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!