We are Still Here

There is not really a good reason for my absence in writing. The last time I blogged I was writing about how grateful I was for my family. And praying for friends dealing with the loss. All I can say is that I have been busy enjoying and savoring my time at home with my children. This is the first time I have had a child turn one and not been pregnant. It is the only year I have with all four of my children at home with me full time as the plan at this point is for Keely to start first grade at Doug's school next year. And I am making the most of it. Now that the pull is closed, we still manage to go to the park, bike rides, swings, and friends' houses almost daily. I am feeling a calling to reach out to other stay at home moms encouraging them that the sacrifices we make are worth every minute. And as I watch Keely reading Bible stories to her siblings, see trash men come running back after passing our house when they see the kids come running out, observe all four kids playing together in the back yard while I stand in the kitchen preparing meals, see how they look out for each other when playing with other kids; I feel like I am blessed beyond all measure.

So now I must write some of my favorite (or not so favorite) memories from the past months:

1. Doug and I were still in bed on a Sunday morning when Keely and Kres woke up early. We put them in the bed with us to snuggle since we had time before we needed to start getting ready for church. We were all laying quietly when Kres rolls over and looks right in my face. I look up at him and as soon as our eyes meet, he leans down and "whispers" in my ear loud enough for Keely to hear as well, "Mommy, I tooted!" Of course there was no more snuggling to be done after that do to the laughter that erupted.

2. Doug brought new kid size golf clubs home for Wes' birthday for the kids to all share. We were letting all the kids take turns hitting gold balls in the front yard. I was sitting there watching the kids to make sure everyone was being safe. Macey had just had her turn and passed the club over to Keely. At this point Keely and I both informed Macey to move back out of the way. She took several steps back and then Keely proceeded to swing. Apparently Keely has a better swing than I thought because on the follow through she nailed Macey in the head just above her right eye brow. This led to our first trip to the ER with the kids and our first set of stitches (it required 4).

3. One Sunday, Wes was sick so I stayed home with the boys while the girls and Doug went to church. Kres and I had lots of one on one time while Wes slept. When Doug got home and asked Kres to play football with him, Kres chose Mommy over Daddy for the first time EVER!! The quality time paid off. However, for the next week all I heard was, "Mommy will you play with me like earlier?" I soon came to dread playing with him only because I have to play so much harder and was getting so worn out. But then I went out of town for the weekend and now he is back to a full blown Daddy's boy.

Sorry there are no pictures in this blog but I hope to follow up soon with lots of them. (I just need to take some first.)