~Shady Bayou Academy~ -A Homeschool In Louisiana-

~~~Christmas 2011~~~

2012-01-24T20:10:00.000-08:00

Christmas with a baby makes for some of the best memories ever. :)

I also enjoy watching those big boys enjoy another sweet Christmas with us.

Noey pretty much wanted to sit on all of the boxes.

Such happy darling smiles.

A blueberry breakfast cake for breakfast.

Snap Circuit fun.

It is the best toy ever.

Red Velvet Cake.

Playing with new treasures.

Time with Daddy is always the best time.

New art supplies.

We even made time for puppy snuggles. :)

I love this time set aside to think of my Savior and to find joy with my family. Just a time to play and enjoy each other. I know how precious this time is, I really do. One day I will be visited and not lived with. I tend to go a little overboard with Christmas. I leave my house a mess for weeks after. We just play and love each other. :)

Christmas Eve

2012-01-16T21:02:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve seemed to rush upon me so quickly this year. I remember feeling so sad that I didn't have more time before the "big" day. I wish Christmas time was so much longer. I love all of it. I enjoy gifting. I like baking with my big boys and now my wee boy. Nothing is better than a hot coffee while snug in the jeep with my men, the heater on, and driving around looking at lights. Christmas music...I am one of those that could listen to Bing Crosby all year long.

We always give our boys Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve. I did a little "hip-hip-hooray" with Noey before I handed him his present. The big boys helped to excite him over that gift, too.

I love that he hugged his jammies. He loved his present. :)

Noey set a cookie out for Santa. Well, first he tried to dip it and eat it. Silly baby.

Remy set out carrots for the reindeer.

Elijah poured the milk. :)

All ready for Santa!

All clean and jammied!

After the boys were in bed I finished up the red velvet cake.

Matthew and I wrapped presents. I love how the baby toys are so big and make the tree look so full. I had missed that. :)

Santa even stopped by. ;)

I always find is so hard to sleep when I finally get to bed. :)

Christmas Baking With My Boys

2012-01-15T19:57:00.000-08:00

Noey LOVES to help me bake. Can you tell?

He also loves a vegan cookie dough because he can do this.

The big boys helped to roll the snickerdoodles in the cinnamon and sugar.

We broke away from our traditional Cowboy Cookie for Santa and we made him Mint Chocolate Chip cookies this year. He approved.

Christmas Crafts With My Boys

2012-01-15T19:44:00.000-08:00

Elijah:

I was shocked when he brought this to me. He made the tiniest origami cranes and put them in a plastic ball. He said he used a skewer to open the cranes back up once they were inside. I love all the ornaments he made from the things he asked me to buy for him one day at the craft store.

Remy:

Noey:

Our Mess:

We had other things we were working on, but I put them away to be finished up next year. There is never enough time in one day!

Ornaments

2012-01-15T13:03:00.000-08:00

I made the sweetest little Christmas pudding ornament this year. I ended up gifting it to my dear friend Sherri. I love Christmas pudding decorations, they just make me happy.

You can find the pattern for your own at Planet June. It worked up quickly. I made mine while we watched Home Alone. :)

I also tried my hand at a felt ornament I just had to have on my tree.

I could not get a good photo of it.

For the wonderful free instructions go to Zakka Life.

Hawk Attack!

2012-01-15T11:59:00.000-08:00

Before Christmas my little puglet puppy was almost carried away by a HAWK! Elijah was walking her outside, not on a leash, but in our fenced backyard. He turned for just a moment and the hawk took that moment to swoop down and attempt to take her for its meal. Eli was right there and heard the squealing. He thought the puppy was behind him because she always stays right by our feet. He thought the hawk was hurt. He stomped and screamed at it to see if that would scare it off. He thought the yelping was the hawk, maybe it was hurt. He startled the bird at just the right moment because it released its hold on the pups head and flew off. Elijah said its wings never folded up...he was ready for flight. The puppy fought back and with Elijah right there he didn't have a chance to carry it off. It was so close to the pups eye and almost took her eye! We rushed her to the vet where we were told that this happens ALOT. This is not a tale that has been passed down. One of the vet techs neighbors had their yorkie pup taken off by a hawk. Another one saw their pup taken and eaten by an owl. The bigger the dog is they will fly up and drop them to the ground to kill them and then rip them apart to take back to the nest. Conservationists can say whatever they want, but just the two vets we spoke to and friends and family members, shows that this is a regular thing with hawks.

I have heard so many accounts of it by now that I can't believe this isn't common knowledge. Always walk your pets on a leash, always. The vet also said that most "lost" pups that were let out to walk and you can't find them or find how they got out of a "safe" spot in the yard, chances are they could have been taken by a hawk. Please walk your little ones. If Eli had not been there she would be gone.

You can see how the pups head was in the hawks talons here.

This is the eye that was almost taken...just one more smidgen of that one talon.

Pass it on!

Christmas Antiquing With Grammy and Grampy :-)

2012-01-14T21:12:00.000-08:00

The night before our full day antiquing with Matt's parents Noey decided to wake-up crying all-night-long. While we were dressing and exhausted he was resting up on the couch. Typical Noey fashion.

Me and my baby bear after a full day of shopping with Grammy. :)

The boys with Matt's beautiful parents.

It was so Christmasy. :)

My little goof balls.

Oh, Remy....

My favorite find, a new OLD ornament for my tree.

Christmas Lights

2012-01-09T20:39:00.000-08:00

I love driving around looking at Christmas lights with my men. Noey slept through the whole thing. He hadn't napped all day. After his visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus Noey held onto the puppy they gave him. He still takes it to bed with him every night. He is so sweet. :) I was tickled that it meant so much to him. He even sat in their laps without crying! He is the baby that doesn't want anyone to hold him. I was so proud.

My favorite lights were this tree because it reminded me of Saint Anne's, a church where I grew up. They would decorate every tree around the church like that tree. It was a big deal and we always went and had cookies and hot chocolate. It was a tradition in our home to go there for the lights.

My other men...

Remy can never just give me a sweet smile.

Anytime with this fellow is the best time EVER!

Baby School

2012-01-09T20:16:00.000-08:00

Our sweet Little Boy Bleu is learning to do so much. It always blows my mind that babies come into the world and in a matter of months they are taking on so much of that world.

He really liked doing one of those paint with water papers. It had his favorite food on it...a banana. :)

I was showing him how to pour water from one cup to another. He decided he needed a drink first.

He did decide to get to work finally. I had to put more water in the cup.

I love this shot!

On another blog the mom told of these great piggy banks from Dollar Tree. :) I went and got Noey Boos a blue one, of course. :)

Christmas Tree Time!

2011-12-25T19:14:00.000-08:00

I was so excited when it was finally time to go and buy our tree. It always make it seem so festive. I love the way my living room looks with a tree. Matthew made the remark that a tree just makes our living area. I so agree. I never want them down.

Noey found the trees he wanted. I told him for his room maybe one day. ;)

Remember how obsessed he is with sweeping with my broom? He is my pretender.

My sweet middle boy.

Elijah and I found the ONE!

Noey was a bit thoughtful about nature on top of the car.

He decided to sit on daddy and hand him tools while he set the tree in the base.

The lights are on and he loves them.

This is Noey's ornament this year.

Time to add the ornaments.

Hims is so sweet. :)

Noey was so sad when we didn't have more things to put on the tree.

He was soon okay because he just spent the next week taking them off and putting them back on. Hee hee...

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T15:22:00.000-08:00

From the Elfin' Lundell family. Hee hee...

Also, from the "normal" Lundell family. :)

I hope you all have some Christmas Blessings and joy during this season. I also pray for those that are having a sad or hard Christmas for various reasons.

Puppy Fortress

2011-12-23T15:14:00.000-08:00

These blocks belonged to the big boys and they have been passed on to Noey Boos. He loves to play with them and the big boys play with them at the same time. ;) Don't you love toys like that?

What should little boys build with big blocks? A puppy fortress. ;)

"Mommy, save me!"

Poor puppy, she is so loved.

Chocolate Advent Calendar

2011-12-18T20:39:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to have three of these going this year. I couldn't wait to share in this with Noah for the first time. He has absolutely loved it. Every night before bed he goes and points to the mantel for his chocolate. :)

He doesn't even stop long enough to see what the shape is. It is popped directly into his mouth at high speed. :)

The big boys still enjoy them. I love how it makes the wait seem shorter for them. It just makes it goes way too fast for me. I could live the month of Christmas forever. I love it so much.

A Miniature Oil Slick ~ An Eli Experiment

2011-12-18T20:17:00.000-08:00

What you will need:

He poured 2 cups of water into the bowl.

He tinted it blue with a few drops of color.

After it was colored the way he wanted it he poured in 1/4 cup of vegetable oil.

He noticed that the water and the oil did not mix and that it started to form back together into one "bubble" of oil. He read that this is what they call an oil slick. We talked about the thick yucky oils that had collected in our oceans recently from the BP accident.

It was then time to clean up this oil slick sitting on the top of his water. He put in 1 teaspoon of soap and stirred. It started to break up and it was so pretty and sparkly. He was so excited about it, too.

The oil was broken into smaller pieces. I brought up the news footage we had watched when the BP thing had happened and the soaps and solvents they had used to clean up some of that.

Then they just had fun blowing on it and seeing the "clean water" beneath the soap and oil mixture. :)

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-12-12T12:42:00.000-08:00

I wanted to make something different than our Tofu Turkey this year. Remy wouldn't hear of it. I told the boys they would need to help make it if they wanted it. They had fun making it and seeing how it goes together.

Crumble all the tofu up and season it. Check!

Have lots of fun with the cheesecloth. Check!

Layer the cloth, pour in the tofu. Check!

Push in another bowl to form it. Check!

Add some weight. Check!

Refrigerate over night. Check!

Fill with Stuffing and place in the pan. Check!

Remy made a cheese plate.

The table all set.

YUMMY!

It was such a cozy day. :)

Noey's Acorn Hat

2011-12-12T12:30:00.000-08:00

I so love this little hat. :) He wears it as much as possible. I really enjoyed making this one.

If you want to make it you can find the pattern here:

Moments with my Boys

2011-12-12T12:18:00.000-08:00

Lots of time was spent this fall loving on a new family member.

Remy and Dakota were back to loving on each other. They are such "love birds".

We baked Rosemary french bread for our supper.

Remy and Eli passed down an old abandoned toy to Noey. He loves it. :)

Eli sneaks off with his tablet whenever he has the chance. I do believe this is when I caught him on Spelling City studying his words for the week on his own. :)

We made thumbprint cookies.

More bread...rolls this time.

More puppy time. See her there in his lap as he works? I so adore puppy school.

Lots of sweetness...

Fall Art

2011-12-12T12:04:00.000-08:00

I have a few more things to share from our fall. I am sure you will not mind. :)

Eli's work:

He played with color.

Made leaf rubbings.

He really enjoyed layering watercolors and learning to lighten or darken places with this little turkey.

He made a handful of very pretty leaves. Smudging is one of his favorite techniques.

He made another cornucopia this year, too. They get better each time he does them.

Remy's work:

They worked together on these little owl kits.

Remy's lanterns. He loved it so much that he went and made another one without the art lesson print-out.

We had so much fun with our artistic pursuits in our favorite season. :) We even had a little Indian visitor. :)

I remember making those vests in my own elementary class one fall. :)

My busy Baby Noey

2011-12-03T22:41:00.000-08:00

Keeping Noey busy and happy during the day when we have school is always a juggle. He needs more to to as the days fly by. He really loves to do his own school. He cries if he isn't at the table with us. He must feel involved. :)

One of his newest things is sweeping. You better believe I am tired of sharing my broom. He knocks big boys in the head with the handle and knocks things down. He has his own Noey sized broom and dustpan waiting for him on Christmas day. :) I can't wait to give it to hims.

He has also started to want to sit on the couch. Once a day after his nap he likes for me to sit him there, cover hims up, put a book in his lap, and turn on his Praise Baby DVD. He will almost sit for the entire show. He goes between his book and the movie all the while drinking his milk or juice.

Matthew made this game for him. We got the idea from the Mailbox magazine. He really likes to "feed" the squirrel "acorns".

Playdoh. Yes, it is a hit! :)

He asked for it another day when he saw it on the table. :)

I introduced these screw and bolts. He couldn't keep up the twisting action so I put these away again. I will try in a few more weeks.

Stamping was fun. Although, I came back from the dishes and he had Elmo on his whole mouth. ;)

Now this is his ultimate favorite right now. He will squeeze and squeeze these out and re-wet them. :)

Here he switched his Easter Eggs from bucket to bucket.

He decided on this day to not jingle his bells, but to stack them. hee hee

He is an old pro at this one now. He sees it and gets so excited because he KNOWS what to do and what to expect.

He spent quite a long time spooning the rice from one bowl to the next.

For this activity he decided to bring his raisins to snack on. :) You can see the little box with him.

I was surprised that he could work so patiently to get the stars off the sheet of stickers and place them on the paper. Sometimes the whole star stuck on his finger and he needed help.

I find alot of joy in teaching him and watching him learn. I really feel as if I was gifted something precious to be able to do this all over again. I so love him. He is so sweet and yummy.

Eli's Zebra Cake

2011-12-03T12:00:00.000-08:00

When the call came in for a zebra cake all girled up with pink daisy flowers Eli was really excited. He told me that he always wanted to "do" a zebra cake.

He went right to work on his pink flowers.

He then told me he needed more boy themed cakes so he wouldn't always have pink or purple hands. HA HA HA!

With the cake being smaller I told him I didn't know where he could put the name Anna Belle and her age on the cake. There was just so much going on. While he worked I went on the hunt online for what to do. Thanks to one of our favorite youtube cake decorators I found the solution, a name plate. I set off to start it and Eli made the stripes. He then placed the stripes on the white gumpaste and rolled them in. He went back to flowers and I cut a rectangle out. It was set to dry for the end.

He also had me make his white fondant and I put it on. He just can't get the fondant picked up and placed on it by himself. Well, neither can I, we do it as a team, really. It makes me so stressed out.

He set to making the stripes for the cake. Those dark colors like black are a mess.

He got to work and I watched for a bit and then walked off to tend to Noah.

I came back to this.

Looking like a Zebra cake. :)

I then came back and placed my nifty name plate and piped the name. My contribution. Ha ha ha ha!

Then we laid flowers here and there, moved them here and there, took them off, put them there, and then we were happy and he started to "glue" them down.

Finishing touches...

...and voila!

I think this is one of the prettiest cakes yet.

Happy Birthday Anna Belle! :) Anna Belle's mother ended up going to get one of the pug puppies that we got Phoebe from. Ya think she had a great day? I do!

Beads

2011-12-02T23:02:00.000-08:00

Noah had a hard time stringing beads on the laces so I tried pipe cleaners instead. He got two on all on his own. :)

Noey's Blue and Chocolate House Boots

2011-12-02T22:52:00.000-08:00

Aren't these the cutest? I put them on him when we are around the house and he needs something to keep his feet from getting icy.

He loves them and if one comes off or he sees them he wants them on or for me to put them back on. :) He really gets that I made them just for him. :) He watched me work them up and when I finished and put them on his feet he was all smiles.

If you would like to make this you can find the pattern in this book.

Cooking With Noey

2011-12-02T22:14:00.000-08:00

Gather all of your toys, put them in mommy's bowl from the cabinets, and stir to your heart's content.

Really get into by getting up close and personal.

If you need a stove just use the chair Nanna gave you when she visited. :)

My Mom's Bus Scarf

2011-12-01T23:07:00.000-08:00

My mom is to start her classes to certify to drive a bus as soon as possible. I thought this would make a cute birthday gift. :) It was so cute that I didn't want to mail it to her. :)

If you would like to make your own:
http://crochetme.com/media/p/89932.aspx

In Which Noey Boos Helps to Make His First Chocolate Chip Cookies...

2011-11-29T22:23:00.000-08:00

I have wanted to make cookies with Noey for a while now. I finally had the bigger boys busy and the daddy home to snap photos for us to remember. I sat him up on the counter and we started the making of his sweets with a little sugar. ;)

He was very happy to taste EVERYTHING! I mean everything!

We needed to add a little of that sweet sugar he gave me to begin with in the mixing bowl.

He thought a little belonged on himself.

He really liked the wisk.

A little of the flour was sprinkled on him for good measure. How cute is that fat little baby foot all floured up?

He then decided his hands would do a much better job over his wisk.

Yay, Noey!

Now for the yummy chocolate.

I popped them in the oven and soon it was time to taste his first homemade cookies. :) Getting older is worth it I guess. Sigh.

I so enjoyed that time with him. :) He will now beg and cry to help me at the counter when I cook.

Who Says a Mom Can't Pass on Her Gifts to Her Sons?

2011-11-29T14:14:00.000-08:00

I love sitting with other homeschool mothers and observing our children. It is so neat to see the talents all these moms share with not only daughters, but sons. I used to ache for a daughter, but God has really brought me full circle. I can now see that I was the mother to these men for a reason. My unique gifts were meant for them, not the daughters I may someday hold in my arms. I truly feel I wasn't gifted a daughter because I needed sons. I also feel that they needed me. They need my talents, my thoughts, and my moments in life. Our children are given to us as special on-purpose gifts. He hand picks and creates the child within us. We are meant for each other.

I know many of the moms in my life who don't get that it is okay for my boys to sew, crochet, or cook with joy. But they have been fed the lie. The lie is that you can only share your womanly arts and gifts with your daughters. Somehow in America most have decided that boys are to be MEN at all times. The funny thing is that most of the things women do well were started by men, invented by men, really.

I like that my boys can be boys. I do! I love filthy messes all over them from a day out at play. I love the creatures Remy finds. I love the movies they are drawn to because they are men. Men crave manly things. But I also find such joy in sharing who I am with them. Teaching them how to do the things I know how to do well. Because of it they tell me how great I am. I even have boys who are interested in the things I love. It isn't a one sided relationship. Through these men I have grown to love nature. I have been invited into the secret world of men just as much as they have been invited into the world of women by me. :) I know it will all serve them well.

Elijah stitched up his first garment this October. He loves Zelda. Making his own Link costume was so much fun for him. Parts of it he did, parts I did, but we worked together. He can now read a pattern and understands it isn't magic that makes a garment, just hands, and time.

I had to laugh because he figured out quickly that sewing is much easier than knitting or crochet.

What can be more fun for a boy than to know he made most of this?

See how a little boy can learn something that is considered girly and use it to be so boyish? :)

Fall Crocheted Candle Cover

2011-11-28T19:34:00.000-08:00

I made up two of these on my mantle this fall. I so loved them. I think I need some wintery ones now. :)

If you would like to make this, here you go:

http://www.naturenutnotes.com/2011/01/crochet-votive-tutorial.html

Tucker and His Alligator Scarf

2011-11-28T19:21:00.000-08:00

Yes, the little Tucker man is now 3! Three years since he made me rethink everything in my life. Three years of growth that I know will make me a much better midwife when I finally obtain my license ONE OF THESE DAYS.

I decided to crochet this up for him when I saw it. :)

When I put it on him he asked me if he would bite! Hee hee...

If you want to make it, here ya go:

http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/crocheted-alligator-scarf

Noey's Turkey Wash Cloth

2011-11-28T19:14:00.000-08:00

I knitted up my second washcloth for Noey Boos. I couldn't get a great angle for the camera. I hope you can see it.

Want the pattern? Go here:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/knitted-turkey-cloth

Noey's First Blue Shoes!

2011-11-28T15:54:00.000-08:00

A little background for you. I never buy shoes for the boys until they are walking. I didn't even allow the last two boys to wear shoes until they were walking well. I allow slippers and mostly socks. I have a grand time with finding the cutest socks out there. It was time in September to buy little Noah his first pair. We took him to the local boutique and he helped to pick out his first pair. He really didn't know what to think about it all. After we purchased them we snapped a few photos of him holding his bag. Notice the biggest brother taking a photo to the right with his phone for his facebook? He is just as nuts about that baby as we are. :)

He had to get them back out of the bag.

It was just the box because he had his shoes on. Hee hee...

He is ready to go now!

You can go anywhere in a pair of blue shoes.

You can go high.

You can find treasure.

You can most certainly take a nice stroll.

If you are really lucky you can even find dinosaurs to ride.

The whole backyard opens up to you when you have such nice shoes to get you around.

They will even take you to the zoo.

The only thing is this, they sort of give one a wee bit of an attitude and confidence.

Now, don't you think this is going a little too far? Do new blue shoes for a one year old really give this much free reign? Oh these babies thinking they are grown.

Eli's Flower Exhibit

2011-11-22T23:15:00.000-08:00

Remember that walk we took to collect flowers? Well, this is what Elijah did with them.

Remy helped Eli find the little world in the goldenrod. They also used the microscope to look.

Eli hung up his goldenrod to dry after he was done.

He had so much fun doing this. I love seeing them smile when they are in full fun learning mode. :)

Remy's Leaves

2011-11-18T22:38:00.000-08:00

Remy really enjoyed this little art project.

It had been a long time since he had used the colored chalks. He always loves anything he can do messy. Rubbing that chalk back and forth to make a messy pattern was his thing.

The messy hands were a plus, too.

It is always so nice to finish something so pretty.

The best part is when I can put them on the fridge. :) I love covering it in the work they do.

While Elijah was learning about China I found this on a piece of paper. I guess Remy was listening in? :)

Moments With Two of My Boys...

2011-11-18T22:28:00.000-08:00

I love the books I find Eli with.

Noey loves his dinosaurs.

He is our big singer. He sits in the back and sings with his big brothers. :) It tickles us. Hee hee...

The big brothers build him great big towers to knock over.

They are also teaching him to jump.

My mother handed this down to him and he sits in it and watches his shows. He must have a sippy in his little "theater".

It is so fun to watch them day in and day out.

I Learned to Knit!

2011-11-18T22:10:00.000-08:00

I have always wanted to knit. I actually learned to crochet because it was to me the easier of the two. Thanks to my sweet young friend Hannah I knitted up this washcloth for my Noey for Trick or Treat time. I had the hardest time casting on. After she showed me that and how to knit I was on my way.

I found the pattern here:
http://www.blackrayne.com/pages/batty.html

I am working on his turkey one now. :)

Looking for Flowers...and Creatures

2011-11-16T21:30:00.000-08:00

Elijah needed to make a fall flower museum for science so we took a walk and found some.

He found so many for his project.

Remy wasn't looking for flowers but he was on the lookout for little creatures.

He chased this guy for a while. Seems he was too quick for the Remmit.

Finally Eli hit the jackpot! This is the flower he was really wanting to find. He wanted to see how many insects he could find on it. In his book it showed a city. He was not disappointed. He took this home and looked at small aphids and beetles under the microscope. There were even little spiders. I am so glad we remembered to do this. The project came up when Golden Rod was not in bloom. I made a note of it to get to later.

Noey loves to go for a stroll with us.

Remy caught something!

It was so sweet to watch Eli gather his flowers. He so enjoyed this outing with a purpose.

He had made a ring out of a dollar. He stopped me and told me how perfect the fold was because you could see these words:

Noey didn't make it the whole time. He slept all the way back to the house and then finished his nap in the stroller in the dark kitchen.

Remy informed me that the squirrels at our house would need this for their winter nests. We took the moss home, of course.

Eli decided to help Remy with his creature hunt for a while.

More flowers!

My sweetheart son. I pray he always takes the time to enjoy the simple things.

Remy was all about the bugs that day. I could hardly make it back home! :)

Such a fun walk with my three sons.

A Picnic With Daddy

2011-11-16T21:09:00.000-08:00

We must sometimes find unique ways to spend quality time with our Daddy person. We never know what he will work until the morning and we never know when he will be done until he is done. If he will have a late job we try to find something around the house to do. This day Matthew made a simple picnic of sandwiches and apple slices. While the fare was simple, the company was divine. ;)

I love how he made Noey up his own little homemade uncrustable. :) He is the best daddy, afterall.

It looks as if it agreed with him.

Eli, my paper folder, was hard at work with a blade of grass.

Well, how about that, a ring! What a nifty boy you are, sweet Eli.

I am so happy I caught this short moment in time, a stolen moment really.

See how sleepy the baby is after lunch?

The Daddy Turned 35!

2011-11-16T10:05:00.000-08:00

Elijah and I quickly put together a cake for Matt's birthday yesterday. He loves pie. Chocolate pie. We decided to make a pie cake. It was chocolate of course and topped with a big fondant cherry. :)

This is some of Mattmos 35th through his eyes. :)

We spent some time outside playing with the puppy who now has a name. :) Phoebe! She is such a doll baby.

She loves Noey and runs after him wherever he goes. :)

Noah found the little flower buds on my tree. It blooms as soon as it is very Brrrrr each year.

Running through leaves makes you feel so free!

Even puplets like it.

Throwing leaves is also a blast.

Sweet puppy kisses...

Oh I love this new sweet baby.

Be easy as you pat the puppy, Noey.

Little Boy Bleu with a nice blue ball.

Singing a song as he plays. I so love the way he does his lips like that when he sings.

Weenie puppies checking out all the spots the new puppy has been. They are a little crazed with the new addition.

Now, where have they put my new puppy?

Pretending and exploring.

What should I do with this stick?

Become WARRIOR BABY, that's what!

We could only find two candles. I think he liked it better than all 35.

Make a wish, Daddy.

Now eat up your cake.

The puppy is sleeping...

...through all of the gaming.

Such fun was had by all.

Happy birthday, Daddy person, we love you.

Look at What Daddy Had Hidden in his Coat Last Night!

2011-11-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

Elijah had just finished his recent cake order and I was getting us all ready for a very late bedtime because of it. In walks Daddy with a wiggly something in his coat. We all went crazy with squeals! :)

Noey thinks the puppy is all his! He has this delight in his eyes that we just can't capture on camera yet. He is besides himself with puppy joy!

He loves her ears.

Hugging babies!

He keeps telling me to nurse the puppy...no joke. He will make the puppy sign and then the baa baa milkie sign. Isn't he sweet to want to share that with his new puppy?

Such a cuddle baby.

Lots of nose kisses.

They each tried to steal her from me multiple times.

Remy insisted he and the puppy were so sleepy and that they needed to be left alone.

Matthew was doing an ADT job and these pug/weenie mix pups where there. He said he had made it up in his mind that I needed one and that one little girl would be my new puppy since my Juliet doggie passed away this summer. I wasn't looking for a puppy because the boys each have a weenie doggie and my heart is so raw from the loss of Dewy (Juliet). I mean, I had that doggie since before I was married. So, here I begin a new chapter with my new girl. I think Dewy Doggie would approve. :)

Who can resist a smiling husband coming in from the cold with a warm puppy in his hands? Not me! So, she is here to stay. :) Now, what should I name her?

Those Long Family Days...

2011-11-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

I love the days when we have no where to go and we can just do what we want. No where to be. No one looking for us. I always feel we have sneaked away.

I cherish every outing this big guy goes on with us now. He is so handsome to me. :)

I always wonder how I was so blessed to have three little boys.

Look!, I found a plant that produces babies.

Lots of spaces to explore.

I love the photos that capture me with my men, in a moment, a place we will never be again.

Big boys helping little boys.

Nature waiting for us to find it.

Boys in a tree, is there anything better?

Leave it to Remy to find HUGE clams/mussels, atleast that is what I think it was.

And little ones!

All we need to do is find a little water source and Remy will bring forth the creatures. He gets that from his creator. ;)

Stolen moments...

Stolen kisses...

A time to love your brother and not annoy. ;)

A little boy with his daddy. He lives for these moments.

Let's make a fishing pole and pretend to fish. I was shocked Eli came up with this because this is such a Remy thing to do.

Noah is never ready to go. He doesn't mind not eating or napping all day if it means he is out in the outside spaces.

Dolphin Cake

2011-11-08T11:34:00.000-08:00

I came across the photos for the dolphin cake Elijah and I made a while back.

My dolphin was on the top.

Eli's is on the first cake.

We thought it was so funny how they each took on their own little character.

Elijah made all of the shells, seaweed, and flowers.

I did the sign.

This was such a fun cake for such a sweet lady. :)

Remy Has a New Baby! Meet Fig!

2011-11-07T18:52:00.000-08:00

Remy has been asking for a dwarf hamster for a while now. He has cared for three mice and he took a break because it is so hard when they pass on to the big wheel in the sky. We finally talked daddy into the hamster! Remy even paid for most of it. :)

Remy wanted me to crochet him a little "womb" house and so I did, of course. Fig seems to love it.

This is Fig's school. Remy puts him in here and is training him with a clicker and food. He wants to build an course for him and teach him to run it. But first he must learn to come to Remy. Wish him luck!

They are only young for so long. They only love things like this for such a short time. My boy and his critters, I love them together. :)

Welcome to hamster parenthood, Remy! I pray he lives so very long for you and that he is a wonderful student in his hamster school.

13 Years of Loving My Elijah

2011-11-06T01:14:00.000-07:00

I am up late...crying...remembering...trying to be okay that my baby is turning 13 today. I thought I would share him and allow you all to watch him become a 13 year old with us.

Elijah came to us full of smiles and giggles from the get go. He has rarely had a bad day. His joy filled my days and made them pass so quickly. When they put him on my belly I couldn't believe he came out of me. I couldn't believe that I had made something so perfect. A love affair was born that day in my heart. I loved him with a hunger to know him more, to teach him, and to live each day fully. I never put him down. I never put him off on anyone else. He was MINE and I was HIS!

I spent everyday kissing him and tending to him. That love grew each moment and changed each moment just as quickly as he did.

I watched my new husband become a father. I watched Elijah fall in love with not only me, but his daddy.

I shared him with my Ninny Austin one day long ago. We would move soon after this photo to the D.C. metro area. I wonder what my Ninny would think of me having a 13 year old. She hasn't been with us for some time.

I remember days of not showering or eating. Out went the latest fashions and the cares I had about myself. Some days I was exhausted. Nothing prepares you for the exhaustion. But then again, no one tells you how delicious it is and how much you will crave it. In a moment one of those moments were captured. Me in a quiet restful moment with a baby who had been screaming now asleep. Did I dare move?

Matthew learned what it was to be his dad. He learned what it was to love someone so much.

Papaw also held our sweet first baby. Time moved on and Papaw was called home as well. I was so proud when he loved on him. He was so tender with him. He just sat there and looked at him. That is what the men in that family do with such precious creatures.

Before I knew it the newborn was gone and he was replaced with a wee person full of character.

I never ventured far from my love. He was the type of baby that loved for me to hold him and kiss him. If I wasn't holding him I was on the floor with him.

That first birthday came upon us so swiftly. We celebrated it alone in Maryland in our little apartment. It was perfect to us.

Days passed and we celebrated and loved one another.

The baby became a boy.

He enjoyed everything we did together. This one instance was a trip to the pumpkin patch. His first trip to one.

A new baby brother was added and he loved him from the start. He was with us for the homebirth and was my little doula. :) He still loves birth to this day. He has been one of my biggest supporter's when it comes to me working on my midwifery license.

The years melted off the calendar and we were full steam ahead in our homeschooling. He and I have learned together. I have made many errors and he has shown me how to be a good teacher. I thank him for putting up with me as a novice every step of the way. Somehow he still tells me I am the smartest person he knows. If he only knew...

His love for electronics wasn't far behind. I remember how hard it was at first for him to play his leapster. It wasn't long and he was a pro on his first DS.

We took time to catch snowflakes in our deep south home. He still remembers the snows in Maryland. How different this boy here is from that baby who played in the northern snows once upon a time.

He learned to ride bikes and scooter's.

He made friends he has kept since he was a very young boy. He learned to treasure others that God put on our path.

He raised a puppy all his own.

His costumes stopped being ducks and goats and turned to prince pirates.

He developed a sense of humor all his own.

He let go of his early fear of heights and the unknown and learned to embrace anything and everything new.

My baby who ate what was put in front of him became a boy who is a HUGE FOODIE!

The toy cars made way for spy gear and legos.

He welcomed his second brother with us around this time last year. He is more of a second daddy to little Noah than a brother. He is always tending him and teaching him. Noah adores him.

Now the baby who was always on my hip now seems to always have a baby on his. I have to make him put him down.

Still waters run so very deep. This young man has ideas that astound me. He has come up so far with so many inventions...too bad they have all been invented. He is an old soul, a boy before his time.

The baby became a young man.

There is nothing like your first baby. No other baby afterwards is as precious in certain ways. There is no hurry, no where to be, and you can lay in bed snuggling for as long as you please. Your every moment is free for one person. The bond is so deep and strong. For the first time in your life your heart is walking around outside of you. You feel every ache and pain. You also feel every joy of theirs probably more fully than they do.

Nothing can prepare you for falling in love with your child.

Nothing can prepare you for the heartaches.

Nothing can prepare you as you see the day slowly coming up to the age of 13.

And nothing, nothing, nothing can prepare you the next five years you already see zipping through your head.

I see the driving lessons tomorrow, the girlfriends who will take his heart from mine in a year or two, and the graduation I will have prepared him for. Packing him up for college. Worrying about his diabetes when he is not in my home those first few years.

My time, his time, our time is so precious now. More so than ever before. I urge myself to gather up all his hugs and kisses each day. I need to spend each moment with a wakeful awareness that this time is fleeting.

My dear sweet boy, I have loved you with an everlasting love. My heart was born the day you were born. I have held you close. I have let you go. You have come back. We have argued. We have laughed. We have cried. We have mourned so many things together. You make me smile. You astound me. I think you are so amazing. No one is you and you are most certainly no one else, my dear.

Thankyou for being mine. All those years ago you picked us to come to. You could have went to anyone. Why God sent you to us is so clear to US. But why he graced us with your dynamic presence I will never ever understand. We needed you. I pray these next few years are full of the good stuff. Live big just like you know how to. Never let anyone take your joy. You were always smiling and I pray you do until the moment your a old man and leave this earth.

I am simply in love with you, my firstborn. Happy 13th birthday! I know you are so excited! I can't wait to celebrate with you.

Lots of Red Cups

2011-11-04T23:38:00.000-07:00

I got the idea to buy cups for the boys from another blog I read. I can't remember which one it was for the life of me. I wish I could so I could link to it. If your reading and this was your idea let us know!

They love this and so does Noah. He tries to stack them and then he loves to knock down the huge towers the big brothers make for him.

This was less than five dollars for all of them. The boys told me that they needed another big package of them. I think I can do that.

A September Day With My Nicole and Family

2011-11-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

We had such a great day with one of our favorite families. I even remembered to bring my camera!!!!

When I walked in I met the newest family member.

This is such a sweet baby girl showing me her bear.

The oldest child was working on her hats to sell at the herbal festival.

I only saw Mr. C at lunch. Ha ha ha!

I love seeing my beloved friends holding my baby Noey.

Just a baby swinging on a hammock.

Just a baby sitting on the earth. ;)

One of my favorite girls showing Eli her bug.

She had to touch it to be in the "club" the boys made up.

I love this one.

Fuzzy baby watching it all happen.

Isn't this precious?

Time for mama loves.

I was helped with a leaf crochet pattern that was giving me a time. Thankyou, Miss H.

Miss H taught me to knit!

All while I had my tea. :)

Eli did find a few moments to run and show me what he made with Mr. C and Remy during a very fun-filled lego building time.

Bouncing fun!

Sweet Miss E.

She sure played hard!

The last remnants of my sweet friends garden. She gives it such love all spring and summer.

Baby friends garden.

This is always a great sign that we had just enough fun for one day. ;)

Fair 2011

2011-11-01T15:00:00.000-07:00

Here we are all ready to go to the fair! This was Noey's first fair adventure. Look at this photo, it just shows how much those big boys love that baby of theirs.

All three boys loved the animals and the petting zoo.

The three little pigs.

Seriously, how wrong is this? HA HA HA! Only in Louisiana.

Remy was so very pleased to finally touch a baby gator.

Eli even held one!

Noah doesn't look sure in this one, but he enjoyed it, too.

Wanna know what was in that crate that the goat was standing on? A snake, of course. I kept praying it wouldn't crash and the snake and goat wouldn't have a chance meeting.

Watching the big LOOPY rides.

Noey decided to be an air traffic controller.

Bumper cars!

Yes! It looks like Remy hit Eli!

Noey played the duckie game.

Daddy, daddy, look at my prize! I won it all by myself!

More Thrills.

Barrels of fun!

Thankyou, Mommy for a great time! :)

Mirrors.

What were they thinking? When is this ever a good idea.

The big boys played.

They won prizes for the prince!

Goodbye, Fair!

Cotton candy on the way home to help us wind down. ;)

Time for a bath to wash off the grime of the fair.

Trick or Treating 2011

2011-10-31T22:38:00.000-07:00

We started our day of treats and dress-up at our own little homeschool party with Sherri and her family. We had Ghost cupcakes.

Pumpkin Pizza.

Spider cookies.

We had crafts. This is our little tradition now. Our two families have crafted something for the past three years together. :) This is our third little trick or treat time party.

Eli made this owl.

Noey hanging out on hims daddy.

All of our little clay figures.

Noey taking a nap before the treating begins. :)

My Link all ready to go!

Our Billy the Exterminator!

My sweet little hoot, the night owl. :)

I was so happy two of Sherri's big kids wanted to trick or treat with us. :)

Maddie-Cakes adjusting her mask. It sure gave her a time.

This is Noey, his first trick or treat house and hims second party of the night! LOL See, he is a good ole night owl. ;)

My sweet boys and I.

The girls with their baby!

After a hard night of treating your bound to have blue lips to match your blue costume, especially if your middle name is Bleu. ;)

Noah loved all of Mrs. Danielle's decorations.

My Billy sure had a blast. :)

Carter and his scary clown mask.

This is so wrong on so many levels. Ha! Sherri put on the mask and her hubby gave her a kiss! Now, that is love, folks!

Mmmmm, more cupcakes!

A hayride in the nice cool evening. Noah loved this!

Just Billy, chewin' on some hay! :)

Hope your trick or treating was as fun. :)

Pumpkin Carving

2011-10-31T22:14:00.000-07:00

Noey was in love with the bright orange pumpkins (I need to blog the pumpkin patch visit) and he loved to visit with his and pat it for the days it sat by our front door uncarved. It was finally the day to carve them.

Daddy opened Noey's pumpkin up.

Noey looked in.

Mommy, I am not sure about this whole thing.

I gave him spoons to dig out the insides with.

He decided to have a taste.

You have murdered my punkin, MOMMY!

He no longer wanted anything to do with them.

Now for the big boys.

Noah's Pumpkin

Eli's.

Remy's.

Noey did decided after we lit them up that he liked them again. ;)

Fossils

2011-10-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

Elijah had so much fun with this one. I will not be surprised if I see more fossils start showing up around our home. ;)

He made each block of clay into a "pancake". He dusted one with talc.

Place his leaf...

SMASHED them together!

And revealed his homemade fossil. Pretty fun stuff.

Black Bayou in the Fall

2011-10-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

As soon as the air wasn't so hot to suffocate us we headed out to one of our favorite spots for a nice walk.

We came upon something we had never seen before.

They were all over the ground. Daddy noticed they were in the trees.

Then he found the sign.

Eli looked it up on his phone and Daddy decided to open it up.

Noah found some nature to hold right off.

From here:

Eli gathered some seeds and showed them to me.

I crave these walks and the freedom that comes with them.

Eli found a cypress stump that looked like a spore hand!

Crazy kid, oh how I love you.

So much to find and show mommy. :)

Some discoveries are not for holding!

Our little walker!

This kid is loving his phone.

We watched this guy for awhile.

I love hims face.

Walking along the water.

What have the boys found?

Remy's favorite bug.

Exploring textures...

Look at this seed pod!

Time to go home.

Hayley Master's Concert

2011-10-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

Remy had his first date with our good friend Jessica. She took him to his first concert, ever!

Before she picked him up I had to snap some shots of him all prettied up. My Remmit is pretty handsome.

Here he is with his date. :) I couldn't have picked a better lady to be his first. ;)

She said it took a while, but he started to loosen up a bit. :)

He even met HAYLEY! He was too little to remember seeing her graduate and he only remembers actually seeing our friend Dakota graduate that day. She is one of our homeschool graduates in our area. Super neat gal.

He even has her CD now.

He makes us listen to it the whole time we are in the car. She has a great voice and songs so we don't mind. Well, Eli minds. Pa ha ha ha ha!

The Midwife of Venice - Book 10

2011-10-17T20:14:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed this book. I found it while walking through my library.

There were moments when I was reading and I could so feel how the midwife character wanted to help this woman even when it was not okay to do so. I have often found myself giving more of myself than I ever imagined when I started this journey of midwifery in my own life. Your heart seems to open to those sweet mamas and you so want to help with the knowledge you have.

I found this a quick read and I was very involved in the marriage of this Jewish midwife and her husband. One of those books that takes you on a journey and you hate to see end. I love the way this author writes. Very rich detail...pictures for the brain!

.

Mynelle Gardens

2011-10-10T16:01:00.000-07:00

This was one of my favorite gardens EVER! We were the only ones there that day and so we had it all to ourselves. I want to go back now!

When we entered we saw lots of butterflies flitting about, spiders making webs, and this huge garden out of no where within the ugliest part of the city. I was stunned!

The house wasn't opened on this day. We peeked in and I do believe the house has a courtyard in the center. People, that is the stuff that thrills my heart and soul!

In every nice faerie garden there should be a nice angel to look after the babies in the party.

Noah thought his nature (a little red leaf) should be placed in the fountain.

Freedom! He has fast become a lover of our little nature excursions. I am so pleased.

When we came in the nice lady gave the boys each a bag of turtle and fish food. They wasted no time in finding the creatures so they could feed them. :)

This is my KID! Gosh I love him.

"Daddy, I think this greasy stuff should be taken out of this paper bag and thrown directly on the ground, not in the water."

I am a nut. I will surely agree with you. When I was looking at this photo if looked to me that his reflected hand was reaching right back at him...trying to keep him here in his boyhood. Our Eli is going to be 13 in a few weeks. I so hope he stays a boy for just a bit longer.

Brothers...in a moment.

My sweet NOEY!

Remy determined to catch one of the huge bullfrog tadpoles.

Remy found some friends.

Can you find this statues grasshopper friend?

We found some very good friend grasshoppers on the way out.

Remy was not ready to leave.

We sure have been tuckering this baby out lately!

"The Oaks"

2011-10-10T14:17:00.000-07:00

We drove over to visit this house, but it was closed. :( I think the hours on the site were wrong and we hope to visit it again when we get that way. I want to see the inside very much. We didn't let that keep us from looking around.

I WILL have a little enclosed garden like this.

I believe this is a milk or butter house. We thought it looked like a little Rapunzel house. I need to make one for my nieces. :)

How I long for outside floors like this around my home.

I want Mattmos to add these arches between our posts.

I really loved this sweet house.

What you don't see is Remy almost caught a pigeon. Hee hee... His little heart was pounding away because he was so in the moment of catching it with his bare hands and he felt the flap of its wings in his hands and the wind against his face. I so wish I had caught that with the camera.

Children's Museum

2011-10-10T12:38:00.000-07:00

The boys played for a long time with this bench at the museum. When you touch it the bench lights up. Noah loved it.

Lift that car up Eliman!

Watch out, Daddy, Noah will take over your job!

Remy has now milked a real cow and a fake cow! HA HA HA!

I love when the boys study something and a hands on learning moment shows up unannounced. At this museum you go down into the "earth" and play with volcanoes and earthquakes! The walls even had the layers of earth.

My men!

Only the very best of sweet dad's will go exploring tunnels with the 1 year old. ;)

Mattmos wants this lifesize Scrabble game in his studio one day. Hee hee...

We made puppets for the puppet show. In order: Mattmos (daddy), mom, and Remy.

Some water fun!

This bubble was set into the water table. Noah had to be taken out by force.

Noah decided to make some chicken drumstick tea in the pioneer cabin. Hee hee...

Eli hard at work mining those rocks.

My little paleontologists!

Jackson Zoo

2011-10-07T21:01:00.000-07:00

As soon as we were inside the gates Noah spotted the Sophie's!

This guy is so pretty. :)

Look at these monkeys!

Noah kept putting his arm out and telling us all about the creatures.

Observing.

Oh, those silly silly brothers!

Just enjoying the nice day. :)

Mommy, this guy looks like a little familiar!

Now, we do not allow our children to play in the public trash. I promise. For some reason he looked in there and saw that it was empty of trash with a fresh bag, but he spotted someone in need!

Petting zoos are so fun...

Look at sweet Remy. He is all kneeled down and so tender with his new friend.

Noah found a mouse hole.

These guys are so cute.

I think someone ran around the zoo and tuckered himself out. :) It was such a nice day with the men.

Park Day With the MEN PEOPLE!

2011-10-07T05:26:00.000-07:00

Noah is fast becoming a professional swing baby. ;)

He now loves to walk and explore on his own.

"Maybe if I put my head through here I can see better."

"I am such a punky monkey!" Hee hee....

Eli loves to play with Noah. He takes as much joy in introducing him to the things he loved as a little boy as much as we do.

Noah loves dinosaurs. I have never had one of my boys love them so early. He has some dinosaur toys that were handed down to him from Remy. He plays with them all the time. When he saw these dinos at the park he ran straight to them.

More swings.

Noey Boos, how did you get up there?

"Look, Noah!"

"Mmmmm, let me try!"

Some helping hands.

Thrill seeker!

Remy is always turning over rocks to see what kind of bugs he can find. I keep telling him to stop because I am terrified he is going to come across a snake! God, watch over my little Steve Irwin!

What is this all about?

My Eli.

My Remmit.

I Love Remy's Mind

2011-10-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

I walked outside one day to see this.

Remy what are you doing?

Show me that contraption of yours.

And then I see this.

And to think...I wanted a little girl each pregnancy. Thank GOD for unanswered prayers. ;)

Crystal Trees

2011-10-03T13:21:00.000-07:00

I bought two little kits for growing crystals on trees about a year back. I actually purchased them at the Dollar Tree. Eli's science called for pulling all the ingredients together to do this and I remembered I had these kits! I knew I had bought them and put them up for a reason.

The boys loved watching those trees blossom throughout the day.

Rockets and Tire Tracks

2011-10-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

Some Remy art!

I loved his rocket.

He made maybe 5 of these. Hee hee...

Playing in Noah's Room

2011-10-01T15:07:00.000-07:00

Noah likes to take my hand and take me to his room. He wants me to get in the floor and play what he wants to play. :) I had so missed a little person that would pull me from room to room and ask me to play the way he does. He is so stinking cute!

This day he wanted to look through his books.

He thought his books needed to be on his train table.

He picked a book and brought it to me and sat in my lap. Isn't that bliss!?

Now it was time to stack his stars.

Then he was done and he stood up and left the room. I followed him to the living room where he sat down and hugged his brother who was watching t.v. I so love little boys.

Living With Men...

2011-10-01T14:50:00.000-07:00

Silly Boy Bleu.

Hero's to baby birds.

Little Apprentices.

Insect Whisperers.

Learning to catch insects with nets.

Falling asleep on mommy.

With a hint of naughty moments.

Followed by moments of rest and sweetness.

Time to make joyful noises!

Investigate why those bells work.

It seems we see alot of this from our youngest whirlwind. ;)

Acid Testing

2011-10-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

We gathered our supplies for testing substances with acid in order to classify rocks.

Elijah crushed some shells into as fine a powder as he could. He then put some of it in a little dish. He added a few drops of vinegar to see if it fizzes. It did fizz a little.

He then put some baking soda into one dish and tried the vinegar again. It of course fizzed.

For the last acid test he used a steel file to scrape some of the limestone off into the bowl. He then put a few drops of vinegar on that. It fizzed a little more than the shells. Since limestone starts out as shells we thought maybe it fizzed better because it was more broken down.

We learned that if something fizzes it is a carbonate and this will help you to classify rocks in a deeper way than just looking at it.

Eli has always loved rocks and so this was so fun to him. It brought back memories of him as a little boy around 3 and filling his pockets with rocks everywhere we went.

Breathing Water?

2011-10-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

During Remy's health lesson one day he learned that we lose water when we breathe. To prove it to him I had him breathe into a glass.

He was very surprised! :)

Physical Weathering Experiments

2011-10-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

To see how freezing water can break rocks we set out a jar, bag, and some water.

Elijah filled the jar with the water and put the top on tight.

We set it into a sandwich bag so when the glass broke we wouldn't need to touch glass shards.

Place it in the freezer.

We took it out of the freezer the next day and we thought it was so neat!

We put it back in the bag and let it melt.

Elijah decided that water can cause some weathering.

The next weathering we played with was rocks. We know they can tumble, wind can blow on them, and they can be weathered in water.

So, continual rubbing can weather rock.

The next one we were going to prove was that seeds can cause weathering as they germinate. This one he was a little skeptical about.

Put the beans in your container up to the top and then pour water on them.

Place the top on the container.

We checked it a few hours later and the top was buldging.

We kept checking...

...and finally found this.

Seems seeds can make a bit of a scene, afterall! :)

Bumble Bleu's Baby School

2011-09-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

Oh that Boy Bleu has added so much to our days. ;)

We let him color with his blue crayon.

He decided to taste it.

He loves to put pom poms into something.

This is now his favorite. I bought a cheese shaker at the dollar tree and he loves to sit and put the spaghetti into it.

He has learned to do his own laundry! Really! HEE HEE... Matthew grabbed my camera one day and we just laughed and laughed over this video.

He is so smart and fun. We have such a blast with hims!

Cassidy, Sabrina, and Jessie - Books 7, 8, and 9

2011-09-24T18:33:00.000-07:00

I have read three books this month! I will try my best to read as many as I can for my goal.

I read this series of three book by Lori Wick, starting with Cassidy.

This book starts you on your journey in this little town. A new pastor is finding his way with serving his flock, and a young woman is finding her way into a future she has only dared to pray for. She comes with a need for family and belonging as she sets up shop in the town. She finds that and so much more.

I need sweet books like this one. :)

I really enjoyed the Sabrina book because she came with one of those pasts that could really keep one from God. I love the way her story unfolds and her life with the now not so new Pastor to Token Creek mingle in such a sweet way. This book reminds me of how brothers and sisters in Christ can and do forgive as he does at times and we can and do bring each other into a fold of forgiveness and love. We are all sinners...waiting to be saved. I think this one was my favorite of all three.

The last book in the series so far was about a woman who is a wonderful person, but she can't see or believe in the realness of God. This is so true of most of us. Most people live beautiful lives, they love others, and they do nothing really wrong. This is the hardest type of life to have of all because it makes us believe we can save ourselves. I enjoyed traveling Jessie's road of forgiveness with her.

I read through all of these books so quickly. They blessed my heart. They even reminded me to pray for my husband more. This was something I had relaxed on. We all need good stories to bless our hearts and help us move forward for the Kingdom.

My Birthday!

2011-09-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

I forgot to share my birthday outing with my men with you all. I had been longing to go back to the natural science museum in Mississippi for years. The Last time we went was in 2007 and we never had the chance to return. The boys were so little. The pictures kill me they were so cute and small. Remy was my little baby!

We loaded up the car with three boys in tow this time.

Remy found a pretty cool bug on our way into Subway for dinner. My Remy...always finds the critters. ;)

Everyone was so darn excited when we pulled up.

Remy was super thrilled that the special exhibit this time was FROGS!

Just steps away from some learning fun on Mom's birthday!

They had African Clawed Frogs the size of Matt's hands!

The favorite of last time was still there.

Remy found some tadpoles.

Even Noah enjoyed looking at the frogs. :) He was SO into it!

How far can a Remy Frog jump?

The star of the show for us was the Poison Dart Frogs. They were so cute. They would sit so still and they looked just like little toy frogs we have bought for Remy. We sat for so long in front of that tank.

This was cute, you pressed the system button on the side panel and it lit up where it belonged on the tree frog.

Looking around...

This picture makes me sad. They sat looking at this and dreaming of our beach vacation we were scheduled to take a few weeks back. :(

We all loved the tanks as much as last time.

This snake family was very...cuddly.

It must have been love day at the museum. These two are good buddies.

We were looking around and saw this through the window. We had just talked about this guy and how he is mean to the bees. Remy was upset about it, but he thought it neat to actually see it happen.

This is a photo of my two little boys back in 2007.

2011.

Noah really enjoyed himself and he was so well behaved.

We stopped for supper and as we came out to head home the clouds were rolling in and we knew we would have rain if we stuck around.

Driving home...

Crossing back over the Mississippi River...almost home.

The Kiddie Casino With Family

2011-09-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

The last stop on the birthday train was to go see the mouse, play games, and ride rides. :)

Noah was rich in tickets!

Mom and her girls...

Tell me, why do kids do this?

I remember loving how high it was in those tubes when I was a little girl. :) Seems they are still just as fun.

Mom took the baby up to the stage. He was not very happy about it. Hee hee...

My mom and sister pulled away from the house the next morning. :( I miss them so much. We were scheduled to go for a visit back home this month and it didn't work out due to the things Matthew is enduring right now. I just need these people. I hope they know how much we enjoyed them. Lots of memories made.

Black Bayou With Family

2011-09-20T14:48:00.000-07:00

While my family was here we went to Black Bayou. I needed some pictures of my sweet little girls and boys together.

I so love these two little girls. I want them back NOW!

I loved seeing them all together...my children with my sister's children.

My mother with our children...

I was not in the mood for my own photo, but I got in there.

I could snuggle these two together ALL DAY LONG!

Look at little Amy's hand on the glass here. I want to squish that little hand and kiss it all over! She was looking at the baby gators.

Noey Boos!

Amy fed the gator a donation...

...I love that Matthew caught her expression afterwards. He says that she could play a little Callie from CSI:Miami. Hee hee...

My more reserved Kayley decided to donate to the gator as well. ;)

Daddy bought Noah a frog tattoo.

Have you ever seen prettier children???

Mr. Boos hanging out...

We found a very pretty spider...

And a CUTE little green snake. :) Remy wanted to hold him. He couldn't stand himself. ;)

We walked out and headed for the next destination. I saw this lone flower blooming where God had planted it. Matthew and I spoke about that for a moment. It is a big deal for us right now, that thought, of blooming where we are planted.

Having the sweet faces of those we love around for the weekend was medicine. Needed medicine. I want them all back!