Raising Children...

"I real­ized that it wasn’t all about me. My chil­dren sin because they are sin­ners. They don’t do it to get me mad. They fell with Adam, just like I did. And so they will strug­gle with obe­di­ence and lov­ing and self­ish­ness. Just like me."

 

I read this quote the other day and wrote it down.  I don't remember where I read it now to give credit, but I thought it was a good reminder. These little (and not so little) lives that we shape each day can be so exhausting.  When I look at it with my eyes on eternity it changes my perspective.  It is so easy to take my eyes off of that though!

                                             (I sure do love these seven people!)

 

  "All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children."  Isaiah 54:13

Our Mariah....

 I came across this sweet little picture of Mariah the other day.  She is growing up way too fast!  She has brought us so much joy and laughter. :)

A conversation with her daddy.  "Daddy, do you like me?"  Marc: "I love you."  Mariah: "No, do you like me?"  Marc: "Yes, baby.  I like you."  Mariah:  "Tell me the ways you like me."  Marc proceeds to name ways he likes her.  Mariah: "That was six, do you think you could get to ten?"

               (She has discovered candle making.  She is a creative gal!)

We are a part of a home school co-op on Tuesdays.  Mariah is taking several classes, one of which is drawing.  We were sitting here tonight and she said,  "Mama, when you were in public school (they are amazed that I was in public school! ;o)  did kids laugh at you?"  Me:  "Probably so."  Mariah: "Well, I messed up on something today and a girl laughed at me."  Me: "Maybe she wasn't laughing at you, maybe she was laughing with you."  Mariah: "Well, I wasn't laughing."
Yep, she keeps us laughing!

Myles Truth is 4!!!

I can't believe this little guy is already four years old! 

 He is a busy, energetic, loving little boy!  Most mornings (before daylight) he greets me with a hug and a kiss and says,  "I love you mommy.  You are d-bootiful."  Not sure why he puts the "d" before it. :o) 

 He LOVES babies and especially his little brother Macheus.  He hugs and kisses him all the time.  We have laughed and said he is going to be a daddy of a large family one day.
I took him out by himself during the day on his birthday.  We went to Chick-fil-A, the library and Wal-Mart.

 When we got home, we made his birthday cake.  He "helped" by eating the cream cheese frosting off of the spatula.  He said,  "Mmmmm!  This is a good spankin' spoon!" :o)

 Myles is "Thomas the Train" crazy!  He plays with his trains all day long and sleeps with them.  He got some new trains for his birthday and we stuck one on his cake.

 He was so excited and started screaming....."Sing!"  He was cracking us up!

 This picture about sums up what our house is like sometimes!  Not sure what Mariah was doing behind grandpa's head.  He seems to just roll with whatever happens around here. :o)

 Myles was overwhelmed by the time he was opening his presents.  Grandpa was probably a little overwhelmed too! :o)

 

Another year passed, another birthday celebrated.  I often look at my children and wish that time would slow down.  Having older children makes you realize how fleeting childhood is.  The positive to that is, I try harder to not sweat the small stuff and to cherish this time with them.

Happy Birthday, sweet boy!
"May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth." Psalm 115:15

Look Who Has Teeth!!!

I put him to bed one night and he had no teeth............... The next morning (with blood on his gums) he had two little teeth popping through!

He is a happy boy, and I am a happy mommy!  Hope we get a break before he gets more!

Happy Birthday, Malachi David!!!

On September 13th, Malachi turned 7!!!

 Marc and I asked him if he would like to go out with us for his birthday.  Being one of the "middle children", we thought he would enjoy being the #1 boy for the evening.  His response........."I want Myles to go with us, he would have so much fun."  So............ the four of us went out for pizza and shopping.   Malachi picked out a new Lego set.  He was very concerned about Myles getting something too, so he got a new Thomas train.  I think one of the neat things about a big family is that there is no room for selfishness.  Not that they don't have their moments of selfishness....... I would be lying if I told you they were never selfish.  But, they do look out for each other and  have to share most everything.

 He asked me to take a picture with him.  I hadn't fixed my hair yet and really didn't want to.....  but I did. :o)

 He asked for a "rectangle cake" and he wanted to put his army men on it.  :o)

                  He has always had such a sweet smile.

                                   I think the singing was overwhelming him!

                              Myles is always quick to "help" blow out the candles!

                                             Posing with grandpa.

                                     Present time...........

 The kids all had gifts for him.  Mariah did her own and wrapped up some of her money and other things.  It is so sweet when they do things like that.

 

  The baby journal has been written in again, he has been weighed, measured, hand traced and handwriting sample done.  Pictures taken, cake eaten, and presents opened.  All of the traditions that we do on each and every birthday complete.  Thankful for another year with this little boy.

 

 ^"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."  Jeremiah 29:!3

Myles....

strikes again.

He is a busy boy!

A Busy Day........

Today we went to our first day of a home school co-op that we just joined.  It meets at a huge church and has over 300 children in it!   My biggest reason in joining it was to get my foot in the door for Madeline's Biology lab for next year.  Madeline missed the first week because of her trip to DC, but she will be taking sewing and quilting for two blocks.  Mariah is taking a drawing class, anatomy and embroidery.  Malachi is taking P.E.,  science lap booking and Discovering Art through Artists.  Myles wasn't going to be joining us until I realized I wouldn't have anything to do with him on week one because of everyone being gone!  I figured it wouldn't hurt to give it a try with him.  He is taking finger painting, Play-Doh and States ABC. :o)

 It was a crazy day and I am glad it is done!  Mariah had piano lessons from 11:00-12:00 and we had to go straight from there to co-op.  The kids ate sandwiches in the car on the way.  They all seemed to enjoy it and it went fairly well.  I was in the nursery with Macheus (or I wouldn't be going!) which was right across the hall from Myles' class.  I peeked in at him several times and he seemed happy.  We only had one scare when I went to pick him up at the end of the day and he wasn't in his room.  The workers took them to an indoor playground area when they weren't supposed to.  I was a wreck for about 5 minutes until I found him.  Not only is the co-op huge, but we don't really know any of the people yet!

 McKenzie bought the little frog outfit that Macheus had on.  I thought it was cute. :o)  She also put Myles' name on the front of his shirt for me.  I figured it would be easy for all of his teachers to learn his name that way.

So.......... not sure if Myles will continue on with it, or if he will be a co-op drop-out.  Time will tell.  The greatest thing about being a "seasoned mom" is that I have learned to do what is best for my children and not feel pressured by others.  After all......... we CAN finger paint and play with Play-Doh at home! :o)

Today....

Marc left with our oldest three children to go on a trip to Washington DC.  Mariah and I were left to hold down the fort.  Day 1 was a zoo! :o) 

 I found these two spots after he was already in the bed this evening.  He also dumped pencil sharpener shavings all over the couch.

 Yes, he is the guilty one.  Don't let the sweet little face fool you! :o)

 Within the first hour that they left my washing machine wouldn't turn on, Macheus wouldn't go to sleep (he always takes an early  morning nap!) and Myles was struggling to get his dress-up clothes off and pooped on the bathroom floor. (He was attempting to clean it up when I found him.... yuck!!!)

 We got school finished and the housework done and headed to the pool.

 Myles can swim without his swimmies now.  It still makes me a little nervous, but he is doing great.

 My dad sits up under the gazebo and watches the kids swim.

 Our chunky little fellow.

                                            Mariah and her little "twin". He looks just like her baby pictures.

 

 This last picture made me laugh.  I remember when I was little hanging all over my mom when she would get in the pool.  I can still picture her pulling her swimsuit straps back up. :o)  I wonder what it is about the pool that kids want to hang all over you, but mine do it too.

 Well, Mariah and I got all of the outside animal chores done!  I will say......... she did the majority of them!  Hoping for a better day tomorrow!

Sippin' Smoothies with Pa...

Seven Months

Sweet little Macheus is seven months old.  Hard to believe it has already been seven months, but it also seems like he has been part of our family forever. 

 He has been my earliest mobile baby.  He is all over everywhere now.  Thankfully, he is content in his playroom and we haven't had to put baby gates up yet. :o)

 He is a very happy baby and smiles all the time.  He has had a tough time teething (STILL) no teeth yet, but there is one that I expect to pop through any day now.  He reminds me a lot of his sister Mariah with the teething.  I remember she teethed forever before one finally came through.  I should own stock in the Hyland's teething gel!

 He loves to be outside swinging on the porch or taking walks.  I am looking forward to fall when I can get him outside more.

 He rarely has a moment where he is alone.  He either has a sister picking him up or a brother wanting to play with him.  Myles adores him; it is so sweet to see him loving on his little brother.

 He still mostly just "babbles", but he most definitely can get out "mama" and uses it in his most desperate moments! :o)

 He has the most charming dimples and the sweetest little lop-sided grin. :o)

Children certainly are a blessing from the Lord!  Psalm 127:3