i love...

...that josie cut her bangs. (reminds me of our favorite sufjan stevens christmas jingle)
...that jeneva prays for her non-christian friends daily. and earnestly.
...that jude prays for snow every day so he can play in it with jeneva.
...that my house was clean yesterday and that today it's a disaster--life lived here.
...that i'm sitting on my couch recording my thoughts rather than washing dishes.
...that my hard working husband is snuggled up in bed...since 9:00.
...that we discovered memory foam. i can hardly wait to go to bed!
...that living in a city doesn't feel lonely.
...text.
...eating cooked spinach with sea salt.
...that it's 5 days post christmas and i'm still enjoying the light of our tree.
...that it's warm out and there's no snow (okay, i lied, i REALLY want snow).
...that so many people send out christmas photos.
...the quietness and calmess i feel right now.
...that i have such great parents who i enjoy visiting.
...jesus who is the giver of all good things that "i love" in this moment.

random thoughts as we enter a new year

I have blog posts swirling around in my mind of all the things I want to say about my three little loves. I've been writing on this blog for 4 years now and the first two years had much more content than these past two years have. I just don't want to forget it... the funny things they say...the changes they make...the growth I see in each one of them personally.... spiritually.... emotionally.... physically. This is really the only place I record it besides my piles of photo albums (not scrapbooks, just albums with plain pictures) and a few random baby books. So, I guess one of my New Years Resolutions would be to be more consistent with recording the stuff I want to remember.

The only thing is, I don't make New Years Resolutions.

BUT, if I did, here is what I would choose from (the exhaustive list):

1. Catch up on printing pictures and be sure to record milestones.
2. Go on a 10 day juice fast.
3. Read the Bible and maybe even STUDY it?!
4. Paint the dresser that is in my living room a fun color. Green?
5. Work through the My Father's World curriculum with Jude (we have started already).
6. Organize my recipe file and print off recipes I've saved online.
7. Volunteer at school more.
8. Try and spend more time with my immediate neighbors. Community building?
9. Recover my dining room chairs with oilcloth.
10. Label bins in my basement with a label maker.
11. Plan some field trips with the kids.
12. Paint the trim and the walls in the hallway.
13. Get a small group going (mostly Steve, not just me).
14. Sew some curtains for Jude's room and for my room.
15. Work through a personal devotional book with Jeneva.
16. Do Classical Stretch every day.
17. Figure out how to garden in the city with a small yard.
18. Read: A Praying Life by Paul Miller and put it into practice.
19. Find some more creative ways to be thrifty.
20. Encourage, love, and bless my husband more.

And this is why I don't make New Years Resolutions! I wouldn't know what to pick. My list is always too long and I always feel defeated if I don't accomplish things. I am a list maker though and making a list like this for reference is helpful (and daunting). These are things that I would love to accomplish over the next year. If I look at them more as "goals" or "options" I feel better. When I "resolve" to doing them then it's like making a promise to myself that I know I won't be able to keep. God help me. Give me the strength I need to get done what YOU want me to get done. And may nothing be more important to me than spending time with You and seeking Your will for me and for my family daily.

a new tradition

...cutting down our own tree for Christmas. We had a blast as a family doing it together on the day after Thanksgiving. Next year we will be recruiting another family to share that tradition with. We loved it! Our day began with a stop at Cabela's--Steve's 2nd favorite place to go shopping...and it was insane due to that awful day called Black Friday.

What on earth do I title this picture? I find it hysterical for some reason.

Calm and cool amidst the chaos in the background.

I love Josie. I LOVE that face!

THE PERFECT TREE has been found and chopped!

Can we ride home in the back of the truck?

Wow! I'm actually in a picture. Usually I'm the one behind the camera.

Free pony rides to follow.

The first time around for Jude was frightening. The second wasn't so bad. He begged to go on the third.

Josie held on to her pony and giggled nervously the entire time.

And that's all folks!

ten people

If you ever have the opportunity to have another family live with you for five or six weeks...do it. Especially if they are completely awesome people.

(no captions. just a few snapshots of what our life looked like in October)

*this one needs a caption: The first Saturday that they were living here, the girls were up at SIX O'CLOCK AM doing their homework. I'm not even going to try and figure that one out.

Packed up. Early in the morning. To China.
We miss the five of them so much!

if you teach your children how to make coffee...

...they just might make it for you a lot. About 3 or 4 days a week Jeneva (and Jude often helps her with this if he's up too) makes coffee for me if I'm not up yet. She usually gets up about 15 minutes before me. This is what was waiting for me the other day. Not JUST the coffee brewing in the pot, but a nice little place set for me at the table! It wasn't Mother's Day and it wasn't my birthday. It was just Jeneva being Jeneva--sweet and servant-hearted. That little plate with black stuff is chocolate syrup just in case I wanted to make a "mocha". The coffee she brewed and poured into the nice pitcher and accompanied it with a bowl of half-n-half and sugar. The tea cup and saucer of perfectly poured coffee with none other than honey roasted peanuts and a candy cane on the side. Mmmm. Interesting choice of breakfast. :)

jude is four

The birthday boy at his best...

Every day is a good day to dress up as something!

First time on a paddle boat. He even jumped in when we were in the middle of the lake!

Who needs toys when we have mud?

"I'm not tired, mom!"

Jude likes to help papa demolish things. Very manly!

Hi, I'm Jude. I'm totally handsome in my ring bearer suit and I can melt anyone with my smile!

Happy 4th Birthday, Jude!

We couldn't find the video camera when we were singing to Jude and opening his presents. I was so frustrated! We found it after all of the funny stuff was already said. And that stuff just can't be reenacted. I know. I tried. I deleted. Alas, I can try to retell it. Jude is 4 today (November 1). Hard to believe! He wanted a Spiderman cake. I attempted to create one and it was somewhat successful. This is also the last night that the Morse family is with us before they head out tomorrow.....for China. It has been a delightful whirlwind of five weeks having them live with us (I will post about that sometime too). It was also fun to celebrate their last night here on Jude's birthday. We ate pizza and had a bonfire. After opening his gifts, Steve asked Jude several questions (the stuff I wish could have been recorded!)

Steve: Do you know why we celebrate your birthday today, Jude?
Jude: It's the day I was born.
Steve: What were you four years ago?
Jude: Um....at the hotel.
Steve: Close.....another H word
Jude: China?
Jeneva: HOSPITAL, Jude!
Jude: Oh. Hospital.
Steve: What were you at the hospital?
Jude: A baby in mommy's tummy.
Steve: Who put you there?
Jude: The Doctors.
Steve: No, who made you?
Jude: God did.
Steve: So, then who put you in mommy's tummy?
Jude: Oh yeah, God did that.

At 4 years old, this is what he said...

Favorite toys: Rescue Heroes, Buzz and Woody, Lincoln Logs
Favorite thing to do with mom: Listening to stories and going for bike rides
Favorite thing to do with dad: go fishing and go for bike rides
Favorite place to go: To Grandma and Grandpa's house and to preschool
Favorite activity this summer: Going to the park and swimming.
Favorite thing to play with sisters: school and house
Favorite foods: pancakes, rice, oranges, chicken and soy sauce
Favorite friends: Asher and Caleb and Ale and Jeneva and Addie
Favorite color: Black and orange
What he wants to be as an adult: A fireman
Favorite song: Jesus loves me and Starwars

what makes someone...

A couple of months ago I had a conversation with Jude that I couldn't resist writing down. I came across it today in my journal and remembered that I wanted to record it here. Jude had come up to me while I was reading a book on the couch (a rare, but treasured moment!) and told me that I was pretty. It was ironic because I recall feeling rather frumpy at that time.....jeans, greasy hair, no makeup.....so I asked him "What makes someone pretty?" You know what his response was?! He said "a pretty dress and lipstick." Both of which I was NOT wearing. I proceeded to ask him a few more questions....

What makes someone kind?
When they're sharing or caring.

What makes someone special?
Being a ring-bearer (this was two months prior to his job as ring bearer in Matt and Libby's wedding)

What makes someone happy?
Going to a parade or the jungle (of course!)

What makes someone sad?
NOT going to a parade or the jungle and just staying on their couch.

What makes someone tired?
Going for a long drive.

What makes someone friendly?
Talking to grown-ups

What makes someone handsome?
Wearing cowboy stuff and Spiderman stuff

I loved Jude's responses. He turned FOUR a few days ago and I've got a birthday post coming for him.

biking in jammies

because IKEA...

...has furniture that beckons children to sit and climb.

malachi

In July we welcomed new nephew/cousin Malachi Dean to the family!

what do you do.....

...on September 12th...

...when it's 92 degrees in minnesota?...



...you go to the beach!...

...after school...

...for one final dip of the season.

second grade here i come!

First day of 2nd grade!

Taken through the glass. Bad picture, but the only one I took!



This picture just cracks me up. It was the 2nd day of school and Addie was over in the morning. She wanted to be in the picture, but Jude didn't. Too bad I got him in it anyway! Can you find him?