Jesse's snow fort

Jesse built this up and then was digging the bottom out. As you can see it was pretty warm out, (like the gloves with the t-shirt?lol) so the snow was melting fast- not cold enough to hold the shape of a fort. I know they were hoping it would snow again right away- but the snow is all gone now.

Stephen's Birthday

Stephen had a birthday this week. Friday we made his cake- he picked a Greek Lemon Cake (will post on my cooking blog later). We mixed it up together- he was completely involved in making it. After it was cooled we made the frosting and we both decorated. He added all the finishing touches. I was very much reminded of myself around his age- I loved decorating my own birthday cake.













While we were baking he said to me: "Mom, you know what the best part of a birthday is? You get the biggest piece of cake!" I laughed to myself, because the day before Brian had made Stephen a birthday card- and it had said exactly that!! Yup, we've got him pegged.


Stephen loves food. He just does. And he loves making it. (Takes after me- I love it too.) We've gotten him gift cards to his favorite restaurant before for his birthday, and thought he would jump out of his skin in excitement. Last year I got him Rachael Ray's kid's cookbook. This year I went shopping and got all the ingredients to make 4 of the meals out of it, ones that he hasn't made. The fridge is stocked. He wants to make dinner tonight.


Later on Friday, our friend Kristy took Stephen to the rodeo- he got all decked out in his western wear to go. He had a good time, talking with Kristy and her friends and munching on candy. (More food...)

Saturday we had a birthday party for him. He invited a couple friends from school. They got here, made their own pizza and then while it was baking Brian had them play some games. The first one we had teams and they had a balloon between their backs- the fasted team to pop it was the winner. Turned out to be a challenge.
The next game we had a string tried to our ceiling fan with a clothes pin on the end. They each had a fruit roll up they had to eat, from the bottom up with no hands. The fastest won. Jesse was the fastest (of the kids) with 10.2 seconds, followed closely by one of Stephen's friends at 13.8 seconds. They ate their custom pizza and then enjoyed Stephen's birthday cake- and yes, Stephen did get the biggest piece. So much so, he couldn't finish it all.

The Snow

This is what we woke up to last Sunday morning-- This summer Brian and our friend Sean had cut down the trees along our driveway- except for this one, which was too tall and thin to work with well. They couldn't figure out how to top it safely. But when the heavy snow came- it took care of that for them. The tree is now topped. Thankfully, it didn't hit the house and didn't hurt the fence. But as you can see, it's sitting right in the driveway outside of our diningroom window. We are very thankful that God didn't allow it to cause any damage. There were actually huge branches all over the city. Brian and Sean went to work again with the chain saw and pulled all the big logs into the driveway. They'll chop them later for fire wood.

First Snow this Winter

They built an awesome snowman... then shortly after I took the picture, they stuck I stick in it's head to "stabilize" it, but rather, it fell apart... so then, like a scene from Calvin & Hobbes, there was the snowman body and a head sitting near it with a stick coming out of the head. I know, I know, why didn't I take a picture of the mutilated snowman??


Stephen's creation. It's a city on a hill. I think he's been reading Naomi alot of Dr. Seuss.


Naomi was quite pleased with her new snow boots.

Redoing the Closet

Our closet is a good sized one, for an old house. There is enough room for one person to step inside and get clothes from either side of it. Brian's side had a low clothes rack and four 2' shelves over it. The shelves just collected clutter, so I have been wanting to change it. I found some closet systems that you could buy for $100, and was really thinking of that- but then on night I was laying in bed and thinking, instead of sleeping, which is what I really wanted to do. But anyway, I figured we could just use the wood that is already in the closet to redo it. So I tore it all apart and then realized that I would have a hard time getting it back together by myself. So I called my friend Laura, who graciously took pity on the pregnant lady and came to my rescue. We were able to get all the shelves put in and everything put away before the kids got home from school.



It does need to be painted, but I'll have to wait till next spring when the house can be aired out.

Thanks Laura!!

Picking Tomatoes

I don't think I will ever grow tired of watching the boys with Naomi. I never knew they would be so wonderful to her, so helpful, watchful, protective and proud. All my children are such a joy and blessing.


Oh, and that stick on Luke's back? Well, it's a sword. Oh, they have plenty of plastic ones, but somehow, sticks are better.

When Brothers Babysit...

We left the other night when Naomi was almost done eating- so the boys just had to clean her up. I'm not sure if she actually put food in her hair and it needed cleaning, or if they were just having fun, but this was on the camera when we came home.
The second picture is Naomi's silly face- when she is really trying to be funny, this is how she looks.

"Cooking" with Mom

I keep my wheat in buckets in the kitchen, and we found that it's just the right height for Naomi to stand and "help" me cook. It's alot easier to have her poking the dough and getting flour everywhere than fussing at my feet because I'm not paying attention to her.

I asked the boys to take a picture and I think it was Luke who volunteered this time. After the picture was taken I said "You can get me in the picture too, you know."

His answer: 

"I did Mom- I got your arm."

So there you have it-- A nice picture of Naomi and me cooking. 

Stephen took this picture- I was chopping onions. Naomi loves eating onions. Notice the molasses on her cheek? Yes... she enjoyed making cinnamon rolls as well.

An Evening...

I decided to take some snap shots of a semi-typical (More typical would be me asking "Are you done with your piano? Are you done with your homework? Did you put your back pack away?" etc.) evening right before dinner.

Stephen's chore: pick up 25 things. So he decided to do that in Naomi's room. (Notice the size? I can barely fit now!!)

Naomi wanting Daddy since he just came home from work.

Luke's home work: reading "Summer of the Monkeys".

Jesse reading his favorite- "Calvin and Hobbes"