Cardboard, sprouts, and blooms all about.

 3 little stooges all in a row.

 Luv Livy's little baby swimsuit butt.

 Slip N Slide

 Noah's Garden

 Walked in the living room the other day to find Olivia had stolen my Gnome pillow...and diapered it.

Son, can you play me a memory?  I'm not really sure how it goes......  As I a packing fool, I am coming across so many memories.  Included in this box, I placed, Holy Clothes, Baby items, special jewelry...Isabelle's first ballet slippers...  and I think, wow...God has been good to me.  In this box, are some of my most precious gifts...some of the most special moment's of life are represented here.  Tears fill my eyes as I realize how blessed that I am as I look into this box....and then close it up...to bring it to our new home.  A home that we have waited for, searched for...and found.  In a months time, we can start making new memories there...a new chapter in our book.  I also look at where we are now and have been for the last 3 years.  Although, there are things that I do not like, this home has been good.  It is small, but it is safe.  We have had many wonderful moments within these walls.  We have been blessed to have some amazing neighbors, people that we were meant to meet and know and love for many reasons.  I am sure as I close the front door for the last time to this house, that I will take many cherished "things" with me.   But for now......have you ever tried to get a house ready for showings with 3 young children and a very shedding German shepherd dog?  It is next to impossible!  I am a cleaning, purging , packing maniac.....trying the best that I can.  We have our first showing scheduled for this Friday, so I am trying my best to do what I can in this chaos.   In other news, kids are officially out of school for the summer.  I had boxes of fun waiting for them when they got home with some special little gifts.  We celebrated with root beer floats.  The kids are now in full summer mode.  Sunshine and water all about.  Flowers blooming everywhere.....The garden is growing like crazy.  We have already enjoyed lettuce and spinach, radishes and herbs....I think snap peas are about ready as well.  My coffee is gone, the children are rising.  Wishing you a beautiful day.  ((I will try to update more, I already have tons of pics and little stories to tell that I am behind on...I need to catch up!)).

Mama's Day & Moving

(I should probably not pack this precious cargo for the new house...just yet).

Happy Mother's Day!  This morning I am greeted with the promise of a beautiful day, the sun bright and brilliant, the birds singing, the flowers blooming....This is the day that the Lord has made and with an emotional and sensitivity of heart today, I smile & think about how very blessed I am.  Blessed with gifts that I did nothing to deserve.  Gifts that make my life worth living.  When I wake on this Mother's Day, I think of My Amazing Mother.  Not only my parent, but my best friend.  I think of My Three precious Children.  Not only my purpose, but my JoY.  I think of my grandmothers, aunts, sisters & friends...and how all these women were and are truly so strong, beautiful, wise and wonderful.  All the challenges and blessings of Motherhood have touched and taught me so much.  I love and I am loved, this I know.

In other news:  We finally found a house!  We are in the process of buying our DrEaM home.  :)   It is the perfect house for us.  We knew right away when we drove up to it.  It's amazing, how things are just meant to be and that God has plans for us that we would never imagine.  We will be staying in the Freeport area and we are planing on moving at the end of June/beginning of July.   In the meantime, there is so much to be done.  School will be winding down at the end of May.  Lots of misc. activities.  The packing, purging, cleaning process of our current house has begun.  It's a little overwhelming, but I know it will all work out.  We were going to put our house for rent, but now we are leaning toward putting it on the market (so lots of prep work to get that ready).   Well for now, this day is waiting to be lived....I better begin it.   Happy Mother's Day & Happy Sunday. 

Attack of the Goldfinch!

Normally, Olivia just loves watching the birds that come to our feeders.  She laughs at the giant woodpeckers, claps at the bright red cardinals....but for some reason.....this Goldfinch just freaks this kid out completely.  She spots it and she screams and runs and hides and cries (see the tears rolling down those cute little cheeks?)......it is hilarious.  Olivia is completely traumatized by this bird.  I don't know if it's his bright yellow color or the fact that he keeps trying to fly into the house and she thinks he's gonna get her....whatever her reason...she is now extremely cautious about hanging out by the front window.  Well, as I type this... the kid is wiping apple juice on her chest, I've got to go.

The Birthday GiRl.

My baby has turned two.  I think about how the time has just sailed away on the wind.  Truly like a flash my precious little stinkerdoodle is growing up faster than instant hot chocolate or microwave popcorn.  This girl is a ball of energy and adventure.  She is bossy and brave.  She is giggly and warm.  She is quite wonderful in fact.  She definetly keeps me on my toes, exhausts me and shocks me....but I wouldn't trade her for all the peas in China or all the coins in the biggest wishing well in the world.  I love this baby.  She challenges me and she teaches me and she makes me complete.  I can't remember what life was like before her. (maybe it was slightly a little cleaner and calmer).  She is defintley a piece that fits perfectly into our family puzzle.  She is the grand finale of the firework show...she is the red caboose at the back of the train....ending things in a bang and a vibrance.  Happy 2nd Birthday, you amazing little girl.  Olivia Helen, I love you.

springy Easter notes

Spring Break and Easter went by in a whirlwind.  We were so blessed to have some very special friends come stay with us this break.  My oldest friend and her 3 daughters came for a visit and we had such a wonderful time together.  We missed them the moment they pulled out of the drive way and we can't wait for the next time we meet!  We had visits with relatives & friends throughout the week and wonderful weather...it truly was such a nice holiday.  We watched movies, read books...played ball.  The easter bunny came and ate some eggs and carrots. He left a camping tent for the kids.  Isabelle and I colored our fingernails all different spring colors.  We flew kites on Easter day (seems to become the tradition).  Let's go fly a kite, up to the highest height........

a windy update

Sorry to breeze in and out so quickly my friends, but I know I have not updated in a while and I have lots of updates to share.  So just wanted to say hi quicky before the morning explodes in routine and rush.  I hardly slept a wink at all last night and there is a busy day ahead...so I am drinking my coffee and praying for wisdom and strength to get through decently.  Some of the things that I will be sharing soon:  Our Easter and my baby girl turning 2!  Happy day to you.

Angry Model Magic

Model Magic Creations:  Ben and his Angry Bird and Olivia and her....um Planet.  I love how after Olivia saw me take a pic of Ben and his that she held hers up and posed as well.  hehe   (Isabelle is not pictured for she was off playing American Girl Dolls with a friend).   At the moment : I am sitting on the couch , listening and watching the world wake up.  My coffee is half done and the natives are stirring.  Yesterday I was so tired and crabby you probably would have been smart not to even look my way.   I think I should be better today.   I am getting old as now all of a sudden I have dry elbows and must put lotion on them.  Also, I am not only old but a super lamo dork on top of that because I bought myself a 500 piece bird puzzle yesterday and I was so excited.  Of course, it was started yesterday but I had to put it away or there would be nowhere for us to eat the evening meal (taco salad).  House hunting has become kind of depressing.   I give up.  Anytime we find something we are interested in, someone else has already claimed it or it just plain doenst work out, but for the most part we are finding nothing we are interested in.  I know I need to be patient, I know the right house is out there waiting for us and I pray it will present it's self...someday.  So, I think I left my van window open...lovley.  Also, I was freezing last night and didnt wash my eye makeup off and regret it this a.m.  Also I was up all night thinking about how we have no Easter Gifts for the kids yet (or groceries, or plan or menu or decorations up).  I want to talk Noah into a bunny, ugh he just totally rejected it.  ugh.  I really want a bunny...one of those cute little dwarf ones.  Oh well I guess, dreams are crushed everyday, we must move on.  I am currently planning for a wonderful visit at the end of this week of a dear childhood friend of mine and her 3 daughters.  We are going to have a spring celebration!  I so look forward to this...I just have to vaccum up all the dog hair.  Kids are on spring break this week.  Noah will be traveling. Ben needs a haircut.  I need a tropical getaway alone.  I guess that's about all I know at the moment.  I think Noah is ordering our chickens today.  There was a runaway running away through the woods near our house the other day.  It was kind of fun to watch the cops chase her...but, not really.  Actually I felt sad for her...but I was glad that she stopped hanging about our yard...I mean if she is gonna hang out there she can at least pick up a shovel, rake, hoe or pull some weeds or something.  k, bye.

Stop that kid, she's got a bowl of peas!

o.k.  this is so My life.  Olivia thieves a bowl of peas from the dinner table and high tails it out of the kitchen.  I catch up with her in the living room, tackle her down and retrieve the peas before spillage.  I mark brief Success in my parenting book for the moment.  Then she traps her foot in the baby doll stroller, screams her head off and I declare:  bedtime for the baby!  And that is where the lovely little sticky faced , mismatched, buggered faced girl is now.  In her caged bed, with her bottle and many special blankets and attachments and I pray for rest for us all.   There are still parts of the baby's string cheese snack laying around the house from earlier in the eve.  She asks for the cheese when the other kids ask, I always give it to her regretting the act, knowing the fate of the dairy product.  It is always the same.  String cheese stringed around, waiting for me to collect and depost among the other junk that goes in the garbage.  Speaking of cheese: Ben likes to shorten words of things , his own personal language.  So when you ask him would you like a snack?  He might respond, I'll have some Cottage.  Or how about some Cottage?  Now the whole family refers to Cottage Cheese as Cottage because Ben has penned it so.  Seriously, it totally cuts down on time and effort just saying Cottage verses saying cottage cheese.  It totally makes sense.  Especially if you are a cowboy.  I am granted with a cowboy in my kitchen at least twice a week if not more.  TOday is one of those full gear days.  He wanted to bring for "free choice " showing tell, his cowboy gear (once again).  I told him, no Ben, you've brought that oh so many times before, choose something else, for your little friends must be bored to their gills with seeing your cowhide vest once again?  This time he reluctently chose:  a military beany baby bear.  He likes the bear, but much rather would have brought....you guessed it...Cowboy gear.  Tonight I made a new recipe:  Coconut Curry Pork (well and stolen peas as a side!).  Not my favorite.  Of course it is not up there on my NEVER MAKE AGAIN list, like:  Vampire Chicken (lets just say lots of garlic but not in a good way).  O.k., I must be honest here and tell you that I do believe that the 3 legged dog has just peed on the deck and part of me does not care, cuz I am tired.  The end.   So, our fish willy william, he doesnt seem to be doing super grand.  He won't eat properly.  I wonder if it is something I said?  Sometimes I try to keep him company with a mega blocks girl figure (I know this sounds dirty but it is totally not... her figure is blockish, like I said...It's like a big lego girl ) that I put next to his tank. ((Side note:  even though the children have begged for a fish, they have seemed to quickly forgotten that they do in deed have a fish.  I mean, I know a fish is not the most exciting of all creatures that tread water and earth, but it still ranks as "Pet" but anyway, I degress....)  He swims next to it and seems happy ...but he's not eating so who knows.  Maybe he is just stupid.  Stupid as he does not seem to realize that the shrimp pellets that I fling into his bowl are his nurishment for life.  I pray for the fish because his beauty is soothing and I do believe he has a purpose.  Even if it's mini, it's a purpose.  I hope I don't find him upfloat, but honestly I wonder if I should have got the Sea Monkeys instead? 

William for short

 Family activity yesterday morning:  whipping grapes at this sneaky stealy squirrel to get him to leave the bird feeder alone for a smidge.  well eventually I hit him with a grape and he still didnt budge, that is when I gave up and asked God to grant me the serenity for the things I could not change...

 This is our new fish:  Willy.  Willaim for short.  (hehe)

 This is Ben calling Grandpa Al, to wish him a Happy 60th birthday!

 If this trio does not say trouble, I don't knowwhat does...

 I love that Ben decided to upgrade his flower (and weed) giving to me by ripping a flowering limb off a tree and "surprising " me.  I told him it was quite lovely...but the branches do need to stay on the trees in the future.  The tulips are from my mom!  I wonder if Ben was trying to one up her...

There is nothing better than seeing a sleeping baby girl.  Seriously, this kid has not been sleeping again latley to well...so when she does its such a blessing (for me).  She needs to have all her stuff just so.  Her pillow in the right position, her several blankets and her baby...oh and her milk.

Noah is out running this morning.  The kids are still sleeping.  I am enjoying listening to the spring time birds singing.  I had my coffee already.  I am almost ready to start the day.  So recently, I have turned 37 years old.  I can't believe it.  I always feel so blessed by all the greetings, cards, calls and gifts that I receive from friends and family, that make feel like I am someone special!  It is a wonderful reminder of all the amazing people that I have in my life and how lucky that I am.  I announced that I have gray hair and I love my little Ben because he answered:  No mom, you have brown hair!!  Just brown hair.   (thanks Ben).   I've been enjoying walking at the park a bit in this early spring weather.  We already started grilling quite a bit as well.  Noah has already planted much in the garden.  I have not got to paint in a while (sick kids and other obligations and events), so I am really hoping to get my materials out today.  I am feeling the need.  I hung up my hummingbird feeder for the season.  Hope to see something soon. Can't think of anything else for the moment, so have a lovely day!

quick cuz my battery is dying.

 Let's go fly a kite...up to the highest height!   Here is my Ben enjoying the wind today.

 Rainy Baby.  The thunderstorms yesterday got Olivia quite frightened.  She found her favorite blanket and hid under it, crying.  

 The tricky Leprechaun made his way to our homefront again.  This time causing more trouble then usual.  He turned pictures upside down, cushions thrown, chairs tipped, toliet paper tossed...green milk, green water....  On top of all that, here is my Green Trio of of Trouble all sporting some kind of illness.  Olivia, broke out with some reaction from bug(s) bite (s), Isabelle had an eye cold type situation going on and Ben had a cough/throat thing going on. 

Today, Olivia and I took a walk in the woods near our house.  I sure wish I could find her shoes.  She hid them somewhere recently and I cannot locate them.   And... like I said that's all I have to report at the moment because my battery is about to cease.  Love & Blessings.

Spring has Sprung that good ole gal...

Ready, Set, Go...

Arrival.  New.  Beauty.  Breathe it in.  The Fresh.  The Energy.  The Light.  The Song.  The Amazing Gift of this day.  The Earth is calling ...go see what she has to show you.  Dance in the Mud.  Be Happy.

snow flurries & super suits

As I just begun this post I realized that I don't have any new pics to share so I looked in my recent pic folders and found this one of Ben proudly displaying one of his favorite Sweatshirts (even though it has chicken blood on it...seriously I think I got all the chicken blood out).   Also , as I just begin this post on a quiet Sunday morning, I hear Olivia is awake.  Olivia is saying several new words lately:  Book, weed (read) and baby.  I made a new side dish this week that was surprisingly very good:  Roasted carrots & avocado salad.   I started operation: " clean closets out" this weekend.  Wow, what an overwhelming task.  I should do this more often.  Anyway, there were so many clothes piled on Ben's bed last night that he had to camp out on the floor in his sleeping bag!  I knew starting this would be way overwhelming but obviously has to be done.  The best thing is finding things we forgot about!  It's like getting brand new stuff!  Treasures uncovered!  whoah.  The best part about closet clean out so far is when Ben announced very seriously that he will make a section for his superhero suits!  It is a requirement of his closet.  It put a smile in my heart and reminded me how wonderful it is to have this little boy filled with imagination and creativity.  So all lined up , awaiting Ben's next adventure is:  green lantern, spider man, power ranger, cowboy, batman, super Ben cape,  etc...  /  I introduced the children to one of my favorite childhood movies this weekend and they have watched it several times since:  The Goonies!  Today, we are going to look at some houses in the afternoon.  I am hoping we fall in love with something.  The hardest part is trying to decide if we want to be town mouse or country mouse.  Seriously feeling so torn these days.  Happy Sunday!  Until we meet again...

Homemade...awesomeness.

Today I made some awesome Homemade Granola (bars) except that I didn't cut it into bars, It is more like granola bites/squares.  I got the recipe online and thought I would give it a whirl.  They are grain free.  It's basically made of  misc. nuts, dried fruits, coconut, honey, cinnamon.  Ben didn't like it (I am assuming because he knew there were raisins in it).  Everyone else in the fam super loves it.  I wanted to update on my niece, Ava since I asked for prayers last post.  She has now been diagnosed with  Kawasaki disease.  This is treatable and shouldn't have any long term effects.  She is already getting better and in a few days should be able to go home.  I am thankful that God heals a little girl.  I am thankful that he promises that Springs beautiful blooms will follow Winters harsh winds.

flowers and showers and snow

 Winter's whisper has found us again.  What a beautiful site to wake up to on Friday.  To top that off, No School...so no rushing around , layering up and shipping out. 

 Here is a self portrait of my recent hair cut.  I love it.  It can be messy and crazy and wild or it can be neat and nice.  For the most part if you see me about it will mostly likely be on the messy wild side..just naturally of course. 

 This last weekend we spent in the Chicago area visiting family and celebrating.   In the Spring, our family will be expecting two new babies!  Two of my sister in laws are due with boys.  This last weekend we had a shower for one of them. 

 Olivia's favorite part of the shower was:  balloon chasing.

 Isabelle's favorite part of the shower was:  Chocolate Fondue

Ben's favorite part of the shower was:  The cupcakes (of course!).
Also on this weekend we visited with my parents.  The time always goes way too fast.   My brother took Ben to Riley's Trick Shop.  (we used to go there as kids).  It was neat that it was still open and fun to see the things that they brought home.  Some how Ben managed to get a green lantern costume out of the visit.   This morning I woke up to a cold or something in my eye.  I could not open it at all and now It is red.  I am wearing my glasses until further notice and I am half blind because of it.  This week girl scout cookies have entered our life and have somehow quickly disappeared.  This week we had the wonderful opportunity to watch Ben read a prayer intention at church in front of his school/parents.  He did awesome.  I was especially smiling when he hopped of the podium in traditional and expected little boy fashion.  For lent I have decided to give up:  Wine (with maybe one exception on my birthday).  Isabelle has decided to:  work harder on homework.  Ben has:  forgotten what he decided.  I have done no art in a long time.  Maybe this week, time will allow.  My chalkboard currently says:  " o' wind, If winter comes, can spring be far behind? "  I am so thankful to see the sun  these last couple days.   It does in fact give me hope that spring will come.  Something that I have neglected for a long while has been my gratitude journal.  I got it out and restarted it yesterday.  (this is an ongoing list of simple moments/gifts that I record).  So, hopefully I will be sharing some of those along the way again soon.  Sometimes I wish that I had an endless supply of Pistachios.  Well, I have to go because these people keep begging me for food.  It's like they want to eat every single day.  ugh.  I would like to leave with a prayer request.  My little niece Ava (2 years old) is very sick and in the hospital.  Please pray that answers and healing will come for her quickly.  Poor little baby, breaks my heart.

Sweets, Tweets and garbage man in the Street

 This is the Chalkboard that I made.  Every day I put a little saying or quote on it.  It has been so fun.

 This is a recent breakfast that Noah made.  Pumpkin muffins (almond flour) and Egg/Bacon cups.

Valentine's Day was filled with Sweets and Love, Reds & Pinks.  It was nice.  But, I am glad this holiday is over.  Ben's party at school turned out so great.  I am so thankful for the all the awesome parents that helped pull off this event!  The next day we celebrated Noah's birthday, very low key as he does not make a "big thing" of birthdays.  This week, I met our garbage man... I heard the trucks coming as I was laying in bed at 5 in the a.m. I realized we did not take the garbage out.   Risking the thought of getting run over by the truck in the dark, but knowing I did not want to be stuck with extra garbage that I had no place for all week, I took the chance.  I found my boots in the darkness and ran out the door just in time to meet the truck at the street and handoff the unwanted loot.  I made it.  This week I started in a new bible study with a group of amazing women.  I am excited about this Spring session.  The book we are discussing is:  Creative Counterpart.  The weather is supposed to be up to 40 today.  So weird.  Feels like spring latley, although that is still far off, it gives hope.  Enjoy each season you are in.  There is a time to sow, there is a time to reap.  There is a time to eat sweets and there is a time to listen to tweets.   I really need a haircut and so does Isabelle.  I might go long messy bobbish.  Or neat chin length bobbish.  I just know I want the length gone, I think.  And of course someone will have to fix the bangs I decided to cut one day. The kids have a four day weekend, we have lots of  happy stuff planned.  It will be nice to get away for a little bit.  Change of scenery.  Visit special people.  On the Road again, just cant wait to get on the road again.   This morning I got to watch the sunrise over the woods.  The pinks and blues turned to light behind the black shadowed trees. I heard the first "tweets" of the day.  It was awesome.  My head is hurting very badly.  I have a big bump on my forehead.  Last night, Isabelle was putting her ds away and dropped it on my head....it hurt like I imagine it would feel to be hit like a brick.  ugh . I thought I was going to throw up and pass out.   Isabelle was crying.  Ben was crying.  Olivia was crying.  I was crying.  (Noah was at poker).  It was horrible.  But, we made it through.  My favorite snack these days is:  pistachios.  I started reading a book last night:  Riding the bus with my Sister.  Here comes Ben and his blanky cow.  He has awakened for the morn.  Everyone has slept late this am (which is fine cuz no school). I need to make a library return run today.  We need diapers.  I should make a list as my mind is suddenly clouded with musts, shoulds, got tos and all that jazz.  I hope it's sunny.  Happy Friday. 

In Raising them, I am Raised up

We have had some wonderful "spring like" days this February.  Of course, when I let lance out at 4am this morning at a frosty zero degrees, I tried to recall the warmer moments of just a few days ago.  Between Ben, Olivia and Lance, my night was interrupted much and I decided just to stay up in the early hours and enjoy the quiet time.  I am sure I will regret it later today when I can barely make it to dinner time, but somehow I will make it, I always do.  So much on my mind lately and so many changes ahead for my family.  We have wonderful plans in the works and we shall go wherever God leads us.  Lately I have been feeling a little kicked in the shins (bit in the butt) - ((literally, Olivia bit me the other day) and just exhausted of games and attitudes of the world.  I don't have the energy or the time to not focus on the Good.  As I am trying to especially teach Isabelle, to think and focus on the good, I must do so as well.  I must be an example, so she knows that her thoughts should linger on the sunny side of things as much as possible.  I have been letting certain situations get me down, but what I really need to do is make the best of these falls/ fails/ disappointments.  Let them be lessons and move on.   I think the dreary weather has a lot to do with my "funk" mood as I think it has a lot to do with many people's ways these days.  I just know that at the end of the day, I am in my warm house with my wonderful family and we support and love  and enjoy each other and nothing much else matters.  For those that steal, let them steal and those who can't show kindness or those who create difficult situations, it is their loss, their challenge, their sadness, it doesn't need to be mine.  I choose different.  -- so anyway enough gloom and doom....let's talk about chalk!  I made the most fantastic chalkboard and I am so excited.  The frame is old wood and I hung it in the kitchen and everyday I write a different saying or quote on it and the family gets so excited to see what's on there next.  so fun.  This is one of my long awaited dreams come true.. to make a chalkboard.  My next dream is a Terrarium.  But, I need to find activated charcoal somewhere around these parts.  I haven't seen a deer in a long while.  But, yesterday as Olivia was trying to cover my face with a pillow, I gazed out the window yonder into the woods and amongst the brown and the dreary of the outer world in the midst of winter decay, I witnessed a beautiful display of bright red cardinals all spread out on one tree's branches.  It was an amazing site to see.  I have really been thinking about scrapbooking alot lately.  It bothers me that I have not done it in so long.  I have not documented our memories (well here and on facebook are filled with tidbits) but what I am talking about, is the kind of stuff that the kids can take off the shelf and browse through with laughter and smiles and remembrance.  Ben has been looking at albums , books, etc. lately and it makes me wish I was more up to date .  Honestly since Olivia has been born, I have taken a lot of photos but have not done much with them.  I am looking into an easy system/way to get that going again.  I guess, even if I throw the pics in albums so they are accessible, is the main thing.  I love mini albums and special projects... I will have to see what I can manage.  I think we currently only have 3 eggs in the fridge.  Thing one is now awake (that is Isabelle). I should make some coffee and start my day.  Happy Saturday.