Biker Gang

Enjoying the Mild Fall Weather

It was a beautiful day to finish up school early and hit the park with friends.

A few weeks ago, Lily declared she wants to be a "climber" when she grows up. Surprise, surprise, now the other two do, too. I suppose we'll have to have a lesson in economics sometime soon. 

Wish I took more pictures of Elliot giggling as he kicked around the beautiful leaves.

So Much Time

Wow. I can't believe it's already Fall and I've barely posted all Spring and Summer. We've had such a wonderful, full year.......funny Sam turned THREE, Jacob turned FIVE, Elliot visited a Gastroenterologist, Ryan and I celebrated our 11th anniversary, we took our yearly trip to the circus, we took many trips to the zoo and a couple field trips to the Newark Museum, we made frequent use of our free bowling passes, Jacob graduated from preschool and Lily finished first grade, we went to Maryland twice, we went to the carnival and saw the fireworks, the kids went to VBS (twice) and to the Lego Club (twice), our little baby Elliot turned ONE, we went to the spray park, Lily and Jacob took turns sleeping at my parents' for a couple nights each, Samantha slept over Aunt Ilse and Uncle David's house, the oldest three took karate lessons and two weeks of swimming lessons at the lake, we went fishing with my dad on his boat a few times, we visited friends with pools (Litthya, Aunt Ilse, Beth, Zoe), Jacob started Kindergarten and Lily started 2nd grade, we took a road trip to Florida (!), one kid got seven teeth while another kid lost four, Samantha started pre-PreK, we went apple picking, the kids started soccer and AWANA, etc. etc. etc.

I get tired just THINKING about that! And that doesn't even include all the little things we did in between. All the field trips, all the park dates, all the play dates, all the birthday parties... Plus Elliot started WALKING between 12 and 13 months, and now at 14 months is super speedy.

I wish I could post in-depth about everything (especially our trip to Ft Lauderdale), but I fear for now, this brief summary will have to suffice...

And perhaps I'll throw in this cute cousins picture from our field trip to the pig farm in PA today:

VBS

Sports night at VBS. Can't stop laughing at Jacob's shin guards (aka Ryan's socks).  

Loving this evening VBS for two reasons: solid Biblical teaching for the kids, and a solid week full of date nights for me and Ryan. 

Oh yeah, and Elliot.

Funny how baby #4 barely impacts dates, while baby #1 eliminated dates. 

Perspective.

Spring Park Days

We met up with some friends at a local park this morning. What beautiful weather and fellowship!

All of Our Ducks in a Row

This weekend, we went for a family bike ride. Lily and Jacob did pretty well following along, sandwiched in between me and Ryan. Sam and Elliot shared the trailer behind Ryan's bike, which was super cute.

We spent a lot of time stopping and reinforcing the rules of the road...because carefully riding your bike - with both the steering and the braking - AND staying on the side of the road AND going the same speed as the person in front of you were too many steps to remember all at once and needed lots of repeating. I think with more practice, they'll do a great job.

At one point, the road angled downhill and Lily's bike was going too fast for her to control and her feet slipped off the pedals, which were still spinning without her so she couldn't get her feet back on them, and she ended up veering across the road and crashing into a neighbor's curb, falling sideways onto their lawn. She wasn't hurt, but as it was her first crash, she was pretty shaken up. We praised her for falling onto the grass instead of the asphalt (not sure how intentional that was, but still), and after walking her bike down the rest of the steeper part, she got back on and rode the rest of the way home.

I'm looking forward to many more bike rides this Spring and Summer! It feels like forever since we've had a summer where I haven't been pregnant and have been able to participate in family activities like this with the kids.

Spring Has Sprung

Valentine's Day Prep

In preparation for Valentine's Day tomorrow, the kids and I spent most of the day working on Valentines for their Daddy and for the kids in their class in church on Sunday. We did no official school work, but had a wonderful, relaxing, and happy Arts & Crafts / Cooking day in your PJs, so it totally counts in my book.

To show everyone how much I love them, I not only cut off the crusts on their PBJs, I then wasted MORE of the sandwiches by cutting them into heart shapes. (Ssshhhh, I saved the extras in a baggy in the fridge.) Before bed, I made sure to leave a note for Ryan on the bathroom mirror where he can't miss it while getting ready for work tomorrow. If my love is strong enough to waste bread, Ryan's is strong enough to appreciate me defacing his walls.

Ahhh, the things we do for love.

Lily spent a long time working on her Valentines... Carefully matching each girl in her class at church to each card or coloring page, picking out the perfect Princess or heart sticker for each person, writing their names and her own name in the right spot on each card, putting little confetti hearts and 1 little seashell in each cellophane bag along with each Valentine. It was quite the process, but she was very pleased with the whole production in the end.

Jacob picked out each card and each Cars sticker for each boy in his class at church (and one of the girl's dads?), and wrote his name on each card. Forget trying to get him to pick out and sign Valentines for the kids in his class at school - it was hard enough getting him to sign 5 cards for his best little buddies! Plus, he just started preschool last week so I don't feel too bad not making him do it. (He did his two teachers, though.) After he signed and stickered, I wrote the recipient's name on each card...asking him to write more than his name would be torture all around. (Though he did "color" a page for Jeffrey, understandably.)

Sam colored soooo many Valentine pages and paper doilies for people this week - she was like a machine! She would announce who each one was for and I would write on their names. It's Lily #2!

Then they each traced and cut out hearts for Ryan (ok, except for Lily, I did most of the cutting) and I wrote on them the things the kids each wanted to say to him. It was super sweet, and I'm still debating where to hang them all for him as a surprise tomorrow. I'm thinking the inside of his car windshield while he's at work?? More "defacement" would certainly surprise him ;)

Gospel for Asia Collage, Year 2

Lily put together another collage of the gifts that she, Jake, and Sam picked out to send to "Gospel for Asia".

I was completely not surprised that she chose to hang it in the exact same spot as last year. She doesn't forget a thing.

I can't believe how much more grown up Lily looks than just last year.

Sam had a lot of fun "coloring" in their Christmas catalog...with glue stick...on people's faces.

"How's this thing work?!"

It was funny how both Lily and Jacob picked out mosquito nets (guess they REALLY don't like those suckers!) and water filters, amongst other things. Sam was adamant about, "Fishing! Nets!" (Hi, Dad.)

Just like last year, it was really hard for Lily to pick out farm animals for people other than herself. "But I want the chickens for me! And the BUNNIES!!!" Maybe one day those farm dreams will come true, kiddo...

Trackback:
Last Year's Gospel for Asia collage

Shutterfly Photo Contest

So Shutterfly is having a photo contest, and for telling you about it, I am promised a free photo book with free shipping - sounds awesome! It's a win-win for everyone.

Just go here to enter:
http://bit.ly/sweepS

I just entered by submitting a pic of Sam having "Water Fun" (this week's theme) and for entering, received a promo code for some free prints (though I'm not sure if that includes free shipping).

Here's what Shutterfly has to say about its contest:

"Summer is here and that means you’ll be taking more photos of your family soon! Between beach trips and BBQs, photographs are a great way to capture these summer memories. Shutterfly’s Long Live Summer Photo Contest on Facebook launched on Monday July 9^th and it runs for 5 weeks.

Win a trip for four to The Bahamas and a professional photo shoot so you’ll remember your vacation forever. All you need to do is upload your favorite photo and caption based on the theme of the week. Get a gift from Shutterfly just for entering! You can enter at any point during the 5-week sweepstakes period.

PHOTO THEMES

• Week 1(7/9): Americana

• Week 2 (7/16): Great Outdoors

• Week 3 (7/23): Water Fun

• Week 4 (7/30): Sports & Activities

• Week 5 (8/6): Parties & Celebrations

PRIZES

• Instant win prizes just for submitting a photo! 
• Weekly prizes (contestants can enter one time/week) 
• Weekly featured photos: up to 5 weekly entries will be selected from the gallery and featured on the Facebook fan page. 
• Grand prize: trip for 4 to Bahamas, 4 nights, family photo shoot 
• Shutterfly Sweepstakes - Official Rules"

Reading Log

I've been meaning to write down all the books I read last year, all the books I've read so far this year, and all the books I'm currently reading. That was something I regularly recorded in MySpace (haha - remember MySpace?) and I miss keeping track. Soooo in no particular order...

Books I read in 2011:

The Chronicle of Narnia by C.S. Lewis:
The Magician's Nephew
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Prince Caspian
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Horse and His Boy
The Silver Chair
The Last Battle

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins:
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mocking Jay

The Timothy Zahn Star Wars Thrawn Trilogy:
Heir to the Empire
Dark Force Rising
The Last Command

Allllll those Ender-related Books by Orson Scott Card:
Ender's Game
Ender's Shadow
Speaker for the Dead
Xenocide
Children of the Mind
Shadow of the Hegemon
Shadow of the Giant
Shadow Puppets
Ender in Exile
First Meetings in the Enderverse
A War of Gifts

Misc. Books:
A Love That Multiplies by Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar
Here's the Story by Maureen McCormick

Short Stories/Novels:
High and Lonely Destiny by Angela Pruess (a novel she wrote in College)
Turtumset by Leah Hesterman (a novel I wrote in High School)
The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster


Books I've Read So Far in 2012:
20 and Counting by Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar
Homeschooling - Opposing Viewpoints compiled by Noah Berlatsky
Home Learning, Year by Year by Rebecca Rupp (read the Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade chapters...all I need for now)
The Homeschooler's Book of Lists by Sonya Haskins (a reference book - I skimmed through the whole thing)

The Chronicle of Narnia by C.S. Lewis:
The Magician's Nephew
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Prince Caspian
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Horse and His Boy
The Silver Chair
The Last Battle
(Yes, again! We have them on CD in the car, and the kids LOVE them - and so do I! I think we may "read" them at the start of every year.)

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins:
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mocking Jay
(Yes, again! I wanted to re-read the Hunger Games before the movie came out, but of course once you read one, it's not like you can just STOP...)


Currently Reading:
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (Not sure I'm gonna make it any farther...I'm past the part where the 1st movie stops and have lost interest.)
Redeemed and Restored by Calvary Chapel Pastors' Wives (almost done!)
Revenge of the Sith by Matthew Stover (may not continue...I've read it before)
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (can you ever really be DONE with this book??)
The Birth Book by Dr. Sears (a refresher couldn't hurt...)


Planning to Read:
Shadows in Flight by Orson Scott Card (another Ender book)
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Engelmann, Haddox, and Bruner (with Lily)
Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp
Bringing Up Girls / Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson


I feel like I'm missing a few from 2011 and 2012 already...argh.

Happy Very Belated 4th of July

Our little(er) family two years ago:

Snuggle Time with Ryan

Looks like the kiddos think Daddy's extra cuddly when he's not feeling well...

A Dog's Life

I saw this today, and felt compelled to share...

"If a dog was the teacher, you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
(Like Jacob does with Ryan)

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
(Jon Lefavour, sticking his head far out my car window, "Yeah, I can see why dogs like this!")

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.
(Thank you for teaching me this by example, Sara Murphy)

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently."

Oh my goodness, that last one really got me. That summarizes the relationship I had with my dog growing up. Rex was my sounding board. My listening ear. My non-judgmental, accepting friend through those awful middle school years when EVERYONE is judging you. He let me squeeze him while I cried. He always loved me, no matter how rotten or mean I was. (Like I said, EVERYONE.)

1st Trip to the Dentist

Cool Things:
1. Taking the kids to my childhood pediatric dentist - being recognized by a nurse, a receptionist, and WOOHOO the dentist!

2. How awesome the nurses were at explaining everything to the kids beforehand - they both did great!





3. Jacob charming the socks off of every single person he met...he had all the ladies swooning, and was holding hands with the dentist by the time his appointment was over.

Not Cool Things:
1. The bill
2. The upcoming bill
3. DID I MENTION THE BILLS??

Family Silhouettes

(Not sure where Sam's name went on that second one...)

Thought these were super cute =)

Out For A Stroll

Can you find all NINE children?



(Hint, two are in utero) ;)

Photo taken this past Thursday, the day before my due date.

"Still No Baby? Oh, My!"

Jake and Lily with Jillian

How We Pass the Time

Two days late...and counting.