Blessed

What a day! I spent most of my day behind my sewing machine, furiously trying to finish a baby quilt for a shower this weekend. When I got sick of looking at it and decided to take a break, I left the sewing machine for the kitchen. It was while I was making pie crust (from scratch) that it hit me.........I have become June Cleaver!! AUGHHHHHH Yep, it's true. Ya might at well start calling Gabe "the Beave". My life is so full of domestic "pleasantries": laundry, cleaning, diapers, cooking, sewing ect. And I will admit there are those moments, when it feels like all of the above are happening at the same time, that I question why I do what I do. FYI- a moment of vulnerability is about to occur. I admit I have thoughts of returning to the "civilized" world. After all I did go to college. I do have a degree...and it wasn't in Martha Stewart 101! There are days when I am soooo tired of answering the endless questions of young inquiring minds. Tired of well...shall we say..being in charge of supervising all "bathroom activities"! (Yes, I'm talking about poop, and the many forms my children seem to make it in!) Tired of being the one who is left to clean up after everybody else. To decide what to make for dinner, and then magically create it out what mocks me from the pantry. Sometimes I'm tired of just being MOM! BUT today in the midst of my June Cleaver moment, my daughter asked to help me make pie crust. For a brief moment I was inclined to deny her request, knowing full well that it only meant more mess. Yet, as she climbed up her stool and started to play in the flour, I was suddenly captivated by her. The realization that I am a blessed woman overcame me. I GET to stay home with my children and raise them. I GET to watch my daughter play in flour and laugh as she discovers "it doesn't taste like pie". I GET to see them grow and learn everyday. I am the one who wipes away tears, corrects behavior, and above all gets to tell them every day about Jesus. It was today, in an old kitchen, cluttered with dishes, as Gracie learned how to make pie crust, that I was reminded why I do what I do. And to quote the domestic goddess herself..."it's a good thing".
After enduring the longest blog entry ever, here's a few pics of the day. Grace is not licking her hand, she is trying to wipe off her tongue after eating flour!

Abby has been making the funniest faces lately! Her personality is really begining to show!

New Pics of the Kids

These are some new pictures I took of the kids recently. I am really enjoying my new camera. Of course, photography is easy when the subjects are so gorgeous. Then again I might be a bit biased!

Gabe's Room

Here are the promised pictures of Gabe's new room. I am so proud of my husband. He really has very little experience in remodeling, and he did such an amazing job! In my opinion it looks like a room straight out of Pottery Barn magazine. Gabe's really excited about having his own little man room. One of the first thing he wanted for his room was a "no girls allowed" sign, for the door. Now he has his own little place to retreat to when the estrogen levels get too high around here.

Abby's Birthday

Okay, so it has been half of forever since I have updated! It has been so long in fact that Abby's first birthday has long since come and gone. So here are a few photos of her party, (it was on Feb. 11th).

Unlike my other kids, Abby completely demolished her cake! She loved it. We actually had to take it away from her, and the poor cake was a nothing but a mass of crumbs and carnage. Although it was adorable, I was a bit sad because Grandma and I worked so hard to make the perrrrfect hello kitty cake! Hee-Hee

What else is new here in the white house, you may ask? Well right after her birthday, Abby mastered the art of walking. She is now into everything and trying her best to keep up with her siblings. Once again I am amazed at how quickly time has flown. It's sometimes hard for me to believe that "the baby" is a year old already. Watching her grow is so bittersweet. It's hard to see her leave the baby phase behind, but at the same time it is always reassuring to see her develop normally. That is if anyone is THIS family can be normal.

In order to one-up his sister who is walking, Gabe has decided to take up flying. It will be so nice when the weather warms up and I can send him outside to leap and fly and save the galaxy from the dark side with his light saber.

Grace is becoming soooo independent lately, (and no that is not a complaint). She is really into picking out her own clothes, getting herself dressed and being the "mommy" to her babies. Of course that usually means that she is dressing them, and bathing them, brushing their hair and protecting them from being obliterated by the light saber of young jedi Gabe. There is never a dull moment around here.

Clint has been very busy the past month and a half finishing the remodel project. We completely gutted the room where Gabe is, and updated it. It looks great. I will take some pictures and post a before and after shot.

I've been having fun with my new toy. I purchased a new camera about a month ago and have been trying to figure out all its bells and whistles. I feel so out of practice in the photography dept., but I know it will all come back to me. I just did my fist "shoot", with the supervision of a more experienced friend, and must admit the photos came out great. I was blessed because the baby was very content and let me click away. Here's a few of my favorites.

I will try to be better with the updates and post a few more frequently. In the mean time, those of you who have endlessly harassed me for an update, well here it is....and this does mean that I expect to see an update on your blog! You know who you are!!!!