Longest post ever.

The light comes through the window really nicely in our bathroom LOL. Usually when I see light I like coming in like this, I just run and grab my camera....and this time I didnt even have to pay him :)

some more, just for fun......(nana wanted a full-body chubba bubba shot of Abram ... all FIFTEEN pounds of him! He's a big'un!)

Look at the love on those arms! :)

Modeling his hemp/cotton Diaperap fitted diapers :)

Some out-of-focus, but oh-so-cute smiles!

and finally some picts of my first attempt at cobbler......peach.....yum! My mom and MIL made this a lot when they were here. I thought Id try it myself before peach season was over :) I used ready-made crust and I changed the recipe to include WAAAAAY less sugar - its delicious! (had to do some quality-assurance tasting of course!) :)

Picture time (again)

I have a sweet friend who is a photographer (remember our awesome maternity picts?!) who Ive had lots of fun emailing questions too and learning from. She lent me a tripod to play with so some of these are a result of my experiments today :) Fun!






(Abram is always in this "superman" pose (below)! it cracks me up!)

Look at those cheeks!!!!!

I had to pay Caleb a nickel to stay still. It was worth it though!

Just a silly picture that blurred and I played with for fun.

A good wife

Noah: Mommy, Jayna's going to be a good wife.
Me: Why do you say that?
Noah: She filled up my water. And I didnt even thank her and she just walked away. (said in a totally blown-away, in-awe voice)
Me: So she's a servant?
Noah: yeah!

Me: What do you think makes a good wife?
Noah: just does things for you, helps......
Me: Do you think Im a good wife?
(looks confused. not sure if he doesnt want to say what he is thinking or if he isnt thinking anything at all)
Me: (Again and honestly a little scared to ask!) Do you think Im a good wife Noah?

Noah: I dont know! (said with a silly grin!). Your not MY wife.

that made me totally laugh out loud! that boy!

________________________________________

on the topic of "wife", Im not sure we've totally convinced Caleb that he cant marry me or Jayna :) They play husband and wife and sit on the couch and share her blanket. He callss her "wife", like "here you go wife". Its just so cute! Tonight when they were in their room for bed, I heard him saying to her "good night mommy" and she just matter-of-factly said "night" :)

He likes to tell me about how he is going to leave when he is a grown-up and then I pretend to cry and then he assures me he'll come and visit me and cook for me :) He has the most tender heart.

Ill probably be lucky to hear from Noah. I can just see him getting wrapped up in some project or something and forget to call his own mother for a year. This morning he sat on the couch "reading" (he edited to say that he was very offended when I asked if he was really reading the tiny print and says that he is. must be! he is at it again this morning!) the Bible for over 2 hrs! no joke. The boy can focus when he really wants to :)

love them! blessing #4 just woke to eat....night!

just pictures......

ok. i realize that most of my pictures lately have been of Jayna. NO its not because I love her more ;) its because she is my most willing and cooperative subject! I really do need to get more of Abram though, he is changing so much every day......



a blue jay outside this morning....this is the only shot i got before he flew away. kind of weird but kind of neat too, to see him getting ready to take off.

Outings with 4

Last week I took all 4 to the chiropractor with me. Abram was adjusted first and then me. When I got home I told Steve that if I ever had a notion to do that again, to just slap me upside the head. It was that fun.

So today was Jaynas hearing test to rule that out as a factor in her speech delay. I was dreading taking all of them. My cousin helps me a lot when I need someone to watch them but she is out of town. I prayed for Gods grace, was as organized as I could be and then bribed them! (I did that at the chiro too and it didnt work).

I am happy to report that the Lord blessed me abundantly this morning! We got there on time, Abram slept all the way in the car AND during the appt AND at the errand we ran afterwards (usually he screams the whole time we are in the car!!!), the boys behaved themselves very well, earned a dime each, and we got in and out quickly! It went so well I even braved Central Market afterwards! Abram slept in my Beco the whole time and while the kids played at the park a bit afterwards. It was a very nice and productive morning! Thank you Lord!!!!!! :) (only his grace can orchestrate simultaneous obedience for a prolonged time!)

I decided Ill still go to the chiro for Abram but there is still no way am I laying down on a table ever again with all of them loose to do what they want, knowing I cant get up! No way! :) (in his defense, Noah was very, very well behaved that day. But my sweet Abram screamed the whole time I was adjusted and, well, Caleb didnt earn his "incentive" that day. we'll leave it at that!)

Jayana's First Pigtails

I could seriously eat up this girl's cuteness. This was her first time to really have pigtails (where her hair was long enough to stay in them more than 5 mins!). I was just extra in love with her all day long. TOO cute. (doesnt she look studious? but really what she is doing is being naughty and coloring in Noahs school notebook!) :)

Shots from Today

We spent some time outside as a family today. Actually the boys are still out there, digging and doing whatever it is boys do outside for over FIVE hours (!!!). We did feed them and give them water at least :) and they will defintely be getting a shower today! eek!

Some of you may remember the fort my dad built the boys last Dec. It was sad to tear it down when we moved, but we HAD to bring it with us. So Steve and I got started on putting it back up today. He did most of the work :) When I was done with my helper duties I got to get out my camera and play......




(this is Chloe. she is such a sweetie)

So much to say, so little brain power.

My heart feels so full. There is so much I wish I could express but Ive realized lately how very inarticulate I am. Seriously. im always saying things differently then I think them and then they come out weird and awkward. at least on a blog I can read it and edit it before I post!

But my poor brain is tired. The hardest part of going from 2 to 3 kids, for me, was the mental strain. There is just so much more to keep track of. Now with 4, the thinking required of me is absolutely draining. I always have a mental to-do list a mile long......at least I forget a lot of things on it quite often. That helps. (well, not really) :)

but what I wish I could express is just how thankful we are and how deeply blessed we feel by the Lord . we are coming out of a time that has been trying and discouraging for us and we find ourselves once again encouraged, inspired and loved. We are so challenged right now by the people we are getting to know, the Word we are hearing taught......its like jumping on a moving train and you dont know where its going, and you know it will be hard and you will be stretched and grow, BUT you know He is good. I know I always say it but at the end of the day, whether hard or joyful, He just is. He is so Good!!!!!

I had a professor in college who referred to the Lord often as "The Good, The True and The Beautiful". All the goodness, truth and beauty we are blessed to know in this broken world, flows from Him! He is good! Amen! :)

Amanda Lynn Photography

I have a friend, Amanda, who is a photographer here in town. Her style is really fun, playful and colorful. I won a little contest on her site so she did some fun things to one of my pictures of Caleb. check it out HERE on her blog (click on the picture and it will take you to her main site, check it out too!)

The Park today

the original picture came out really weird so I played around with some of the effects in Picassa. I think its a neat picture in the end!

Playing frisbee with Miss Mindy

see the frisbee?????

Miss Jayna....hanging out with mom.

Jayna, Jayna, Jayna!

This girl can work it for the camera :)

Playing around

i was just playing with the light this morning and practicing more in manual mode. just a few that I liked.

Woohoo! More pictures....

Today I learned to shoot my digital SLR camera in Manual Mode!!!! (for the 4 or 5 people who read my blog and know what Im talking about!) Im so proud of myself LOL!

Ive been devouring some photography books the last few days and now its time to play with some pictures. I have a very long way to go before acheiving the pictures I want but its fun to finally get started!

Pictures from today:

(i know abrams face isnt in focus like it should be....)


My favorite

(I softened the edges of this picture on purpose)

Love this one too. my precious boy.

Party Pooper!

I laid Abram down to take some pictures yesterday....

and he fell asleep! Party pooper! :) But check out the sleepy "sweet dreams" smile I caught......


From today. Mr. Blue Eyes! (they wont stay unfortunately)

A picture of the older kids watching the bulk-pick-up truck scoop up branches we had put out from having our tree timmed: