Fall is bearing down...

Oh, yes it is.  And it's very early :(  Based on the fireweed and turning leaves, we should have snow within 3-4 weeks.  As I showed you last year, {click here}, Autumn in Fairbanks goes by faster than can be believed, so I don't want to be caught unaware.  

There are ideas and projects galore to blog about, but with the changing of the leaves, I have had to focus instead on getting us all ready for winter.  I have been cleaning our pellet stove, painting decks and doors and pressure washing the house.  More on those later...

Today, in contrast to the rainy cold days we've been having, it was a balmy 73 degrees, so I dragged the kids outside for a photo shoot.

Our family has been wanting to see some more photos of the kids (my blog has been really helpful in keeping them in touch with what's going on in our lives) so please bear with me as I show off my babies.

Here is the setting.  A chair on the side of the yard next to the well

Complete with a large pile of moose droppings (just for atmosphere...careful where you step Mama!)

It was pretty shady where I put them, but they all still complained about it being too bright 

I'll start oldest to youngest

 Adin ~ 11 1/2 years old

 Those eyes...sigh

Elsa ~ 9 years old

Isaac ~ 6 1/2 years old (he'll be 7 in October)

 Love those dirty little boy feet

Ephraim ~ 4 1/2 years old

I may just retake these since little man has a split lip from making contact with a step edge on the stairs

Lydia ~ 15 months

 

My 3 sons :)

My girlies

All my babies together

I'm going to try and make some time over the next couple of days to show off some projects and a couple more book reviews.  

I hope your week is going fantastic!

Eleven

My Adin is eleven today.  The years have slipped away so quickly.  When I look at him, my mind envisions a funny and exuberant 2 year old that brought us constant joy.

 

I now see this young boy who gives us glimpses of the young man he will be and I am proud.  

"If I ever become president, I will want to be like George Washington"

He has taught me so much: how to nurture my babies with purpose, to embrace each moment, to let go of preconceived notions of what is normal and just be who you are, to always believe you can do anything.  He has taught me patience.

"America is like a beautiful castle with guards and strong walls, but it can only handle a 5" gun" (that is a 5" diameter gun in military speak, haha) 

He astounds me with his insight and natural curiosity.

"God's creation is better than man's creation"

Happy Birthday, precious son.  I will not wish the years ahead to fly by as I want to treasure this time with you just as you are.

A Party in my Heart

My computer's internal charger broke 2 days ago.  I had to wait until after the holiday to get it fixed.  It was a little disconcerting to feel so out of the loop.  I know I'm a computer addict, but I depend on it so much more than I even realized.  Research, shopping, phone numbers, and of course social networking, emails, etc...

So, we headed to town today to get it fixed.  On the way I realized I didn't see my wallet on the seat next to me.  I pulled over and looked.  No wallet in the car.

We went home.  The kids looked through the car while I looked through the house.  No wallet in the house.  So I unloaded the kids and our plans for a trip to town and computer repair were over.  I was feeling upset.  

As we were looking, Adin says "I prayed.  God will help us find it.  Did you pray Mommy?".  No, I hadn't.  Sometimes I don't. Sometimes I don't think it's necessary.  I can do it on my own...I don't need to bother God.

So, feeling chastised (unintentionally) by my son, I stood alone in my garage and prayed for God to help me find my wallet.  Without my wallet, we cannot buy anything.  I cannot drive.  I cannot get onto the base to pick up my husband from his deployment.  I need help.

I stood there trying to stay calm.  And then I looked through the car again.  I found it in a weird but safe spot.  And I am humbled.  And then I cry (lightly, because I don't like to give into the emotion).  We all reload in the car, thankful.  And Adin says "God helped us find it".  And I cry a little more.

And then as we drive down the road, my sweet Elsa says "Mommy, I feel like there's a party in my heart".  I smile and laugh at the accurate statement.  

The words of a child are so honest, and pure and without inhibition.   Again I am humbled and feel so blessed at the gift from my Lord of these children to me.

They are amazing.  I've always felt like my heart was aching with love for love at certain times, but I think I prefer Elsa's description now.  They make me feel like I have a party going on in my heart every day. 

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In other news, Lydia is nearly crawling.  She's getting around a little on her own, and it's so fun to see.

She's also eating little snacks and loving it.  Every bite is accompanied by "mmmm-mmmm" and big smiles.

 She still doesn't nap on her own unless she's in the car.  But I am enjoying these baby days as I know they're all too fleeting and soon she'll barely tolerate long cuddles.

The kids are loving the chalkboard.   Today was the first day I let them break out the chalk and they are in seventh heaven.

  
Elsa's picture is showing our new fish (the one we haven't gotten yet).  
I liked her sense of style, with the cute boots, modern lamp and oh-so-fabulous side table  
(I think I'm going to need to get one like that!  You know, for the fish's sake).  

  
Adin is back into learning about the Titanic (appropriate for the 100th anniversary since it was sunk).  His attention to detail is fun to see.
 
 HAPPY 2012!

Kid's Summer Photo Shoot

We had some nice family photos taken in May after Lydia was born.  She did some of the kids, but I just haven't been happy with them.  So I decided I'd try to get some decent ones.

These photos of the 4 older ones took me about 20 minutes outside.  It was a spur of the moment decision brought on my noticing they were all clean with freshly shorn hair and no major bruises or scratches.  Lydia was hanging out on my back and we were all dodging the few mosquitoes and biting gnats that come out in the evening.  

The kids cooperated really well so we could just get it done. 

 I finished them all with a sepia finish and a block shadow border

 

 

 Overall, not a badly spent 20 minutes :)  

Tomorrow I'll share Lydia's little session that wasn't quite as simple