life is good

A Boy and His Dog

2012-02-02T14:57:00.000-08:00

In May we added to our family. Cody and I embarked on a roadtrip to check out a litter of black lab pups and this little guy made the cut. It didn't take me long, as I gazed at the litter of 11 to decide which one needed to be ours. I just had to convince Cody of it. He had a harder time narrowing down the field of contenders to just one. I was relieved to hear this puppy came from such a large litter because I figured that if he was used to 10 brothers and sisters, then our home with 5 kids would seem like a walk in the park!! Once the choice was made, we received instructions and paperwork from the breeder. When the words "he was the fifth born" were out of her mouth, I knew he was meant for us. Am I the only one that sees stuff like this as an "it was meant to be" thing?? (the number 5 is pretty significant in our family!!)

So, this is a story about our dog...and our oldest boy. Hubble is his name. Most ask if we're into science since he is named after the telescope. It is then that I divulge the details of the origin of his name. It goes back all the way to Thad's childhood. He had a really good friend named Hubble (maybe his parents were scientists??!!) and always liked the name. As we talked about names for our children Hubble was regularly brought up by Thad as a realistic option for one of our boys. I could.NOT do it. We compromised and agreed that our first family dog would be named Hubble.

It suits him.

Dogs and boys just seem to go together, don't they? I just love this picture from our trip to Wallowa Lake last summer!!

Hubble is now 10 months old, weighs 84 pounds, and stands 28 inches tall (his back). He easily reaches his nose about 2 inches above the counter if he's in the mood to sniff around. We've got ourselves a rather large black lab. Luckily, he is really mellow, which I am SO grateful for!! He definitely gets wild with the kids and loves to run around the house with them. But he has such a sweet, laid-back nature. We love him.

He isn't solely Cody's dog, but there is such a bond between them. When Cody gets his coat and backpack, Hubble heads right to the window to watch him walk to the bus.

It is so sweet.

He will sit there for several minutes, even after Cody is around the corner. Such a good dog.

Already so loyal!!

Did I mention he is big??

I have no idea how this can be a comfortable position, but apparently he likes it. He likes to lay all stretched out like this. I had Cody get next to him so we could compare lengths.

There's just something about a boy and his dog.

Keepsake Cards

2012-01-25T21:37:00.001-08:00

In our family, grandparents and great-grandparents are pretty special to us. The love and support they provide truly puts wind in our sails and is a complete blessing. To show them how much they mean to us, we like to make keepsake-style cards for them for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Father's Day. If you're hoping to score some major points with the fam, or just wanting to branch-out a bit in the card department, you could give this a try.

This particular card was for Father's Day back in 2009. It is pretty fun to look back and see how tiny my kids were!! Since we have a deaf child, I thought it would be fun to teach the Grandpas a little bit of sign language on their card. This card is fairly simple to put together, and the supply list is rather short. All you need is some cardstock, a camera for the photos, scissors, glue, and a bit of time.

I am working on this blog away from home, so I can't show you any of the outtakes, but just the final product. When I post other card ideas, I will be sure to show you some of the outtakes.

Start off by taking individual pictures of your child/children creating the I LOVE and YOU signs. We said LOVE twice and added an exclamation point at the end since there are 5 kids in our family. This could be done with just one child, or several. It sometimes takes me several attempts to get the right distance/angle for my finished product. After getting the pictures you want, get them printed and cut them out. The dimensions of the cardstock can vary depending on how big you want your pictures. This card is 9 inches across and 8 inches tall (9x4 folded) Glue your photos on in the correct order and voila!! You've got a card grandparents, moms, and/or dads will oohhh and aaaawwww over. You might even get some tears out of the deal...BONUS!!

Since the kids were only 2 and a half at the time, I did the writing on the inside, then let them add their own personal "note" on the front of this particular card...

I often times have Cody write the greeting on the front. Having older kids can be really helpful in putting all the pieces together. I actually used the card from my parents' house to show you. They still have it hanging in their office and still enjoy looking at it. That definitely tells me that the time it took to put it together was completely worth it.

Give it a try, and let me know how it goes. Here's a hint: don't try and complete it the night before Valentine's Day. You might reach your frustration level, and that is never good!!

The planning for this year's card is still in my head. I don't have anything concrete, yet, but I'll show you the finished product after the special. I don't want any of loved ones get a sneak peek here!!

Accessories

2012-01-19T20:37:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy shopping. I usually don't go "just to go", but it is generally for a specific item I need. Lately I've been thinking about how much I am drawn to accessories...scarves, bags/purses, gloves, etc. Sidenote: my color of choice is definitely red!! During Christmas, my sister-in-law received a new purse. It was something I was planning to get for her because her old one should have been retired a long time ago!! She likes using one purse until there is no more life left for the poor thing to give. "I could never be a one purse girl", I emphatically told her. "I would get bored!!" In the big issues of life, I don't like change, but in the small, everyday areas, it is refreshing to me. I look forward to it. So, I am drawn to accessories. Maybe because the reflection staring back at me in the mirror isn't as startling as it is when I need a new swimsuit or jeans!!

As a mom, my heart yearns to always be calm, creative, fun, teaching, guiding...you get the idea. That isn't always reality with 5 children and a 10 month old black lab running around this place. Just the other day I was attempting to make breakfast while trying to have a deep "at eye level" conversation with Alison on why God created her (she initiated it), then Seth comes rushing into the kitchen and proudly exclaims "LOOK!! I can touch my knee to my nose!!" We all oohed and aaawwed!! Breakfast eventually made it to the table, creation questions were answered, and boys felt significant in their achievements. Moms are busy, and there's no way around it. Simply providing the necessities for running a household can be exhausting and time consuming. The extras can be difficult to fit-in if we let ourselves believe they have to be a big deal and take a lot of time.

Now back to the accessories. As a mom we get to provide the accessories of life. I love that image!! Like, Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes, reading stories, singing the Hokey Pokey, or even a rowdy game of socks thrown in to get some energy released. It doesn't have to take a long time or be an intricate art project, although those are a blast too!! All too often, my agenda gets in the way of special opportunities. I get too focused on my to do list and miss moments that could accessorize my day. This year I am making big changes in my mind-set and God is helping me. His mercies are new every morning, with the chance to start on a sparkling fresh and clean slate. Thank you, Lord for each new day give me to try and be better than the day before.

A Few of My Favorite Things

2012-01-10T20:51:00.001-08:00

I'm dusting off the dashboard of my blog because it's time to get this blogging party started once again. Many moons have risen and set since a single word has been typed here, so I believe a fresh start is in order. Showing off some of my favorite things will be a great way to get the creative juices flowing...

My family is my most favorite!! The rest are in no particular order. This picture at the beach is so great because the ocean is another fave of mine.

My garden ranks right up there too!!

Goooooo COUGS!!!!

Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year.

Sunsets from our deck....aaaaahhhh just thinking about it makes me happy.

Camping at Wallowa Lake with friends and family is SUCH a blast!!

I love white tulips!!

This is one of my newest favorite pictures!! It was taken this past summer when we were camping...my biggest boy and his dog.

Other favorites that I didn't attach with a picture are the color red, spontaneity, hanging out with my sisters, being an aunt, and let's not forget Starbuck's white chocolate mochas!!!!

It's not a complete list, but it is a good start. So let's call it a wrap for this fresh start.

...and you probably thought I was going to break-out into song, Julie Andrews style, huh??????

Merry Christmas!!

2010-12-16T23:46:00.000-08:00

Here's a little glimpse of our 2010!!

I can't believe it is time, once again, to let all of our friends and family know what we've been up to this year. I think we'll just sum it up as a year of firsts...

...first camping trip as a family of 7 (it was an absolute blast!!)

...first time all of my children willingly and confidently use the toilet (I declared this year as the "year of the diaper"...or lack of!!)

...first experience with twin beds (bye bye toddler beds)

...first time we've ever had 4 4yr olds under one roof

...first year no one in our family has required surgery since 2003 (hallelujah!!)

Other than that, it is pretty much "life as usual" around here.

God has continued to show us His mercy, love, grace, peace, provision, and hope this year. He has taken such good care of us. We pray His blessings upon you, our family and friends. Your love and support mean so very much.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Thad, Diane, Cody, Caleb, Gabe, Alison, and Seth

PS...The first picture at the top is of my grandma playing catch with Cody in May. We lost her to cancer in August. As a family we came together to care for her in her last days. Getting to witness love in action is an incredible thing. I cherish my memories of Grandma and the time spent with my sweet family caring for her. She couldn't wait to get to heavan to be with her Lord. We are at peace knowing she is with her Savior.

There's One In Every Crowd!!

2010-12-03T14:15:00.001-08:00

From left to right...Caleb Seth (are you surprised??) Gabe Cody

A Balloon A Plate and A Spoon

2010-02-18T13:33:00.000-08:00

Who knew?

That a baloon, a plate, and a spoon could be so much fun? Transform the spoon and plate into a home-made paddle (simply tape the wooden spoon, or spatula, etc. to the back of the plate)....

And throw in a baloon.

String a piece of yarn across the room about 3 feet off the ground to serve as the "net"... and let the games begin.

My kids are 8 and 3 and loved this. I wish I had taken pictures of them playing the other day. We didn't do this, but kids would also have fun decorating their plates before attaching them to the spoon.

Variations: Count out loud the consecutive times the balloon is hit to help reinforce their skills with counting and numbers. You could also say the letters of the alphabet as the balloon is hit to do a little work with letters.

Use a smaller balloon for older children to make it more challenging because it drops faster than the larger ones. Also, for the older kiddos you could choose a letter and say words that start with that letter each time the balloon is hit. Or have the first person say a word when they hit the balloon and consecutive hits say words that rhyme with the first word.

Or, just see how many times you can hit the balloon with-out it hitting the floor. The opportunities are endless!! :)

Who knew? That playing fun games with balloons, plates, and spoons could help build critical foundations for learning in your child?

A Favorite

2010-02-01T19:36:00.001-08:00

I love this picture. It is one of my favorites and is currently on the desktop of our computer.

Seth (May 2007 on his second try at being home. It lasted about 4 days) and Thad are enjoying a moment together. The bond between this father and son (as with his other sons) continues to be so strong. I'm really glad this moment was captured.

Caleb

2010-01-28T14:38:00.000-08:00

When he was brand new. It seems like it was just yesterday.

He loved his paci!!

Caleb Robert. My baby A. Such a delight. He is named after both his grandpa (Robert) and his great-grandpa (C.R. as his initials) Wasn't he such a cute baby? He is still so cute...but I am his mother, so I am biased. As a tiny baby almost every movement from him brought a groan. He has always had a bit of a dramatic flair. I'm pretty grateful he was able to keep his drama contained in his personality and not his health (that was pretty much left up to Seth) when he was tiny.

I see such potential in my son. All of a sudden I have tears as a memory has come to the forefront of my mind. The day after we got the news confirming Caleb's deafness I cried as I told my mom "he is still going to do great things." And he already has. He has adapted to life with cochlear implants fabulously. Receptively he is functioning at age level. He is still a bit delayed expressively because of all the time (23 months) he lived with absolutely no hearing. Caleb is catching up quickly, however, and it has been thrilling to watch. Many doors of opportunity will be opened to him with the implants because of how well he'll be able to function in the "hearing" world. We still sign with him, however, because it's important to us that he knows about deaf culture too. Having cochlear implants doesn't make him a "hearing" child. He will always be deaf and we want him to be equipped to fit into that world too if he should choose to.

What this child lacks in hearing he makes up for in personality. Even when he was a baby he enjoyed charming us by moving his eyebrows up and down a few times while looking at you. Once I had him sitting on my knee and Alison was standing right by us. Caleb threw his toy and Alison brought it back to him. He threw it again, she brought it back, then he looked at me and raised his eyebrows up and down 3 times as if to say..."I've trained her well" Lately he's really had fun dressing up as Buzz Lightyear or Mr. Incredible (he hasn't seen this movie, but we had the costume given to us) Sometimes I will say something like "Caleb, do you want more?" His response is "I'm Buzz Lightyear" Then I have to say "Buzz Lightyear, do you want more?" And then he will answer me.

Recently he was around by our front door and heard me talking (he couldn't see me) in the kitchen about going to the store. He quickly went to tell Gabe about going to the store. It is times like these, when he gets to be the informant, when he gets to initiate conversation, that makes all the work we have done with him worth it. His deafness has brought numerous people into our lives whom we never would have had the opportunity to know. Some are now among my dearest friends. Caleb loves them too. God has great plans for Caleb and my prayer is that I would continually stay close to my Lord so I can be the best mom for him. One who has high expectations, yet the patience and support to help him achieve great things. Caleb has always been willing to try anything his therapists have put before him. We've pushed him, encouraged him, and he always works and tries really hard with a great attitude (except when he's tired :). Tenacity and determination are just a couple of great characteristics that he has, and I want to be like him. His role in our family is vital. He brings such a sweet spark to our lives.

The Power of Plaid

2010-01-23T21:49:00.000-08:00

I saw this at Eddie Bauer during Thanksgiving when I was shopping with my sisters. For those of you who don't know, I love Eddie Bauer and I love plaid. So I plunked down the $4.00 to make this little beauty mine. I used to think there was nothing better than an extra sweet White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks. That was before I got my new coffee sleeve. My life will never be the same.

Didn't know it was possible to be so easily amused. This could be a bit of an indication as to the reason I was able to get through over 18 weeks of bedrest when I was pregnant with the quints.

Isn't it cute???

The Things We Do

2010-01-21T12:48:00.000-08:00

Update: Yikes, I obviously need to read "Blogging for Dummies". The text in this blog has taken on a mind of it's own. It doesn't quite line-up with the correct pics.

As you have probably guessed, we keep pretty busy around here. I wanted to give you an idea of a few ways we occupy our time...

...sigh...I'll just chalk it up to job security for me :)

Cody had been ill and we put the DVD player from the car at the foot of his bed to help being quarantined to his room be a bit more pleasant for him. A couple of days later he was better and the dvd player was still on his bed, so we decided a larger-scale movie event was in order...Thad dressed them on this day and apparently it was "hat day"

Often times Alison ("No, I am princess") can be seen wearing her pink crown she got from a friend's birthday party.

They really enjoy helping me in the kitchen. On the menu for this day was: Banana Bread.

They loooove play-doh, but I'm not a huge fan. Especially when I forget to roll up their sleeves and it becomes a permanent part of their apparel.

Great- Grandma (and she is great in so many ways!!) got them umbrellas for their birthday. We've used them several times this Fall in our ongoing quest to find our neighborhood's best and biggest puddle. We had to cut one such hunt short one day when Gabe decided to get the whole-body-puddle-experience. When we got home I couldn't believe how much of the puddle came home with us in his boots!!

And sometimes, things aren't quite as planned. As you can see by this more spontaneous stretching exercise. Alison started striking a pose and "her boys" (as she so lovingly refers to them) followed suit.

I don't have a picture of it, but sometimes we're not so active and are just cuddled-up together on the couch watching something. These times are precious to me too....as is naptime!!

I had one...

2010-01-13T22:51:00.000-08:00

...a blond moment. (I absolutely mean no offense to all my blond friends out there!!) Last week I was at Radio Shack trying to exchange a damaged remote control toy that Cody received for Christmas. We only had the receipt with-out the packaging, so they weren't able to help us. The guy did tell me about a warranty provided by the manufacturer and proceeded to check on the website for the company. Here's how our conversation went:

Salesman: Here's the website, oh and they have a phone number listed.
Me: Oh, great
Salesman: Although, they are located in the UK, so I don't know if the phone number would help.
Me: (after associating UK with the Czech Republic. I have NO idea how my mind took me there. Apparently I have a faulty synapse up there!!) It's not like I'll be able to understand what they're saying, anyway.
Salesman: (After looking at me with an "are you for real?" expression) oh, well here's the information
Me: Thanks! Have a great day
Salesman: Yeah, you, too.

Pretty sure there were some laughs in the break-room over that one.

It wasn't until later when I was relaying the events of the day to Thad that I realized how brilliant my comment was. Oh my goodness. In my defense I will state that I don't have moments like these very often. Please say you believe me.

Christmas Memories

2010-01-09T14:04:00.000-08:00

The days and weeks leading up to Christmas were a flurry of activity. (hmmm...guess it was pretty much the way it always is around here) Making cut-out cookies took top-prize for favorite Christmas-prep tradition. As you can see from the picture below, it required all hands on deck for the event.

Apparently Gabe and Seth were sooo excited to help out that they forgot to get dressed.

Grandma came down to give me a lefse-making lesson. Lefse is a Norwegian dessert that is like a potato tortilla. You spread butter on it, then sprinkle it with sugar....sooo yummy. Expecially fresh off the pan. It is a family tradition that I want to help continue on. I just need lessons so everyone else will want me to keep the tradition going. Also learning are Alison and Fireman Sam aka: Seth. We got the bucket from Aunt Melissa's, but it has been Seth's Fireman Sam (a cartoon the kids like) hat from day one.

Cody, Alison, and Great Grandma taking a break from the lefse action. Ali's middle name is Mae, just like her Great Grandma's.

This is how they look when Alison isn't pushing Cody's buttons to irritate him. It's remarkable how early in her life she learned to master his buttons and get him all riled up!!

Santa came to our house a day early (he is so accomodating!) so we could have our own family Christmas before going to celebrate with our extended family. The kitchen has been a huge hit. When I told Thad about the aprons I was making to go along with the gift he wasn't too thrilled with the thought of his boys having aprons. My reply? "Don't worry, they'll be studly aprons"

The Cousins. We had a great time with Thad's family this year. His sister has two children. Here's the crew. Christmas in the country was delightful. We were down is eastern Oregon.

Esther and Alison in their new matching PJ's.

Cody and Ezekiel anxious to fly their new remote controlled helicopters. I'm still waiting for flying lessons!!

The trip home was absolutely gorgeous with sunny skies and frost on the trees. I was happy to go along with Thad's idea of a family picture on the side of the road. The memories we made will bless us for years to come. The gifts given at Christmas are to remind us of the gift of Christ and His plan for salvation...and it is pictures like these that remind me of the most precious gifts God has given to me.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

2010-01-06T21:59:00.000-08:00

Am I late??? Shoot!! Does it help my cause at all that in Russia Christmas hasn't happened yet?? Even if I have been there once? Does that help??

Seth

2010-01-05T22:15:00.000-08:00

Seth. He was a hot topic of conversation for many months. Many people have prayed fervent prayers on his behalf, and God chose to spare his life. There isn't a day that goes by that I am not grateful for my boy. There isn't a day that goes by where I am not reminded of those days when his life hung in the balance. So I thought I would devote a post on this boy. It has been a while since I have updated on his health. There are many dates that are locked into my memory. Yesterday I cleaned out a closet and found old charts we used to use to keep track of when babies ate, pooped, got meds, etc. Seth's column was empty on so many of the pages (because he was in the hospital)...it brought back many memories. This is how he looked when he finally came home for good in July of 2007...

Alison Caleb Seth Gabe

G-tube in, (that is what is under the wrap) smaller than the others, still very green/yellow.
He never ceased to amaze us with his fight to survive and then to thrive. He made steady gains once he got home. His g-tube came out Oct. 4, 2007. In Jan 2008 he was released from the care of our specialist in Spokane. It was exciting and a bit scary at the same time. This was the boy who I thought would be on special formula for the rest of his life!! I used to joke that in the future I would say things like..."Hey Seth, how was football practic, how are your poops looking these days? We were constantly checking his BM's for blood, and evalualing the consistency of them. I didn't think I would ever be able to relax where his colon was concerned.

Gabe Seth Alison Caleb

This photo was taken exactly a year after the previous one. Seth is second from the left. On their first birthday we started charting their heights on a portion of a wall in our home. Seth was about 4 inches shorter than Gabe who was the tallest at that time. The next year he was 2 inches shorter than Gabe. (still the tallest) Even with half of a colon his little body is doing great, and he was continually growing more quickly than the other 4 so he could catch up. We are so proud of him.

Here he is today. He's the one on the left. If you're thinking he's looking bigger than Caleb you're right! He's been the heaviest now for several months and is now the second tallest!!

(We were recently at a Cougar basketball game)

Sorry about the fuzzy picture. Seth is now about half an inch shorter than Gabe with Caleb and Alison about 1/4 of an inch below him.(Measurements taken on 10/26/06) The lower grouping is from last April and he was the shortest by about an inch. Seth kind of lumbers thru life. Grace and agility aren't his strong suits...hmmm where on earth could he get that??? He constantly has a bruise on his head or face from injuries. To say I am proud of him is such an understatement. There is so much more to it than that. He is a reminder to me of God's presence in our family. Of His love and tender mercy. Seth means "Chosen" or "Appointed". God has wonderful plans for this boy and I am thrilled to get to be his mama.

To Him be the Glory

2009-09-04T21:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes...

taking care of this one...

and this one...

an d this one...

and being a wife...

and keeping the house clean...

and keeping up with all that is involved with running a household...

can be overwhelming.

Yesterday I was reminded that doing my best in all of this is worship unto my Lord. Lord, may the fragrance that comes from me as I go about my daily life bring a smile to your face. May you be blessed, because it is all for You...may You be glorified.

Pesky Shoes!

2009-09-01T22:30:00.000-07:00

Me: Alison, you need to stop kicking the chair with your feet.

Alison: No mom, my shoes do it.

Oh, it was your shoes. In that case, carry on dear girl.

Apparently her shoes have a mind of their own.

Summertime, and the livin' is easy....

2009-08-24T14:43:00.000-07:00

I have been walking around for the past couple of days wondering how it is possible for time to go by so fast. Is summer really over? really? I love having Cody home all the time, warmer weather to play outside, and basically day to day life with no rigid schedules. It allows for spontaneity (which is pretty fun in my book).

On Mother's day Thad blessed me by creating a garden space. For many years I have been wanting to "dabble in the art of gardening" to see if it would be something I'd enjoy. We had a great time outside that day as Thad and Cody worked the shovels and rakes while the little kids (I can't believe I call them kids now and not babies...there's that time going way to fast element again) and I played above them on the lawn. Our backyard has about an 8 foot slope at the end to our property line. The garden space was about 2 ft by 12 feet with a small pumpkin patch next to it(more on that later). It has come to my attention that I absolutely love gardening. Watching the space come to life with different plants, then vegetables was so enjoyable. Definitely something I will do again next year. I did learn however that it really is best to plant carrot seeds individually inspead of sprinkling them into the little dirt trough. My carrots are entwining...I just didn't have the patience to do one itty bitty tiny seed at a time! All in the name of creative "who has time to follow directions" gardening.

Cody's baseball season lasted about 6 weeks. Currently baseball is his favorite sport and it showed by the hours he spent playing it in our yard with neighbor kids. We'll see if it continues to weigh-in at number one with football starting next week. He's not old enough for tackle (my mother's heart says "yay!") so he'll be playing flag football. I am sure the little guys will love going to watch him play. By the end of the season I'm sure I'll have a book in progress properly titled "Creative ways to keep 4 toddlers out of the game".

Cody started second grade this year with the teacher he was hoping for. Things are going pretty smoothly so far, and he's been excited each morning to go back. That's a good sign. Every year he seems so much more grown up when he enters a new grade. He is becoming young man. He is definitely a typical 8 year old, but is also so thoughtful, kind, and helpful. We are so proud of our young man.

We also spent our summer playing at parks.....

swimming in the backyard pool...
(Cody's bigger pool was a big hit, too, but I forgot to add pics of it)

and even a trip the Oregon Coast. We did another trip to central Oregon to visit Grandpas, Grandmas, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Instead of going on to Thad's parents' home for several days we all went to the beach instead. Needless to say, the kids really really loved it. We can't wait to go back sometime.

The weather cooperated pretty well. We had a lot of wind, but no rain.

These pictures are from Beverly beach which is just outside of Newport, OR. Both Alison and Caleb loved the water and very clearly let it be known that they didn't need any help keeping their balance...their wet clothes told a different story! Gabe and Seth walked in the water some, but preferred the sand.

Alison's shirt is so very appropriate. Although, Cody has already declared that it isn't his fault!!

This was taken on the last evening at the beach just outside our cabin. Such great memories!! I've seen photos of other families with coordinating outfits on and really like them. I'm pretty grateful for my husband who is willing to go along with his wife's crazy schemes.

Two weeks ago this was the scene on the hills not far from our home. We were watching harvest happen, greatly anticipating the time when it would come behind our house. Our backyard borders a wheatfield and it is pretty thriling to watch the combines and trucks come by. I didn't know if the little guys would think the noise and dust that came along with the huge hunks of moving metal would be "thrilling". I was hoping they wouldn't get too freaked out by it. Throughout the day we talked about how big combines are, about how loud they are, and that they would cut the wheat. All in preparation for the big moment...

The kids really enjoyed watching the action. It was loud, dusty, and an absolute blast to watch. Hopefully the farmers weren't too annoyed by their fan club wildly waving from the deck.

So now back to the garden...this was taken in July. Garden to the right and pumpkin patch doing better than expected.

Fast forward one month...

Holy cow it is taking over!! The vines have even grown thru the fence and are reaching out into the field. I greatly underestimated the power of 5 little pumpkin seeds. My sister mentioned putting up a "you pick" sign in the front yard in October. In the next picture you will see Bertha. She is the newest addition to our family. I figured a living object that weighed more than four of my children should have the honor of being named! When went out to pick tomatoes, cucumbers, and check on pumpkin growth tonight I noticed that Bertha is no longer the biggest. I've heard that the soil around here is very rich in nutrients...but I had no idea. Really.

This beauty is about 2 1/2 feet long...40 inches around and about 35 pounds. I keep thinking of Forrest Gump and the scene where he is talking about all the ways to cook something (was it shrimp?). Anyone for pie? torte? cake? muffins? the possibilities are endless...so are the pumpkins!!

Life with an eight year old and four almost 3 year olds never ceases to amaze me. It never ceases to wear me out, either :) Caleb is doing so well with his implants. Receptively he is really close to age level, but expressively is still delayed. By the time he is in Kindergarten he should be on target by performing at age level in both areas. We couldn't ask for a better group of people working with our boy. Spokane Ear Nose and Throat has been such a tremendous blessing to us. Our speech therapist here in Pullman is incredible, too. He's probably the most coordinated of the bunch and can throw a ball like no man's business. He's already a sports nut and loves watching football, baseball,(just about anything that involves a ball) on tv. He is such a delight.

Seth is the heaviest of the four now. I can't remember if I have mentioned that already. He's such a tank. When we first brought him home I declared that we would call him "Beefy" because I was believing that one day he would be. Now he is. What a joy to watch him go from being so sick to a healthy, full of life child. He's also hilarious. The other day he was being accused of something and was responding with a hardy "NO my NOT!!" soo cute.

Alison...oh my goodness our sweet girl does such a great job of keeping us on our toes...and digging into parenting books!! :) We could really use an operating manual with this one. She is an absolute delight with the cute way she shrugs her shoulders, her bright eyes always seeking adventure, and her ability to weave her way into your heart. She loves wearing dresses, but isn't a "girly girl". She'll definitly be the one wearing the pink dress while playing football with the boys.

Gabe is such a sweetheart. He's pretty soft spoken, but has a loud hardy laugh that is pretty contagious. He strings all of his words together in one breath so it can be difficult to distinguish each one. Thad and I have learned that if we catch the beginning and the end we'll pretty much get the message. He is our organizer and has an eye for detail. A couple of days ago the bathroom fan was on and the door was left open. We normally keep it shut. He went in, turned off the fan, and closed the door on his own. He is usually the last one to leave their room as he puts away the last of the books or toys. He always been very engaging with his siblings, yet is the shyest around people he doesn't know well. He's also our best sleeper...sigh, if they could all sleep like him!!

I can't believe my babies will be 3 in October. The years have flown by. When I was pregnant Thad said that it won't be until they all go off to college and he'll look at me and say "what just happened?" Needless to say we work hard to make the most of each stage because it will go by so very quickly. Except potty training. I think I'll just pretty much endure this stage! Alison has been done for months and we're beginning to work with the boys. This road they call potty training seems oh so long and all uphill...both ways. But I know this, too, can be conquered. Maybe we can put a down-payment on a new vacation home with the money we'll save from diapers!!

The sun is setting on another summer. I can't wait to see what the Fall holds for us....besides pumpkins!!

PS...I'll try to post more often. Especially at times when, say, our daughter tries going potty in the doll house's built in toilet...hypothetically speaking, of course :)

Happenings...

2009-04-03T21:53:00.000-07:00

What is it about children and their ability to grow up sooo quickly? I remember as a child people telling me that I was growing up so fast. At that point in my life, I just couldn't relate to their comments. Now, as a mother I understand the truth in statements such as those. My kids are growing up very quickly. As complete sentences are rolling off their tongues I have found myself wondering if it is possible that they are almost 2 1/2. Cody, too, hasn't gone un-noticed in this category. He is becoming such a gentleman...so fun, loving, and rambunctous!! Pretty much par for the course on the planet where 7 yr old boys come from :)

Thad and I recently celebrated our 10th anniversary. They have been the 10 most wonderful and fun years of my life. We can't wait to see what the next 10 are like. There is lots to look forward to. We escaped to the beach to celebrate. Thad's parents came to stay with our kids so we could get away for a bit. (THANK YOU!!) The memories continue to bring fresh wind to my sails. Thank you, too, to my sister's in-laws who allowed us to stay at their beach house. We were so very blessed.

Alison played the part of flower girl for Thad's cousin's wedding. It was a beautiful event, and we're so grateful to have Katie in our family now. Ali did such a great job, although we should have traded in her cute mary janes for a pair of running shoes. She sprinted down the aisle...so cute!

Caleb (left) and Seth (right) engaging in some belly bumpin'. I particularly like the socks on the hands. (It's all the rage around her these days)

They love helping me make cookies. I think getting to test the dough is great motivation.

We're all doing great. Caleb is talking more and more, Seth is packing on the pounds (he weighs the most now!), Gabe is always finding ways to keep sole posession of his stash of toys, Alison thinks she pretty much runs the place, and Cody continues to be a fabulous big brother...who needs to get better at ignoring Alison and her ability to push his buttons. Oh, they learn so very quickly!

I'll end with a little conversation I had at Costco the other day when I was down there with my four little ones in the stroller. We're pretty much a train with the stroller being pushed and a cart being pulled. You get the idea...

Man: Wow! (I hear that A LOT!), what aisle did you get those in? I didn't see them on the shelves (referring to the kids)

Me: (with a smile) They were special order!

Man: I figured they were from Costco since they came in bulk!

To Honor Her

2009-02-11T21:59:00.000-08:00

Our sweet baby girl...Renae Kate. She is never far from my thoughts. Many times during the day I think about her, miss her, wonder what she would look like now, wonder what her personality would be like. We wanted her so badly. Since this blog is in honor of her I wanted to talk about her a little. The following pictures are things that we have to help remember her. Having things about my home that remind me of people who mean the most to me is a blessing and it brings me joy.

This hangs in their room. All the kids have one, and the wonderful artist who painted them and the mural in their room was so thoughtful to include one for our sweet girl.

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After we lost Renae I asked the Laurel (the artist) to add 5 flowers somewhere in the mural in honor of her.

I am forever so very grateful (words can never express how much) to my nurses who cared so very gently for my baby girl after she was born. They took pictures of her for us (that idea completely escaped us). I wanted something that was the "same" for all of them, so I took pictures of the others feet too to match the one I have of her. This shelf is in mine and Thad's room. The roses were given to me from Thad throughout my bedrest time in Seattle. The pictures are in the order that the babies were inside of me...A (caleb) B (Gabe) C (Alison) D (Seth) E (Renae)

"An Angel in the house they say will guard the family night and day" This plate hangs in the kitchen and was thoughtfully given to us by Thad's aunt.

Hope has helped to strengthen us through all that has happened. Our hope has been solidly in our precious Lord and He hasn't failed us. Here is the Christmas ornament that hangs on the tree in honor of her. I also loved that there are 5 points on the star.

This letter R sits on my dresser. The picture was taken for the Year 2 video that Thad put together. The last picture in the videos (year 1 and year 2) are in honor of her. The other kids' have their initials hanging on the wall of the bathroom above their towel hooks. I shopped a long time for the letters for the bathroom and when I found them I had to get an R too.

Someone told me that I had a right to be mad at God for taking her. That desire was never there for me. From the beginning we placed all of our babies lives in His hands and trusted Him. We still do that. I trust His will. I don't understand why we couldn't keep her, but God's Word never says we will always understand His ways. It doesn't make losing her any easier, but it brings a peace to the depth of my heart and soul that can only come from Him. I have played the "what if" and "we should have" game a million times. Who knows what condition she could have been born in and what difficult decisions could have been before us regarding her life. God spared us. She has only known perfect peace. I take comfort in knowing that she knows her daddy and mommy's voice. We do have so much to be thankful for in the midst of it all.

How does one honor a life...her life...that was so short here on earth, but was so very meaningful and special to those who love her. Many ideas have come to me, but right now I don't know which ones will materialize. For now, I give God the glory for the things He has done. I know that honors her...and I can't wait for the day when I can hold her again.

Welcome

2009-01-21T13:42:00.000-08:00

Well, what do you think? I think this will be a better way of keeping you all updated on all the happenings around here. Hop on over any time to see what we're up to. The idea of starting a blog has been brewing for quite some time now. I think I have cinged a few brain cells trying to come up with a blog name and filling in all the "accents" on the blog. whew! I am one of those type of people who doesn't like reading instructions. I want someone to sit down with me, tell me how something is done, then dive in myself and learn on the way. So, beginning this has seemed daunting because I knew I wouldn't be able to whip-out info very easily at first. I wanted a virtual blogger to come sit beside me and walk me through it a few times. So here I am with the hip waiters on and wading in. With my duck-hunting background you didn't think I'd forget the hip-waders did you? My only problem back then was keeping my balance with grandpa's waders pulled up to my chin while strategically placing the decoys on the pond. Ok...I'm back from memory lane ready to fill you all in on the last few months. Let's see, I believe we last connected back in September. Caleb had just recently had surgery for bi-lateral cochlear implants and we had just returned home from taking Gabe for a check-up at Children's in Seattle. Don't be surprised when I tell you that lots has happened since then. There were a few big events and small ones too :) I'd like to fill you in on. First of all here's Caleb after his surgery. The bandages and tape pushed his brow down so he looked like he was scowling...

We were pretty surprised when we learned this was an out-patient procedure and we wouldn't need to stay in the hospital. We were able to leave just a few hours after the procedure. He was pretty mellow for the first 24 hours, but really got back to his ole self after that. For a month he healed. There were no complications from the procedure. We were pretty grateful for that. Activation was set for September 23. This would be the date when Caleb would hear for the first time. Doctors and therapists had been warning us that children react in different ways during the activation. Most children cry because they are used to their silent world. All of a sudden having a new sense can be really overwhelming for them. Giving him his hearing has been quite a journey with so much more to come. The activation appointment took about 3 hours. Knowing my son would soon be hearing our voices and hearing his name was very exciting. He did cry when his equipment was turned on. It didn't last long, but it was overwhelming for him. I cried too. As a parent it is so very hard seeing your child struggle. We knew, however that the struggle would be short lived as he became accustomed to his new world of sound. At first the volume is turned very low to help him get used to listening. Now he would be able to experience for himself all the things we were showing him that made noise...the phone, airplanes, dad coming home, siblings laughing, yelling, talking, etc. Through sign language I was constantly telling him what was making noise. Now he is telling me when something is making noise. It has been thrilling to see the strides he has made in the 3 months since activation. He responds to his name all the time, tells us when he hears something (then we go investigate to see what is making the sound), and he is even talking! Mama, please, more, and baaaaa (what a sheep says) is his current expressive vocabulary. His receptive vocabulary is much more than that, however. The other day I told him to take something to dad(with no signs) and he did it. It is absolutely thrilling to watch him. I cried when he said mama. Back in March when we had the tests done confirming our fears that he was deaf it was very difficult. My heart ached as I realized he had never heard me talk to him, sing to him or tell him I loved him. We are so proud of our little guy. He is doing so well. He will be able to function much more easily in the hearing world now. Doors will be open to him with opportunities that wouldn't have been possible with-out the implants.

It's so good to be 2!! You gain some independance, voice your opinions, interact more with those around you, say "I lala you" (I love you). Towards the end of October we celebrated the quints' second birthday. It was a more quiet (I guess nothing is ever quiet in our house), just our family, affair. Little did I know that at that moment a "2" switch was being turned on in each one of our children....a switch that I wish was adjustable!! Some days I want to ask them to "turn down" the two-ness a bit. It can be very draining. Have you ever heard of resistance training? I am in the middle of it! I get met with much resistance these days. For example: Lots of times when a door is opened, be it closet or refrigerator, someone takes the opportunity to explore forbidden territory. As you try and get that child out another one decided to come and help by trying to close the door on you as you're getting child number one and yourself out. Or as you start to change a diaper someone else is climbing to new heights (usually Alison) so you quit changing and start rescuing then go back to find the changing mat empty. The stinky one has fled and must be retrieved to resume the changing! Sometimes I long for a Staples "easy" button. These types of activities pretty much fill my day...as well as snuggling, reading, playing LOTS of hugs and loves, too. It has all taught me a lot about myself, choosing my attitude, and keeping a perspective that is positive. One morning I remember getting up and thinking...I hope it's a good day today. I realized I was setting myself up for failure by hoping for things to go smoothly. I can always hope for things to go smoothly, but not base the goodness of my day on it. Because there are typically bumps along the way with 4 two year olds scampering about. I remember when we broke our "poopy diapers in one day" record last March when rota-virus made it's appearance here. 26 shattered the old record and it still stands today. I don't mind that record being set in stone... Anyway, I remember being really discouraged with all that was happening. I distinctly remember thinking "am I tired of the poop? YES! am I tired of caring for my children? NEVER!" It's all in the perspective I keep. Feel free to remind me of this revelation I had if you ever hear me grumble about circumstances :) I have learned to define a good day as simply being the best wife and mom that I can be....and a white chocolate mocha always helps too!! Everyone is talking so very much. They are becoming much more articulate. Cody went from being called "kook" to "Coyo" to now being called "coey" It is getting close. Alison is known as "Asen" Caleb is "Cayep" Gabe is "Gape" or "Gabors" and Seth is "Sesh" Alison is starting to get the "th" sound down, tho. They're even having conversations between each other. Here's one from the car a few days ago. Seth was sitting in the 3rd row of seats and Gabe was in 2nd row. Seth: Gabors (Sometimes we call Gabe "Gabers") Gabe: What Seth: Abi-dah-aki? (not quite sure where he was going with this) Gabe: aki?...yes! (apparently Gabe was tracking with him) ...so cute... The holidays were a blast and such a whirl-wind. It seems like they came and went so quickly. Thad's family came for Thanksgiving. We had a wonderul time with them all.

Spokane was our destination for Christmas with my side of the family. My sister's family from San Diego couldn't make it but there were still 9 children under the age of 7. Needless to say there always lots of activity. Here's a picture of the print we (my sisters and I) had made for my parents of their grandchildren. They were pretty blessed and it proudly hangs in their dining room so they can see it from the kitchen and living room too. I am so glad Alison has girl cousins close in age. She has one 6 mos older and 2 who are just 7 mos younger. Cody was just telling me today that Alison will be a good mom someday because she is already bossing everyone around...or trying to. She pretty much thinks she rules.

Cody continues to excell as a first-grader. Sometimes I do wonder what planet 7 year old boys are from. Cody is such a delight and a great help to Thad and I with the younger kids. He is looking forward to the day when they can pick up their own toys. He does get tired of that job. These days Cody's ambitions are writing songs, books, and illustrating them. A few months back he was planning to be the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. I'll let you know what it is going to be next month. He is such a great kid.
So there you have it...a few months of our lives in a blog post. Hopefully I will get better at keeping you all up more regularly. I'll end with a few more pictures to fill you in on the rest of the details.
Life continues to be good around here.

Diane