Multitudes of Angels

   Well as you can see, since I haven't been here in a long time, we are busy, busy, busy.  With what you might wonder, oh the last school things, the cleaning, the shopping, the spending time with Dad in our own private Christmas celebrations.  But in a few moments the relatives will arrive and thus the large family festivites shall begin.
   If you don't see me for awhile don't worry, you can find me in my kitchen cooking for the multitudes of angels that shall grace our home this holiday.
   Oh and my Hunny loves me!  He just brought me puzzles:)  I will crack them open maybe after Christmas.  If I can make myself wait that long!
   Love you to all and a very wonderful Christmas Holiday.  I pray you remember the reason for all this celebration, and as we do everyday thank God for His love and grace.
"Living, He loved me



Dying, He saved me


Buried, He carried my sins far away


Rising, He justified freely forever


One day He’s coming


Oh glorious day, Oh glorious day"  Casting Crowns

Time to Think of Christmas

One of those Days

Ever have one of those days where you have to get "everything" done, but you feel like doing nothing??  That's me today!  I have to get this house in order and looking half decent, my parents arrive tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to my visit with them.  We haven't seen them since summer!  Well actually my Mom was here in Sept.  I'm excited for them to see how much Madalyn has grown.  They can listen to Natalie play the fiddle, she's doing really great!  Bevan can show them all his new tricks on the drum and Bradon can play "Scot's La Hay" on the chanter!  Ashley has been playing the recorder with Daddy so she can show them what she knows too;)
But before they get here we have bathrooms to clean, drywall dust to mop up, floors to sweep, clutter to put away, laundry to fold, sheets to wash!  Better get my butt in gear!  I am thankful that my kids are old enough to help, they do pretty good.

Phew that's better!

I really loved the 3 wise men, but the colour back ground was killing my eyes!! Sorry I lost my stars Darci girl, but I couldn't handle that blue anymore!  I wish I could find a different colour one.  Oh well this one is nice and calm:)

Family Picture day!

Yay!  Picture day was terrific!  We had our awesome photographer Ruth, a nice day and plenty of smiles!  Some of the kids got a little chilly since they only wore t-shirts under their hoodies.  Poor things, my fault I should have told them to put long sleeves on! 

We had lots of fun, I thought of more ideas after our camera lady left. Maybe for next time;) It was absolutely worth it to have someone come and do the pictures for us.  Josh really doesn't like to have his picture taken, he also likes to do the "set up the camera and run in" thing.  THAT drives me NUTS!  So it was my anniversary present to have our pictures taken professionally:)  I really like my present.  Ruth did some great edits for me as well!  I really need to learn that!  So much fun! I did a little cropping to some of them.

                              This one I cropped.

and this one too!

This is looking out of our tree fort.

I love whatever this is called, maybe Sepia?

                                 

Picture day was awesome!  Love it!

5 Questions for Friday on Saturday!!

1. Are you a Black Friday shopper?


2. What was your favorite childhood toy? (Think Easy Bake Oven, Cabbage Patch Kid, Shrinky Dinks, etc.)
3. Favorite Christmas movie?


4. What is the "must have" item on your Christmas list this year?

5. Do you go all out with decorations or do you keep it simple and classy?

1. I'm not sure what a black Friday shopper is, but I'm pretty laid back shopper. I don't think I'd fight anyone for something, unless it was the last bag of Breakfast Blend Starbucks coffee beans!

2. My absolute favorite childhood toy was, were, are Charmkins! I still have my whole collection and my kids play with them.  They even kept their flower smell!  I lost all the barrets and clips though.

3. I love the movie Elf!  I laugh so hard every time.  Another one I love to laugh at is A Christmas Story.  This year I want to see a new one that I saw on my friend's blog.  Miracle in the Wilderness and I want to see Nativity.

4. Must have a fondue set!! I love fondue and I've never had my own set!  We use our electric wok!  It works but I really want the real thing!  Also my cute, fluffy, warm slippers have worn right out poor things, so some new slippers are in order.  Oh and don't forget that central vac honey!! ;)

5. Well last year I didn't decorate at all!  So this year we might do a little bit, the kids want a tree this year so we'll at least have one of those.

Feel free to copy these questions and answer them. Make sure you let me know so I can come and read them on your blog or answer them here in the comments.  I'm linking up to the Question Author Mama M.  you can too!

Christmas Music...

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem was one of my favorite songs as a kid.  My mom had a record that would play. This isn't the same one, it was Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt.  But I couldn't find that one.  So this is the best I could do, but I like it a little more peppy!




Time to be thinking of all things Christmas.  Well unless you're American then you are still getting to Thanksgiving.  But up here in Canada the Christmas music is playing and the decorations are going up, the shopping is starting or at least lists being made.
In our house though, that little youtube clip is the first Christmas Music we had on this year.  And it didn't last too long. 
I have begun the making of Christmas gifts and have finished one for my little nephew who is not yet born.  But he will be here around Nov. 30th.  Almost finished one for my little neice.  And their big brother's I haven't started.  I'm going to miss them this year. I think they've been here for Christmas 4 years in a row!  But with Mama having a baby this close to Christmas they won't be going anywhere. 
Josh will be working for Christmas, but I have some great things to look forward to.  My sister and her boys are coming and maybe my Mom and Dad too!  If the parents don't come here, then Sis and I will go there on the 25th. 
But it's still the middle of Nov. and hubby is impatiently waiting for me to be done here and get to the house work!  hehe, mostly because he wants me to finish painting the one wall in the spare room.  Then he can get the trim up and rooms moved around. 
So it's off and running I go.  Hmm maybe I'll try to find my Christmas music.....Naaaaa!

Snow Day!

     Well you might not agree with all my decisions.  And I'm sorry if you disapprove, not that it will stop me;)  But today we are postponing school and going outside to play!  Well the kids are going out to play, I'm going to bake cookies and maybe in between cooking time take Madi out in the snow. 
     We got a beautiful little dump of snow last night.  More then the little skiff a few weeks ago.  The children could hardly contain themselves this morning.  In the words of my 7yr old "The whole neighborhood is covered in snow!!" 
     Natalie is still not 100% yet so I'm not going to let her stay out too long.  Here's some of my snow babies for you to see!

Change Me

I'm kinda bummed.  We didn't go to church today because some of us have been sick.  I was afraid to infect everyone else so we stayed home.  I really needed the social interaction today though, and the kick in the pants my Pastor's sermons always give me, well either that our an "ah-ha" moment, love those.  And even though it sounds kinda painful I really do love a good kick in the pants too, cause I already know you're right, I just have to get up and do it.
So today I'm asking You Lord to Change me, again.  Change me from who I've been lately, like the song from Sanctus Real.  So in the words of Sanctus Real
"Would You speak to me? Show me what I need. Is it patience, kindness, all that's in between, loving others the way You love me"
"Won't You change me from the way I've been lately, cause I can't see living without You."
Amen~

Psalm 119 Challenge

Traci @ Ordinary Inspirations is having a memorizing scripture challenge.  I signed up, but I'm quite sure I'm not going to memorize the whole thing.  I love Psalm 119 and have read, and highlighted it so many times I'm suprised I haven't memorized it.  I think this will be a fun project to do with the kids.  I'll update you here on Thursday to let you know how we're coming along.  Join up and we can encourage each other along the way.  Visit Traci's blog she's got lots of encouragment there:)

Hot and Healthy Thru the Holidays!

                        

I'm in! I'm in! 

Joining some blog ladies to keep each other motivated through the holidays.

Since Baby number #5 and the medication we had to be on, I am waaaaaaaay out of shape.

And I find my tredmill extremely boring, time to get busy, and what better way then with a bunch of other moms!

Well I'll try to keep up!  hehe 

I have a new Wii Fit, so I'm going to try and keep up with that and do some working out.  I've started, but skipped a week now, so better get back too it!

Here goes...something anyway;)

Sorry about the html code showing, not sure what that's about!!  Thanks Darci for the great advice;)

They're engaged!!!

Congratulations Joanne and Steve!!

We are so happy for you!

May God Bless your plans and your future together.

5 Question Day

Ok so here are my answers to Mama M's 5 questions.  I'd love it if you play along with me and either link your blog to mine or leave your answers in the comments box. 

1. What were you doing the last time you had a good laugh?

2.Who was your first celebrity crush?

3.What is one talent you wish you had?

4.How often do you and your spouse go out w/o the kids?  Is it often enough?

5. What colour(s) is your bedroom?

1. What were you doing the last time you had a good laugh?
     Josh and I were watching tv.  It was Just for Laughs comedy stand-up.  Sometimes they can be not so funny but this guy Danny Buoy really cracked me up.  I would type the whole thing out, actually I did and then erased it because it really wouldn't make sense to you. You had to see it!

2. Who was your first celebrity crush?
    Funny I don't really remember.  I had a few pictures on my walls when I was 12 from a Teen Magazine.  Ricky Schroder was one, Michael Jackson, Michael J. Fox, Justine Bateman, The New Kids on the Block.  And Joey for Blossom. Those are just the ones I remember!

3. What is one talent you wish you had?
    ORGANIZATION!!! I so wish I had some good organizing skills, but alas I have none.

4. How often do you and your spouse go out w/o the kids?  Is it often enough?
    We do not get out very often.  On a good run maybe once a month, but sometimes it stretches to like 6 weeks!  Definitely not often enough!

5.  What colour(s) is your bedroom?
    Hmm, well this would be an easier question to answer if my current bedroom wasn't spread out over 2 rooms. Most of my stuff is still in my old room, with Madalyn, and my bed is in the spare room.  So my old room colours are...Bob the Builder blue on one half of the room, with light blue tools stenciled randomly.  The other half of the room is Army Green with light green army vehicles, helicopters, etc.(No I did not pick these colours because I am young at heart, this use to be the boys room).  My place of sleeping is Chocolate brown, cream and the distict drywall putty look on one wall.  When I actually get a room here I think it will be just one colour, I'm getting dizzy!

Hmm that was kinda fun.  Now what do you say??

Kinda Like Homeschool or Vaccines!

   What shall we do for Christmas?  I've been thinking about decorating...not sure if I want to.  Isn't that sad?  
    You might be wondering, "What about Halloween?".  Well we don't do halloween...for a number of reasons.  First of all I believe it's the celebration of death and darkness.  We don't want to celebrate that, I don't want my kids to think it's ok to celebrate that.  
   Second we teach our kids all year 'round not to take candy from strangers or talk to them.  Then on halloween we send our kids to stranger's houses asking for candy.  
    That being said these are just our views and convictions, they don't have to be yours.  I'm fine if you want to participate, I don't want anyone to feel they have to agree with me or feel judged.  It's only our opinion and what we've chosen to do.  Kinda like homeschool or vaccines!  Not everyone does the same thing, how boring would that be if we did! 
   We're going to go race our little wooden cars instead and have soup and buns and other goodies with some great friends and family at our Church.  
      Some may say, "isn't that celebrating halloween?"  Well to some it might be, but I'm glad to get my kids away from town and some place where they don't have to be freaked out by the zombies walking around.  The princesses and buzz light years seem harmless enough, unfortunately they are not the only ones out there;)

     Now back to Christmas, am I going decorate or not? 
Hmmmm.....

Wordless Wednesday

I Blame Sotalol!

    Update:  Bradon got home safely;)




 Who knew that you could play an electronic game and be so sore the next day you can't lift things or move!  I didn't!
    We were playing Wii Sports Resort with good friends and oh my the canoing killed my shoulders, sides and my whole body!!
   I had always thought that something like Wii Fit would never work, it's like a computer game.  I was so sore after those games I convinced Josh we needed a Wii Fit!  He was so concerned that I was so sore after a little game playing that he bought me a Wii Fit!  haha. 
   For those of you who know my sweet husband, you know that he will not easily fork out a $100.  He was really worried about my fitness levels and how low they've gotten. 
   I blame Sotalol.  I had a great pregnancy and was active until I had to take that darn Sotalol.   The Sotalol is good because God used it to fix my sweet little baby's heart.  Put me on my butt for 6mons and I've been trying to claw my way back ever since, but a good drug overall for it's heart fixing properties.
   I just played a round of Wii Fit games with the kids.  Lots of fun, and pooped me out!  I still haven't figured out the personal trainer thingy, it was a little boring, but the games are fun!
   Tonight Josh went back to work and I'm not sure how Bradon is getting home from Youth Group, but I'm to tired from the Wii Fit to worry about that!  I feel pretty good. Which is nice. 
  
     I have some exciting news to share with you but I need to get some permission before I blog about it;)
  So hopefully soon you'll hear!  And no I'm not pregnant! :)

Random Post

    Here on the home front today we are suppose to be cleaning.  Well so far only the dishes have been done and sweeping the kitchen.  Sweeping was only done because our little dish girl dropped a bowl and my merciless tile floor ate it. 
  I really miss my spell checker on this blogger. 

     In other news Bradon has joined the Jr. Lifeguard program.  I think he'll really like it.  It's weird having him grow up and do things without me.  Usually if he's at the pool, I'm at the pool.  If he's at soccor, I'm at soccor.  And you get the point.  Now here he is at the pool for 2hrs without me! 

     This dog is really getting on my nerves.  I'm always after the kids to take care of her.  I feel sorry for the poor thing.  I am not a pet person.  I don't mind taking care of animals if they have a purpose,ie: cat catches mice and keeps vermon out of my house, chickens lay eggs and you can eat them.
     This silly little dog just demands attention, poops in my house (not often by still very annoying) complains about her food, and steals cookies from the baby.  Oh ya and sits at my feet and whines!  Some days I could give her to the first person I see walking by!  Then I feel guilty because she was born here and we killed her mother (by accident).  We loved her mother, Sassie was the best dog ever.  Not really she pooped in my house too, but for some reason I have good memories of her.   Poor puppy, well at least a couple of the kids love her and Josh.

     This is a random post.  I have a free moment to kinda do some updating.  I finally got to hold my sweet little niece again. She's a month old already!  I missed 3 weeks! Darn viruses!  So glad we're done with being ill.  Well we better be anyway.  Time to load up the food with garlic just to make sure. 

    I did a huge grocery shopping trip last night.  Josh doesn't really like those trips, because I usually spend a good chunk of change.  But I love those trips! Nothing makes me happier then looking at a fridge full of food and having my cupboards stocked!

   Oh baby's awake from her nap and time to pick up Bradon. 
Will do laundry and more house work when we return (maybe).

Up Coming Projects

   I should be teaching school but I wanted to plan out our up coming projects.  So I'm going to list them on here.

   First the kids are going to make hand puppet washcloths for the little cousins.  (I can't find the picture)
Find the DIY page here.

   Then they're making eye glass cases for the grandparents and great-grands:)  You can find the DIY here.

I think they'll make placemats for the Aunties.  DIY link here.

For me I'm going to be making a couple more baby slings.  One for me for sure, and maybe a couple to give away.  I have the free DIY sling posted on my favorite links list on the side bar if you want it:)

Also I am in need of a smaller diaper bag, and I need a purse.  Personally I hate purses, not on other people just on me.  I find them annoying, but they are useful if you don't have pockets to stuff your keys and wallet into.  So the time has come to finally get a purse, but I'm going to try and make one, so it doubles as a diaper bag:)

I may find a different patterned material but I like the shape and look and I'm pretty sure it'll work as a diaper bag:)

Here is the link to artsy-crafty babe where she has posted the instruction to make this bag.

Well it's been fun this morning but my kids are now glued to Dirt Girl, so I better round 'em up and see if we got our copy work done;)

   One more thing. Where I found all these cool DIY projects!  At One Pretty Thing. Such a very cool site!

Not and Morning Person

     I thought about doing wordless Wednesday this week, but I thought I'd type something quick instead. 


     I'm realizing more and more how we really need a strict schedule.  I just can't figure out why I really don't want to do it in the morning.  At night I have a great plan to wake up, get this done, get everyone on track.  But once morning arrives, I barely haul my butt out of bed, I don't care that they are watching cbc kids, I just want coffee and quiet.  Of course the children take full advantage of this time and disappear, cause if mom doesn't see us she won't make us do anything, cause she won't find us if we aren't bothering her.


     Is it because I'm really "that" tired?  Am I just lazy?  Or is there really such a thing as "not a morning person"  Sometimes I wish morning would start @ 11:00am cause that's when my gears seem to click in.
     Maybe it would help if I went to bed before 1am.  Why do I go to bed that late?  Cause Josh isn't here so I'm lonely and can only go to bed if I'm exausted:)  If he is home then we stay up late watching movies.   Hahaha.  Funny how our minds and bodies get use to a certain "routine" good or bad, and it's hard to break.  


     Go to bed late, sleep in, run behind all day.   That's our life....I guess...until I decided to go to bed before 11pm maybe.  Hmmm that'd be interesting, if I go to bed @ 11 do you think I could get upi before 9:30??  I should try it and see if maybe I might be a "morning person" after all:)

Hey where'd my spell checker go???!

NOT ME MONDAY!

This is the part where we confess all the things we would never do, but actually did, "not me" :) Join MckMama for some fun!

I would never be grumpy and sassy at my dear husband simply because he put my "Texas toast" bread in the freezer causing me to have to use regular bread for french toast this morning. Not me I would never be so rude.

I would never be happy and content with not making a Turkey dinner this holiday. The great hostess that I am could never be perfectly at ease with a small roast and no company. Not Me!

Because of the put together perfect woman that I am, I could never sit around in my pajamas all day, with my bed-head-hair. Not me, never!

I would never start a project and leave it unfinished for days, weeks, months or even years! Not me how ridiculous!

Hope you all have a wonderful, fun, relaxing (as much as possible) thanksgiving holiday!

Wordless Wednesday

NOT ME MONDAY!

Monday comes around so fast. I've been keeping up with MckMama the passed week and she's invited people to do the "Not me Monday" with her. So I figure I got a few good ones to share.
I did not let my 12month old baby empty an entire box of Kleenex just to keep her occupied for a few minutes.. Not me!

I did not let my kids take turns playing computer games all day Sunday, just because we were to contagious to go to church, and I was to lazy to entertain them or make them do chores....Not me! Who would do that!?

I did not spend all day Saturday and Sunday surfing the net looking for crafts to make for Christmas, neglecting all my housework and school planning....NOT ME!

Hmmm... so what have you "NOT done" this week?
I have more from weeks past perhaps on some boring week when I really do "behave" I'll share some of the other things I "Have Not" done:)

K Just gotta say

I really like playing with stuff on the blog. As long as it works and doesn't freeze or make me crazy.
Sorry if I'm driving you nuts changing it all the time. Until I figure out how to make it personal and more ME, then it's gonna change:)
So how are you doing today? We are stuck at home with the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. I say WE because it's not just the children, for some crazy reason I got it too! Actually I got it the worst! Not that I want them to get it worse, I'm glad they didn't get very many blisters. I'm just being a big baby, it's really only the ones in my mouth that really bother me.

On a happier note Madalyn only got up once last night! Yippee! But I go to bed sad every night because I'm sleeping in a different room:( I miss my little roommate.
But this is better for both of us, I'm getting more sleep. I don't actually know if she is, I can't hear if she gets up in between times. I can only hear if she cries not all the other sounds she makes.

I have also succeeded in breastfeeding for just over a year now. I'm not sure how long we will go. Before Madalyn came along I had been known to say something like "You only need to breastfeed until the baby is eating all their solids". I was so silly :) I've been reading more about the benefits of breastfeeding through the second year. I think we'll just keep going till she no longer wants to, or I run out of milk. One way or the other I'm sure we'll be done by the time she's 2.

I'm thinking that I should make categories for my posts. I notice a lot of people do that. I guess if you wanted to find out my thoughts on something it'd be easier to find if I had them labeled. Hmmm, I'll look into that.

We're counting down the days till Daddy gets home. 2 more Sleeps. Guess I better get done being sick and start cleaning up in here, it's a mess!

New Name...Maybe

So I've been thinking. Life with Lollie is an ok name. It's about what life is like with me and what I think of life.


But today I was thinking Why not something to do with the number 7, since there are 7 of use.


I could call it The Davis Septet. Which is 7 musicians. Or Davis Hebdomad (that's 7 things).



THE DAVIS SEPTET.....



HEBDOMAD OF DAVIS'

or

DAVIS HEBDOMAD



What do you think? Do you have any ideas for me? Or should I just keep it the way it is?



I've been inspired by other bloggers to get better at this. It might be more fun if I came up with a more inspired name. Also I really gotta change the look of this blog. So I might do some research and see what I can do.



Got any good sites I can go too?



Also if you haven't already checked out Jen's blog
http://heymrswilson.net/

And also MckMama
http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

2 of my favorite Blogs :)

First Year

Hmmm, I think my frustration with Google Blogger is growing. My pictures are backwards and if I try to rearrange them the page stalls forever!!
So bare with me as I blog despite the mistakes and think about switching my Blog host!!

Madalyn's first year has flown by. I can't believe it was 1 year ago Sept 21st that she was born. It just seems like a couple of months ago.

She's been such a joy to us all. The kids are as enthralled with her as we are. Having a huge space between the kids is like having the first one all over again. All her little "firsts" are so fun and we revel in each one.

So Happy First Birthday my little darling baby. May you always be as sweet as you are now. And like all my babies before you, you will always be my baby, and Daddy's little sweet heart.

And Praise you Lord God for healing our little baby girl. She is no longer at risk for SVT.

14 Years and Counting

September 2nd 1995 I married the man of my dreams. It has been 14 years since then and I can honestly say he's still the man of my dreams. Actually more then that, the man I needed in my life, my other half:)

We were very young when we got married, just 19yrs old. Josh only a few days short of 20.

It hasn't always been easy. There were a couple of years in the middle there, we were going in different directions. But out of a love for each other, a desire to seek God and keep Christ the center of relationship, we made a road back to one another. In the process overcoming our individual "stuff" and learning how to get through our relationship "stuff" together in a constructive way. Marriage is work, but it's one of those things that "something worth having is worth working for."

Josh never ceases to amaze me. And with that neither does God:) Just when I think I got the guy all figured out, he surprises me. Sometimes good, sometimes not;) But overall I love the life that he and I have built together. Like learning how to play an instrument, it takes years of practice to actually make it sound beautiful. I think we're starting to sound pretty great, even if now and then we hit a flat note:)

I think the ultimate test of a relationship is who you become as a person. I can truly say that I am a better person because of him. Iron sharpens iron they say. I hope I've had the same positive effect on him;) That being said I can also be the most horrible person in his presence, a side that no one else will ever see,(lucky guy eh?) My selfishness and pride will rear it's ugliness with no one else more then my dear husband. (And maybe my sister, Sorry JoJo). It's with the people closest to us that we see who we truly are in all our glory and grossness. The bonus is they love us anyway. Because he still can love me even when I'm less then beautiful, (actually quite the opposite), makes me love him more. This also gives me more room for him to make the same mistakes and to love him through his not-so-prince-charming moments.

So Babe! Thank you for all those 14 years! My husband, my lover, my best friend. I am proud to be called yours and so privileged that you are mine. Here's to 100 more years, you and me baby! PS How many kids is that now?? ;)

My First Baby Girl (sry the pics are messed up)

Nat 2 Natalie age 9

1yr

couple mons

newborn

So Aug. 29, 2000, Natalie Michelle Davis enters the stage. She joins the Losh&Jollie Davis clan as the first born girl. What a lot of hair!! Thick black hair with frosted tips! Is she ours? After 2 mostly bald boys it's hard to tell. What a sweet little baby girl. Pink is so fun. After she was born pink officially became my favorite colour. The first 4 weeks were perfect. Then the colic started. How we survived I don't know, but thankfully it only lasted 3 months. At 4mons she was back to angel baby, as if nothing had happened.

Natalie has been such a joy. Some of the things she use to say were. "I luss you" "iceceem" "beva hit me" "brada hit me" "lets go"

Her hair was always amazing. I was so sad when she was 4yrs I had to cut lots of inches off. It was past her bottom.

I love having my girlie:) (All my girlie's but this post is about Natalie;)

Now my little girl is 9. Overall she is very nice and well behaved. Although like anyone she has her moments. :)

Natalie is very creative and likes to sew with her sewing machine. She draws very well. This year she requested a bow and arrows for her birthday. So that's what she got:)

So you can probably tell I got most of these pictures from my album. I do scrap booking so I couldn't' take them out and scan them without ruining my pictures. I have no idea how to fix them or why they came up sideways!

Looking forward to watching her continue to grow:)

My First Baby turns 13

I'm feeling, well not sure how I feel. I love watching him grow up, but so sad that it happened so fast. Tomorrow he turns 13 and leaves the world of "littles" behind.

Of course he will always be my baby. I am reminiscing about his first day in this world, and the 9 months of excitement and anticipation before he arrived.

Becoming parents for the first time was one of the greatest adventures Josh and I have had. I wish I had lots of videos to watch of him growing up, but we only have some that Josh's parents took. I have lots of pictures.

I think that Bradon and I will sit down tonight after all the "youngers" go to bed. We'll have tea and look at all his baby pictures. I'll tell him as many stories as I can remember.

I feel like I'm running out of time. I still have not finished teaching him all that he needs to know and correcting some of those annoying habits, such as bossing the younger children, arguing with Mom.

I am so proud of who he is. He is well mannered (mostly), he loves Jesus and wants to share Him with the world.

I'm excitedly anticipating his future just as we did before he was born. I know he'll be a good man, like his Daddy, but what will his job be? Will he live near or far? Will he marry? Who will she be? I know what I hope for him and pray.

I hope he will be happy and have true love, and be truly loved. I pray he will stay walking close to the Lord and follow His word. To live righteously and lead a holy life. To follow his dreams.

I love him so much, my heart overflows.

Snipits of things

Maddi and her new diapers!
Bevan, Caleb and Ben at Camp:)

Colton, Natalie and Ashley getting acquainted with Angel.

Angel loving the attention.

Cute picture of Madalyn finding paper on the floor.

We had a good 17 days in Houston. Lots of things to do. I especially like the visit to the Ranch in Francois Lake. Seeing great "family" friends. I really need more time there to get really caught up, but I'll take what I can get.

It was nice seeing my sister and her friend for a day and a half. I'm hoping she comes to visit me so we can have a longer time together.

Madalyn did her ever so famous eating every 2hrs through the night the whole 17 days. I'm so tired I can't do anything.

It was so nice to hang out with my Mom and just relax and visit.

I will be back in August! While Josh goes to the races:)

We're still Here!

Just to let you know we're still in the H-town. I was going home yesterday, but my Sis is coming on Sunday and well I decided to stay and say hi to her. So here I am. It's hot here, which is cool, I love the Summer weather. I think I like it better at my house though, we have a pool. But the sprinkler does the trick at Gramma's or we follow Papa and the Brandi dog down a weedy trail to the river. That part I don't particularly like since there was evidence of bears. But was sooo funny walking home with my Sister's little guy, who had filled his pockets with "treasure" =rocks, and couldn't keep his pants up.
I don't have any pictures of the river, because I was to busy thinking about bears!

Contradiction

This picture doesn't have anything to do with the post but it's cute:) She's in that "I can get up but I can't get down" stage. Ok I just read over my last 2 posts and realized I totally contradicted myself. In one post I say it's hard to keep this place clean like Grandma. Then in the next post I'm bored because it's too easy to keep it clean! Hahahaha, "Make up your mind would ya!" So I can't really say it's too hard, because at the moment I can't remember why I thought it was hard.

Right now I'm sipping my morning coffee, a little drowsy from having to get up at 7:30. Madalyn decided to having a morning party instead of a night one. Which was nice for last night, I took the opportunity to watch a movie, with no distractions. Had I known we'd be parting this morning I probably would have passed on the late night movie time. Oh well.

Today Grandma comes home. She's coming with my 2 nephews. Caleb and Bevan will go to camp together when Natalie gets back(day 4 and I'm surviving). Colty will stay here and play with Ash. The 2 of them have a pretty good time. They are only a year apart and now that Colton doesn't mind playing with girls they get along great! (He went through a 2 year phase where he didn't want anything to do with girls)

Today we're going to vacuum, sweep and do some dishes.

Why is it that all these things seem so much harder at my house, and there is endless things to catch up on (at my house).

TV square head

Wow, I don't think I've watched so much t.v. in my life! Well maybe when I was a teen. House sitting for my Mom has proven very laid back. It's easy to keep her house clean, cause it was clean to start with. So I putter around a little, hand out a couple chores to the kids, water the flowers, do the dishes sweep the floor. We can go for a walk, doesn't take long, Houston is small. Then there's not much else to do, so we watch tv. Well the kids get bored of that easy so they take turns playing outside and playing game cube, so it's mostly me sitting on my butt glued to the boob tube.

I've learned a lot though, since Josh took our tv out the garage 4 years ago. There are a lot of news channels, and a lot of reality shows. Don't misunderstand we do download some shows and watch them, which is another thing, there are a ton of commercials. Most of this stuff is crap! I sit here, especially after the kids are in bed, flipping channels. There is so much on and nothing to watch! I mostly like TLC, mostly cause we are living in a constant state of renovation at my house. But that soon makes me wish they'd just come to my house and finish it for me and I have to stop watching. So I flip the channel, now dissatisfied with my home and it's state.

There's neat reality show Road Trip America I think it's called. A bunch of families RVing across the US. I'd love to pack up the fam. in a motor home and trek across Canada. Yay, Josh thinks that's crazy too. But the notion is fun.

Well I better get back to that movie, something about a mother getting married and the daughter doesn't like it....blahblahblah:)

Oh ya you'll notice one child missing from our picture. Hopefully she's having a good time at camp:)

Trying to be occupied

Well Ashley and I finished painting our toenails. We're running out of things to do while Natalie is at camp and it's only day 2! Later today when the baby is awake we're going to walk down town. I know there is somewhere that sells frozen yogurt, we'll find it.

We're house sitting for Grandma and Papa right now. My Mom will be home on Tuesday. Trying to keep this place as clean as Grandma does is hard! So far my allergies are stay down so that is nice, but I haven't let the poor kitty in at all.

We have to keep our puppy Sara outside, poor thing is in heat, so there is no way I'm letting her in! At night though we put her in her kennel inside. It's good that it's so nice out, otherwise I'd feel really bad that she has to stay out there.

Oh there's the baby. Maybe I'll have time to write more tomorrow or tonight. He's a picture of Natalie going to camp, she's sitting in the back of the van with Madalyn:)

Amazed at what can get done!

Wow! What a busy 2 days.

We did tons of weeding in Oma's big Veggie garden yesterday. I think about 4 1/2 hrs, broken up into 2 sessions. I really like wedding there is something gratifying about it. Or maybe it's just being in dirt, which is funny cause I'm so girlie I hate getting mucky, but I love getting in the dirt and planting or weeding or any type of gardening. Funny.

Then today we did about 8 loads of laundry, not counting the 3 we did yesterday. So now all the laundry is done and all the clothes are packed!

Then my wonderful Mother in Law(Love) came over and occupied the baby while I packed my stuff. She went above and beyond, taking all 3 girls to her house! That's when the real 'magic' happened. The boys cleaned the bathrooms, I cleaned my room and the kitchen. Oh ya and living room! No interruptions! It was a beautiful thing:)

Then my MIL went above the call again and made us a yummy chicken, potatoes and veggie dinner. Was I ever spoiled. Thank you MOM you are amazing! And your food is always so delicious!

And just when you think that was all, hang on.... I put the 3 girls to bed, and the boys and I cleaned the van!

Wow!! What a day!
All set and ready to go to Camp and Grandma's house:)

Feelin' the pressure!

Well this is the last week before camp starts. Natalie first, then Bevan. We'll be in Houston for 2 weeks. I'm feeling a little apprehensive about Natalie's first year at camp. I always do when it's their first year. Plus sending 3 kids to camp this year makes us pretty broke! Right now I'm trying to convince them not to cash Bevan's check till a couple days before his camp starts. So I have gas money to get to Houston!

There is cleaning to be done, and packing for the 2 campers, plus packing for those of us staying at Grandma's.

I'm also thinking about our little hatching chicks, will we be back before they hatch? (I'm not hatching them) :)

Lots of laundry to do! I have to remember to ask Mom if she will feed my cat, and water Natalie's flowers.

Nat's become quite the little gardener. When you drive into my yard and see all the beautiful flowers that all her doing. I've been too busy with baby to do anything out there. She got money from her Oma and bought $12 in bedding flowers. She planted them in buckets (from Oma) and Oma helped her set them up in the yard. She faithfully waters them everyday. And now they are gorgeous!

I'll post a picture of them. It'll be at the top because I forgot to add them in before I started, and moving pictures around on here is a pain.

I'll try and keep blogging while I'm in Houston and post pics for you to see what we're up too. I was hoping to send a camera with the kids so they could take pictures, but I'm too broke! Oh well last year for the boys I just went on the day to pick them up and took lots of pictures. That works too.

I don't have to get Bradon ready until August 8. 2 days after he turns 13. Maybe we'll get him a little camera for his birthday. He'll like that I think...:)