FOR TODAY July 18...

Outside my window...
is another fall-like day--overcast, windy and chilly.

I am thinking...
that I am ready to be done feeling sick but realize that I have ten more weeks before I'm feeling "normal" again. Maybe in 5 or 6 I'll begin to feel better...

I am thankful for...
my dear, sweet husband who is bringing me a Turkey Bacon Ranch sandwich from Arby's!

From the kitchen...
not much is going on in the kitchen on my end these days, but the three older children are making themselves bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches for lunch (after feeding the younger ones pb&J :) )
I am wearing...
a jean skirt, a short-sleeved orange sweater, and a green cardigan while being wrapped up in a down-filled blanket!

I am creating...
a new little life.

I am going...
nowhere and doing nothing. I'm such a homebody these days.

I am reading...
nothing but my Bible lately. Reading has a tendency to make my head swim.

I am hoping...
that my hubby is able to spend some time with us today.

I am hearing...
children laughing and giggling and being silly while they do their chores and eat cherries that a friend from church just dropped off.

Around the house...
things are looking pretty good. Clothing is slowly being sorted through and organized. Chad is plodding along at getting things fixed up to sell.

One of my favorite things...
a Jamocha Shake from Arby's!

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Not too much, really. Too sick to do much, so we just spend time together as a family here at the old homestead!

Potty Training Help!!!

No picture this time, but I sure do need some advice! Derek turns 3 in September, just two short months away, and he has yet to use the toilet. Every once in awhile he "accidentally" goes, such as before a bath, but not consistently. So, yesterday, we decided it was time to begin (after weeks of discussing it with him). I bought several new pairs of training pants and plastic pants and came home armed with two cushy toilet seats for the big toilets and M&Ms and AirHeads for rewards. After toilet training 5 children, you'd think I'd have a little idea of how to do this, but NOTHING seems to be working. He has not successfully gone even one time on the toilet. We finally took the training pants off, put one of the boys' shirts on him so he's "covered" and have let him run around "in the buff" so to speak. Still nothing. I'm beginning to get very frustrated at this little guy. :)

I read somewhere that children who begin talking late will also potty train late. Has anyone actually found that to be a true statement? Derek has only been talking for about 3 1/2 months or so. (if that)

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Tiny, little life
Growing deep within my womb
Making me so ill.

Someday soon you’ll be
Snuggled by your family
Oh, how we’ll love you!

9 weeks, 2 days

Two *FUN* Days at the Lake

Well, we had two truly fun days at a small little (pretty private) lake that we like to go to. The first day we (the children and mommy) went alone; the second day Daddy decided he wanted to tag along. What a special treat!

Tyler here playing in the water. He stayed in all day and ended up with a little bit of a burn on his little back despite the enormous amounts of sun block I slathered all over him! The next day he wore a shirt! :)

Brian exploring along the lake's edge.

Budge holding up his great find. Elisabeth, Budge, Brian and Daddy headed across the lake to look for wildlife. They came back with three turtles and a frog. A few minutes later, Budge found another frog.

The total wildlife catch for the day! (Within minutes of being home, the two frogs escaped!)

Budge looking for....???

Tyler "scootched" about ten feet away from me and the blanket to make his way down a slope to the water's edge. On the way back up, he lost his balance and toppled backwards. :)

Drinking from a "big boy" cup!

Meagan's and Lauren's Sand Castle

*Notice the seashell flag!

Derek holding the "big turtle."

An up close view

Brian, Big Turtle, Little Turtle

(Please disregard the legs in the background!!! lol)
Tyler wants to get in on the action!

Yes, that's a frog on his head.

We took about 100 snapshots to get just this one of the frog actually jumping!!!

Derek squishing (oops! I mean holding) the frog.

And my favorite picture of the entire two days....

Brian and Tyler

Tyler had gotten a little sand in his shorts, and Brian took him in to rinse him off.

"Don't you dare bring that thing into the house!!"

That's what I heard coming out of Elisabeth's mouth from my perch on the couch after she had come running in and slammed the screen door behind her (of course waking up the baby!). "What's going on?" I demanded. Her reply? "Budge has a chipmunk in his hands!" That was the last thing I expected her to say, but that is what she said, and he was on his way into the house with it. At least he had one glove on his hand, though the thing still could have bit him. Of course, five minutes after he put the chipmunk into the box, he escaped, and we haven't seen him again. (I am so very sad about that!)

Hope you're enjoying your summer. I'll try to post more regularly.

The Moment I Saw You....

I wanted to hold you

And keep you warm on a cold, grey morn'.

The moment I held you I wanted to kiss you,

And welcome you here on the day you were born.

Today our oldest turned 12. I can remember the day she was born as if it were yesterday, it seems. I remember finding out about her and going through all of the "firsts." There are so many things I remember when thinking of Elisabeth Joy...

~ I remember that she was screaming before she had completely entered the world.

~ She cried for the first 12 weeks of her life!

~ One day all of the crying ceased, and she was the happiest baby I have ever had!!

~ She has always been very content.

~ She talked very early, and one of our favorite words was "flowsh" for "flowers."

~ She has always been a caring person, looking for ways to give to others.

~ Elisabeth is happy alone or in a crowd. She's very flexible.

~ Elisabeth loves to sing.

~ Elisabeth loves babies, and she's very good with them.

The list could go on and on. The fact is, our home would never be what it is today without her. She is always giving and doing for others. If she's not taking care of one of the babies, then she is probably cleaning somewhere or playing house with her little sisters, and enjoying it. She is kind to others. She has one of the prettiest smiles I have ever seen!

Elisabeth enters 7th grade this year, and, yes, her parents are a little bit (okay, a lot) frightened. Daddy is rearranging much of his schedule to be wherever she is. I love that. I love that my man has a strong desire to protect the innocence of our daughters and sons. I love that she loves him and wants him to protect her and willingly and cheerfully goes along with everything Daddy says. She loves him with all her heart.

Her birthday was today. I can't believe she is getting so big. We went back and forth for several years about whether or not to allow the girls to get their ears pierced. Daddy said it was okay once they turned twelve, so that was one of her birthday presents--along with about 20 new (used) books!!

Practicing the Piano this Morning


Getting ready to leave on a "date" with Daddy. Daddy took her to a nice restaurant tonight to show her how special she is. Then they went for a drive. When they came home, we had ice cream cake and opened presents.

A sailor dress we bought at Easter time, but she thankfully had forgotten about it!

Nothing birthday related, but these are some of my bleeding hearts in my garden today. I love them. They might be my favorite flower, but then again, I have so many favorite flowers! :)

Tyler sharing his snack with Budge.

I am so thankful that God allowed Elisabeth to be a part of our lives. She is truly a "Joy" to have around. She is one of the hardest-working, most willing servants I have ever known. God has truly blessed our home with her presence.

Very quickly, as it is very late....

The new header of the tulips was taken in Petoskey, Michigan at a little park where the elementary school children ate lunch on the Bike-a-thon a couple of weeks ago. I am so behind on blogging. Chad asked me to make it my new header, and I really like it now that I've done it. Doesn't Meagan look so sweet? Too bad tulips don't smell as pretty as they look! :)