52-23

It's actually on time!   These  were taken before church last week.  I love that my kids love each other!

Verses for my kids

When Stella was born I was given the book Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noel Piper.  I loved it.  I've read it a few times now and I still love it.  She talked about how she chose a hymn for each of her children, learned it, and then sang it to them as a lullaby, or to comfort them, or whenever.  I really liked that idea, and have chosen songs for my kids.  Stella's is A Mighty Fortress is Our God by Martin Luther, and Bruce's is In Christ Alone by Keith and Kristyn Getty. 

Along the same lines, and I don't know if this is something I picked up from the book or not.  I really feel like I just stumbled into it.  But I also chose verses for my children.  With Stella it was a verse I was just in love with at the time, and really wanted her to grow up with the understanding of who God is, and what her response to him should be.  Her verse is Deuteronomy 6:4-5 "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your might."

Bruce's Verse is Proverbs 31:9 "Open your mouth, judge righteously, And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy."  I want that for my son.  Not that I don't want it for Stella, or that I don't want Bruce to understand Stella's.  This verse stood out to me in it's context.  It's a mother speaking to her son who will be the king.  She wants him to be a righteous man, and a godly man, and leader.  Things I want for my son.

So tell me, have you picked a verse for your children?  What are they?

I'm linking up with WFMW at We Are That Family.

Strawberries

We went to pick strawberries at a friends "little" strawberry patch.  Stella enjoyed herself.  For a few minutes.

She enjoyed carrying the basket around for a few minutes longer. 

 Bruce Really enjoyed himself.  Caleb decided he would rather watch Bruce than pick strawberries.  Fine by me!  He asked if he could give Bruce a berry, I acquiesced and a moment later He exclaimed "he's like a vacuum!" He had literally sucked all the berry off.  Right down to the stem. 

 We had to chase the stems.  Holding the stem as tightly as possible we all almost lost fingers! I think it's safe to say he's a fan!

 We picked A LOT of strwberries!  We ate them for 2 days and then still "canned" 10 pints of freezer jam. 

Stella's First Ride

On a four wheeler. 

She loved it.  It was "a long ride."  She talked about it for days!

I am Bossy...

is giving away an iPad2 on her very fun blog.  It's sponsored by Brad's Deals.  You should maybe check it out.  Or don't.  I don't really want any more competition for that thing!

The Teacher

My husband is a teacher.  Not by trade.  By personality.  It's a gift.  Truly.  He thrives on it.  He was in his element at the Magee's teaching the boys how to build (and why it's done that way).

 He taught them to use tools.

 Put up sheet rock on walls...

 and ceilings.

 He even taught Martha how to use a nail gun.

Even I used it!  Like I said.  He's a teacher.

Magee's

When we left Kristin's home improvement project we went straight on to the Magee's home improvement project!  Martha's mom is moving in with them, so some basement finishing work was occuring at their house.  Since we were there... we helped.  Well, Sid helped.

 The kids and I mostly watched.  My kids had a ball at their house.  Stella LOVED the freedom she was able to have.  They have 5 acres, 2 are open space.  They live on a private dirt road, where the neighbors are known and trusted.  Stella was given permission to let me know, and go play outside.  She had 2 rules.  1. Stay out of the woods (no problem, since that doesn't really appeal to her anyway).  and 2. Stay off the driveway.  She spent lots of time outside.

Both kids also got lots of love from the boys.  Especially from Josh!  What a sweet heart that boy has.But they are all wonderful with both kids.

  Bruce got a present, a Kozy.  I love it, and he's learning to.  : )      We felt truly blessed to be there and able to help.

Aunt Kristin's House

Kristin is my best friend from college.  Her daughter is the same age as Stella (really, it's less than two weeks).  Her son is a little over a year younger.  As you can imagine fun is never far for these kids when they are together! 

 There was porch-swinging, bubble-mess-making-blowing, soccer-ball kicking outside fun.

 Slumber party with your friends fun.

 Stay in your pj's all day fun.

And fun new games to play fun.  For the kids.  

We were there to work on the house and that all got done to Kristin's satisfaction, so it was a good time for us too.

Project 52-22

 

So proud of himself.  He moved that cushion and climbed up there all by himself!

Having "lunch" in a Stella-sized Rocker at a side table.  With Mommy.  Life doesn't get much better.

The drive

We recently took a trip to Lynchburg, Virginia to help some friends do some work on their houses.  The drive was beautiful.  And the kids were so good.

  

At a rest stop

 Stopped for lunch

More on our time in "the burg" is forthcoming.

Week 21

another just pictures post

Week 20

Week of May 15

Week 19

Just photos!  Week 19

May?/ Project 52- 18

I'm not really sure what happened to May!  It's... gone.  We did spend 2 weeks away so that didn't help.  As for blogging though, it's been quite the silence. Here are the week 18 pictures!

Make Way for Ducklings?

Why yes, we live in a suburban neighborhood.  Why, no we don't really live close to water.  Not terribly far, but not terribly close either. In the children's book Make Way for Ducklings a pair of ducks make a home in a pond in the middle of Boston, and then the mama duck has to take her ducklings to the river.  Quite a walk through Boston.   It's a cute story, and I felt sure that we were going to get to see it happen sometime this summer.  After a few particularly rainy days in April, I got a call from Sid.  He told me to bring Stella outside, that there was a pair of ducks in front of a tree next door. So, out we went to see the ducks.  They waddled around, ate some... i don't know actually, but they were definitely eating, and just watched us watch them.  They didn't stick around too long though.  I guess they needed a real water source.

52-17 is Easter!

 

Stella's Easter Basket

 

The good picture before church.

 

The keepin' it real picture, before church.

 

Bruce and Daddy enjoying the Easter Egg hunt.  

 Stella did all the hunting and the rest of us watched and enjoyed the beautiful weather.