Shopping

This video makes me smile.  Smart phones are great devices when shopping with lots of kids.  I get all kinds of funny pictures and videos.  Sometimes they play games or watch netflix too!  Please don't mind the crusty nose on the boy ;-)

Another Birthday

Birthday Morning, the children had put a banner up and had cards and balloons for me!

We spent part of the day at Missouri Botanical Gardens.  

ps Military friends, they have a really good discount when you visit.

I really wanted a picture with a waterfall, trying to sneak one in before people walked by didn't work out so well and remains the only picture taken of me on birthday :D

We decided to go to China for the day, got the robes and #2 dished out some stir fry for us.  They had camera's that made the kids go on the big screen-a big hit for my hams!

 

The only time I didn't hear "I'm hungry."  "My feet are tired." is when they ran around this maze playing hide and seek(the ran forever at the end of our time there!).  

beautiful

Spring time

     *Every week #4 asks if we are going to PR today.  Do you ever get the wrong name stuck in your head?
     The kids say together "It's not PR it's PE!"  I think at this point he just does it for the reaction!

*It's spring and #4 and #5 are always happily covered in mud!  I'm so glad they can once again spend time outside exploring but it would be nice if just one pair of shoes could remain mud free.

 The grass(and weeds!) are growing like crazy.  No time like the present to work on our yard work skills.  #3 was so excited that he could mow the lawn that he ran out and picked up all the sticks so he could be first!

 Doesn't like her brothers doing something without her.

 If you could mow the grass by sheer determination, #4 would have won.  He wants to mow the yard so badly but needs to be taller before he can be at the right angle to successfully complete that mission.

 This one thought he was running a race!

ps Do you see the van?  This is the boo boo side of the van. Over the years it has had: Some unknown car in a parking lot scratched and dented it.  Some known carport scratched it down the side(really, why insist that you park two cars in the carport if you can't get out of your car when the cars are parked?).  Then yesterday an embarrassed sister of mine reported she let the car met some concrete down the side.  Got a big, stylish band aid?

 This sweetie pie didn't get in on the grass cutting but he did find me some nifty bugs!

March

It's March and I don't know what that means for you but for me it means it's been a year of huge changes. Just about a year ago was the Japanese Tsunami.  I was in a high rise hotel with my children in Hawaii.  I was wishing I could still be in my home all nestled in the hills away from any danger.  We were told we were high enough to be safe but I could only imagine huge waves knocking the feet off the bottom of the hotel.(hmm, wonder where the children get their imagination from??).  Of course, in the end O'ahu was spared the devastation.  Continued prayers for the Japanese and their recovery.
Two days after the Tsunami the children and I were loaded up on the plane and started a new adventure on the mainland.  I officially became a single parent(although had been living that reality awhile, it felt more real).  I discovered allergies.  I became a student....again.  It has been a year of blessings.  We did it.  We're doing it.  We've had great family support.  We found great church support.  We've been blessed and looked out for from above.  The kids have made some good friends.  The kids have tried to drive mom crazy.  Note tried, I'm not there yet!  We are greatly enjoying where God has planted us during this time.  But we all miss our home.  I say you can take the girl off the island but you can't take the island out of the girl.

Maybe one day we will get to taste island life again.  Until then I will bloom where I'm planted!

One windy day

 We finally took some time to see our baby girl Keisha.  She was adorable.  She even ran for us when her mom got too far away.  It was cute, just like a toddler running.  All go on the little legs, fun times.

 Taking a minute in front of a waterfall.  Wish we would have wore coats, I was cold!  I can not keep up with this weather!!

 Playing a tune.  I am loving hearing her practice, no matter how beginner it may sound.  Brings a smile to my face:)

Kids view of mom.  They have figured out how to take pictures from phone even when it's locked.  I do a LOT of deleting these day :D

One day in February

 Have you heard it's winter?  We've heard that but this isn't the kind of winter I remember growing up with.  We walked along the Meramac River one bright sunny day.  The kids couldn't believe how muddy it was, they were slightly disgusted.  I let them know that's how it is in these parts-no crystal clear water.  Darn the luck!  We talked awhile about what it'd be like to be a pioneer having to cross something like this.  Pioneers were some brave people!

 Playdough!  We've usually made our own and had maybe 3 different colors at a time.  We got a box of 36 colors for Christmas and the children are loving it!  Food seems to be the topic of choice although there have been a few cars too.  If you know my kids though, food is never far from their thoughts!

and yes, I am kinda over the playdough as it is becoming one with the carpet.  I have never understood the desire to put carpet under a dining room table.  If you have children I'm sure you understand.

December in review

Had fun making a gingerbread house!

We joined a local church, where we feel absolutely loved! 

Kids got to sing in the choir and finish the first semester of Awana's here.(Hoping to get #3 more comfortable in both these realms now.  My schedule has changed so I can check out class with him for a bit.)

Were able to eat lots of yummy food with lots of different family.

We were flooded with love from our community in so many ways. 

As you can see we were very spoiled for Christmas.

  The kids eyes when they saw this was priceless!

 We learned how to swing from trees.

 We learned how to play in the snow.

Excited to see what God has in store for us in 2012 and beyond. 

One day at a time, one step at a time, surrounded by love from 5 beautiful, crazy, silly kids and HIS peace.