Strawberry Pickin' Days and Low Expectations

So, I couldn't let a good strawberry picking season go by without a few pictures on the blog.  I know, I know... the blog has been down for a while.  Quite honestly it is just another thing to do - and I already have enough of those.  But, for the sake of my lovely Mom, I thought I would post a few pics from time to time and hopefully, *hopefully* keep up with it AT LEAST on a monthly basis.  We'll see.  4 kids ain't no joke!!!!  Especially when one is a nursing baby!

April in Charleston means Strawberry time!  Actually, it was a tad early.  Strawberries were out, but they will be juicier and more plentiful probably in a few weeks.  We're going to go back since today's adventure landed us ZERO strawberries.  The girls ate some along the way.  At one point, Noa even had a bucket full. But somehow they were gone when we left.  I'm not sure if she ate them or if the bucket tipped.  Either way, no jam for us... 

BUT WHO CARES?!  The more kids I have, the more I feel like I need to lower my expectations.  I would've been so stressed out if I had wanted to bring home a ton of berries today, while goin' it alone with 4 kids.  My only expectations were to get there in one piece (which we did!), and to have fun with friends (which we did!).  See what a victorious day we had???  I need to start applying this to my time with the kids each day.  It is certainly o.k. to expect some things, but when I get myself all in a wad about it, usually the day goes downhill fast.  But enough talk... here's some cute kids...

Stinky feet!!!

Brothie was a trooper.  It was a little windy, so he totally did NOT want to be there.  He wanted to sleep.  Eventually he fell asleep on me.  I'd like to think my heartbeat had something to do with that... so miraculous.  ;)

Yaya Joy (A name she gave herself.  She thinks everyone's middle name is "Joy.")

Here's a bad selfie of me and Brother.  Focusing so hard on getting the picture! Sun in my eyes!  I can't remember a strawberry picking adventure without a kid strapped to the front of me so I had to document that it was happening once again... This time Caleb was my helper. 

Lydie soon tired of finding strawberries after about the fourth one.

Why no smile, Lyds?

Dawn's crew.  Nothin' says Johns Island like Dawn.

Ruthie and her favorite shirt.  It is not MY favorite shirt which is why we chose it for strawberry picking.  I was hoping she would totally destroy it.  Didn't happen.

O.k., o.k.  Now I get what people are saying about Ruthie and Lydie looking alike.  They are so incredibly different that I see similarities, but I've never really seen it like I see it in this picture.  I wonder if they will be even MORE similar when Lydie loses those chubby cheeksters.  It will be a sad day.  :(

Shandy's crew.  Smart enough to bring a stroller!

Ivana showing off her baby love in the back.  And Sue being sweet Sue.

Sweet Ansley.  Her hair and her personality match.

Lydie couldn't quite get the hang of the bag inside the bucket thing.

Get IN the picture with your kids, Jackie!  Brother was crying, Lydie was running away, Noa and Ruthie were mildly supportive of the family pic.  Not all it is cracked up to be.

Rode home with a car full of dirt faces.  And hands.  And feet.  And bellies full of strawberries.

Christmas Video 2012

Joyful and Triumphant

It is quite tempting to be a scrouge this year. With one sickness rolling into the next in our house, I have felt neither joyful nor triumphant a majority of the time. In the last month, I have only been out of the house to do some minor Christmas shopping (like maybe 3 hours), and to take my 2 month old to the Emergency Room.  Friends with kids can't stop by because you'll just keep passing each sickness around.  I've had lots of sleepless nights, comforting children, nursing the baby, helping the girls go potty... One day runs into the next until it occurred to me the other day that I hadn't even seen the church decorated for Christmas.  We only made ONE of the gazillion Christmas parties we were invited to, and that was with MUCH effort finding a babysitter to watch flu-ridden kids. I've missed the entire Advent Season with our church due to sickness! The only thing up in our house this year is the tree and it looks terrible.  The kids (in particular, Lydia) can't stop messing with it, so all of the ornaments are either broken, on the floor, or up high as to keep little fingers away from them.  I have had no desire to put anything else up and quite honestly I feel a little depressed.  And, of course, Charleston won't have snow any time soon, but I'm not even going there...

But as I was in the ER, holding Caleb who was screaming hot with a fever, I started thinking about the Father sending his Son to us.  Emmanuel.  God with us.  I started thinking about what it would be like to have thought up and created the universe, only to be limited to the body and mind of an infant.  Willingly.  I looked at my son, helpless, and couldn't imagine entrusting anyone else with him.  I was wondering what it must've been like for the Father to trust Mary and Joseph with Jesus, knowing everything probably wouldn't be handled perfectly, or the way he would've done it himself.  I was thinking about what it would be like to entrust my son to an 8 year old or something.  Who would do that?  Tough for Jesus. Tough for his Father.  Glorious for us.

As I sing about our Savior's birth this year, I am wearing sweats in my kitchen and I'm usually singing alone.  There hasn't been anyone to sing for except Jesus, and usually that's with my kids in the background telling me to stop singing. Nothing very holly or jolly about this Christmas. No cookies, maybe 2 presents, no decorations, no fun Christmas cards to send out. Nothing.  In fact, I told Russ today that this is probably the worst Christmas I've ever had.  But without those distractions, in some ways it has also been the best one. It has been stripped down to Jesus!  Jesus + nothing = everything. When I think about what Jesus sacrificed for MY sake, how can I be anything but joyful and triumphant? God is with me.

O Come, all ye faithful
Joyful and Triumphant
O Come ye, O Come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold him
Born the King of angels
O Come let us adore Him
O Come let us adore Him
O Come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

Where Has the Time Gone?

Oh my goodness.  It has been forever since I've updated this blog!  Part of it has been computer problems, and part of it has been sheer exhaustion.  4 kids ain't no joke!  I find that on a normal day, I just don't stop.  If I stop, something goes wrong.  Even after the kids go down, we're usually folding laundry, cleaning the kitchen, getting things ready for the next day...  I can't wait until the girls are old enough to help with some of it.  They help a little bit now, but it is with MUCH assistance, and sometimes I'd rather do it by myself.  :)  Anyway, here's some pictures from the last month, in no particular order, because that would take about 45 minutes longer... 

Ruthie has a baby in her tummy!

Noa has a baby in her tummy!

The girls watching TV.  This is when Ruthie had some stash of soap that we couldn't find and after a bath, she kept slicking down her hair with it.  I was the happiest Mom alive the day I found that darn soap.

Noa and Ruthie had dentist appointments with Dr. Chris.  They were both CHAMPS and went through the whole appointment without any problems.  This is a stark contrast to the appointment 6 months ago when I took all 3 girls to MY appointment (while pregnant) and they crushed Pringles all over Dr. Chris' office while watching Veggie Tales. They were allowed to pick out a prize since they were so "good" and I (still pregnant) had to carry Ruthie out of the office kicking and screaming (while pushing Lydia in the stroller) because she wouldn't choose just one prize.  I had to pry them from her hands.  Needless to say, things have progressed.  I'm not sure why I thought taking 3 kids to my appointment would work, but live and learn...

We've decided that pig tails is Ya's best look.

Ruthie lovin' on Brothie.

Sweet kids.  I love this picture.

Brother Boy. Brothie. Buddy Boy. K-Bob. Caleb.
No shortage of nicknames in our house.

Went to the lights and rode the carousel.  Daddy braved it while Mommy held Caleb.  Noa is somewhere else, goin' it alone.

Ya-baby stealing a moment on Ruthie's bike.  I'm sure that 5 seconds later, Ruthie screamed and assaulted her for riding it, but she seems to be enjoying this moment.  Poor baby.

This is some kind of bunk bed that the girls came up with.
Whatever keeps them busy...

Day at Brownswood Nursery with Pops and Cousin Micah. Ruthie got to go by herself since everyone else was sick...or just getting sick...or something.  I can't quite remember. Anyway, she was the big-shot that day.

Noa and Lyd play well together.
Here they are laying in Noa's bed, being buddies.

Rosy

When I was growing up (and still), I never understood why my Mom loved my rosy, red cheeks.  When I look at Lydia, I finally understand why.  ;)

Chicks, Babers, Ya, and Brother

So, Russ is at a retreat this weekend and what do I sit around doing?  Looking at old pictures on the computer.  I found some gems!  ;)  These are all sometime within the last year. My, how time flies.

Chicks!  We really don't call her that anymore, and I don't even think she'll respond to it.  Noa Jane is our sweet firstborn.  Her love for music is amazing, and I love to hear her worship the Lord and make up songs in her childlike way.  She is both tenderhearted and bossy, level-headed and goofy.  I love who the Lord came up with when He made Noa.

Babers!  Ruthie, Ruthie, Ruthie.  I feel like I call her name ten thousand times a day.  Maybe that's why she doesn't respond to me!  Need to tone down the directives, Mom!  ;)  Ruthie is passionate and curious, shy but friendly.  She's a quirky little doll that keeps us guessing (and praying for that matter!). I love my Ruthie Joy.  I was never quite sure of that middle name, but now that I know her I'm glad we chose it because it suits her perfectly.  She is definitely a joy.

Ya-ya!  I think we have another passionate one on our hands!  Even though Lydie is girl #3, she definitely doesn't let the older two push her around.  This girl is feisty!  And really, really, really sweet. She melts us with her hugs and kisses every day.  She is extremely verbal and very smart.  We've kind of been amazed by the things she'll put together, I'm sure from watching the other two.  I'm excited to how her personality blossoms as she learns even more words.  I love my little ya and am thankful for her beautiful smile (and dimples!), her warm heart, and her silly laugh.  I could listen to it all day long.  

Brother!  Poor Caleb has the most boring nick-name. But it fits! Out-numbered! Easy to identify in pics!  He is every bit as precious as he looks in this picture.  He is now a month old and has been eating well, sleeping well, loving well, and enduring a LOT of hugging, touching, carrying, holding, kissing, dropping, feeding, and all kinds of things from his other 3 "mommies."  He seems to be very laid back.  I was never sure about having a boy.  I'm not sure why; I guess I was just used to girls.  But of course NOW, I can't imagine my days without him.  He is such a blessing to us and definitely a piece of the puzzle that was missing.  We love you Cabes!

Thank you for enduring this weepy, sentimental post about my kids.  I am so amazed by the amount of love the Lord places in our hearts for our kids, even though they've turned our world up-side-down since they came!  I wonder what we did with all of our time before kids???  I'm sure it wasn't very important.  But anyway, oh how I love them.  Totally humbled that the Lord chose ME to be their mom!  I hit the jackpot with these kids and I totally don't even know what I'm doing!  Thankful also for his grace because He is fully aware that I don't know what I'm doing!  :)  

James 1:17 - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down 

from the Father of heavenly lights."

Pumpkin Patch

"Cheese!" Look at all those teeth!

Scary!  Ghouls!  Ruthie didn't get it

The girls kept putting that gourd in his car seat with him

Caleb was the easiest to photograph

Check out that cowlick - super sweet!

Quite a challenging picture to take

This may have been the best one we got...pathetic

Lydie was fine if she was by herself

Definitely didn't want to be part of the group

Ruthie loves to hold and take care of Baby Brother

So our time at the pumpkin patch was short and sweet this year.  These blue outfits were all I could come up with and I'm not even sure I like them.  Oh well.  Brain is on overload lately.  But I love the kids in the blue outfits!  I asked Russ to bring his camera and it was quite a challenging little (very little) photo shoot.  The girls were running around like crazy and it was hard to corral them for a picture, but at least we got a few that sort of work.  Caleb slept the whole time. It was all of about 15 minutes, but that was enough for us.  They each picked out a small pumpkin (they wanted the smallest, cheapest ones!) and now they carry them around constantly.  I think they're even sleeping with them.  I remember this craziness from last year.  We bought a big pumpkin to carve too, but have yet to do it.  Happy Halloween everyone! ;)