A new foul, four letter word.

L-I-C-E (o.k. so, maybe it's not a new word). (I asked Esther if I could write about this.)

We had the play day Friday and when to church Sunday. I was snuggling with Es on the couch watching a video after church and was curious why she was itching her head....alot....she said it hurt. Thus is the way we discovered the pestilence. I run to the store to get the pesticide shampoo and spay. I get home, treat Es and then Ben and I start to sanitize the whole house. THE WHOLE HOUSE! I put all her hair stuff and dress up in bags, stripped down all of our beds and pillows. Ben vacuumed all the carpets......and so on and so on. I have, without exaggeration, touched every surface of our home in two days and called every one she was in contact with. Oh, and done probably 12 loads of laundry. Thankfully it wasn't a serious case and they're already gone! (I'll still be on the defensive for two weeks though.)

On more of a fun note.....I found the perfect photo albums for me! I've decided that instead of switching all the pictures over to the new albums (it would cost about $200....ahem! ouch!) I'm going to put address sticker labels on the bottom of the photo's (not actually on the photo, but the sleeve of the album) I want to note. It's nice to have a plan!

Photo's from 2002:

Z-on left. 6 months.



My Dad and Sam (2 yrs) fishing while camping.



Awwww! Twins-7.5 months.


Sis-3


On our Vancouver house roof! Ready to put up
Christmas lights. Sam-2.5.

Yesterday

We had the best day yesterday! The kids and I had our friends over for lunch.

Sam, Eli and Zach reading.



Macy, Grace and Joe playing pick-up-sticks



Ava (11 mo.) entertaining all the kids!
Isn't it normally the other way around?



The girls doing 'make overs'.


Anna introduced us to a new group Needtobreathe. Omigosh! SUPER good. Thanks for the introduction Anna.

When all the company had gone, we'd watched a video and I was needing to get dinner started, I got a call from Ben. He was offered 9 holes of golf.......FREE! He was sweetly calling to ask me what I wanted him to do. He is amazing. "GO!" I said.

Both Ben and my day were filled with such blessing! Spending time with family and friends. There really isn't anything better!

When Life Happens

We as humans need. Need love. Need food. Need air. Need peace. Need their cars fixed =)
When life happens and the car needs a new exhaust system and when the kids need school supplies; I start to get anxious. I start to worry the $$$ will run dry. Then God reminds me of Philippians 4:4-8 (I've colored the words that are important to me). It's my life verse.
Life happens! So what? Life isn't perfect and sometimes doesn't happen the way we plan. I have to remind myself to just roll with it and be gentle in the process!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is TRUE, whatever is NOBEL, whatever is RIGHT, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is ADMIRABLE-if anything is EXCELLENT or PRAISEWORTHY-think about such things."

before I forget....

I simply MUST write some absolutely funny things Sis has been saying.

1-After Joey had gotten done explaining something funny to me she said "I did not tell him to say that!"
2-She was working diligently to complete some summer school and I was complementing and commending her hard work. Her response (with her hand fluttering to her chest) "I risked my life to do it."
3-As I was laughing over before mentioned quote she noted "Mom's are weird sometimes."

Yes dear! We are weird sometimes but we're not the only ones!

Wildlife and Just Plain Wild

This is what we found in our next-door-neighbors yard this morning. Are we in the city or not?
Beautiful!



This is what my hair looks like after I've washed and conditioned using the no frizz or straightening options. In addition I use straightening products (three different kinds). Hummm. Maybe I should write them a letter?

More Old Photos

I now have condensed 18 albums to 10! I'm half way through 2002....only SIX years left (twelve albums)! Uggggh.
The ideas that some of you gave were good. I'm not going the whole digital scrap book route (I assume I'd have to scan all the photo's in???? WAY too time consuming. Thanks though Heidi! for the comment and info.), and the three ring binder is also too time consuming (thanks anyway Mom!). I am going to have to go to a craft store =( Trip to Michael's anyone???

Ben and Sam (11 mo.). Summer 2001.



Esther (2yrs). 6.2000

Twins (1 week)-asleep and squished to each other.

I'm sure this just felt 'normal' to them!

1.2002.

Bushy-bearded Ben (we were only out from the

hospital about two weeks-he didn't want to waste

time shaving! How sweet!) burping one of the Twins.

1.2002

Samuel (2yrs.) getting slobbered on and not enjoying it.

(he hated.....uh.....hates, slobber.) Twins-6 mo.

6.2002

Just a reminder of how life worked back then.

I honestly look back and shake my head and

wonder how I did it. I guess this is how!

Twins- 6.5 mo.

7.2002

Old Photo's

Unfortunately, when I was younger, I kept too many photos (bleary or duplicated). Soooo, one of my tasks for this summer is......going through all my old photo's in albums (20 years worth). I used to have 27 photo albums. I already condensed albums 1-9 (the first ten years) into three albums. YEA!

Here's my problem. I've always wanted to scrap-book the important photos. No problem you say! But it is, for me at least. I'm just not a scrapper. It takes to much energy and time for me. I need to find a non-scrap booking album that I am still able to document.

Ben found some really nice albums at Costco, but I didn't really like them =( Maybe a craft store???) Any ideas as to where to look?

Here are some of my favorite photo's from the past. (We don't have a working scanner, so these are, once again, pictures of pictures.)

First expertly decorated cake. I was probably 10.

My Mammie and me at my brothers graduation from college.

Civil War Reenacting. This was the week-end that Princess Dia died. I smoked a stoggie....really.

Easter '07. Love birds!

Engaged....about a month prior to wedding. Having second thoughts Ben???

Our wedding rehearsal 6.15.98. Someone made a joke =)

I will post different and more recent photos as I go through them.

Ahhhh. Simplicity.

I'm not a procrastinator.....unless we're speaking of ironing =0) (Since Ben is a salesman, he wears the nice, dressier shirts and I only iron them once a week. It ends up that there are about 5 of his shirts and three of the boys'. That, to me is procrastinating). ANYWAY......

I have been unable to, due to some business related stuff, organize and put away the past t-h-r-e-e years of papers. Uggg. This huge box of file folders found it's new home when we moved in. Of all places the......laundry room. (I needed them to be accessible and we had to store alot of boxes in the garage and this stuff was too important to loose).

So, for the past five months this box has been a fly on my nose. Bothersome, annoying and just plain in the way!!!

Today I showed that box who was boss. Her name is Katy, and she's kickin' you outta' heah!

The room went from this......


to this. (insert faerie, tinkling, harp music here.....bling, ting-a-ling).





When I was done I told Ben that I felt like I just vacuumed under the furniture. He didn't get it. Maybe I should have described it like......I felt like I had just showered after a week long, dusty camping trip.


Glorious. Splendid. Squeaky. Nothin' like it and I love it!

Half Way to 60

I've been thinking about this post for a while now and just can help myself (event though I'm a tad early).
I'll be thirty this year. I'm being completely serious when I say, I am SO excited! Really!
For me, there's a sense of entitlement with the age. Stupid really. Age has absolutely no bearing on how mature or wise one is.......although, it is usually an indication some learning has happened.
I've been itching to post some goals/aspirations/improvements for the next thirty years.

1-Continue helping, loving, serving my Honey and kids.
2-Find my purpose outside the home, get a job.
3-Save enough $ for 1/2 the value of our house to use as a down payment. Then pay off the mortgage quickly.
4-Be a gossip stopper.
5-Go to college. Maybe a counselor or life coach...or something in the medical field???
6-Read more non-fiction.
7-Save for and have corrective surgery.
8-Listen more. Which means I get to use my lips less =)
9-Continue serving at church.
10-Finish that quilt I started in March 2007 for Esther's 8th b-d. (It may end up taking the next thirty years just to accomplish this one!)
11-Laugh everyday.
12-Continue to journal.
13-Travel to: HAWAII, Australia, New York, Paris, Italy, Scotland, Ireland and England. Just to name a few.
14-Be slow to sin but quick to obey God's word.
15-Stay healthy! Exercise!
16-Write a book.
17-Have company over once a month.
18-Light candles.
19-Get facials every two months. (HEY! They're only $12 at the beauty school.)
20-Never, ever give up on dreams.
21-Conquer fears without sky diving or bungee jumping (I'm not crazy).
22-Watch less tv.
23-Celebrate everyday; every breath.
24-Adopt a foster child.
25-Sing.
26-Instead of making more mistakes, remember what I've learned and make more wise choices.
27-Take swing dance lessons.
28-Make Thia from scratch.
29-Own and operate my own bakery.
and lastly
30-Live a life of, moment by moment, obedience to God.

Whew!

Maybe I Was Wrong

As a young kid, my family ALWAYS vacationed at the Oregon coast in the summer. Every summer. I l-o-v-e-d it. Most of the time we'd celebrate my b-d there too. Great memories.

Something happened in recent years though. I think it was about the time the Twins turned three. I no longer liked the beach. Sand in places that I'd rather not experience (or write about.....you get the idea though), COLD water and wind, the strange, sticky coating that seems to cover a person when they walk out the front door, the mess of the sand all over the vehicle or house; just to name a few. When asked to go to the beach, I usually make an excuse or just plain out say how I feel about it. The last time I was at the beach was with my Mom when we took the kids for the day two years ago.....until.....Tuesday.

A miracle happened. I was invited to the beach by my very, very, very, very, very (ahem....5 verys!) good friend, Stephanie. She needed a break and her mother-in-law had an errand there, so she sweetly asked me to go along. AHHHHHH! I was thinking......I don't like the beach Sam I Am. I do not like it here or there. I do not like it anywhere (except a TROPICAL, WARM beach!). So my initial instinct was to say "BUMMER! Thanks for the offer, but I'll pass." But I too, needed a break and was desperate to get out (even though I knew we'd spend about 4 hours in the car. That, to me, was better than being boring and staying home.) I went to the beach. It was FUN. I actually loved it (aside for the other two ladies getting car sick when we miss our turn off....oops! Sorry girls! It was almost, completely MY fault too). It was a little too windy for my taste (blow you down kind of wind) and it was chilly. I truly did enjoy myself in spite of it all.

I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.....at the very least you can bribe them with ice cream, great company and a day off! Thanks Sue and Steph!






The last photo is of Sue rolling down an embankment. What a goose!

The Sillyness of Me

I am weird. Really, we are all varying degrees of weirdness.
My weirdom is proven by the play list to the left of the blog. By no means do I hope, expect or desire you to read my posts long enough to enjoy my entire song selection (it's about 1.5 hours long)! I use my play list as our music for the day. I just pull up my blog, minimise the screen and viola! various songs and artists at my listening pleasure!
Now, am I weird because this is how I live or am I weird because I felt I needed to explain myself or is it both??? Hummm. I'm not really looking for answers to my weirdness.....just being silly!

He's Eight

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Sam is 8 today. Eight. We were trying to convince him to just celebrate his 7th b-d again. As obvious by the new age, he didn't go for it. *sigh* There's always next year.

He chose his favorite meal for dinner, spaghetti. He also custom ordered his cake (as all the people in my family do!). Strawberry cake with cream frosting.

*

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Sam, we are so proud of you. We are thankful that God chose to put you into our family. You are a hard worker and you try hard to follow God's will. We love you so much! I know of no other kids who love to watch on-line surgeries and pour over full photo biology books. We know God has a special job for you to do and we're excited to watch you follow Him! Thank you for trying your hardest to stay neat and tidy. You've done a great job at that. You are such a gentle brother! You have learned to share well. People who don't know God will know He loves them because of how you love others.

We love you Samboe. Daddy and Mama.

This his birth story and last years post.

More Friends and Fun

These first two photo's were taken this past Thursday. Anna and her kids came for a visit. I might add here that Anna is just N-I-N-E day's post delivery! I did ask repeatedly if she really wanted to come over. "Yeah. I'm feeling good!" was her reply. We had so-o much fun! The kids all played super together (after wise Anna suggusted a separate time for just the boys to be in the pool =) and I got to hold cutie Anderson. Ahhhhh!

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These last two photos were from last night. We made home made ice cream and watched our own display of fire works. Essy was scared that the sparks would catch something (or someone) on fire. We showed her we had the hose all ready to go, just in case. When the fireworks were all done, she got to spray the smoldering boxes. She loved it!

Independence Day

Each Fourth of July represents the anniversary when the 13 original colonies declared their Independence from Great Britain. A few of the more popular signers were; Edward Rutledge, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Silly side note....I've never actually read all the way through this amazing U.S. document, but I did skim it =D Here is the link to see the original text.

The act of signing was, basically, declaring war on an unfair, harmful government. They were pickn' a fight.Because of them, we are able to be free and for that I'm proud. Proud to be part of this country. We've made mistakes (some bigger than others) but what country has zero problems? We're human, we mess up. I thank God that this is still the land of the free and home of the brave.

Here are some quotes from some of the signers that I thought were exquisite.

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." Benjamin Franklin

"Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people." John Adams

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." Thomas Jefferson

"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending against all hazards: And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks." Samuel Adams

And one from my favorite President, Abe Lincoln. "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

God bless (and help) America!

Here is last years post.

Budding Musicians

Sam received an early birthday gift yesterday. He is so careful with his new violin! He's been so-o great about sharing it.
My Dad and I were talking about my kids yesterday. Each child has such potential. It's dumbfounding (and all together scary). What will this one be good at? Arts? Music? Literature? Science? Mathematics? And I'm not just talking about my kids either, but all kids (really all people).
I remember working at a day care (I was pregnant with Esther) and all the little guys were laying down for 'nap time' (I'm not sure why they called it that.....most never napped) and reality struck me. The room was full of all the potential of all the kids. I started to cry. They would change the world, for good or bad. They would impact their world and thus mine.

Whoah! I didn't mean to get so philosophical today. Talk about rambling!

Sam-7.99 years =D-------------------------Sis-9








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Joe-6.5----------------------------------------Zach 6.5

Our Week-end

The days are hot but the mornings are cold. This is how the kids cope with the mornings. My little peas in a pod!

Ben fixing my car.

The Twins followed him around the whole time. Joey told me that they were looking at the exhaust =D

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The lightning storm on Sunday. I love storms!

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We also had Josh and Kristi and their kids over for dinner on Saturday. 9 kids in all! They played good together. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures =(