thought I would share it with other moms of preschoolers.

You take a brown paper bag, rip strips of newspaper, and have your child stuff them into the bag.  Seth liked that part a lot.

When it’s full, you gather the bag closed and tie it with a rubber band (I used a hair band, they are easier to find in my house.)

Draw a face on the bag, and it ends up being a soft “ball” toy.  Seth loved  holding the end and throwing it.   He liked looking at the face and pointing out the eyes, nose, mouth, etc.

The boys named it “Bob.”  LOL

I took advantage of the pretty fall colors to take a few pictures.

David (I helped him with spelling homework tonight.) 

Here are several of Seth and his funny smiles.  He’s such a happy boy!  I noticed that he even talks happy, “Yum! This nice juice is delicious!” was one thing that he said today. 

Sarah Joy;

Sarah is much better today, although still coughing.  Thank you so much for praying for my baby!

After we played outside, we all came in so I could make dinner.  We had fishsticks, veggies with pasta, and homemade applesauce.  While we were eating, Rich called and said he had a terrible day of work.  I haven’t even seen him…..he was running late so he just pulled in the driveway and the kids ran out to join him.  LOL

Seth was so silly that I buckled him in the high chair this evening for a while, to “color”.  (He’s not fond of quiet work)  I ended up letting the boys watch Spot AND Blue’s Clues and then I put them to bed.  I gave Sarah her bath, put vicks on her chest and feet, and put her to bed, too.

It’s just been one of those very long, tiring days.  You know.

A good day, but busy. 

Random;  I’m loving the “Life is Good” online store and ordered myself several shirts today.  Have you looked at their things?  They even have a happy radio station you can listen to as you browse!

If you had an extra busy-mama day today (or any kind of busy day), I wish you a very lovely, deep sleep!

xoxo,

Shan

PS, (written wed.  morning)  I stayed up until Rich came home and we talked for a while, it was nice.  I did sleep good, only waking up one time because you guessed it–SETH–came in our room at 2:30.  He needed a diaper change.  LOL  It took me a little bit to get back to sleep, but this morning has been pleasant.  Here’s to a good day~

Jenny has come and gone again.  It was such a nice face-to-face meeting, and visit, here at our place.  Better than I could have imagined.  Jenny, her husband Bob, and their son David are friendly and comfortable to be with, such a dear family of warm hearts, ready to say encouraging things.  I heard “We LOVE you guys!” several times.  What a blessing. 

The children spent most of their time outside, the weather was beautiful.  That’s Grace way up in the tree, with David and my David on the bottom.

Jumping on the trampoline;

Eating dinner (Shepherd’s pie, veggies, and apple crisp), on the porch.

Bob and Jenny won hearts by being willing read-aloud-ers.

Lots of stories were read (some of the favorites were read repeatedly).

Wednesday morning, the sun came up and we got ready to go for a walk in the woods.

In the meantime, David won hearts by becoming a jungle gym.  He now has several adoring fans. 

The nature walk was SO SO LOVELY!

They were up ahead and I said, “Wait!  Everyone turn around and smile!”

Davy came across a pencil and a pad of paper right before our walk so he was inspired to bring it along to draw pictures of notable sights along the way…..

….like sammies (salamanders). He found it under a mushroom!

The boys did violent battle with dead tree branches. 

We were so glad that Rich was able to take the day off from work.  It was good for him to have the fellowship with Bob especially, and be outside on such a gorgeous day.  He works so hard, that vacation days are much-appreciated.

Golden mushroom, golden leaves

Grace is in this next picture;

Sweet Jenny, with Sarah…..

I love this picture of all of us!

The guys all practiced their grass-whistling.  It got pretty ear-piercing at times.  Lots of laughter.

We walked quite a bit but the children of course never got tired.  They ran home and got on the trampoline again!

We greatly ENJOYED this opportunity to meet our friends.  They came all the way from the other side of the USA to see us (actually, we were just one stop of many adventures for them here in New England; NYC, Boston, New  Hampshire….) and we were so honored that they took the time to visit.

Thank you so much, Jenny and Bob and David!  We love you guys!

Dear friends,

Hello!  How are you on this fine, fall day?

I’ve been busy puttering around the homeplace, getting ready for some very special company.  Bob and Jenny are coming to visit us, with their son David!  All the way from California (and xanga-land.)  We all appreciate Jenny here on xanga, and her gentle encouragement to us.  I’m thrilled to meet her TODAY!  In just a few hours!  I’ll be sure to tell her that you all said hello.  Okay?

The guest bedroom (Seth will be temporarily moved into big sister’s room) has been prepared.  A bed has been freshly made (our own Davy’s) for David, downstairs in the boy’s “dorm room”.  Will they get much sleep down there?  Shepherd’s pie has been prepped for dinner, and an apple crisp is cooling on the counter (baked in a Scarlet fiesta 9 by 13).  Rich is taking tomorrow off and we are letting the children stay home from school; it’s our own personal holiday, we want to appreciate every moment with them!

The best part of all, is the fall colors are at their prime.  Thank you, God, for this gift for our West coast friends!

I took this *all my children* photograph last Thursday during a cool spell.  We needed jackets, some of us even needed shoes.  What a pleasant evening it was, watching the children play, as this mama was tired, and with a camera in my hands I took a  few shots (including the cartwheel photo!  so fun).

Is it any wonder that her Papa
sometimes calls her Dandelion?

Our Grace, who was full of it***so happy*** to be home and frisking about.  Lying on gravel and what not.  Silly girl.  Beautiful daughter.

They were playing catch on our very hilly yard.  The ball gets away so often.  Who will end up with it this time?!

I wear my LL bean boots every day now, to gather the eggs from the coop, as there is so much swampy lawn about the place.

Try as we might, we often have an escaped hen or two from their fenced in yard.

Thanks for the lovely eggs, my dear hen.  Did you hear me?  Are you listening?

I was holding the bucket in my hand, and the camera in the other hand………

A couple of older pictures, of Sare.  (one of her nicknames)..

(dress and knees-highs from Target.)

And, lastly, a few autumn pictures that I took yesterday, and this morning.  The colors are so beautiful!  

The beauty that shimmers in the yellow afternoons of October….who could ever clutch it?  Ralph Waldo Emerson

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

May the glory of the Lord continue forever!

The Lord takes pleasure in all He has made!

The earth trembles at His glance;

the mountains smoke at His touch. 

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.  I will praise my God to my last breath!

May all my thoughts be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord.  Psalm 104:31-34

LOVE

God is love.

And we love, because we have learned all about him, and He first loved us.  We love Him.  We love others.

For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.  Romans

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  Galatians

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart……1 Timothy

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh BY LOVE.  Galatians

The fruit of the Spirit is love……….. 

“The springs of love are in God, not in us.  It is absurd to look for the love of God in our hearts naturally, it is only there when it has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.”  O. Chambers

GOD

~heaven and the hightest heaven cannot contain Him (1 Kings 8:27)

~shows lovingkindness to His servants.  (1Kings 8:23)

~He heals (Ps. 30:2)

~He brings UP the soul (Ps. 30:3)

~He gives joy in the morning (Ps. 30 5)

~He sits as King forever (Ps. 29:10)

~He gives strength to His people.

~He blesses with peace.

I would have despaired

 unless I had believed

 that I would see the goodness of the Lord

 in the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13

A joyful heart makes a cheerful face.   Proverbs

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.  Psalms

In your name they rejoice all the day.   Psalms

Let your godly ones sing for joy.   Psalms

I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord and He heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.  For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about:  all the billows and thy waves passed over me……..when my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord:  and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple…but I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving…salvation is of the Lord.  Jonah 2:2-9

For I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.  Jonah 4:2b

Thankful, today, for:

David eating his birthday cake next to me as I type.  He loves that cake.

Grace telling me things she learned in school today (geography means= earth writing).

The boy’s praise music coming up from their room as they clean and play.

My sleeping toddlers.  And when they are awake, how cute they are.

Hope

A rainy afternoon, perfect for relaxing after a very busy morning.

Friends

Books to read and enjoy, or learn from.

My sister

My yummy scented candle.

All of my family, how I love you all.

My house, (my messy, crazy, grace-filled home.)

God’s beautiful creation, and most of all, His Word.

The Lord bless you

and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Today is David’s ninth birthday.  If you have followed my blog since the beginning, you have watched David grow from a three year old to a nine year old….such wonderful years for a little boy!  It’s so exciting to be alive, learning about hammers and nails, fishing, and all that stuff that boys absolutely adore!

David is an expert frog, toad, and turtle catcher.  He could tell you just how to do it.

Don’t forget to ask him to tell you about the big snapper!~

Little league awakened a love for baseball.  We watch him now, playing catch with his brothers, and we love to see how light and quick he his…..there is something beautiful about a boy who has a knack for a sport.  He makes it look easy.

Davy loves to fish.  He spent most of his summer turning over rocks to look for good bait.  He made his own fishing poles and when he ran out of hooks, he got some from the neighbor up the road.

He has lots of fun in his life!

Rich and I recently went to David’s school open house.  This is his locker.

Incidently, he is wearing his favorite shirt.  He wore this on the first day of school, and he’s wearing it today for his birthday, too.  He’s so cute!

David’s third grade teacher.

I simply must show you the organization Dave’s teacher has.  The whole classroom is tidy, but here is a picture of all the books (naturally, I would gravitate to the book corner, yes?)…..He has them all nicely arranged.  I loved the idea of using bins with labels.

David currently has a passion for the Magic Tree House books.  He said one of the goals “in his life” is to read them all.  They are his FIRST “real” (longer, less pictures) books and he’s so proud that he can read them.

He has requested a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, so I will make that today, with lots of love added.

He also requested a spaghetti dinner.  This will be an easy request to grant.  Spaghetti is harder to clean up than it is to make and serve.  The whole family likes a spaghetti night.

He requested to stay home from school.  This request was not granted, because my heart told me that he would spend the day wandering around wondering what to do with himself and the two babies of the family, with no other siblings about! 

He got to open three gifts this morning.  Then, all I heard was the shooting of a “storm blaster”. 

He loved his new penguin that his sister bought for him.  It’s name is Penny, and it got taken to school in the backpack.

Oh, and he got a card in the mail from Uncle Dave (he’s named for my brother)….it had money in it, SO very important to a little boy.  His Dad said, “Your Uncle Dave is so nice and thoughtful to send you that.”  And David said, “Yep.  If it’s from Uncle Dave I just KNOW there will be five dollars!”

He spent that money on a baseball and now that he got another card (from Great Grandma) he has more money burning a hole in his pocket.  He pulled it out to show the neighbors yesterday.  “Oh, that’s wonderful!  Do you save some of  your money?” they asked.

 “Yes.” 

“You put it in the bank?” 

 “No, in my pocket.”

Eight was great, nine is fine.  Happy Birthday, to a wonderful boy.

You are my SONshine.