Individual, beautiful, unique

Snow! It's finally covering our ground and slowly burying us. As much as I envy a climate where I would not have to organize a whole separate wardrobe for everyone in my household, have to buy heat, replace mittens to often, shovel or delegate the chore; I love the tranquility and peace a snowfall brings. The ecology behind snowfall in the Lords care taking of the Earth reinforces his blessings with each tiny snowflake. It's freaking awesome! So, where are everyone's snow pants? I still reminisce our old home, half the size (and half the kids, har har,) in that we had the cubby storage in the upstairs bedrooms, the slanted ceilings and cubby doors. I loved my cubbies! Throw some 13 gallon trash bags in there and I knew where to find them. Here I have umpteen Rubbermaid containers that seem no rhyme or reason to which closet or they are in, I have great spots for everything until I try finding it. Urge! I need a day home alone to just chart out my stuff. It's such a progressive task too, so all you Cali moms, enjoy missing the seasonal changes in MN! Luckily newby fits right in line and I had outer ware for him, so everyone is looking good. I bought clearance boots last year and we are ready for this snow day!! I have bought meats and plan to finish the rest and work on some freezer meals and try that round of things. Or schedule changes enough that now for a few months I will need at least one day of crock pot supper, ready for us upon returning from activities. Libby is going to join a gmnastics class during Reany's time. The high school league takes off for their actual season so that left her empty handed. Reany gets a ride there after speech therapy and so I have it figured our that I can drop Libby off a little early, take the littles to the YMCA, bust out some Zumba, and then hustle over to get both girls. So naturally some grub ready to dish up will be my goal for the earlier part if the day! Or perhaps the boys could work on some menu planning and do some cooking as they are staying home with a helper. The other advantage to my freezer meal plans are that maybe I can feel more willing to drop meals off for friends in need, my style of cooking doesn't usually make for much offering, I wing everything and have starving children that eat anything put before them, so I always think other families wouldn't like my food!

Preschool Mornings

These little girls get some extra time with mommy, as you can tell Lillie is easily smothered and just loved too much. Naomi is learning her alphabet and is potty trained too, she is going to be 3 this month too! They love on eachother and it is so fun to see their bonding through laughter and snuggles.

This little man got his invite for kindergarten registration, and couldn't be more thrilled. He loves school and I am glad that next year I will not have a preschool schedule but will miss him dearly! I wish that we would have done the school program last year though too, as the Montessori program proved ineffective for his overall academic progress, and he is now getting the most progress in a traditional program, mainly with fine motor. The babies grow so quick! Him and the newby are best friends and he is also enjoying neighborhood friends and wants to have friends over all the time too. He started wrestling too, so that is fun to see him be more mature than the last organized sports we tried:) I love my littles and am so blessed to have them, I know that God planned our family perfectly and it is great that he gave them to me!!

AlfonzoAzuel "Fonzie"

Seriously cutest thing in the world, Fonzie was in one of six litters! Luke and I had a riot playing with these kitties! Fonzie is the one on his hind legs. I would never venture to this size of a breeding program either.

This is Fonzie's mother nursing a bunch of kittens, she was the wet cat and evidently would nurse any kitten, funny!

He came home a couple weeks earlier than Lola at 12 weeks and has been a charmer since the day we met:)

He has found his sanctuary, the crib! He is a smart fellow, and knows that no one can get him when he hides in there, so he has been found a couple times catching up on some sleep in there. No, not with the baby and that is a wives tale about cats suffocating children, have no fret.

No wonder he needs a retreat ever! He will get darker and their full colors come in by the time they are 2-4 years old. Fonzie is a blue lynx mitted with a blaze (his colors will be a grey/blue tone stripes with white mitts and a little patch of white between the eyes.) Ms.Lola is a seal point (the color seal is that richer brown tone and point means her face is dark and ears and legs/paws match the same dark color. This is the fun part, the genetics of breeding. We might have a litter as soon as this summer, so if anyone needs a genetics project for their kids we will be learning all about that here. Fonzie carries "chocolate" too and there are a variety of color patterns we will be seeing. Science and hobby, suddenly I'm edumacated. This is just a little glimpse of our little cattery ideas, stay tuned if you are interested as I plan to develop greater sharing techniques. Meow!

Ms.Lola

Lola at 14 weeks, still unsure of the new family!

Lola and our handsome Kalu, 8 years her senior, grandpa

Check out that flop, hence the breed "Ragdoll," these cats are limp and make great playmates, incase my kids ever tire of eachother, or needed something new to fight over.

Beauty perch

Lola and the Fonz, Kalu welcomed him because Lola is finally off his back. Eventually Fonz will be on Lola's back and we look forward to sharing great cats with other families too. The cattery commission has began:) Meow!!

Lillie Marie, next line: cute as can be, see why!

Nine months already!

Not a smile til she could destroy the cue card, someday I will wonder which baby is who?

8months playing in the porch

big smiles and big personality, this lil baby is a gem!!

7 months and such a sweetie! Pics came up backwards, never seem to remember how to add them! Lillie is growing fast and is full of fun! She is crawling and starting to eat table food, but still quite the nurse piggy. She is a joy and brings such rewards to all of us here, God bless the babies!

Falling

I'm letting go of the things I'd planned for me, it feels like I'm falling and that's what it's like to believe...Know this song? You can find me there, in this whirlwind of parenting my count, kind, character, and and range, one truth cannot be shaken. There is a high and mighty, and someday I just might know more, but in the meantime we press on. With Christmas around the corner, the celebration of the Savior's birth, we are considering what gifts to buy our kids. Luke thinks they should each get one, but I think a few is best. Without penalizing our kids, we are quick to defend our choice to not fall trap on materialism and the "patterns of this world." I remember many Christmas' feeling disappointed or bummed out because I really wanted something else or the other kids got something better. The best gift was already given and if we mask the holiday with crap then it takes away from that being received, as our heart beats the Savior knocks. The Sunday paper will always give us more to want and need, but we already have it. There is my Christmas lecture. Genetics are on my mind as we bred the boxers, now I'll try my thumb at cats, whom I was always partial to. We meet with a geneticist next month to see what the chromosome variances mean for our kids too. Luke's greater explanation has become the creator's response to sin, but along with my folders of diagnostics to target our treatments and expectations, neither buffer takes away from the process of this life. This one opportunity to "get it right." I don't vote for the donkey or the elephant, I vote for the lamb. Nothing but the blood of Jesus can take this load and make it beautiful, I might try, but could never come close. I am thankful that I can advocate and play bulldog when I have to, that I understand healthy relationships, that I can plan ahead and organize for my household (within reason:) Might not make sense, but as slogan goes, giving our best is the least we can do. And trust me, we fall short and are filled with his mercies each new day. I want to love life and see good days, I will keep my tongue from evil and my lips from deceitful speech. I will depart from evil and do good, I will seek peace and pursuit it. The eyes of The Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayers, but the face of The Lord is against those who do evil. 1Peter 3:10-12 We are having a blast with Lillie, she is a treasure! Newby is pretty situated with hundreds of weekly appointments and bezerks of other needs; however, soon to be final and so glad to have I'm home. Made our first and likely last road trip as a whole family over Thanksgiving break, just an unrealistic expectation thing when various issues affect behaviors. Let go let God, chin up give a nod, what ya got is what ya get makes you stronger don't give fit. Give it up to the ruler, he's got it already so you can be sure...peace is what you need and he's givin it up free-ya, like heaven and who you be-ya. Take a look in the mirror and don't be tricked by the boogedy man and his nasty side kick because in the end there is one command love one another and keep in your feet stand stand stand.

Luke and the Camel

A random camel was roped up at the county fair. He was a sweetheart and really liked Luke, not sure if the feeling was mutual.

Disgusted, delighted, or both? Nothing beats a camel breathing on you. We decided he must be safe since he was unattended, but for good measure kept the stroller at a distance.

Who could resist the pony rides? Little Noah was so excited to ride the pony.

Reany was ear to ear too.

Libby's friend Josilin had her horse there, so we got to see her at the barns too.

Mommy Chronicles

Aubrey was in a dance camp and got to dance during the half time of a varsity football game. She said it felt amazing to perform, nd she did wonderful. Her 3rd year of dnceline will be starting soon, but unlike the other girls that she practices umpteen hours a week with she does not perform. The TBI has made it really tough for her to stay on with all their fancy footwork, so for the competitive piece she has not been included for performances. Which makes it hard to support such dedication, but in the end she seems to continue to enjoy it, maybe this year she will catch up? She got a new teacher, after 4 years in the same room for certain helps, and that seems to be really benefitting her. She also has her permit and is working on her driving. Adam will be applying at coborns, and hopes to get a job this year. He has electronic wish lists! He is very diligent with his routines and has matured greatly. He enjoys giving rides around the block on the four wheeler. We are comfortable with this, his high speed is maybe 9 mph, but likely he sticks around 5;) David has once again joined into the general math curriculum, which makes him just gloat. His reading is also skyrocketing and we are glad he is getting the best services money can buy, thanks 742! He has a new friend that lives in town and they will be doing youth group things together, so that will be neat for David to become more involved with social events and for us to know he is not on his own either. He really likes the Christian music video programs and records them, his favorite artist is Lecrae. Lexi went out for swim team this year and took 1st at a couple meets! She is a little fish and we really hope she sticks with it. She is a natural athlete but doesn't plan to do a winter sport, boo. She got contacts and is growing up too fast. When I took her shopping she inspired to buy nose rings, but I rightly turned them over to her mom who seems to think she should wait on that (after years of fake nails and dyed hair I'm the one thinking..so what?!...but that was eier than an issue at the store:). She also generously bought her little sister overpriced barrettes at Gymboree, she wanted to spend her money! Libby is in the 4th grade, hard to think my little baby is becoming logical, reasonable, and independent. She has been able to stay home on her own a few occasions, and that is really fun for her. She wanted to cut her hair this summer, so no more buns and braids, snarls or fights about that! She also has been wanting to start a business, and has been inspired by an article she read in American girls magazine. She checks them out at the library, along with other favorite authors. Her latest interest has been stories of abandoned homes, pulled up Detroit and she loved it. Possible historian on our hands? Reany has proven to be talented at the piano, guessing like her big bio sister she may e playing 3+ instruments by graduation. I told the girls that his they continue with piano at the 1 year they can add an instrument, she chose guitar (come Jan.). She has learned how to set curlers in her hair at night, or braids, and get the curls by morning. Super cute!! She also is my singer, not sure how, but she can remember lyrics and tunes incredibly on pitch. I maybe haven't even heard a song before and she knows the words, plus she fakes it really good too sometimes! Noah, no no Noah. I knew we were plaguing him, "JK," as he says. He is getting his sense of humor and is really funny. So if his pro athlete, preacher, doctor, or other top scale position falls through he could still entertain! He has worked on bike jumps all summer long and his helmet is never too far away. He is going to school 3 mornings a week and has had 3 birthday parties this month already, jeesh! I am going to eat up every last moment with him for his last year home. His gitty excitement that next year he'll be on the bus everyday and at school makes me slightly less sad. Naomi Gladys has exploded in her conversations. She is the sweetest thing and her personality is very laid back, unless she Nantes something, then you know all about it. She has beautiful long hair she sometimes lets me do. Her favorite food is cereal, from shredded wheat to cocoa puffs, she loves it. Over the last 2 weeks has potty trained herself...Yey!! I was telling Luke I want to buy her something, as a token for not having to buy diapers anymore- even dry nights, which some of my boys have had issues with or continue to. I said what should I buy you? She said underware, so glad she's on the page of logic too;) Lillie Marie, cute as can be. That baby is a thief! She steals your heart at first sight and is just an irresistible munchkin! She has 4 teeth on the top, 2 on the bottom. She refuses to be fed, but will tackle anything independently, oh oh. At 7 1/2 months she is my most nursing dependent infant to that age. She loves extreme dad play, unlike Naomi, so Luke's all into flipping and flying her around. She claps and has a chunk style "Yey" down...did I mention she is cute as can be? The other newby has some great characteristics to work with, but lots of areas that are challenging. Waiting for new glasses, glad the school is going to give a referral so we can get a back up pair too because his glasses break easily for him. He is a reader! Yey! Him and Libs want to read, how refreshing for a parent! He is thoughtful and caring too. He has a great imagination and can be found in combat at any moment, drives when in a car, and also has some safety and rescue scenarios playing out. Very very lovable, so glad he's home!!

M. Luke

Baby pictures

Healthy. This was at camp too, we are enjoying getting to know you and look forward to your progress and adventures. You are delightful and imaginative, kind, and funny. We love you more than you might ever know and welcome you. We grieve with you and laugh with you forever more!

Cake was a book and gift was a nook. Cheers to a lifetime of celebrations and birthdays! Praise God!

Noah Curtis

My little champion, Noah Curtis is now 5! He is a very happy here because he got a trophy, we need to get him into something where he can really earn one, he would in many things! Natural and eager athlete, creative, and energetic.

Gather around the table, what better desert than birthday cake! Five years has been so fun with him and Noah is such a neat kid, everyone loves Noah and we cherish our time to watch him grow and raise him.

Happy Birthday Noah, you are a strong and beautiful person with great heart and passion, may God bless you and keep you. He requested marshmallows for his cake, so the baseball got some texture. And while at home, I have let go of wardrobe expectations. XOXO Noah!

David Andrew

Camp Picture! Lillie needs a bow for her outfit, looks like we skipped cabin cleanup, but David is quick to help out with his baby sisters and loves on them.

David turned 15!! Amazing, that he now be so old!! He's like growing into a man, and I want my lil boy still!! Wow! That was the best of an orange cake I could come up with.

Must have been concentrating on a wish! I am still stuck that he is growing up, and that isn't fair yet!! He is a charming brother and son, he has great ideas and can be the best of helpers. He has been doing great in school and we are so happy for him! He likes biking and doing things with friends, he is thoughtful. We are blessed to have David, and he keeps us on our toes! We are glad he is our son and we take such joy in knowing that our Father in heaven has a perfect plan for his life and we will continue to steer David to great opportunities and adventures, he is awesome! Happy Birthday David!!

Yeah! Glad to be back! It feels like a celebration of sorts everyday and I cannot write much!! We are full into school year swing around here and smoothing into good things. Here are some favorites...

My mom with Lillie. Lillie gets to be in all the pics, and it's so cute to watch the girls grow fond of my mom. I love her dearly and wish she didn't have a full time job and live an hour away.

My Darling and I. Mommy and daughter, best love ever!

And my baby cat, Lola, what a honey!

Alive and Well

Wow! No wonder I have been wanting to blog...it's been so long I forgot what we did, that's why I love blogging for archive. The camera holds the proof! School is underway. I am a firm believer of we get what we expect from our public schools and I am comfortable with where everyone is at this year, so that feels good. Always smoothing wrinkles, that is motherhood:) Luke went back to work full time, we are getting more services to try and get ahead of some games and keep up with others! Since the newby, God has weighed some things on my heart, and I am rejoicing. In our international daydreams of serving one people in the name of Christ, people are everywhere that haven't been exposed or might not otherwise understand the relationship of God and themselves. So in all my spare time I am envisioning opportunities. Hopefully soon, yours truly, Katie Crying baby wins every time

Beyond Excited!

I am really excited to have found a new product for my skin! I try not to whine; and this summer has been really full, there are days with several appointments and playing catchup from the last 8 years feels like a slap in the face. We haven't exactly been hanging out at the pool this summer. I am not really comfortable bringing everyone own there yet, still making some adjustments. The last two years we had the pool pass but they raised the price and...my skin.
My skin as been bad with psoriasis. My own conceal and carry permanent poison ivy. Summer time with bad skin is not fun!
Especially worse when I am pregnant or nursing, and for nearly six years that hasn't been more than a 5 month stench. I value nursing my babies to age one, if not slightly weaning at 10-11 months when they can begin having whole milk. They usually wean themselves around a year then. There is a price to pay though and this summer was the worst in my life, wort day of my life just Monday. It was painful to walk my legs were so sore, continually caring for weeping wounds. Oh Lord why I suffer, please cure this from me.
If I weren't nursing, and when I'm done nursing (it doesn't last forever some of you non nursers!) I could clear it up with a month or 2 of "biological" injections. Can cause cancer, but I think I still have an extra 30 years protection from nursing, ha teasing. It's just the only that would really work after the getting really bad, and weather sometimes matters too, but I'm not really interested in that. It has to be variables I can decide.
Dr.Chi company herbal capsules product, within 24 hours my skin began clearing, "psoriacaid," is naturally blocking my bodies ability to make any damaged, excess, skin cells! I think it is just healing now. I told Luke I can't wait to get back to wearing normal clothes, like a halter and a mini! Seriously, I would have to have really thick skin, no pun intended (hysterical,) to show any of my arms and legs. No t shirts, tanks, skirts, capris, no shorts. Pants or long skirt (who knew the maxi dress fad was a blessing? Yeah, me,) a blouse jacket or crochet long seeve, over a nursing tank. Awesome summer wardrobe, oh well, my theory was it doesn't last forever and the risks were worth the potent treatment.

I'll spare you my treatments details, but I already tan, use topical steroids, and follow rigid and annoying diets- lke the Atkins I'm on now. And then the blessing of this magic pill, herbal and safe!! Thank you Lord! And why all that suffering! Now can I start shinking too please?

BRUNO XOXO

April 2nd was a tough day.
That is when we had to say goodbye to our dearest friend Bruno. We loved him very much and it was painful for us. Pets have a funny way of doing this to us, and Luke's theory is here today gone tomorrow, but when you have to say goodbye too soon it is really sad. He was literally the best dog known to man.
In the old house, and if I could search for the pic, as a puppy he destroyed a whole empty package of a bulk box of bottled water and paper towels, not a square inch of space let on the little kitchen floor, him standing on the little dining table!

He sensed,leadership, on occasion to lay on the kitchen table when we were out. At some point, we thought he was eager to mark things when we went out, so he mainly hung out in the bathroom when we were gone, poor thing!

He had the silkiest hair in the world, I have only met one other boxer with as soft hair. Truly a king in the breed, big, strong, tall, perfect "conformation" head, just beautiful! Truth is, as crazy as it sounds, just between his gorgeous eyes, there be a really soft fine hair, smell...many will attest...fresh baked pan of brownies!

When we first got him, when the girls were still napping, I trained him early on and he was a champ performer. Only on carpet though, the treat would have to be of great value for the lay downs outside or hard floor! He was most excellent at sit, shake, laydown, rollover, speak (could barely muffle one out, super cute!) and play dead. I'd make a finger gun and he would do it!! He was so smart, tender, and handsome.

We do have some contacts with a few of his pups, so that is great. We had even tried breeding him, before we knew he was sick and lost him before we even know if she had taken, she did not. He went downhill so quick. His ashes are with us. Naomi says it the best, at any mention she gets a really sincere expression and in her sweet voice, "Bruno died."

We love you, Bruno! You changed my mind about dogs and made me fall in love with Boxers. I loved it when you snored jiggle your jowls, "aaph, uph, aaph, auph."
I'll never forget when daddy was off to work after his month home and he was so quick to come to bed with me(Luke never let him,) You were sleeping so sound you fell off the bed and hit your head on the nightstand. That was pretty funny! You were everyone in the houses favorite and many passerbyers too. You were the best dog ever with all our kids and every baby that ever climbed all over you. You are loved forever and ever more and we miss you terribly so, that we will never likely try to e even replace who you were to this family. Thank you God for comforting us and making everything in our lives good because we serve you and want to glorify you in our lives. For all the Bible studies Bruno sat part in, he's probably leading the doggy chior of
King Jesus is All.

RIP Bruno Brownie Boy

Five Two Year Olds and a Birthday Cake

wait for it, wait for it...

A cousin hug, not all willing, but certainly all cute!






















6/12: Naomi, Emmett, Ellie (most in birthday mode being within the week prior:), and Oscar. MJ, cousin on Cindy's side, missing is Luke's side Zachariah is too two!

Home boy

I gotta home boy, Lukey has been home since last week he pulled something and just today when he faxed his paperwork they say he should have gone back to work last week with his 20# restriction...oops! Good thing though because I am losing my mind somedays here at the nut house! Transition has been ok. It's hard, but we're doing it. It'll get better.

Firm believers that if you are comfortable then you need to serve more, so I guess we can live that too!

Got a new car today. We have had so many vehicle changes lately it is just funny. Noah thought I said we are getting a new kid, cuz that's just what we do?!, instead of car and got excited, "what are we going to name our new kid?!". I should have toyed with him a little but was caught off guard by his sweetness. I wonder if he was thinking a baby or adolescent?

Let me rephrase the concept new car, new to me. We got an OLD car. Luke won, I will have my glory someday when I don't have other things on my wish list like pedigree cats and pop up campers. We saved 2 grand by snatching up a one owner (if I could italics numbers i would) ...

1997

Buick lesabre. It's not too ugly, has a tape player, old school door handles, this baby is collector in the making. According to Luke, having one 77k miles was better than newer. It gets about 27 mpg, so doubles the van and for appointments and when school starts and when we don't have to spend 40$ to go to the cities. I won too. I did mention the camper at signing too.

I traded in the 05 Odyssey, still mourning, for the '10 Ford 12 passenger, the chrome finish front is kind of appealing. The '96 Ford 12 passenger was donated to Sonny uncle transportation for BMx whatnots. The 95 Chevy truck also found a new home as we decided the new van is ample for towing the boat, Luke's original logic to have a truck. Now he still ants a truck, ok testosterone.
And now, next to my 98 corolla is the new stinking old old old, but mint, lesabre.

My mom drove one and I did too then at 16, they are fast!

Other than that Lon our agenda just getting the newly lined up with services and stuff, putting out fires around the clock, and feeding the baby.
The Baby! She is 5 months already and is off the charts for height and right on top for weight. She has some mommy obsesses though and I need to begin conditioning her,non the evenings she will scream bloody murder for solid hour, I know because I tried to go to target once. So I am going to start getting away from her more!

I have most of the school shopping done, but need to get that figured out. We are super excited to return to Lebanon this year, and I am working on that pop up.

In the meantime, we are alays blessed. Trying to serve others, take a number;)
God is working on a many a hearts.
My work is never done either!
And there are no greater crowns in heaven, step out of comfortable and do something brave for what your purpose is. Then in Christ you may be found, to let go is to know that we have faith in His blessings and plans.

We have new lives

and everything is just way more awesome now, with ten kids! Except that it is hard for me to shower. And teenagers and toddlers schedules are not always compatible, especially when every day is a new day. And why does everything have to be so darn special for me?
Seriously, whatever a normal life is...what would that be like?