No explanation needed here

Holly's pretty compliant about being Emily's doll...
They grow up too fast :) She's listening to "Hide 'Em in Your Heart"


Congratulations to Ashley and Michelle on the birth of their 11th child this past Friday, Deborah Grace! We thank God that mother and baby are well.

A few updates

Joel's newest job is drying dishes. I have to say though, I can't stand to be in the kitchen while he is working because the clattering is so bad and the dishes seem to just fly out of his hands here and there. I had to put a stop to his high "towers". Thanks to Corelle, he's only broken one so far :)

Joel hasn't quite mastered the English language or some basic concepts such as time, which can be amusing. Here are some of his recent phrases:

On a week day, many times: "Is Daddy at work or in bed?" (I suppose that's because he worked the night-shift last month and he leaves before Joel wakes up)

"Are we going to the world today?"

"Yesterday I want to go outside."

"You bingy!" (no idea what that means)

After waiting for food at a restaurant for a loooong time, he threw down his napkin and said "I QUIT!" Then, "Daddy, what does quit mean?"

"Why did God make this house?" "Why did God make this food?" ... and many, MANY more

Every night, when I put him to bed we have the same conversation. I tell him I love him and he says, "Why do you love me?" And I say, "Because you are my son." Then he says, "Why are you my son?" I say, "No, YOU are MY son." "Why are you my son?" I just give up there every night.

Today at lunch I told Joel to eat his soup. "I'm not hungry! My tummy's not hungry, my legs aren't hungry and my head isn't hungry. Nobody's hungry."

Holly's little friend comes to visit every few days.

Holly's other friend :)

The kids had a ball on these boxes and it became their favorite play spot for a few days until we found a spot to store them (the boxes, not the kids :)

Our little lady... she looks so sweet and clean but just the day before I was gardening and took her out with me for the first time this year. One minute she was standing there afraid to walk or touch anything, and the next she was eating dog poop! I think she will be in a playpen from now on. I feel like a very bad mom right now and I'm looking into de-worming her.

The kids were off and ready to play as soon as Steve got to the property on Saturday. The progress is slow but finally the foundations are complete and backfilling is done.

(Joel, Marie, Emily & cousin Brianna)

As we were reminded today, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." Heb. 11:13-16

My wonderful husband :)

...doing a not-so-wonderful job, taking the toilet apart and unclogging it all because Marie didn't want to eat her apples and found a "good" way to get rid of them. Of course, doing it like any man would, he poured a lot of super-concentrated farm chlorine down the drain and the fumes were unbelievable, but the important part is he fixed it. Sometimes I am so thankful I don't have to do guy jobs! Steve is a great handy-man and fixes almost everything.

Our little gymnast

This picture is the request of Em & Steph. Anyone who has had a baby knows that the baby can't help but be the center of the family's attention :) Emily, Marie and Joel love to dote on her and observe everything she does and learns. Holly was walking around with a little trinket, and Steve stuck it between her toes. She thought that was pretty cool and thinks that is what you are supposed to do with it now. Only problem is, she's so chubby she can hardly put it in herself!



And this is for my mom, who is sadly half a continent away from all her grandchildren.
Listen to Holly's typical sounds these days... Sort of like a goat! (MP3, 750KB)