Five or fifteen?

My Jacob is the handiest fellow to have around.  He brings me flowers.  He folds washcloths and rags.  He will do anything that requires the use of a screwdriver, like replacing the batteries in all the toys, or taking apart a crib.  He loves to use the hand tool on the vacuum cleaner.  He decided to help me the other day when I was busy packing so he hand-washed some dishes.  He keeps a great eye out for his younger brothers and is especially helpful with Camden.  Yesterday he did doodle duty all on his own (cleaning up after Daisy), and today when I couldn't figure out how to open up the CD rom on our new computer, I called Jacob, who had it open in about 5 seconds.  Is this kid five or fifteen?  I LOVE having him in our family.

Side bonus:  his hair looks really cool after playing in the lake all day.  I've since given him a haircut.  Pictured here with his "sweet princess Ellie". 

Here we go again

Round five.  And overall each one seems to be more of a challenge.  Ready or not, the toddler stage has begun. 

It's a growing race...

June 2010

August 2009

and it looks like the pine tree will win.  Yea!

Locks of Love

This is a happy girl named Hannah.  Hannah was known by her loooong blonde hair.  She would wear lots of pony tails and she would wrap it up in a tight bun every night to make her hair curly for the next day.  Hannah loved her long hair.  Her head is feeling a little lighter these days.  

Her mom cut off a 10 1/2 inch pony tail.  Some day soon it will be a hairpiece for a child that has lost hair due to medical reasons.  We think Hannah did a great thing -- she shared something that was very special to her to help someone in need.  We love our beautiful girl!

For the love of gardening

Every season of the year is a favorite for me as there is something different to love and appreciate.  

Summer is fantastic!  This summer I have tried to spend lots of time in the garden per inspiration.  Some of the perks:

•  Our garden looks pretty nice - staying on top of the weeding is always a good thing
•   It is therapeutic and helps us be happy
•   Many great discussions with my kids
•   Life observations have been made
•   Instilling a good work ethic (for all of us)
•   It wears the kids out so that they can entertain themselves more quietly mid-day
•   Less time for arguing since we're too busy working :)
•   We get to eat yummy produce - there is nothing like getting a fresh bowl of sugar snap peas from the garden every day
•   Last & probably least - I've got a bit of a tan!

Callie loves to weed.  She consistently works longer & above expectations.

Hannah likes to go for the BIG weeds, but now we've worked so hard there are mostly small ones left. 

Not to be outdone, this is the path that Tyler built, rocks courtesy of our own soil.  

We've decided that our garden is now presentable.  It's time to take it to the next level.  We are aiming for thriving and beautiful.

Happiness is...

working together in the kitchen.

40 # of blueberries
6 # consumed
4 great helpers
45 minutes
= 16 frozen quarts to enjoy over the next year
(+ a few quarts of frozen bananas courtesy of our great banana peeler, Drew -- yes he was asked to do it)