Olivia my Artist

This picture just makes me smile - inside and out!

Olivia is the most experimental artist I've had yet
as pertains to people and posture and movement.

They each have different areas where they shine,  but recently Olivias artwork has come alive. 

She is able to interpret her imagination in such a way
that you believe you were there in the story.

I thought this scene was quite wonderful for a young lady of 5.

And this pig puppet she made today 

(with her newly-acquired hot glue gun)was entirely her creation!

Just LOOK at those cute little piggy-legs hanging down.

Simply FABULOUS little daughter of mine!

Wheeeeere is Bryce?

I'm afraid that question is asked too often at our house
and it's usually me doing the asking.
Not that any of the children are known to secretly stash him away in a closet,
but I usually count on their 5 pairs of eyes, and that many feet to find him out
and report.
I think the perks of being sixth-born are highly underrated!

Oh the things you can get away with.

Before I even thought to ask that question late morning today,
I spied him here.
In the midst of the school-day busyness and mayhem he was here just as you now see him
(only, both hands IN the bowl of oatmeal) and since this was all taking place below my belly
(so rather out of my sight), he had been able to enjoy his freedom
for a pleasant uninterrupted while.

What makes this picture so hilarious to me is the story behind the enterprise.

You see, Bryce and I have been waring for dominance
over the past several weeks.

At breakfast I ask him, "Are you hungry?" 
"Yah!" he replies with gusto.
"Here. I have your breakfast; say Bite Please?"
and from this point forward we find he is more determined than he is hungry
because he absolutely   will.  not.  say.  "Bite Please"

He can.
He used to.
He'll say "Bite"
And he'll say "Please"
but just so you know it's not in compliance with request,
you won't hear those two words together.

In case you wonder, I don't require this performance at every meal.
I hope I am a bit wiser after 6.  Yikes!

In any case, Bryce took matters into his own capable and chubby hands this morning
when no one was on guard.  He just helped himself to that bowl of cold left-overs
sitting on the table (apparently within reach) and moved them to a more convenient
(and inconspicuous) location.
Where I found him - caught red-handed.

You can see how he trembled at my discovery.

I guess it's not so scary to be caught by a barefoot pregnant lady
who laughs and grabs the camera, hoping you'll stick your hands back in the bowl
just because she wants to turn your naughtiness into a photo shoot.

We're not sure who won the battle today,
but one thing is becoming apparently clear...

It can really pay to be a little fish in a big pond.
HA!

Put Off Long Enough

I'm not sure but this may be the first official pregnancy picture with baby 7!
So who wants the baby Scoop?
I am beginning to nest.  I have passed the 34 week mark and am feeling
countdown-ish.  So I am.  Counting down, that is, until the day (or night) arrives
when we make this little one's acquaintance.
I can hardly wait!!!

This pregnancy has been "boringly normal" which is the best thing a woman can
hear from her doctor or midwife.
I have settled on a couple of dear midwives near to us who have been working together
for 25 years or so.  I am currently hoping to deliver baby at home on Marvel Hill
(I have hot water again since last week - Yippee!!)
but they also have a comfortable little birth center we can drive to if we so choose at the
last moment.  I am very thankful for God's provision in these women, and look forward to
seeing tiny 7's story unfold at the end of this chapter.


One thing especially different about this pregnancy is that I have been feeling all baby's
limb movement at the front of my belly.  It's been fun to feel more feet and elbows, but I
can't make out exactly what's what.  My midwife thinks head is down which is all I was really
wanting to be reassured of!

Other than that, I am frantic trying to finish Bryce's baby scrapbook and Christmas stocking
as well as a few things I have personally put my hand to creating just for this new little person I love.
Between school and chores and life, 6 more weeks doesn't seem like very much time to wrap up
the details!

Oh yeah.  Then there's the name conundrum.  I'm open to any and all suggestions for either gender.
Preferably your favorites, but then, AJ has already contributed Khubilai Khan.
And Hans Solo (he is helpful like that).
So really, anything is fair game at this point! HA!

More than anything I would be blessed to have your prayers for my time of labor and delivery.
I would be so grateful to go into it with peace and grace - no fear or anxiety.
I know I can count on you my precious friends!

I love you much,
~Me

Party ON!

This night...
It's now pretty late.  11:00 is late for starting a party at least, but that's exactly what I'm about to do.

Little Bugletts are tucked into bed
and steaming hot cocoa is awaiting a dollup of whipped cream and sprinkle of cinnamon.

Probably I should be tucked in for the night, but my beloved is away so bed is a bit lonely
and the crackling fire is more companionable than the dark.

I was thinking I would gather up a baby blanket I need to finish for this wee one
and sit in front of a movie that doesn't need my eyes riveted to the screen.
I was thinking Pride and Prejudice (the A&E version)
but put back in Roy Rogers the kids were earlier watching.

Roy Rogers and hot cocoa...

by glowing firelight and while working towards the finished end of a project. 
Does that not sound like a party?

Before I sign off to enjoy my party-of-one, I must brag a little.
Clayton Praise made this serving spoon for me from a burl he found.
I'm so honored that he thought of me!  I am so loved.
Once successfully gouging out the inside of this burl, he has gone on to make spoon after spoon.
A new passion, and for every spoon he makes there is a fortunate, cherished person he intends to gift.

And here's my tiniest boy.  Today I had had the melancholy sensation of not wanting him to be bumped from the "baby" position in a few weeks.  This is a first for me. 
Mother of six-going-on-seven...
Can you believe there are new growing pains to be experienced even this far into the game?

Aren't boys wonderful?!

my most favorite person....

to know
to think of
to love
to look at
to laugh with
to wonder about
to tease
to dream of
to watch
to smile at
to dress up for
to bring coffee to
to pick up socks after
to share with
to give to
to call 
to kiss
to wait for
to see coming
to talk to
to be with
~
 to be loved by.

Happy Birthday Olivia!

Dearest little daughter,
Do you remember that I was giving Dad a haircut when I went into labor with you?
I couldn't stand up to finish, and Dad insisted he wasn't going to the hospital with only half a haircut
so Gramsie had to finish up for him!

After 9 months of longing to meet you, and a couple hours of really hard work...

You finally arrived!

And that was the last I remember of celebrating Saint Patrick's day, because celebrating YOU every year
has been so much more joy-filled and important in my life!

 On this morning, five years later, you rose before the sun.
I requested that you wait a bit (please) before commencing with festivities.
-Say, at least until there was enough light to see without a flashlight?

 Look at those morning faces!

And here's my girl learning to braid Friendship bracelets...

Enjoying some birthday phone calls

This year...
Daddy's traveling.
It's snowing outside.
You chose pink instead of purple.
Wanted a hot glue gun...
and sewing box.
Got a hand-made spoon Clayton lovingly fashioned from a tree burl.

...and ate your pink cupcake with it, I might add.

The party consisted of 3 brothers, 2 sisters, 1 momma, 4 Cousins, 1 Auntie
and 1 unidentified sibling in the secret place.

For only 2 families, it equaled 1 large-ish party!

This is that 1 Auntie and I together five years ago minus 5 months

And again 6 months later...

Now this.
Hm.
I doubt we really know what we're in for long-term.

I'm not showing you a current picture of us because we look pretty tired at this point ;-D

The cupcakes were a hit though, and the party-ers really knew how to have a good time!

This one says it all, doesn't it?

Apron that Auntie Hannah made for O

Good bye cousins!
Thank you so much for sharing Olivia's day!

Olivia Honor mine....
You are my songbird.  My cuddler.  My artist.
Today you are smack-dab middle in order of birth - a place which seems easy to overlook
especially being one so obliging and easy.
But you are not to be unnoticed!  Oh NO!  For one thing Olivia, you are lovely in every way.
Beautiful to look upon, and gentle of spirit.  You are a delight to your daddy and I,
and such a precious friend to (and for) your siblings.

I love you so very much sweet daughter and beloved friend.

Happy 5th Birthday little lady!

Ready...

...to celebrate a 5 year birthday tomorrow!

Green is not in the picture for us, but maybe pink icing on pink cupcakes.
Maybe Pineapple for breakfast with Zachary's Banana bread.
Some gifts and balloons?
Jelly Belly's, pink and white frosted animal crackers, and Skittles.
Certainly no shortage of sugar, but what's life to live if we don't celebrate it once a year!
Perhaps some cousins to play, and hot dog roll-ups for dinner per request?
I think so.
It's going to be good - this turning 5
But I hope the next birthday takes more time coming ;-)

An unplanned detour

AJ's cousin Rob spoke at our wedding ceremonies over 13 years ago;
his eldest daughter then 2, made her way down the isle as Flower Girl along with my 4 year old sister Mattie Grace.
Rob and his family hold a dear place in our hearts and lives, yet with many miles between us it's seldom we meet.

 Last weekend as we departed Chico to head Idaho-ward, we decided to take I-5 a little farther North
just so we could impose on their hospitality and abscond with their grace!

2 years since we've seen each other, and 6 since we visited at their home,

About 10 children since then.

It was a small slice of heaven.
A full house.
An incessant din of nonstop chatter
creativity
joy
and the discovery of friendship - both new and old.

Our beloved cousins have just started their own blog and I invite you to take a peek
because Rob and Melissa have a heart and passion to see the Invisible Hand of God
at work in the everyday-ness of life.

Something that I have been striving to see and take notice of.

 Rob has a way of sculpting words, and I would feel honored for you to know
some people we consider very dear to us!

At "the beach" near Ferndale Washington

Dearest Cousins......

You made us feel welcome in every way.  
We left your nest refreshed
inspired
and full of memories!
It is a delight to share blood ties,
but it is a privilege to share the fellowship of being family because of Jesus Christ.
Thank you for your love.


Love,
~us

Proof of being a lucky girl:

 3 sisters. 
L-R:  Emma 20, Me (old...er...est), Molly 26, Mattie Grace 17
(and I'm the only one without gorgeous eyebrows! - but then, I did get AJ, so what can I say?)

One full month in California and it's coming to a close.
We are heading home to Idaho this Saturday and I pretty much holed up while here.
Not very social, but a luxury I decided to grab when I had the choice!
Before we came, I decided to make several things a priority:
1) spending time with my family - especially the kiddos with Grandma
2) enjoying time with my sisters: Molly and her family; and my sis Emma.
3) swimming lessons for my Bugletts
4) trying to continue Bible, Math, Reading, and Writing
(since I can't consider every road trip a "vacation" at this point though my children would like that!)

If you feel that your own life is full to the point that just accomplishing meals and clean clothes is a victory,
than you will have grace with me for not reaching further than that list encompasses.
If you can't relate.... I will have grace with you ;-)
I'm grateful that I got to do what was most important to me in these travels,
and which revolved around my little family unit, and that larger family sphere I am privileged to belong to.
It was a delight - these past weeks - and every day I saw the Hand of God at work in my life.
Even in the difficult moments, and the days that strayed from my original plan.

I can't fully realize how blessed I am,
but I try!

To those who I missed on this trip:  I love you!  Thanks for loving me in spite of my hermit-like tendencies
and other quirks :-)  You bless me.

This is my best friend.

 And even though I have six children under age 10 (which feels like quite a lot at times)
and even though my world often revolves around them;
and even though I am 7 months pregnant and round
which means I am slow, and tired, and sometimes emotional...
And even though there are plenty of other things tugging at his time and energy,
vying for his interest and begging for his attention...

He took time for me.
Just for me.
We went to the Mendocino coast,
talking all the way there
and back
and in between
except when we were enjoying silence together.
We went to all our favorite haunts
our "traditions" that include Chocolate at Papa Bears
and Crab Cakes at Noyo harbor.
Picking though treasure at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg
Hot clam chowder at a deli  on a back street of Mendocino.
This time we added to that
stopping at all the used book stores we could find.

It was wonderful!
Every moment -
and I knew I was cherished
as more than mother to 7 and supportive wife.
I am loved as friend.