Layers

Rachel dresses up again. This time in a snowsuit, a pullover, a swimsuit, and a fleece jacket. She could hardly move her upper arms, she looked like a football player! I do apologize for the angle of the camera, but Mama thought it was worth putting on the blog!

Rachel Speaks II

Here's a video of Rachel and her animal noises (some of them)...

Story telling

Joshua goes to Sunday School and sometimes he tells Rachel about what he learns. Below is a video of him telling the parable of the lost sheep. It's a little long, but it's pretty cute.

My Crazy Daughter

Rachel is a girl. Below is just one outfit that she has put together in the last day or two. She has a green vest, pink cowgirl boots and a stars and stripes swimsuit on her head. She actually looks pretty good-like a rockstar!

Signs of Spring

The last few days I've been racking my brain of all the possible signs of spring. Here's my list:

Sunshine
Melting snow
Temps above zero, ok, ok, above freezing
Mud
The snow on the ground is no longer white, but a dirty brown and black
The roads are full of sand and pebbles
Robins
When you go outside you can hear birds chirping
Winter Storm Warnings
Wind
Branches in the yard
An occasional walk, and it's actually pleasant
It takes a full five minutes LESS to bundle the kids to go outside.
You actually WANT to go outside
Flooding
Lake Superior finally ices over
You finally find that lost toy outside you forgot to put away last fall
Street cleaners
Green grass
Squirrels
the sound of a lawn mower
Houseplants start to grow like crazy
It's only 7:00 pm and it's still light out
Kids wake up earlier
Daffodils, tulips and crocuses
Rain
Lots of rain
Hail
Snow
Sleet
Freezing Rain
You find yourself smiling more often
When you go outside, you have the sudden, irresistible urge to breathe deeply and smell the fresh air
Garden seeds for sale at the grocery store
Easter
Fiddleheads
Spring cleaning
Hobbies change from quilting and knitting to planning your garden and buying a spade
The local hardware store-instead of snowshovels and salt, there's rakes and pallets of manure
When I look out my window that faces a busy street, I see less snowmobiles on trailors and more canoes on top of cars.
My son keeps asking about when are we going to plant seeds??
Marsh marigolds
Buds on the trees


Well, that's all I could come up with. Did I forget anything??

Spring

Of course, winter has it's way of revenge and so there are times we are forced back inside. But we make the most of those times, too:

A Weekend Off

Joel and Renee took a much needed break and drove down to Stephens Point and Wisconsin Rapids, WI this past weekend. We drove down Friday and attended a concert in WR, Andrew Peterson with Ben Shive accompanying on piano. If you've never listened to Andrew Peterson, I suggest checking him out (andrewpeterson.com). His talent on guitar is quite decent, but the lyrics are what really sells Joel and I. Every song points to the Gospel in a fresh way, the lyrics are honest and they make you think.

After the concert, we headed back up to Stephens Point at a bed and breakfast: A Victorian Swan on Water.


I know I know, what? I've always dreamed of living in a Victorian house with a tower.


Well, how about just staying two nights in a tower? The room was beautiful, inexpensive, and of course a dream come true.


So Saturday was relaxing with a walk around historic downtown, shopping, enjoying the silence (!), and talking to each other without being interrupted. And we even caught the sunset.



Sunday we hurried back home (it was a seven hour drive), but still enjoyed our time together.

A big Thank you to Bill and Evelyn who watched the kids for three days!


Below is a picture for our dear friends, Alfie and Maria. Specifically Maria...

Resurrection Morn

Resurrection Morn

by Joel

Now that I've held death in my arms.

Now that my own flesh and blood has grown cold.

Now that I've seen a soul move on,

leaving behind a little body and a little less of me.

Now that I've seen the heavenly slip away....

Nothings left when the heavenly slips away.

Now that I've seen...

What would've it been like to be there on a hill outside of Jerusalem?

When the earth shuddered and the sky rolled and on the cross hung the one who made it all?

He made the hands that beat him.

He made the tongues that cursed him over and over.

He made the nails that pierced his wrists.

He made the thorns that crowned His bloody head.

The Author of Life wrote His death. He wrote in His own blood.

And the Light of the world was extinguished.

And what is a world without the One by whom it is made?

No there's nothing left when the heavenly slips away.

Oh for the resurrection morn!

Oh for the first light of dawn!

All would be lost it that'd been all;

if death could keep a hold on God

Enter the tomb. Pass the stone rolled away.

He is not here. He is risen from the dead!

Oh for the resurrection morn! (Where would we be?)

Oh for the first light of dawn! (Come Lord Jesus come)

A Friend's Birthday Party

Claire and Joshua have the same birthday, March 8th, and celebrated their birthdays on the same day. Joshua's party was in the morning and Claire's was in the afternoon. It was a busy, but very fun, day!

The Birthday Girl smashing the pinata:

Joshua takes a shot:

Rachel preferred bubbles and jewlery over the flower pinata:

Rachel and Claire's Grandma blow bubbles:

Playing Catch Up With Pictures

At 'Sugar On Snow', a festival of sorts based on Colonial life in the 1700's:

Joshua:

Playing in the puddles:

A Stay At Home Mother's Ramblings

I (Renee) saw a robin yesterday in our front yard. My first robin this year! Today it is sunny and 50 F degrees out. I believe a nice walk with my family is in order as soon as everyone wakes up from their naps.

Joshua is a big four year old now and it seems this is giving him more confidence to do things himself more often. He is becoming less clingy and more independent. I love this!

Rachel is sick this week. Though both of them have colds, it seems that Rachel suffers more. She has a cough and runny nose. (Joshua is only a little stuffed up.) This is the second time in a month where it has been like this: Joshua and Rachel get sick at the same time but Rachel's always worse. Mama's thinking is that since Rachel is still recovering from her previous gluten filled diet, her immune system is still not as strong as it should be.

Joel still has work five days a week. A blessing and a miracle. I am grateful at the end of every week when Joel totals up his hours and it reflects a full time job.

Me? Well, I feel more pregnant these days. More tired and harder to get off of the couch. The kids help me up. :) The kids are also getting more excited for this baby, Grape Nut. Rachel loves babies, but still loves 'being the baby'. ("I baby" whenever I hold her like one.) Joshua looks forward to when he can feel Grape Nut kick.

That's all on my mind right now! Happy Spring!

Joshua's Fourth Birthday

Joshua turned four years old! It was a romping, good time, with an infant, two 2 yr olds, and six kids! So let's begin the pictures that tell a better story than words...

Here is the big four year old holding a card from his Nana before the party began:

Tanner, Boston, and Joshua:

Kevin and Kylie work on their puppets:

Jack holds up his finished Hairy Man Puppet:

Claire and Rachel have a good time:

Tanner:

The Birthday Boy:

Attempting to play Duck, Duck, Goose:

Candle and cake time!

This picture is specifically for Mark and Kelley! Thank you!:

Thank you to all who gave Joshua gifts, he is having a lot of fun playing with them and sharing them with Rachel. ;)

Oh Dear, my first...

Last week we had a lot of "firsts" for our family...Rachel went 'poo-poo' on the potty, Joshua learned how to put on his own toque, Joel laid linoleum at work, Renee hit a deer...

Yes it was sad, yes I cried (a little), and yes everyone is ok, even the car. On Saturday we were traveling, Joel and the kids were asleep and I was driving. The deer ran up from the left side of the road, and by the time I saw the deer it was only about 8-10 feet from the car. Not thinking of swerving, I started applying the brakes but obviously it was too late, Joel woke up at the loud noise and I pulled over. The deer was still alive, laying on the shoulder of the road behind us. Some guy who had just hit a deer 15 miles back pulled up behind us. He had a knife and was able to show "mercy" to the suffering deer. The car...Our wonderful, hardcore Neon? Is just fine. Well, if you count a shattered headlight and a bent hood just fine. I do: The car was still running after I hit the deer. So we're thankful for doing our taxes early to cover the expense!