Ingenious!

Sometimes (very often, really) parenting can make you feel just plain dumb! If you are a parent, you probably know full well what I mean. There is so much to not know what or how or exactly when to do!
Today was NOT one of those days for me (so far). NO - today I was a true genius! (I'm just sayin'.)

Here's the deal. Yesterday the boys were sick with high fevers and very very lethargic all day. SO, as the doting Mommy, I held them and snuggled them. We read books and cuddled all day. TODAY they are on the mend. Their fevers are down and energy is up up up! AND my fever is up and my energy down down down. :-(
This sets up a difficult predicament. How do I manage the day with two high energy boys when I just want to drink hot drinks and be still and quiet???
ANSWER - a bubble bath and a good book! I wanted one, but knew that was not an option. BUT I could (and did) stick them in the bubble bath with Johnson's Vapor rub bubbles for babies, bring in a stool for myself, a good book, and a hot drink, and shut the door behind us all.
So there they played (contained). There I sat in steamy vapor rub smelling goodness with a great book in hand. GENIUS!!

The bottle of vapor rub bubbles asserts, "soothes babies with colds." I would affirm that statement, even when the "baby" with a cold is the Mommy!

follow-up from the video in the last post

First off, if you have not watched the video in the last post, you will want to do that before reading this one - or it just won't make any sense. :-)

We went to Christmas eve candle-light service with family. When the Pastor stood up to speak and said he wanted to read from 1 John 4:9-10, Noah confidently yelled out, "I know 1 John 4:9 - it's about Jesus!"

Mine and Richard's hearts melted! It STUCK - it really stuck! I was so excited and proud of him. I really thought he just had memorized it for the 30 seconds of the video - I had no idea he would actually recall it and know what it was about.

That seed is planted firmly in him - and will not return void!

What a wonderful Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas to all!!

Join us in thanksgiving, praise, and joy!

Merry Christmas, from our family to you!
(It is a video - be sure to press "play")

Love,

Rich, Ann, Nathan, and Noah

Nathan's reading

Several months ago, Nathan asked me when he could learn to read so he "could know what those words are" while I was reading him a story. We, later, began doing reading lessons.
It did not take very long before he started asking when he could read a "real" book (not just the reading lesson book). I found some at the library last week that were for beginners.

Today Nathan read his first book - he was so excited that he read FOUR in a row!!

Pictures - in reverse order . . . and still not THAT new!

Richard's suprise graduation party

sweet brothers playing together

love being all together!!

Nathan's first violin lesson

picnic with friends and family!

Nathan doing his part at the BBQ at Frank's house

at the NE zoo

at the baseball game

Noah ready to go swimming, but put on his cowboy costume anyway! :-)

At the family reunion - theme "God Bless America"

Our 8th anniversary date

They really DO grow so fast!

I had been thinking about this blog over the past several days (just popped into mind here and there over that time).
I wondered how long it had really been since I posted.
What was "new" and "news" at the time?
What did I last write about?
How much have the boys changed since then?

All I can say is "wow"! They are changing! So are we!
Most of the clothes that Nathan was wearing in the last post, are now on Noah's rack.
Noah's clothes from then are long gone.
Richard has lost almost 30 pounds - shaved his gotee and grown it back!
My hair had grown out and then cut off (but you probably know that is normal for me).

What else is changing? Not just our appearances.
Nathan is almost done with speech school. We are visiting his school for next fall and filling out the application for his kindergarten. He is really growing in his understanding of God and His love for him! His tenderness and compassion abound - most of the time.

Noah is communicating SO well and SO much! The boys actually have "unguided" conversations now and just talk about things on their own! He is SO active and very explorative. Still definitely a professional bug-stomper. He tends to all activities"rough and tumble".


Richard has, after much sacrafice and hard work, graduated with his B.S.
We decided to switch churches to one closer to our home. While we do miss our old church. We do still keep up with our close friends from there (which does make it easier!). We have both already seen changes with the move. We were out of our 'comfort zone'. We now have to step up and be bold to meet new people. We are learning more about the programs and outreaches the church has and are relishing getting involved where God leads. We both have been given a spirit of boldness to extend the love and hope and freedom we have in Christ to others through making home visits to people who have visited or in some way been in contact with the church, (or live next door to the poeple we are actually trying to find with poorly lit address signs). :) This is alo extending to daily tasks, everywhere we go. God is blessing us and providing for our family and teaching us all along the way.

This is such an exciting time for our family. Growth - physically, spiritually, and as a family!

Now don't get me wrong - there are 'growing pains' / trials and troubles that come up all along the way (several today as a matter of fact). But even those, God is using and molding and shaping us to more fully lean on Him and turn to His truth for answers.

To anyone who has read this - I hope that in some way it blessed or encouraged you.


OH - P.S. this is now a DIAPER-FREE house!!! YEAH for the second one being potty trained for night time!!!

Wow! Talk about a delay in posting!!!

I will call this "life in pictures"


Dad teaching the boys how to have good pillow fights in the morning

Nathan got some new hunting clothes for Christmas. He picked out a hat and named it his 'hunting hat'. You may have to look at the picture to find him - it is camo after all!

Mike and Chrisi's 25th anniversary party:

Sherie, Joseph, Missy

Lots of people and food - we had a great time!

Mike and Chrisi

Brothers with good ideas and a little cooperation have great fun!

preparing for crazy hair day at AWANA (Bible class on Wed night at church):

What are you lookin at?!?yup, I did it too. You know I can't pass up a crazy hair day!!!!
Boys having a great time in the bouncey bounce

Hard to nap while putting socks on your hands . . . even harder to get that second sock on your hand!!!

Love and blessings from our family!!!

thanks for not giving up on this blog! (Even when it looks like I have!)