birthday girl

Posted on May 31, 2017 by Shanda

Good morning, how’s this picture of mud for an opening to a blog post? The other day I was outside with my camera and one of the things I noticed that day was little animal prints in the mud by the stream.

The mosquitoes are so bad right now, it’s almost enough to make me stay indoors.

ALMOST.

Actually, I haven’t been outside much lately . . . .so what is keeping me indoors? and on the couch? Cold clammy weather and the world’s worst cold.

This big bug has almost human qualities, doesn’t it? sneaky, large nose, suspicious expression. . . . . .

The neighbor’s cat is frequently seen at our place. If I try to say hello he squats down in fear and then bounds away as fast as his four feet can take him.

Sometimes my cats communicate with it in melodious yowls.

A boy and his dog.

(Parker is sleeping in the same spot as I type, but his boy is at school).

From my sick spot on the couch, nature came to me! I looked out the window in time to see cedar waxwings land in the top of our tree by the garden. My Aunt Colleen and my mom both said they’ve been seeing flocks of them, too. Such beautiful birds.

CSC_1253

I kept hearing a strange bird call . . . .over and over. . . so (even though I’m sure it wasn’t calling ME!) t simply had to look for it and discovered a new sighting (for me) of a Great Crested Flycatcher.

hummingbirds are constant visitors to our feeder (thanks to son David for filling it up the other day)

I bought Sarah’s presents yesterday while she was at school. Michael and Jacob came with me. We went to Target, Costco, and Barnes and Noble. If you visit my instagram account you have seen the picture I posted of Sarah’s birthday requests, written in purple ink on a sheet of paper that I found in an empty room. She didn’t hand me the list, she didn’t tell me she was making one, I just happened to find it on the floor and then, last night and rather too late, another copy by my bed. Rarely do things like this get by my all seeing eyes, so I was especially amused and set to work, determined to get everything on the list, which was quite realistic and humble; a very basic birthday wish list.

Gone are the days (at least for now?) of siblings crowded all around the birthday child. . . .only Seth was interested in Sarah’s presents. They make a cute brother and sister pair when they aren’t bickering.

Sarah had a VERY very busy day yesterday. . .she went to the zoo all day long with her class. Despite being tired she was happy and pleasant for family time and birthday celebrations here at home.

However, I did have to wake her up from a very deep sleep this morning in order for her to get ready for school. Dear girlie. She was so excited for her birthday.

Barnes and Noble does free gift wrapping and the paper was so cute. . .lots of trees and open books and little creatures reading, and a shiny gold sticker on top.

I found Sarah the wolf books she wanted.

AND a book of her favorite Henry and Mudge stories.

She is a fantastic reader.

Meanwhile Seth was busy putting flour in a balloon to make a homemade stress ball. He was tapping the flour down the funnel with a wooden skewer.

Her face when she saw the My Little Pony play set.

She also got her plastic animals (a bear, a wolf, and a fox) and a “cat and jack” bathing suit. The bathing suit wasn’t on the list.

She also received a birthday card from Uncle Dave and Aunt Maria, and one from Grandma and Grandpa. She gets so excited to have money. 😉

The ponies have been a big hit. There are enough of them for her to be creative and entertained by very absorbing make believe adventures. The TV remote is on the floor because naturally she had to watch an episode of My Little Pony, too.

The boys blew up balloons for her and we’ve been having fun playing “volleyball” together.

When she’s playing with her ponies she doesn’t notice anything else happening around her.

Thanks to Michael and Jacob’s suggestion for dinner, I made a big pot of Shepherd’s pie, corn, and salad.

We had our whole family except Grace but with Michael and Zach. (Grace was at school for a Variety Show and missed her sister’s birthday entirely)

Everyone loved dinner and then it was time for cake!

Nice big brother lit the candles after we all had to search for something to light them with because David had left the whole box of matches outside and they were rained on.

It was a huge Costco cake, vanilla.

With chaos and noise all around her (7 boys! crazy boys!) she silently sat with her eyes sparkling, patiently waiting for us to sing.

My favorite photo of the day. 🙂

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

love has the run of the house

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Shanda

God is love.
When we take up permanent residence in a life of love,
we live in God and God lives in us.
This way, love has the run of the house,
becomes at home and mature in us,
so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day–
our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s.
There is no room in love for fear.
Well-formed love banishes fear.
Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—
fear of death, fear of judgement—
is one not yet fully formed in love.

We, though, are going to love—love and be loved.
first we were loved, now we love.

He loved us first.

1 John 4

***

Happy Birthday to Sarah Joy.

She has changed so much since she was born. . . . she used to cry almost every time we had to separate, even when her Dad held her, if she wanted mama she cried.

I wasn’t sure how she would adjust to school. She is in first grade now and I truly believe that going to school is what finally gave her confidence that she can do things apart from her safe person (me). In fact, I’m not her safe person anymore. She’s safe on her own, in a circle of friends, beloved teachers, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, siblings and both parents. In all this love there is no fear.

Seven years old today. Bright, cheerful, happy, and a lover of animals, bike riding, and reading. It’s fun to watch her grow. We learn so much from our children, don’t we?

***

“I’m thanking God, who makes things right.
I’m singing the fame of heaven-high God.” Psalm 7

It’s not an easy life, but it’s made sweeter and better with God in our hearts and the ones He blesses us with along the way. . . .family first, and then friends, like you.

Thankfulness & love overflows.

Happy Tuesday!
You are loved.

a boy named seth

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Shanda

dsc_0944-1

Last night after the High School wrestling meet, there was a special youth exhibition. Seth was one of the boys who got to wrestle. He wrestled a boy who was bigger and better than he was (although, actually, Seth would disagree with me on both counts) and was soundly beaten. He was also dropped on his head. The ref stopped the match while Seth recovered flat on the mat, Rich and the coaches by his side, and me on the bleachers with an icy stomach and worried sisters by my side. He got up and finished the match, getting pinned 2 seconds before the buzzer blew to end the match (which he would have lost by 2 points).

It was very disappointing and sad for Rich and me but only because we are his parents. The team did awesome and won the meet. All the boys did so well and we were extremely proud of them.

Seth has only lost two matches this season out of about 14 (I lost count). He is very good and enjoys the sport. When we got home, Rich was concerned about a concussion and slept four inches away from Seth on the couch all night long. I was concerned about my precious sons wrestling in general but Rich said that life is risky and they were just as apt to get head injuries on the playground or climbing trees or wrestling each other when I’m not looking.

Rich decided to have Seth stay home from school today so he could rest and be quiet.

This has worked out nicely for Seth, because

his

birthday.

Seth turns 8 years old today.

He is currently sound asleep on my bed after a whole morning of “quiet”.

But this morning after his bath, I took these portraits of him.

Remember the time when your legs were so short you couldn’t bend your knees over the edge of Mom’s old rocking chair?

Remember that baby face you used to cover in kisses that you can still see glimpses of?

Remember that birthday when you were turning eight and you asked your mom to bake you a chocolate cake with vanilla cream filling and you licked the beater?

dsc_0971-2

Remember the card that your sister made you and she wrote “You’re the best brother ever in the world?” and when you read it you said, “I said that to Ethan once.”

And how on your birthday you think you need to go outside and look for your shadow?

dsc_0975-1

Remember how I love you?

jacob’s twentieth birthday

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Shanda

It’s still so weird to think about Jacob being twenty years old. Ah yes, young moms, the days are long but I am here to tell you that what *they say* about the years flying by is true. It’s not depressing news, it’s actually very ENCOURAGING! Whatever days you have going on right now are going to rapidly pass. What a blessing. Jacob was QUITE a handful for many years and now look at him, I barely have to parent him anymore. He’s all grown up and just needs a minor parental adjustment once in a great while (considering he does still live with us and all).

Jacob’s birthday is New Year’s Eve, so for the last few years it’s been a tradition for him to fill the house with his friends and stay up all night to celebrate his birthday AND the New Year.

PICTURE ALBUM:

Rich had his laptop connected to the TV so he could watch some of the wrestling matches from that morning. Zak (the one making the face) had hurt his lower back during his match so they were trying to figure out what happened. You can see the laundry I was still working on folding….after all these years of having people over to our house I’ve gotten gotten over the feeling that “it must be clean”. I have gracious friends.

Ethan and his girl.

They are soooooo cute.

Kylee was trying to braid Grace’s hair and Sarah was watching intently because she wanted to learn to braid. You can see the braids in her hair, I had done them a few hours earlier and as I was braiding, Sarah was saying she wanted to learn…..so it was providential that Kylee decided to practice on Grace, and Sarah could get a lesson. 🙂

Playing “SORRY”

And UNO

Caleb and Jacob; Caleb is Grace’s boyfriend, Grace has a brother named Caleb and Caleb has a brother named Jacob.

three of my boys (two are missing)– Ethan (18), Jacob (20), and David (14)

And one with their Dad, too.

Time for the cake! Dixie cups making things easier. And please notice my stack of small fiesta plates. 🙂

I can’t get over it.

Look at all these wonderful people.

I LOVE THIS PICTURE SO MUCH. Grace is so cute!

Sherlock’s favorite place to sleep these days.

dsc_0274-1

best friends

Downstairs in the basement….we got a new couch for Jacob. Seats 10. I love how Seth (the little guy) stayed right with the bigger kids all night.

dsc_0278-1

my Caleb

And Sarah (despite the face) LOVED being able to spend time with the girls.

Parker the Dog was in heaven (and spent the night trying to steal food and chew things up in order to get people to notice him). He was resting his chin on his stuffed animal in this picture.

dsc_0283-1

I went to bed at 11 and when I got up there were kids sleeping all over the place. Ethan eventually made pancakes and then everyone left and it was just our family again.

dsc_0284-1

And time to take the college boy back to Vermont.

*****

ode to a milestone

Posted on December 31, 2016 by Shanda

15724693_10154669533541343_1079057702896316710_o

twenty pacifiers

twenty matchbox cars

twenty laps around the house

twenty times watching Busy Town

twenty naps resisted

twenty days of Kindergarten

twenty little green army guys

twenty light sabers

twenty lego sets built

twenty fish in the pond

twenty walks with the dog

twenty books read

twenty trips to the orthodontist

twenty pizzas eaten

twenty pictures drawn (with sharpies)

twenty albums bought for your ipod

twenty acts of kindness

twenty sweet kisses

twenty days of your first job

twenty songs sung

and only one you.

Happy 20th birthday, Jacob!

“Go back?” he thought. “No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!” So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

seventeen now

Posted on November 4, 2016 by Shanda

dsc_1311-2

People who know Grace know what makes her special.

(Everyone is special in their own unique way. Everyone.)

And Grace is special because of what is in her heart, her mind, her soul.

Her heart is full of love. Ever since she was a little girl, she wanted a hand to hold and someone to listen. She wanted to encourage, give attention, give hugs.

Her mind is bright. It wants to lead. It thinks of things that no one else does, because God gave her a gift, just as He gives each one of us a gift to use for this world we live in. There is no one like Grace, there is no mind like her mind. She has desire to busily learn and grow. So many interests, hobbies, jobs. Once she sets her mind on something, look out.

Her soul belongs to God. She loves the holy Scriptures, the hymns, the worship. Her spirit always rejoices, and produces the good fruit of love, joy, goodness and peace.

As her mom, that is what I see.

At first I thought, I’m not going to wax eloquent with this post, I’m just going to let the pictures speak their thousand words.

But who am I kidding? I have words! Must.get.them.out.

grace17yrs

It just so happened that when she was born, and after the nurses made sure her airway was clear, they gave Grace to her Dad first……and I love that. (She certainly is a Daddy’s girl.) My husband placed our first little daughter into my arms. And she was an absolute DOLL. A teeny tiny doll baby………..

That was 17 years ago, today.

dsc_1344-2

Happy Birthday, Grace!

I rarely see this girl of mine these days because she’s a busy busy senior in High School, and very very involved in Drama and Music. When I got home yesterday afternoon, the bus from school had already gone by, and so I chatted with Dave in the kitchen and then made my way through the living room to get to my bedroom…..and there was Grace on the couch, reading a book. Oh I was so excited, I admit I shrieked with glee, I grabbed her and we went outside to do her birthday photo shoot (I like to take good photos of my children on or around their birthdays). Photos that I didn’t think I would have time to take because I rarely see her in the daylight hours. Squeeeeeeeeeee!

grace-bk-and-white

“One can never consent to creep
when one feels an impulse to soar.”
HELEN KELLER

Grace and I have a great relationship….although at times it is better for her to go to her Dad with things, as well. (He and I make an excellent parenting team and often give each other high fives).

She adores her two big brothers, and her younger siblings, as well. In my mind, I can see the relationships she has with each one.

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19

That’s what mothers do.

beauty

Grace is applying to colleges and in a few weeks I’m taking her to visit one. There is part of me that is already preparing for when she leaves and I’m not going to lie…..it’s going to be hard for our family to see her go. But go she must, because she’s meant to soar.

dsc_1286-2

(Grace’s cat kept photobombing)

Yesterday while the kids were at school, my mom and I were texting and trying to decide what kind of cake Grace would want me to make for her…..Mom said “vanilla with strawberries” and I guessed “chocolate with vanilla frosting.” Hours later I was able to ask Grace.

She said she wanted a cheesecake, and even specified the temperature of it: partially frozen.

partially frozen cheesecake!!!! Never would have guessed that one.

I haven’t MADE a cheesecake in probably 20 years so this is going to be a fun day.

dsc_1392-2

dsc_1394-2

(one of my favorite photos, which came about because I said, “KITTYYYYYY!” a bit too frantically, trying to get the cat to look at the camera). ha ha ha ha! They have the same expression on their faces!

grace-and-mom-bk-and-wt

graceandmom

While writing, this song popped into my head:

Forever and ever, you’ll stay in my heart
And I will love you
Forever and ever, we never will part
Oh, how I love you
Together, forever, that’s how it must be
To live without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me.

~Aretha Franklin, “I say a Little Prayer”

I think I’ll play later and make Grace dance in the kitchen with me. ❤

Happy Birthday, sweet 17.

happy birthday to my son

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Shanda

Fourteen years ago I was holding my healthy newborn baby David in my arms and now look at him! He wants to be taken places like Home Depot. So that’s what we did…..armed with a list of things he needed, the two of us did some shopping.

14495232_10154367036026343_2683579202029460092_n

He is endeavoring to make a “Mini Metal Foundry”. His Uncle Dave already mailed him the first item on the list, a “clay graphite crucible”, just big enough to fit a soda can. (He’s been collecting them and has a whole bin ready to melt.)

He says once his operation is set up his “crafting abilities will increase by 30 percent.”

(I’ve been laughing about that one for days)

What are you going to make with the melted metal, I ask.

“Well, I could make metal signs,” he explains…….”and other stuff.”

I felt anxious in the Home Depot with the list. I felt like a fish out of water. I don’t know where anything is. David was kind of amused. However, we were able to find everything we needed except for the five quart big mouthed bucket. Thank you to my husband for answering a few questions (via texting) we had about the drill.

Isn’t he a nice boy?

Happy Birthday, Dave!

We headed to Panera for lunch and guess who met us there?

Big brother Jake. 🙂 He was able to drive over after his class at college.

These two have a great relationship. David does as much stuff with Jacob as he possibly can. If Jacob is going someplace and asks if anyone wants to go along, David will always say yes. I’ve noticed that David has a lot of love and adoration for his three older siblings, but nothing but minimal toleration bordering on annoyance for his three younger ones. Interesting.

Just to show you that he is indeed taller than his Mom. (Panera was in the mall)

He thanked me in the car for his nice birthday things.

He took a selfie wearing his new hat and shirt.

He couldn’t wait to get to work on his project. He is currently outside on the patio mixing up plaster of paris, wearing a dust mask and no shirt. Every once in a while I can hear him singing to himself as he works. He knows what he likes and he does it. He keeps himself busy learning and doing. 06111d7d5720dfdc2c4ff29368131612

we ate a snake

Posted on July 9, 2016 by Shanda

13620146_10154151840506343_1732818758648169608_n

13590313_10154151841136343_7266344905869652417_n

2005 was an eventful year for our family because that was the year I gave birth to offspring number five; a beautiful little son whom we named Caleb James. Oh how we loved having babies and those sweet days of holding a newborn in our arms.

Caleb been so excited about his birthday (for months) and we were very pleased//relieved that we were able to celebrate it the way he wished; with some of his favorite friends. They had a nerf gun fight, went for a walk, played football, went swimming, and played video games.

13620146_10154151840506343_1732818758648169608_n

Caleb has the best mother in the world, if I do say so myself, because I made him a homemade snake cake today even though I was exhausted, worried and grumpy (de-stressing from Sarah’s surgery).

Or, even more likely, this is God’s perfect timing because He knew that nothing would cheer me up more than making a snake cake for one of the best boys I know. It turned out so well I just had to smile………smile at a cute snake.

It’s body was made out of a sour cream chocolate cake, baked it in a bundt pan. After it cooled, I cut it in half and turned one half to the edge of the other half to make an “S”.

Then I gave it a skin of homemade butter cream frosting, dyed green.

The yellow spots are m-n-ms and skittles, which was a nice surprise for the kids as they never knew which one they would eat next.

The eyes were made with one marshmallow, cut in half and striped with a toothpick dipped in black food coloring (the book said to buy a tube of black frosting but this worked).

Mr. Snake’s tongue was made with a fruit-by-the-foot, trimmed at the end to be forked.

We had to call the boys up out of the pond in order to have the cake, which is why Caleb has a towel around his waist. (summertime birthdays are the best.)

As an ode to the good ol’ days, I scattered some of Caleb’s beloved Thomas the tank Engine trains down the table as decoration. All the boys had fun picking them up with their forks attaching to the trains’ magnetic ends.

I served out the cake and Rich served out the ice cream.

Happy Birthday, Caleb!

*****

PS, Sarah is continuing to do very well, although I had some cause for worry this morning. After I talked to the doctor, had a good cry, and baked a cake I felt better. (She was never worried in the least). She’s happy.

happy birthday.

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Shanda

I was focused on the church picnic we were hosting. Rich had hired someone to come and do a pig roast. We had a lot to do to prepare and my parents came, too. In all the preparations and busyness, Sarah’s birthday became of a far lesser importance. So much so that I procrastinated in purchasing her gifts. For the first time in all these years, Rich and I shopped for a birthday the actual day of the birthday. But Sarah understood, she didn’t mind at all.

13320862_10154056678846343_7440996999517379434_o

She even wrote me a helpful list.

We drove through the rain to buy our little girl some presents. I found myself sitting and thinking about how much she has changed this year. From someone who was quite shy and very attached to mama, to someone who goes to school everyday cheerfully and confidently. From someone who couldn’t read or write, to someone who is giving me helpful lists.

She is my youngest child. One of the little things I miss the most is carrying someone on my hip. Sarah is much to heavy & big to pick up and hold any longer than a minute.

Sometimes I let her sleep with me when Rich is away. The last time she asked I said, “I just don’t want to be kicked all night long, so no.” But she started to get tears in her eyes and I saw how much it meant to her so I quickly said, “Okay, you can.”

As soon as she opened her eyes the next morning she sleepily said, “Did I kick you, mama?” My heart swelled. “All night long I tried to stay away.”

(Please don’t stay away. Come close. Kick me all you want.)

I taught her to eat violets.

Her grandma taught her how to water a garden.

She makes cookies with me.

She no longer cries when I get too far away.

She can sing and write, and color, and make friends and do things by herself.

How I love my little girl.

*****

Now We Are Six

When I was one,
I had just begun.
When I was two,
I was nearly new.
When I was three,
I was hardly me.
When I was four,
I was not much more.
When I was five,
I was just alive.
But now I am six,
I’m as clever as clever.
So I think I’ll be six
now and forever.

A.A.Milne

13308671_10154057660396343_6108080777612790832_o

May 30, 2016

“I don’t remember who said this, but there really are places in the heart you don’t even know exist until you love a child.” Anne Lamott

candid camera

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Shanda

Can you feel the love? This is my favorite picture from Ethan’s 18th birthday party, he’s in a love sandwich between his girlfriend, sister, and cousin. And then there is Emily hugging a cat behind them, and Seth sitting on the couch, amused.

MORE PICS—all from my phone—

This is what Sarah, Seth, and Caleb have been doing all weekend…riding scooters. They are only 27 dollars on amazon and we just ordered a black one for David as well. I love them because it’s a fun activity that they can do outside and we let them ride them in the house, too. It’s the sweetest sound to hear their wheels running along the floor as they enjoy their scooters.

The dining room became a small wrestling gym on the day of Ethan’s party…..

Rich wrestled Jimmy, who actually showed some promise! He goes to our church and isn’t from our town so alas cannot join our team next year.

Getting pinned by Coach

Caleb (green shorts) was the ref.

I took pictures and periodically screamed be careful.

Ethan and Zak

soon everyone wanted to wrestle and I did a cartwheel.

There was loud music going on, too.

later on that night Caleb (G’s boyfriend) and Rich did a sit up contest that went on and on and on…..

They each did over 500 before Caleb cramped up and had to stop, Rich kept going for another 20 or 30 sit ups and then he stopped, too.

I discovered all these goofy selfies disrespectfully left on my phone so yeah…they’re going on the blog….**payback**

We watched movies, ate food, had pie and cheesecake as birthday cake, ice cream, and I went to bed at like 9:00 pm but Rich stayed up with them until 3. When I got up at 6:30 there were kids sleeping all over the place, I walked into each room to check on them with a smile on my face. Ethan woke up and made pancakes for all of us using his Grandma’s recipe. Then came a turn for everyone in the shower and a trip to church where several of them had a hard time staying awake because of their long but fun night.