I was just looking through some old blog posts and it made me realize that I really do enjoy looking back on what our family was doing, as well as pictures of the kiddos a year ago... three kids has been so wonderfully busy, I honestly haven't really thought to blog. Soooo, without committing to actually keeping up with this, I thought I'd post a little update.

Our little lady is finished with FIRST GRADE! Wow... I can't believe it! While I'm thrilled she's home for the summer, I know she will miss school and am thankful for the wonderful school year that she had.
Tidbits about her:
She loves to write and has beautiful penmanship.
She loves to go out to the field and catch her horse, Sunshine. She brings her to the barn, gives her treats, brushes her and loves taking her for rides.
God has given her a kind and compassionate heart. She truly cares about those around her and doesn't like to see anyone hurting.
She is super helpful and adores her little brothers. I don't know what I'd do without her!

The little farmer is just that. He LOVES to be outside, help with chores, ride horse with me, catch bugs and worms... he's all boy inside and out.
Other tidbits:
Can't STAND having his hair wet.
Just found out he has asthma and is always looking forward to whatever ice cream treat follows a doctor's appt.:)
He is an absolute l.o.v.e.... recently he told me, "You my whole world, mama!" :) ~I melt.~

The littlest man in our family is probably not going to be the littlest for long... and I have no announcement here. He's within just pounds of his four-year-old brother. He's been walking for about two weeks and is downright fast! He loves to wrestle and gives the best kisses. :) This little guy brings everyone in our family more joy than we imagined possible. He has a hilarious little sense of humor already and is quite the jabber-box. How did we ever NOT have this little guy in our family? He, and each of our kids, are such a blessing and a gift from God.

As far as Eric goes... he is doing well over-all. He's had a lot of back/hip problems, but his bosses have been so gracious as to change his job around for the time being. He is currently operating less machinery... he loves machinery-operating, but it doesn't love him. We feel so blessed that he has such a great place to work! And I'm just busy being mom... the hardest and the best job I've ever had. I often feel overwhelmed, but I'm still so very thankful. Thankful for our family, extended family, our overall health, our Lord and his incredible patience with me, and for how He so faithfully provides when we don't see how things will work. We are blessed.

Now that I have a million things to write about, I have absolutely no time to do so! I seldom have time to sit and do much of anything on the computer other than pay the bills online.:) But since I already did that tonight, folded an insane amount of laundry, and being as my hubby's working nights this week, I'm sneaking in a quick post.:)

Our little lady is in school ALL day every day now... and while I miss her tons, she's loving it and doing so well! Currently, she's our baby boy's absolute favorite person and laughs hysterically (sounds kind of like a cross between an old guy and a machine gun...) when she does pretty much anything. She's going to be doing cheer camp this week (she's SO her Nana's grandchild... her mother has NONE of these interests!)and is beyond excited! When I first asked her why she wanted to do this, assuming she was following suit with her friends, she told me she didn't know if any of her friends were doing it but it would be ok... she'd meet some new ones! How could I say no? She is truly a joy.

Our little farmer is just a kick in the pants...
He is currently obsessed with deer hunting, truck driving, monster trucks and farming. When we move out onto our farm (someday), he's going to have cows and his sister gets to have horses... and these are the things he tells us almost every day.:) He loves riding his John Deere trike (which is rated for 300 pounds... can we say 'overkill' for a trike?) and FLIES on that thing! The other morning, when I was feeling like all I do is get after him, he matter-of-factly said to me, "You the world to me, Mom." I have no idea where he heard this line, but the boy melts my heart!

Onto the littlest... I can't believe that he's almost 6 months old!!! Funny how when I was pregnant, I'd round up in terms of weeks along... but now he's 5 1/2 months old until the DAY he turns 6 months!:) We're all just loving him so much and can't believe that there was a time when we didn't know him or have him in our family. We're so thankful that God did know he was to be a part of our family; he is such a blessing! He LOVES food... he was ready to attack us at the kitchen table at about 4 1/2 months old to get in on the action ~ and he's been chowing ever since.:) And in spite of the absolutely germaphobic mom I am when it comes to my newborn babies, God has been most gracious and given him such good health. (Why do I worry the way I do? God is in complete control and loves him even more than I do...)

I'm so very grateful for what God has given us and thank Him daily for these blessings. I'm so thankful for the health that we enjoy, for blessing us with our home and providing for us to send our little lady to a Christian school... I don't even bother doing the math, because I know it won't work. But God is so good and so faithful in providing for our family... above and beyond anything we deserve. His mercies truly are new each morning!

{photo courtesy of my dear friend, Jenn - Jennifer Morrow Photography}

introducing...

We are so excited to announce the birth of our sweet little boy! He arrived on April 13, weighing in at 8 lbs .7oz and 20 1/2" long. We are beyond thrilled to be his family and thank God for the incredible gift that he is. Having a brand new baby is the most indescribably wonderful and overwhelming thing, and it's just as exciting with each and every child. My dear friend Jenn took these beautiful pictures of our little guy...

Psalm 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

our newest addition...

...and it's NOT a baby yet!:)

We had a recent tragedy on the in-town funny farm. Flopsy took a sudden turn for the worse with what appeared to be a stroke. She passed away a month or two ago and needless to say, our little lady was quite upset over the whole ordeal!

Well, today we welcomed "Charlie" to the back yard!:) He's a little Polish bunny and will probably be a little smaller than Flopsy was, which means 'easy to handle' for the little people around here.

Here's the proud new pet owner:



They are absolutely loving this little guy... someone is either petting, holding, or fussing with him constantly! Even our ever-so-cautious little man is so brave as to let him sit on his lap. Charlie can't wait for bedtime, I'm sure!



Isn't he just about the cutest little rabbit?! :)



Welcome, Charlie... we're happy to have you here!:)

so much to be thankful for...

I know I never mentioned it on this blog, but we were looking at possibly buying one of our neighbor's houses. We've always said that we wouldn't switch neighborhoods unless it was to live on some acreage with the horses, but sometimes a little more room does sound nice.

The house we looked at was just a few doors places down from where we are, and we really thought that some doors might be opening. We just found out, however, that it's looking like we'll stay put. God is always good and his timing and plans are absolutely perfect. Looking at the bigger picture now, I'm so very thankful! Trying to pack up this house, sell it, move, clean, paint, and the list goes on - while I'm due in less than three weeks - sounds like an anxiety attack waiting to happen!

And living in this little house (which is huge by the standards of most of the world) has taught us so much:
*We don't need all the things we think we do sometimes. When we moved from the place we rented, I could not believe how much we'd accumulated before even having kids; we had a basement full of 'stuff' as well as a main floor and upstairs that were nowhere near empty.
*I'm a terrible organizer but have learned to use what space we have.
*Kids love a smaller house... there's never a shortage of little people running around here and I love how they are so comfortable they seem to be!
*I can hear most everything that's going on, no matter what room they're in... and with three 2 to 3-year-olds running around sometimes, is that ever a good thing!
*It doesn't take very long to clean or do yard work... therefore, we're not terribly tied down and can enjoy more frequent trail rides!:)
*And we are so very blessed... God has taught/is teaching us much about contentment and finding that in Him.

I was reading a devotional just yesterday and the verse was from Psalm 37:4:"Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart." If we delight ourselves in Him, our desires are not going to be for such earthly things. Do I struggle to delight myself in God first and not in the things I can see or touch? Do I ever! But it is such a comfort to know that His spiritual blessings are always available for His people at any time. And there is nothing more important than that. The little quote that Charles Stanley wrote at the bottom of the devotional goes as follows: "Taking matters into our own hands doesn't "help Him out." God wants to give us our heart's desires in His time, when we're aligned with His will. As we learn to enjoy Him for who He is, our self-focused wants are replaced by His perfect will and purpose for us."

my favorite things... in the kitchen

Lets just start this post by saying that I am NOT a kitchen gadget person... my kitchen is tiny and I have no room for extras.



Except, that is, coffee pots! Oh how I love coffee, coffee cake, coffee company, coffee pots! I have a little Cuisinart with a cone filter, a Bunn coffee maker, a stovetop percolating coffee pot, a stovetop expresso maker, and several french presses which I've broken... I know, maybe just a little excessive... I promise I truly do use them! But what I've really been wanting is one of these drip coffee makers where you pour boiling water in the top chamber, it filters through where you put the grounds in the middle and then pour it out of the bottom when it's finished brewing. It's some of the very best, freshest tasting coffee I've EVER had! One thing that has not slowed down in the least during this pregnancy is my coffee intake... I crave it as much or more (due to lack of sleep) than ever! I've been wanting one of these drip coffee makers for the longest time but haven't wanted to pay the "brand new" price for it. Well, my very sweet and amazingly thrifty mother-in-law and I were talking about these particular coffee pots ages ago, and here's what she left in my car yesterday!



SO EXCITED! Not only does it make an awesome cup of coffee, you don't have any of those plastic parts that most all coffee pots have. I find sometimes coffee can leave a funny taste in your mouth, and I really think it's the plastic. (Like drinking from a travel mug with a plastic lid... it changes the coffee flavor entirely and it just isn't right!) The coffee pot is in mint condition and she found it at no other place than the Goodwill!

Another thing which she's gotten me started on is her Slow Cookers... she is a fabulous cook, but her roasts are truly superior to all others and actually melt in your mouth, if meat can do that...



Seriously, I couldn't make a decent roast until she gave me one of these... which she also picks up at the Goodwill (for $5) instead of paying $70-$80 for a new one! This is the latest one she found for my mom... so thoughtful! Anyway, these slow cookers cook NOTHING like the modern day crock pot and I rarely use my 'regular' crock pot for anything except spiced cider. You can make casseroles, roasts, ANY and every meat, potatoes, WHATEVER! The heat is super easy-to-control and adjust. I truly don't think you can mess up a meal in one of these things. I would dare say you could even pull off dessert! Maybe I'll try that tonight...

Yes, I will... with a delicious cup of black coffee!

Anyway... thank you, Mom, for sharing your secrets and for finding me such great kitchen gadgets!

the latest from our little lady...

To be quite honest, it's so hard to remember a time when this sweet girl was not a part of our lives... it is so much fun watching her grow and become who she is! She has a most compassionate heart and absolutely adores her little brother. Even though her 'mothering' him can get a little excessive at times, he loves it! She can't WAIT to be a big sister in April and is willing to put off playing T-ball for a year since she really would rather be home and help out with her newest little sibling. (Thank goodness... watching T-ball in the Pacific Northwest in the SPRING with a newborn and an almost 3-year-old sounds less than thrilling to this momma!:) She loves being in Kindergarten and I love the play-by-play updates I get when she comes home from school. I have always thought, "Oh, I don't know if I want her to get any older!" But each stage has been so fun in its own way and I love the conversations we have now that she's a little older. We're truly blessed to have this little girl in our family!:)


She lost 3 teeth in about 2 weeks... we're loving this toothless grin!:)



This is the new pink cowboy hat Papa and Nana gave her... she couldn't wait to bring it to 'Show-n-Tell" today.


She loves her little horse, Boosky, who 'talks' to her every time she goes out to visit him. Now we just need to put some miles on that little guy so he's as nice when she rides him! :)



Here she is... adoring her little brother... (Thanks for this one, as well as the next, Karlene... love them!:)


So Sweet!

the latest from our little guy...

Thanks to my sweet and talented friend Karlene, I have some pictures of our little man's many expressions. There are things about this age that you just want to keep forever! This little guy brings so much laughter. His big expressionate eyes, along with those deep dimples are about irresistible! :)

Currently, he repeats almost everything you tell him back to you in question form.
ME: "We're going out to the car, Bennett."
BENNETT: "We going out to the car, Mom?"

I don't know if it's his age or if it's just a personality thing, but he certainly gets stuck on certain ideas and one-liners as well... His favorite things to tell you are:

"I not like cows..."
"I like cows..."
"I not like that billy goat..."
"I like that billy goat..."
"I like my Easy." (the horse we share)
"I like go on the toe-wee-doe" (aka four-wheeler). Doesn't matter who he's talking to or what they asked him... those are pretty standard responses.

Think he might be up to something?

"I go hunt for 'dirty rats'!" (Thank you, Papa, for that line!)

"I'm TWO!"

His favorite boots

Sweetness!

Thanks so much for the wonderful pictures, Kar!:)

little eyes...

Every morning I wake up and am still happy, after 6 1/2 years, that I don't have to go to work in the morning. I adore my family and am blessed to be here at home with them. And I'm beyond grateful for a husband who values me being at home. However, there are weeks that are downright tough when it comes to parenting. I'm so thankful that God gives us grace for each day and that we can rely on Him to strengthen us where we are the weakest. I received the following e-mail this past week and it was such a good reminder of the little eyes watching us...

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we've been given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's alright to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

"Thanks for all the things you taught me when you thought I wasn't looking."

The examples we set for our kids are so important, and I'm often humbled when I hear my kids immitate or say something that is less than pleasing to the Lord, and they learned it from me!
God is SO good to give us His Word...

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

"Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1

"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4

I thank God every day for my family and pray that He gives us wisdom as we raise the children He has given us the priviledge of being 'Dad and Mom' to.

sledding in a winter wonderland

Since we don't get a whole lot of snow around here, the kids are always THRILLED when we do! Here are a few pics from our big 'snow week.' It was so much fun having our little lady home all week long due to school cancellations and the little man loved every minute of it...

Looks to me like he definitely landed the good end of this deal!

... at least she was happy to pull him around!:)

And that kind of sledding was satisfactory... UNTIL crazy Auntie Teresa (not really exagerrating) got behind the wheel of the 4-wheeler at Papa and Nana's farm. I still can't believe how long they played outside without asking once to come in and warm up or uttering a single complaint about how stinkin' cold it was that night! All that fresh air makes for some sound little sleepers!:)

Even the big kids got to go sledding...

It's so much fun having family close by to share in this kind of fun! They say, "You can't live with 'em and you can't live without 'em", but I certainly feel like "You can't live without them" is much more the case with family. Love you guys!:)

why i can't keep up with blogging...

I've been thinking about the reasons why I never sit down and blog these days. Between family, friends, coffee, laundry, and baking in particular, I just haven't found the time. Since my blog posts are so pathetically few and far between, I think I'll be going with a blog name change, as seen above. Maybe not... we'll see! Anyway, I've made these bars twice in the past week, which is not exactly good for any new years resolutions, but since I don't believe in those anyway, here's an oldie but a goodie...

CHOCOLATE REVEL BARS!

Preheat your oven to 350.

Cream together:

1 cup butter

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

Next, add 2 eggs.

Then, add 2 1/2 cups flour, 3 cups oatmeal, 1 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. baking soda.

Spread 2/3 of this mixture in the bottom of an 11x15 pan.

Melt together:

1 can sweetened condensed milk

2 cups chocolate chips

2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. butter

---spread this deliciousness over the first mixture and slick every last bit you can from that bowl... sooooo yummy!

Finally, you sprinkle your remaining 1/3 mixture on top of this chocolately goodness and bake for 27-30 minutes. And if you really want to enjoy these bars, do NOT use a calorie counter for this recipe. Seriously. Dessert is to be eaten and not analyzed!:)

Happy New Year!

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests." ~Luke 2:14

We have so much to be thankful for during this time of the year and always. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that we treasure the birth of our Savior just as much all year long!

A Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

great grandparents

In the past month, three of our childrens' great grandparents have celebrated birthdays... just this past weekend, we celebrated my grandpa's 81st birthday.

What a blessing it is not only for us to enjoy, but for our kids to know and love FIVE great grandparents! Grandma G is still going a hundred miles a minute, canning pickles and making jam, working at the food bank, and having the family over. Grandpa and Grandma S. are busier than ever, working at church, working on the farm, baking/cooking/hosting big family get-togethers... and Grandpa and Grandma W. are nothing short of amazing, either! They willingly host as many people as are willing to come down to Moses Lake for as long as they'd like, and spoil all of their company rotten! They're also very active in missions and helping anybody and everybody out both at home and when they come to visit us...

Not only are our grandparents some of the most special people I know, they are such Godly examples to us and to our kids. I'm ever grateful for God's precious gift of grandparents!

it's been a while...

Wow... I definitely get the award for blogging slacker of the year! So much has happened since I last posted...

I have a new sister-in-law... thank you, John - and we love ya tons, Justine!:)
Our little lady has started KINDERGARTEN---so hard to believe!
The little man is talking a mile a minute and I am attempting potty training...
And finally, we're thrilled that I'm 18 weeks along with baby #3!!!

I've decided that I'm going to try and post about things I'm thankful for this month... and all of the above would be my post for today. Though our lives are a far, far cry from perfect, I'm so grateful for His many blessings!

so true...

"If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you.
Be honest anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway."

~Mother Teresa

kids say the darndest things...

I just love how kids say exactly what is on their minds. Last night, I was snuggling with our little lady when she analyzes my face and sweetly states: "Mom, your face is spotted and mine is normal." {side note... those "spots" are freckles.} Though, I have to say that one didn't make me laugh nearly as hard as when we went jeans shopping for her some time ago. As she was pulling a pair up over her legs, she honestly and innocently said, "Mom, the tops of my legs are chunky, just like yours!" Oh my goodness... how can you not burst out into laughter?! But honestly, if such a comment can be sweet or endearing, it was. At 5 and 6, little girls adore their mommies, and she saw nothing wrong with it. It was an observation all her own, and she was just saying it as she saw it.:)

I guess we'll see what lines this little guy comes up with in the next few years... right now it's "ME TOO!" in response to anything and everything we say.

I simply adore these two.:)

has it been 10 years...

I know, it's kinda mushy, but I've had an old, old Alan Jackson song in my head all week...

"Has it been 10 years since we said 'I do'

I'd always heard marriage made one seem like two

But you're looking better than you did back then

You still make this old heart give in...

And if I had it to do all over

I'd do it

All over again

If tomorrow I found one more chance to begin

I'd love you all over again..."

I seriously can't believe that we have been married for 10 years tomorrow! I have truly enjoyed married life more with each passing year... it's pretty amazing that he knows me a whole lot better than he did back then and still loves me!:)

I'm so thankful for a husband where God is #1, and family comes next.

He works incredibly hard so I can stay home with our kids.

He not only puts up with my horsey hobby, but enjoys riding with with me:).

The 10:1 shoe ratio he and I have seems to be ok with him...

He has a kind, humble spirit that I so admire and desire to have more of myself.

And last but NOT least, he loves me in spite of the fact that I pick the cookie dough/chocolate chunks out of almost every carton of ice cream we buy. *(i didn't say that he likes this particular quirk, but i know he still loves me!:)

Being married to your best friend is such an amazing blessing and I could not be more thankful for the past 10 years. I know I didn't know what I was doing at 19 years old, but I'm so thankful for God's gracious, loving hand in putting the two of us together!

this-n-that

One of the things we L.O.V.E. as a family are spontaneous camping trips. And if you live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, you know that summer has been a bit late in coming. Anyways, all of this to say that we finally got our first miniature camping trip of the year in. My hubby got an unexpected day off on Friday; and so Thursday night, he suggested that we head over the mountains. (What a fabulous hubby/dad!:) He hooked up the trailer and we packed til the wee hours and left first thing Friday morning. Even though the campground that we were supposed to go to was closed and we ended up driving for an extra two hours, we had such a wonderful time! It's amazing how getting away for a couple of days and being removed from work and distractions at home truly rejuvenates a person. It also makes me realize how amazingly fast our kids are growing up and how important it is to take time and just enjoy them. We are beyond blessed to have these two little ones and can't believe they're 6 and 2 already!
And back to our little lady's birthday... We had a barbecue with one side of our family (for all of the July birthdays), on the other side, my mom lets everyone pick what they want for their 'birthday dinner.' And dessert, actually. Are we spoiled or what?!

(My mom is a blessing and someone I look up to so very much. She is always giving, thoughtful, and truly selfless. I aspire to be half the lady she is someday!)

Anyway, back to the birthday dinner: It's a dearly beloved tradition and one that we think about all year long when looking forward to our own birthdays. Our little girl's pick was lasagna, salad, green beans, and chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. She absolutely loved it and so did the rest of us! (Nana was very much relieved she didn't pick mac 'n cheese again!:)

She got her ears pierced and was so excited!

Little blue flowers were the pick. Such cuteness!:)

And then there's Mr. Mischievous at her birthday dinner. This little guy makes me laugh on a daily basis! He so often has this 'I have something up my sleeve' look.












He loved his sister's new chaps and insisted on wearing them...

As always... I'm just so thankful for family. We are truly blessed beyond measure!

happy birthday, little lady!

Where has the time gone? I cannot believe that our little girl is turning ((( 6 ))) this week! I know most every parent would say this, but I truly can't remember or imagine what life was like before she came into the world.

She loves her little brother, Boosky (her pony), Flopsy (the bunny), riding her bike, Carly (the doll she's had since her 3rd birthday), and she currently can't wait to start school. (Is this our daughter?!:) She is sweet and soft-hearted, yet strong. I sometimes still can't believe that we have the priviledge of being parents to such a special little girl. It is our prayer that she grows to love the Lord more and more each day... and we thank Him for her!

They melt my heart...

I just adore these two and am so blessed and thankful to be their momma!

(...and Miss Madelyn's auntie!:)