Silly Boy

Hokey pete, where has the time gone? My little man will be two in less than three months. He is a babbler, which is the most aDORable thing. Some children are quiet, some in between and Elijah...well..he doesn't care that no one understands him, he will still talk your ear off in the most adorable baby chatter nonesense.

As of late, he discovered his pockets and walks around the house with his hands in them. I can't help it, everything about this child is adorable, I LOVE this age. He is such a little man! He loves HotWheels and trucks, but he loves his baby dolls, too. He sweetly cuddles Gracies baby dolls and holds them on his lap, gives them open mouth kisses(as he has yet to learn to *pucker*) and hugs them.

He recently found a belly button(!) on his tummy and since he thinks this is a rather startling new discovery, he needs to let EVERYone know as he walks with his shirt tucked under his chin with a chubby finger on his *button* until Mamma asks him to lower his shirt. He really is quite proud.

Blurry, but a cute photo. I rarely catch him in a belly laugh.

His brothers have taught him well how to wrestle.



And Gracie...well, Gracie has taught him how to handle three Ritz crackers at once. I will hand him one and he will say "uh...uh...uh" until I give him another in his other hand. Then he will say "uh...uh...uh" and open his mouth wide until I stuff another cracker in his third *hand*.  He is such a joy!

The Week Before Christmas...

Ahhh, the week before Christmas. A week is filled with daily festive activities, caroling, home organization, Advent readings, wrappings, *holly berry* candles, toddlers opening presents prematurely, ornaments tucked in hiding spots around the house, Christmas cookies, questions of angels, magi & Christ. This weekend we offered to celebrate Christmas at our house with my family on Christmas Eve, then Paul asked what I thought about having his family over on Christmas Day for dinner. I LOVED the idea. No, I haven't lost my mind, it really does sound like fun to me. It just so happens this year that Paul's father, mother, brother, nieces and his uncle will all be able to make it! His family has been rather scattered across Washington and Alaska so this has never worked in the past, we are sooooo excited and it is such a blessing to him. 

The kids are rather irked that we are not on Christmas break from school. They *know* the school children out there are! I'd rather keep them busy this week and maaaybe take all of next week off.    

Paul and the kids taking a Sunday afternoon snooze.

Only one of these pranksters isn't pretending, can you guess who?

Washing the Cookies

Jessie was making chocolate chip cookies this afternoon and no matter how hard I watch, someone snitches cookies. Daddy walked into the kitchen nook(old dining room) and found Gracie peering so innocently, and closely, at the cookies. 

A cookie was soon accidentally flipped onto the table and she carefully bent down and started licking it.

It was at that time Daddy stepped into the kitchen, startling the poor culprit. He asked her "Gracie, what do you think you are doing?" and she matter-of-factly looked up at him and said "I'm washing the cookies for you Daddy!" No, my children don't lie.

Worth 4 min of your time...

We often listen to KWPZ in December because they play only Christmas music for the month. I am not a big music lover, but I loved this rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas. O.k., I was rolling, now the children turn it up, just for me, when it comes on. You MUST take 4 minutes and hear these guys, they are so talented. Paul and I were the only ones who *got* the ending of the song that involves the band Toto's Africa....odd's are, you will too ;)

I looked these guys up online and wouldn't mind picking up a couple of their CD's, and that is a rare for me. I think the last CD I bought was Andy Griffiths Hymns, lol, several years back. Hey, I love that old man, I own every one of his albums now. 

Shopping..

my worst enemy. I somehow wasn't given that womanly gene upon my conception that makes a woman enjoy crowds, spending money and trying on clothes.  Never have, never will. Tonight Paul and I spent three and a half hours of shopping in B-ham, the only enjoyable part(highly, I might add) is that my Beloved always took my hand as we walked around.  That was worth the crowds, the lack of good deals and the cold rain. He even took me to The Woods for my decaf latte toasted marshmallow, half the flavor...dreamy.

We did exceptionally well for our first of, usually, two nights out together. I spent the first part of the morning planning this years shopping to keep it economical and easy...it worked great. We had a hoot of a time playing with these new Nano Bug things? They are SO intriguing, so real, but we refrained from buying one. I want one in my stocking though! We came home to a clean house and the smell of popcorn in the air, what a blessing! That is a gift in itself to Daddy and Mamma! Thanks children! We will overlook the spat that took place because of that. ;)

On the baby front, tonight was the first night I was getting dressed up to go out and when I put on my favorite skirt there was this bump that I couldn't hide. I little bump, but a bump nonetheless, and I couldn't suck it in. I tried, but to no avail.. I went for my first appointment with my new midwife, Ann, this last Tuesday. I was really bummed when she couldn't find the heartbeat. At 12 weeks it should be easy to find, but I'll have to wait until Jan now. And no, I am not concerned, neither is my midwife, I still feel yucky and am obviously growing.  

Isn't it cute? I enter my second trimester later this week!  

Breakfast of Champions

About 15 minutes before our usual breakfast time, the power went out. Everyone whooped and hollered excitedly because this is some cause for rejoice in children, I have learned. They hauled out the oil lamps and candles even though the sun was just rising high enough to light the house. A un-named child flushed the toilet...twice...because Mommy said that the toilets do not work when the power is out. Fact is, we have about 5 gallons of pressurized well-water to the house before it fades out. So we were immediately out of water, too! 

Our wood stove had died down overnight as outdoor temps were warmer and the house was warm...so cooking on it was out of the question. The cupboards were bare & all I could come up with was this; tortilla chips, bananas and milk. Everyone was excited and didn't seem to mind the unique food served. I, however, grumbled that I missed my cooked eggs and cheese with hot coffee.

Thank goodness for Grandma and her offer to make lunch for all of us....I was even served my hot coffee...with irish cream. Thanks Mom. ;) 

It feels good..

...to own a camera again. I have two litters of puppies that have needed their pictures taken and sent all over Washington to sweet, but impatient, customers. One litter of ShihTzus and one litter of ShihPoos, my first with the new stud, Stetson. Stetson gave me exactly what I hoped after shopping pedigrees for months. Solid brown/apricot puppies. O.k., so I got a black one in there, but looks like she is already sold! I can now start saving up for my June birth and the 2011 school year's curriculum...and taxes. ;)
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 Aren't they precious? Born Nov 26.

Here is our new living room, complete with furniture and a napping Daddy(It is Sunday after all) We are all moved in downstairs! Upstairs  the girls are moved in and the dividing wall is being built, the boys will be in soon. The house has been very cold upstairs as our woodstove isn't handling the added floor space too well.

Here are the children all reading books together...eh-hem...alright, playing Wii. The one thing I said we'd NEVER own...thanks Grandpa. O.k., I admit, Paul and I get in serious Mario Cart races, but I am awfully good at placing those bananas so I end up winning!

Another blessed day at Silver Beach. Our sweet Pastor is on roll, again. Ever since we started the book of James, the teachings have captured the attention of  even the younger ones and the Lord has used them to sanctify us all throughout the week. Traveling to Bellingham gets tiring and costly, but we could never give up the unique body of Christ there and the solid teaching that cuts deeply at times, but just what we need to hear!!    

Enjoy your Lord's Day

Be Prepared

...for blog posts. Tomorrow I get a camera...yeah!

It was surprising to log into my blog and see that pregnancy ticker...the baby is 3" already?! When did that happen? I almost forgot I was pregnant, hokey pete. If it wasn't for the little bit of queasiness. ;) Skirts still fit as usual, nothing seems to be different. My first appointment is next Tuesday and I can't WAIT to hear that little beating heart, Lord willing! I have eight different pregnant friends I am praying for right now, what a blessing that is to have so many!! There became so many I had to write their names down on a sticky note and post them beside my bed, lol. 

I get emotional when I am pregnant and it does bother me as the tears come on over little things. It can be embarrassing as I think other people may think I am looking for attention when it is sooo the opposite! I was driving the van the other day and I simply looked in the rear-view mirror at my children who were joyfully singing Christmas songs, it sounded like a choir back there! I burst into tears and had to keep looking out my drivers side window as the thoughts of "These are the years I will always reminisce and never get back" Amidst the typical family struggles of dealing with laziness, complaining, arguing, there are many moments, like that one, that just make me so, so thankful for what the Lord has undeservedly given us.

Last week, our family attended Jon and Kelsie's wedding. Another beautiful courtship laid out for our children to watch, with the first kiss at the alter(and for you skeptics, I can assure you, it was a first kiss! :). In the slide show after the wedding was Kelsie wearing a couple of the jackets their family has passed onto my daughter that she now wears. As I was talking to the mother of the bride she pointed that out to me and said "My daughter was your daughters age just 6 short years ago."  It just goes to quickly, there is sooo much to teach and experience and do with her! Yikes, 6 short years. May the Lord help me use the time wisely for His glory.

We went to Jessica and Jacobs piano recital this afternoon and it was another one of those times I had to battle my emotions to remain kept-together. Jessica has gone from Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star to O Holy Night that sounded absolutely amAaazing. She has surpassed my piano skills just this year and I have to say I am a little jealous ;)  Jacob played Carol of the Bells, from memory, and his music is expressive and heart-felt, he often modifies his music. Daniel will have his violin recital next weekend, that will be a hoot, he and his fiddle are best of friends. I just started teaching Emma piano this week, and boy is she excited! It will be interesting to see how she does(as long as I keep up with teaching!) as she was my girl who could play songs by ear at the age of 4 and already sings harmony by ear with Jessica.

In closing ;), our Mamma's were right. This time goes so quickly. Time is too precious to spend pitying our sleepless nights, busying ourselves outside the home, fretting about all the daily duties that need attention, or falling for the worlds lie that our children need to participate in X or Y to be complete. May we keep our eyes on the only things that matter, that we love the Lord our God, love our husbands, love and teach our children, be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind and subject to our own husbands so that the word of God will not be dishonored...time is too short.