Pilgrim Days

Want to guess who is sick now?

2012-01-27T19:05:00.000-06:00

Keyboarding 101

2012-01-16T19:25:00.000-06:00

Celebrating 8!

2012-01-13T22:31:00.002-06:00

Jack turned 8 last Friday, but he wanted to wait until my parents got into town to celebrate. They have been here since Wednesday afternoon, but then he had to wait until Daddy had an evening free from work. He has been a very patient kid! I had a lazy idea after not having wrapped his gifts so I asked him if he would rather I go wrap his gifts or if he wanted me to hide them and he could find them. You can probably guess what he picked. He hid in the pantry and we hid his gifts.
The photographer missed the first hunt and find; a playmobil spy car hidden in his top bunk.

The second gift was a battleship game where you build your ships out of legos.

Heading back down the hall...

Where could they be? ( I wonder if I'll have to take this one down tomorrow?)

Off for gift Number 3...

Behind the laundry tubs he found a baseball training thing. The kid is crazy about baseball.

Creed right in his usual spot waiting for cake. He seriously loves some cake. He had been wanting it since breakfast.

Old monkey still comes around every now and then especially on special days. I'll be sorry when he doesn't hang out with us at all any more. He has been by Jack's side through a lot.

Blowing out candles. That is not pink icing; it is raspberry icing. ;-) One of the most requested cakes at our house is the ice cream cake I make. I have always used cool whip or whipped cream as the topping, but he asked for me to try it with our homemade strawberry icing. He picked a raspberry ice cream so we decided to make a raspberry icing instead. It was a hit!

I think Creed is telling Grandma how big a piece he wants.

I think I ate too much. I am even blurry.

Happy Birthday Jack!! You are one special kid!!!

By Elizabeth's Hands

2012-01-07T22:46:00.002-06:00

Elizabeth made this cute little color matching game for Janey Kate. I first saw it here. She painted each of the little wooden cups a different color with white polka dots. Then on the doll pegs she made all the faces and hair the same and painted each dress to match one of the cups. While Janey Kate is too young to play the matching game just yet, she still loves the dolls. Elizabeth is working on some more dolls just for play. She got a bit carried away taking pictures, but I thought they were fun!

Bee Creek Park

2012-01-06T23:21:00.000-06:00

One of the things I wanted to do this year was to visit some new parks. We are really fortunate to live in an area with an abundance of parks and they all seem to have something a little bit different. Our friends, the Bakers, told us they really liked Bee Creek Park so when we had the perfect 75 degree afternoon today we decided to check it out.
We loved the park. I love how the playground area is far from the street and a good distance from the parking lot too. There is stuff for big kids and little kids both and lots of grassy areas and best of all plenty of shade!!!
I spent most of the time chasing Janey Kate so she got all the pictures!

Sliding with Elizabeth...

In a tunnel

You'll notice that the only thing that changes in the swing pictures is her face. She'd laugh a little, smile and squeal but she held on for dear life and her hands and legs hardly moved. It was so funny. She looked like she was standing up because she leaned forward and held her legs straight down.

She wasn't afraid of the stairs and worked on mastering them for a long time. She doesn't really get the stepping or crawling down but she mastered going up!

An aside about her little dress. I had been meaning to blog about it and several other things I have made but it seems silly after she has worn it in these pictures and her birthday pictures so her it goes:

It is upcycled from several shirts. It is a combination of Dana's 90 minute shirt and Lil' Blue Boo Sienna's dress(though I didn't actually use the pattern but the concept) The sleeves were my starting point. They came from a sleeveless onesie she wore last summer that I hated to part with. The Sienna Dress has raglan sleeves but my pieces weren't big enough for those so I thought about the 90 minutes shirt and decided to combine the two. The green, pink and red parts are all either old t--shirts that still looked nice or thrifted t-shirts. The bottom piece is cut as a circle so it has a nice little flounce to it. The shoulders needed a deeper lap so I'll work on that next time because I see more of these in her future; it is a favorite! I also used this dress on Lil' Blue Boo's site for inspiration as well, but chose to applique my strawberry on including handstitching the seeds so that the strawberry on the front looked just like the ones on her sleeves.

The Great Photo Shoot 2011 --Part II

2012-01-05T12:46:00.000-06:00

The Great Photoshoot 2011--part 1

2012-01-05T08:29:00.002-06:00

At Brother's Pond...

Christmas Day...the PM volume

2012-01-02T00:32:00.000-06:00

After we ate lunch, we were ready to open presents.

Creed was very ready. I love this picture because if you look out the window it looks like there is snow on the ground.

Elizabeth with a picture Creed drew for her. Jack and Creed made cards for everyone.

Creed and Elizabeth opening presents together.

Creed loves to build with his "wood" so Grandma added onto his set. It amazes me what he can build. Jack and Creed also got a bunch of army men so they have been building and playing with their army men together.    A funny thing about their army men is that some look like they are from the revolutionary war with muskets and colonel-type hats and some have on gas masks and some sort of gas weapon. I don't think the boys have even noticed.


   Jack with some sort of bow and arrow hybrid gun thing.

Jon and Anne Michal checking out a CD.

Poor Janey Kate napped through the present opening. She got a solo show later.

As usual, we went to the Coleman's for dinner and the annual present exchange with all the kids. Creed is very anxiously looking on while Wade opens his train.

Spencer! He informed me several weeks before Christmas, "I get trains for Christmas!'

Creed's buddy Noah opening his gift.

I love how everyone is always so interested in what everyone else is getting.

A small touch of excitement....

Janey Kate helps Anne Michal with her gift.

Party is over and heading home,but thankful every day for the savior's birth!

November/December 2011 Book Log

2012-01-01T16:34:00.001-06:00

Deep Freeze by Patricia Hall
Skeleton at the Feast by Patricia Hall
White Sky, Black Ice by Stan Jones
Swing by L.L. Enger
Dead Reckoning by Patricia Hall
Death in Dark Waters by Patricia Hall
Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson
The Draining Lake by Arnaldur Indridason
Living the Resurrection: The Risen Christ in Everyday Life by Eugene Peterson
The Great Divorce: A Dream by C.S. Lewis
Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians by N.T. Wright
The Message of Thessalonians: The Gospel and The End of Time by John Stott
The Epistles to the Thessalonians: A Commentary on the Greek Text by Charles Wanamaker
1-2 Thessalonians by G.K. Beale
1&2 Thessalonians: The Hope of Salvation by James Grant
The Letters to the Thessalonians by Gene Green
Getting Back in the Race: The Cure for Backsliding by Joel Beeke
Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and The Christian by John Piper
Jonathan Edwards on Heaven and Hell by Owen Strachan
Jonathan Edwards on the Good Life by Owen Strachan
Awaiting a Savior: The Gospel, the New Creation, and The End of Poverty by Aaron Armstrong
The Divine Commodity: Discovering a Faith Beyond Consumer Christianity by Skye Jethani
With: Reimaging the Way You Relate to God by Skye Jethani

Christmas 2011 Post I...Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning

2011-12-28T21:25:00.002-06:00

We almost didn't think we'd pull it off, but what is Christmas without staying up until 2 am.

I even managed to finish(minus tabs to hang them ;-)) the stockings I had been talking about making for the past 6 years.

On Christmas Eve we went to our annual Christmas Eve candlelight service which we always look forward to. (I forgot to take my camera to church) Afterwards we usually eat something light and then open a gift that that we know to be a book. That way the kids can read their book while winding down for the night. Jack had also bought gifts for everyone and was so excited that we opened his gifts as well. He was so proud to give me a big bag of chocolates.:-)

Anne Michal and Creed open Christmas Eve presents.

All the kids on Christmas morning before stockings.

Anne Michal with hers while Creed coughs in the background. He has been a bit under the weather.

Creed with his. He was very excited for Christmas.

Janey Kate snagged her baby doll from her stocking.

Jack helping her with the rest of hers.

Emma looking at a necklace.

Jack with his annual toothbrush.

Janey Kate helped Anne Michal with hers.

Elizabeth got her favorite flipflops replaced with a bigger pair and conveniently hid her face with them. She wears them year round as much as possible.

Creed and Jack wearing their spy glasses!

...next post Christmas afternoon and evening.

In Case You Have Forgotten

2011-12-13T00:07:00.002-06:00

what Anne Michal looks like, Creed drew a picture of her. Apparently her nose is above her eyes. He seemed genuinely surprised that I didn't know who that was. ;-)

Just Because

2011-12-07T22:27:00.001-06:00

Knox--Dec2006

We see this same look on Janey Kate's face so often!

Janey Kate turns One!!!!!

2011-11-27T20:38:00.001-06:00

     Today our Janey Kate turned one. I cannot even put into words how thankful I am for this little girl. I am pretty sure my pregnancy was more like 3 yrs instead of 9 months. It seemed like it anyway as it was very rough physically. There were times I thought I'd literally lose my mind, but I knew it would end and bring sweetness with that end. I'd do it all over in a heartbeat. She can be a bit high maintenance, this girl of mine, but she is such a delight. She is always on the go, but is learning to enjoy a quick cuddle now and then and loves to give hugs and kisses.
    I always have to fight (or accept) waves of sadness on birthdays. I always miss Knox more than usual on special days. Birthdays are such fun and greatly anticipated days in our house, and I miss sharing those with him. Birthdays also mark the passage of time...time without him. However, I was thinking today about Janey Kate, Knox and a friend of mine whose mother is nearing the end of her pilgrim days and how today could be the day she enters eternity. That day could be shared with Janey Kate's birthday.
     I used to not want special days like birthdays to be shared with Knox's anniversary days...birthday, accident, death...and it still would be very hard. Knox was born on October 27th, 2005. Janey Kate was born on November 27th, 2010. She is exactly 5 years and 1 month younger. Anway, I know this is random and rambling, and all they share is the number of the day, but somehow it is a reminder to me in yet another way of Our God, Ordainer of all things, Orderer of our world, and Giver of Good Gifts. A reminder that in my continual sadness there is also continual blessing and joy and maybe, while we cannot know the mind of God, the gift of life can be a reminder that he is still with us and caring for us in the midst of loss.
This is a birthday post, so of course, there must be pictures and pictures of us making merry. She is becoming increasingly difficult to take pictures of since she is never still!!!!! But here there are!!!

Elizabeth continues her stint as birthday decorator.

The little dolls in cups are a matching color game that she made for Janey Kate. I'll post more pictures of that another day. We got the idea from pinterest.;-)

She made her a strawberry banner.

Opening presents with Lizzy...brown paper packages tied up with string!

It is a made-by-mommy doll with a matching dress.

Playing with another toy.

She kept hitting the toy with her hand and the she'd throw it back and look at it. So cute!

Showing off her birthday dress while dancing to music.

Giggling with her sisters.

I think Creed sat here for two days waiting for cake!

Miss Peggy helped her sneak a lick of icing.

Eating a bit of dinner first.

Cake! White cake with homemade strawberry icing made by Elizabeth.

Posing with her doll for a picture.

And in case there was any doubt that she might be a drama queen, this is totally feigned surprise on her part. She wasn't reacting to a thing; just making funny faces. :-)

Thank you friends who came to celebrate though I somehow didn't get pictures.

Love you Mallory Jane Katharine, our favorite one year old. You make our lives more joyful and give us much to be thankful for!!!!!!!

Things to Remember

2011-11-16T23:05:00.001-06:00

Creed: Mommy, I love you.
Me: I love you too, Creed.
Creed: Thank you for loving me too!

No One Better Mess with My Girls

2011-11-03T21:43:00.001-05:00

Anne Michal's target from shooting practice with my dad. It was only her second or third time shooting.

Elizabeth's target. The ones off the center were her first few and then she got the hang of it. Be afraid...very, very afraid. ;-)

October 2011 Book Log

2011-11-01T11:24:00.003-05:00

Death Penalties by Paula Gosling

The Wychford Murders by Paula Gosling

Dead on Arrival by Patricia Hall

The Italian Girl by Patricia Hall

Our Lady of Immaculate Deception by Nancy Martin

Sticky Fingers by Nancy Martin

Hardscape by Justin Scott

Mausoleum by Justin Scott

Stonedust by Justin Scott

The Dragon's Tooth by N.D. Wilson

False Picture by Veronica Heley

Comeback by L.L. Enger

Jesus Made in America: A Cultural History from the Puritans to The Passion of Christ by Stephen Nichols

The Bible Made Impossible: Why Biblicism is not a Truly Evangelical Reading of Scripture by Christian Smith

The Gospel and The Mind: Recovering and Shaping the Intellectual Life by Bradley Green

Thinking, Loving, Doing: A Call to Glorify God with Heart and Mind by John Piper

Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke

She Walks, She Talks, She Plays Games

2011-10-29T20:03:00.001-05:00

There have been times we have thought she said, "Hi!" or "Bye!", but I think we have to declare "tag" as her first word. Crazy, I know, but she must have said it 20 times tonight.

A Knox Celebration--October 27, 2011

2011-10-29T00:02:00.003-05:00

...the 6th year since the day of his birth. I can't count the number of time I added up the years and subtracted birth year from current year and then checked the other kids I know his age just to make sure that he really would be 6 this year. Eventually, I had to accept that it was true. He would be 6. It has been 4.5 years and another birthday was going to come and go.
It seems a bit odd to say that I wasn't particularly up to it since it probably isn't really on anyone's bucket list to celebrate the birthday of a child they have buried, but I was feeling rather weary of it all. I have a feeling that it really wasn't any more so than any other year, but since this year, this 6th birthday year, was the one I was facing, it seemed particularly difficult.
I, eventually, went to bed the night before(though really the morning of) feeling very heavy of heart and mulling many events and emotions over and over. I certainly didn't awake in the morning feeling light of heart. I'd be lying to say otherwise, but I did wake up singing Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken, and was a bit comforted.

Here are the lyrics for anyone that isn't familiar with them or that needs to be reminded:

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

1. Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.

2. Let the world despise and leave me,
They have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou art not, like them, untrue.
O while Thou dost smile upon me,
God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me,
Show Thy face and all is bright.

3. Man may trouble and distress me,
’Twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me;
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me
While Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me,
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

4. Go, then, earthly fame and treasure,
Come disaster, scorn and pain
In Thy service, pain is pleasure,
With Thy favor, loss is gain
I have called Thee Abba Father,
I have stayed my heart on Thee
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather;
All must work for good to me.

5. Soul, then know thy full salvation
Rise o’er sin and fear and care
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
Think what Father’s smiles are thine,
Think that Jesus died to win thee,
Child of heaven, canst thou repine.

6. Haste thee on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.
Heaven’s eternal days before thee,
God’s own hand shall guide us there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission,
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

It seems that I post the same pictures over and over each year. We just all look a bit older, and I guess our number has grown. ;-) There is a bit of comfort in consistency and a feeling of being able to carry on. Anne Michal thanked me at the end of the day for making it a "pretty good day." Seeing them being able to smile makes it all worth while.

Balloons ready to go....When we went to the party store, a soldier walked out as we were walking in. Anne Michal happened to notice his name tag...KNOX.

Creed with his balloon. He stays pretty confused. He waffled between thinking we were celebrating Knox the dog(what he calls Knox's stuffed dog) and wanting to know when Knox was going to show up.

Trying to get Janey Kate to hold a balloon. We finally tied it to her belt loop.

Emma getting ready to let go.

Jack watching as it

soars...

As usual, we had Sonic though I was really wondering what possessed me to have Sonic and not Chik Fil A the day I went into labor with him.

The cake. I made this one and Elizabeth decorated it. She only lets us use these kind of sprinkles for his birthday cake.

After eating the cake Knox style(as in the video), the kids ran around and played. Elizabeth, Emma, and Creed all played Hide and Seek. Janey Kate walked and walked and walked some more only stopping to try to put anything and everything in her mouth. Jack and Anne Michal played a bit of baseball.

Looking forward to our reunion with Knoxie.

The Wound the Death of a Child Brings

2011-10-27T00:24:00.002-05:00

it's like...
a puncture wound...so deep that it runs through every nerve of your body over and over
a papercut... no one might see it but every little nudge makes it hurt
a wound to the lip..you can't put ointment on it to make it heal faster or a band-aid to protect it
a cut between your thumb and finger...it keeps getting reopened and hurts anew
a bruise...a sudden bang with a hurt that runs deep and colors your being
an abrasion...it pulls away your protective skin leaving you open, raw, and exposed

but my wounds are being tended and one glorious day will be completely healed.

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."—Psalm 147:3.

How Sweet the Name
of Jesus Sounds

1. How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

2. It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
'Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.

3. Dear Name, the rock on which I build,
My shield and hiding place,
My never failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace!

4. By Thee, my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defiled;
Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am owned a child.

5. Jesus, my Shepherd, Brother, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King,
My Lord, my life, my way, my end,
Accept the praise I bring.

6. Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I'll praise Thee as I ought.

7. 'Til then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of Thy name
Refresh my soul in death.

A Creed Funny or Two

2011-10-22T20:57:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Mom, the kids and I went with our friends Peggy and Carol to a corn maze in Snook. Creed got tired of walking and told Carol that his stomach hurt and asked her to carry him. She said, "Oh, is your stomach telling me to carry you?" He said, "No, my lips are!"

I am laughing all over again.

And another one...

Jack and Emma were riding their bikes on our street. Creed wanted to go out and ride his tricycle. I told him he was too little to be out front with him but maybe when he was four. He says, "Well, now I am four." So I said, "Well, maybe when you are five then." So of course he says, "Now I am five!" Then for good measure he adds, "And now I am six!"

Princess Fang II

2011-10-20T23:14:00.001-05:00

She now has a matching set of fangs though the middle teeth are very painfully making there way in as well. Teething is not this girl's friend!

Simple Pleasures

2011-10-05T23:39:00.002-05:00

Last night we had a neighborhood block party. When I drove by on my way to take Emma and Anne Michal to soccer practice I saw that they had a little train that was being driven around the playground. I knew I had to take Creed when I got back home. He was so excited. We stood in line for his turn and he looks at me with his eyes just glowing and said, "I am going to call him Thomas!" I was rather relieved that he didn't question where the track was!

They also had a pony, but there was no way he was riding a pony. He kept shaking his head vehemently when asked if he wanted to ride; yet, he wasn't afraid to slide down the giant blow up slide. He climbed up and slid down over and over again. The look of glee on his face as he flew down with his shock of blonde hair blowing up behind him was priceless. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of that, but I did get this. Snowcones!

P.S. 12 year old girls that are thrilled to carry their baby sister in an ergo are priceless!!

September 2011 Book Log

2011-10-02T17:57:00.002-05:00

The Burning Soul by John Connolly

Devices and Desires by P.D. James

The Lighthouse by P.D. James

Original Sin by P.D. James

The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin

A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

Precipice by John Jackson Miller

False Charity by Veronica Heley

On Beauty and Being Just by Elaine Scarry

A Community of Character: Toward A Constructive Christian Social Ethic by Stanley Hauerwas

Evil and the Justice of God by N.T. Wright

The Case for Civility: And Why Our Future Depends On It by Os Guinness

How to Go From Being A Good Evangelical to a Committed Catholic in Ninety-Five Difficult Steps by Christian Smith

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Grieving, Hope, and Solace: When a Loved One Dies in Christ by Albert N. Martin

The Pastor: A Memoir by Eugene H. Peterson

Innocent Blood: Challenging the Powers of Death with the Gospel of Life by John Ensor

Fyodor Dostoevsky by Peter J. Leithart

J.R.R. Tolkien by Mark Horne

Janey Kate dancing her way toward bedtime

2011-10-01T21:11:00.000-05:00

Jon sure knows how to wind them down. I should count these as her 10 month pictures as I tried to get some today but she wouldn't be still long enough.

encore:

encore 2:

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-28T14:47:00.001-05:00

Me and My Shadow

2011-09-22T15:17:00.001-05:00

Janey Kate is the Me and I was her shadow as I followed her around the room trying to get a picture of her "fang." She got the tooth to the right of her front top teeth before the front teeth so she has a cute little fang. She is about ready to get a matching one of the other side. My friend Kiersten(well it might have been her husband) christened her daughter, Katie, "Princess Fang" when she did the same thing. Emma was also a Princess Fang.

There it is!!! Finally!

p.s. Sharon and Mary,do not ask what all the stuff in the background is. Thank you. The management.

And A Child Shall Lead Them

2011-09-18T23:11:00.001-05:00

Like most moms, I worry about my kids. Lot of times the things I want for them seems to be conflicting. I want life to be easy for them, but yet, I want them to understand the value of hard work and to not just think that "I want = I get." I want them to not have to suffer and go through hard things, but I want them to know that God is faithful and steadfast in good and bad times. I want them to be well-liked, but I want them to be choosy about the company they keep and be the kind of peer that leads and not follows. I want them to fit in, but I don't want them to compromise things we value like modesty and edifying speech. I want them to be creative and imaginative, but I don't want them to feel like they stick out like sore thumbs.Sometimes I find myself trying to encourage them to do, say, or wear that which will keep life most pleasant for them.
Elizabeth was telling me about youth group tonight; it was just her second week.She said they had to answer the question: What amazes you? She told me her answer and commented that she imagined that some people might have thought it was a weird answer. She said, "I really don't care if they did. I don't understand why you would care if someone thinks that something you say is weird or they don't like what you are wearing. If they do, they aren't really the kind of friend you'd be upset about not having." Maybe I should just back off a bit and find something new to worry about. I think she is doing just fine!

A New Favorite(no mess) Cookie

2011-09-16T17:21:00.001-05:00

One-pan dark chocolate chunk skillet cookie.You mix it and bake it in a 8 in cast iron skillet. If you don't have one, they are not a big investment. They cost around $10 and last forever. I got the recipe from here. Sophistimom and I must be kindred spirit as we both share a love of Guittard dark chocolate chips. They really are the best. If you are a local reader, you can get them at HEB.I did decrease the butter by a couple of tablespoons and added a 1/4 a cup of peanut butter because we are all peanut butter addicts around here; one of these days I am going to keep track of how many pounds we go through in a month. I also cut back the sugar the second go around and will cut it back even more next time. While we all love our sugar, we tend to like things on the less-sweet side. Here is the list of ingredients and you can check out the instructions on her site by clicking the link above.

one-pan dark chocolate chunk skillet cookie
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 egg
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup chocolate chunks

Our finished cookie...minus a slice.

An Emma Funny

2011-09-15T18:40:00.002-05:00

Emma : Mommy, have you ever seen a newborn baby?
Me: Um....at least 7 of them....

Out and About

2011-09-09T23:53:00.002-05:00

This actually happened earlier in the summer, but I was reminded of it tonight; it is too funny not to share. We had been to friends in Mississippi for the weekend, and had driven all day. We got back into town and went to Jason's Deli for supper. I am not sure why but it seems like every time we go there, someone comments on our family(in a positive way!)
So while we are all eating dinner and can I just say we were looking mighty rough after being in the car all day, this man comes up to Jon and says, "Can I just shake your hand?" Jon shakes his hand and the man starts this speech. I can only remember bits and pieces, but he told Jon that he had a great family and he was happy to see us. Now this is the part that I remember...He says, "You know how you see the Grand Canyon and you say, "This is magnificent! Well, this(and he waves his hand over the table) is magnificent!"
It was really sweet, but I really had a hard time not giggling....and here is the funny part. We leave and as we are getting in the van, I ask Jon, "So have you ever thought of us as magnificent as the Grand Canyon?" His answer: Maybe as a giant pit of stuff!!

Thank Goodness for Pink and Blue

2011-09-08T22:55:00.004-05:00

because they might just look a little bit alike...

Both Janey Kate and Creed at 9 months:

Creed...

Janey Kate...
Creed...
JaneyKate...

First Day of Co-op Pictures

2011-09-07T23:25:00.004-05:00

We actually started school a couple of weeks ago, but since we didn't take first day of school pictures, I grabbed my camera and took some Tuesday morning for the first day of co-op. Some of you may be wondering what a homeschool co-op is and what we do there. Co-ops vary widely. Some are more enrichment and some are more academic. We are a part of Brazos Classical Academy and are an academic co-op. My kids all take 3-4 classes with a variety of teachers. I teach a 9th and 10th grade logic class and work in the nursery one hour.
Anne Michal takes Logic, Apologia Biology, Henle latin and a speech and worldview class. Elizabeth is in Logic, Apologia General Science, Second Form Latin, and IEW writing. Jack and Emma are in the same class and have Exploring Creation with Astronomy, Memory, IEW Writing, and PE. Creed is in Preschool and Janey Kate is in the nursery. I am very pleased with the instruction my kids receive there, and they love being part of a co-op and have some really neat friends!

My bookends...Anne Michal and Janey Kate. ...9th grade and life 101.
Elizabeth...7th grade.

Emma...4th grade.

Jack...3rd grade

Creed...preschool

sigh....when did they all get so big...

Enjoying some cooler weather

2011-09-06T22:45:00.006-05:00

We woke up to some cooler air and had a high in the low to mid 90's today. I think I actually shivered this morning getting in the van to go to co-op. We went to the park after co-op, came home, and the kids went back out to play. Amazing what a difference 10 degrees can make.

Creed playing on the swing.

I grew up playing "house." My kids play "home." I don't know why, but that cracks me up. It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue to say, "Wanna play home?"

Even Janey Kate got some outdoor time.

August 2011 Book Log

2011-09-05T21:03:00.002-05:00

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A Taste for Death by P.D. James
Revenger by Rory Clements
In the Woods by Tana French
Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs
The Black Tower by P.D. James
Unnatural Causes by P.D. James
Death of an Expert Witness by P.D. James
Shroud for a Nightingale by P.D. James
Life is a Miracle by Wendell Berry
The Consequences of Ideas by R.C. Sproul
Whose Justice? Which Rationality? by Alasdair MacIntyre
Lament for a Son by Nicholas Wolterstorff
Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson
Habakkuk by James Bruckner
Habakkuk by O. Palmer Robertson
Habakkuk by David Baker
The Expectant Prophet by John Currid
Licensed to Kill by Brian Hedges

How My veggie-hating Boys Eat Veggies

2011-08-31T17:49:00.002-05:00

Jack and Creed are not veggie lovers. Jack has expanded his horizons lately and will choke down a green bean or two as well as a piece or two of raw broccoli or carrot. Creed will claw at his tongue until every single piece is out of his mouth if any vegetable touches his lips except in two ways...

First up is the green smoothie. Almost every single day for lunch my crew eats homemade bread with freshly ground peanut butter from Kroger or HEB along with a green smoothie. Elizabeth is our master smoothie maker though she does have Anne Michal in training to be her backup person. The ingredient list is most often about half a blender of spinach fairly well packed down, 1-2 bananas, a handful of strawberries,3/4 a quart of homemade plain yogurt and a touch of sugar or honey. Occasionally they add some protein powder. This has been lunch for almost a month now, and they still cheer over hearing it is what is for lunch. Total win-win situation as it is a very well-balanced lunch!

The second is one of their favorite meals. We had it last night, and I thought I'd share it with y'all. it is from one of my favorite cookbooks, Family feats for $75 a week, by Mary Ostyn of the blog Owlhaven. She has more kids than I do so I know she at least knows a thing or two about feeding a crew! I don't think I have made anything from this cookbook that isn't good. There is a wide variety including a lot of ethnic foods. So, yeah, the recipe....Thai Wraps.I am not sure how Thai it really is, but it sure is good!

1 pound of romaine lettuce, swiss chard, or fresh spinach separated into individual leaves.
2 carrots, peeled
1 onion, peeled
3 cloves of garlic
1 rib of celery
1/2 cup minced fresh vegetable of your choice(tomato, cucumber, or celery...I use celery and mince it really really fine because I have a bunch of celery haters)
1 T olive oil (if using ground turkey)
2 pounds ground beef or 1 of turkey and one of beef...I can get away with 1 1/2 pounds for all of us
1/4 cup fish sauce or soy sauce ( I use soy or ...ahem...bragg's liquid aminos)
1-2 cups leftover rice (optional ( i usually add)

Wash your lettuce and set aside.

Shred carrots(I just dice them.) Chop onion and garlic, slice celery, and mince any other vegetable that you desire. (if your family loves veggies and you aren't trying to just get them to eat a few like me then you could add extra and a wide variety. You can also add leftover scrambled eggs.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add beef and cook until browned.

Once meat is cooked through, remove it from pan using a slotted spoon. Add chopped, sliced, and minced veggies to skillet and cook in remaining oil over medium heat until soft, 5-7 minutes, stirring a few times. I like to add a bit of sesame oil at this point as it really ups the flavor and my people seem to love sesame oil.

Return to pan and mix with vegetables. Add fish or soy sauce. Add rice if using (if you have 6 kids I suggest you do ;-) ) Cook over medium heat a few more minutes, stirring until ingredients are well mixed and heated through. Serve by wrapping lettuce leaves around several tablespoons of the meat recipe.

Creed actually eats his in a tortilla, but he actually eats the carrots and celery and even knows they are in there!!! Jack eats his in either a tortilla or lettuce but if he eats it in a tortilla he adds lettuce! I guess this makes it a mexasian meal but it gets the job done!!! I actually ate mine last night on a big plate full of lettuce like a salad and it was so yummy!

Let me know how you like it if you give it a try!

P.S. Creed asked what was for supper and when I told him said, "And smoothies??? We haven't had them from a long time ago." They missed them at lunch today as we didn't have yogurt ready.

Reset Button

2011-08-30T23:27:00.002-05:00

Last Monday was the first day of school in the Anderson house. In the past, we have schooled through most of the summer. We did this because we needed to make up for time off in the school year, for the daily structure, and simply because it can be too hot here to do anything but school and go to the pool! We decided we really needed a break this year so we took off a good 2 months. It was nice to just be relaxed, a bit lazy, and flexible. The kids had plenty of freedom to play together, be with friends, and be creative!
I found myself dreading starting back to school. It was so nice to be laid back and not have to wear my teacher hat along with all my other regular hats. The kids didn't have to wear their student hats and other than their regular chores could just "be."
I am not one to ever really even say homeschooling is hard. It has its challenges just like anything else does, though some are certainly unique to homeschooling. It can be a bit of a juggle between homeschooling, taking care of the house, cooking, and running kids around along with everything else. Many times kids handle difficulties they encounter in their schooling differently with ol' mom than they would with a regular teacher. Plus home can have a lot of distractions and it can be hard to want to sit and do your school work when you have lots of fun toys around. Hey, it can be hard to want to teach school when you have a lot of fun toys around!
So all that to say, that I really didn't have a good attitude about the new school year. I was thinking a sabbatical from the whole teaching gig might be nice. The big kids could all go to school and Creed and Janey Kate and I would hang out playing, reading books, doing puzzles, and going to the park and story hour. I'd relive those golden days when Anne Michal and Elizabeth were chubby cheeked, golden hair little girls. In my mind at least, those were stress-free days.
I wasn't the only one with a bad attitude, but then we all know mom can really set the tone for the house...good or bad. About the fourth day, we got into a bit of a groove. Those of us that needed to resign ourselves to certain things were starting to do so and everything was getting done! I was sitting on the couch watching Creed and Janey Kate playing and enjoying listening to Creed's chatter as he pretended in his play. It was like a reset button was hit at that moment, and I was reminded at that moment that homeschooling is worth every bit of the hardships for what we gain. The hardships are mere bumps and the rewards are mountains.
I once again gave thanks for the opportunity to spend my days with my kids. To facilitate their education, train them, and foster their relationships with each other. I am so grateful that my big kids are there all day to offer hugs and kisses to the little ones, to take time out to read them a story or build an awesome train track. I am grateful that Anne Michal and Elizabeth can be study buddies and Anne Michal can take her sister under her wing and help her with her challenging new subjects. I am grateful that Jack and Emma can sit at the table together and giggle while while doing their spelling. I pray I can always see the blessings over the difficulties.

Just Because...

2011-08-28T23:47:00.003-05:00

you have been on our minds so much...

and I can still hardly believe that I can't just reach right over and swing you up into my arms even though you'd be too heavy now...
because I miss looking into that face that knew so much but said so little...it is a long wait for an "I love you"
I thought of you while Jack and Creed were snuggled up on the couch watching TV and Janey Kate in just her diaper crawling all over them; for a brief moment, I could almost see you there too.
while it seems like you are on the outside looking in, I guess it is really the other way around and we are on the outside with barely a glimpse of your joy...

Let us praise and join the chorus
Of the saints enthroned on high
Here they trusted Him before us
Now their praises fill the sky
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou art worthy Lamb of God

A Hope for Janey Kate

2011-08-28T16:52:00.002-05:00

Today after church, two sweet older ladies were talking with Janey Kate and enjoying her smiles and giggles. One of the ladies took her hands, looked her in the eyes, and told her,"The joy of the Lord is in your smile!" She told her that several times as she continued to talk and play with her.

I was thinking about that on the way home coupled with the sadness I feel over how teenage girls communicate. Sometimes I wonder if the only compliment they know is "You are so pretty" and any other compliment along a similar vein. They even argue over who is prettier. I have often wondered if they notice anything else about anyone other than the way they look, and if they are as concerned about their character as they are about how they look. I'd love for them to find a compliment about their friends that doesn't focus on their looks!

My hope for Janey Kate and my other girls isn't that they are pretty, gorgeous, or beautiful. They are all beautiful on the outside, but that isn't what I want them to concern themselves with or to be the number one thing people notice about them. My hope is that they have "The joy of the Lord" in their smile and their actions. My hope is that their sufficiency is in Christ and not in how they look. When people see them my hope is that they see "The joy of the Lord" in them and not just another pretty face.

Things to Remember

2011-08-23T19:40:00.003-05:00

Creed saying grace for supper tonight...

Thank you for Knox and for having him in heaven with you.

Creed sitting beside me at supper and looking over at me to ask, "What is for lunch?" Knowing that he uses the words for all meals of the day interchangeably, I answer, "This is your lunch." He says, "Oh, well, thanks for lunch , Mom!" (he didn't like it, btw)

Emma heading to the shower with Creed by her side says to him with a sigh, "I love you Creed..."

and from this morning to remember for all those hard days of homeschooling that may come our way(like today)...

Here She Comes

2011-08-20T21:02:00.002-05:00

Just a walking down the street...ok...not really, but she did take 3 steps before falling.

Sneaky Little Joy Thief

2011-08-11T23:31:00.003-05:00

Just another little name for grief when you don't really even realize it is there. I feel like I should be an expert at this by now, but even to me, grief is this nebulous foreign sounding word. I should know the rhythm of it in my life and there are some certainties...birthdays, holidays, homegoing. It doesn't take much to realize those are times that it is going to hit hard.

But there are times, like the last couple of days, where I feel like I have cried buckets when in reality I have only wiped away a tear or two. I wonder and question just where it is coming from. Ahhh...yes, the unexpected surfacing of grief over something that seems like it would be no big deal.

I have been working on my homeschool plans for the upcoming year. The last day or two I have been going through our core curriculum and getting together book lists, seeing what the library has, what we own, and what we need to buy and scheduling it out. Our curriculum has 4 levels. Anne Michal is in the highest level, Elizabeth in the second, and Jack and Emma in the third. Knox would be in the lowest level...or at least I think. I can't know because I don't know him. Not as an almost 6 year old.

He would be turning 6 this year, PEOPLE, 6! (in my best teacher voice!) This is unfathomable to me. 6. Would he be reading up a storm? or would I be pulling my hair out? Would he be considered a big kid or lumped with Creed and Janey Kate as one of the littles? I keep wondering why if all my kids have the Jon Anderson look-a-like genes, why they don't have the Jon Anderson organization neat-nick genes. I bet he would. Every family this big has to have one right? Maybe he'd be the one keeping everything in order and putting it all back in its place. Maybe he'd always know right where his pencil was and never lose his shoes. I do know he'd have one of the best grins because he already had that and I bet he'd always keep us smiling.

So there you have it. Who know planning school could be such a teary event? I probably shouldn't have been so surprised as I bet if I looked in my archives I blogged about this last year; I guess I better just add the start of school into the regular rhythm of grief and maybe it won't catch me quite so off guard next year.

We sure do miss that sweet boy of ours. Always a joy...always a joy.

Life 101

2011-08-07T22:27:00.003-05:00

Elizabeth and I were watching Pride and Prejudice the other night and we go to the part where Lydia is going off to Brighton with Colonel Forster's wife to be her particular companion. Her mother tells her something along the lines of take every opportunity to have as much fun as possible.

Elizabeth pipes up rather indignantly, "Well, that is terrible advice! That is like saying, 'Just have fun but don't worry about anything else...like having fun is the most important thing there is!' "

When watching the movie before we have talked about what silly girls the younger Bennett sisters are, and Jon and I have talked about how we hope our girls are not "Lydias." I think Elizabeth is off to a good start!

A Creed Funny

2011-08-02T20:33:00.004-05:00

One of Creed's new things is to ask for 5 more minutes. If i tell him it is time to go to bed or take a nap, he is going to say, "Can I have 5 more minutes?" And when I tell him no, he is going to ask, "Can I have 3 more minutes?" He has also been known to then ask for 7 more minutes...heehee.

Today at naptime he started his usual 5 more minutes dialogue and I told him he could have zero more minutes. I didn't even consider that the might have no clue what zero meant until as I was putting him to bed he is crying, "But you said I could have zero more minutes!!!"

and so I did, son, so I did.

July 2011 Book Log

2011-08-01T17:26:00.003-05:00

Black Notice by Patricia Cornwell

D is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton

Locked In by Marcia Muller

Cover Her Face by P.D. James

A Mind for Murder by P.D. James

The Chestnut King by N.D. Wilson

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Confessions by St. Augustine

Lewis Agonistes by Louis Markos

Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church by D.A. Carson

God, Marriage, and Family by Andreas Kostenberger

The Epistle of Galatians by F.F. Bruce

Galatians by Timothy George

The Message of Galatians by John Stott

Galatians by Richard Longenecker

Doctrine by Mark Driscoll

Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul

Confessions of a Reformission Rev by Mark Driscoll

The Pastor as Scholar and the Scholar as Pastor by John Piper and D.A. Carson

Christ-Centered Preaching by Bryan Chappell

Unprotected by Anonymous

Quotable

2011-07-31T23:44:00.002-05:00

Jon, while rereading Pride and Prejudice, "Why did I deprive myself so long?"

Christmas in July

2011-07-31T22:20:00.003-05:00

or revisiting it anyway! I was looking through some old pictures and came across some pictures of the kids ice skating. I had meant to blog them and hadn't gotten around to them so I thought maybe a bit of Christmas ice skating in July might remind us that this heat isn't going to last forever!!!
all gloved up and ready to go. Notice the little arms wrapped around Anne Michal's legs. I guess he wasn't too happy about being left behind.

Watch out ice I am coming!

I think Elizabeth and maybe Anne Michal were the only ones that had been ice skating before, but Carol and Peggy offered to take them. Carol said she'd help them; I think Peggy just took the pictures which is what I'd have been doing!

Jack didn't want to go at all. He was sure he'd be terrible and fall down all the time. He ended up loving it. He started out this way...
and did fall down a lot as you can see but it wasn't long and he was skating all over the place. I don't think he had much in the way of brakes but he sure had fun.
Emma...always smiling and dancing or singing...even on the ice.

Getting the hang of it...

We did it!

Eight Months

2011-07-30T21:56:00.006-05:00

After missing months six and seven, we are back again. The cute picture on command thing just wasn't working for us. She seems to be getting the hang of the camera thing now. ;-) I had a lot of trouble paring down the pictures as they were all so cute!

Always smiling these days...a welcome change!!!

Always on the move...

Always wanting to stand up ...
With your bunny, but impossible to keep him upright beside you...

Flipflops and Chalkboardcloth

2011-07-29T23:39:00.004-05:00

Last week we made some flipflops using this series of tutorials. We mostly used $1 flipflops from michaels.

My sister wanted me to make some storage buckets for her 2 yr old classroom. The labels are chalkcloth. I used my new favorite toy, chalk markers, to write on them. I bought mine at Michaels. You can also buy chalkboard vinyl and chalkboard contact paper. I probably find that way more exciting than I should.
My new daily menu "board/quilt."
Then placemat for Creed. One side is a chalkboard and the other side is fireman hat fabric that I scored on Wal-mart clearance for $1 a yard. I covered the fabric with vinyl so it can just be wiped clean. Hopefully, the placemat will help him to keep his food in front of him and he can draw on the chalkboard side while dinner is being made instead of dragging his stool all over the kitchen. I can dream, right?

A Jack Funny

2011-07-28T20:38:00.002-05:00

I probably should at least be hesitating to post this one but really it is too good not to share....

Jack didn't like what we were having for dinner tonight so he opted to go hungry instead of eating it. An hour or so after dinner he tells me, "I ate a half piece of stale bread Anne Michal had left over."

I said, "You weren't supposed to get anything else to eat!"

He followed with, " I didn't know that! I got it out of the garbage can."

Anne Michal said, "He told me he had to do it to survive."

**He assured me it was right on top, and he has now been instructed to no longer eat food out of the garbage.

Using Her New Skills

2011-07-27T22:00:00.003-05:00

She pulled up on the laundry basket so Elizabeth put her in and I sent her off to grab my camera so she could take some pictures.
She played with the laundry. I left out the blurry picture of her with Creed's clean underwear hanging out of her mouth.

Ever time Elizabeth took her out she cried to get back in.

Wait! How did this get in here!

Nothing like a little break to make folding laundry fun.

7th Time Around

2011-07-26T23:06:00.004-05:00

and babyhood is still full of surprises.

Look mom!! I am standing and I did it all by myself. What? What is that you say? I am standing a full 2 months ahead of everyone else. Sweet!
You know you think I am so cute that you can't hardly stand it.
And Mom, you have no idea that in a little while, Anne Michal and Elizabeth are going to try to get me to walk between them and I am actually going to stand by myself for a few seconds and take a step or two and then do it again!
Help!!!! I got up here and now I don't know how to get down!!!!
Sorry I am so short that you can't hardly get my face in the picture.
Seriously people!! Get me out of here!

A Little Photo Editing

2011-07-20T22:52:00.003-05:00

So my sister was teaching Elizabeth how to use some photo-editing software and this is what she comes up with. Anne Michal said it was Emma in 10 years. Personally, I didn't find that comment nearly as funny as the picture! ;-)

Emma Turns Nine!!!

2011-07-17T22:42:00.004-05:00

I had to use exclamation points because she was soooooo excited!!! This girl is definitely full of life and often dancing around and singing songs. I am not sure how it can be possible that she is 9. I am pretty sure it was just yesterday that she was Janey Kate's age.

The birthday banner has been up since May. A few more days and we'll retire it until October.
Her dinner request was strawberries, grapes and whipped cream. We also had other fruit and sub sandwiches.

She also wanted a chocolate cake with pink icing. I looked up a strawberry icing recipe and I think it will be an official Anderson icing. I am not a big cake person but this was a great cake!

Posing in her birthday outfit. I try to make her one each year. I managed to work on this one on the sly and she was quite surprised.
She also got some clay; Jack , she, and I made some paperclips, thumbtacks, beads, and pendants this afternoon.

Some of the projects cooling.

We love you and your nine-year old self Emma Claire!

Anne Michal Turns Fourteen

2011-07-16T21:44:00.006-05:00

I'd love to try to tell you how great this kid of ours is and how grateful I am for her and her life but I'd just flub it up so instead I think I'll just elegantly say, "BWAHHAAAHHHAAAA! She's mine!"

She likes to make my life easy and picks the same ice cream cake every year though we do mix up the flavors. The cake is made by crushing up oreos and putting them in the bottom of a cake pan. Next you pour hot fudge over them to hold them together(and to add to their yumminess) and then layer two flavors of ice cream. Last you top with whipped cream.

She spent the two weeks before her birthday vacationing with another family to help with their children so while she was gone Elizabeth and I did a bit of a redo in her room. We painted 3 of her walls(the red one stayed the same), made some pillows, some wall art, curtains and elizabeth painted her dresser drawers though I forgot to take a picture of those. She had no idea we were doing it. I tried to get her reaction on video but besides the fact my camera card surprised me by being full, she ducked out of the way when she saw the camera. She played it pretty cool but she really likes it! I am thinking about kicking her out and moving in myself!

The corner of her room with her bed.

The wall art....strips of fabric sewn on "ticker tape" style and then wrapped around a wooden frame from IKEA.
The pillows...the middle one is a shag pillow and the last one has chalk cloth on it so she can change what it says. I recently discovered they make chalk markers. They are dust free and the "chalk" stays on until you wash it off.

Her curtains. Her windows have been naked since we moved into this house so it is nice to have them dressed!Not a great picture but you can better see the fun polka design on the curtains.
Both Anne Michal and Elizabeth got new bikes this year as they had long outgrown their old ones so off they go with a bit of freedom some wheels give you.

Mississippi Weekend Part II--Beach Pictures

2011-07-15T22:29:00.009-05:00

We were able to go play on the beach twice while we were there. We went one morning with Mark and Robin and their kids and then Robin graciously kept Janey Kate while we went back late one afternoon. The kids had so much fun! It had been a long time since the older kids had been to the beach and the younger ones either hadn't been or didn't remember going!

chasing birds

Robin's Nathan
She absolutely love it!
Look! A train!
classic Jon Anderson pose
Robin's Sam with Jack

Everyone say, "Awwww..."

And never far from our minds, Elizabeth asked if we could write Knox's name in the sand

Things to Remember

2011-07-15T22:19:00.002-05:00

Creed telling his Aunt Melissa over and over again, "I like you!"
---and by the way, he has three children, Lizzy, Aunt Melissa, and Grandma.

Shooshing Anne Michal and Elizabeth to tell them to go to sleep to have Anne Michal say, "We have a lot of catching up to do!" (She had been gone for 2 weeks) I am so glad they both love and like each other.

A Creed Funny

2011-07-12T14:24:00.001-05:00

We were in the van driving at naptime and Creed was in the back rubbing his eyes. I asked, "Are you sleepy?" He answers, "Yes....I mean no."

In other news, Janey Kate is now has a fake cough. Her favorite time to fake cough, of course, is while eating.

A Creed Funny

2011-07-06T18:10:00.003-05:00

or proof that while he may look like his daddy, he does have some of my genes too.

He asked me if he could have a treat because his unders were dry. I said, "Sure but I don't know what you are going to have." Jack suggests a chocolate chip, but I said there weren't any so Creed asks, "Are there any crumbs?"

an hour later and I am still laughing.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-06T07:56:00.001-05:00

A Creed Funny

2011-07-05T23:29:00.002-05:00

For supper tonight, we had chicken, rice and broccoli with a little cheese on top. Creed had two of his trains with him at the supper table and announced, "My trains are going to eat my broccoli and I am going to eat the cheese!"

Mississippi Weekend Part I

2011-07-03T23:13:00.006-05:00

Last weekend we traveled to Bay St. Louis, MS to visit our friends Mark and Robin and so Jon could baptize their youngest daughter Lucy. We have known Mark and Robin for 11 years now. I believe it was the first Sunday at Grace Pres in Starkville that Robin came up to me and said, "Hi! I am Robin. I"d be happy to babysit for you!" Those are music to a young momma's ears!
Anne Michal was 3 and Elizabeth was 1 at that point. Robin and Mark logged many hours at our house and all of us have fond memories of all the time we spent together. Jon married them and Anne Michal and Elizabeth were flower girls. Emma was just 10 days old! I still clearly remember the day we brought Jack home from the hospital. I was sitting at the table eating dinner and Mark and Robin were sitting on the couch holding Jack. Robin asks, "Will you all keep our baby in the fall while we go to the football games?" It was a very happy surprise. Sam was their firstborn followed by Katie, Nathan and now Lucy. Jon has had the privilege of baptizing all but Nathan. The following are pictures from the weekend minus the beach pictures which are still yet to come.

Lucy and Janey Kate in their matching little outfits being held by Anne Michal.

There was a lot of dressing up going on...
Fisherman Nathan
Creed as a lego spy.
Flowery Katie

Pirate Elizabeth

Goofball Jack aka Reidndeer Jack o' lantern.
Emma as "only she knows"

a little wii action

A hilarious game of Angry Birds.
Lucy playing
Janey Kate playing
We passed this on the way to the church. The kids wondered what it was and it kind of looked like a dungeon. I wish you could see the door better, but it is all that is left of a bank following Katrina...the vault.
The Steven's family
Us outside the church.You could see the ocean from the sanctuary which was pretty cool.
Emma, Katie, and Elizabeth. Emma and Katie were inseparable. Emma cried the first 4-5 hours of the trip home because she had such a good time with Katie. I guess we need to borrow a 4 yr old girl every now and then!
Jon baptizing Lucy. It was a great weekend and I am grateful they included us!

P.S. This post makes me feel old!

Just Fits

2011-07-02T23:35:00.003-05:00

One of the things I have often thought about since Janey Kate was born, is how my kids always seem to "just fit."

Newborns, all curled up, just fit all snug and warm on my chest.
They grow a bit and start to stretch out and yet, they still just fit.
They start to sit up and ride on my hip and they just fit.
They become toddlers and run around but they crawl up on my lap and that little head still just fits right below the chin.
Next thing you know, they are getting busier and busier but they curl up beside you and tuck in that head and they just fit as they listen to a story.
Taller and taller they grow, but they walk up for a hug and their head still just fits right between the shoulder and your neck...

but yesterday, yesterday, my Lizzy stands in front of me and what do I find...she no longer fits...not even tucked under my nose....

I was out walking tonight and had my ipod on shuffle and Home by Nicol Sponberg came on. I have thought about the line "What is it like to sleep on the chest of the King of heaven and earth" quite a bit while holding Janey Kate curled up on my chest and been comforted by the thought of Knox curled up on the Father's chest and knowing there is no better place. Tonight, though, it hit me. We always fit. We always fit right there on the Father's chest where we find grace, hope, truth, comfort, and eternal life. We can't grow too tall. We can't move too far away. We can't become too independent. We always "just fit."

Things to Remember

2011-07-02T23:31:00.003-05:00

A Conversation with Creed

me: I love you!
creed: I love you too!
me: Are you my favorite 3 yr old?
creed: Yes! I am!
me: will you give me a kiss?
creed: No, I cannot!
me: why not?
creed: I gave you one last night when I was borned.

Creed feeding Janey Kate a bottle for the first time, pleased as punch, and saying she was his best girl.

Janey Kate sitting herself up for the first, second and third time. The priceless look on her face when she realized what she had done.

Janey Kate crawling for the first time.

My almost 14 year old, Anne Michal, telling me that she can't wait until her baby sister can share a room with her.

When you have a Lizzy

2011-07-01T23:06:00.004-05:00

she'll make you a really cool play mat

and even give you crayons and let you draw on it.

She'll make you a pretend car to drive on a ribbon road.
and use straws for woods and bridges
and muffin cups for houses.
she'll even let you use it to make snack time more fun.
putting peanuts along the road and in the houses
so you don't get too hungry while traveling.
Everyone needs a Lizzy.

June 2011 Book Log

2011-07-01T11:09:00.002-05:00

The Whisperers by John Connolly

Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell

Dandelion Fire by N.D. Wilson

According to Plan by Graeme Goldsworthy

Smooth Stones by Joe Coffey

A Meal with Jesus by Tim Chester

Note to Self by Joe Thorn

A Billion Bootstraps by Philip Smith

Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids by Bryan Caplan

The Pleasures of Reading in An Age of Distraction by Alan Jacobs

Winding Down for Bed

2011-06-30T22:32:00.002-05:00

in a rather unconventional way...
here and here

A Creed Funny

2011-06-29T20:16:00.001-05:00

Earlier today I asked Creed when the last time he went potty.

He puts his finger up in that Creed sort of way, and says "Thursday."

Elizabeth Turns 12

2011-06-24T00:35:00.007-05:00

Once again I am a bit behind and she has now been 12 for almost a whole month. It hasn't taken long for her to get used to her favorite perk of sitting in the front seat.

Just a little bit about my Elizabeth. It is hard for me to realize that she is no longer my white-headed little toddler with the pudgy little cheeks. She is definitely growing up and becoming a lovely young lady. She is such a help to me and a pleasure to be with. She has especially blessed me this spring with her willingness to watch Creed and fix dinner almost every Tuesday night during soccer season...and joyfully too! She is quite the capable gal!!!

We don't do parties every year but she hadn't had one since she was 8 so it seemed past time! I saw a cute little book on amazon called Felties and thought it was something she and her friends would enjoy. She requested some of her friends from our homeschool co-op come celebrate with her and make "felties."

The girls working hard on their felties with my trusty assistant Miss Carol...those are IBC bottles, by they way. ;-)

Blowing out her 12 candles. She wanted to make her own cake so we worked on it together...chocolate 3 layer cake with peanutbutter chocolate icing.
The party guests...
Opening presents...lots of crafty stuff for my crafty girl...
and then some of the felties the girls made in the picture above and those following...

From us she got a new bike and I made her these owl pillows for her bed. She requested a Momma owl and two girls and a boy.

Happy Birthday Elizabeth. We are so glad you are a part of our family!

Janey Kate's Baptism

2011-06-21T22:13:00.004-05:00

I am a bit behind posting this, but I didn't want to miss blogging about such an important event! On April 17th, Jon had the privilege of baptizing Janey Kate. She is the 5th one of our children he has been able to baptize. There is no denying that April is an extremely difficult month for us emotionally, and it was definitely an emotional day as we were grieving our little Knox, but it was also a special day with the reminder of the hope we have in Christ and the promises He has made to us.

BENEATH THE BLOOD STAINED LINTEL

Beneath the blood-stained lintel I with my children stand.
A messenger of evil Is passing through the land.
There is no other refuge from the destroyer's face.
Beneath the blood-stained lintel shall be our hiding place.

The Lamb of God has suffered our sins and griefs He bore,
By faith the blood is sprinkled above our dwelling's door.
The foe who seeks to enter doth fear that sacred sign,
Tonight the blood-stained lintel shall shelter me and mine.

My Savior, for my dear ones I claim Thy promise true.
The Lamb is "for the household" - the children's Savior too.
On earth the little children once felt Thy touch divine;
Beneath the blood-stained lintel Thy blessing give to mine.

O thou who gave them, guard them, those wayward little feet,
The wilderness before them, the ills of life to meet.
My mother love is helpless, I trust them to Thy care!
Beneath the blood-stained lintel, oh, keep me ever there!

The faith I rest upon Thee Thou will not disappoint;
With wisdom, Lord, to train them, my shrinking heart anoint.
Without my children, Father, I cannot see Thy face;
I plead the blood-stained lintel, Thy covenant of grace.

Oh, wonderful Redeemer, Who suffered for our sake,
When o'er the guilty nations the judgment storm shall break,
With joy from that safe shelter may we then meet Thine eye,
Beneath the blood-stained lintel, my children, Lord, an I.

From the "Continual Burnt Offerings" by H.A. Ironside

Baptizing Mallory Jane Katharine Anderson...child of the King!

P.S. She was a total crank that day! ;-)

Just Because

2011-06-18T23:24:00.001-05:00

A Little Laundry Surprise

2011-06-17T17:44:00.003-05:00

Do you ever find ay surprises in your laundry? I often do. Today I pulled out this sock.

This is what was inside.

However, do not be fooled. These are not blocks. It is coal for the kid's fire.

A Creed Funny

2011-06-16T22:25:00.001-05:00

We were at the pool today and Creed said his hands were grumpy! He said that because they were all wrinkled up from the water. :-)

Skirt Week

2011-06-16T22:09:00.005-05:00

One of the blogs I read, Crafterhours, is hosting a skirt week along with a little contest. I am entering the following skirts in their children's category. The skirts had to have been made in the last year. Two winners will be chosen...one by judges and one by readers votes. I think the voting and judging takes place next week if you want to check it out.

The first skirt is the one I made Elizabeth for Easter this year. I adore this fabric. I saw a picture of a similar skirt somewhere online and came up with this one. The only pattern piece I used was the yoke from My Favorite Thing's Little Hip Skirts. The rest is my own creation. The binding on the top layer is from a skirt that someone else had me shorten. It gave me just he fabric I wanted to finish it off!

It is fairly full. Elizabeth humored me with a spin for the picture.

The idea for the next skirt came from these "slash" jumpers a friend of mine and I made many years ago for our girls when they were little. In fact, Emma still wears one of them as a top all the time. I have been playing around with knit fabrics lately since they are so comfortable so I used some pieces I had left from other projects. The waistband is yoga style though it doesn't fold down. It has no elastic in it so it is very comfortable.

I asked Emma whether she wanted the brown or white on top and she couldn't decide so we switched it up and she can wear it frontwards or backwards!
She loves it and says it is super comfy!

The idea for the last skirt originated with a trip to HEB. I saw a little girl shopping with her mom in a similar skirt. I commented on it and her mom let me see how the ruffles down the side were made. Each ruffle has a sort of curve to it. So the top is thin and then widens in the middle and then narrows back out. I cut each ruffle twice as long as I wanted them to end up and used my gathering foot to gather them. I drew lines on the skirt with a washout marker where I wanted the ruffles to go and then topstitched them on the skirt. I tried not to be a perfectionist about it as part of the charm of the skirt is how freeform it looks as the ruffles fall every which way thanks to the gathers and the shape of each one.
This skirt also has a no-elastic waist which I attached to a yoke. I wanted the ruffles to start lower on the skirt so as not to look bulky under a t-shirt. The material is lightweight and soft and like wearing a t-shirt!

Last Minute Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-15T23:45:00.002-05:00

Things to Remember

2011-06-15T00:07:00.002-05:00

Sweet little baby arms reaching out to me for the first time.

Creed, playing with his trains for two hours straight, oblivious to my watching and listening as he made up conversations between them....oh no! Cranky Cranky....Can you give James a hand...Thomas, he's the cheeky one...

Jack, on his belly, gasping and crawling across the dining room floor as though he is on his last breath. No one else is in sight as he continues to moan and groan as he slowly inches his way across the room. He finally lets me in on the secret: there has been a fire and now everyone is desperately ill and he must make it to the fields to save the animals.

My Favorite Kind of Days

2011-06-12T23:22:00.004-05:00

are those where we stay at home and just be. Days where the kids turn on their imaginations and run with them. When they all spend time together doing anything and everything that requires interaction with one another. Days when we put a stop to the joy-stealer and time-robber that busyness and scheduled activities can be. I am hoping to load up on these this summer. I could be wrong, but I think these are the days they are going to remember, not the days where we are all in a rush to get here and there on time and don't actually spend time together even if we are in the same place doing the same kind of things!

Maybe this will be one of the days they will remember:

"Mom, here is your ticket to come to our show!"

Bean bags beat theater seats any day of the week!

Emma's show is first on the program and is a huge success.
"Ho hum! Been to one theater, been to them all." (and wow does that chair not make her look pink!)
"Now it is getting interesting!"

And Creed finishes it off with two shows. They were all a hit!

Mystery Solved

2011-06-11T23:24:00.002-05:00

First Mystery: Janey Kate's green hand

Apparently(and if you know Jack, this word is very fitting), Jack had a green marker...the green marker...and was swinging it around. It flew out of his hand and hit Janey Kate's hand leaving a green mark on her hand. I guess we can all be thankful she only got a green hand out of that one.

Second Mystery: The Smiley faces on the bathroom floor

I started my investigation by putting a piece of paper in front of Creed and handing him a pencil and asking him to draw a smiley face. He puts the pencil down, puts his hands in the corner of his mouth and makes a funny face instead. I ask him again and he insists that is how he does it. I finally got him to put something on paper and he says, "Oh yes! I can do that!" and proceeds to draw squiggly lines.

Next I ask Emma to draw a smiley face. She draws eyes and a mouth. I say, "No, with a circle." So she draws a new one and asks, "Was it me, Mama, was it me?" I look at her rather incredulously and say, "Well, you are really the only one that can answer that!" She says with her eyes really wide , "Oh no...I didn't do it."

Then she adds, "But did I do it?"

"Emma!! You should know if you did it or not!"

"Oh, I mean do you think I did it?"

I think we need to work on communication skills next!!!

I really didn't think she did it anyway. And for the sake of not naming names, I'll just say it wasn't the older girls either. And honestly what cracks me up about the whole thing is that this harmless crime was committed while on the toilet. Yep, absent-minded doodling while pottying.

And I am still laughing over Emma asking me if it was her or not.

Two Words

2011-06-08T23:23:00.004-05:00

Blonde hair
Blue eyes
Little wispies
Wet kisses
Warm hugs
Gentle giggles
Belly laughs
Tiny Steps
Pudgy hands
Sly grins
Mama chase?
Never far
Always near
Forever loving

Things to Remember

2011-06-08T20:58:00.002-05:00

Bedtime hymn singing...

Today's Mystery is Brought to You by the Color Green

2011-06-08T00:12:00.002-05:00

I was changing Janey Kate's diaper this afternoon when I notice that her finger was green. I thought that was rather odd, and I wondered if Creed aka Mr. Color on the Walls was to blame. I forgot all about it until I went into the kids' bathroom tonight and saw the floor had been decorated with little green smiley faces.

While I am quite sure that Janey Kate is a genius, she is a rather unlikely suspect. In fact, I am think Mr. Color on the Walls is probably off the hook as well as I don't think he can manage those either.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's edition for the results of the smiley face drawing contest where I attempt to match smiley faces drawn by Anderson children to those on my bathroom floor.

P.S. I really hope anyone over 8 has more advanced drawing skills.
P.S.S. I really hope all those over 3 know better than to draw on the floor.
P.S.S.S. This is why only washable markers and crayons are (in theory) kept in the reach of children.

Things to Remember

2011-06-03T20:30:00.000-05:00

Two little heads huddled together in the stroller...

A Creed Funny

2011-06-02T22:46:00.003-05:00

Creed asked Jack if he could have something and Jack said, "No."
Creed said, "Not No....No Sir!"

I am not sure I really convinced him that Jack did not have to say, "No Sir" to him.

May 2011 Blog Post

2011-06-02T15:16:00.003-05:00

Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin

The Reversal by Michael Connelly

10th Anniversary by James Patterson

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Spectacular Sins by John Piper

The Pleasures of God by John Piper

But God by Casey Lute

Cruciform by Jimmy Davis

This Momentary Marriage by John Piper

Finally Alive by John Piper

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-01T20:56:00.001-05:00

Janey Kate's New Quilt

2011-05-31T21:17:00.003-05:00

After two months of on-again-off-again work I finally finished this little play quilt for Janey Kate. I wanted something small enough to carry around that would be a familiar place for her to be. It also has the bonus of setting protective boundaries from older brothers!! I got the idea from here and the fabric is from a line called Bliss that I just love!

A Special Nap

2011-05-29T16:19:00.002-05:00

We left Janey Kate's Kitten she has been napping with at church so Anne Michal asked if she could sleep with one of Knox's dogs. Her face lit up when she saw it as though she knew it was something special. Sweet Dreams Janey Kate!

Things That Make You Go Huh?

2011-05-29T15:58:00.002-05:00

If curiosity has the best of you, you can check it out here.

THings to Remember

2011-05-28T12:34:00.003-05:00

Creed calling Janey Kate a Putie-a-Cutie instead of a CutiePatootie...

Creed, playing Hide and Seek with Anne Michal, walking up to Janey Kate and asking her, "Janey Kate, do you know where Anne Michal is?"

Happy First Tooth Day Janey Kate

2011-05-23T22:12:00.002-05:00

...not that you can see it yet...but she sure has a big smile!

Creed turns Three

2011-05-22T22:42:00.006-05:00

I sure do love this boy of mine; my big three year old! He was so excited about his birthday "coming" even if he didn't really believe it was today. Well, eventually he did but it took presents and cake to do so!
This morning before church. His name and 3 on his shirt are supposed to look wonky but they just look like they are going downhill...esp in this pictures. It is rather sad to be 3 and already on the downward slide! ;-)

He said, "Take my Picture here!"
Every time we asked him what he wanted for his birthday he'd say "jellybeans!" and he wanted everything green! Miss Carol brought him some green jelly beans to church and he shared them with Jonathan and Jackson.
His green cake. Elizabeth did a centerpiece as usual.
Showing us how many he is now.
He got a tricycle for his birthday. He was very excited but surprisingly timid with it.
Elizabeth giving him a hand.
He is crying here because he had a couple of spills and said it was too hard and he wanted to ride his easy bike. I think he meant his ride-on giraffe(bullseye).
He had his first rootbeer. He drank a little bit and said, "I don't really like it; Can I have some milk?"
Blowing out candles...he knew just what to do.
I am not sure all that green was a good idea; that shirt may never been clean again!
Sporting the birthday hat Elizabeth made him.
Opening his jelly beans. He was delightfully "wowed" by them. :-)

So thankful for our boy Creed and the joy he brings to our family!!

A confused Creed

2011-05-21T16:04:00.003-05:00

Video Here.

A Creed Funny

2011-05-20T21:06:00.002-05:00

I was walking with Creed and Janey Kate and we passed a wooded area. This is our conversation:

Creed: Mom..are those woods? Is that the park?

Me: Those are woods but it isn't the park.

Creed: Why isn't it the park?

Me: Because the park is somewhere else.

Creed: Well, I am going to build my house in those woods.

Me: You are?

Creed: Yes. It is going to be a tree house and I am going to make it out of toilet paper and red paint!

Janey Kate's Baptism Shindig

2011-05-11T17:44:00.003-05:00

We decided to do something a little bit different this time and had a carnival/fair theme for our baptism party. We had hot dogs with all the fixings, seasoned potatoes, corn and sausage, raw veggies(for good measure), kettle corn, homemade pretzels, caramel apples and moon pies. Jon helped organize games like a three-legged race, jump the pond, wheelbarrow race, and more. The kids and their helper, Miss Carol--or the other way around--made 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons. It was really good old-fashioned fun!

I forgot to take pictures of the rest of the decorations and food , but this is the banner that the kids made with Miss Carol.
The guest of honor--Janey Kate.
Showing off her ruffled bloomers and hiding the fact she is crying her head off in this picture. She was not a very good hostess and was very cranky. The song, "It is my part; I'll cry if I want to" was written just for her!!!

Some of Janey Kate's guests...

Pictures of the games...
I loved it that the adults joined in...

Ayden showing off his homemade ribbon. It cracked me up how thrilled the kids were to win a ribbon!

The big kids played lots of basketball.

One of the signs of a successful party is very dirty kids!

The party kept going after a beautiful sunset.

Some nighttime fishing...
and a latenight conversation with Daddy.

Thanks to everyone that came to celebrate with us in the joy of Janey Kate's baptism!!!

Janey Kate -- 5 months

2011-05-10T10:50:00.003-05:00

and has finally left most of her crankiness behind her. Maybe one of these days she'll start sleeping more than 5 hours consistently!>
She loves to smile and laugh! She can roll over and sit up by herself for a minute or two. Her feet are her favorite toy.
A very bad picture with her bunny...my batteries were dying.

Love this little grin!

Creed always has to jump in a picture. I think he was telling me she was grabbing his belly.

April 2011 Book Log

2011-05-05T14:31:00.002-05:00

39. Guns and Roses by Taffy Cannon

40. U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton

41. Storm Track by Margaret Maron

42. Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs

43. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson

44. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

45. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

46. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

47. All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes by Ken Myers

48. Christ and Culture Revisited by D.A. Carson

49. The Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization by Anthony Esolen

50. Why Isn't a Pretty Girl Like You Married? by Nancy Wilson

Four Years Since We Said Goodbye

2011-04-23T13:49:00.005-05:00

Wouldn't I just love to have you run right in to my arms again

To kiss that little forehead that wouldn't be so little any more
To see you in that beloved ratty chair reading your books just like every other Anderson kid

To have a roomful of boys and trains

To be reminded of how much you look like your Daddy

To see that smile and dimple

and to just have you be a part of us...9 instead of 8

Thank you Lord forth hope of the day our Goodbye turns into a Hello.

Fishing for Baby

2011-04-22T17:42:00.001-05:00

Another April 13th

2011-04-13T21:17:00.003-05:00

has come and almost gone. That makes 4 if you have lost count. I can't say I am sorry to see it go, but it doesn't change anything. I still miss this little guy like crazy.

Pic-a-nic at Baylor Fields

2011-04-10T03:04:00.008-05:00

This was our second annual picnic to Baylor Fields during bluebonnet season. There were not many wildflowers, but we had a lot of fun anyway!

Emma eating her lunch.

Elizabeth is thoroughly enjoying her poker sandwich courtesy Miss Peggy.

A close up....corned beef on jewish rye with swiss, mayo, mustard, and a kosher dill.

Janey Kate, hanging out on Council's lap.
The kids flew kites.
You can tell by Creed's eyes that he is watching the kites. He had a lot of fun chasing them!

Lunch #2?
Christopher always takes time to hang out with Creed. I love how Creed says his name.
More kite flying.
Old Baylor has some awesome tress for climbing. I love these old live oaks.

It was a long day for this little gal!

March 2011 Book Log

2011-04-07T11:05:00.002-05:00

22. The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn by Colin Dexter

23. Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny

24. Tick Tock by James Patterson

25. 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs

26. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson

27. Savages by Bill Pronzini

28. From Achilles to Christ by Louis Markos

29. Contending for Our All by John Piper

30. King's Cross by Tim Keller

31. Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ by John Piper

32. The Organized Heart by Staci Eastin

33. Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic

34. Rid of My Disgrace by Lindsey Holcomb

35. Desiring God by John Piper

36. A Hunger for God by John Piper

37. The Roots of Endurance by John Piper

38. The Narnia Code by Michael Ward