Because the Kids Aren’t Getting Any Younger

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Zachary, 10; Laurianna, 13; Kaleb, 8; McKenna, 12

So the kids are growing up. Proof positive in the picture above. In case you don’t recognize them - well, those are our four. It’s been a bit since I’ve shared a picture and looking at the family pictures on our wall in comparison - yikes.

Easter Sunday was a beautiful day and a chance to grab a few snapshots to document just how much they’ve grown and how beautiful (or handsome) they are becoming, both inside and out.

McKenna would love to have you notice that yes, she IS taller than her older sister. This is the first time in a long time that she has worn her hair down, which we love!

These two girls can be the best of friends or drive each other crazy all in the span of 15 minutes. They are growing into beautiful young ladies (that in and of itself sounds too grown up!).

And the boys - well, they aren’t so little anymore either. There’s a part of me that keeps thinking Kaleb is six. He’s eight. Sigh. It should be noted that Zachary wanted a pink shirt for Easter. He got plaid.

Rick and I aren’t getting any younger either - but you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. At all. This man is all sorts of amazing and I am blessed to have him and those crazy kids along for the ride.

A Christmas to Remember

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This Christmas was a little more laid back, or at least it felt that way. Completely wonderful. Relaxing. Fun.

In short – exactly what we had hoped and wanted it to be.

This Christmas we scaled back on the gifts and focused more as a family on giving more to others than we did to ourselves.

Christmas Eve we surprised my parents with a visit from one of my brothers. Can you tell that his visit was enjoyed by his nephews?

There was excitement watching others opening their gifts…

Thrilled responses to gifts that were meant to be enjoyed together…

Even a thrilled little kitty who could finally quit ripping open all of the wrapping paper underneath the tree and play with a real gift {just for him}.

Today the tree came down and we are packing up the last of the Christmas decorations. As much as I enjoy the fullness and color that all of the decorations add to the house, there is something to be said for the open and clean feeling in the house when everything has been put away.

Merry {belated} Christmas from our family to yours – and Happy New Year too!

 

The Start of the School Year

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This year marks our seventh year homeschooling. Without the school photographer on hand to take pictures of the kids, I get to have the fun job.

And by fun…well, you know how it is trying to take pictures of your own kids. Near water. And bridges. That kind of fun.

We did manage to document how the kids have grown and kick off the school year with dinner out to celebrate.

Laurianna, age 11	McKenna, age 9
Zachary, age 7	Kaleb, age 5

 

And because a picture is worth a thousand words, this one definitely sums up a few things…

In a Little Whisper

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Tonight, just before bedtime and after praying together, Kaleb pulled himself up into my lap and snuggled close. Then he put my face between his two hands and pulled my ear down to his mouth and started whispering.

“Tomorrow, after the girl’s friend leaves, can you pray with me? To ask Jesus in my heart?”

Consider it done.

Only Kaleb

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In the midst of all the craziness today, Kaleb looked over at me at one point and asked, “Why do you call me Peanut?”

It’s something I’ve done for years and it just pops out without me even being aware that I’m doing it. He was SUCH a little peanut compared to all the other kids and now it’s habit.

K: “Oma calls me ‘Angel’ and you call me ‘Peanut’. I don’t like peanuts.”

Me: “You don’t like peanuts? Why?”

K: “Cause I got sick at Five Men {Five Guys} after eating peanuts.”

M: “So you don’t want me to call you Peanut anymore? What do you want me to call you then?”

K: “Only KALEB!!!!”

Point taken…

Combs and Mohawks

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The boys have both been begging for me to make their hair look like a mohawk. I keep forgetting to buy gel whenever I go to the store, but when Grandma was here this past weekend, she had some handy and let the boys use it.

Kaleb and Zachary both wet their hair down and had me fix their hair and were running around. After a few minutes, Kaleb came running up to me and asked,  “Mom, can you check my comb and make sure it’s ok?”

Think that the boy has been around roosters enough?

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Our ‘New’ Little Boy

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A little over two weeks ago we took Kaleb to the doctor’s after a strange rash began showing up all over his body.  Truthfully, he hadn’t been feeling well for awhile, but nothing seemed to make sense. Our doctor had him tested for Lyme disease and it came back with a BIG fat positive.

Enter the antibiotics.

We’re now almost at the end of treatment and can I just tell you ~ oh.my.word. The difference in the boy is nothing short of amazing. Where we once had a little boy who complained about how tired he was, we now have a little boy FULL of life and energy. The little boy who hardly ate a thing on his plate is asking for third and fourth servings.

It’s like we’ve had a new little boy deposited into our household.

In short ~ it’s wonderful and we are so happy to have him here.

Creek Splashing ~ Wordless Wednesday

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Can You FEEL the Love?

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Just had to share…

Sometimes, you just have to take what you can get. But I’m thinking these will make a GREAT collage for the kids, no?

Who Needs Skinny Jeans?

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The other morning I was sitting in our bedroom reading when Kaleb came into the room and grabbed onto my arm.

“Mom! I can’t find my skinny jeans! You need to help me find them!”

I can’t even find my own, nevermind FIT into them…and now I need to find them for my 4 year old?

 

Head on over to Mary's at Not Before 7 for some more Tiny Talk Tuesday!!

 

More Kalebisms

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Kaleb comes up with the funniest words at times that are a complete train-wreck from what the actual word should be.

 

For example:

 

Panctuary = pantry

 

Smackflyer = flyswatter

 

Gubblebum = bubblegum

 

The last one had us laughing so hard because he kept trying and trying to say it right, and it just kept coming out the same. 

 

 

Head on over to Mary's at Not Before 7 for some more Tiny Talk Tuesday!!

 

I Love You Too…

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Kaleb has been coming up to me lately, snuggling up close and whispering four words that melt my heart in more ways than one.

“I love you too.”

Not just ‘I love you’ ~ it’s that added little ‘too’ that really hit me the other day when I fully stopped to listen and HEAR what he was saying to me.

He doesn’t just love me ~ he KNOWS that I love him.

And that I do. Tremendously. Immensely.

It just makes my eyes well up with tears realizing that he is responding to something that he doesn’t hear with his ears, but knows deep down in his heart.

Not that I’ll ever stop saying it to him, but I love that he is secure in the love that we all have for him. :)

Like Father…Like Son

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This was what I spent much of Sunday afternoon watching…

Too sweet. :)

Being Thrown Under the Bus

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My in-laws visited a few weekends ago to help us move over the last bit of stuff from our old house and clean the house before the upcoming closing. We had a huge bin of nearly empty paint cans that we had to haul over to the new house and figure out where to store before we could discard them.

Since Rick wasn’t back yet, I told my father-in-law to store them in a small closet in our garage. As soon as Rick was home, my father-in-law went with Rick to the garage, showed him where they had put the bin, and added “Jolanthe told us to put them there.”

I jokingly added, “Oh, sure! Throw ME under the bus!”

Kaleb was sitting nearby listening to the entire conversation and raced to the garage after my father-in-law and yelled into the garage ~ “Don’t throw her under the bus!!!”

Head on over to Mary's at Not Before 7 for some more Tiny Talk Tuesday!!