Where Have I Been?

...And why has my blog been silent for sooo long?



Need I say more?

Catching Up

We've been out of blog-land for far too long, but lots has been happening in our neck of the woods. Here are a few highlights...

* * * * *

Our house is finally on the market. If you know of anyone who would like to relocate to lovely Camano Island, we know just the spot...

The view from the 'hood is awesome...kids not included...

* * * * *

We are proud to announce our most recent diaper graduate. And when you have such cool underwear, why not wear three pair at a time? I always love an excuse for more laundry...

Three down and some pennies in our pocket...

* * * * *

Lydie-Bitty has started on solids... ...And popped her two bottom teeth. No pictures of those yet, but believe me, they're there...

* * * * *

My sister-in-love, Ruth, niece Rachel and nephew Matt came to visit from Florida so Steve and I could attend a homeschool conference (that's true love and dedication). We visited the Space Needle...

And Pike Place Market... Rode the iconic monorail...
And had a fun afternoon at beautiful Deception Pass...

White sand is nowhere to be found on Washington's beaches, but we have killer rocks and driftwood...

Even a see-saw...

Can you tell which side of the family Lydia's ice blue eyes come from?

* * * * *

We think spring is finally here. Last year for his birthday, Grandpa and Grandma gave AJ this...

Fortunately, it rained most of the summer, so he never actually used it. Last week it was sunny and warm. Grandpa broke out his Hog and AJ broke in his helmet. Well, actually, Grandma's helmet has a cool headset in it for two-way communication, so he used that instead...

And they were off (if this makes you shudder, just be glad I didn't include a sound clip)...

Of course, then everyone wanted a turn...
But after it was all said and done, my children were still alive and AJ wrote this with sidewalk chalk:

Yep, that says 'I (heart) U Mom' and the pink cake-looking thing on top is a queen. This, of course, made the fifteen minute breath-hold totally worth it...

* * * * *

And finally, for a number of reasons, we're moving our blog next week. If you'd like to follow us to our new address, please send me an email (housefullofgrace@gmail.com). We'd love to have you join us, and will tell you more about why we've moved when we get off the ground!

Happy Birthday Siggy G

Precious girl, you are two years old today.

I am finding words inadequate in wanting to share all that you mean to us. A year ago next week, we almost lost you. God has used you to show us that we cannot take a single moment for granted. That in a heartbeat everything can change.

From the very beginning you let us know that you would not be boxed in. I was due to be induced at 10:30 am on April 6, 2007. As I was mopping the floor around seven, attempting to get the house in top shape before leaving for the hospital, I began cramping. After a few minutes, I woke Daddy up and suggested that maybe he should time the cramps while I was in the shower. He stood in the bathroom, saying "three minutes, three minutes, three minutes..."

We packed up your brothers and your sister and hit the road a little earlier than planned and by the time we were halfway to the hospital I knew you were on your way. You made your entrance forty minutes after we walked through the door. At 10:35. A mere five minutes after the doctor had planned to get my labor started. Your own way. Your own timing. How crazy were we to think that we were in control.

And it's been that way ever since. As we've battled your seizure disorder this past year, we've learned so much. We've come to understand that even when life doesn't pan out exactly as planned, it can be rich and full and beyond imagination. By example, you've taught us that circumstances don't have to get you down. And that when you fall, it doesn't always hurt as much as you think it should; just get up and keep on going. You've shown us that a diagnosis means nothing, it's the heart that counts.

Through you, God has reminded us that He is in charge. That He is the giver of life. That He makes all things beautiful. And you are beautiful, Sigourney. You bring so much joy and happiness to our home. Your zest for life is contagious. Your laughter is deep and heartfelt. Your passion is endless.

We love you, precious girl. We thank God for you. We praise Him and know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. We can't imagine life without you and are so, so thankful He chose to let us keep you.

God bless you, Baby, today and always.

We Did It! Wednesday

Becky at Holiday in the Sun is the fabulous host of "We Did It! Wednesday." "We Did It! Wednesday" is all about quality one-on-one time with our children and grandchildren, and sharing ideas of fun things to do together!! You can click on over to Becky and see what others are doing to pick up a few ideas.

A friend of mine recently took her children to their local Children's Museum, which sparked a memory that we hadn't visited ours in a very long time. It moved to it's new, larger location last fall, so everything old seemed new again.

AJ explains the law of gravity to his younger siblings...

And masters the climbing wall in no time flat...

Avery is the creative genius of the family and was in her element with the arts and crafts...

Aiden loved painting too...

Sigourney just ran from one station to the next, to the next, overwhelmed by all the fun activities!

"Is there gluten in any of these items I've selected? Mommy will make me put them back if there is!..."

And who lets their daughter out in public with this much eye make-up anyway?

Washington State beaches are wonderful for driftwood and skipping rocks, but nice sand is a rarity. This is a real treat...

Even Lydia got in on the action (wearing her new favorite outfit from a little girl we love who lives very far away).

"Look at all this cool stuff for babies just learning to sit up...and can you tell I'm still working on those bottom teeth?"

I'm not great with inviting messes into the house, so this was a wonderful opportunity for painting and crafting especially. Their ideas, their supplies, their mess, it's a beautiful thing! And because we homeschool, we were able to go on a weekday morning and practically had the place to ourselves.

Yearly memberships are a bargain for families the size of ours -- it's almost as reasonable to go for a year as it is to go once when you calculate the per visit cost per-person. We upgraded to an annual pass so we can go back again and again. The kids gleefully shared the details of their morning with Daddy when he got home from work and said, "Dad, we can go anytime we want because now it's free!"

Next lesson: economics.

How Old Am I?

Sigourney had her hair cut today. After we got home from the salon, I wanted to take a picture. My precious fourth child DID NOT want to pose for the standard "cheese." She is having a birthday next month; can you guess how old she will be?

Some say it starts with 'Terrible"...

We don't believe in the 'Terribles,' but moments like these suggest why many do...

Of course, she had no objection to posing when she looked like this (we're all for color coordination around here, check out the matching eye hue)...

Because, after all, she wanted to demonstrate how eating a PB&J rice cake is really done...

The mommy of this soon-to-be whatever-year-old, was reminded that she should be careful when making a quick run for the bathroom while said child is eating lunch. Mommy might come back to find something that looks like this (who really likes rice cakes anyway? Fingers work just fine thankyouverymuch)...

But the hair is cute.

Shiners and Teething Tablets...

...That pretty much sums it up around here...and it's only 7:47 am!

Siggy fell off my bed this morning and hit the end table on her way to the floor...just perfectly apparently, because she came up sporting this...

I'm sure it will be even more colorful this afternoon.

Lydia hasn't slept more than two hours straight for nearly a week, but now that everyone else is up and running (and I do mean running in the very literal sense of the word), she's been sound asleep for a full two hours and 15 minutes. And shows no signs of waking. Oh, sleep on, precious baby...

Of course, it might be because of this...

And because that seems to have worked so well, I'm thinking of giving everyone else some of this...

I'm only kidding (I think!), but it's days like today when even the coffee stands in the Seattle area are spread too far apart. "One on every corner" is simply not enough...I think one at the end of my driveway would prove quite useful!

I'm just super-thankful that this is our memory verse for the week...

...I'm off to face the rest of the day now...

Brotherly Love

Can you just feel it?!?!

Random Thoughts

A few random Monday morning thoughts...

In keeping with the challenge and revolution, I've decided to pick one thing off the obedience checklist to focus on this week. Of course, I would love for my husband to come to me after a few days and tell me he's noticing a change in my heart and attitude towards him. But even if he doesn't, I am committed to pressing on. After all, this isn't about what God wants to do in my husband, it's about what God wants to do in me.

So, this week, I am choosing "do I seek to affirm him?". I know what I love and appreciate about my husband, but does he know what those things are? This week I am going to make sure he does.

And if you're wanting to join the challenge, it's not too late. Leave a comment and I'll pray for you. This is not going to happen in our own strength. If there's one thing I have learned about marriage, it is that Satan does not want it to succeed. We need prayer and total dependence on the Lord.

Lois over at Walking on Sunshine is spending the week sharing a devotional on the Proverbs 31 woman. It's worth checking out.

********

On another note, I was lamenting the change in government last week. Our President has entered office with a seeming determination to "turn the world upside down." He has already made great strides to overturn policies on values I hold dear. This can make me almost fearful.

But I am taking great comfort in Proverbs 21:1, which was, incidentally (or not), the opening verse of the Proverb for January 21st, one day after the inauguration. "The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes."

Nothing is out of God's hands.

********

Now on to lighter things.

Yesterday Aiden was taking inventory of our family: "There are two boy kids and three girl kids."

In a great homeschooling mom moment, I decided to capitalize on his analysis and make it a math lesson. "How many kids do we have all together, Aiden?"

"A lot."

Out of the mouths of babes...

********

And finally. Just what is it about little girls and their mother's (best) lipstick?

Have a great day!