The final days of summer
This is Elijah’s final day of summer vacation. He told me yesterday that he was very excited to go back to school. He is especially excited about not having a rest time during the day like he has when he is at home. I will miss him, but it is definitely necessary for him to have some structure. He has gotten so bored lately and I have run out of ideas! The other day Elijah asked me, ” Did you go to school to learn how to be a mom?” No, I answered. And he said, ” Well, you sure are really good at being a mom.” That filled my heart with an unspeakable amount of joy. It also encouraged me that what I am doing here really is worth it. 
This is a picture of Elijah climbing at the Magic House in St.Louis. This place is so much cooler than when I went there as a kid. We went with Grandma Nell and Tracy and even Ryan was able to come.
This is the best picture of Josiah I could get. He was not able to stand still for more than 30 seconds at a time. One of the boys favorite places within the Magic House was the room that looked like a real pizza place. There were tables and pizza trays and a cash register with money. Ryan and I sat down and they brought us our pretend pizza, it was great!
Lily enjoyed the play- in -the -water area and the kitchen area the best. I think she spent a good 10-15 minutes in each area. Which, for an almost 2 year old, that’s great.
My next posts will probably have something to do with school and new schedules and a semi-quiet house. Yaaaah!
missing Ryan
Ryan is on his annual men’s camping trip at the Current River. I cried when he left. He is my partner and my best friend. He will be greatly missed, but we will try to have fun without him. The boys can’t contain their excitement about going to the fair. To be honest, I think that I am as excited as they are. We are going with Grandma Tracy and are going to see Aunt Katherine dance at the ethnic village. Yeah corn dogs and lemon shake ups. It’s amazing how many things you can come up with to do in order to stay busy. Our yard has never looked better. Tomorrow night a couple of the girls are coming over to watch a movie. I have no idea what to get. I am kind of a movie nerd and I don’t know if anyone would like the movies that I normally pick out. Last night I watched an hour long biography on C.S. Lewis. It was actually his story done by him. I love those. I know they have a name, but I forget what they are called. Sunday, we have church and then Ryan gets home in the afternoon. Yippee! I have become so dependent on him, but I guess that is supposed to happen over time. It’s better than being so independent that you don’t need anyone. I’ve been that person too.
Here is a picture of the kids trying to be like daddy. It was so funny, I went up there to the hole in the wall future bathroom, and i found the kids in their white t-shirts, jeans, and “work” boots. I had to take a picture.
summertime
You would think with it being summer that I would be more rather than less consistent with my blogging, but that is just not the case. This is going to be a picture blog of how we have spent some of our time this summer.
Cooking! I have been doing a lot of cooking this summer. I have tried out quite a few new recipes from the Pioneer Woman’s website. I have also enjoyed making desserts on Tuesday nights for a group of our friends. Some of my favorites have been a homemade chocolate angel food cake, kale and potato soup ( I didn’t even know what kale was until a month ago), and mexican lasagna.
Dreaming of living in the country. We found this old house on a couple of acres and contemplated moving into it until we realized that the house we live in is perfectly fine and doesn’t need as much work as this one would. Maybe someday, but not now and probably not this house.
I went on our annual women’s camping trip with my mom and aunts in june. We always have a lot of fun. I was able to read a lot and take it easy. The older women in my family usually take over, so I don’t have to do much. I look forward to going on this trip every year. I can’t wait until Lily is old enough and we can take her.
Elijah lost his front tooth, which is so adorable. It isn’t the first he has lost, but it is the most noticible. It was very loose and all it took was a wrestling match with his brother to get it out.
Lots of swimming! We have passes to a water park and try to go at least once a week. We also have friends with pools. The kids really enjoy swimming. Elijah no longer has to wear any flotation device, Josiah doesn’t want to wear one, and Lily scares me to death with how unscared she is of the water. She is at a hard age when it comes to swimming and she has to be watched or held at every moment. Who would’ve guessed that I would be spending my days hanging out at the pool with my kids all summer. I’m telling ya, punch me in the face if you ever hear me complain about how hard my life is.
Gardening, one of my favorite summer past times. Our brocolli was huge this year and thanks to my husband, he captured it on camera. We also grew peppers, cabbage, bush beans, hot peppers, basil, blackberries, strawberries, and zuchini. Also, a random pumpkin patch grew because of our Halloween pumpkins, which we had thrown in the garden to decompose. It is taking over the garden, but I don’t care. How cool will it be to have home grown pumpkins at the end of the season! I am seriously thinking about becoming a farmer. Growing stuff is so rewarding, especially when you get to eat it!
Poor dad! He has to go to work all day long. The kids always look forward to seeing him at the end of the day and Lily is constantly asking Daddy? Ryan took the boys camping a couple of weeks ago out to his parents house. He is also getting ready to go on his men’s camping trip in August. He has even created a blog for it. He is like a kid, gitty and excited, when he talks about it. Ryan has also gotten a few toys this summer. He found a Hammond organ for free on Craig’s list. He and his brother went and picked it up about an hour and a half away. For father’s day we got him a flat screen tv that he picked out himself and since in Howerter world everything is big, the tv was no exception. All I can say is 47 inches, which to me is ridiculous, but to him it was a God sent. We love you dad!
I’ll try to get back on here sooner, this has taken a long time to catch up. Hey, if you are reading this, drop me a note. Love ya
summer is in full swing
Look at my sweet baby! They grow so fast.
Today was the beginning of swimming lessons. It was also Monday and I was feeling very disorganized. I seem to forget quite often that I need to prepare Sunday night for the upcoming week, but instead I hold on for dear life to the weekend and refuse to aknowledge that Monday exists. Needless to say, I was a grump all day and didn’t have enough caffeine around to make myself feel better. We did however make it to swim class and were pleasantly surprised to find out some of our friends had also signed up. The kids really enjoy to swim and I’m glad they get the chance to do these kind of things.
My friend Katy started a workout/yoga class that meets together at the church. I went this evening desperately needing some time to regroup and get out of my “poor me” mode and into some gratitude. It was great. I had never done yoga before and it was nice to work my body and get out of my mind and into the Spirit again. The Lord reminded me that “they are worth it” , just like I was worth it when He suffered for my sake. He has a way of putting things back into perspective. Thank you Lord.
Look at those chubby cheeks!
my little girl, I love you!
The end of the school year
final day of kindergarden
first day of kindergarden
This week was the end of many things for us. Elijah’s school year ended with a trip to the zoo and an afternoon at the park with his classmates. I was glad that I was able to go and be apart of it. Lily was there as well and did awsomely well. Ryan and I laugh at the fact that sometimes we have to remind ourselves that she is there because she is so low maintenance. Elijah suprised me by crying when I got ready to leave. This is very unlike him, he is usually very independent. It was nice to know that he wanted me there. There comes a point with boys and moms that you are not sure if they need you anymore. On Thursday, Elijah’s school had a graduation for the kindergarden class. It was fun to get dressed up and see the still innocent kids receive their diplomas and recite the Lord’s Prayer. Of course it was a tear jerker. All the grandmas and dad were there to help us celebrate. Elijah had on his white button up and his khaki pants and tie, he looked so handsome and I felt like I could see him at his high school graduation not looking much different. He said that when he grows up he wants to be a basketball player, and boy did he look the part, self assured and confident.
Josiah's teacher Mrs. Hellinga
Josiah’s school year also ended at preschool. He had a great year and really learned a lot academically and socially this year. We had such a great class of parents and kids and his teacher was one of the best we’ve had so far. His school had a picnic at the park the next day. There were a lot of buses which is never a good thing, but I was proud of myself for not freaking out too bad. It’s a little scary to try to keep an eye on your kid, in a sea of kids, but I think I have gotten better at it, or maybe I am just not as worried as I used to be.
This was also my first week of no work, but I found I still had lots to do. I wasn’t worried about that I guess, I was just wondering what I was going to do with the kids all summer. I couldn’t believe it but somehow I got all three kids to take a nap at the same time, it had to have been grace! It’s nice to have a few less responsibilities for awhile. Actually, I think I can finally say that my kids are becoming my favorite responsibility. There are times when I beat myself up for not being the perfect parent and I think to myself ” I can’t do this!” I’ve realized this dialogue and my new motto is “I can do this”! God has totally given me everything I need to take care of these specific little people that he has given us. Sometimes you just have to shake off the dust and keep moving.
Raising fish from the dead
I was very motivated today. I cleaned out a lot of cabinets, I mean a lot! The kids played and wandered without much attention from me. Some days are just like that when you want to get something done. It was a great day for it because it rained practically all day. Tomorrow is my final day of cleaning houses. I look forward to having more time to keep up with things around here. We had accumulated so much stuff because I don’t always have time to go through it and with 5 people, it is constant. I am so thankful for a husband who is willing to carry the financial burden of our home. There aren’t many men out there who are willing to do without and to work hard. We both believe that things will flow a little better with me being at home. By the way, our fish was not looking so good yesterday, so Josiah and I cleaned out the fish bowl and then he suggested that we pray for the fish. We did and to our amazement, he is looking much better. He may even make it. The Lord did give us authority over the earth. Since that is a little large to begin with, a sick little fish, we thought, was a good place to start.
tea parties and softballs
It was a long, busy, wonderful day. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get everything done that needed to be done, but it all worked out. Today, was the mother’s day tea party at Josiah’s preschool. I started tearing up as soon as I walked in the door. They had set the table with plates, napkins, and silverware. The cups were filled with fruit punch and we were each given an iced cookie. Josiah kept saying thank you for coming mom and he was very cuddly and seemed to enjoy having me to himself. He gave me a present that he had made in class, which was a coffee mug with his hand print on it and a poem, also with his hand print. I really enjoyed having that special time with him today.
I also got to go to Elijah’s school ( doesn’t it seem like everything falls on the same day) and do art outreach. We talked about Remmington and looked at his paintings of the wild west. I had the kids make leather headresses with feathers and beads. It was really fun, but I spent a little too much money on the supplies. Tonight we had our first church softball game. We played really well, but in the end we lost. I’m sorry, but it sucks to lose. Yes, it was fun, but it would have been more fun to win! It also hailed for awhile and we had to take a break. The kids did really well and ran around without much supervision, to their delight. There was a moment during the game when I looked around at my team and thought, I love these people and I love that we are a team, in every sense of the word. It sure is a lot easier to go through the ups and downs of life with people who love and support you and vice versa. All in all it was a great day. Oh and by the way, only 1 more week of work!
Tennessee, here we come!
Ryan and I had a great trip to Nashville. We spent a lot of good quality time together. One of the coolest experiences was eating out at the Melting Pot, a fondue restaraunt. Ryan had never done fondue before and we thought it would be nice to take our time and enjoy the food and the company. When we called they were already booked up, but we decided to try to walk in. Luckily, there was a nice lady at the door who found us a table. The food was fabulous. We had melted cheese with veggies and fruit, salad, different meats including steak and lobster, and melted chocolate with fruit, cheescake, marshmellows, and pound cake. It was awesome! It was nice to take our time and not be rushed all weekend. We sat in the lobby of the hotel on Sunday morning and read for like 2 hours. Who would have thought that that is what we would’ve wanted to spend our time doing. It was just nice to have quiet and time and eachother.
On another note, Elijah and Josiah started soccer this week. We had a game on Friday night and early Saturday morning. Both boys got to start out in goal and both boys did great and seemed to have a lot of fun the whole game. It is sooooo healthy for boys to play sports. They need some way to release some of that energy and the competitiveness seems to come so natural to them. Ryan and I enjoyed watching our boys having fun and doing something that they were good at.
On another note, our friend Chris Gannar got married while we were in Tennessee. Ryan and I were very happy for him. It’s great when your single friends find a mate. Chris and his wife seem to fit very well together. We also got to catch up with some of our friends from Tennessee. I always am tempted to move there after we see everyone, but I know my home is here. It’s just so cool how God can knit your heart with people who you hardly ever see.
A day(or week) in the life of
Well it was a festive week filled with lots of activity. Ryan told me the other day that things probably won’t slow down for us for a really long time. Now I understand what vacations are for, they are no longer just for fun, they are necessity. Speaking of, Ryan and I are going to a wedding in Tennessee, alone. We are going to spend a couple of days in Nashville at an old restored train station. It is now a nice hotel overlooking the city. I get a little nervous when I think about not being with the kids, but they will be with friends and family, and Ryan and I will get a much needed break.
I will go through a day by day itinerary of the week. Monday was a work day for me and in case I forget down the road, I clean houses. Not the most glamorous job, but it is quiet and somewhat rewarding and it definitely keeps me humble. Elijah had school, grandma Tracy watched Jo and Lily, Ryan went to work, we ate dinner as a family, and then Ryan and I were off to homegroup. Tuesday, Josiah went to preschool, Lily and I went to the grocery store, got home put groceries away, Lily took a little nap, I did laundry, and then it was off to get Josiah. Lunchtime, followed by rest time, followed by picking up Elijah and Shaelyn from school. Wednesday, Josiah went to his music class and then to his buddy’s house until 11:30. Lily took a long morning nap which gave me time to organize the toy closet. It was actually very fun. Ryan and I are planning on making the play room more of and office with a play area, so, organizing was a neccesity. Elijah and Shaelyn were again picked up, dinner was made, and then it was off to Elijah’s music class, followed by my bible study. Wednesdays are very busy right now.Thursday, Tracy was sick so I didn’t go to work. Instead, we took Lily to school and she and I went to the church to play and clean a little. I did not want to do anything constructive at my own house, so we got out. I felt a little out of wack on Thursday since i am usually at work. I wish I could’ve enjoyed myself more, but I felt a little anxious all day. On Friday Josiah and I were bored of all the stuff we have done all winter long, so we called Grandma Tracy and invited her and Grandma Nell to come with us to Chucky Cheese. It was great to go there during the day, the noise level was a lot lower. Josiah was able to run some energy off and the rest of us sat and talked and played with lily. Friday was also Ryan and I’s 10th anniversary. Grandma Betty watched the kids and Ryan and I got to go out. I felt a little nervous before our date because even though we’ve been married for awhile, it isn’t very often that we get alone time. Sometimes you need time alone to catch up and find out who this person is again that you’ve been married to. We did just that. Dinner, bowling, ice cream cake, and a movie. Perfect. We had like 7 straight hours together, it was great. Saturday came too soon after staying up until 1:00. Ryan, the wonderful husband he is, got up with the kids and let me sleep a little longer. I had to work that morning to make up my Thursday job. I rushed from there to meet the family and some friends at the St. P atrick’s Day parade down town. The parade made for a good family memory with Josiah running out in the middle of the parade to get candy, Elijah saluting the army guys, and Lily squealing at the dogs. Ryan also caught me a hot dog that Neil Williamson threw, which he gave to me for lunch. That night, the St. Patty’s Day festivities continued with corned beef and cabbage and good friends at our house
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That was a mouthful, but someday, I will forget how hectic my life was and I will complain that I’m bored. One thing that the Lord keeps telling me through various things and people is that regardless of everything that is going on, it is most important to seek Him and to know him. All of these other things are secondary. I have to be very careful with the amount of stuff i take on so that I have enough energy to seek the Lord. I tend to think those other things are more important than they actually are. It’s called vanity.
A little work, a little fun!
our morning routine... everyone fighting to find a place at the sink
My husband reminded me that it had been awhile since I have posted anything. I think we have been really busy? One thing that happened this weekend was our first case of the chicken pocks. Now that kids get vaccines, I wasn’t sure if it was something my kids would get to experience. It was always such a big deal when I was a kid. Josiah, of course, was our infected child. He is going to have the greatest immune system when he is older. I think he had foot and mouth like 3 times one year. Anyways, he only got about 5 or 6 and they were gone within a few days. Lily now has a fever, so we’ll see if she gets it next. Speaking of Josiah, he told me the other day that he saw an angel when he was in bed. He said that it looks like little lights. That sounds to me like something Ryan would say, but who knows, I bet kids see all kinds of things that we don’t.
This week was Elijah’s piano recital. It is so amazing to hear him play. Sometimes the piano moves me to tears, but this time it just seemed to take me away. I hope that Elijah grows to love playing. Right now it’s a lot of work on my part, but on occasions he goes in the music room and makes up his own songs. That is when he really seems to enjoy himself. Speaking of extra curricular activities, I signed the boys up for soccer. They will be on different teams, which means we will be at the soccer fields on Friday and Saturday. I can’t wait to buy their little cleats. I was a soccer player, so I’ve always looked forward to my own kids playing. I will definitely post pictures as soon as they get their uniforms.
Lily had her 18 month appointment this week. She is getting so big. From now on she will only have scheduled checkups on her birthday every year. That is always a milestone to let you know that you no longer have a baby. That is usually when I get baby fever again. I’m glad to say, though, that I held a newborn the other day and was glad that it wasn’t me that had to carry the load of having a baby. It will be nice to enjoy it from the outside for once. Lily was so cute at her appointment. She really liked getting her temperature checked so the nurse did it twice. She weighs almost 23 lbs., but is still average for her age. Lily had to get 2 shots, which broke her and my hearts. We were both glad when it was over. Lily has joined the boys in some of their games lately. The three of them run around here playing hide n seek, screeching and laughing. I’m so glad that they have each other. I hope the three of them will always be close.
I had some time away on Saturday. We threw a shower for our friend Katy who is having a little girl very soon. I picked this restaurant because of a divine prompting, and it turned out to be perfect. God is always so good about blessing his children. I had never been to the place, but when I walked in, the decor and atmosphere was an exact replica of Katy’s personality and life. There were even gerber daisies on the tables, which were the flowers she had in her wedding. Katy is a very good friend of mine. I was there when she first came to the church, I was there for her wedding, and she even gave me the privelidge of being there for the birth of her first baby. I was glad to see her blessed.
my friend, Katy
girls day out!
It truly is a wonderful life!
