Midnight Stitches

This post is for Betty, so you know the block is done. I drew this up and stitched it Sunday afternoon/night. Lord willing the mail people will get it to you soon! Scott thinks my grabbing Trey by the trunk is strange, that I should have put him in the crook of my arm at least. However, as I said before, I drew this up and stitched it TODAY. So, next year....

I think it reflects our stage in life with the kids: casual and at the stick-figure level.

A bit of news concerning Trey: he pulled himself up the first time today. I put him down for a nap. He was VERY happy in there, squealing and laughing. After a long while he began to yell. I think he couldn't figure out what to do with himself, being afraid to let go of the crib and fall. Sigh. Too fast, this child raising goes.

So that's what those are for!

Nope, no shame here either. It is gross and we're working to fix it. We have been without a floor for some time and looking at grungy cabinets. Scott is getting busy, suddenly. The floor will be put in by a friend at the end of the month. Before that happens, we're stripping the cabinets, having them powder-coated to stick with our retro house, having cabinet makers match our old cabinets and build some new custom-shaped ones, putting in new counter top, moving the sink and stove, installing a microwave above the stove, repainting and putting in blinds, etc.... I'm so proud of Scott for taking on this project. He's done a beautiful job putting in a new laundry room, pantry and closet. Yeah! BUT, in order for this to happen: chaos comes. This is the scene I came home to this morn after the boys' Tuesday School:

Sigh....

Okay, gross....

Soon, soon.

A glimpse of the boys playing.

And, oh, that's what those are for! I wondered about those sweet ears. They hold pennies.

Adopting Ideas

February Sledding Excursion:

Growing right out of his "bucket". It won't be long.

Do any of the rest of you feel sorry for this poor little guy, bundled like a sardine?


Getting ready to take-on the hill.



Walking up with the cool guy.



He doesn't look too traumatized.





Watching the action.


Tolerating.


Scoping out the big hill. Yikes. I could only watch Ranne go down once.

The Lord has truly blessed us through the latest trials. Our miscarriage has even deepened (I didn't think it possible) for us the understanding of what miracles Ranne, Toby and Trey are. It has also made us realize how considerably, delightfully and genuinely we enjoy raising-up people! We have been mulling over adoption and have been hearing of several options toward that end: different agencies, financing, etc. I ask that you all pray for us as we pursue this. The Father adopted each of us. I can't think of a greater honor than to do the same and share our family with a child. There are a million reasons we are excited about this. We know, however, the Lord puts each person in their place on this earth and our home may or may not be in his mind for another child.


Aside from that, we have decided to home school Ranne this first year. A sister-in-Christ has offered to let us borrow her very quality curriculum for which we're grateful and blessed. To tell the truth, I'm excited to make this decision and give the Alb school the boot. No offense to our friends and teachers. I can't think of a one of you I don't trust or respect. If I could pick their learning environment and teachers and study material!


So, lots of big decisions.

On a lighter note, our family had a VERY rare day to play together last Saturday. I can't tell you the last time we've been out as a family to recreate aside from holiday vacations. We packed up the kids after their waking (too early for my taste!), had breakfast at IHOP, and then drove up the Sandias with a trunk full of snow gear and sleds. What a wonderful morning. Trey had his first ride on a sled. He seemed okay, though expressionless. Toby, perhaps, liked the thrill of the ride more than anyone and Ranne was brave, going down on his own without hesitation and doing tricks nearly every time. He'd get to the bottom, sit on the sled and watch the rest of the folks slide down. Toby was happy riding and happy sitting on the side eating snow and digging holes. Trey, well, he wasn't wild about it for the most part, not liking cold wind and ice blowing in his face. What a wonderful time.

AND not only that, but our brother and sister-in-Christ, the Schmilles, watched the boys while we had a date that same day. They also kept the older boys overnight. What a good time to decompress and digest the lastest chaos, mourn, pray and look forward to what is ahead. Praise God for Family.

I Love Those Dear Hearts...

So, once again we are overcoming a miscarriage. We were so very excited this time. I almost wonder if I may have been anticipating it more than any of the others!

So hormones are everywhere. The church has been pouring food into our house. They have been offering up prayers, offering to help with the boys, supporting my tired husband, staying at the house in the middle of the night while we were in the ER. I am overwhelmed and even feeling guilty for not offering similar help to others who have gone through this. I had no idea.

So, thank you everyone. We praise God for his amazing goodness, that seen in all of you. May He continue to bless you so you can continue His good and loving work, shining His light!

Amanda

Rolling Along

Just some pictures of our little life story.

Ranne likes to be the big brother. Here he's trying to entertain Trey. He enjoys teasing him, holding him, playing and even wrestling with him.



Though we were going to be away on Christmas, I still wanted to decorate. Scott graciously and patiently dug out all the boxes. The pics weren't of the best quality or effort this time, but you get the idea. The boys made this year's star. I'd like to make it a tradition. It wasn't hard, if you can't tell. HA!

The snowflakes came out again. Each boy made a new one for 2009.

Trey becomes more and more proficient at his crawling. He's thrilled to be motoring around. It's strange for me to see such a small baby in odd places since the other boys were not interested in exploration until much later.

One of my favorite moments with him is in the evening at bath. Those chubby legs!



NOW THIS! This is terrible. Scott and I allow the boys to run at the church's building on Wednesday nights in the gym. It is only children at that time and people playing basketball. Scott and I were in the foyer talking to the minister, Alan, when Toby can running in in tears. Alan tried to pick him up and he screached. I tried asking him what was wrong, but he was so distracted he ran off, back into the gym. We got home and I was changing him into PJs. This is what I discovered! OW! Tough kid. He said it happened on a table. The long tables were folded up against a wall. I think that they were running by them and he must have tripped over the leg. He healed up okay, but has a nice pink scar. Ranne was so afraid when he saw it and heard Toby crying as I cleaned him that he hid under his covers first. Then, he went and found a picture of the three boys, pushing it under the bathroom door as a gift to calm his brother. SOOOO sweet.

Trey's first girl injury. Toby had the same thing happen, though later. In Tuesday School, one of the nursery girls has taken to attacking others very quietly. She grabbed Trey's face, then tried it on another boy and shoved other babies over as well. It's a harder job, watching those babies, than I expected.

We always enjoy visits with Aunt Dora and her sister Aunt Juanell. They are very good baby holders and are such a blessing to be with. Good pictures too!

Iowa and Back

This blog post is seriously lacking! We took no pictures of my beautiful sister-in-law Sunny, only a couple of Jeremy (he was holding Trey), took no pictures of our friends in Oklahoma and Kansas, etc. Is THIS what happens with more than two children, or am I just the biggest slacker EVER? Don't answer, please.

Christmas in Iowa was wonderful. It was full of family who were accommodating, fun, generous, encouraging, helpful.... They helped us with our child training, giving plenty of opportunities to coach our kids; they fed us till we could barely move (Trey ate like a horse); they introduced us to a bunch of great church family, allowing our personal love for His family to reach even Iowa; and we had a lot of nice, low-key time to relax as a family. Thank you!


We stopped at many a park on our way to Iowa for meals and breaks. The two toys the boys are playing with were sweet gifts from the Byers, left under the tree in the room they slept in while we passed through Wichita. They were wonderful distractions on the drive and during stops.




Arriving in Iowa, we were in for a super treat! The snow! The kids played in it every morning. Natasha and Justus were great to share that snow time after chores, as well as all their belongings and space for the week we were there.



Yikes. What was Toby doing with that? He looks a little dangerous.



Scott was delighted with the cold. He shoveled the driveway daily for fun. Ranne was a big helper.



Toby is giving this snowman a good hug. The arms were very long, though it's hard to see in these pictures.




The gang:





Jeremy's general expression. The kids warmed right up to him.

Dress-up was a good time had by the kids.

Trey appreciating prunes, which are very important after so many car seat hours.

The kids have always appreciated Elaine's attention (Jeremy's mother). She's very good company on our visits.

I can't say we were just ecstatic on Christmas morning over the stockings. Too many late nights. BUT, it was fun. I'm always impressed with other's creative stocking ideas.

And, home again. Nice to be clean and bathed! These are some of my favorite PJ's that the boys have worn. Banana jamas

The boys' latest favorite perch in the yard. They get to watch the cats in the vacant lot next door. We are currently trying to trap those cats to get them out of our yard. There is one, in fact, in the trap now with it's mama sitting outside of it. NOW I'm feeling bad.

Back to baking. My sister-in-law, Sarah, gave me the recipe for a wonderful and easy pie: Cranberry Apple. Thank you, thank you!



What happens when two boys can't seem to control themselves from pushing one another's buttons? It works, for now at least.

What does Trey do when we're busy working on the house? Crawls straight to his ADD-Saucer and eats the cracker crumbs in the bottom.

Scott's wonderful work on our kitchen! The closet/pantry is getting closer to completion!

Big helpers: