David started school!!!

David started school today and was a very big boy about it. He was ok with being at school until the teachers aid wanted him to walk into the school without me. He didn't cry and he walked in but did while he was in there. It's a very exciting and very sad day. He's growing up. When I asked him what he did there he responded "Play with the dryer." His classroom has a little washer and dryer that he fell in love with. That is what he would talk about when we would bring up school. When we picked him up he also said that "Enna did not need to come with me". This will help both of them gain a little more independance. He also said they got to eat cheese balls which are some of his favorites that we never get. The evidence was all around his mouth too. I didn't get pictures because Robert has the camera but will take pictures when he is back. My baby is growin up.

The land down under...

Robert made it safely to Moss Vale, Australia and is into the work grind. The hotel he is staying at has a buffet breakfast and he said there is some fruit there he hadn't seen before. He is still getting use to the time change and wakes up in the night and goes to bed early. It will be a couple more days before he's on track - just in time to come back. There a several little towns all within a few minutes drive of each other so he's been doing some exploring. On his way home from dinner the GPS told him to go one way but he knew he was supposed to go the other and he went were he knew he needed to go. It kept telling him to turn around because he was going the wrong way. It wasn't to long and he found the hotel going the way he knew was right. When he talked to his co-workers about it they said GPS is almost worthless down there. Good to know. He's going to pick up some good old fashion maps!
He went to Subway for lunch and some things have the same name but green peppers are called something else. I'll have to get more details or have him write.
His work is coming along and said it is nice to be able to talk to the people if he has questions instead of emailing and then waiting until the next day to get a response. He will be going to a mine before he comes home and one of JOY's part suppliers. I'm anxious to hear how the mines are different down there than here or if they are the same.
The kids are doing pretty well with him gone. We talk about how Daddy went on an airplane, is in Australia, gets to see kangaroos (David's latest is he adds elephants and zebras into the mix too). Evan is showing his loneliness without his Daddy the most but when Robert gets back I don't think any of the kids will let him out of their sight for long.
We were going to talk on Skype but his hotel doesn't have wireless internet so he calls using his IPOD. I never thought I'd be so grateful for it. He's able to call when he gets to work in the mornings around 3pm our time and then during his lunch about 9pm. The boys haven't been interested much in talking to him, but we'll see if that changes the longer he's gone.
I will keep you updated on his travels and when he shares pictures.

Apple Butter

I grew up with Apple Butter and liked it. We had a jar and I opened it to see if it was as good as I remember it being and it was wonderful! One day I asked the boys if they wanted to try some "Special Butter" and they gobbled it right up. I haven't tried making it myself yet, but it's nice to know that it would be eaten when I finally try. There's something about the warm spices when the weather starts turning cold. Yum Yum.

Our life ...

Our life changed forever a couple weeks shy of 3 years ago. We found out we were expecting the middle of October 2007 and then on November 1 at 3:30 AM we listen to the message our adoption case worker had left 4 hours earlier. She let us know that she had a baby boy and would we pray asking if he's ours. 17 hours later we were in Detroit picking up our little, tiny baby boy - David.
3 years later and having a family of 5, there is never a dull moment and a list of things to do that isn't a mile long.

In our family, we like to crawl up the stairs but David and Evan certainly weren't climbing the stairs at 10 months. Yep, she can climb all the way to the top and so proud of herself with every step!
David got his truck from his birthmother when he was born and we've had Evan's since before they could drive them. I watch them riding them turning fast around corners and missing the corner of the piano by an inch - Little Speed Demons. They like to "fall off" on purpose by leaning over backwards off the seat to the floor. I wonder when and how they are outgrowing them. What is happening?

Several years ago I got some little plates and cups my grandmother was getting rid of and I remember these from when I was a little girl. I found them packed away in a box and thought they would be loved if out. I supposed right. I think all of them would have been dirtied if I didn't keep all but 4 put away. If you ask David who gave them to us he will say "Great Gramma Child" which hehad only heard once in passing. How glad I am for things that last forever. I also love the look David is giving Evan in the second picture.

Another thing that started when David was a little baby is standing looking out the windows. I use to stand and hold him and watch out the window at whatever we saw. Before the boys were tall enough to look out (once they could stand on their own), they would stand on any box around and just watch. They would even push the boxes around to get the best vantage point. People would comment on when they were passing by they'd see little eyes peering over the window sill. Emma cannot stand up on her own but she can climb on anything and hold on just to look out the windows. We have to really watch her. She's fallen off and climbs right back up.

There is a dip in the middle of our yard that catches the run off from the yards on up the hill and the other morning we looked out to see a stream between 5 - 10 feet going through. Shortly after I took this picture a group of 4 deer came and were playing, jumping, running in it.

David started crossing his fingers and does all sorts of tasks with them crossed. I'm not sure he's even aware they're crossed at times.

Another of Emma's go-to spots is the fireplace. David liked it, Evan liked it, and now she likes it. David and Evan will tell her "No, No, Emma" when she goes behind the guard.

This is a receiving blanket I crocheted around and I was just so proud of it, I had to show it off. The musical fabric matched the baby perfectly and the LOVE the stitch I did around it. It is called "Hugs and Kisses" and so easy. I'll post the directions later.

Evan likes to climb, hide, and be a stinker. I came into the family room and found he had taken all the books out and climbed in. What will I do?

I cannot imagine life without my beautiful children and I love them dearly. Yes, there are times I wish we lived closer to Grandparents, but really I cannot leave them for long.

ANIMALS!!!!!

The boys love animals and this month we got to go the Spence farm and Zoo!! It was beyond excitement.
We started talking about the Spence Farm a week before we went to help prepare the boys for what we were going to see and do. We got to see horses up close and personal which was wonderful. They could have stood and watched them all night.

David

Evan

Emma

Two weeks later, Robert took a day off and we went up to the Erie Zoo. We got to see Zebras, monkeys, giraffes, rhinoceroses, tigers, and more monkeys. If you ask them what they saw they'll tell you elephants, but we didn't. It isn't a big zoo, but David wants to go back up for his rewards.

Can you see the Tiger behind the glass? And of course at this point another child is more important than the tiger.

They really like the giraffes.

Our first trip to the Hospital.

The middle of September brought a trip that I knew was inevitable but wasn't sure when it would happen.

David and Evan were running and jumping in their beds which happens on an almost daily basis. Well Evan missed his mattress and cut his lip pretty bad (what I thought was pretty bad anyway). I wanted to make sure it wouldn't need stitches and our doctor recommended we go to the ER. 3 hours and 1 glove balloon turned turkey later the doctor said he didn't need stitches because he didn't bite completely though his lip. This is good information to know. He babied his lip for a couple days but it's understandable. (Sorry for the blurry picture - he's upset because I'm not letting him take the picture of himself.)

Our dormers...

So I finally am posting pictures of our dormers. It use to be a light blue and we like this darker blue so much better.

Our house...

When we bought our house 6 years ago, we knew that we needed to paint our dormers. Well this last weekend we started painting them. The front dormer is painted and looks great! It will take a few days to get them all painted because we can only do so much at a time with the kids, but they look pretty good. I'll post pictures later when we get them all done.

Canning memory -

While talking to Krys, my youngest brother, he remined me of a memory from canning together. The two of us decided to help my parents out by canning something (I'm not sure what it was now) but one of us went to pick up a hot jar full of fruit and dropped on the corner of the stove. The jar didn't break but a piece of the brand new stove chipped off. Luckily my parents didn't kick us out of the house and we were still able to help with the canning. We felt absolutely horrible.
Thanks Krys for reminding me of something I'd rather of left forgotten. I learned to be very careful while handling very hot canning jars though.

Peaches! Peaches! Peaches!!!

I bought 5 - 25 lb. boxes of peaches this week to can and make other things with and boy am I glad I did. These peaches were the best peaches I have had in years and no comparison to the ones I would buy in the store. When I let the boys eat the slices, juice runs down their arms and is all over their mouth. Incredible.

I made 3 batches of freezer jam using a different recipe each time and each batch is certainly different. Very yummy though. David and Evan ask to taste the jam that didn't make it in the freezer. One thing I did though was leave the skin on when I made the jam because I didn't want to take the time to peel the peaches. I don't mind the skin on peaches and it doesn't change anything with the jam either. It's how I'm making my jam from now on. I also used the blender for 2 batches and the potato masher for 1 batch and they worked great!

I froze several bags of sliced and halved peaches for future pies, cobblers, and other delicious treats.

I mainly wanted to can the peaches but never having done it except when I'd help my parents growing up, I had no idea what I was doing. My generous visiting teachers and another sister in the ward came over Friday night for a couple of hours and showed/helped me bottle 36 quarts. It was so much easier than I thought it would be and they were so much help. I opened one of the bottles and tasted them and aaaahhhh, it took me back to my childhood and the peaches my parents canned. Growing up I thought store bought canned peaches would taste better than the ones we canned at home and now after all these years of only having store bought peaches I can say home canned peaches take the cake!!! Thanks mom and dad for spending the money and taking the time to can fruit while we were growing up. I'd also like to thank them for letting us kids "help" with the process.

We have also been able to have sliced peaches ready for us to eat in the fridge for our meals or snacks. I do like peaches.

The fruit that is put away won't last us a year, but I feel that we're a little closer to food storage.

Long time no write...

The summer has flown by and fall is just around the corner.

The first weekend of June Robert was able to stay home with the boys while us girls went out to Utah for Krys and Jeanna's sealing in the Jordan River Temple. It was a beautiful ceremony and really made me miss my boys back here in PA. Another highlight was that all 8 of us kids (my brothers and sisters) were all able to be together for the day even though not all of our spouses and children. I'm very thankful families are eternal!!! We were also able to watch as AJ and Paxton were baptized later in the afternoon to round out the day. To be a part of the starting on the path in the gospel and then having a family joined together for eternity, which is what our goal is, all on the same day was a spiritual high. The boys had a ball with Robert home and all to themselves!!!

We went to WI for Kaden's baptism, Brandon's priesthood ordination, and spent the weekend with Christine's family, Chelsea's family, and Grandma and Grandpa Himes. It was a fast trip but well worth it. We met Gretta and see Grandparents but what was really important was seeing Uncle Mike and Shadow!! The boys are completely taken with him and still 2 months later "dream" about him and go to work with him during the day while they play. The kids had so much fun playing with their cousins and the baptism was special. Because we see her family the most (well once or twice a year) the boys are getting more comfortable with them and love all of their toys. They had a little guitar the boys thought was wonderful.

The rest of the summer we've spent mostly at home with small trips with Robert on Church assignments but nothing major.

Miss Emma sleeping snug in her cousin Madi's arms.

Evan's 2nd birthday!!! Having a cake with Grandma and Grandpa Himes and Aunt Christine's family.His favorite gift - a lawn mower that blows bubbles!!!

Cousins Emma and Gretta watching Griffin intently. Of course teaching them all sorts of fun new tricks.

David absolutely LOVED Shadow and was able to give him a treat. This was certainly a highlight.

One of Evan's 2 year pictures.

Evan tried to get into Emma's bed but got stuck in the process. Thank goodness for her he can't climb in.

Even though they can get out in the middle they think it's great to "need help" getting down from the side panels. Yes, they can slide down and climb over it themselves.

All 3 kids get their baths together now and have so much fun with it. Emma is even pretty good to let her brothers splash her.

Evan is practicing his tie tieing skills. You have to pull back and forth on each side to get the length just right. He's getting ready to pass the sacrament.

One of Emma's 8 1/2 month pictures.

What is the most comfortable chair to watch TV with? Dad, of course.

Look what I can do. Stack 5 + blocks in the bucket of my loader!!! He does so good at stacking TALL towers.

We went to an amusement park for Robert's work summer party and this is the one ride the boys went on. You can see how David had is face pushing through the bars to see as much as he could. They loved honking the horns and going round and round.

This is what happened to our satellite after a major storm. I didn't show the pieces on the ground. We were able to replace some electronics thanks to this storm.

They play together pretty well most of the time.

Spring is here!!

I love Spring. I have tulips that are blooming and there is a newness to life. I feel like I CAN be and do the things I want to. The red hue from all the buds on the trees and the little leaves on my lilac bushes. The green grass. Spending time outside with my family (and by myself), enjoying the warmth from the sun and light breeze, hearing lawn mowers through the neighborhood and smelling smoke from burning leaves. I love wearing short sleeves and sandals. The sound of my boys splashing in the water and watching them get completely soaked (wondering if it's ok to strip them to their diapers on our front porch like I did last year). The thoughts of Emma playing with the boys and now 3 little kiddies soaked. Fresh rubarb, tomatoes, berries, corn, fruit and vegetables. The smell of your hands after touching tomato plants. The bunches of lilies and bundles of Rhododendron. Sitting on our porch swing with Robert after the kids are in bed. Tin foil dinners, roasted marshmallows, grilling. Doing physical labor in our yard - mowing grass, digging rocks from our yard, clearing trees and brush. Watching the boys play with things that are dirty and gross and knowing that I use to splash and play in the irrigation water when I was a little girl that was just as dirty and gross. Remembering summers long ago when life was different and free and I played all day with my brothers and sisters and neighbors and hoping my children have as much fun as I did. Mowing lawns with my family and getting donuts for lunch and having hamburgers and pork and beans every Saturday for dinner.
Yes, I love Spring!

Little Miss Emma

She is our Miss Emma. She squeels when she wants our attention and is always so quick to give a smile. Her brothers will generally make her light up (they do tend to torment her even though they don't mean to). She is growing up way to fast. She's over 4 months old now.

She's sitting in the high chair watching us make dinner. It won't be long and she'll be eating food and sitting with us at the table.
She started lifting her leg up and resting it on the bar. It is the cutest thing. It's also funny because when I was a little girl I use to sit with my legs up like how she is. I know it's not lady like so I'm hoping she grows out of it like I did. She is certainly my daughter.
She's a Cougar in the making - GO BYU!!!

She is always up for a visit to Grandma's house.

Where would she be without her loving big brothers?

I LOVE Miss Emma!!

Boys!!! Boys!!! Boys!!!

There is never a dull moment with these little guys around.

Emma is our baby and these are my babies so they go together right?

David figured out he can use the stick horses to turn the lights on. Now he uses his little spoons or even just his fingers. We have to be careful at church because he can reach some of the light switches and will turn them off.
Evan learned from David how to turn the lights on.

We love putting on mom and dad's boots and walking around the house.

While I was taking Emma's picture and looked away for a moment, this is what I turned around to. He just stood there looking at her and so proud of himself and what he had done.

I was busy helping Robert or I wouldn't have let this go on so long. They of course found the only puddle in the yard and had such a ball in it. Evan was supposed to have gone on a date with Daddy after we were done with our little project but they both got baths instead. They were so dirty!!!

Dad just admiring Evan and what he was up to.

Luckily David didn't get quite this dirty but Evan was wet (and cold) to the bone. Thank goodness for nice warm bubble baths.

This is what happens when Evan climbs on the piano bench and piano to get the camera. (The top of the piano is about 5 feet high.) He took about 30 pictures on it and this was the best one. Most of them were just black. The question on the back was asking if I wanted to delete all the pictures. Luckily we didn't get them all deleted. David was next to him on the bench just watching. Usually the other child will let me know when their brother is doing something he shouldn't be, not this time.

I loved this moment. I came in to the family room with them looking at this One Step Ahead catalog. The cushions were off the couch, which they were sitting on, and the catalog was where the cushions should have been. They didn't even hear me come in. My love for them grew because they looked so precious.

I LOVE my boys so much.

What would the world be like without Dad?

David and Evan have been attached to Robert's hip and if he thinks about going somewhere without them the world ends. I'm not sure if it's just a Dad thing, but this Dad let's them get away with a lot more than I do. I guess that's what makes Dads special.
Dad's are the best jungle gym.
I'm so glad when Daddy comes home. Glad as I can be.

Dad lights up her world.