3 missing pictures

apparently the pictures were lost from my last post somewhere between the draft screen and the blog....or maybe its just that my good old dial up internet isn't picking them up. Here they are again if in fact they didn't work last time. We have tried to get highspeed all winter...lots of attempts and too much $ later we are out of viable options and still have horrid dial-up. And to make it worse our dial-up seems to be getting slower and less reliable each month.
We may be able to roast wieners in our back yard but it would be nice to have a little aspect of modern living too!

Chubby bunny

It was a beautiful day here on Sunday (mothers day). One of our first warm sunny days of the season. I told the kids we could have a wiener roast for supper. We have a fire pit in our back yard so its pretty easy for us to have a camping experience without leaving home. Fortunately I had bought hot dogs the week before and was prepared for our feast. We have now broken our winter long hotdog fast. I am a food snob. Animal fat and questionable other products stuffed in a tube is not a part of our regular diet. I reserve them for "campfire food" in the summer time and even then I am picky about which brand and package I will buy. Bulk wieners are not an option, not only are they gross but I have to know what the ingredients are because of Silas' allergies. I go for the reduced fat, all meat, no filler ones....with whole wheat buns of course. I know its like polishing a terd to thing of making hot dogs healthy but I have to at least try to make them less horrible :) The kids and husband don't know the difference anyway ;)

Whats a wieny roast without marshmallows?
They are definately Silas' favorite part of the meal.

Don't do it Silas!
Silas drop the marshmallow!
No, it doesn't go in your shoe.
...yuck....don't eat it now!

Memories of Mother's day past

Mothers day can be a wonderful day of being spoiled and receiving recognition for being a mom. Mothers day can also be a difficult day for so many people. It can bring both tears of joy and tears of pain.

There are woman who struggle with infertility. Year after year they witness the celebration of motherhood and long to join in. They sit while other woman are asked to stand in church and are honored for being mothers.

There are woman who are indeed mothers...they have experienced creating and carrying life in their wombs but are without a baby in their arms. They will always be a mom, they have a child they carry in their heart, they have a child waiting for them in heaven....but they will not be recognised this day.

There are moms carrying babies nestled snugly under their ribs. Knowing that they will not be able to parent that child in a way they had longed for....for all to soon a goodbye will come.

There are mothers grieving a recent loss of a child.

There are mothers who are learning to live with a too quiet house....where little feet used to run and little mouths used to chatter.


Mothers day is a day of celebration and honor for all that moms do and for the enormous role that they play.

Mothers day yesterday had me remembering past mothers days...where I was ...what was happening....when I experienced first being a mother.

9 years ago , mothers day, I was a mom hurting. I was large and pregnant. I looked like a mother, I felt like a mother ...but I knew I would not have the joy of mothering. Thre process of nurturing life would be cut short.

8 years ago, mothers day, I was a mom waiting. Joyfully and anxiously awaiting the arrival of my daughter a few months later. I was a mother of two but still "not yet a mother".

7 years ago , mothers day, I was a mom oblivious. I did not yet know I once again carried a life. I also didn't know that a couple months later it would too soon be gone.

6 years ago, mothers day, I was a mom expecting, I carried within my womb my second son. I had only 6 weeks left until I would hold him in my arms and kiss his little face.

3 years ago, mothers day, I was a mom hoping. I woke up early sent up a little prayer and took a pregnancy test. I was so excited to be pregnant again that I woke up the other three members of my family and danced around the house with them.

1 day ago, mothers day, I looked at my little blessings and marveled at God's goodness. I pretended not to see as they made little surprises and gifts for me. I watched them contentedly as they roasted hotdogs and marshmallows in our back yard.

I am so fortunate to have been able to conceive them, carry them and hold them in my arms. I feel a little sad that that part of the journey is now over for me. There will be no more babies to conceive and carry....I can still carry these ones in my arms but they are gradually getting to big for even that. I see how fast the time is flying by and want to somehow harness it and live in this time forever. At the same time I cheer them on to each new milestone and discovery. I swell with pride as they grow and learn and make me proud to be their mom.


I wait with hope that one day the Lord will bring other children into my home, that did not come from my womb...but that need arms to hold them.

I see mothers day future where I will wonder where the time went... where the years went, and will be amazed once again at Gods goodness.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

To my mom. To my second mom. To the moms with kids all grown up. To the moms with a house full of little ones. To the moms waiting expectantly, and to the moms who have children waiting for them in heaven. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! Once a mommy always a mommy.

I found this little writing...I didn't write it and I actually found it on another blog so I can take know credit for any wisdom gleaned from it. I loved it so I thought I'd share and dedicate it to my mom today, who is a woman of strength.

A WOMAN OF STRENGTH

" A strong woman works out every day
to keep her body in shape...
But a woman of strength kneels
in prayer to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything.
But a woman of strength shows
courage in the midst of fear.

A strong woman won't let any one get the best of her.
But a woman of strength gives the best
of herself to everyone.

A strong woman makes mistakes and
avoids the same in the future...
A woman of strength realizes life's mistakes
can also be God's blessings and capitalizes on them.

A strong woman walks sure-footedly
But a woman of strength knows God will
catch her when she falls.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face
But a woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey...
but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the
journey that she will become strong."

-author unknown-


This didn't actually talk specifically about moms but all moms know that we need our strength renewed on a daily basis. :)

For all you Moms of strength out there.....HAVE A BLESSED MOTHERS DAY!!!

Planting time

Gardening is something that has made a come-back in the last couple years. With an emphasis on eating more local, organic and nutritious foods people are bringing back some things that were lost in our convenience based society. It makes even more sense for people to grow some of their own food now with the changing economy in U.S and people having to tighten their belts a little (our belts have always been rather tight here in hickville :) Things that seemed quaint, old fashioned or even substandard are coming back. Line drying clothes is even being encouraged in places that used to ban clothes lines for aesthetic reasons.

The funny thing is, in the rural area where we live we have never really stopped doing these things. Most every house in our "town" ( actually we are technically a Village or a Hamlet or something) has a clothes line in the back yard with clothes waving in the wind. It would be hard to find a yard that didn't have a vegetable garden. People here still "can" tomatoes, pick berries to make jam, and stock pile potatoes in their basements. Growing up we always had a huge garden and spent many of our summer days as kids weeding, picking peas and of course snapping beans and shelling peas. It was just what we did.

My Grandparents always planted enough potatoes to feed an army. If there was ever a famine we would have been well supplied with potatoes! :) It makes sense to keep on with the traditions (although I don't have my heart set on eating slightly squishy potatoes all winter) seeing as it is cheaper, tastier, healthier and more environmentally friendly to grow our vegi's rather than getting all our food from the super market....or in our case the local
Co-op...and by local I mean 1/2 hr drive away. Produce here is expensive!

Growing a garden takes knowing when the soil is ready, deciding what things you want to plant in that soil, patience as the plants start to grow, perseverance as the weeds start to crowd in, hope that what you planted will eventually bear fruit, and finally the enjoyment of a harvest.
Sounds kind of like growing kids :)

Roman was a wonderful little helper this year....having his help actually made the job a lot quicker. I'm hoping the kids will be old enough to be an asset to the family Garden this year. Gardening holds so many good lessons for them... commitment, hard work, patience and delayed gratification just to name a few. They also learn and appreciate where it is their food comes from. Carrots aren't just something out of a bag...they are something that grow in the dirt from seeds that they planted. Roman had a ton of questions about where seeds come from , how they grow into plants and how they know what plant to grow into.

I realized that I have posted a disproportionate amount about the boys lately. Here is Aili at ball practice. Its a small town team run by a few parents. Its great. She loves it. They have a lot of kids though...I would guess at least 30. Roman insisted that he not play baseball this spring...for some reason he is dead set against it. That's fine with me if Aili has her baseball and Roman has his soccer...that way they aren't in constant competition with each other. After all just eating dinner somehow ends up as a competition between these two.

I'm feeling so speshle.

I realize this is my second post in one day but I just had to brag a little. The "mothers day tea" at the kids school was lovely. Complete with cheesy songs, poems and talent. We were served coffee and fruit. Silas enjoyed the plate of fruit so much that he shoved more in his mouth than he could effectively process. I was busy visiting and didn't notice that he had overstuffed until it was all being spit out on my plate. I covered it with a napkin and apologised to the people lucky enough to have chosen to sit with us.

Speaking of lucky. I was particularly lucky today. First of all I was gifted with these wonderful items from my children. I love the card from Aili.
"roses are red viltits are blue
shiger is sweet and so are you"
"Have a speshle day."

awww, I feel so speshle.

And a nice mug shot of Roman to hang on the wall. And it will no doubt be hung on my wall...somewhere...Roman will make sure of that.

And to add to the luck I won the most coveted door prize! (It was arranged much more beautifully complete with plastic wrapping and a bow....but we already got into it). One of the Grandmas of a couple of the students often donates her baking for raffles or door prizes. And I won it!! ME the one who never wins anything! I actually snuck out to take Silas to the bathroom when they started to draw names figuring that was more polite than leavng during the singing solos. On my way back to my table someone said "Hey, you won a basket of bunnies" at least that is what I thought I heard. I was a little concerned as I made my way back to the table. Fortunately they were saying buns and not bunnies. yummy. Unfortunately I have to hide them from my allergy baby ...but the rest of us will have no problem eating our basket full of baking. Stop in for coffee and you can have one too :)

Too cute!

Look at the feet on this kid! Well the camera angle doesn't really help but he does have good sized feet, much bigger than his brothers were at this age. I think Silas will be the "big guy" in the family. He's always been skinny and gangly...even in the chubby baby stage but he is the tallest at this age and his bone structure is broad. He's got shoulders almost as wide as his 5 year old brothers already. And if its like looking at a puppies feet to see how big they will get ...he's going to be huge. At least if he grows into them :) Its that Viking/ Scottish mix in him I think....just 20 years and a big red beard. Makes me laugh. Ever since the last Olympics I joke that he's got Phelps proportions. Tall, short legs, long waist, broad shoulders, huge feet. Maybe I should get him into swimming :)

He just got out of the shower so his eyes are a little red looking. Must have got some soap in them. We are getting cleaned up to go to a "mothers day tea" at Aili and Romans school this afternoon. We are going right in the middle of nap time so I'm hoping my tired 2 year old will not steal the show. He is so much fun lately...just a little clown all the time. We have our "2 year old days" that usually correspond with missed naps or late bedtimes but most of our days together are so enjoyable...in a cleaning pee off the floor kind of way. He's been so extremely affectionate lately...probably because I've left him more than usual in the last few months. He's full of big long hugs, kisses and love at this age. There are some great things about this third year of life. He still adores his mommy for one thing :) Another thing I love is that he is absolutely fascinated and thrilled by everyday things that us big people don't even see any more. Its amazing to see the world through his eyes.

Showing off for the camera.

Stopping his somersaults to itch a little. Spring has made him a little more rashy lately.
Well I'd better go and get ready for the "tea"....wouldn't want to show up at the school in a bathrobe and no make up.