steve's birthday activity of choice...

Josie's very first fish!  It bit her line immediately and she reeled it in all by herself.

Jeneva caught one too.  This is old hat to her though.  She's caught quite a few in her lifetime....and I think she feels pretty much like I do about fishing.  :)

Here's Jude's.  He HATES when we have to throw them back in because they are too small.  I kinda do too, buddy.  I understand how you feel.

to remind me...

These pictures are to remind me of how cute she is despite her being two....and very strong-willed....and a tad bit sassy....

spring planting

 

Jeneva and I went, a couple of weeks ago, to our neighborhood nursery and bought a few flowers and some perennials to plant in our yard.  We've gotten most of the planting done and have been splitting our overgrown hostas and lilies and replanting them.  Steve got some black dirt mixed with compost from a local farm (our soil is so sandy and not good for gardening unless you haul in better soil to mix in) and we're going to attempt a small garden this year.  He tilled up an area in our back yard and put a border around it.  We'll plant this week sometime.  I like the idea of gardening vegetables, but don't really enjoy it all that much--well at least I didn't when I was a child living on the farm.  *wink* mom.  :)  I think I'm afraid nothing will grow--and it very well may not because my thumb is not green.  It is a very small space though--like 5x7.  Mostly I just want lots of fresh tomatoes!  And the kids want to plant peas and peppers and watermelons.

Mother's Day thoughts

"Perhaps there is something more powerful to experience than a perfect mother: the wonder of a committed mother who simply humbles herself. No one gets it perfect. Grace stands in the gaps." ~Ann Voskamp

I love this quote.  I am not and will never be the perfect mother.  It's easier to become discouraged in so many aspects of my mothering.  I often feel discouraged that I'm not doing things the "right" way--or the way that I sometimes perceive other Christians to say is "the right" way.  That's where Grace stands in the gaps.  And that's where I can trust that God's guidance in my life is causing me to walk in such a way that is good and honoring and pleasing to Him no matter what it looks like to the world or to others.


I love being a mom!  I wouldn't have it any other way and I am humbled that God has blessed me with 3 (4 soon) children.  For me, the joy, the fun, the companionship and the responsibility of training far outweigh the weariness, the tantrums, and the struggles of these younger years.  I love my kids more than I ever thought it possible to love another human being!  I love experiencing and enjoying life with them inside the home and outside the home.  Thank you, Jesus for the gift of being a mom.

laundry helpers

I'm trying to savor these days that they are so eager to help with laundry even though it's so much easier (faster) to do it on my own.  They always fight over who puts in the soap and insist on putting the clothes in.

Two Harbors, MN March 2012

The end of March....Northern Minnesota.  Brrrrr!  Off season.  It actually turned out quite lovely and the weather was in the 60's!  We were blessed by some friends who offered us their time share for the weekend because they wouldn't be using it.  We were able to go for three nights and enjoy some sweet family time together.  The kids had a blast (me and Steve did too!)  We got lots of rest and plenty of exercise.  The bottom picture of Jeneva standing by Lake Superior was the view we had from our condo.  Beautiful!  We enjoyed going to Split Rock Lighthouse and to Gooseberry Falls.  Lots of hiking, a little bit of fishing, and plenty of swimming at the indoor pool on the resort.  Fun fun times.  I think the kids will remember this.

jude's travel ambitions

"Can we go to outer space the next time we go on a trip?"-Jude
"Can we go to the jungle tomorrow?"-Jude (a few minutes after the first question)

I explained to him that he could go to outer space when he gets much older.  He would have to go to college and learn how to be an Astronaut.  He then asked if going to college means you are a teenager.