Catching Up

I haven't had much time for writing lately, so I thought I would write a quick "catching up" post. The last few weeks have been full with house guests, stomach bugs, and lots and lots of hard work. On Monday we worked on the chicken house (but that's for another post ;-)). On Tuesday Linda and Amy came over and we painted both boys' bedrooms and their bathroom. It was a lot of work but so much fun!

Here is a little glimpse of the rest of our week:


I love watching the boys all playing together. Jamie is getting so much bigger and is really getting more involved with the brothers' play. He just loves to be in the middle of whatever they are doing. :)

Joseph has decided lately that napping is best done on the floor. I'm not sure why one would choose to sleep on the floor rather than their nice comfortable bed, but, to each their own, right?

Rocco chewed through his cast yet again so we had to take him back in to have it redone. We had told the vet that we were having a difficult time keeping a bag on it when he went outside and so they decided to duck tape it! He said the tape would act as a water barrier. So, we now have a red-neck dog. Rocco is a bit stir crazy and I can't really blame him. It has been so gorgeous outside that it must be hard to be trapped indoors!

Oh Rocco. I wonder if he was getting into something that he shouldn't have?

Our family did "battle" with an awful stomach virus. My poor bear was just so sick! It was such a challenge after a difficult week, but everyone was such a trooper. I was so thankful that I did not get sick until after the youth girls came to help me get the house back in order. It was almost as if my body waited to give in to being sick until all the work was done! It was such a blessing to have the help of friends after such a trying time.

It was a busy day but I did try to squeeze in a little much needed sewing. Jamie was insistent that I hold him, so as mothers often do I just made it work! I was actually rather impressed that I was able to sew in an invisible zipper whilst holding him. I worked very slowly and carefully and he watched with great interest! It was nice to combine to of my favorite activities...sewing and snuggling with my littlest one!

Just 'cuz he's cute!

It's been busy, but busy can be good. This week I am just ever so aware of the work that God is doing in our lives. It seems like we are growing in leaps and bounds, and of course, with growing sometimes comes growing pains. God is so wonderful to us! It is amazing to sit back and watch Him work in our lives and provide in ways that we can't imagine for ourselves. I have been so blessed by my church family this week. I have felt encouraged by edifying words, and supported in practical ways by helping hands with jobs that were too big for me to do alone. Today, my dear friend, Sharon, offered to help me with preparing and planting our family's garden. What a huge blessing!

We have lots of fun and exciting things happening around our place in the coming weeks! :)


In His Abundant Grace,

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Saying Goodbye to my Bird Friend

*Photo courtesy of www.allaboutbirds.org*

Yesterday was a really nice day, but the afternoon brought with it a piece of sadness. Jacob called me over to the window and said, "Mommy, I think Rocco ate your bird!" Sure enough, there were pieces of him scattered on the ground under the window.

Several weeks ago, my beautiful friend started visiting me. He would come to my window and sit and we would have the most delightful wordless conversations. I so much enjoyed his visits! He would come and talk to me, and then go and eat at the bird feeder. I am sad to lose my little friend. I know it's a natural thing, for a dog to eat a bird, but I shall miss his visits!

Jacob said to me, "I know there's other birds like him, but I guess not others that will come see you like he did". Yes, he was a special little bird, at least to me!

With Love,

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Guinea Pig Babies - Yes, AGAIN

The other morning I walked into the boys' room and was surprised to find two MORE mice...Rascal and Fluffy were parents again! The new mice are named Lenny and Ming Ming (Wonderpets, Wonderpets, we're on our way!) after two of the characters from the boys' favorite show.

They are adorably cute, but now we have SIX guinea pigs...

Hugs,

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New Pics of the "Mice" Babies

The one with more white (she's the one IN the food dish, lol) is "Julia", and the gray and white one is "Sparky". Julia seems to REALLY like to eat, especially when they get a treat of strawberry "lids" (as Jacob has always called them, I always give the tops of strawberries to the mice as a treat).

I was not thrilled about adding two more guinea pigs to the family, but I have to admit, these little guys are pretty cute. And seeing the way the four of them interact as a family has really made me like guinea pigs even more. Fluffy is such an awesome mommy, and Rascal is pretty sweet with them too.

And since the babies have known us since birth, they are even more calm and more friendly than their parents. It's been a neat experience for the boys, they really like that we moved their cage into their room, and I think the mice like their new location as well.

And hey- as an added bonus, the mice aren't too likely to destroy my dining room or pee on the living room floor.

Hugs,

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Will Somebody Please Remind Me WHY We Have a Dog???

Love,

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Babies!

We had quite a surprise this morning! I went into the playroom and looked over to see 2 little gray and white "mice" staring back at me. Apparently Fluffy had babies! Apparently she must have had them a week ago and somehow we didn't see them. The babies are doing great, they are active and friendly and so adorably cute!

Hugs,

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Pets in their New Home :)

Oliver and Frannie are enjoying their new surroundings. Oliver loves to look at the views from the living room windows, or bask in the sun coming through the back door.

Frannie LOVES the new back porch. I think she is also enjoying that we are spending more time outdoors. She loves to look in through the large breakfast room window.

Hugs,

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The Family "Mice"

Well, ok, they aren’t really mice. They are guinea pigs. But no amount of saying that will convince Jacob. They are mice and they will probably always be mice.

We gave Jacob and Joshua guinea pigs after we moved, because we had to leave behind our two dogs. We aren’t really ready to take on the responsibility of training a dog right now, with a new baby, and a new house, and preschool. But guinea pigs seemed like a pefect fit.
We named Jacob’s “mouse” Buddy, because Jacob is our little buddy. And Joshua’s “mouse” is Rascal, because, well, if you knew Joshua, it’s pretty self explanatory. I’m sure that when Joseph gets a little older we’ll get him a “mouse” too. They have been good little pets for us.

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We had a lovely start to the morning. The boys really enjoyed having breakfast together as a family and seeing Daddy off to work.

Jacob painted me a beautiful picture this morning. He was so excited to paint today.

Joey woke up many times last night, he seemed to be extra hungry. I suppose he must be having a little growth spurt.

Little Joshie seems so sleepy today. He is begging to go "nigh-nine" since this morning. He has just been extra tired the last few days. Perhaps he is hitting a growth spurt as well.

We got a phone call this morning from a veterinarian in Cullman saying that a woman had called him saying that Allie is running loose. Tony and Shauneen had given her to an older man with a goat farm. Rick is going to call and see if he can figure out what the situation is. I certainly hope she is alright, I love that dog and it broke my heart to give her away.

This afternoon I am going to do some laundry, there are always so many clothes to wash that I never quite feel caught up.

Rick talked to Shauneen and she called the man who they gave Allie to. She apparently got lookse and wandered down to a neighbor's house. So all is well.

I think the house seems so lovely when the beds are made. It just makes everything so much more tidy and neat.

The boys have had a good day today. I think that the new schedule has worked well. Our family seems to function most successfully in a structured enviroment. I think that things like a good schedule encourage us to be at our best.

I am making beef stroganoff and carrots for dinner this evening. I decided to set the table with our formal gold cuttlery. Jacob thinks it is so special when I pull out the box that it is stored in. It feels nice to eat with it and why nor make each dinner a special occasion?

Our "mice" are so cute. They are fun to hold. Rick said that he wants to get them a little play yard so that they can run around.

Lovingly,

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