SAFE THUS FAR

Oklahoma Trip in June

2011-01-07T17:12:00.000-05:00

Hello! I'm Sarah. You all know me as "Girl One." In June of this year Boy One, Boy Two, and I went on a road trip out west with Grandma N. and Grandpa. We had a great time and visited with some family at a family reunion we went to while we were in Oklahoma. We went to eleven (I think) states in total on our trip. Here are some pictures:

Us right before we left.

Here we are at the Casey Jones museum in Jackson, Tennessee.

This is our great-great-Grandmother Lancey's grave outside of Pink, Oklahoma.

Grandpa and Boy One at the marker of the Battle of the Washita.

Grandpa and Grandma N. at the Chalk Mountains in Kansas.

Here we are in the elevator going up to the top of the St. Louis Arch in Missouri.

The only down side was that I was gone for the first time ever on my birthday and I got really homesick. I was glad to finally be back and Mama was glad to have me. :)

We had a birthday party at 11:00 PM as soon as we got home. The main gifts were my hope chest and a purity ring.


And there were still raspberries left to pick and make pies out of when we got home.

Over all we had a really good time and we got to meet lots of new people. :)

Blessings,
Sarah :)

March to May 2010

2011-01-04T16:30:00.001-05:00

Hello! Long time no blog - about ten months. Well, here I am again and ready to give a whirlwind picture summary of our March through May of last year. Whirlwind is all you can do when you're this far behind. So, here we go, and by the way: Happy New Year!

March

Wow, Daddy must be getting old.

Maybe this is why some people use a root cellar to store potatoes.

April

The next few pictures are from Resurrection Day, April 4, 2010. First, Girl Two and her dear friend.

My youngest boys.

David and me.

My oldest boys.

My girls.

May

This is just something our neighbors had out with the trash. Hmm, kinda weird.

A day at the playground.

Boy Four.

Our friend Joy is a joy.

Girl Two looking cute as usual.

Boy One's 15th birthday.

At the end of May, we went on a quick trip to the Henry Ford Museum complex in Michigan. Here are the kids waiting to go inside Dearborn Village.

Boy Two inside Thomas Edison's lab.

Boy Two and Girl Two outside the Village again.

Boy One with President Reagan's limo.

Boy Three about to get on the Rosa Parks bus.

You can play human hot dog at the museum.

The girls with an important piece of Americana.

Back at home, Boy Three loses a few teeth at once and needs some help to display the holes.

Coming up very soon . . . June 2010.

February

2010-02-20T10:36:00.001-05:00

First of all, sorry to my blog followers about the test posts earlier today. And now, on with the post, which is only about a month and a half late. (I was waiting on a video of our Boy One singing at our Christmas Eve service, but I still don’t have it yet. Maybe next month.)

Our family was able to come in from Pennsylvania after Christmas, and here we all are.

Here are our children showing off some of their gifts from Grandpa and Grandma N.

Grandpa had his 72nd birthday while he was here.

Hear us sing to him:

Now here is the aftermath, looking like a forest fire went through.

As you know, we got a cat for Christmas (named Christmas), and we have some questions.

Do all cats climb into things, like boxes?

Do they all pretend they’re the bride?

Imitate Boy Four?

Harass Boy Four?

Make themselves look as small as possible RIGHT under where you walk?

Perch in your Christmas tree?

Get on a chair so they can play with their tail?

Sit on your school book while you’re trying to work?

Intimidate you during math class?

Climb up the windows?

But besides being odd, she is also so sweet and cuddly.

And she makes the things that are already fun, even more so.

She made the ride to Tennessee much more fun.

Awww.

Here’s our whole gang in Tennessee at Grandma J’s house:

And finally . . .

Boy Four just before his first haircut . . .

And after the deed is done:

OOPS! I thought I had a picture, but I don’t. You’ll have to wait for next time!

Well, thanks for visiting our blog once again. Blessings to you!

Oct. – Dec. (the Reader’s Digest version)

2009-12-21T22:22:00.001-05:00

Well obviously I haven’t posted much lately, and that is an indication, thankfully, of my not spending quite so much time online. And yet, I do want to continue to keep you updated. I really do! So if I’m going to do this at all this month, it’ll have to be short and sweet.

October was Girl Two’s birthday month. Here is our little darlin’ turning four.

Also in October, drywall started going up in the bonus room.

On to November, Boy Three’s birthday month. Now he’s seven, growing each day in God’s grace.

We also had our pictures taken this month. It is with great pride and thankfulness that I present . . . our six children:

And here we are in December. Pookie Wookie liked the day we put the Christmas candles on the table:

And today, Monday the 21st, we opened our presents. Here’s the first one the children opened.

I guess that’s all for now. May you each have a blessed December and a great 2010. Y’all come back! Ya hear?

It’s September!

2009-09-14T15:31:00.001-04:00

Well, here we are in September. O, how the time flies! It’s back-to-school time and time for a special birthday.

To start off, let me show you the dear boy who just had his 9th birthday.

This son is a real delight. He’s smart, funny, and so cute—as you can easily see. But most of all, he has a pure heart. What a blessing it is to hear his bedtime prayer; each and every night he prays that he and all his brothers and sisters will grow up to be godly men and women. Amen.

Now how about some pictures of our first day of school?

This 3-year-old is enthusiastic about school.

Boy Three with his new glasses.

Boy Two is doing well in fourth grade.

Girl One back to practicing piano.

Boy One hard at work. Not sure why, but standing up at the kitchen counter is his favorite venue for school work.

Unfortunately, the baby gets into trouble like this ALL DAY LONG! Please pray for his safety, as he is obsessed with climbing.

And now we have a series of completely random pictures, the one common element being that they were all taken since the last blog post.

We camped in our back yard.

My wonderful husband built me these shelves so I have somewhere nice to put the things I’ve canned.

Girl Two goes undercover.

During our yearly visit to the Irish Festival.

Boy One babysits the alpacas next door.

Grandma N shows how to decorate my birthday cake.

Girl Two and the sunflower Grandpa bought for her. (He bought a whole pack of seeds, but only this one survived the rabbits.)

Boy Three finally loses his first tooth.

The potato harvest is enjoyed by all, even the youngest among us.

Girl Two helping to make lunch.

Wearing the “Ancient Sumerian” necklaces they made in school.

And finally, we leave you with two videos—our oldest and our youngest being musical.

Well, that’s all. Thanks for visiting!

Our Summer So Far

2009-07-20T08:49:00.018-04:00

OUTER BANKS VACATION

At the end of June we went to the Outer Banks with our parents and my brother and his family. A wonderful time was had by all.

Stopping by Grandma J's house in Knoxville to pick her up, the younger boys visit with their favorite little doggy.

Boy Four is always up for a bit of traveling.

The beach-front house we rented.

Cousins.

LET'S GO OUT TO THE BEACH!

Watching the waves roll in.

Brothers.

Uncle and the children.

Cute little digger.

Boy Three and his bird friend.

My dear girls.

Boy One

Girl Two and the Grandmas

That's one sandy baby.

Grandma J with Boys Two and Three.

Big Sister and Little Brother.

Sandy brothers.

Girl Two flies a kite.

Grandpa relaxing after a bit of fishing.

ON OUR DAY TRIPS

Our group on Roanoke Island, remembering the Lost Colony.

Outside the Elizabethan Gardens.

Barbeque restaurant.

At the Wright Brothers monument at Kitty Hawk. The text is quite a hats off to humanism, IMHO.

Our anniversary dinner with my bro and sis-in-law.

Grandma J and Boy One on the ferry to Ocracoke Island.

Grandma N and Boy Four waiting at the go cart track.

Girl One and I waiting at the bumper boats.

Our whole group at the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. Yeah, I know, you can't see the top. But at least you can see us people.

Boy and Girl One at the track.

BIRTHDAY AT THE BEACH

Let me at it!

Oh, yeah!

Thank you all for coming to my party.

Ah, surrounded by my adoring siblings.

CHRISTIAN FAMILIES AT THE CROSSROADS

What an inspiring conference!!!

I was able to meet some cyber friends in person.

Girl One (2nd from left) makes some new friends.

Girl Two and her sweet little friend.

Boy One has no trouble meeting people either.

This mother had to face the fact that her younger boys (and the friend they chose) were the wildest ones there. Definitely food for thought.

T-BALL SEASON COMES TO AN END

Boy Three and Neighbor Friend show off their medallions.

CHORAL CAMP AT ROSEDALE BIBLE COLLEGE

Boy and Girl One head off to choral camp.

Compare it to this one from their first year. Aww, so sweet!

Daddy shows those campers how it's done.

Boy One and some camp friends.

All of our six, as classical musicians and a young fan.

AND NOW WE TURN TO NEIGHBORHOOD BIBLE CLUB, WHICH WAS HELD NEXT DOOR.

Crazy hair day.

Hat day.

THE ONE-YEAR OLD PORTRAIT

Cute pose. We might use this one.

Or this one.

I think this means we've had enough. So, that's all, folks.

Christian Families At The Crossroads, and pictures from May

2009-06-01T07:16:00.006-04:00

We are thinking of going to this family conference. (I hope we do!) What do you think?

Here are some of our pictures from May:

Smiling siblings.

Grandma N and Grandpa came for a visit.

Boy Three learns to ride a bike.

Beautiful Girl Two with beautiful flowers from my mom and dad.

Boy Two and Boy Three licking the bowl.

Daddy and Boy One planting my Mother's Day gift.

Girl Two (on right) with her dear friend at the zoo.

Boy Three and his dear friend at T-ball.

Waiting to see Boy Three on the baseball float in the annual Memorial Day Parade. We were blessed to have visiting Grandma J and her friend S with us.

Beloved Boy One turns 14.

All the children celebrate the birthday.

Boy Four approves of the cake.

The birthday gifts for a boy who likes books.

Today's photos

2009-04-12T20:18:00.003-04:00

Here I am after church.

And here's my brother. But I think we forgot to take individual photos of anybody else.

So here are my girls.

And here are me and the boys.

And here are all of us.

Happy Resurrection Day!

Good Friday music

2009-04-10T14:17:00.003-04:00

Here is how we typically start our school day. The words of this one are good for today. O, The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus!

Here is a song we did last Sunday for our congregation. Unfortunately, it got cut in the middle. (And the sound quality is horrible.) You can see the beginning on the first video and the end in the second. The middle, where Boy One sings, didn't tape. :(

It has great words!

Your blood has washed away my sin. Jesus, thank You!
The Father's wrath--completely satisfied. Jesus, thank You!
Once Your enemy--now seated at your table. Jesus, thank You!

Recital

2009-03-29T16:13:00.002-04:00

Here's a new surprise for the grandparents. Video! The sound is jumpy and is out of time with the picture, but . . . here it is anyway--yesterday's recital. Enjoy!

It Must Be Spring

2009-03-25T08:01:00.009-04:00

Ah, Spring. Time for all the things spring brings.

TIME FOR FUN . . .

Daddy has a birthday.

We visit my cousins!

Daddy invents a new toy.

We put our expensive kite on permanent display.

TIME FOR THE ANNUAL SHAVING OF THE WINTER BEARD . . .

Step one.

Step two.

Step three.

Step four.

A TIME FOR GETTING USED TO THE NEWLY SHAVED FACE . . .

Step one - Help! I don't know this man!

Step two - OK, I know him, and he frightens me.

Step three - Weird, but I'll have to accept it.

A TIME FOR PLANTS TO GROW

The first daffodils are about to open.

I sink 18" tubes into the soil. I'm moving the mint up here, and these are their little "jails."

My dear husband planted 150 linear feet of potatoes.

A TIME FOR DOING CHORES . . .

Watering with beauty.

Roasting coffee beans with concentration.

Taking out the trash with good humor.

Putting in the new bag with cheer.

A TIME FOR BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO PLAY . . .

Smiling siblings swinging.

Perching on the porch.

Brothers in bandanas.

Exciting Giveaway!

2009-02-24T09:17:00.001-05:00

UPDATE: The winner is Walter! Thank you for participating, everyone.

A contest! A contest! Vision Forum is giving one of my blog readers the opportunity to receive one of their five brand new conference albums for FREE. Wow! The picture above shows you the whole collection of all five albums; the winner will get one of the five--whichever one he or she chooses.

All you have to do is CLICK HERE to read about their five new albums (follow any links you want from there to read more details about a particular album) and then leave me a comment telling which one you would like to win. Your name will then be entered in my drawing, which will take place at 10:00 p.m. EST this Friday, February 27th. It's that easy!

If you want to get your name in the hat twice, leave me an additional sentence (after you tell me which one you'd like to win) about WHY you want that one. You must start this extra sentence with the words "I would like this album because . . ." So that's two chances--pretty easy!

And finally, to get your name in the hat THREE times, post about my contest on your own blog. (Be sure to tell me if you did this, so I'll know.)

That's it! Have fun, and thanks for entering!

Catching Up

2009-02-20T13:26:00.007-05:00

Our February so far . . .

A kiss through the window.

The brand new bathing suit. All ready to go to Grandpa's beach!

Hmmm. Not sure what's going on here.

Sisters in the snow.

Standing with sister.

Standing with brother.

Standing with Daddy. Now this is more like it!

Sisters at homeschool Valentine party.

Brothers at the party too.

David in front of my new sewing closet.

David and girls in our new bathroom.

Beautiful, fun, and delicious. Thank you, Grandma J!

Training to be stunt men, I think.

Sour candy.

Green beans.

Mutual admiration.

Would you care for some breakfast?

Boy Four's Big Month

2009-01-27T11:41:00.003-05:00

Whew! It's been a busy month for me and my body.

I learned to sit

and play rolly ball.

I learned to crawl

and eat.

I learned to stand my own self up,

and sometimes I even let go.

And I've also reached a few mental milestones, some good and some not so much.

For instance, I've learned to covet

and terrorize like King Kong.

I've observed how it must feel to not get your way,

and I've yearned for freedom.

I've witnessed the thrill of the game

and the agony of defeat.

But most of all, I've started working on spelling. And the way to spell LOVE is m-y- f-a-m-i-l-y!

We're baaack!

2009-01-07T14:58:00.003-05:00

We're back from our almost two-week-long Christmas trip. It's hard to just hit the ground running after such a busy season and long trip, so I'm rather behind on everything. Sorry it's taken so long to update the blog. But here we go with some of our favorite pictures from the trip.

Here we all are at S's house in Souderton, PA. S is like a grandma to me, as we lived for a few years on her farm.

And here she is with Boy Four. What a nice picture!

Next we went to visit Aunt P in her nursing home in Lansdale, PA. I don't even know what to say. She really didn't know what was going on around her. I hear that sometimes she has better days, though.

The staff pulled up extra chairs so we could sit with Aunt P at her Christmas party. It was kind of them to give out gifts and hot chocolate and ice cream.

Now here we are at the church my parents attend, right after the Christmas Eve service. It was an interesting service, with Girl Two wetting all over during a nap and then rolling off of the pew, and Boy Three catching his hair on fire during the candlelight part at the end. Other than that, it really was a lovely service!

Now it is Christmas Day, which is also my dad's birthday. Here he is, just starting to cut his cake. I love this picture because it shows what a happy couple my mom and dad are.

Here's the whole gang of us Christmas night--my parents in their Lancaster County home with all their children and grandchildren present.

All of the cousins in PA.

Grandma N reading to some of her grandchildren.

Now we have moved on to Knoxville, TN. Here's most of the gang at Grandma J's house. As you can see, we're having a happy time.

I snapped this while Cousin E was in a tickle war with her sister, Cousin A, all over the floor. I can't help but notice--man, that girl has some beautiful teeth!

Uncle J and Aunt L. This is their family's standard pose, which they even require their children to do. LOL

All the Peterson cousins.

Girl Two just adores her Cousin K. She was practically glued to her side.

And what holiday would be complete without whipping up a bit of sofa-cover clothing?

This one has even more flair.

And here we are back home. It was snowing few and far between, but the flakes were very large. See?

We thank the Lord for granting us safety and joy on our trip. It was so good to see those of you whom we did see. Thank you for everything!!! We hope we brought some cheer your way.

Here we come! / Merry Christmas!

2008-12-21T16:50:00.003-05:00

Here we come, Grandpa, Grandma N, Grandma J, and family! See you soon!

To everyone else who may read this, Merry Christmas! God bless you, friends.

Now a few photos from yesterday, our present-opening day. Three of our cute little Santa, and three of the whole quiver. The robes & pillow & blanket were my homemade gifts to them. My favorite part is how little Boy Four's blanket is made from the leftovers of each other child's gift. He's so blessed with of the love of each of them, it just seemed right.

'Twas the week (or so) before Christmas

2008-12-15T17:05:00.005-05:00

Girl One, Boy Four, Grandma J, Friend M, and I had Tea with our church ladies.

Girl Two and Boy Four lookin' classy & Christmasy.

Girl One wearing the tops from those little things you get out of gumball machines.

The kids begged me to take a picture of the extra bad bed-head hair. Somehow, it seems to suit him, doesn't it?

Girl Two peeks at Boy Four, who finds himself in a box yet again.

Boys in vests.

Brotherly pride wells up over the five-month-old standing alone.

Better than the last time we got our picture in green.

Boy One's first fencing injury. Good thing the swords aren't actually sharp!

Attack of the ferocious fire-breathing daddy.

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008

2008-12-11T14:00:00.004-05:00

The internet is abuzz with the news. On February 10, 2009 most small businesses, stay-at-home-moms, and grandpas who sell hand-made toys or home-sewn children's clothing will be out of business. Unless there is a change to this new law, safety certification requirements will force them to shut down. I know Congress passed this law to protect children, but when you mix in their hatred of freedom and their sheer stupidity, the end result looks to be worse than the original problem.

Here are a couple of sites that tell you how you can help. The first one is regarding homemade children's clothing, and the second one for handmade toys.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/?e

http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/Home

I know there have been attacks on our freedom for a long time now, but somehow this one just makes me feel panicky. May the Lord have mercy on us as the walls close in.

Scandalously Easy Meal Planning

2008-12-10T08:47:00.006-05:00

I really do not enjoy planning out the main dishes I'll cook each night. When that meal planning day comes, I think, "Oh no, not again," and it just makes me want to hide.

BUT--I have finally solved this dilemna. And I like my solution so much it makes me giddy. I've been doing this for about three months now, and I actually love this kind of meal planning! I look forward to it.

I'll tell you what I do. (Even though I am a little embarrassed about how easy it is.) Each week, just plan ONE main dish for that week. Yes, one. Choose something that can be prepared/assembled and then frozen, or something that stores dry and takes basically no work to throw together. And buy SEVEN days' worth of that food. (Or six days or however many days per week you cook a supper meal.)

After few weeks (yes, you have to wait a few weeks for this method to work--no, you don't eat the same thing every night!), your freezer and pantry will be stocked with something you can just pull out and use for supper. And you only have to think of ONE meal to add to your stockpile each week.

I've found this method also helps me get a good perspective on how economical a particular meal is, and if it's worth the money. When you're making six or seven times the quantity, you can really see if it fits in your budget or not.

If you want an example of a main dish that I've done, I'll tell you one of the most shockingly simple and cheap ones: 13 bean soup. I bought 7 days' worth of dried beans. I soaked them all overnight and then froze each meal's worth, along with seasonings, in gallon bags. Then just throw them in the crockpot with some water (and anything else you feel like) on the day you want to eat them. They even seem to cook quicker because they have been frozen. Add some homemade bread or muffins. Now that is one cheap and easy meal! Later that night, be sure to peek in the freezer and see the six other bags of bean soup waiting to be used in subsequent weeks. Smile and sigh contentedly.

Thanksgiving and other days of late

2008-12-03T16:18:00.011-05:00

Our men just before our Thanksgiving meal.

All of our family just before the meal.

For you, Grandma J. The creamed onions in your silver bowl. A silver bowl is nice, but not as nice as having you here. We missed you.

Girl Two in the skirt I just made for her.

Not sure if Boy One will continue on with fencing or not, so we wanted one last picture. I think this is the lightsaber pose.

Two little sweeties excited to go out and play in an eighth of an inch of snow.

The guys' side of the lunch table (after Sunday meeting).

We girls.

Brothers.

Brothers.

The sum of the square roots of any two sides of an isosceles triangle is equal to the square root of the remaining side.

Big Toe--not your ordinary pacifier.

Contest Winner

2008-11-28T22:31:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Sphinx63, winner of the Big Family Shirts giveaway this evening. She will receive an item with the following design:

Black Friday Giveaway

2008-11-25T19:40:00.011-05:00

BIG FAMILY SHIRTS GIVEAWAY!

Get a head start on your Christmas shopping or get something for yourself! On Black Friday, Big Family Shirts (my store) is giving away any one item priced at $19.99 or less to one blessed winner. Shipping is free too! (Sorry--Continental US only.)

To enter this contest, look around my store and then leave a comment after this post saying which Big Family Shirts product (priced at $19.99 or less) you would like to win. And if you mention this contest on your own blog, I will put your name in the pot twice! (Just be sure to let me know by telling me so in the comments.) I will pick one winner at random at 10 p.m. EST on Friday. If you don't have a blog, be sure to leave another way for me to contact you so I can let you know if you win. Have fun!

A Birthday and some other things

2008-11-16T18:08:00.012-05:00

Our very dear Boy Three, truly the life of our party, has turned six. He has been a gift from God for our good in so many ways. Our prayer is that we might raise him up for God's glory and for the good of the world.

"I just love birthdays--especially mine!"

"Arrrggggh. Yo ho ho ho."

Make a wish and take a deep breath!

Fixin' to open a present from our neighbor boy, Mr. Skeleton.

The Dreaded Pirate Runny-nose.

Who are you lookin' at, buddy?

Good buddies now.

">Whose idea was this?

Peanuts--yum!

"Me, in any other hair, am still as sweet."

Proof that it has snowed here--and that Boy One actually does own more than one long-sleeved shirt. (Practically every single other picture of him on this whole blog is in the same OSU sweatshirt!)

An Annual Tradition

2008-11-10T19:03:00.007-05:00

Here is one of our yearly traditions that we've done since our firstborn was a baby--pictures in the leaves. And every year that we have a new baby, that baby always wears the very same Winnie-the-Pooh coat that Boy One made famous thirteen years ago. I took the pictures pretty quickly this year, so they're not masterpieces or anything. (But the kids are, of course!)

And here are some shots from our tour of the Air Force Museum on Saturday.

Boys like to ponder rockets.

Little girls can get sleepy at Air Force museums.

And everyone's favorite "exhibit"--the penny drop.

Heading Off To Vote

2008-11-04T09:33:00.004-05:00

I'm going to post quick and then head off to vote. It's always kind of exciting, I think. Boy Three doesn't share the feeling though apparently, because when I woke him up this morning and told him we were going to vote today he announced (a bit grumpily), "Well, I'm not going to vote for anybody!" OK, then.

And now here we have our weekly set of Sunday photos, some taken at church and some during Boy One's fencing lesson.

Cute little Boy Four. We were out of the service for a nursing break, and I just couldn't resist snapping a quick photo.

Boy Two loses a tooth during church, and demonstrates his new trick.

What I see when I turn around.

Me with some very handsome men.

My girls.

Ahhh, the ballet.

Coming soon: The annual leaf photos.

Happy Birthday, Little Princess!

2008-10-30T21:29:00.004-04:00

Our dear little girl poses here with her cake.

Her beloved father dubs her Princess of Sweetness.

A beloved brother presents a hand-made card.

Her beloved mother made the cake. Not too shabby for my first try at fondant.

A good time was had by all, especially by the Birthday Girl.

Going Green

2008-10-27T15:16:00.006-04:00

I am pleased to report that I finished the matching dresses for the girls and me, and we wore them to our church meeting on Sunday. This is not a great picture by any means, but it gives you the idea.

Here's a new picture of Elias that will replace his old one, which had shown him at the height of his infant acne.

Here are two we also enjoy a lot but aren't going to frame.

Waiting for fencing to start.

Also waiting for fencing.

Preparing himself for his lesson. The right frame of mind is everything.

Week In Feminine Dress

2008-10-20T08:28:00.019-04:00

I've seen some "Week In Feminine Dress" posts on other blogs before, and now it's my turn, thanks to Tracy's invitation to her online friends to join her in this.

What is life like when you wear only dresses and skirts? Well, the bottom line is that it's more comfortable! Of course, you need to choose your dresses and undergarments wisely, but when you do . . . wow, it's great! It's cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter, provides more freedom of movement, and just makes you feel great.

Sure, I have a couple of skirts that I like only because of how they look, and they aren't that comfortable. But most of the time, I want to be comfortable in life, and so I like to wear skirts that are stretchy and/or full. And these are what I wear under them:

this for the summer (photo is a model, NOT me)

and this for the colder months. (photo is a model, NOT me)

Now here are pictures my kids took of what I wore all last week.

Monday: Here I am helping Boy Two with spelling or language. The black maternity skirt (I'm 3 months postpartum.) was a gift from my dear mother-in-law, and the sweater is one that I bought new at Kohl's eight years ago.

Tuesday: This is during our memory work time. (We're studying the Reformation this month.) The skirt was from Goodwill, and the shirt is a $5 T-shirt from Wal-Mart.

Wednesday: The skirt is too old for me to possibly remember how I obtained it, and the T-shirt is from my store.

Thursday: Getting ready to decorate our porch for fall. The skirt is a maternity skirt from E-bay, and the sweater is a hand-me-down from my mother-in-law.

Friday: Cutting some bread I made. The skirt is from Goodwill, the turtleneck is from E-bay, and the shell/vest is from Wal-Mart.

Saturday: Waiting in the gift shop at Ohio Caverns before our tour. The skirt is about 5 years old and from Wal-Mart, and the jacket/blouse is from Goodwill.

Sunday: Heading into a restaurant for lunch after our church meeting. The skirt is a hand-me-down from my dear mom. (Knowing her, she probably got it from a consignment store.) And the sweater was from K-Mart. It's only about a year old, so it probably wins in the most-recently-bought category of everything I wore this week.

Well, that's all. I had fun and hope you did too. :)

More Happy Days

2008-10-14T11:17:00.015-04:00

Ready to leap into Boy Two's waiting arms.

One giant turkey leg is just never enough.

My boys.

Do everyone's children find ace bandages so fascinating?

Boy One begins training to be the next Dread Pirate Roberts.

In the waiting room.

Just hanging around during fencing.

Every time I turn around, somebody's kissing the baby.

Trivia Tag

2008-09-27T09:08:00.012-04:00

I'm it! I've been tagged by my friend Camille, who's very hip to this kind of thing! That means it's my turn to list some trivia about myself and then tag six other people. First I'll list my trivia, then I'll list the six people I'm tagging, and finally I'll list the rules for how to play.

MY TRIVIA

1. My eighth grade social studies teacher nicknamed me "Miss Moral Majority."

2. I've been singing solos in church since I was two.

3. I'm the lucky owner of seven root canals and seven crowns. (Not all on the same teeth.)

4. I've never been in a fight with my husband.

5. I have a Ph.D. in Foreign Language Education.

6. I like almost all foods, but I think cashew nuts taste really, really creepy.

NOW I'M TAGGING . . .

Audrey

Dana

Alice

Suz

Amber

Wesley

RULES FOR HOW TO PLAY

Here are the rules for those I'm tagging. Check the list after my 6 THINGS to see if you're it and then . . .

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag sixish people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know he or she has been tagged.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

If Girl Two Could Type

2008-09-24T16:21:00.021-04:00

My biggest brother is our hero.

This wasn't the most exciting supper I've ever had.

I wonder if my sister used a bit too much hair gel.

My brother the fashion statement.

That mean old wind un-decorated our house.

When I grow up, I want my cooking to taste like my mama's--but not look like it.

I'm adorable, if I do say so myself.

Boy Two Turns Eight

2008-09-13T20:37:00.009-04:00

Our beloved second son turned eight yesterday.

He's our resident comedian.

It looks like he might be an engineer someday.

Or maybe a scientist. He loves learning about nature.

Most of all, we hope he will always love the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. Every night, he prays that he and all his brothers and sisters will grow up to be godly men and women. Oh, Lord, may it be so.

What We've Been Up To In One Sentence

2008-09-03T02:46:00.019-04:00

In the past few days, we . . .

camped in our back yard,

played in our creek,

cut up firewood from a tree that got struck by lightning,

relaxed,

started wiring our unfinished bonus room,

tried to punish the air mattress that leaked out ALL of its air while we slept in the tent,

and enjoyed the weekly tea which Girl One so lovingly serves us.

Starting the New School Year Off Right

2008-08-25T12:15:00.019-04:00

One last visit from Grandpa and Grandma N. Now they're off--he to teach Greek and she to teach 3rd grade.

One last meal before it all starts.

One last wing for protein.

A wee bit of chocolate always helps with having a sunny disposition.

Writing about one of Mama's all-time favorite books.

Lunch--my favorite subject.

This is actually pretty good.

A Man We Admire

2008-08-19T14:49:00.005-04:00

This morning we had the privilege of hearing Voddie Baucham tell it like it is. He is preaching at (somewhat) nearby Cedarville University this week, and spoke from Romans 1:18-32. No sugar-coating from this guy.

Smilepalooza

2008-08-18T16:56:00.002-04:00

This makes labor and dirty diapers and sleepless nights all worthwhile.

Tennessee

2008-08-10T18:17:00.022-04:00

This weekend we traveled to Cousin R's wedding in Tennessee. The weather was perfect! The baby did "pretty well" in the car; thank you to those of you who prayed for traveling mercies for us!

We stayed in this cute cabin in Townsend. (Staying near the wedding location meant the baby was imprisoned in his car seat as little as possible.)

Grandma J got to meet Boy Four. He looks like he's smiling. :)

Almost time for the wedding. Oooo, don't they clean up good?

The Happy Petersons

Cousins

Grandma J and the lovely bride, Cousin R

We decided to stay an extra day and enjoy Cades Cove.

Boy Three enjoys the Dog Days of Summer.

I beat ALL my kids at golf while toting the baby and the diaper bag!

One of their favorite poses.

One last ride at Pigeon Forge before heading back.

My first attempt at "the annual portrait" is below. I figured I could save a heap of money if I could do this myself. How do you think I did?

The Irish Festival

2008-08-04T13:02:00.003-04:00

Our visit to the Irish Festival, in which Boy One attempts to write clever captions:

"Here we come, walking down the street . . . Hey, hey we're the Petersons . . . "

Don't you dare try and steal my food, you Big Blue Eyeball!

Someone said there was only enough cotton candy for one of them.

Look how excited we are about the funnel cake!

In this last photo before the camera battery went dead, here you see me ready for battle . . . or maybe a nap.

Social Hazard

2008-08-01T11:43:00.003-04:00

We got my oldest son several T-shirts for his birthday a while back, but this is by far my favorite. It says Social Hazard--I will not conform--Romans 12:2.

While on the one hand we are supposed to show kindness and respect to outsiders, we must at the same time not "conform" to their ways. I suppose some people do have a hard time being kind and polite to other folks, but most of us find conformity to the world's ways a bigger temptation.

I pray that each of my children will not be timid or lazy and therefore just blend in, but instead be "socially hazardous" toward this world's kingdom of darkness and devote their lives to spreading God's glorious Kingdom of Light.

If you've stopped by here and have read this--would you take a moment to pray that for my kids too? Thanks!

Fun-Filled Week

2008-07-19T11:20:00.006-04:00

Boy One, Girl One, and Boy Two went to music camp.

Boy Two learned a new trick there, and Boy three attempts it also.

Daddy got the vision for him and Boy One and Girl One to run in a local 5K race. They practiced for about a month, and today accomplished their goal--runing continuously without needing to walk or stop. I'm so proud of them!

Dedication

2008-07-13T14:56:00.005-04:00

We dedicated our fourth son to the Lord today.

After the service, with a happy daddy and mama.

Closeups of our little pumpkin.

Back at home with his next two oldest siblings.

We welcome our fourth son with joy and gratitude.

2008-07-09T18:50:00.000-04:00

On the night of our 18th wedding anniversary, I went into labor and delivered our son the next morning. We thank the Lord for the birth of Elias Jeremiah Peterson.

And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Luke 1:17 (KJV)

Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are His. And why one? Because He was seeking godly offspring. Malachi 2:15a (NIV)

with Grandma N and Grandpa

with Boy One

with Boy Two and Boy Three

with Girl One and Girl Two

Happy Anniversary to Us

2008-07-07T07:42:00.005-04:00

Mr. P and I have been happily married for 18 years today. Thank you, Lord! :) :)

My parents are here, and we're all just waiting around for the baby to arrive. Yesterday we picked black raspberries from our own back yard, and I made two pies. They were fabulous, if I do say so myself.

Our baby boy is due today, but I'm not sure if he's aware of that. I'm getting induced on Wednesday if he doesn't arrive by then. How nice it would be if I don't end up needing the induction! I've been reading the Psalms this morning, and for some reason, every time I see the word pit (going down to the pit, being rescued from the pit), I keep thinking Pitocin. Hmmmm. I suppose that's not the usual interpretation.

Here are a few phrases from Psalm 27 that I am thinking about as labor nears:
"He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle He shall hide me."
"Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me."
"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage."

Thank you so much to all who have been praying for us!

Waiting for Baby

2008-07-02T18:26:00.004-04:00

Grandma J has been here, available to help out in case the baby comes before my folks get back from their trip. We've been having all kinds of fun.

Here she is with her new little doggy Willie when we were all on a walk. She likes to climb trees, but doesn't climb too high any more.

Boy Two with Willie on our porch.

Here is Boy Three getting his medallion at the T-ball picnic.

Here are Boy Three and Girl Two practicing operating a baby swing for when the baby comes.

Here is Boy Two after his baseball tournament ends with a blue ribbon.

Last Weekend of Spring

2008-06-23T16:24:00.010-04:00

We girls go to tea with Grandma N.

Boy Three's tournament ends with a blue ribbon.

Grandpa and Grandma N about to leave with Boy One on a cross country trip to Oklahoma. Hurry back before the baby comes!

Precious Daughter

2008-06-18T15:05:00.007-04:00

Our Girl One celebrated her 11th birthday the other day. What a wonderful girl she is and such a delight to our family! She's cheerful, cooperative, fun, and a willing worker.

She and Neighbor Girl were treated to face masks and manicures.

Enjoy your cake, your presents, and your 12th year, Dear Child.

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-14T22:28:00.006-04:00

My daddy and me - 1968

On this occasion of Father's Day, I want to proclaim how incredibly blessed I have been with the main men in my life--my dad and my husband. Praise be to the Lord for being so, so kind to me by giving me these true loving men! This song always brings tears to my eyes--because it is just SO TRUE for me. Press PLAY under the lyrics to listen.

Jesus, Daddy, and You
(original lyrics by Rebecca Lynn Howard)

In the back of my mind there's a sweet memory
Of an old front porch swing and daddy singing to me
I can still feel the touch of his loving hands
In my eyes he was the one perfect man
The first of three men I gave my heart to: Jesus, Daddy and you.

Come Sunday morning I knew where I'd be
Sitting beside Mama with Daddy preaching to me
Where I put my life in two nail scarred hands
The day that I fell for one more perfect man
The men I have loved had been so true: Jesus, Daddy, and you.

There are three kinds of love that everyone needs
I knew that something was missing for me

Then you came along and completed my life
I saw Jesus and Daddy in your loving eyes
I looked up when you put the ring on my hand
And I thanked God for one more perfect man
Three men in my life whose love has been true: Jesus, Daddy and you.
Three men in my life I gave my heart to: Jesus, Daddy and you.

Free file hosting by Ripway.com

My honey and me - 1990

And the award goes to . . .

2008-06-02T13:57:00.003-04:00

I was recently surprised to be blessed with the You Make My Day Blog Award. The honor came from my dear friend Camille over at There Is A Season. Thank you so much, Camille! You sure made my day!

And now I would like to keep the blessings going by presenting the same award to Michael over at Great Adventure II. I just have to say that ever since I've been keeping up with blogs, this one is always at the top of my list. I would hate to go more than a few days without "visiting" the Thomases. To me they represent the epitome of good, clean fun and close family life and dear church fellowship and hope for the future. Congratulations for having a life and a blog that truly spreads joy and inspiration!

Music Video of the Month

2008-06-02T12:22:00.010-04:00

I've been featuring a new music video each month over near the bottom of the sidebar--in case you haven't noticed. Here is this month's video. I ran across it a few months ago, and find it very touching. It's an Andrew Peterson song that somebody matched up with clips from what they described as "a TNT movie on the life of Abraham." Let me know if you recognize the movie or know its title.

Our Firstborn Is A Teenager

2008-05-29T21:50:00.010-04:00

Our firstborn turned 13 yesterday. Look how he's grown. What a really, really great kid he is! We are so pleased with him!!!!!!!!

1995

2001

2003

2008

What did we do for his birthday? He requested to see Prince Caspian, eat steak, and have a three layered peanut butter and brownie and ice cream cake. He got a new guitar, a nice leather study Bible, and a notebook filled with letters of advice from our pastor, his grandparents, and other adults who love him.

Oh, how we do love him!

Memorial Day Weekend, Day Three

2008-05-26T14:04:00.028-04:00

Today we saw our little burg's Memorial Day Parade.

Waiting for the parade to start.

Our Boys Two and Three on the baseball float.

The annual parade ends in the cemetary, and there is a memorial service. The opening prayer was "in Christ's name." The main speaker started with Proverbs 14:34: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." His message was that America will fail it it doesn't return to God. The Lord and His Scriptures were exalted today. For now, it's still safe to preach Jesus in our little town.

Walking back to the van.

Memorial Day Weekend, Day Two

2008-05-26T14:02:00.012-04:00

Next stop: National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati.

It's right smack inbetween Paul Brown Stadium and the Great American Ball Park.

Boy Two.

Boy Three.

Grocery shopping back home before the day is through.

Memorial Day Weekend, Day One

2008-05-26T13:36:00.009-04:00

We took our second annual Memorial Day Weekend visit to the Creation Museum.

In front of the museum.

Jumping in the inflatables.

Newly opened petting zoo.

Painting a dinosaur.

Sharing ice cream.

The first room on the museum walk.

King David and my David

Boy Two And The Dinosaur.

Examining our souveneirs.

Boy One chose edible grubs and locusts.

It's amazing when we can find a room big enough for us! Way to go, Country Inns!

Suddenly our Tomtom says to drive across a river. Good thing there was a ferry.

Supper at Big Boy.

What to do for breakfast when hubby takes off work.

2008-05-23T09:35:00.026-04:00

1. Send him out to pick up a new waffle maker.

2. Grind the wheat, beat the egg whites, etc.

3. Sip coffee on porch while waiting for hubby to return. Think how cool it is that you planted the lettuce and tomatoes only four feet from the front door this year.

4. Greet hubby thankfully when he arrives.

5. Wait eagerly for the beep telling you it's done.

6. Be sure to use real Ohio maple syrup from your friends' farm. Enjoy.

Mother's Day

2008-05-11T15:40:00.003-04:00

I am definitely not the best mother in the world, but I sure am a thankful one.

I am thankful for the example and inspiration provided for me by two dear women: my mother and my mother-in-law. My mother is a shining example of submission and cheerfulness. My mother-in-law continually models for me unconditional hospitality and generosity. I have so far to go, but I am grateful for these women who help to guide me.

And how kind the Lord has been to me in my marriage! What a wonder that I get to live with these people:

My two quiet, gentle, easygoing engineer-type men.

My first boy and girl. Fun, mature, and sincere.

My two little firecrackers.

Here are two quotes which challenge me as a mom.

"Biblical motherhood means sacrifice, selfless love, and faithful dedication. It means we're there with our families--body, mind, and spirit." Passionate Housewives Desperate for God, p. 21

"You cannot enjoy the pleasures of a close, loving relationship with godly, well-behaved children, if you are not willing to make parenting them your top priority. You must view it as your FULL TIME JOB, all day, every day." Raising Godly Tomatoes, p. 4

These words help me see clearly where I need to improve, and a constant theme to my prayers is that I will learn to die to self. It's no sacrifice for me to homeschool and be here full time. None at all. But for me to really, really, really be here--with my whole heart and whole mind FOCUSED on this job alone--well, that's harder. I pray God will keep working on me.

Our annual Mother's Day lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse. It's been a great day.

An Oldie But A Goodie

2008-05-07T16:34:00.005-04:00

We read The Destruction of Sennacherib by Byron this morning. What a great poem!

The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold,

And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold;

And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea,

When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.

Like the leaves of the forest when Summer is green,

That host with their banners at sunset were seen:

Like the leaves of the forest when Autumn hath blown,

That host on the morrow lay withered and strown.

For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast,

And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed;

And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill,

And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!

And there lay the steed with his nostril all wide,

But through it there rolled not the breath of his pride;

And the foam of his gasping lay white on the turf,

And cold as the spray of the rock-beating surf.

And there lay the rider distorted and pale,

With the dew on his brow, and the rust on his mail:

And the tents were all silent, the banners alone,

The lances unlifted, the trumpet unblown.

And the widows of Ashur are loud in their wail,

And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal;

And the might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword,

Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord!

It's always nice to know that if God wants you to be safe, the world's most powerful army can't touch you. You can read the full story in 2 Kings 18-19. What a great story!

Saturday Night nothing Special

2008-05-03T21:22:00.012-04:00

I haven't posted in a week, and there's still nothing all that newsworthy going on around here. So in an effort to post something, here's a run down of our regular old Saturday night. We're kind of plain and boring, I guess--but we kind of like it. :)

6:45 p.m. Vitamin drops for the pregnant lady.

7:10 p.m. The clean plate club. Although I cook real meals all week long, one of the kids' favorite treats is TV dinners on Saturday nights. (Don't tell anybody, but it's my favorite too!)

7:11 p.m. Boy One, self-taught guitarist, provides the after dinner music.

7:15 p.m. Girl Two, Boy Two, and Boy Three play on the front porch.

7:30 p.m. Daddy and Girl One as tonight's game of Apples to Apples begins.

Our first poll

2008-04-25T14:49:00.008-04:00

UPDATE: Well, it was reported to me that the poll website didn't work most of the time. That's probably why only four people, rather than hundreds of you, voted. The results, basically, were that 75% think the government is probably even scarier than the cult, and 25% weren't sure which is scarier. Thanks to all who voted.

I figured out how to take a poll on here! The poll is about the current and very sad news story about all of the children from the polygamist compound. There is something very frightening about what is going on, and that's what the poll is about. I hope you'll vote. (It's in the right-hand column, in case you missed it.) I'm sure it's anonymous, so don't worry about that.

Stacy posted about this situation today over at Your Sacred Calling. Click here to read her thoughts.

Pessimism Kills Vision

2008-04-23T18:08:00.004-04:00

My favorite radio show is Generations with Kevin Swanson. I never miss a day--because all the shows are there online! He discusses parenting more than anything else, but also lots of other great and interesting topics. I listened to Tuesday's show just now, and it was great--just like all the rest. Here's his little blurb about it:

Pessimism Kills Vision
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 The Antichrist is Coming!

"The Antichrist is coming! Run for the hills! Don't polish brass on a sinking ship!" Such messages were preached ad nauseam for generations throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in a large segment of the "fundamental, evangelical" Christian church. Unfortunately, this fixation on a pessimistic eschatology did great deal of damage to any kind of long term vision among families. This is one of the forces that killed a Generational vision and resulted in the 1.7 birth rate among evangelical families and the 80% leak rate of Christian kids who walked away from the faith of their fathers.

Forty, fifty, sixty years later, some of us are recovering from millennial burn-out. Kevin Swanson takes a moment to analyze this millennial fever that crippled the faith in the 20th century, and suggests that maybe we need to address ourselves to "occupying until He returns."

Listen to this particular episode here.

Enjoy!

A Nice Day

2008-04-21T22:02:00.006-04:00

We took a field trip to a local fire department.

Everyone is enjoying the spring weather.

Weekend Visitors

2008-04-13T21:50:00.004-04:00

We were treated to a nice visit this weekend by Grandma J and Cousin M. They attended the kids' piano/violin recital with us on Saturday and then church this morning. And lots of fun family time in between. We appreciate that they traveled here to see us!

Boy One played violin, Girl One played violin and piano, and Boy Two played piano. In my opinion, they were the best students out of the whole bunch.

Grandma J teaches Girl One how to work a crossword puzzle.

Cousin M on guitar, Boy One on violin, and Boy Two on piano. I didn't take this picture, so I'm not sure, but I have the feeling it's merely a pose.

Win Wall Words

2008-04-11T09:08:00.004-04:00

My wonderful friend Camille is having a contest on her blog, and the winner will receive a gift certificate to another wonderful friend's (Tonya) online store that sells handmade wall plaques and wall lettering.

Go to Camille's contest here.

Go to the Fruitful Vine Creations store here.

Last fall, our family purchased wall lettering from Tonya's Fruitful Vine Creations for two of our walls, and we are extremely happy with the results. Here are the pictures. Now, these pictures don't do justice to the lettering at all. The lighting is awful, especially in the one, so that makes it hard to see how beautiful the lettering is--but it will give you the general idea. We've received many compliments on the lettering, and best of all, God's word is proclaimed.

We enthusiastically recommend the products from Fruitful Vine Creations, and we are honored to be counted among the friends of Camille and Tonya.

Grand Multipara

2008-04-09T06:51:00.003-04:00

Well, here's a glimpse of me, for our out-of-town friends and family. Do you think I'm starting to show yet?

All pregnant ladies know that when they're out and about, at a store or whatever, they get the question: When are you due? or How much longer do you have?

I get two predictable reactions when I tell them I'm not due until July. One is, "Is it twins?" And the other is a look of confusion where the person tips their head sideways and appears to be struggling with some internal math calculations.

As for my own reaction every time I pass my reflection--well, let's just say that I'm glad I have a good sense of humor.

What kind of American accent do you have?

2008-04-08T12:45:00.002-04:00

It's been driving me crazy for years that my own daughter doesn't speak with the same accent I do. At the top of my grievance list is the fact that she makes no distinction between Mary and marry, or between Harry and hairy. Ahhhh! Some people have even lost the distinction between cot and caught, and between bag and beg. What will become of us if all of our words end up sounding the same? Oh well, at least this is good evidence against evolution. Evolution says that things develop more complexity over time, but here we have an example of how things really only get simpler.

My quiz result was Philadelphia. No surprise there--although I don't sound like I'm from in the city or anything. Girl One's result was Midland. OK, I guess that is where she lives. (She even says cot and caught the same, I found out.) Boy Two's was the West. (Who's teaching him to talk?) Boy One turned out for Boston. (OK, now I'm starting to doubt the accuracy of this quiz.)

TAKE THE QUIZ. It's pretty short, and I think you'll enjoy it. But watch out, you may become irritated when you find out that none of your children speak like you. Grrrr.

Let us know your results.

Free Candle Giveaway Contest

2008-04-05T19:06:00.001-04:00

A friend is having a free candle giveaway contest to raise money for adopting. You can check it out here:

http://makingahouseahome.blogspot.com/2008/04/virginia-candle-company-and-giveaway.html

What's your brain type?

2008-04-04T13:04:00.002-04:00

I first took this kind of test about 20 years ago. Now I took a different version of it today--and I'm still the same me after all these years! I'm a confirmed ISTJ. And their description sure matches me! I think my family would agree.

If you enjoy this kind of thing, how about taking the test and posting your results here? Do you think your description fits you?

TAKE THE TEST!

I'll have Mr. P take the test later today and post his results in the comments. I wonder if he's still the same guy I fell in love with? Actually, we talked about this the other day and couldn't remember just what his type was. Maybe he's borderline on a couple categories. My guesses for him are ISTP, ISFJ, or ISFP. My top guess is ISTP.

The Flowbee

2008-03-28T17:23:00.004-04:00

We've been using a Flowbee for our haircuts for about 12 years. Even though we're on our second one (first one died after about 10 years), they have paid for themselves many times over. I'd say it pays for itself in just a couple months, and then you have years and years of free haircuts to look forward to. I thought it would be fun to show you Boy Two's haircut today.

Before

As you can see, we got pretty far behind on his haircutting schedule. Girl One thought the pony tails would let you see how long it really was.

The Boy starts the cut himself; you really can't mess things up with the Flowbee.

Here he is halfway through--after it's been done on the first setting.

Now the last of the cutting is done. We comb, and voila: A new boy!

Field Trip

2008-03-25T16:22:00.003-04:00

Today we went on a field trip to a local Rod and Gun club. Basically, we learned all about how they raise the trout that stock the streams here. The streams here are not naturally occurring; they were dug and are filled by aquifers just a couple feet under the ground. Though this environment looks very natural, it cannot sustain the trout without a lot of help. It sounds like the air pumps are the most critical addition to this environment. Also, the trout simply will not breed in this environment, so all of the eggs are squeezed out and fertilized by hand.

The manager of the club, who gave us this tour, shows a trout to the kids--including my Boy Two in the red hat and my Boy Three just to his right.

Believe it or not, this little pond holds about 2500 one-year-old trout. It's pretty packed! They are kept here until they are ready to be put into the streams.

The kids get to feed the fish in the little pond. This photo shows Boy Three as he throws some food in, and you can see the fish jumping up in the water. Five or ten minutes had already passed since the kids started throwing the food in, and at first, it looked like every square inch of the pond was covered with jumping fish.

Happy Resurrection Day!

2008-03-23T13:52:00.002-04:00

Here we are right after the service today, standing outside our building. A few minutes later, we were enjoying the annual Easter brunch. This year it was again catered by the pancake company that THROWS your pancakes to you. You have to catch them on your plate from about 15-20 feet away.

This morning I was able to listen to the Easter story on my new GoBible, which I just got yesterday. This portable digital audio Bible (basically an ipod preloaded with the Bible) lets you listen by earphones or speaker to the whole Bible. You can choose by individual verse, by book or chapter, by story, or by daily portion (the Bible divided into 365 portions). I debated between the Alexander Scourby KJV or the Max McLean NIV, and finally chose the NIV. The whole Scourby version is available online for whenever I want to listen to that one--but it's not portable.

The reason I got this, with my kind husband's permission, was because I read the Bible sooooo slowly during my quiet time--because I am naturally compelled to analyze everything. I am hoping this will allow me to get through larger portions at a time, because of course that is valuable too.

Egg Day

2008-03-22T10:54:00.004-04:00

We wanted to make sure there was a distinction between Easter and the secular acticvities associated with it. So what we do, basically, is just make sure our egg hunting and candy basket acticvities don't take place on Easter Sunday. We usually do it the day before, as we did today. (I have the camera date set to the wrong year; these really were taken today, in 2008.)

Boy One and Boy Two coloring eggs.

All five on the sofa, happily anticipating, moments before the baskets are given out.

Boy Three knows if you eat the ears first, the poor bunny won't be able to hear you chewing him up.

"I decorated this one myself."

"Look at my pretty egg."

She always makes us smile.

2008-03-17T18:32:00.002-04:00

If my big sister is doing math, then I have to have my tea party with stuffed animals.

And when I was on the potty today, I was singing Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing very loudly. My mama didn't tell me how cute that sounded, but I know she liked it.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

2008-03-12T21:11:00.004-04:00

To my Dear and Loving Husband

By Anne Bradstreet

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay;
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

Blizzard

2008-03-11T12:50:00.009-04:00

We had a late blizzard the other day, breaking the one-day snowfall records for March in our area.

Boy Three and Girl Two look out the front door of their little igloo.

Girl Two looking out the back window of the igloo.

Boy Three convinced Boy One to make a two-headed snowman. Apparently, it's a giant space alien, and the sixteen mini snowmen are brave little earthlings preparing to attack.

Finally!

2008-03-08T17:52:00.003-05:00

After hanging on by only a thread for about six months, Boy Two's front teeth are finally out.

His tooth-losing style is pretty much just wait til they fall out by themselves.

Snowmen

2008-03-05T15:32:00.004-05:00

Reason #587 why I love my firstborn: He builds snowmen with his littlest sister--without being asked to, and for no other reason than for the joy of being with her.

We voted pro-life today

2008-03-04T14:23:00.001-05:00

Compare the candidates on the issue of life:
http://www.nrlpac.org/pdf/candidates_08.pdf

Friends, but no pictures

2008-03-02T18:56:00.002-05:00

Last night we had supper with the Ramms (at their house), and today we had lunch with the Schneiders (at our house). What a blessing to fellowship with our dearest friends from church! Too bad I forgot to take pictures. :(

Marvelous Mini-Vacation

2008-02-29T13:19:00.003-05:00

Last weekend we went to the Coco Key indoor waterpark at Cherry Valley Lodge. It was the most perfectly relaxing weekend. It was close enough that the drive wasn't tiring. The room layout was interesting, and the kids were fascinated by the rotating flat screen TVs. The waterpark was very kid friendly. And we had several awesome meals, ranging from an exquisite fancy salad to the best barbeque sandwiches we ever tasted.

Wow, I'm getting fat. I'd love to be the kind of person who doesn't have to comment on how I look in pictures, but well, I'm just not there yet.

(Also, my sincere apologies to those who are offended by bare-chested males.)

It's bound to melt

2008-02-29T13:07:00.005-05:00

Now, I know we're headed for another ice age, but despite that, I think this snow is going to melt soon. After all, it is the last day of February. And most of all, I wanted to learn how to post a picture.

This is the view off our back deck.

Like I need to spend any more time on the computer

2008-02-29T11:11:00.000-05:00

We'll see if this turns out to be a good or a bad idea!