Day 31 - Stomach Flu

Yuck!  And the Cardinals lost the Super Bowl!  An all around icky day!

Book 7

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry was so very good!  I think I got this from an Amazon rec but I'm not sure.  It is the story of Roseanne, a centenarian in a mental hospital for over sixty years, and her doctor.  The story progresses through their respective journals.  A lovely, touching, heart-breaking story.  I'm sending this book to my mom, she loves Irish stories.

Day 30 - Evasive manuevers

He tried to avoid me, but he just can't help peeking!

Day 29 - Putting the pieces together

Attempting to arrange the pieces for my first quilt block of my first quilt...

I feel like Dory from Nemo is in my head... Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

Why in the world am I so nervous?  It's just fabric, come on!

Day 28 - First patchwork finished

I had no idea it was so easy to put one of these together!

Why do I always assume everything will be tremendously difficult?

In less than half an hour, I had my quilt top done.

It is for the glass-topped end table downstairs.

Now, I have to figure out how to quilt it????

I hope that is just as easy!

Day 27 - Jack in Half

Just as I snapped the picture he moved to grab the camera.

I thought it was a fun shot anyway.

Book 6

A Singular Hostage by Thalassa Ali is a keeper.  What a fun plot!  A Victorian Englishwoman in India, mystics, dreams, an exceptional child, and bold courage.  I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.

Day 26 - A cozy spot amidst chaos

Personally, I wouldn't chose the fireplace surround,

but Abby thought it was the perfect spot to cozy up with a good book.

Day 25 - Tranformers, More Than Meets the Eye

Kaden and Sam are crazy about Transformers and Bionicles.

They are building up quite a collection with their birthday money.

Sam's favorite movie is Transformers and they love the animated series on TV. Every time they see a semi, they start shouting, "Optimus Prime"!

That's normal, uh huh...

Day 24 - Hold Tight

Hold tight to your baby, Jack.

Let your big love shine.

You are quite the little papa.

Day 23 - Sisters

This is destined to become one of my favorite photos of all time!

Sweet girls, really sweet sisters!

Day 22 - Laura and Mary, is that you???

Abby and Chloe dressed up in their pioneer girl clothes that Grandmother Lynne made.

Book 4

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne is a moving novel that should really be read by all. It is told through the voice of Bruno, a naive son of a Nazi Commandant, living at Auschwitz. Both beautifully written and not overdone.  I plan to put this book on our shelves.

Book 5

It took me almost a month to read all of Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey.  It was a heavy read, but well worth it.  I learned so much.  I probably underlined half the book.  It  has been fun spotting worldviews that the book highlighted in ordinary life.  We watched The Matrix (old, but the first time I'd seen it) and that is fun to watch after this beginner's course in philosophy!  I'd like to read it again and take notes.  What stood out most to me on this first read-through, was the unseen kingdom and how much I have marginalized it or ignored it  outright.  I pray God would open my eyes to see.

Day 21 - Running Man

Sam has discovered a passion for running!

He takes his turn at the treadmill more regularly than I do!

He always finishes at least one mile, what a champ!

Book 3

Nice, quite nice.  I really enjoyed reading Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson.  Scotty is a great character, very genuine.  This is just a fun read.  A little mystery, a little teenage angst, and not at all what I was expecting from the title.  I can't remember who recommended it, but it was fun and I recommend it for your next treadmill read...

Day 20 - Growing Up is Fun to Measure

The moment of truth... who is taller?

It looks like it's a tie!

The really cool part is that Kaden doesn't care that Chloe is catching up.

It doesn't determine who he is or his place in this family.

And, equally cool, Chloe could care less as well!

Day 19 - Swingin'

Girly Girl just learned to twirl!

 Looks like fun, Jack!

 Does no one use this as a swing set anymore?

Day 18 - Blessed By Her Hands

Chloe folded

All the kid's clothing

All on her own initiative

All by herself

My sweet girl

You blessed me

I love you

Day 17 - Chloe in the Driver's Seat

She looks ready, too ready...

Day 16 - Peregrine Falcon

Kaden is learning about falcons and he made this super poster for his room. He drew the falcon, colored and cut it out, and placed it on a rock in the water,  complete with a garr fish for snacking!  Well done!

Book 2

Well, Savage Garden was okay.  I'm being generous.  I wouldn't recommend it, but I did finish it. I liked it enough to finish it.  It was set up as a mystery, but it was overly obvious and the characters were flat.  There seemed to be some real potential, but the execution was flat.  I can't write this well, so I'm not meaning to be harsh, but I had higher hopes of this book and I was disappointed.  Maybe I expected too much.  

Day 14 - Bathing Beauty

She rarely ever gets a chance to take a bath without Jack or Sam,

so Abby was really living it up in the tub and I caught her!

Day 13 - American Idol

Here's what we did tonight, we watched the season premiere of American Idol!

Day 12 - Hard at Work

Just to prove that they do have lessons...

and P.E., I present exhibits A and B!

Day 11 - A Steep Driveway Has Some Advantages

Jack and Abby drag their bikes to the tip top and launch themselves willy-nilly down the slope

and into the street!  

I am, of course, watching for traffic and feeling my hair turn gray at the same time!

At least he wanted to wear a helmet today!

Day 10 - Hey, It's My Birthday!

Today I am thirty-four!

Looks good enough to eat, and it was, oh, it was!

Looks like Sam's bringing me the "mother" of all surprise birthday gifts...

Oh, it is so wonderfully pretty!  Is it appropriate to hug purses?

It must be in this case!  Wow, this is such big love!!!

Here I am, older and fashionably accessorized!

The necklace is from Scott, ala Etsy (ahh!)

and the shirt is from Jim and Lynne... thank you so much, it fits great!

I also am now proud owner of my own copy of Apples for Jam, my favorite cook book.

Maybe because it's easy on the cook and big on the inspiration.

I had a wonderful day!

Day 9 - Better Late than Never

When it came time for Kaden to blow out his candle, we couldn't find it anywhere!  We finally found it behind the curtain in the living room, so we made jumbo cupcakes

and lit up the boys jumbo candles!  They were pretty pleased!

Day 8 - Abby So Big

Standing up in her swing, oh so big!

Love the wind in her hair!

Day 7 - On the fence

Texas cuties

One Book Down, 51 to go

I read in spurts, it's unpredictable, but I did manage to finish my first book of the year.  Kildee House by Rutherford Montgomery, is recommended by Sonlight.  It was a sweet story about a man who builds a little house on a mountain and is overrun with raccoons and spotted skunks. I don't think it's quite interesting enough to capture the attention of my kids at this stage.  Maybe in a couple of years they might enjoy reading it on their own.  It wouldn't be my pick for a read-aloud.  It was worth reading, I just think it was a little slow.  I did like Jerome's care for the animals and how Jerome and the children's characters developed.  It is a hopeful story with a simple plot.

Day 6 - Mama, Don't Make Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys

Well, he used to love being a cowboy.

Apparently, though, it was just so last year!  But he tried hard to look happy with his  gifts.  

And he was genuinely happy to get a Transformer!  Note to self, remember this for next year...

Sam is Five!

Oh, my goodness, how did you get to be so big?  Sam, my little guy.  Sam, who was such a great surprise.  Sam, who fills my heart with big love.  Oh, Sam, you are now officially a hand-full!  So, here's to you, Super-Sam!

Sam, at five:

• You really love Shamu!  You must have at least a dozen orcas!
• Your favorite color is green.
• You can't wait to learn to read.
• You love numbers.  You love your chance at Flashmaster.
• You are so funny!  You have perfect comedic timing!
• You talk like a baby sometimes and it drives us crazy, and that's why you do it!
• Transformers and Bionicles are so cool!
• You are thrifty with your money.
• You love your Sunday School class.
• You eat a lot!  Breakfast is probably your favorite meal.  
• Chocolate chip cookies are your favorite treat.
• You can dribble a basketball for a long time!
• You want to play for the Phoenix Suns some day.
• You don't want to have more than 19 children.
• You like cars and motorcycles and monster trucks.
• You love knock-knock jokes.
• Sometimes it's tough being the middle kid.  Sometimes it's really tough!

I love you, my sweet Sam.  I love the little guy you were and the big boy you are becoming.  I love to tell you about the day you were born, how you shot out of my tummy like a rocket so unexpectedly.  You love to think of yourself doing that.  I love to remember what an amazing baby you were, how my heart grew so many sizes when I first knew you.  I love to think of the man you will be one day.  I love to remember that you were held on angel's wings when you fell out your bedroom window and didn't get hurt at all.  I love being your Mom.  I thank God for you every day and I always will!

Day 5 - Mommy Made

A new "bubbie" for Chloe and 

two Oliver & S Lazy Days skirts for the girls!

Chloe and I had a good time picking out the fabric, too.

Day 4 - Lawn Antics

I love this picture of Jack and Abby running down the hill at church,

and this picture of Abby, growing up right in front of me...

These two photos just crack me up.  

The kids have stumbled upon some dead animal on the front lawn.  

In the first picture, Chloe the Fearless is delicately nudging it with her 

mary-jane while her peer, Nathaniel, looks on and Noah runs away.  

But see how she changes when the big boys arrive for a look-see?  

In the presence of Joshua, who is almost 10 for crying out loud, 

she is the demure and shocked little lady of storybook fame.  Oh my!  

Notice how the big boys brought their sticks?  

What were they planning to do?  Kill it?  

I especially like how Sam looks so unkempt... 

is it just my son or can no boy keep his pants over his cowboy boots?

Day 3 - Going Out CPK Style

Kaden chose California Pizza Kitchen for his birthday lunch.  Here we are on the way...

Jack remembered to bring his water and his baby.

They look excited, don't they.

Gotcha!  I caught you watching yourself eat!  

I used to do the same thing.

Man, that looks good, so good Scott and I eat Jack's...

One happy eight year old.