random family update

...a third of the summer is over.  but we've still 2/3 to go...

here are some random thoughts and updates thus far...

Our garden isn't doing so hot.  It was growing fine in May when we had oodles of rain.  I don't really care much.  I don't like gardening.  Our expert gardener neighbors garden is thriving though.  I'll just look at theirs instead.

Talking about the weather is lame I know, but I'll do it anyway.  We had 10 inches of rain in May alone.  Now we are on day 10 of record degree temps of 98-102 degrees.  Unusual for Minnesota.  But, I'm not complaining.  I have central air and lakes to keep me cool.  My ankles are still crazy swollen though.

Once again it's time to enjoy the free water here--lakes and pools.  It was fun to watch Jude in the lake the other day.  He is definitely more confident in the water than he was last year and was perfectly content to just float around in his life jacket.  He told me with his arms stretched out in the water that he felt like a bird.  Hmmm.  Figure that one out.

Jude took a week of tennis lessons a couple of weeks ago.  He really enjoyed it.  It was good to see him want to run out there on the court, come back to me for water breaks and then not hesitate about running back out on the court.  He has one more week of lessons next week.

God is teaching me patience.  I am a very impatient person.  Enough said.

Steve is working 60 hours a week at two different jobs.  It sucks, but we're thankful at the same time.  I'm thankful that he's willing to work.  I'm thankful that he has two decent jobs to work at with great insurance and maternity coverage.  One of them has to go though--just aren't sure which one will go and how it will all play out so he gets enough hours (40) with just one job.  God knows.  And my patience is tested.

Though our social life (family friends, etc.) has suffered because he is working, I have to say Steve is doing an awesome job at being dad.  Every other weekend he doesn't see the kids because he's working overnights and days and then sleeping in between.  But, the other days he has time in the afternoons and evenings and he spends it WELL with the kids.  Sure, we have projects and stuff that "need" to be done, but spending time with the kids is much more of a "need" than dumb house projects.  I am so so thankful that he is a family man.  The time is now and we can't get that back.  Ever.  

Jeneva and I started working through a book together at night after the youngens go to bed called How to Study your Bible for kids by Kay Arthur.  Each lesson takes about 30 minutes.  She is excited about it, but I think I might even be learning just as much as she is.  Maybe I can get more excited about studying the Bible myself through this study.

I figured out a system for chores and allowance for the older two.  We went on a date to Caribou the other day and I let the kids tell me what they thought they should be doing for chores--and what their attitudes should be like when asked to do things that aren't on their official chore list.  They were right in line with what I was thinking--except I had to add a few things, so we made our lists and allotted an allowance (Jeneva gets $3 a week and Jude gets $1).  I didn't ever follow through with the things I've tried before, but I think it will work better this time.

I am so ridiculously tired.  I know it's pregnancy related, but seriously.  Can't I just take one big long nap until this baby arrives.....in October?  It's called hibernation.  Bears do it.  Why can't humans?

We signed Jeneva up for soccer camp for 5-12 year olds at Northwestern College.  We haven't had her in an organized sport yet except for a few years of tennis lessons.  Steve really wants our kids to learn a sport at a young age (I do agree with him) so he's always been good about tossing the ball around outside with Jude and playing basketball with Jeneva.  We'll see how she likes soccer and next year she can do basketball at her school.

We went to Kalona a couple of weeks ago.  The kids had fun as usual visiting Grandma and Grandpa and Matt and Libby too.  We also got to see Great Grandma and a couple of second cousins and aunts and uncles.  Jeneva keeps telling everyone that grandpa built a really cool swing in the hayloft.  The kids had fun running around together and helping grandpa with the baby turkeys a couple of times.

Our dear friends, the Kenows,  have been on our hearts so much lately.  This past year they have suffered the loss of two boys--Bobbi was approximately halfway through each pregnancy when the miscarriages occurred.  And now just over a week ago they found out their 3 year old son has something called a Wilms Tumor.  He had it surgically removed (and the surgery was very successful praise God).  He will have to go through chemotherapy now for several months.  Such heartache, but such hope they have.  They are a sweet example of God's goodness amidst trials.  Love them Kenow's!

Jeneva has been wanting to learn how to type, so I found a typing website online.  She went through about the first 15 lessons on the homerow keys and the upper keys and didn't want to stop.  Now that she's on the bottom row it's getting too hard and she wants to quit.  I think I'll let her.  She's only eight.  Won't let her quit violin though.  :)

All of the kids have had Fifth Disease in the past couple of months.  First Jude, then Jeneva, now Josie.  Random.

Some books on the docket for summer reading when I find the time:  Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne and Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer.  Have you read either of them?

The kids have a second bedroom in the basement.  Their room upstairs isn't air conditioned like the rest of the house, so down they go to the basement every night in this stifling heat.  It's so dark down there so they usually sleep until 8:00 every morning.  Nice!

And now for a few random pics...

Just lounging around reading a whole book in one day.

"I got a scooter!"

(repeat 3x in a high squeaky voice)

Jude and his friend Addie waiting their turns to smack the tennis balls.

Beach day number 2 so far this summer.

I told them no diving.  But jumping is definitely allowed!

A mini ferris wheel ride!

summer 2010. words, not pictures.

I'm in denial that it's mid-August already. Just yesterday it was the fourth of July. Right? And the day before that it was the last day of school. Surely.

All of those cliche's about time flying kind of annoy me, but they're way true.

Now summer isn't REALLY over. There's plenty (hopefully) of hot weather to come for swimming and watermelon (I've only taken a liking to watermelon in the past couple of years), but mid-August always reminds me of the beginning of the Cross Country season.....takes me back to my High School and College days. The beginning of the CC season means school is just around the corner and summer is gone.

I'm glad my CC days are over. Loved em then. But now, the desire to run and sweat and compete and be nervous just isn't there.

I'm not even teaching anymore, so really the seasons should sort of blend together and I shouldn't get this awful dread of it being the end of summer. But I do. Fall and school starting (for Jeneva) and everything is all good....I'm just going to miss all of those beautiful lakes and pools and night time walks in shorts and flip flops.

Okay, Tiffany, it's NOT over yet. Don't get all depressed about it already. Just enjoy what's left of it.

But for the sake of the memory.....I'll recap all our summer entailed. I suppose the kids will look back on this in 10 years and appreciate the recall.

**our cool off hot spots included: Lake Johanna, Cedar Lake, Bryant Lake, Wirth Lake, the Splash Pad, and the neighborhood kiddie pool.

**six weeks of tennis lessons at our neighborhood park for Jeneva. Every day for 6 weeks! That's a long time!

**our family vacation was a camping trip to the Baptist Grounds in Green Lake, Wisconsin. Much fun....MUCH work.

**a week long trip to Grandma and Grandpa's farm while Papa was gone for the Guard.

**we took a few *field trips* to local nature centers and went on lots of bike rides and played with friends.

**two different trips were taken to Iowa in June and July for funerals. My Grandma Stutzman died in June and then my cousin Jason unexpectedly died in a motorcycle crash in July. Both were very sad, but both were a hopeful reminder of the HOPE that we have in Jesus and the PROMISE of eternal life in HIM.

I love summer. It doesn't last long in Minnesota, so I better stop blogging and get out and enjoy it before it's gone...