What it means to have a big brother. . .

This was from weeks ago but I need to catch up some. C got his hair cut in a civilian cut and his older brother had to show him how to comb and style it! :-)

Fun at Home

"C's" Good Joke!

We have gotten a big kick out of "C's" budding humor! Just a very short time ago his joke humor consisted of rhyming two words together and he would think that was just hilarious! And we would think it was hilarious because he thought it was so hilarious. :-)

Well, today "C's" jokes seemed have to gone up a rung! His joke today was
"Who knows the best that Noah built the ark?  ARKeologists!!!!!"

We thought that was pretty good!!!! So fun to watch the kids grow and learn and see their personalities show more and more.

Grandpa with his award and Big C

My Dad was awarded recently the Defender of the Scripture Award from an organization. He is the 2nd recipient to get it. After hearing about Grandpa's award "C" quietly said 

"If King James were still alive he would've been proud of you." 

That was so cute and sweet. We are proud of Grandpa and his stand for the Scriptures for which he has paid a big price. 

Our churches today are confused with all different translations. The big problem with this issue is that it is confusing for the typical person and so many people either do what is easy or what the crowds do. Some do enough study to see what they want I suppose:-)

Thankful for my dad's stand for the truth of Scriptures. An interesting read would be about Hobby Lobby's accumulation of Bible manuscripts and which Bible they hold dear. This year they are opening a Bible Museum 2 blocks from the main mall of Washington D.C. After reading the article and why they were building this museum I was even more impressed with the company.

Over this Christmas break Grandpa started teaching "G" on this topic and "G" loved sitting and listening to Grandpa's words of wisdom and experience. It is a lot for an 8th grader to process but little by little he can learn.

Baptism of R and C

This was an exciting day for our family. Our church had a BIG service outside at a local park. R and C had weeks before decided that they wanted to be baptized and we were thrilled about that. Baptism has nothing to do with salvation but what it does show is a desire to identify with Christ and a desire to follow in obedience to Christ's words after salvation.

We REALLY appreciate our pastor and his preaching.

C enjoying Bible Club

C has been LOVING his church Bible club. He has been working hard on his Bible memorization and doing so well. He has some GREAT club leaders which is such a blessing.

Today when I was helping him I told him he was supposed to draw a picture of his favorite thing that God has created. I asked him what he was going to draw and he said "my family".

As I was reading the passage out of the Bible for C I got to the verse before the verse that says "but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" and C said "But someone found grace in the eyes of the Lord"! He knew that verse was coming. His Bible class this year is so good. May he hide all this in his heart.

July 4th video clips

Top video: The twins storming Devil's Den at Gettysburg on July 4th
Middle video: G and B singing a song on July 4th in Gettysburg
Last video: After we got back home the boys decided to practice marching and you can see the little drummer boy tagging along

Before I forget . . .

I better get these stories down before I forget them . . .

Little J (3 years old) thought one of the twins said "two" to him the other day and he emphatically said "I am NOT two I am fourteen!"

R, Big Boy C, and Little J were out riding bikes and in J's case a scooter toy. R crossed a line and said "I won!" Then little J wanting to be a winner too said "I won too". I already know the kids view on "everybody winning" because they have heard it before and talk about it that that is what liberals say.  They STRONGLY dislike the philosophy. So I said "Everybody wins " just to make a joke. Shortly thereafter C (6 years old) rides by on his bike and says "I don't see how a man could be liberal." Too funny but thinking about it that is a good point! Boys like to be the best and they strive for that! What boy wants to be a mediocre winner with everyone else??? My 6 year old certainly didn't get it!!

The other day we were going to walk to the library which is about a 20 minute walk. It ended up being a blistering hot walk but we made it. I let the 3 older ones take their bikes and my 6 year old wanted to bring his scooter. I said "No" he would not be able to ride 40 minutes on a scooter and would be faster for him to walk. He knew how to ride a bike but was not good at it yet. I told him he needed to start practicing on his bike and then I would let him take that.

Big C took it to heart and often asks me to take him out to ride his bike and he has improved A LOT in just about a week and a half! Anyway, it is so cute to watch him. Last night when I took him out he was singing over and over again as he rode up and down the street "there is power, power, wonder working power in the Lamb!" Then one time as he sped by he said "when you hear that sound it is my bike.":-) He was quite proud of the loud whirring sound of fast tires.:-) I took him out again this morning and was really getting a kick out of hearing him sing another hymn which I cannot remember the name of.

Kindergarten Graduation!

 It was time to celebrate C's Kindergarten graduation! This was our 4th kindergarten graduation party! It was so fun to finally get to this point since we had been talking to C about kindergarten graduation for a long time and he knew he would get what we call a cookie cake, which is a family tradition, for this special celebration! After talking about picking that cookie out for so long we finally got to go and buy one. We had a wonderful party! We gave him a big, made for the beach, sand shovel for heavy duty sand digging. Grandma and Grandpa J got him a Bible which was perfect. We usually buy a Bible for K Grad but I wasn't on the ball and hadn't picked one out but my parents had! C really likes his Bible and at night he has been bringing it to me and asking me to have devotions with him!! Last night listening to his prayer was so wonderful as I listened to what he chose to pray about. He is so tenderhearted and caring.

He learned so much this year. It is always exciting to see the increase in knowledge and skills by the end of the year. Although homeschooling is not easy (to me anyway) I am very grateful I was able to have C at home for kindergarten. I'll pass the baton to a classroom teacher next year though.

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words . . .

 Before Easter we worked some out of an Easter devotional book that prepares the whole family for Easter. We only studied some from it but I would like to do more next year. Anyway, one night it said to ask the kids to draw a picture of what it means to them that Jesus is King. I did NOT give suggestions and almost immediately after devotions C (my now 6 year old) drew this picture. At the top is Jesus and an angel and at the bottom is him. To think of a King's love first may seem strange to most people but not if you know King Jesus.

Dashing through the Kitchen, In a one brother open sleigh . . . laughing all the way!!!

The top video is especially hilarious! I LOVE listening to J just laughing and laughing!!! In the bottom video J is being the big brother of fun!

My mom gave me a print for the wall that states "I can imagine a life without children but it doesn't have the same laughter or noise." I am so grateful for my family!! It does get crazy but it is all a beautiful blessing.

Winter Wedding Gifts

 Working on a snow globe for Uncle B's wedding on January 1st!

Mistakes were made and lessons learned on what order to do things!

We learned how much glycerin to use after experimenting some!

It doesn't take much.

 I really helped a lot with C and R as trying to get hot glue on and move quickly

is hard but glitter time is fun!!

 "A" found this wedding couple at Walmart for about $2!

And the the bride is wearing white boots just like Aunt J is going to do!!

 Here is all three snow globes. R's is the one on the left, A the center, and C the right which is kids playing in the snow and one making a snow angel.

 R was quite pleased with the wedding gift outcome!

Ready to Start on New Testament Books . . .

I look like a dork on this video. I am not one to take great joy of being video'd. Anyway, Big C however does a great job doing his books of the Old Testament along with what that book is about. We recently finished memorizing the Old Testament and now he is working on the New Testament.  He had memorized some of these when R did these in school but now he has gone past what he had done before. What I great skill to know the books of the Bible along with an idea of what that book is about! Big C is a GREAT kindergarten student and he works so hard.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

^{I Thessalonians 5 . . .} 

¹⁶ Rejoice evermore. ¹⁷ Pray without ceasing. ¹⁸ In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Our family has been through some rough times lately but I want to give praise to God who always is good and always supplies grace. I am thankful for a God that instead of me showing myself strong He wants me realize my weakness and rest in His might for when I am weak I am strong. I know His plans are perfect and His way is perfect.

One funny side note from my day:
Big C came to sit next to me during school and I noticed he had on 3 pair of shorts. After talking some he revealed to me his grand idea. He had three pair on so when the top pair became dirty all he would have to do is take off the top pair and then then next pair were right there! Great idea but not real practical. I did get a kick out of it though!

A's 11th Birthday

Our little girl is no longer little. It is amazing how time can go so fast!! "A" is a very sweet girl and a great big sister. She is tender hearted and loves the Lord. She loves truth and hates evil. People are drawn to her. When we go out none of us are suprised when kids just come walking up to her to talk. She seems to have on her face "I am kind and I love people."

This year has been a harder road for her. At the end of February she had a Nuss bar put in her chest and across it to repair a birth defect. We were told after word it is one of the two most painful surgeries there are and I am here to say it is no fun being with a loved one coming out of anesthesia from that surgery. No fun AT ALL. What a trooper she was and still continues to be. She does at times still get uncomfortable. She matured through that process and understands more about help from God in times of distress and need.

"A" enjoys playing the piano, playing with her American girl dolls, playing with her brothers, and roller blading. She wrote a wonderful book report this week that was fun and interesting to read. She really tries hard at improving in things.

"A" has wanted Josafina from American Girl for quite a while and she was THRILLED to get her.

Big C made "A" a very creative and cute card.

Daddy bought her a very beautiful ornament of the nativity in Germany.

Her Great Aunt O sent her a really cool Playmobil set that she

was also thrilled about. She also receive many other cool gifts one of which

I'll have to post about later.

R bought for his sister with HIS money a beautiful turtle necklace down by the beach

weeks ago knowing her birthday was coming up.

"A" with her two precious to her dolls and her birthday cake.

Necklace

Card from Big C.

Being silly with A's birthday balloons.

These Pictures Were NOT Posed . . . Just Brothers Being Good Brothers!

R was doing his school and cradling J at the same time. J looks so comfy with his big brother. My dad said when he saw this that it isn't just mother's the multitask!!! R often likes to solve his very young siblings problems. Tonight he was trying to get J to eat his dinner by telling him the food was a cool car that wanted to park in his garage mouth:-)

I know I am biased but I think this is extraordinary for a 2 YEAR OLD BOY to do on his own. Just hanging out with his little Sis. SOOOOO SWEET!! He and Baby C have really started a neat relationship lately. On another post I posted a video of him holding her hand as she walked.

I didn't get a picture but today Baby C was throwing a fit and Big brother C came over and asked if she wanted her belly rubbed and it worked!! How do kids figure these things out!

This Week . . . at our Home

Top video: Baby B being as adorable as it gets.
Middle video: Big C is saying his school Bible passage and doing a great job especially considering all the distraction around him!
Bottom video: Is "A" messing around with a new app on her I pad that does time laps photography. I think it is cute how she ends it.

We had a full week at our house. Babe's aunt and uncle were visiting with us and left earlier this week. I am going to wait to get the pictures they took while here to post. They are both photographers!

Last Saturday "A" got a new (to her new) used piano. Her piano teacher had found it for WAAAAAAY under its value. Her teacher felt she needed to have a piano that had the correct tone, consistent feeling in the keys, etc. Her teacher did the leg work on finding it and coordinating its delivery.  We used money we had put in "A's" account for her. We felt this was a good use of some of the money we had put away for her. She knows this is her piano and she'll take it with her when she leaves. She LOVES piano and works VERY hard at it. Her piano teacher really is impressed at the amount of consistent work she puts in. I am excited to hear her start practicing Christmas music now. She has it picked out!

Well, the man that sometimes helps with Big C at wrestling was not helping the other night and so to make sure C kept learning I stepped in to instruct him and that was interesting. I learned how you grab the chin, lace the arm under his arm reach across back and then with right knee down and left foot on floor propel yourself and opponent over. It works tremendously well and Big C did it on me. Probably not something they see at that wrestling club everyday but whatever works!! I thoroughly enjoy wrestling nights. It is an environment I feel very comfortable in. I love wrestling moms because they are no frill type people and there is no need to dress up or wear an abundance of make up. I always enjoyed playing sports.

G had 2 projects due this week. One he almost completely finished last weekend and the other he had started on but still had to do most the work for.  He got them done which is great. He got VERY EMBARRASSED this week when in Latin class the teacher photocopied his translation of a paragraph and handed it out in class and said something to the effect of "now you have a safe 'G' translation". G said he could feel his face turning red. "G" seems to have something I never really felt and that is love of his school. I didn't hate my school or anything I just didn't feel strongly about it. "G" LOVES his school and his teachers. There is another family that lives near us and their son goes to G's school and is on the swim team so we have just started the carpool thing for swim team practice which hopefully will work out well.

Babe made a major family decision this last week. In fact, a huge change for us all. I am very excited to see what God is working on in our family's lives. No, I am not going to go into this . . . we'll see how it all plays out.

Babe left for Germany and so I'll really need to be on my toes this next week.

Thoughts this week:
I watched as R and Big C were doing pushups in wrestling and hearing everyone say after each pushup "thank coach!!" there was another phrase too but it is not coming to mind. What a coach does is for their betterment and although uncomfortable and possibly painful you know it is because he wants you to succeed that he pushes you.  I thought if only to have that attitude toward discomfort/difficulties in my life to God "thank you God I know your at work.. I know you're making me stronger and of greater faith." Just a thought.

I've had lots of thoughts this week but my head doesn't hold thoughts long. I often forget them so they must not be to important!!

This stage of life is exciting. I am starting to see what it is my older kids love and that is super fun. I am seeing more and more who they are individually. It is extremely busy but I thought this week "I am at the stage that one really dreams of when younger." I am in full on Mommy mode to different stages of kiddos.

Out of the Mouths of Babes . . .

Big C and I were reading and discussing a book on castles, pyramids, temples, etc. for school. I was reviewing today about what we had talked about yesterday about pyramids. We talked about how the pyramids are tombs and how they believed after death they would go to an afterlife and be able to have with them in the afterlife those things that were in the tomb with them (pets, whatever else). C knows there is no afterlife the way they thought of it but that there is an eternity of heaven or hell. I said the only thing we can take with us is our soul after death. My Big C is a very soft spoken kid and does not talk a lot. Almost immediately after I said that I heard him say "and our love." I was shocked . . . how beautiful . . . and how true . . . how insightful!!!! Yes, we take our love with us. We did not carry on the conversation. I was amazed at his little mind with such big thoughts. But yes, "We love Him because He first loved us." God sent His Son to earth to die out of love for us and we Love our Heavenly Father for the love He showed us through the gift of His Son. We'll surely take that with us to Glory.

Encouragement, Pass It On!!

This week was extremely busy as usual which is a good thing but it definitely had its rough moments. G, A, and I got a big kick out of the clip above!! A loose quote from part of the clip above is . . . "Your momma and daddy are behind you, God is behind you, I'm behind you!" He is quite motivational. I like the sports commentator at the end saying he felt like maybe he could go run through a brick wall!! :-) Encouragement--pass it on!!!

This was a big week. R and Big C started wrestling. The club they joined is supposed to be REALLY good and that was evident from their first night. They will have made A LOT of progress in wrestling by the end of the year if they work hard. Their coach seems to be GREAT and what an example he is of fortitude with 2 prosthetic legs.

G had a rougher week in school but it was NOT because he doesn't like school. In fact, he REALLY enjoys school. He got far enough into the year that the work was coming fast and heavy and he started to drown with his organizational skills not holding up. I expected this but I expected it earlier in the year like the first week or two. He is revamping his organizational system and Babe is really stepping in to mentor him through it. G is a hard worker with the STRONG desire to do things right and with God's help he'll fall into stride. I am thrilled he is learning this in Jr. High.

"A" has been working really hard on piano. She finds she enjoys playing and has really hit it off with her teacher. Her teacher has really motivated her a lot. I see "A" responding to her like an athlete does a inspirational coach. But she told me the other day she misses Mrs. W (her teacher in CO). "A" has a great attitude of enjoying the new but appreciating and missing her old teacher.

"A" has been working SOOOO much on her piano. Her teacher has been coming to our house apart from lessons to work with her on finger strength and technique on Tuesday afternoons and she has extended "A's" lesson times out on Thursdays for awhile to work more with her. "A" is really learning a lot and has a smile on her face after lessons. We are very thankful for a teacher so generous with her time.

Funny story from today . . . Babe and I spent the day unpacking and sorting in the garage. As we would finish a box it would be broken down and laid in the stack of other boxes. At the end of the day I was carrying "J" around and I was talking and said "I need kids to come out here and carry the boxes away." Little "J" replied "Not I." Too funny, he is a book fanatic and probably took that line out of the Golden Book about the Little Red Hen that planted the grain of wheat.:-)

Anyway, the clip above is so true no matter what in life is challenging us whether academics, music, athletics, etc. What a blessing to know you've got a Mommy and Daddy behind you and God is behind you along with some other family. What a blessing.

First Day of School!

Sissy trying to help G with his tie.

 G ready to walk out the door for his 1st day of Jr. High.

Brother R helping him get his tie on. R is a snappy dresser and understands these things more than G does.

G ready for school orientation.

Yah, we're in the groove for school.

 First day of school at home too!

 R and his little helpers.;-)

 Babies C and B spent a lot of the morning in Grandpa's daycare. They seemed to have a wonderful time!

 Well, everyone else seems to be taking up books

so we will too. J LOVES LOVES books. He reminds us a lot of G.

Grandma J working with A on her school work.

 Big C working away at one of his worksheets.

He is an excellent student and worked so hard and so 

carefully.

I was ready for school to start. The fact that I am typing those words shocks me but also tells me I felt I got a sufficient break from school. Big C was so excited for school to start and after we got going he asked me if I would home school him until he was done with school. I don't know about that but Big C did a tremendous job and worked so carefully and cheerfully. I am so excited to see his growth curve by the end of the year. It is a joy to teach him. I love it.

Let me first say I am NOT one of those amazing home school moms that do it all. This year my oldest is off to regular school and 2 out of the 3 kids that are home do video school. I only hands on teach one child. I am surrounded by amazing people and that tends to cause me more respect than I deserve. Right now my mom is here to help out for a month. My mom is a former elementary school teacher and her insight and ideas help me out SOOOOO Much!! My husband is an amazing helper also and does soo much.   

The first day of school seemed SOOO easy! I knew the fact that my dad who was watching the 3 youngest kiddos and my mom who was over seeing the older kids was causing that EASY DAY feeling. Thankfully my mom and dad didn't leave at the same time. My dad left in the middle of the week and sure enough when we had to do school without him the girls cried and fussed.:-) We made it through though.

G had a great first week in Jr. High. He had a few tense moments of finding out what is expected but by the end of the week he was coming home wanting to tell about the good day he had at school!! One boy he talked to had hiked some of the Appallacian Trail and enjoyed his experience. Gabriel enjoys all his classes except Composition. He is still learning organization and bringing things home for school work but is doing a great job.

He was having a hard time organizing his locker so I told him I would come in with him the next morning and work at organizing it. I got it all organized and he was SOOOOO thankful and so sweet and thanking me. He wasn't embarrassed about his mom being there, etc. I walked out and almost felt like crying watching G in that type of school setting. He was so polite and kind so thankful to his Mommy for coming to help him. I am thankful for him:-)

It was a big week for him because he also went to his first youth group Wednesday night this week. He was SOOO nervous about this definitely more nervous than school. G is a good swimmer but is not an athlete in typical sports and he was very nervous about youth group and playing games like basketball, etc. I told him usually it is not athletic games that are played but things like dodge ball. He came home and he LOVED it! He was telling me about the Bible message and what it was about and the story it was taught from and that it was good. He told me they played dodge ball ( I made him say to me "you were right";-) He said he got out pretty quick but it didn't seem to bother him. He met a girl (nothing goofy in this he just had a great time talking to her) whose dad is a Navy Seal and so understands military life AND she is a military history buff! He enjoyed talking with her.

The younger kids went to a group called Master's Club and they loved that! J will get to go next year since they have a group for 3 year olds.

"A" this week started piano with her new teacher here. I had never met the lady in person so was not sure how it would be but when "A" was done with her class the teacher said that she and "A" were going to get along with each other. "A" felt very comfortable and good about the pick so that is very good.

It felt like a successful week.