Another Generation

  This weekend we celebrated at church with Kelly and Eugene as they dedicated their daughter Isabella.

  It is an incredible privilege to stand with your grown children and agree to help them bring your grandchild up to know and love the Lord.  

Isabella had her part in the whole affair, which was to look adorable and she did it exactly right.

Dodging Disaster Week

  Last week we had an earthquake that shook the house and had everyone running around screaming.  It was exciting and we talked about and studied earthquakes for days.  Nothing was damaged including the cups on my open shelves that often fall off and break when you tiptoe through the kitchen
  And just a few days later hurricane Irene came through.  We put all the pool stuff away and hunkered down ready for the high winds and rain.  We had a day of drizzle.
  Again no damage.  Here is Jeremiah with his Bob the Builder umbrella that looks like the winds tore it to shreds.  No.  Jeremiah rode his bike up and down the street during the hurricane (along with all the other kids) and had his umbrella open behind him until it turned inside out.
  It's all been a little of a let down and the umbrella went into the trash shortly after this picture was taken.  
  

Always Our Little Girl

AnnaClaire turned 19 this week and didn't like the feeling of being so solidly an adult.  She's doing all the adult things - bought her own car, has a good job, going to college full time- but it's that growing up thing that scares her.

  So, she ordered a "princess birthday" complete with crown and scepter and watched the movie Tangled with her brothers and sisters for the evening.
  Who says kids are growing up too fast these days?  Not around here!

Wishing Doesn't Make It Better

School has started here - both the public school and at our homeschool.  This year I have 5 kids home with me and I'm excited as you can only be at the beginning of the year when  the kids haven't annoyed you even a little yet.


And I have one in public school and it feels sad.  Sad that it's the best place for him and for the rest of us.  Sad for the relief and peace that comes over the house as he waves good-bye from the bus window.


It must feel bad to him and yet he knows that we couldn't have a school day that included his rages and anger.  He understands because he has some peace from us as well.


It's a sad thing.  

You Just Have to Be Pink to be Cute

  After a long labor and an extended stay in the hospital, Miss Madisyn finally made her appearance here at home.  She has basically slept every second since coming home,  except after we all go to bed when her mom, Molly, reports that she hardly sleeps at all.  I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that she is held constantly. 
  All the cousins,  aunts and uncles and grandparents are completely captivated by her and she reigns supreme around here. 
 

Eagerly Awaiting Grandchild #14. Maybe a little impatiently

  At the hospital today with pregnant daughter #2 waiting for the second of three granddaughters due this year.
  I could be wrong but Molly looks way too happy on her bouncy ball to have this baby any time soon.
  Let's have a little pain here.

Homeschool Yearbook

  Our local homeschool support group is amazing.  You couldn't possibly attend all the activities planned and still find time to homeschool the kids.  One of the best things our group does is to produce a incredibly high quality yearbook at a reasonable price. The seniors get a three page spread for pictures and letters to them from the parents.  All other grades get a full page, also in color.  And I was smart enough to marry a man whose last name started with an "A", so my girls were first in the book this year!