Mondays On Mothering

After reading Amy's post this week on meals, laundry and attitudes I wanted to share about our meal times. At dinner time all of my kids want to pray and while I am excited about this it was dragging on forever and they were praying for everything but the food (toys, pets, trips that happened weeks ago! etc...) and if they didn't get to pray they were all upset. So Daddy came up with a new idea..."picking numbers". Daddy pickes a number 1-10 and then each kid picks a number and whoever is closest gets to pray. They absoultely love this and we get to eat warm meals again. LOL. Then they each know that they can have a turn praying before bed. However they still get quite off topic and forget to actually pray for our food. We don't mind though because we enjoy and I am sure God even gets a chuckle out of some of their prayers.

If you would like to participate in Mondays on Mothering please visit:

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bowofbronze/

What is your Cardboard Testimony?

This is a very powerful video by a church on changed lives. They used cardboard pieces to write short before and after testimonies. It made me cry.

Check it out at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ

Prayer Requests

We have had a lot of heavy hearted news to deal with this past week. Please pray for our family.

1) Please pray for my dad he has just been diagnosed with a form of non-curable leukemia and they gave him anywhere from 6mos-5 yrs. He will be starting some chem and radiation treatments. He does have a relationship with the Lord.

2) Pray for some big decisions that my husband needs to make. Pray for wisdom and direction.

3) Pray for my grandma we got word this week that she is not doing well. She is 95. She also does have a realtionship with the Lord.

4) Pray for direction for my homeschool group that decisions can be made with wisdom and prayer and Christ-likeness.

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7

"For the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted." Isaiah 49:13b

Thanks!

Back in the swing of things

I think life is getting back to normal (what ever that may look like with 5 kids). I am feeling really good and actually ventured out with all the kids by myself this past week. We were starting to go a little stir crazy in the house all day because it is too hot to play outside and I still have 3 weeks before I can go swimming.

Sunday we all ventured to church and Natasha did great she slept the whole time! Sunday night just Anastasia and I went grocery shopping. I never take all of them unless I absouletly have to. Anastasia and I enjoy this time with just the two of us and she is a big help.

Monday we stayed home and did laundry. Fun Fun! Tuesday I thought I would try to start potty training Alexa so I put her in big girl panties and I set the timer for 15 min. She tried but nothing so I set the timer again but this time one of the kids took it and ran off so I lost track of time and she of course had an accident!!! Maybe I will wait till next week. Anastasia and I made 5 of the 7 meatloaves for the swap (I need more tomato sauce) then I also cooked up 15lbs of meat for taco meat. I let the younger ones play with playdough while we did this. Here is what Joshua made. He said it was Tasha.

Wednesday we went to the library for storytime. It was packed in there because of summer time! Then we came home and everyone including me took naps. When we got up we went to go meet Jay at our now favorite park (Tumbleweed) the entire play structure is covered and we just wanted to get them out of the house to run and play. Well when we got there and got the scooters, stroller and sand toys all out of the suburban and started to play a dust storm started approaching so we ran back to the suburban and got all back in and the rain came for all of 10 minutes and then it was fine so we got back out and stayed for about an hour. Then we came home ate dinner and took baths.

Thursday we went to another homeschooling mom's house for our summer reading fun. Then I took the kids to McDonald's for lunch and was reminded once again why the play structures there gross me out. As we were getting ready to leave a mom came running by us with her son who proceeded to throw up right by us. I told the kids to hurry and get their shoes on. Then as they were coming back out of the bathroom his friend started throwing up and he threw up again as well. Well that brought the managers and everyone out and we just left!! I couldn't get out of there fast enough!!! I told the kids not to touch their faces or anything till I could get some hand sanitizer on them!! Needless to say we came home they took naps and we stayed home the rest of the day. NO PICTURES HERE!!!

Today-Friday- This morning I hosted my group's preschool activity bag swap. Look at all these cool activities!!! I did two sets so I can give some to my niece for her birthday. I love these and have posted about them before you can order the book from http://www.activitybags.com/

This is only a small sample as we each ended up with 28 activities. All the ladies put a lot of work into these and they look so great!

Here are some pics of our well loved baby.

On Joshua's bed and he even shared his favorite blankie

And of course if she gets a picture taken on Joshua's bed she has to lay on Savannah's bed as well! LOL

Patty Cake Patty Cake.....

Is it a baby or a baby doll?? This is Tasha in one of the girls baby doll strollers. This was Anastasia's idea.

Tasha sleeps really well. This is her in her snuggle nest. I love this thing and have used it with all four of my younger kids. It is great espically with having c-sections. The baby can be right next to us in bed with no fear of rolling on her or anything and I can reach her very easily. You can google it for more info.

A Great Book I am Reading

Ever since Anastasia has been about two years old and we have gone to the library I always go over to the shelf that has the homeschooling books. So by now I have read a lot of them. Well this past week I found a new one. It is a great book that I just had to share about. It is called The Well-Adjusted Child The Social Benefits of Homeschooling by Rachel Gathercole. I haven't finished it yet but it is so good. I like it because it is different and actually answers the big "S" question (socialization) that so many non homeschooling parents seem overly concerned about. Where as us homeschoolers are so tired of that question and just laugh about it. This book in turn would then also be a great read for non homeschooling parents or parents who might be considering homeschooling.

Rachel breaks through the stereo-type perception that people have of homeschoolers. I think most parents truly have good intentions when asking that question because if it is a valid concern then they don't understand what homeschooling is all about. As homeschoolers we are so unlimited in our social outlets that our kids get to experience a wide range of activities with people of all different ages and backgrounds. They are not just straped in a classroom full of kids all their same age for 6 hours a day. Okay I will step down from the soap box now so you can go get this book and read it for yourself.

You can visit Rachel Gathercole's website and be sure to click on the link for the review of her book by ForeWord magazine. It is a great review and does the book more justice than I could do. www.rachelgathercole.com

Great Preschool Sites

I have been planning preschool and Kindergarten activities and have come across some great sites I wanted to share.

This first one is many, many sites in one with more than you would ever need!!  It's the "top 100" sites for preschool stuff.  Some of the sites are actual daycares and/or preschools but  a lot of the sites have free downloadable curriculum and stuff.     http://childcarelounge.gotop100.com/index1.html

This site has some great curriculum for both prek and Kindergarten.  http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/index.html

This next site I have used many times.  It has complete activities for each letter of the alphbet and even has a reading program.  We are going to make ABC Notebooks this year and this site will be a great resource.   http://www.letteroftheweek.com/index.html

 

 These next two sites have free printable resources and the one is even a worksheet generator.

http://www.teachinglearning.com/freebie_generator/

http://www.teacherprintables.net/

This last site is Hearts for homeschooling top 100 blogs.  Just neat to read different blogs and get inspired.

http://heartofthematter.gotop100.com/index.php

I hope you can find some great resources here.

 

What's For Dinner Wednesday's??

This week I am getting ready for another cooking swap that will take place the 2nd week of July.  This time we are doing two recipes each and then a breakfast or snack type item.  I am making taco meat, meatloaf and Banana bread.  (Ground beef was on sale!)  I have the taco meat done and 5 of the meatloaves. I rand out of tomato sauce to do the other 2.  Next week the kids are going to help me bake the banana bread.  We have a lot of bananas stocked up in our freezer.  If you have never saved overripe bananas you are missing out.  As soon as any bananas get over ripe we stick them in the freezer and save them for banana bread.  They work great, just thaw and use.  I always use my recipe from my Better Homes and Garden cookbook.  I like it the best.

3 Weeks old today

Wow the days are all bluring together and I can't believe our little Tasha is 3 weeks old today already. Things are going well and I am getting sleep which helps A LOT! She is gaining weight but is such a little peanut still. We went to church tonight and there was another baby there he was born on the same day as Tasha but looks twice as big. I couldn't believe it. I must say she is one of the most kissed and well loved babies there is. Her brother and sisters love to hold her and kiss her all the time. Savannah was so cute when she realized the baby had 2 elbows just like she did!!! It was funny.

I have taken a picutre once a month for the first year to mark growth in my kids and they are fun to look back at. I didn't do this with Anastasia and with Joshua I used a large teddy bear. For the other girls I have used this bunny. This is Tasha at almost 2 weeks and now I will take one on the 3rd of each month.

The Simple Woman

FOR TODAY June 23, 2008

Outside My Window...

It is scorching hot!!!  Summer is officially here and it is too hot outside to do anything.  111' was the high today.

I am thinking...

of activities I can do with the kids to keep them busy and entertained in the house or places close by that we can go to until I can go swimming again.

I am thankful for...

My Children....even after a day like today!! 

From the kitchen...

Jay is cooking up some pork chops, potatoes and veggies.  I can't wait to eat.

I am wearing...

maternity clothes still!!!  It's only been 3 weeks and my other clothes are in a tub in the garage.  I need to get them.

I am creating...

my preschool activity bags.  My group exchanges them this Friday

I am going...

to watch Army Wives with Jay after dinner.  We fall asleep to early to watch it  Sunday nights so we watch it Monday's on the computer. 

I am reading...

The well-Adjusted Child  The Social Benefits of Homeschooling by Rachel Gathercole

I am hoping...

to get started with Weight Watchers very soon and get back on the treadmill to start losing this baby weight.

I am hearing...

fans blowing, kids chattering, Alexa crying

Around the house...

It is actually clean and laundry is caught up!!!  We had a "cleaning party" after church yesterday and it is so nice having a clean house again!!!

One of my favorite things...

Holding my new baby and kissing her on the head.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

library, getting meals for the swap next month, reading fun at a friend's house, preschool activity swap

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

If you would like to participate in "The Simple Woman also please visit Peggy's blog: http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

Camp Rock- Friday Night Fun

Tonight was the premire of Camp Rock.  Anastasia has been counting down the days for it to be on.  She invited a couple of friends over to stay the night and they ate pizza and went on the slip n slide before the big show.  I thought it was a good movie with a lot of good messages in it and clean just like High School Musical.  Although I will say I liked HSM more just simply because of it being an actual musical.  We got to actually see the Jonas brothers perform live last November when they opened for the Hannah Montana concert.   

Great Homeschool Article

A friend sent me a link to this article and I thought it was great!  It is a very interesting perspective.  It is uncomfortable to go against the grain and not always popular.

 SONNY SCOTT: Home-schoolers threaten our cultural comfort

6/8/2008 9:39:01AM   Daily Journal

You see them at the grocery, or in a discount store.



It's a big family by today’s standards - "just like stair steps," as the old folks say. Freshly scrubbed boys with neatly trimmed hair and girls with braids, in clean but unfashionable clothes follow mom through the store as she fills her no-frills shopping list.



There's no begging for gimcracks, no fretting, and no threats from mom. The older watch the younger, freeing mom to go peacefully about her task.



You are looking at some of the estimated 2 million children being home schooled in the U.S., and the number is growing. Their reputation for academic achievement has caused colleges to begin aggressively recruiting them. Savings to the taxpayers in instructional costs are conservatively estimated at $4 billion, and some place the figure as high as $9 billion. When you consider that these families pay taxes to support public schools, but demand nothing from them, it seems quite a deal for the public.



Home schooling parents are usually better educated than the norm, and are more likely to attend worship services. Their motives are many and varied. Some fear contagion from the anti-clericalism, coarse speech, suggestive behavior and hedonistic values that characterize secular schools. Others are concerned for their children’s safety. Some want their children to be challenged beyond the minimal competencies of the public schools. Concern for a theistic world view largely permeates the movement.



Indications are that home schooling is working well for the kids, and the parents are pleased with their choice, but the practice is coming under increasing suspicion, and even official attack, as in California.



Why do we hate (or at least distrust) these people so much?



Methinks American middle-class people are uncomfortable around the home schooled for the same reason the alcoholic is uneasy around the teetotaler.



Their very existence represents a rejection of our values, and an indictment of our lifestyles. Those families are willing to render unto Caesar the things that Caesar’s be, but they draw the line at their children. Those of us who have put our trust in the secular state (and effectively surrendered our children to it) recognize this act of defiance as a rejection of our values, and we reject them in return.



Just as the jealous Chaldeans schemed to bring the wrath of the king upon the Hebrew eunuchs, we are happy to sic the state’s bureaucrats on these “trouble makers.” Their implicit rejection of America’s most venerated idol, Materialism, (a.k.a. “Individualism”) spurs us to heat the furnace and feed the lions.



Young families must make the decision: Will junior go to day care and day school, or will mom stay home and raise him? The rationalizations begin. "A family just can't make it on one income." (Our parents did.) "It just costs so much to raise a child nowadays." (Yeah, if you buy brand-name clothing, pre-prepared food, join every club and activity, and spend half the cost of a house on the daughter’s wedding, it does.) And so, the decision is made. We give up the bulk of our waking hours with our children, as well as the formation of their minds, philosophies, and attitudes, to strangers. We compensate by getting a boat to take them to the river, a van to carry them to Little League, a 2,800-square-foot house, an ATV, a zero-turn Cub Cadet, and a fund to finance a brand-name college education. And most significantly, we claim “our right” to pursue a career for our own

"self-fulfillment."



Deep down, however, we know that our generation has eaten its seed corn. We lack the discipline and the vision to deny ourselves in the hope of something enduring and worthy for our posterity. We are tired from working extra jobs, and the looming depression threatens our 401k’s. Credit cards are nearly maxed, and it costs a $100 to fuel the Suburban. Now the kid is raising hell again, demanding the latest Play Station as his price for doing his school work … and there goes that modest young woman in the home-made dress with her four bright-eyed, well-behaved home-schooled children in tow. Wouldn’t you just love to wipe that serene look right off her smug face?



Is it any wonder we hate her so?



Sonny Scott a community columnist, lives on Sparta Road in Chickasaw County and his e-mail address is sonnyscott@yahoo.com. 

Appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 6/8/2008, section 0 , page 0

Permission to reprint from the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Tupelo, Miss.

Our Babysitter

This entry is a tribute to our babysitter who is moving back to New Mexico today!!! She has helped us with the kids for over 2 and a half years now and she will be deeply missed!! Mercedes has been like a daughter to us and we would gladly claim her as our own. We have tried many times!!! She would come over at least 2 Saturdays a month to watch the kids all day so Jay and I could either work around the house or go out on a date! Our kids would get so excited when they knew Mercedes was coming over and they were ready for us to leave! We were even able to take her to San Diego with us on a vacation (It is always nice to have an extra pair of hands). We will miss her very much.

The most important gift we ever gave Mercedes was a Bible. This was from our whole family. We hope and pray that Mercedes will continue to read her Bible and learn how much God loves her. We want her to know that we will pray everyday for her and her family.

The kids are already asking when is she going to come back to visit. I have to get busy now and try to find someone to fill her shoes.

What's For Dinner Wednesday's??

While my mom was here to help watch the kids she brought stuff with to bake.  One of the recipes was an eclair cake (from Paula Deen).  It was sooo yummy.  Here is the recipe and pictures that Anastasia took of them baking together.

ECLAIR CAKE

Ingredients & Directions:

Cake: 1 1-pound box graham crackers 2 3 1/4 ounce boxes instant French vanilla pudding 3 1/2 cups milk 1 8-ounce container frozen whipped topping, thawed Frosting: 1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa 3 tablespoons butter, softened 1/3 cup milk 2 teaspoons light corn syrup 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract Butter the bottom of a 13x9x2-inch pan. Line the whole pan with graham crackers. In bowl of an electric mixer, mix pudding with milk; beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Fold in whipped topping. Pour half the pudding mixture over graham crackers. Place another layer of whole graham crackers on top of pudding layer. Pour over remaining half of pudding mixture and cover with another layer of graham crackers. For frosting, blend together sugar and cocoa. Add butter and milk, mixing well. Add corn syrup and vanilla. Stir until creamy. Cover cake with frosting and refrigerate for 24 hours. Yield: 20 to 24 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: Allow 24 hours to cool in refrigerator Ease of Preparation: Easy Recipe Courtesy of Paula Deen

Baking with Grandma:

 

 

 

Mondays On Mothering

There is nothing in the world like holding a newborn baby and they smell so good too!!  This past week has been such a joy watching my other 4 kids interact with their new sister.  The excitment and enthusisam they have when seeing, holding or touching her is so great to watch.  They all want to help with the new baby, even changing diapers!   Alexa is excited to wake up each morning and see her "baby Tasha".  Alexa will come running into my room saying "Tasha, Tasha" and climb up on my bed and get so excited when she actually sees Tasha.  She claps her hands and smiles and then reaches out to touch the baby's hand or rub her head.  New babies are definitely one of God's greatest gifts. 

If you would like to participate in Mondays on Mothering please visit:

 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bowofbronze/

Happy Father's Day

Reasons We Love Our Daddy......

Anastasia- I love my daddy because he plays with us, he teaches me guitar lessons, it takes something special for him to be him and I love him because he loves me.

Joshua- I love my daddy because he plays good guy airplanes with me; he builds castles for me with my blocks; he loves me so much; and he goes to work to make money for us to go places.

Savannah- I love my daddy because I do!

Alexa- I love my daddy because he lets me sit with him at dinner and eat from his plate.  It always tastes better from his plate.

Natasha- I love my daddy because he willingly slept in a very uncomfortable reclining chair at the hospital for 3 nights so he could stay with my mommy and I.  I love when he hold me in his arms it makes me feel safe.

Happy Father's Day from your quiverfull!

Planning for next school year

Having to stay upstairs and rest this past week has given me time to start planning for next school year. A few weeks ago I ordered some History Pockets from Evan Moor and got an awesome deal on them from Amazon.com They have finally come in and I am so excited just like a little kid.

This year Anastasia will be in 5th grade, Joshua will start kindergarten, Savannah will be in preschool and Alexa and Natasha will be along for the ride.

I am trying to combine some things like Bible and some unit studies but it is difficult right now with the age gap. We are going to do some Character lessons together and they will do Science together.

Here is the plan so far for Anastasia:

Math- Horizons math by Alpha Omega Grammer- Daily Grams - Word Study and Phonics by Spectrum

Bible- lap book studies of Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronmy, Joshua, Biblical Obedience, Who is Jesus, Biblical Responsibility These are all lapbooks from www.HandsofaChild.com

Social Studies/Science/Reading/Language- These will all be combined with unit studies and notebooking. Social Studies this year will focus on the United States- geography, states and capitals and history. We will use Trail Guide to U.S. Geography and Cantering the Country Anastasia will create a USA Notebook. If you are interested in finding out about notebooking there are a lot of sites you can check out. Here are some for starters: http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/notebooking.htm

http://www.notebookingpages.com/

http://www.notebookingnook.com/

http://highland.hitcho.com.au/notebooking.htm

http://www.com/notebooking.html

http://www.donnayoung.org/forms/planners/notebook.htm

http://www.holdthatthought.com/

History pockets as I mentioned above are a lot of fun to do. It gives hands on activities for the kids to do. You can check them out at Evan-Moor. I have The American Civil War, Colonial America, and The American Revolution.

Lap books we will complete this year are: All About Me, Disneyland, (we are planning a trip in September) Explorers, Story of Jamestown, Plants, Election Notebook, Weather, Planets, American Government, Forces and motions, Simple Machines

Joshua- We will work on handwriting, use Hooked on Phonics, Explode the Code, Horizons math and then we will do Bible story activities and memorization and story units from www.homeschoolshare.com

Now I just need to work on what our daily schedule will look like. I use Manager’s of Their Home to help with this.

I think these are most of the resources we will be using. I have this planned so when the convention comes in July I will be prepared.

This Week's Happenings

Just a side note if you are looking for our baby story and pics- look on the right side and under "recent posts" click on "The Best Laid Plans" or just scroll down.





We are adjusting to our new little blessing and just getting back into the groove of things. Jay took two days off this week and my mom was still here till Tuesday. I am getting around slowly. Please be in prayer of my nursing Tasha we are having issues.

Friends have been bringing meals and I wanted to share about a book my friend Claudia gave to us along with a wonderful meal!!



This is such a great book!! To quote part of the inside cover, it says: "Here's everything you'd like to say to your children about how much you love them; how special they are; how you'll always be there for them; and most of all, how special they are to God." It's a book that each of my children can relate to and have enjoyed me reading to them. It's not just for the "new baby". I am listing it on my shelfari and you can get more info about it there.

Other big news around here is Alexa went poop on the potty today!!!! (I will spare you the pictures) Our next goal this summer is to get her potty trained as soon as I am up and around more. Then we will be back down to just one in diapers!!! Yeah!! Oh it's the little big things we get excited about around here.

The Best Laid Plans...........

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. 

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 

My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them .    Psalm 139: 13-16

If you have been wondering where I have been this past week....... Our new baby wanted to pick her own birthday!!! 

Here is her birth story complete with lots and lots of pictures to share with family and friends who live both near and far. 

Tuesday, June 3^rd started out pretty normal.  Anastasia was at a friend’s house for the day and I needed to go to Wal-Mart so I loaded up the other 3 and off we went.  We went to Paradise Bakery first.  They just opened up one near us and we got cookies and muffins..yummy!! Then we went to Wal-Mart. 

 

We came home did things around the house and when Daddy and Anastasia got home we ate dinner quickly and all went to church.  (We have a Tuesday night service like most have a Wednesday night)  At the end of service our pastor takes prayer requests and Jay asked for prayer for me for next Monday being the “big day” and service ended.  I stood up and told Jay I needed to go to the bathroom.  He looked at me funny and asked if everything was ok.  I said I’m not sure.  I went to the bathroom and sure enough my water broke (luckily not gushing or anything).  I came back and told him he told me to go to the car and sit he would get the kids. 

We made it home fine and I had to pack my bag nothing was ready yet.  As soon as I got home I checked the doctor’s on call schedule and thank you Lord my doctor was on call.  We have a “deal” and he has delivered all of my babies!!!  So that reassured me. Jay’s Dad and Donna came over to stay with the kids and off to the hospital we went.  The younger kids were a bit confused as we had been preparing them for Monday.

It's time!

On the way to the hospital I was having contractions and I told Jay I kept having a strange feeling of jabbing or punching down low.  We made it to the hospital and they got me all set up and Jay got his scrubs on.  We welcomed Natasha (Tasha) Grace into this world at 11:16pm.  Everything went well no complications or anything.  When Dr. Linnerson pulled her out she had her arm above her head down in towards the birth canal. So that is what I was feeling!!!  She was trying to make her way out.  LOL!  I later found out that would have been cause for a c-section itself because she could not have been delivered that way. 

In triage getting ready

Love those scrubs!!!

Jay made calls and we stayed in the recovery room for a couple of hours then they moved me to my room.  It was a long night but Tasha was so calm and peaceful.  She laid in the little bassinet wide awake just calm as could be. 

I had wonderful nurses and they were amazed when they found out it was our 5^th baby and my 4^th c-section!  Wednesday morning my mom and sister came up to the hospital and then Wednesday afternoon the kids came up to see us.  They were so excited and it was love at first sight!! Of course they say the best things to make you feel better!  I was telling them “see the baby isn’t in my tummy anymore that is her over there” and Joshua and Savannah both asked if the baby was out why was my tummy so big still!!!!  Gotta love them.  We had several vistors at the hospital and I was just glad when all the monitors and stuff came off. 

The happy Grandma!

A great big brother!

Excited kids!

Big Sisters!

I'm a big sister now!!

I just want to sit and hold her for hours!

Our Family!!

Another proud Grandma!

Proud Papa!

Auntie Jutem

Kissin' cousins (Jocelyn)

Aunt Soo-Lin

Aunt Brandy and cousins Mikaela and Tyler (They were willing to sit outside and watch their mom teach 2 hrs. of swim lessons so they could come with and see their new cousin.  That is love.)

Our Pastor

We stayed till Friday afternoon and then Jay brought us home.  The kids came running out the door when we got there.  I have not left them for that long before and they were excited to have daddy and I back home.

She was so tiny it was hard to fit her in the straps.

 

Greeted at the front door by her big sisters

Savannah missed mommy terribly!

The baby is home!!!

Uncle Ben and Aunt Nicole

Great- Nana Carson

Another proud Papa

Cousins

God is awesome with his timing because Jay’s sister was coming out for the birth of the baby and this way she was also able to help with the kids Thursday night and Friday.  Then my mom was coming to originally stay with the kids while we were in the hospital and now she is able to stay just to help out for a few days while I am home because Jay’s vacation time is limited.  So all is working out well.  I am only able to do the stairs once a day so I stay in my room with the baby and the kids come in to hold her and pat her and I get to rest which is very nice.

We hope you enjoy the pictures of our new little blessing.

  

 

 

 

 

 

Lo, Children are a heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are the children of the youth.  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.     Psalm 127:2-5