Randomness

I was working on a blog entry and the computer keeps freezing on me, so I just decided to write the thoughts swimming around my head.  Lucky reader, you...
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My kitchen is sticky.  I'm sticky.  The kids are sticky.  And if we had a dog, it would be sticky too!  We've been canning peaches and I can hear my crocs (they help my feet and back while canning) peeling off the floor with every step I take.  I feel like I have to keep moving or I might get stuck.  

I think there's a spiritual application there.
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Tomorrow (Friday!) we will find out if the little one I'm carrying is a boy or girl.  If the baby decides to cooperate that is.  Caleb is the only one we decided not to find out with and he made sure we couldn't change our minds.  He didn't reveal himself during the two ultrasounds I had with him.  
  
I'll be sharing the news tomorrow, so check some time in the evening if your curious. 
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After a month long summer break, we started our "new" school year four weeks ago with two subjects and have added a "subject" a week since then.  It has worked out really well for us and given me time to work through any kinks (read: learning how to keep the two little ones occupied during that time) we encounter.

We pretty much homeschool year round for those of you who didn't know.  And no, it's not as bad as it sounds!  For any of us. *grin* 

I am so excited about the year we have planned, I think it's going to be fun and Caleb seems to be enjoying himself so far.  I saved history - his favorite- for last.  We'll be in full swing Labor Day week.  Then I'll start adding more with Samuel.  I eventually hope to have a set of activities to rotate with Abigail also.  So I figure by November we'll be in a sure groove.  Which will give us 1 1/2 months before the Christmas holidays and the baby arriving.     Then it will be time to readjust. *smile*
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Samuel came inside today and said, "The potatoes are biting me."  Turns out the mosquitoes were biting him. *grin* 

I love when Samuel announces to me that it is morning.  He always says, "It's sun time, Mommy."  The rule is that he can't get out of bed until the sun is up.  Once he has a better grasp on numbers we'll be changing that a bit...
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Abigail has been weaned for a week and half now.  I'm not sure if it's been harder on me or her.  She typically asks to nurse about twice a day still.  We both miss it, but I really felt like my body needed to stop.  I sometimes wonder if her lower birth weight (5 lb. 15 oz.) was due in part to my nursing Samuel through my pregnancy with her.  I'm glad my sweet girl still likes to snuggle and hug a lot or I would be really sad!
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Richie surprised me for my birthday by getting an old bike someone had given us fixed.  I haven't gotten on it yet because I'm a little scared I'll hurt myself or the baby, but I'm super excited.  We live in a great neighborhood for it. 

We're still trying to work on the house as we can in hopes of evetually moving.  We've got a long way to go, especially when we keep discovering things like rotten floor beams.  *grimace*  I just keep reminding myself that God is in control.  And that is a really good thing!

So as I head off to bed tonight, that's the thought I rest in.   

If You Were A Fly On The Wall...

in the last 48 hours, you would have witnessed:

• Samuel dressed to go outside in his coat, underwear, and flip flops
• me having to hold Abigail with my legs and one arm in order to administer her breathing treatments for pneumonia...every 4 hours
• 4 loads of clean laundry on my couch
• 4 loads of dirty laundry by the washing machine
• 4 days of dirty dishes in/on the sink, counter, and kitchen table
• and a partridge in a pear a tree..oops, wrong post
• Abigail running out the back door naked
• a woman at the park giving me a mean look because Abigail ran out the back door naked
• the boys killing over 30 flies that are invading our house (gross!)
• good thing you weren't a fly on the wall, eh
• me discovering that Caleb was wearing shoes one and a half sizes too small
• me having to ask someone to repeat very simple directions twice because it was just not registering
• me discovering that Samuel was wearing his pants backward, at 2:00 pm, after we had been in public
• and a whole host of other head shaking things that all lead to one thing...
• me calling on Jesus a whole lot

Imagination Station

Imagination. The stuff that makes childhood. There's been lots of it this summer. Which makes me happy. Except when outfits are being changed three times a day. Then I remind myself that it's time to teach Caleb how to do his own wash.

The boys reenacting the story of The Good Samaritan.

It's nothing to find Caleb in some variation of this "getup" as he pretends he's in the Civil War. Currently his favorite time period. Although, I don't think they had crocs back then.

He loves to get the little ones involved. Yes, even Abigail. Here I believe she was their field nurse during a reenactment of some battle.

Speaking of laundry, we even have issues with the clean stuff. The boys piled on layers of clothing to be big sumo wrestlers. Watching them walk was probably the funniest thing.

Ah, librarian Caleb. With the pen in his pocket.


Obviously tying a necktie is also on the list of things to learn.

One of my personal favorites, the big brothers. Because they had "big muscles". Otherwise known as more clean laundry.

Clearly I need to find another spot for clothes waiting to be folded other than the couch. Or maybe not. It's seems to be so inspiring.

I love this boy's creativity and imagination. Such special gifts from God.

Blast From The Past - Part I

I've recently had the experience of being reaquainted with a few bits of my past. The most enjoyable of which was dressing Abigail in an outfit from my girlhood.


Girlhood? That word makes me feel old.

Anyway, as a surprise for my mom who was visiting for Abigail's birthday, I dressed her in the outfit.


It was so much fun and I am so thankful that my mom saved some of my dresses so that I can have fun like this!

My Baby Girl Is One

Can you believe it? This precious baby girl turned one a little over a week ago! Time is most certainly not on my side.

She started walking about a month ago and is also quite the climber. As she has become more mobile, it has been a lot of fun to watch her interaction develop more with the boys. I'm not sure there's anything better as a parent than watching your children build friendships and develop loving relationships with one another. Makes this mama's heart melt.

This is one of her favorite faces to make while breathing in and out quickly through her nose. She mainly makes it just to get a reaction. I have made trips to the grocery store where the majority of the time this is what she's doing...and her audience is more than willing to respond.

She continues to be such a delight to us all! Playing peek-a-boo is one of her favorite games. She likes to look at books, watch out the windows, play with her brothers, and snuggle with mommy and daddy. She has also started offering kisses on her own!

Abigail Ruth, you are a treasure from God. Your happiness and sweet nature are contagious. I am so thankful that God placed you in our family. I pray that you always know the love we have for you and the overwhelming love that your Heavenly Father has for you. You will always be my special girl. I love you, sweetheart!

My Kids Just Have A Way

Of making me fall in love with them more and more every day. They are such neat and special people.

Um, for clarification purposes, that would not be "neat" as in tidy or organized...

This tender hearted young man is so fantastic with his younger siblings. He's got a unique personality and interests and is one of the coolest kids I know. I looked at his hands the other day and it was as if they spoke to me and let me know that he would soon be leaving childhood behind.

Ah time, why won't you leave me alone and come back in about 5 years and we can pick up where we left off?

Samuel continues to be full of life and enthusiasm. He melts my heart when he winks at me. On the mini-trampoline, eating lunch, or into mischief, it is precious. When I'm cooking, he has this adorable habit of asking me, "What are you cookin' hon?" He heard Richie ask me that once and now asks it all the time. I love it!

And little Abby-girl, which happens to be the only nickname we have for her. Other than sweetheart, darlin', etc. I dare you to spend one hour with this sweet girl and not fall in love with her. Impossible. It is against the very laws of nature. What a blessing!



My precious, little people. I love you all more than words can say!

Bow-tiful Baby

Hello. My name is Jo Ann and I am a bow mommy.


I cannot get enough of these things.


Of course, I can't get enough of this little girl either.


Bows and Abigail, they belong together.


Just like the joy that she always wears.

Somebody help me, I'm in deep.

Where I Done Been

Or maybe I should just ask, where haven't I been? It feels like I have been going non-stop these past weeks. For someone who has started becoming somewhat of a homebody, not a good feeling.

Or maybe it's not that I'm really becoming a homebody, maybe it's just easier to keep my three young'uns at home. Contained. *wink*

Abigail turned 9 months and is doing so well. She's fighting a cold right now, but continues to be a doll. She has truly spoiled me. I love this little daughter of mine so much. She has such a great personality.

Samuel has been sick the past few days. These past few, very long days. The little guy has been miserable. I've felt so bad for him. Now we're treating a double ear infection from the junk he had. We've also been having some speech evaluations done. He has cooperated really well and everyone just loves him. He is such a sweet little man.

Caleb has been doing really well with his schoolwork and I keep seeing glimpses of maturity that make me so proud. We're working on an allowance system right now and I think I've just about got it ready. Just a few charts to make. Not sure how it came up, but he wants to design a wheelchair swing that we could put down at the park where we live. Touching this mama's heart, I tell ya! *grin*

Richie...wait, Richie who? Ha, ha, ho, ho, hee, hee, ha, hee, ho. Ah, if I didn't laugh about it, I'm not sure what I'd do. Baseball season is in full swing and my man is MIA. The kids are doing pretty well adjusting this year (so far), I think I'm the one with the biggest problem. I'm tired and lonely. Ha, hee, hee, ha, ho, ho...

And as for me, I've been reacquainting myself with the costly world of dentistry. I've got to get some work done and my pockets are becoming as jittery as I am about getting it completed. I mean, don't get me wrong, there would be a cost for me to stick my hands in a bunch of people's mouths all day long, but ouch!

And as it turns out, when God tells you that it will be a year of beginnings, there are also endings. I know, what are the odds. *wry grin* It's kind of like when you are moving physical locations and you start cleaning out your old place...did you know that was behind the fridge?!

Richie and I went canoeing with a group several years ago. They ended up running out of canoes, so we volunteered to go in the inner tubes they offered. I moved at a snail's pace compared to those canoes, but Richie, poor guy was a sloth. They tied an extra inner tube to his in case one of ours popped and I remember watching him get further and further behind. The Lord used that to minister to me about the baggage and junk we carry in our lives and how it effects our pursuit of the Lord.

I was unprepared for the circumstances in which (more of) my junk is being revealed, but it is my heart's cry to come before God with a pure heart. With that in mind, I say, "Okay, Lord. It may not be pretty, it may not feel good, but if it makes me look more like you, then let's do this thang." I hold tightly onto His promise of beginnings and His hand. Even when I want to scream about things being unfair and too painful. When I want to just be mad. When I want to throw the world's biggest pity party. Even when, I just want to give up.

His promises and His hand are still there. 'Cause He's faithful like that.

Man, I love God.

And that, my friends, is a taste of where I done been lately.

You Are...

You are the apple of my eye,
the pumpkin in my pie.
The soft, blooming flower in spring.

You are the funnel cake at the fair,
the smell of autumn in the air.
The brilliant color in my world.














You are the snowflake on my tongue,
the silliest song ever sung.
The warm breeze on a summer day.

You are the puddle in which I jump,
the juiciest strawberry, nice and plump.
The sparkling dew on the grass.

You are the eskimo kiss on my nose,
the tickle on my toes.
The laughter dancing in the air.

You are the finer things of my world,
You add so much to my life.
I thank God for making you mine.

You are so very precious to me,
yet there is One who loves you more.
And His you will always be.

Separation Anxiety

Ah, now that's better.

Finally

Finally. Finally. Finally. I got my camera and computer to talk. And I am so. stinkin'. excited. I can hardly stand it. Finally I can share pictures of whatever I want.

Like a picture featuring a wonderful pair of toddler feet that I love so much. I could just kiss them. And if you remember my aversion to feet, you know there's something special about them.

Or I can show you Abigail's newest feats. Like pulling herself up, which she's been doing for about 2 weeks now.

Or maybe even Caleb's latest style, which happens to change almost daily. And yes, he calls it a style. When I asked what this style was he replied, "Adventure with my friend style." Please note, remember to use a rope as your belt when you want to have an adventure with a friend.

But instead, I think I'll just show you a recent random drawing from around our house. Drawn by none other than Richie. He said he can't draw the face of an elephant. I'm wondering if he's trying to send me a message...

Sweet Six Months

Dear Abigail, you look great in any color, but mommy looks better in black and white...

I can hardly believe it has been six months (on the 12th) since this beautiful, little girl officially joined our family. What a blessing and wonderful addition she has been to us!

I could never have anticipated the feelings that have accompanied having a daughter. I love dressing her. The color pink, ribbons, and shoes have never been so fun! I look forward to the day that her hair is long enough for bows. Or maybe it's a good thing it hasn't, because I could just become addicted to them! I now remember how frustrating tights can be though. Her first pair were snagged within 20 minutes. I've made a mental note of it so that I hopefully won't get upset with her as she gets older. Abigail, you can thank me later...

The boys continue to love on her, making me melt all the time. Caleb continues to be such a good big brother. He's protective of her and tries to anticipate her needs. Something that I hope continues as they grow. We've enjoyed seeing a side of Samuel that we would not have experienced if she was not a part of our family. He is so incredibly sweet (when he's not taking toys or trying ot step on her) with her. I love hearing him talk to her. "Good morning, Abi-dail!" He loves to kiss her and hug her. Nothing sweeter I tell ya!

Abigail is thriving. At least that's what everyone seems to want to always point out. I get many comments about her size. Me? I think she's just right. She holds up well under all the lovin' she gets around here. :)

She is beginning to interact with those around her and it has been such fun. Babies are so good for the soul! :) Abigail means "Joy of My Father" and I continue to enjoy seeing the joy she brings to others. Knowing she will carry the joy of the Lord. She has a wonderful disposition and is generally happy. While it is our hopes that she brings great joy to our heaveny Father, she brings her earthly parents joy exceeding all expectations!

Abigail also happens to be mobile now. She continues in the path of her brothers and will most likely be an early walker. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't admit that I had been hoping she would take things a little slower. But I am extremely thankful she is healthy and developing!

Thank you, Lord, for our sweet Abigail!

A Day At The Park

One recent Sunday afternoon we took the kids to a local park we don't normally visit. It's got a huge playground that is so much fun.

Caleb hanging out.

That's my boy!

Samuel showing his skills.

Makes me want to kiss his sweet face.

Abigail used her time to catch up on some sleep.

Richie and Samuel having fun on the slide.

I heard an odd noise as they disappeared around the bend of the slide and became concerned when I never saw them exit. This is what I found at the bottom of the slide.

It was a beautiful fall day enjoyed by all!