Worth Knowing

"Pumber"

               *

       translated

               *


           means

       Cucumber

Reclaiming a Sheet and a Sanity

Despite having enough chill to warrant a fire in the wood stove today,
I called Summer Vacation for me.

Putting the children to various tasks and projects, I proceeded to excavate the sewing machine
and a flat bed sheet I've been intending to turn into bloomers for he girls.

It was time for a little creative outlet.

I got one.

Threading the last piece of elastic through the fourth pair of shorts/bloomers while nursing Aloria,
I finished just in time for my models to dance a little jig before the evening was out.

It was very satisfying to accomplish a project in the same day I started it;
and to know it's loveliness would last for more than three hours (unlike a cleaned kitchen).

Sue did point out that Ellie's red hem is fabric from when we made Susanna a quilt 4 years ago.

So hopefully cousin wont climb into Susie's bunk
because we'll lose her.

She'll blend in perfectly with the bed coverings!

*sigh*

I feel much better.

I Don't Like Goodbyes.

Today marked the departing of my sister and brother.  

I wasn't able to sneak my niece out of their ever-watchful eyesight, 

otherwise I would have hid her until after they left.  

 She'd have made a superb addition 

to my growing collection of little girls!

Her mother is kind of selfish about it. 

I guess I can't blame her.

Dearest Molly,  you three are already missed. 

There is a hole here at Marvel Hill.  

We didn't know until you came and filled it, 

but when you left it was clear.

 I envy your sweet sweet spirit.

I watched you as you listened intently to my children

as you explained a thing to my boys

as you taught my girls to step like ballerinas

all while holding your baby girl in one arm.

You are a natural

at so many things.  So many things I am not.

I love to watch you do and be the things you are good at!

It's beautiful.

Don't you think we (our brother and we two) behaved ourselves

so well these days together?

We listened to and let each other talk

we had real, valuable, edifying conversation.

we laughed together and did not poke fun that was aimed to wound.

We really really enjoyed each other.

I couldn't help thinking:

"Wow. We're acting like adults. That's encouraging!"

But it's more that that.  

We've all made large investments of time and patience

to know each other as adults.

And while it's precious to be blood

it's priceless to be friends.

You chose your man well.  You are blessed.  He is wonderful.

We love him very much!

(waiting out a passing downpour)

Without him, without Hannah, without AJ

our vacation would have been something very different.

Now we are 6 siblings when we get together.

We are balanced by their strengths

tempered by their sense

completed in their love.

(some execution of Mad Science)

We are pretty fortunate.

And our children have cousins which is pretty special too.

LOTS of cousins.

There's no question we're blessed.

I sure do love you Molly!

You can't come again too soon for me, 

but until then

I'll shop for a nice piece of acreage 

in the valley where there's less chance of meeting a bear.

All my heart,

Sis

(photo courtesy of Molly's Nick)

Better Than Disney Land!

Big boys can play too!

Daddy and Uncle Nick show us how it's done.

I haven't ridden this contraption yet

and to be perfectly honest

I'm still trying to convince my braver self

to climb on.

Where are the handles?

Smile for the camera!

Miss Crazy Hair gains another week

What a lovely week it's been - and weekend too!  Our days have been full of visiting, and adventures,
and just being together with Molly and Nick and Lydi. 
Because Charlie lives within walking distance our three families have spent most of every waking moment
as a motley conglomeration of joking, laughing, playing bodies.  There's been plenty of hootin' and hollering.
It's been like a theme park, summer, and Heaven all mixed together.
Truly, if this is anything like Heaven promises to be, I can't stand to wait!

Aloria has been an easy baby.  The Lord has lightened my load in her contentment and smiles.
Though she sometimes has tummy troubles, most babies do.  Thankfully she is consolable, and
her pains are of short duration,

Miss Aloria's hair has been a source of pleasure as it springs into shocked action almost no matter
what I do to tame it!  She is my first baby to wear so many hair accessories, but that's purely coincidence
since I am just having a fun with my girl:-)  Some people say she looks like me.  Do you think so?
Maybe it's the shocked hair....

Auntie Hannah took this picture of me and my twin while at the lake this evening.  Yellow shirt courtesy
of Auntie Moll.  So good to have Aunties around.  They treat us right!

***************************************************************

Dear Aloria Mercy, you take the cake.  I didn't know being a 7x mom could be so wonderful, and new!
Every milestone is just as precious as the first time I experienced it - maybe even more since I am
sobered by experience to know just how fast the time goes by.
I try a lot harder to capture each fleeting moment. And even if those moments are too slippery to keep,
I believe I know to appreciate them more. Savor them.  And an older and wiser me knows to
cherish even the tummy pains, bomb-outs that destroy your cutest outfits, and crying through dinner
on schedule every night.
This too shall pass.
When it does, I may even miss it.
In fact, I know I will.

So Aloria, thank you for being mine.  I hope you'll teach me a lot.
Please be patient with me because I am only getting to be an expert at humility
and I've never mothered an Aloria before :-)
I love you daughter!


Love,
~Momma~

A new toy for Bugs and co.

Daddy's getting to be a sharp window shopper on Craigslist these days.

Even a momma bug got to test drive!

Wow. This picture flash-forwards me to when they're 16 and 17.
My boys. MY boys!  I love them so much.  wow.

GO Auntie Molly!!!

Spectators

This is our cousin Judah.  He is 4 and a half years old and has been eating, sleeping, talking, and dreaming
about Quads for months now.  This was his first time solo, but I have a feeling this is just the beginning ;-)

Thanks Daddy!  You are the BEST!

Prayers and Nyquil

~Trying on a fish net~

Prayers and Nyquil are the combination I credit to nary a peep from my sick fish last night!
(In case you were wondering, "sick fish" is a family term coined by Zachary when he was 2 or so.
It was birthed in a game with aunties and uncles once upon a time, and 
we've continued it's use over the years when there are sickies in our house.)

My Courtney started praying for our family before I hit the hay, and I doused my children
right before sending them to bed (She is of the Race that knows Joseph, she is!)
I know that uncomfortable kiddos sharing a room and waking through
the night is a recipe for a long long night for me.  Sleep is good.
It's good for them.
It's good for me.
And HOW.

Today has been a restful day with drizzly rain outside, and chicken soup within.
Legos, and Andy Griffith, and rest.  Lots and lots of rest.

It's 5pm and the smell of bread fresh from the oven wafts up to where I repose
on my bed with a baby and 6 children-on-the-mend.
Dinner is all but served, and more Andy Griffith is shortly in store.
Days like this are rare.  And so is rest!
But I guess I hit the jackpot today :-)

Snippets of Randomniosity (if there is such a thing)

This little Goldfinch of mine - sweet tiny morsel of a Carolina
caught this "butterfly" (moth, I think) all by her small self!
Oh the excitement when she netted it, and here it obliges even further by
posing for pictures on her hand.


































I'm here to tell you, these were not the only two creatures caught by Buglett hands
on this day, but the snake didn't make it into pictures (I know you're disappointed Cinnamon).

Olivia is getting to be quite the critter catcher as well!

Clay sanding a handle he'd made for this butterfly net.

Bryce checks the functionality of baby's bouncy chair.
In style!

Some of the best brothers to me.
One by blood, one by marriage.
Two missing, and one to be added next month!
(and that's only my side)
It's not a bad thing to get more brothers when they're ones like these :-)

Here's the view of our porch again this time in spring.
AJ's making good progress clearing a meadow.  We'd like to see down to the creek (which we can now)
And see some of the wildlife that wanders through our property.
Additionally, the boys have begun to feel more comfortable hiking the terrain
when they can see the house through the woods.

And this is all that exists of our garden so far.  It's just barely past last frost here so the main garden is
not much to look at (though there are two cabbages that came up from last year, a couple spinach's,
a handful of borage seedlings.  There are also strawberries and garlic, and the lemon balm looks
very happy!), but...(and this is for you Brenda) we decided to try our tomatoes and peppers up on the porch where it's sunnier and much warmer.
It's an experiment.  We shall see.

Miss Crazy Hair (as we affectionately refer to her)

These last photos I leave you with probably deserve a post of their own,
but suffice it to say, this is what makes everything worth it.

And that's that for tonight.  My family decided to come down with the flu today
and the only exposure I can think of is all you blogging gals who've had it.
Can germs be shared over the Internet?
Awe shucks!  I can't blame you really.  It would be nice to have somebody to blame though :-)