we have spring fever...

...BIG TIME! I desperately needed a "field trip" to the Conservatory last week. This Minnesota February is taking it's toll on me and my sanity.

It's quite fuzzy....can you guess why? It was humid. Very humid. Absolutely LOVELY! It took awhile for my camera to "de-fog." I know, you probably are squinting just looking at this picture. I am.

Jeneva thought she was in heaven. Pinks and purples galore!

Now if only I could get my back yard to look like this! Happy ALMOST Spring!

a five minute interview with the five year old....just for fun

Why do you think that we gave you the name Jeneva Rae?

Because it means Juniper Tree and it means Purity. I don't know why you named me Rae though. (rae is my middle name too)


How many brothers and sisters would you like to have?

5 brothers and 6 sisters. (um, not likely)


What is your favorite color?

Purple. (yesterday it was pink)


What is God like?

God likes me. I think he would like the beautiful world He made. He's Faithful and He's Good and Kind and Holy. (good answer!)


If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I would go to New York to visit Samantha's uncle (American Girl). (of course!)


What do you want to be when you get bigger?

I want to be a Police Girl. (i'm laughing out loud!)


What's your favorite thing to do in your free time?

Go to the park and ice skate in the winter and summer and fall and spring. (ice skating year round in Minnesota....quite possible!)


What is one thing that Mommy has taught you.

Reading. (almost. not quite yet.)


What is one thing that Papa has taught you?

To ride on my bike without training wheels. (yep! age four!)


Who is one person you really admire?

Carlie. (jeneva met carlie last week for the first time when she babysat. must have made a good impression:)


What is one thing that you wish you could do that only adults do?

Do whatever I want to and obey God all of the time. (um. yeah right.)


What is your favorite book?

The Fairy book you gave to me for Valentine's Day. (she's definitely ALL girl)


What is something you could do to make the world more beautiful?

Plant trees and grapes and flowers. (good idea!)


How old are Grandpa and Grandma?

Maybe 21 or something. Well, older than that. Well, I think it's maybe 88 or 22 or 5. I really don't know. (is that offensive or flattering?)


If you could speak another language, what would you like to speak?

Chinese. (please pray for acceptance to the Chinese Immersion school!!)


What is something you want to do when you are 6?

Do all of the regular things that 6 year olds do. (duh, mom)


What is something that you wish you wouldn't have done?

Lying. (me too!)


What is something you are glad that you have done?

Counting to ten in Spanish. Oh and learning how to talk like a robot. (i don't know what's up with the robot thing!)


What do you think about Jude?

I love him and I think he's just silly and great and I just admire him so much! (i'm almost in tears!)


What is something that would make you cry?

Spanks. (it does)


What is something that would make you laugh really hard?

Tickling. (me too. i HATE being tickled though.)

jeneva's up and movin' to antarctica

me: Jeneva, please go and sort the laundry that is piled up in my room.

j: Not again! I just did it last week. I really don't want to.

me: Well, you don't have a choice. You're part of this family and we all need to help out.

j: Well, then I'm gonna move away.

me: Where are you going to go?

j: Antarctica.

me: How are you going to get there?

j: I'll walk.

me: How long will it take you?

j: 77 hours

me: What will you take with you?

j: My boots and stuff to build a fort with.

me: Where will you live?

j: In my fort.

me: What will you do there?

j: Run around to stay sweaty. It's really cold there ya know.

me: When are you going to leave?

j: I'll have to leave in the morning so I have time to pack all of my things (her boots?:).

Then I'll start walking and if I get tired I'll stop and rest on a bench. Then when I get to Iowa, I'll stop at Grandma and Grandpa's house and sleep for one night.

In the morning, if it's okay with Grandpa, I'll go for a ride in a horse and buggy when it goes past their house. They'll take me a little ways and then drop me off.

Then I'll walk the rest of the way to Antarctica. And if I get tired, I'll just stop and take a rest on a bench again.

bracelet photos

I've had a few recent inquiries about my bracelets from those of you who read this blog (all five of you!:) These are the pictures that we've posted on our website. The first three give you an idea of what they look like both directions. We no longer have the exact fabric for the "Tonya", but are hoping to find something similar as our black and white option. The last four samples are our newer styles, and I think they are very fun!

"tonya"

(black/white)

"tiffany"

(red,tan)

"celeste"

(torquoise, maroon, black)

"sara"

(brown, orange, cream)

"rachel"

(green, olive, rose, pink)

"sophia"

(teal, orange, olive)

"autumn"

(brown, orange, cream, gold)

i love it that my kids share a room

Our upstairs is just one big room, so it's the kid's domain. I am listening to them now laughing at each other. It's music to my ears! They've been talking and laughing for a half an hour now. I didn't think that the four year age gap between them would result in such a close relationship....but it has. And I'm thankful.