Sweet Life with Jesus

Today is the one year anniversary of the death of my Grandma Ruth. I had forgotten that this morning until I was potting some plants. Just so happens I was potting some ivies that had come from the plant I got from her house. I made a plant for each of my adult sisters. Really just hoping that one of us can keep the plant alive. I was told it was my Great Grandmothers plant. Anywho, while I was potting them it reminded me of what a sweet life with Christ she is living now. No struggles, no fears, no loneliness, no more potting plants! I am so thankful that Christ offers me His peace while here on Earth too. All I have to do is to stay connected to him and follow. It was just a good reminder of what a faithful life looks like at the end. Praise Jesus for giving me that example and gift of remembering! Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted b y streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."

The "Grunge" look

As I was ironing today I was pondering this... You know that "grunge" look some people are really into. Well, some people, my husband being one of them, are just naturally born that way. He doesn't need to spend hundreds of dollars on jeans that look really worn and worked in. For example, I was observing his jeans last night as he worked on the basement. They had a small hole sliced in them. Looked like he might have slipped with the carpet blade he uses to do about everything with. The shorts he wears have taken a beating these past few months too, as he has been painting at work AND at home. Each pair I folded neatly and put away had strings and paint smeared on them. I am sure they would qualify for grunge. He is not just wearing these for work jobs though. He will be wearing them at any occasion calling for shorts. I recently took down the "nice" shorts from the top of the closet and put them in storage or gave them away, I'm pretty sure they will never get worn! If they do it will probably be for a project and they will be quickly on their way to grunge! About two months ago I bought him twelve new dress shirts. Currently they are getting "ruined" at about one a month. Now I am thinking I should just hang them up, they are grunge style now! As long as paint and ink stains count as grunge. Maybe I could add a hole or fray the edges. One or maybe a couple of his favorite dress shirts has morphed to grunge on their own. Lots of fraying around the color, some holes starting at the seams. So, today, I am officially giving up on trying to have him be the "pressed" type. Although sometimes I think I might like that, I wouldn't like him to stop being a manly man and working as hard as he does, just to save the prettiness of his clothes! I will just save a lot of money by buying new clothes and letting him add the "grunge" for free!

Love these Girls sooo much!

I can't say how much I love my girls! They really bring joy to my life. I can think of things to blog about them everyday, they are so entertaining. Right now Stella is boycotting her nap by playing in her room with her babies and one stolen from Eden Stirtz on Sunday! Naomi is happily finger painting and hanging her masterpieces on the fridge to dry. We started some home schooling yesterday and I think it is going to go well. Naomi really has a thirst for knowledge. These are some photos from other days around here that didn't get blogged about.

Introducing Baby #3!

Just sharing the first snapshot of Baby #3. Although baby is tiny, I think you, even with an untrained eye, will be able to make out something. Baby is only 11 weeks in this photo. He was dancing a jig when we first saw him, but slowed down so we caught a few pics. We won't find out the gender before birth in case you are wondering. (so I will write he or she depending on my mood:))I am starting to feel not so nauseous now, yeah! I am almost 15 weeks now and starting to show a little, that has dashed my high hopes of being six months before I had to wear maternity clothes! Hah! Like that would really happen on my third baby!

Annalise turned one!

Wednesday is my niece, Annalise's 1st birthday! We celebrated on Saturday with her and some more family and friends. She was all cheery eyed and happy! She liked her first taste of cake too. She loved the ball Naomi and Stella picked out for her. Her Mommy and Daddy got her a swing that all the girls wanted to ride in. She also got a blowup pool, rocking chair, book, and sunglasses. Here are some cute pics of her big bash! Her walking skills are coming along quickly! She could walk with the ball and her push car. Mackenzie said she just started that last week. It won't be long till she is running around with her cousins!

Slowing down again!

Life seemed crazy busy the beginning of spring. (I already blogged about most of that) This month life has slowed down. Really the big events have been swim lessons for both of the girls. In which Naomi learned to swim! It may be a dog paddle, but a really good one. It is a new experience having her run all around the pool without a parent right beside her. (At least for me it is, Nate is a little more laid back about it) I also finally took the plunge and got Naomi's hair cut really short. We are constantly fighting tangles that she can't stand and shorter is better for that. I was deathly afraid she would get a helmet cut (like I got when I was young, ie picture) and she would hate it. We went for a bob and her hair looks great! Turned out cousin Elena got hers cut in a cute bob too. This slower pace will have to last for about two years...that's when our new baby will be one! Yep, one more on the way, sometime around the middle of January. It's hard for me to do much else while making or feeding a baby all the time! Life is good and we feel so blessed to have another precious gift added to our family. Naomi is excited and really wants a girl named Sara or Rosepetal. Stella just grins super big when talking about another baby. Nate pointed out that we will be outnumbered by one now. The girls think that is great!

I'm a big girl now!

So, Stella made the jump to a toddler bed this week. She loves it and really thinks she is a big girl. Although we had high hopes, she has not chosen to stay in bed to sleep, only to "jump!" as she would say. Thankfully we have a bed guard that fit on her bed. It has Elmo, MoMo in Stella language, on it, so she likes it, but will soon be climbing over it. This is a new experience for us because Naomi never got out of bed without permission until she was three! She sure is cute even when she is hollering "Mommy!" out from under the door.

Full Swing

It feels as though summer is in full swing for us even though the last day of school was just yesterday. I am so thankful for Nate's job at River and not having to work at the school too. We have had more time together as a family with him getting a whole TWO DAYS off of work! Time for projects and fun! We have already made it to KC for a vacation all together. We spent a chilly evening at World's of Fun with the Eastwoods. The girls both LOVED Snoopy and every time we saw him Naomi would give him a hug. Stella loved the rides, but Naomi's speed was more meeting with Lucy and shopping. Nate and I got to go to The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant, alone! It was the best date we have had in a while.
Naomi discovered baby kittens at Great Grandma Ruth's house. She named them Sara and Tom. There were many tears about when we would see them again, which have thankfully subsided!
We have been to the zoo with our friends the Collings. Their little boy Elliot is in the picture with the gorilla statues. Stella fondly calls him "Elt" each time they see each other. They were born about a month apart and have been hanging out regularly ever since. We went when the zoo was open in the evening. It is my favorite time to go. The cool breeze and small crowds makes it so enjoyable.
Monday it already reached ninety degrees, so we got the swimming stuff out! Grandma Julane had brought a new, um, I guess I would call it mini Y water set. The girls had a blast giggling and screaming as they shot through the cold water squirting out from it. Nate hooked the big slide to it and they both took turns going down it and splashing into the water. Although she is brave, Stella still liked the mini whale slide better.
We have each had out turn relaxing in the hammock too! I have thoroughly enjoyed my summer and it has just begun! Thanks to the Lord for friends, family and fun!

Garden Dreams ll

Well, I've come to realize just how long gardening takes. For me it is not only the time it takes the plants to grow, but also a list of other things... 1. Not killing the plants you have! 2.Learning to protect against disease 3.Transplant recovery 4. Knowing somewhat what I want 5. Having energy & time to do it (that is a big one) 6. Watering usually keeps plants alive, whata ya know! All this to say here are some recent pictures of what is starting to take shape in our backyard. We have been here five years this summer! I definitely don't have it all together, but it is finally a good start! You can read Garden Dreams one if you like.

Need a Laugh?

Nate showed me these videos on youtube last night and we laughed so hard we cried, not to mention almost peeing my pants! Here is my favorite. This is a link to another good one called "Kid's Rock by Tim Hawkins". While you are there watch the rest of them. But go to the bathroom first!

Blastball!

Well, Naomi has just finished her first organized sport team, playing Blastball. She was really good at hitting the ball off the t. Especially since she didn't have much of a clue about anything to do with softball before she showed up for practice the first night. I tried to give her an idea by finding a tball video on youtube for her to watch, but that was it. She fell and skinned her foot the first time she ran to get the ball in the outfield, so that was pretty much the end of chasing the ball. She was just there to hit the ball and run! Stella, Daddy and I cheered her on along with a few visits from Grandparents, Aunts and cousins.

Holiday

Well, Christmas, really December has long past, but I don't want to miss blogging the season, so here is a run through our season with pictures. Sorry our camera has been acting up so please excuse some blur and darkness!
Lily was over to enjoy hot chocolate and a Christmas movie. As of February 5th she is the proud new sister of two sweet boys, Max and Lincoln!
Naomi proudly displays her ginger bread house.

Nate, Stella and Naomi out throwing snowballs and riding a makeshift sled. If I remember right Nate was pulling a ridding toy with extension cords!

Stella is trying to dance with her friend, Mary, at the Christmas concert at church.

Peek-

A-Boo through our Christmas tree. Stella couldn't get enough of this.

Nate, he is always good for a laugh! Here he is dressed as a Christmas tree at our group party.

He got fake eyelashes in the gift exchange. Kevin is laughing big, but he covered it.

We went Christmas light looking with the girls. Here is before, with hot chocolate for Naomi and warm milk for Stella.

This is what happened RIGHT after the BIG house on Main street. Nate and I finished looking anyway.

Here is Stella "cheesing" in her Christmas dress and pigtails.

This is Naomi and Elina at the kid table lovin there food.

Naomi is "cheesing" in her Christmas dress and pigtails. She liked her gift.

Stella liked the box.

Stella and Elina dressed in there new princess gowns.

Naomi lovin her new Pony Teapot Palace.

Eric had Nate's name this year in the gift exchange. He always comes up with something clever to package his gifts in.

We spent New Years Eve snacking and playing games with the girls. Here they are blowing horns.