I stood beside a hill
Smooth with new laid snow
A single star looked out
From the cold evening glow
There was no other creature
That saw what I could see
I stood and watched the evening star
As long as it watched me
Sara Teasdale
Enjoyed the warm temperatures today while they lasted. We played in the grass, pulled the wagon, and ran around in the rain. Watched the first stars, drank ginger tea with honey, and snuggled in bed for stories and poems while chilly drops iced the windows.
car washing day
Watering her apple tree
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Merry Christmas to all our family and friends!
Participating in the candlelight service at Wesley United Methodist church was followed by dinner at Celito Lindo's. Genevieve watched intently as hundreds of candles glowed across the sanctuary and spent most of the time looking at her books, clapping with the carols, and eventually being led out by daddy to play in the lobby. She enthusiastically dipped her tortilla chips into the salsa and ate lots of spanish rice.
The smaller boys were up by 6 a.m. Christmas morning after sleeping in the living room by the tree waiting as long as they could for Santa to arrive. Another year goes by without catching him though.
Big breakfast, Christmas stories, poems, songs, gifts, preparing dinner, outside walks, more stories, more sleeping, playing games, dinner, dessert, phone calls, egg nog, sparkling cider, hot chocolate, sweet potato casserole leftovers, special treats for Luna, big fire in the fireplace, and very affectionate goodnights. Everyone was happy.
Genevieve is quite excited now about clothing and plays among all the hung up dresses, skirts, and shoes in her closet and in stores.
She says daddy, mommy, kitty cat, gaw (for dog), diapers, please, more, baby, and knows sign language for please, more, thankyou, all done, eat, drink, milk, baby, dog, cat, elephant (her favorite), monkey, apple, banana, hurt, duck, bird, mommy, daddy, bath, and I love you.
Participating in the candlelight service at Wesley United Methodist church was followed by dinner at Celito Lindo's. Genevieve watched intently as hundreds of candles glowed across the sanctuary and spent most of the time looking at her books, clapping with the carols, and eventually being led out by daddy to play in the lobby. She enthusiastically dipped her tortilla chips into the salsa and ate lots of spanish rice.
The smaller boys were up by 6 a.m. Christmas morning after sleeping in the living room by the tree waiting as long as they could for Santa to arrive. Another year goes by without catching him though.
Big breakfast, Christmas stories, poems, songs, gifts, preparing dinner, outside walks, more stories, more sleeping, playing games, dinner, dessert, phone calls, egg nog, sparkling cider, hot chocolate, sweet potato casserole leftovers, special treats for Luna, big fire in the fireplace, and very affectionate goodnights. Everyone was happy.
Genevieve is quite excited now about clothing and plays among all the hung up dresses, skirts, and shoes in her closet and in stores.
She says daddy, mommy, kitty cat, gaw (for dog), diapers, please, more, baby, and knows sign language for please, more, thankyou, all done, eat, drink, milk, baby, dog, cat, elephant (her favorite), monkey, apple, banana, hurt, duck, bird, mommy, daddy, bath, and I love you.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
LITTLE BIRDIE
Our little birdie wanted to fly, however, her angel wouldn't let her go and helped her land safely on the ground. We are again reminded of the miracle this little life holds.
Her new words lately are "MOM" as she hears her big brothers calling me throughout the house, "Da Da", "Na na", "Waw" as she brings her hand to her mouth for water. She dances whenever music is played. Her favorite tunes these days are Latin Lullabies and she loves to play peek-a-boo, pat-a-cake, and read books about animals with Eric Carle and Elsa Beskow being her current picks.
Her new words lately are "MOM" as she hears her big brothers calling me throughout the house, "Da Da", "Na na", "Waw" as she brings her hand to her mouth for water. She dances whenever music is played. Her favorite tunes these days are Latin Lullabies and she loves to play peek-a-boo, pat-a-cake, and read books about animals with Eric Carle and Elsa Beskow being her current picks.
Friday, October 10, 2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Luke is now EIGHT and mommy is officially one year older today!!
We have had spectacular birthday celebrations, hikes in the woods, and a full week of tree house building in the backyard. Thankyou to Sierra's daddy, Shane, for helping to start our backyard dreams....
We have had spectacular birthday celebrations, hikes in the woods, and a full week of tree house building in the backyard. Thankyou to Sierra's daddy, Shane, for helping to start our backyard dreams....
Saturday, September 27, 2008
NEW KITTEN
We have a new kitten named Luna.
She has a very sweet personality and tolerates Genevieve following after her and picking her up constantly. Seeming to enjoy company, Luna is always curling up to sit next to all of us whenever we have small moments to relax. Our days have been quite full lately, but very fun with a house full of little ones and never ending adventures.
Jerrod had a surprise birthday party last weekend at Busiek Creek State Park which was a success. Rock skipping contests, guitar playing, singing, delicious cake, bonfires, smores, and stargazing.
Luke will be eight on Monday which is also St. George and the Dragon day according to the ancient festival of Michaelmas. This explains a lot about Luke's attraction to wild stories, battles, and living life on the edge. It's always fun to bring in these elements to Luke's special day.
She has a very sweet personality and tolerates Genevieve following after her and picking her up constantly. Seeming to enjoy company, Luna is always curling up to sit next to all of us whenever we have small moments to relax. Our days have been quite full lately, but very fun with a house full of little ones and never ending adventures.
Jerrod had a surprise birthday party last weekend at Busiek Creek State Park which was a success. Rock skipping contests, guitar playing, singing, delicious cake, bonfires, smores, and stargazing.
Luke will be eight on Monday which is also St. George and the Dragon day according to the ancient festival of Michaelmas. This explains a lot about Luke's attraction to wild stories, battles, and living life on the edge. It's always fun to bring in these elements to Luke's special day.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
BLACKBIRD
Daddy sings to his little bird over the phone and she is quite entertained.
Genevieve quickly crawls over to Jerrod whenever he sits down to play his guitar. She pats his guitar, shakes her one leg, and bounces up and down. Music is very important to her and she is practicing for something lately as she squeals, sings, and screams.
Thursday afternoon she spoke her first words "Hi Guy". We have witnesses. Just ask Asher, Aubrey, and Sarah Dillon. They were here and we all laughed with amazement.
Genevieve quickly crawls over to Jerrod whenever he sits down to play his guitar. She pats his guitar, shakes her one leg, and bounces up and down. Music is very important to her and she is practicing for something lately as she squeals, sings, and screams.
Thursday afternoon she spoke her first words "Hi Guy". We have witnesses. Just ask Asher, Aubrey, and Sarah Dillon. They were here and we all laughed with amazement.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Haircuts
Today was haircut day for the boys. Promises to be cheerful lasted only until the cutting was complete and then it was scowls, weeping, and tantrums from two out of the three whose identities will remain covered for now.
Friday, July 4, 2008
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY FROM GENEVIEVE
Today she got lots of attention from everyone. Riding in the red wagon brought many gleeful cheers of excitement. We had a neighborhood walk and then went to the fireworks show. Genevieve was in awe and then fell asleep with Rick Cordoza. I think he is getting attached to her...
The boys played football, cheered at the sky, and ran all over the grass with their friends until midnight.
The boys played football, cheered at the sky, and ran all over the grass with their friends until midnight.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
SMOOTHIES, DANCING, AND MUSTACHES
Relaxing after a hard day's work of lessons and childcare with delicious homemade smoothies, Jackson and Luke decided to imitate Genevieve's mustache with a bit of extra craziness added.
We had grilled chicken, salmon, asparagus, and rice for dinner tonight, thanks to Jerrod's cooking expertise, and little Genevieve seemed to especially enjoy the salmon and rice.
Contra dancing is one of our favorite activities and we finally found a group that gathers once a month for dinner and dancing. The boys were at it until 11 p.m. with many of their friends. Katelyn told Luke that she was going to marry him when she grows up, but Luke had to ruin her plans by responding that he was never going to get married.
Genevieve was captivated by Rick Cordoza's mustache and spent much of her time patting everyone's back while being held.
We had grilled chicken, salmon, asparagus, and rice for dinner tonight, thanks to Jerrod's cooking expertise, and little Genevieve seemed to especially enjoy the salmon and rice.
Contra dancing is one of our favorite activities and we finally found a group that gathers once a month for dinner and dancing. The boys were at it until 11 p.m. with many of their friends. Katelyn told Luke that she was going to marry him when she grows up, but Luke had to ruin her plans by responding that he was never going to get married.
Genevieve was captivated by Rick Cordoza's mustache and spent much of her time patting everyone's back while being held.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
DISCOVERY MUSEUM, CHICKENS, FIRST SCRAPES
Genevieve seemed to enjoy the Discovery Museum in new ways today. Jackson and Luke showed her all the best spots to play and she spent the most time in the various culture spaces, Japan being her favorite. She cleared the table and reset all the dishes and food in a more appropriate way.
While playing outside at home, she had her first real injury that involved a miscalculated move off the deck step, face first into a rock pile, and a real bloody scrape on the chin. Not happy about this, she was quickly distracted by checking on the chickens and hearing them cluck.
While playing outside at home, she had her first real injury that involved a miscalculated move off the deck step, face first into a rock pile, and a real bloody scrape on the chin. Not happy about this, she was quickly distracted by checking on the chickens and hearing them cluck.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
FIRST DAY OF SUMMER
This past week brought some tearful goodbyes, bear crawling, camping, fireflies, thunderstorms, crickets, visits to art museum, library story time, and a beautiful summer solstice celebration.
Today we spent the afternoon with great grandma Botts. She is 86. Happy Birthday Grandma!
Genevieve is now patting my back when I hold her, saying "gung gung gung gung", grabbing and pulling hair (very forcefully)...especially Luke's, eating sweet potatoes, butternut squash, avocado, mango, raisins, oatmeal, smoothies, bananas, lentils, rice, broccoli, carrots, red bell peppers, and more, and she likes to walk around the room holding on to chairs, benches, tables, and anything else available. Looking like a little bear cub, she crawls around on her hands and feet with her rear end up in the air. It is a joy to watch.
Today we spent the afternoon with great grandma Botts. She is 86. Happy Birthday Grandma!
Genevieve is now patting my back when I hold her, saying "gung gung gung gung", grabbing and pulling hair (very forcefully)...especially Luke's, eating sweet potatoes, butternut squash, avocado, mango, raisins, oatmeal, smoothies, bananas, lentils, rice, broccoli, carrots, red bell peppers, and more, and she likes to walk around the room holding on to chairs, benches, tables, and anything else available. Looking like a little bear cub, she crawls around on her hands and feet with her rear end up in the air. It is a joy to watch.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
Happy Father's Day daddy!!
We didn't quite know what to do with our day without Vahe around.
Having a picnic in honor of Dad and talking about all the great things that make him special gave the boys some important qualities for which to be thankful.
"Thanks for the stories you read to us in the perfect voices, the comics you send to us, and for remembering to call and see how we are doing every day.
We love you!"
We didn't quite know what to do with our day without Vahe around.
Having a picnic in honor of Dad and talking about all the great things that make him special gave the boys some important qualities for which to be thankful.
"Thanks for the stories you read to us in the perfect voices, the comics you send to us, and for remembering to call and see how we are doing every day.
We love you!"
Friday, June 13, 2008
CELEBRATING TEN MONTHS
Big thunderstorms today kept us in the house until about 4 when the little people ran out as fast as they could. Jackson pulled the stroller up to the front door for his sister when we realized it was covered in b-b-que ashes from a thrilling swordfight that took place in the garage....I didn't really want to know any more. It was quickly brushed off and we were on our way to the park where we found big floodwaters half way up some tree trunks and waist high on the boys...yes they had to get in to fully experience the event.
Genevieve gleefully cheered her support and then had her first swing time. She enjoyed it and clapped her hands and clicked her tongue.
Her amazing trick of the week was remembering the "one two, buckle my shoe" song we sing while playing with the abacus. I began singing the song without the abacus in my hands and she looked around the room, found it on the bookshelf, crawled over to it, pulled it off the shelf and brought it back to me. Quite impressive. What else can we teach her to do with a song? We are on a mission to find out.
Genevieve gleefully cheered her support and then had her first swing time. She enjoyed it and clapped her hands and clicked her tongue.
Her amazing trick of the week was remembering the "one two, buckle my shoe" song we sing while playing with the abacus. I began singing the song without the abacus in my hands and she looked around the room, found it on the bookshelf, crawled over to it, pulled it off the shelf and brought it back to me. Quite impressive. What else can we teach her to do with a song? We are on a mission to find out.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
warm days, cozy spaces, and outdoor adventures
We hung a hammock between two giant trees in the backyard and it has proven to be a wise investment. Spending hours out there, the boys love to lounge around, swing, and read stories cuddled together in this warm, green spot.
Genevieve likes to fall asleep here with me while we gaze up at the trees, sky, and birds flying over our heads.
Thunderstorms this morning changed our hiking plans and we spent the afternoon at the Springfield Discovery Museum.
Tomorrow we will head to church and then the Finley River.
58 more days until we see daddy again....
Genevieve likes to fall asleep here with me while we gaze up at the trees, sky, and birds flying over our heads.
Thunderstorms this morning changed our hiking plans and we spent the afternoon at the Springfield Discovery Museum.
Tomorrow we will head to church and then the Finley River.
58 more days until we see daddy again....
Sunday, April 27, 2008
SINGING WITH THE BIRDS
Singing with the birds, Genevieve has been chirping and squealing these last three days. Perhaps it has something to do with her new standing achievement. She enjoys crawling around on the grass, watching the robins, cardinals, and squirrels play in the yard, listening to the wind chimes on the front porch, and eating avocados.....one of mama's favorites. Nothing but happy, content, and amazed at life, the princess continues to be God's most passionate kiss upon my soul.
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