Life Happens

Okay so I know it has been awhile but as the title says LIFE HAPPENS! What a time! We have welcomed number five (yes I said five) into the family on Christmas Eve of all days:) Been replacing the engine in the suburban for the last seven weeks. Yes for those of you wondering have not gone anywhere while Brent is at work. Ready to pull my hair out! There have been some huge changes at work along with some other decisions we have had to make. Computers dying (don't ask). Being sick for three weeks and then the kids getting it. Ugh! I would complain but there is a country song playing right now reminding me that it "sounds like life to me". I have to remember that. I also am trying to remember James in that to, "Count it all joy my brothers when you encounter trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

I have to look at the small victories. For instance, I got out of bed this morning, fed the kids, and got them dressed. Even small achievements need to be acknowledged some days. That is what makes the big achievements even greater!

I do have to say I thank God for Dave Ramsey and for our church for running that class. We were able to get our emergency fund fully funded and when the engine died on the burban, money at least was not one of the stressors. I thank God we did not have to go into debt to swap out the engine:) Looking at our stressors right now though I would have to say that when you get out of one stressor you sure add another. Like school, it is so easy to stress over am I doing it right. The Lord had to show me that as long as I am being the example and putting Him first while teaching what He has guided us to teach then the rest is up to Him. Thank God He covers the gaps as needed.

My poor Daniel has eczema pretty bad and is sleeping a lot on the Benadryl the Dr put him on. Hopefully it will clear up and I don't have to slather him up like a greased pig much longer! Bekah has discovered mommies hot chocolate! What an adorable child, she is quiet and learning how to exert herself. Ari has become a true princess, just waiting for that Prince Charming to come along. David is a soldier today that likes to build. What a creative black and white child:)
Ania is sure coming into her own and growing by leaps and bounds. The conversations and questions that we have been having sometimes blow my mind! I think wait a minute you are only ten years old, you aren't supposed to be asking this or have knowledge of these things yet. She truly is becoming a godly young woman quickly and I hope that time goes by a little slower....

Heartaches and Joys

Okay so everyone knows that I love being mom. What a privilege to raise precious gifts for His glory and in the way they should go. And sometimes it can be hard to do that and yet on the other side of the obstacle they are more confident and one more step towards what He has in store for them.

With all that said my son went to camp yesterday all by himself. I was so proud of him and yet my heart was breaking. I know that he will come home with wonderful stories and new friends. Yet he is one more step toward manhood. Whew! Big breath!

He was so excited cause he got to do something without his big sister. At this point there isn't much that he does do alone. What a big word, alone. I think that for a seven year old that takes on a whole new meaning.

David at some point you will read this and remember. I am so proud of you and the man you are becoming. Stay true to Him and become the man that He wants you to be. Don't let anything or anyone stand in your or His way. I love you son.

Time..............................

You know it is funny. I look at pictures of friends that I have known for awhile and wonder what they are doing at that moment. How our lives change and life does go on even in those places that you think that life will stand still. I see changes in most but not in all and wonder........

There are points in time when I wish time would just stand still, especially those poignant moments with my kids. And yet I am thankful that I get to be a part of the next stage. We have so many babies in church right now and I look at Ari and how much she has changed in just a year. She is almost walking and this time last year I was sitting at Dawn's just praying she would come and planning how to move. Ania has crossed over into starting camp experiences. David isn't mommas little bud so much anymore. Funny isn't it?

Progressions

Ari has been making the adjustment to solid foods so well. I don't know why we spent so much money on jarred baby food the first couple times! She just eats from our plates and has some definite likes. Isn't this the cutest? We were having cantaloupe one night for dinner and she loved it. Her little lips would just stick out like a cartoons! The sounds she would make were so adorable.






Ania got to go to church camp this year. What an adjustment for
mommy as dad was still at work while she was gone. Ari decided
to help her pack! She got so into it that all Ania's clothes were on the floor and picked through.






This is Ania after camp! The greatest thing was a big hug and an I missed you mommy, but I had such a great time!

Summer Life

While Brent was available I said that I have to get this done. Of course it took me longer than I thought it would as I lost a safety pin inside somewheres. Ari loves it! It is taking me some getting used to and I wish I would have done it sooner. I can carry her on my front or back and she is close and happy. Best yet it only cost me a couple of bucks instead of the $45 that I have seen them for!

Brent and I decided that it was time for Ania to

start helping even more with food prep. She did great with

this chef's knife!

David loves playing with Kiska. Poor dog! She has been doing great with all three of the kids. She just kind of ignores baby still, but she is getting better!

Ania loves to scratch Kiska's tummy! The feeling is mutual. I thought this was great. She enjoyed it so much that she completely relaxed.

Brent thought this was the cutest thing! She crawled around the house with this in her mouth and a big smile around it!

Ari is still enjoying the feel and texture of whatever she puts in her mouth!

Daddy is trying to teach her how to walk?!? Go figure! After he complains about her being able to get up and move.

She sure loves her daddy!

We went to another open house for the fire department. This time the kids were able to go for a fire engine ride around the block, which was even better than the last time!

Ugh!

Have I mentioned before that I absolutely hate being sick! The flu is in full force nationwide and since we don't ever really go anywhere, where on earth could I have got it? At least it was only a 24 hr bug. Thank God for Brent as he handled everything while I moaned in bed.

We have had at least two inches of snow in the last couple of days. It is so beautiful seeing it fall. We sat on the couch the other night after the sun went down and just watched it fall. It was neat listening to the kids talk about it.

We went sledding with friends from church on Saturday. We went on base to the ski lodge they have and enjoyed watching both the kids fly down the hill. The first time David went down we couldn't tell if he was laughing or crying. Ania kept going and tried going off the jump that had just been made. David convinced daddy to go down a couple of times to which Brent replied that his butt is too big for the sled. I went down with Ari one time in the inner tube and not only gave myself a heart attack but Brent too. Ari was quiet the whole way down. Never again! We almost went over the hill at the bottom that is there to stop you.

Mayhem and McDd's

We went into town today and spent the whole time in town. Ugh! Neither one of us likes going to town much at all so when it is grocery shopping time it is fun. I do enjoy the task of working in a budget and creating fun and healthy meals for us, but I sure don't enjoy the drunks hanging out in front of the store or having to fight your way through the aisles.

So we got that done and because it was so late and the kids hadn't been able to play all day we went to McD's. The dreaded place that is so loud and out of control. Won't be doing that again for a while. The kids are just crabby when we leave and so am I from having to listen to the screaming and banging around. They just put in games on computer type screens for the kids which I am not fond of at all. When I do take the kids there I want them to run around and play on the structures. Because it is so cold during the winter there isn't any way for them to do that outside. I will most likely take them to a different one when we go from now on. Besides I don't like eating out anyway..........

Mom Time

You know there is a time when you just need to have adult time. Tonight was that night. I have craft night at my house right now available to the ladies at church to have a place to work on a project and chat together while the guys are at prayer meeting. Brent stayed home tonight and watched the kids while one of the ladies and I enjoyed hanging out. Didn't realize that I needed that so much. Thank goodness for an understanding husband and a blessing of a big house.

Thrilled Beyond Belief

MY DISHWASHER IS WORKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to Brent and Todd it got into the repair shop and they called a couple of hours later letting us know it was done. The great thing is even though it is ancient they are still being made and we will be able to get replacement parts for it for a long time. After living in the Arctic with no dishwasher and no room to wash dishes I was so thrilled that we had a dishwasher in our new home. When it died I cried. The freedom of not having to stand at the sink and do dishes. What a blessing and it was a relatively cheap fix, thank God!

Pride and Predjudice

Okay so I have been on a Jane Austen kick lately. I can't get enough of her books or the movies that have been made from them. A friend from church lent me her copies on DVD of the BBC versions of her books and I must say that while the English people in them are not the most attractive I certainly enjoy their ability to act. I love Pride and Predjudice with Kiera Knightly and have watched it at least 50 times since we left Barrow. Now that doesn't include the times in Barrow:) I am currently awaiting the movie Becoming Jane, which stars Anne Hathaway, who is one of my favorite actresses. The author Debra White Smith has rewritten her books with a Christian theme in them and set in modern times. The english is a little easier to follow but it is still just as exciting. I love to sit in bed at night when Ari won't sleep and watch them while either wearing her out or working on one of my numerous projects. Wintertime is one of the perfect times to finish those projects that just never seem to get done.

Motivation

So I woke up this morning late. Couldn't believe what time it was and that Ari had slept through the night. She has done this quite a bit, but the last few nights she has been teething. So I haven't been sleeping much. Plus I stayed up late watching a movie cause she went down late. Still kind of groggy!

Went to kids club last night and got to learn a new card game. Was it fun! I am so looking forward to the cribbage tournament on Valentine's. David squashed his finger in the door and cried about that for awhile last night. Poor little guy he was tired. I am so thankful for Mark, Sandy, and Janine.

I need to get some cleaning and straightening up done, but I just don't have the motivation right now. I am looking forward to the next few weeks cause hopefully I will be able to take time to get things put in their proper place and only have to do a little here and there after that. We have been moving some things around and putting them on new pieces of furniture as they arrive so things are still kind of chaotic. Although I have been looking at the garage and have some ideas of how I want it organized, but this does depend on what Brent says(after all it is his garage;)

So I think I am going to just enjoy my mocha and quilt that quilt!

Another Nasty Moment

Yet another nasty moment in the life as a mother! I am sitting at the computer holding Ari. She is now happy and smiling because she had pooed in her diaper moments before. Well, I went to get up and low and behold the computer chair has now been christened along with the carpet in the room. I thought the yellow on green was a bad contrast; well, it can't beat the yellow on mauve!

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

So while I was pinning my quilt for our peak window today, my two older children decided to find something destructive(I meant constructive) to do. Somewhere along the line one of them decided to make a pizza for baby with rice........
I know that it is great for tactile learning and things but we had a huge mess! I leave a pie plate of it out for David to play in and it has slowly dwindled. Ari sure enjoyed it by the size of this smile!
TROUBLE! I am in so much! Put the three of them together and I can sure wait until she is walking cause I have a feeling that there is going to be many more of these fun times;)

Adult Conversation

So we went to church last night for Kids Club. I have finally come to the conclusion that it is not for the kids that I go it is for me! I enjoy the adult interaction so much. I have truly enjoyed our church here more because Brent's job is not at the forefront of everyone's mind. It's tough when that is how most people see you. Thankfully with this rotational position I don't have to think about it. What a relief!

Janine looked at Ari's ear last night and said it is a little pink. She gave me some suggestions and am trying them now. I am hoping that it will drain quickly and not become a full blown ear infection. She seems happier this morning. She hasn't been waking up the cheerful little baby that I know and love since her cold. She is all talk and bright eyes this morning though.

Woke up in the middle of the night to my two older children in my bed! Talk about a surprise! Ania has been very good about getting up on her own and going to bed, but I had to carry David. Thank goodness he is still small enough for me to carry short distances. I love to cuddle with them but my bed is my bed. I like having room to move and stretch. Sure wish we had gone with the king size bed, but that is okay I like cuddling with Brent too.

I did my grocery shopping on Thursday and found the most darling little pink coat with a hood for Ari next winter. This is one of the biggest things that I missed about living in Barrow. There are no outlet stores or huge clearance sales, except for what AC is trying to clear out. Thank God for Fred Meyer and their 50%off already clearance priced items. Granted I can't do much of that right now but when an opportunity presents itself and I have the money and can work it into the grocery budget.........

Brent and I were talking and it is weird how God intertwines when people come in and out of our lives. We heard from a old friend from high school the other day. Haven't talked to her in years. It is interesting to see how their lives have changed and how God has been working in them. To see and compare the things we have all gone through and glean from each others experiences. What a treasure!

My Youngins

I love being mom so much! When I think back to how hard of a shift it was for me to go from full time college/working student to full time worker/mom to full time mom I cringe. I did not make life easy for my wonderful husband and my children. I didn't know what to do with myself and all this time. Now as a mom I don't have extra time for all the things that I thought moms had time for. What a lifestyle change! Not even touching the mind change. My kids constantly amaze me. With all the changes we have had in the last year they are still my good kids. Thank you Lord for such wonderful blessings. It is true that as the Bible says children are a blessing from the Lord. It is really to bad that in today's society they are considered an inconvenience. Where would we be without kids?

Anyway, these are some pics of my blessings.