Spring Is Coming

Today I spotted our first robin in the back yard!  We have had our morning doves for a few weeks, but we were waiting for that flash of red!  I know the snow is not behind us yet, but today we will enjoy this balmy warm weather.  The kids are in the driveway splashing in the mud puddles.  Julius is using the back tire of his bike as a water wheel to splash tons of water into buckets that Layla and Gunnar are tossing around.  I think some warm showers will be needed before dinnertime.  Enjoy these warm days while they last.  I better run.  Contessa just made her way up to the third step. Yikes!

Loved By All

Can I Keep'em Coming

About 4 weeks ago Layla received the Moody series from my mother.  Each book ranges from about 185 to 195 pages and there is only one picture per chapter.  Layla has already polished off 4 of these books in 4 weeks!  That makes me nervous because I want to keep her reading massive amounts of books, but I am a bit picky about content because she is very sensitive in spirit.  These books are great because they are about a homeschooling family, so Layla gets to see some similarities to her own life!  She is amazing!  I better go read some more to keep up with her!

Summer Photo Wrap-up

Butterfly Release

Layla received this wonderful gift for her birthday.  Since it was too cold to do it this Spring, we waited and ordered our caterpillars this summer.  They grew fast and soon we had four painted lady butterflies.  One was deformed because he formed his cocoon on the ground (I'm guessing).  The healthy three flew gracefully away, but our handicapped little buddy was placed on a rock.  An hour or so later it started to rain, so I went outside and found him still on his rock.  I put him under some plants for shelter.  A little while later I checked on him again and he had crawled back to his rock and was out in the rain.  We figured he would become a special treat for a bird.

Sister Love

Popsicles!

Yum!

Great Grandma and Aunt Janet

Who Says...

...you can't have fun at a cemetery.  While we were putting flowers at both of Nathan's grandfathers' grave sites before Memorial Day, the kids took some goofy poses.

Brothers and Sisters

Loving Time with Grandparents

Sorry for the lack of blogging.  Nate's parents made an unexpected trip to Michigan, so we have been enjoying time with them.  These pics are from last month when my grandparents returned home from a couple month stay in Florida.  They were excited to get acquainted with Contessa, their newest great-grandbaby!

What an Amazing Dad

Nate always continues to amaze me.  On this particular morning, Contessa and I slept in until 8 am.  It was a work day for Nate, but by 8 am he had already put in a full day.  Nathan, Layla, Julius and Gunnar had all sat and read their Bibles together.  Then Nate made oatmeal and got them all fed.  After cleaning up the breakfast stuff, he and the kids got in a few rounds of Orchard.  All this occurred before the baby and I were awake and before he left for work!  Now you understand why I think he is so amazing!

When You Give Birth At Home...

...your kids pretend to do the same!