Big Ones--40 and 60!

This past week my mom hit a milestone and I think she makes 60 look fantastic!

She planned a weekend get together with the ladies on both sides of the family that were local and I got the privilege of cooking dinner for all of us on Saturday night.  Knowing some of my mom's favorites I made Creamy Chicken Marsala and Chicken Parmesan w/Sauteed Mushrooms, both with Angel Hair pasta, Salad Greens, and Creme Brulee for dessert.  Yum. 

After dinner we got good and silly playing "Spoons"--a card game where everyone simultaneously tries to collect 4 of-a-kind. 

As soon as one person succeeds, they grab a spoon from the middle of the table and everyone follows their lead.  With one less spoon than number of players, the last person is empty-handed and gets a letter in the order of P-I-G.  When you've lost 3 rounds and have "PIG", you're out of the game and another spoon is removed from the table.

(Seated around the table starting at the bottom left: Aunt Carolyn, Cousin Heather, Cousin-in-law Krystal, Cousin Laura, Cousin Lindsey, Sis-in-law Kim, Aunt Deb, Grandma Arlene, Nana Ruth, Aunt Glynnette, Aunt Jean, and mom.  Missing from this pic: Aunt Joyce, Aunt Jeanie, and myself.) 

A totally non-staged picture, believe it or not!

                   

And with all of life's busyness, I realized recently that I hadn't posted pictures from Pete's 40th at the end of August!  He wasn't real thrilled about this birthday, and wanted things low-key, so we had a picnic at my parents:  BBQed chicken, mac-n-cheese, veggies, deviled eggs, and homemade raspberry ice cream for dessert.  It was super muggy but we still had fun. 

Of course he got a few "old man" gifts to keep him feeling young: one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish boxers, Scooby Doo bandaids, etc. :-) 

So, here are a few pictures...3 months late!

Weekend Respite

It is a tremendous blessing to have a family cabin--a place to get away from the daily grind, the noise of the modern world, and enjoy uninterrupted time with loved ones.  A few weekends ago we loaded up the car and headed west to Juniata County.

Even as a little girl, I loved the mountains.  The rich loamy dirt, velvety moss, spicy woodsmoke and pine trees...the crunch of leaves under foot and the quiet gurgle of the stream.  A playground with endless possibilities.

Most of the leaves had already fallen, but there were a few pretty ones left.

  

The weather was really mild, only in the 50's, so we didn't even keep the woodstove going.  It was semi-rainy the whole weekend but no matter.  The kids enjoyed stomping around in the woods all the same.

My girlie, making a sketch of the forest in her notebook.

Inside, the bunks made for fun play, especially for Adam our mountain climber.  Coloring pages, stencils, books, and games filled the inbetween times.  Pete now knows how it feels to have a 3 yr. old beat him at MEMORY!       :-)



       

We all helped to collect some leaves to press for a school project Natalia had brought home.  Families were encouraged to work together to decorate a turkey for the 1st grade's hallway bulletin board. 

I just love that my husband and kiddos enjoy the mountains as much as I do!  Till next time...

 

Multitude Monday #9

It's been awhile since I've posted a Multitude Monday...a recounting of God's faithfulness and blessings in this season.  I am so thankful that though I desire to honor Christ, his love for me is an unchanging love, and not dependent on my performance.  He is faithful, even when I'm not.  THIS is true mercy and grace, and it makes me want to please him even more.

Things have been hoppin' in our household.  School is well underway, but some of us are still adjusting.

Picking up where I left off...

123.  Physical health.  It is so easy to take for granted a body that functions properly.

124.  Group exercise class at the local rec center.  I've been going twice or more a week for Body Pump.  It's weight training set to music, and it works each muscle group.  I definately feel stronger, especially in my legs and lower back.

125.  25 lbs. gone!  It took 5 months but slow and steady wins the race, right?  I'm aiming for 15 more by the end of the year. 

126.  Discounted clothing for my kiddos and turning a profit through the Weeusables Consignment Sale this week.  Just in time too because they both had outgrown nearly everything in their closet!!!

127.  Spiritual encouragment through the men and women in our Care Group and church.

128.  A dinner date with longtime friends--sans kiddos!  We figured out that we hadn't done that since starting our families 7 years ago. 

129.  Spontaneous squeezes and sweet whispers from my kiddos.

130.  Input for how to better steer my child's strong (STRONG!!!) will through H. Clay Trumbull's book "Hints on Child Training".  Though originally published in 1890 it is remarkably current--some things just don't change!

131.  Cool mornings!

132.  New people joining the Mom's prayer group for our elementary school.

133.  Our new church building!  We've officially been meeting there since the beginning of August.  After 30 years of paying rent, we now have the space for greater ministry and service.

134.  Patched drywall!  Seems silly, but after a year of having a hole in our living room ceiling (due to a mysterious roof leak) it is now fixed and awaiting a coat of paint.  Hurray!

135.  A benign test result.

136.  Adam doing an awesome job during his first trip to the dentist! 

137.  A steaming cup of coffee and a few minutes of quiet solitude.

138.  Book Club.  I just love it!  It challenges me, refreshes me, and is a once-a-month repose in this season of my life.

139.  Upcoming fall festivities--my favorite season.

140.  Homemade applesauce.

141.  Marigolds still in bloom.

142.  A great year of pastured poultry production!  Favorable weather for the most part, better equipment, and plentiful customers.  Our last batch is finished in a week.

143.  A prayer that reorients my heart when I'm foolishly self-reliant..."Jesus, please help me.  Because otherwise I can't be helped."

144.  My mom.  :-)  A trusted confidant, friend, source of wisdom, helper...I could go on and on but the screen is already blurry from the tears welling up!

145.  My hard-working husband.  I am particularly thankful that he has a job that allows him to be at home with us early in the evening, that he's willing to help Natalia with her homework despite the grading and lesson plans awaiting him each evening, and that he is a "hands on" daddy.  Love you, hon!

Yearly Portraits at Conestoga House and Gardens

Every year I try to have a photo session with the kids since I don't go anywhere for portraits.  My favorite spot for this casual photo shoot (ie: I click away while they roam) is a local gem, Conestoga House and Gardens. 



They are only open one day a week, have very restricted hours, and finding a Wednesday evening that we're free is slim pickings.  However, last night was the last chance we would have before they close for the season, so off we went.  (It was Pete's first time there and he had a very important job--to keep Adam out of the water hazards fountains, pool, koi pond.)

It was evident that the kids were tired and not in the mood.  Wouldn't you say?
(Note to self: avoid picture taking during the first week back to school.)

Anytime I asked if they could stand or sit in a particular place or smell this or that flower, they balked and gave me one of these:

Adam's tactic was to run.  Just run.  And the boy is quick.

(By the way, the place has a carry in, carry out policy...we brought our own flowers.)

So, I left them alone, and managed to get a few shots I could work with.  They didn't have to be contest winners.  Just one or two snapshots of who they are at this age.

And because I promised Natalia she could use my camera (with assistance) to take a few pictures when we were finished, here is her favorite shot of the night.  The horse.  That should be no surprise!  :-)

What truly made the evening was running into some friends from college and my Y.E.S. training, as well as two families from our church!  Shout out to the Planks and the Howells!  :-)  The kids had a blast playing hide and seek as the sun set.



First Grade

I think she was a bit nervous last night.  And she barely ate anything this morning, despite my efforts to convince her it would be a long time until lunch, until Adam decided to eat a banana 10 minutes before the bus was to come.  Then she wanted one too.  Thank goodness, because she was up at 6:30am, claiming she wouldn't have any time to play today.  Those 2 hours seemed much longer...  :-)

But she had a smile on her face when the bus rolled to a stop and she climbed on! 

Adam, on the other hand had a quivering lower lip when, as we walked back to the house, he asked, "WHAT are we going to do without Natalia?!"  (oh my...bless his little heart!)



I really think Natalia will love 1st grade, but I don't anticipate it to be an easy year.  She is so social, but 1st grade will be much more work than Kindergarten, and prolonged concentration is really hard for my girl.  I'm praying for her increased mental stamina this year, that I would have wisdom to know how to encourage her and support her in the way she needs, and that she would focus on the positives and not the negatives. It was really nice to meet her teacher and visit her classroom last week during Sneak-a-peek.  And two of her close friends from last year are in her class.  (A few more are right across the hall.)

As for Adam, well, I think he'll be just fine.  We're waiting until next year for Preschool, but with the mom's prayer group for Natalia's school and the playroom at the gym twice a week, he'll have a good amount of interaction with other kids his age.  And he's always been great at playing by himself here at home.

I'm excited for Fall and getting back into a routine after a whirlwind summer will be good for all of us.

Her Favorite Subject

Horses.  No matter the task, topic, or activity, Natalia will find a way to connect it to a horse. 

She talks about them during dinner time, she makes up songs and stories about them, she pretends her near-daily trips to the neighbor's farm are for her "riding lessons".  (In actuality, she pets them, or simply gazes into their empty stalls and daydreams.)

So when she was with Grandma recently she started a watercolor picture of...A HORSE, OF COURSE!
(Using her little horse "Patches" as a model.)

We now have a series to hang on her bedroom wall.  :-)

So Sweet...

...the bugs can't help but nibble on him!

Poor kid. His ear was swollen and sore for 3 days!

 As you can see, it didn't affect his disposition.