9 Years

Today I have the privilege of celebrating 9 years of marriage to the most wonderful man in the world.  I love you, Adam!

For My Memories' Sake

I'm working on making the blog into a book using this site.  I'm afraid I don't have time right now to do  posts on some of the things we've done in the past few months, but there are some pictures that I definitely want to have in the book. So here is a post with lots of pictures and a few words. :)

Three sweet girls!

A little cowboy

There's never a dull moment when Abigail is around. :)

This is our first family picture after Peter was born.

And because we all look so hilarious...a funny face picture!! :)

Exploring a cave!

More springtime adventures

I don't think Dumbo was prepared for this!

Cowboy boots and shorts. :)

We've spent lots of time outside in this beautiful weather!

Target practice with a rubber band gun

Noah loves geography! He'll sit for 30-45 minutes at a time doing this puzzle over and over.

Brothers :)

Joseph likes to grab Abigail's dress and drag her to the bean bag so that she will read him a book.

Another family picture

All the little goobers. :)

At the Indian mounds

Noah and his "bear and arrow"

An Easter picnic

Science Museum

I am seriously behind on blogging. I'm going to attempt to catch up in a short amount of time with a few posts...mostly consisting of pictures. :) We paid a couple of visits to a science museum a while back and we all enjoyed it. Once you get past the evolutionary ridiculousness, it is a great place!

There are lots of things that the children are allowed to touch, which they loved!

Checking out the amethyst

More touchables!

There is a nice display of the Periodic Table of Elements

Joseph checking out the Thorium

Digging for fossils

Panning for gemstones

They have a neat air and space area

Joshua liked the gold collection

Resurrection Day!

Jesus lives, and so shall I.

Death! thy sting is gone forever!

He who deigned for me to die,

Lives, the bands of death to sever.

He shall raise me from the dust:

Jesus is my Hope and Trust.

Jesus lives, and reigns supreme,

And, his kingdom still remaining,

I shall also be with him,

Ever living, ever reigning.

God has promised: be it must:

Jesus is my Hope and Trust.

Jesus lives, and by his grace,

Vict'ry o'er my passions giving,

I will cleanse my heart and ways,

Ever to his glory living.

Me he raises from the dust.

Jesus is my Hope and Trust.

Jesus lives, I know full well

Nought from him my heart can sever,

Life nor death nor powers of hell,

Joy nor grief, hence forth forever.

None of all his saints is lost;

Jesus is my Hope and Trust.

Jesus lives, and death is now

But my entrance into glory.

Courage, then, my soul, for thou

Hast a crown of life before thee;

Thou shalt find thy hopes were just;

Jesus is the Christian's Trust.

Suggestions for Preschoolers

Occupying my preschoolers while schooling my older children is an ongoing challenge for me. I have four preschoolers (4 and under), and they are loud. Baby Peter is pretty easy going and takes a nice long morning nap. However, Hannah, Noah and Joseph need some direction in order to stay out of trouble and remain occupied in a constructive manner. Everyone sits at the table for certain parts of our school day, and I like to keep them all within earshot so that they learn simply by listening. I discovered this morning that Joseph is very happy with a measuring cup, a bowl, and some bubbly water in the kitchen sink. I also have several activities that we pull out only during school time...puzzles, certain coloring books, dry erase books, beans and jars, etc. I am always up for suggestions though! Do you homeschool older children and preschoolers? If so, what do you have your younger children doing during school? Even if you don't homeschool or deal with this every day, I'd love to hear your ideas!

Peter's Baptism

Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord most dear,

As thou wast once an infant here,

So give this child of thine, we pray,

Thy grace and blessing day by day.

O holy Jesus, Lord Divine,

We pray thee guard this child of thine.

As in thy heav'nly Kingdom, Lord,

All things obey thy sacred Word,

Do thou thy mighty succour give,

And shield this child by morn and eve.

O holy Jesus, Lord Divine,

We pray thee guard this child of thine.

Their watch let angels round him keep

Where'er he be, awake, asleep;

Thy saving grace on him bestow

That he in thee may live and grow.

O holy Jesus, Lord Divine,

We pray thee guard this child of thine.

~Heinrich of Laufenberg, 15th century