Family at Disneyland

On May 24, the children and I took a trip to Disneyland with Mama, Aunt
Brianna, cousin Olivia, Uncle Isaac, Aunt Cathy, cousin Ezekiel,
Great-Aunt Cindy, and Great-Aunt Tunie.

Joshua worked on his pin collection.

Olivia & Brianna

Lucille & Ezekiel
playing the piano in Toontown.

The fun thing about going to Disneyland with great-aunts is that they buy lots
of goodies!
Mercy trying to enjoy a treat from Aunt Tunie, but with a few front
teeth missing it is hard.

Lucille enjoying her treat while wearing Olivia's tutu.

Mama, Isaac, Cathy, Lucille, Me & Mercy waiting to get on Pirates of the Caribbean
The ride scared Lucille, so she put her cosy over her head and fell asleep.

An Expectation. A Blessing

Lord willing, our family will be blessed with a new baby by the end of the year. Our little one's due date is December 20, 2011. Your prayers are coveted for a healthy, safe arrival of this blessing.

The Frustrating Thing About Laundry

I am trying to catch up on laundry as I get ready for our upcoming vacation. The frustrating thing about laundry is that unless I stripped the beds of their linens and the entire family of clothing, laundry is never done. Of course this is nothing new.

I guess I can change that from a woe to a sign of blessing. I have been blessed with beautiful children, a loving husband, and a nice home. I remind myself of that as I do housework. I also try to remember and strive towards the model of the Proverbs 31 woman.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Proverbs 31:10, 27-28

Lucy is Feeling Better!

Praises to God! Our little Lucille is on the road to recovery! Lucille has been able to hold her food down for a full 24 hours and she woke up this morning with a smile for the first time in a week. She has been playing all morning, singing & talking. She has her spunk back! Now she just has to regain her strength and the weight she lost.

Here is a video I took of her on March 9th. Lord willing she will be back to this spunky girl by the end of the week.

Foto Friday

Don't pass out...Here is the first Foto Friday post in over a year. So as not to overwhelm you, I decided to keep it simple.

I recently found my three monsters on the couch like this. Joshua is reading Frog and Toad to Mercy and Lucille. I love being a mommy. I love being their mommy.

More Coming Soon....

Thought I would try blogging again
But I am busy this week with a sick little one. Lucille has a stomache bug.
Since Monday.
She hasn't been able to keep any food down. And today she has been crying/moaning most of the day.
But homeschooling is done.
Corned beef is cooking.
Life goes on anyhow.
God is still good.

Foto Friday

Here is what you have all been waiting for: the first Foto Friday in a long time and the first of 2010! Yay! (Applause)
Since it has been so long I will treat you with something special - a video! (More applause & cheering)
This video was taken in October when I found Joshua out back with Lucille. She had been fussy and he was trying to soothe her. It worked.

Christmas 2009

Lucille, Mercy & Joshua
Christmas 2009

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, "The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace"
-Isaiah 9:6

Lucy at 11 months

Last Friday, Lucille was 11 months old. Boy! That was fast, only one more month until her first birthday.

She is just about ready to walk; standing on her own for long periods, taking a couple of steps before falling, and trying to stand from a sitting position. It's only a matter of time before she is toddling around the house.

She has four teeth and she knows how to use them. So be sure that your fingers don't go near her mouth! Lucy says "Mum" pretty clearly. And for some reason, she calls Mercy "Bob."

Today, we caught Lucille on the stairs up to the third step. Did I mention she is fast? Sometimes I think that she beams over to the other side of the room when I am not looking.

Jason & I are so amazed at God's mercy on us and our family. We thank God for blessing us with Lucille and pray for wisdom in raising her.

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

Portraits Again

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the pictures I had done in December.

Catherine Lucille - 10 Months

Lucille is 10 months old this month. She is such a blessing to our family. The other day Jason told me that I am more attached to her than I was to our other babies, and I would have to agree. I think it is because I am not taking the fact that I was blessed with another baby for granted.

Lucy is a fast crawler! She likes to try to keep up with Joshua & Mercy, getting into their toys & following them around. She pulls up on everything - tables, chairs, shelves, boxes and she has even tried climbing the stairs. She has even stood up on her own for a few seconds at a time.

Last week her first tooth broke through. She chews on everything, tables, toys, books, & feet if she can catch them.

Lucy loves books, magazines, & papers. She will sit for a long time just turning the pages of a magazine before ripping it apart. She also likes to turn the pages herself when we read her a book.

One day at my mom's house, Lucy had a long stroll in Mercy's doll stroller. She fit into it perfectly and loved to be pushed all around the house as she swung her feet back and forth!

Last week at an appointment with her pediatrician we learned that Lucy only gained 3 ounces in the last 3 months! So we are trying to fatten her up with healthy foods. And I am supplementing a little formula along with her regular nursing. She goes back in 2 weeks to see if she has grown any.

After that appointment, I felt so worried. What if something is wrong with her? Is it me? Am I a bad mother who doesn't feed her child properly? But that worry didn't last long. I refuse to worry. I will just trust in God that everything will work out. And I will be more aware of what she is eating and making sure she is eating healthy and more often.

She IS a big eater now. I have been more aggressive in getting her to eat more, and making all that she eats count. You know she really likes something because she will very loudly demand more as soon as she gets a spoonful. She prefers to feed herself. Some of her favorite foods right now are peanut butter on whole wheat bread, mac and cheese (whole wheat or asparagus noodles), avocado, Joe's Ohs, and pears. But she also likes carrots, potatoes, peas, green beans, bananas, oatmeal cereal and cheese.

Random Pictures of My Monkeys

The children decorating their small Christmas trees.

Mercy dressed up in her princess costume. She loves this dress because she says it looks like the one that Taylor Swift wears in her Love Story video.

Lucy at Disneyland.

Joshua - a self portrait

Joshua's 9th Birthday

If my computer cooperates I hope to post a few pictures and updates....we'll see.

On November 12, Joshua turned nine years old. Time sure flies! I am so thankful to God for giving me a such a happy boy. But I am also reminded that Joshua is halfway to 18! I pray that God would give Jason & me wisdom and grace to raise Joshua correctly. And that God would work in Joshua's heart and grow him into a godly man.

To celebrate his birthday we went to Disneyland. I love going when it is decorated for Christmas! Joshua was given a birthday pin so that all day long whenever a Disney castmember saw it they would wish him a happy birthday. He loved that, it made his day more special.

Joshua & Marina on a ride in California Adventure.

My mom & Mercy

Lucy's first time on the Merry-Go-Round. She loved it! I think she went on 3 times.

I promised Joshua an ice cream since it was his birthday. They ate deliciously! And they better have enjoyed it considering how much I paid.

Lucy was very well behaved, considering we spent the entire day at the park.