Happy 2 Weeks, Marcus!

It's a fact that I can never praise God enough for this blessing of motherhood, and it's a fact that every day He astonishes me with His grace and mercy.

This has been such a special 2 weeks for us, celebrating Easter, spending time with family, friends, getting spoiled with delicious meals, the most thoughtful gifts, coffee drop ins, basking in the glorious sunshine and 4 nights alone with just Marcus and Hubby.

He's looking great, and gaining weight. Yesterday he measured 1/2 an inch longer than just 9 days ago, and he's already pushing a whopping 7 lbs. 13 ounces.

It feels like he's been with us forever and yet, it seems like he arrived just yesterday. Oh, we're so blessed!

DAY 12 - HEADSHOTS :)

DAY 11 - TIME FOR ANOTHER SNOOZE (YAWN)

DAY 10 - MY HANDSOME POSE

DAY 9 - ENDLESS SMOOCHES

DAY 8 - NOSES! AND A FEW BUTTERFLY KISSES

DAY 7- FOOT MODEL

DAY 6 - TRAIN RIDE @ THE PARK

DAY 5 - IN LOVE WITH MY MOMMY

DAY 4 - LOVING THE LAUGHTER FROM MY SIBLINGS!

DAY 4 - GETTING READY FOR BED...WHAT I DO BEST!


DAY 4 - ME 'N MY SIS, ISN'T SHE A BEAUTY?

DAY 3 - LIFE IS AWESOME!

DAY 3 THE SUN IS SHINING SO MOMMY TAKES ME ON MY FIRST PARK PLAYDATE!

DAY 2 - EYES OPEN SO YOU CAN SEE MY SERIOUS SIDE

ONE DAY! SLEEPY

MY FIRST MINUTES WITH DADDY

We walked in the hospital on the eve of April Fool's Day at 8:15pm and by 8:43pm, Marcus Ryan joined us. Weighing in at 7 lbs 10.6 ozs and measuring 19-3/4" long he is a perfectly healthy baby boy. We are in one word "Great"... we wanted to come home to be with the other three darlings, so we got our wish and were discharged at 3:00 pm the following day. Due to the speedy delivery we were unable to capture the "action shots" so here are the post "event" moments. :)













Our celebration picture moment (WE DID IT)!...eating at Frisko Freeze before heading home! Blackberry Shake, A HUGE Cheeseburger and Fries!

LIFE VIA CAMERA ROLL

Spring Forward...

"My times are in Your hand..." Psalm 31:15

Sundays aren't complete without a good nap, I usually do my weekly ironing and today we (as in the boys) snuck in a little yard work. We pruned our apple tree, cherry & plum tree and Daddy and Ezekiel finished their derby car for AWANA. We ended our day with homemade turkey-spinach lasagna and NILLA healthified banana pudding for dessert. Could it get any better?

What the Bible says about snow...

"Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool."
Isaiah 1:18



Your snowman's days are numbered, so take plenty of pictures :)


What I love about the unexpected March snow...

My husband has a late start to work
Seeing the kids excitement when looking out the window first thing in the morning
A day at home to get postponed housework done
Baking delicious treats such as...

BREAKFAST OATMEAL BARS

1 1/4 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped nuts (e.g. almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pecans, peanuts)
3/4 cup dried fruit (e.g. dates, apricots, raisins, prunes, cranberries)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375F. Line 25x25cm baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Mix wet ingredients. Pour wet into dry ingredients and stir to combine. Let the mixture soak for 10 minutes. Then pour into prepared dish and press down evenly. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Cut into squares while still hot. Let cool completely before storing in airtight container.

And taking pictures of my littles...:)


P.S. Can I just add that the art of rolling a snowman is NOT easy...and quite the full body workout when you have 4 weeks left before little stud arrives. That's my excuse for the leaning old man! :)

The Secret to Lent

After having been asked several times what I was giving up for Lent? Joking (kinda) with my husband about giving up ironing for Lent, talking with friends about the background of Lent. I had to dig into the word to know more of Him...

Here's what I learned:
Focus on Him. Hold fast to Him.

“But you,

when you fast…

~ Matt. 6:17


For those that want to read more...
http://www.gospelgrace.net/2012/02/22/to-lent-or-not-to-lent/
http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2012/02/a-short-history-of-lent/

Baked Onion Rings

On our Sabbath days we like to eat! After church we'll come home put the kids in quiet time or naps and spend time together in the kitchen. Here's what we re-created this Sunday...Try it and see if it makes an onion lover out of you!
Served up with some turkey sliders and mmm heavenly. :)



Recipe:
http://zoomyummy.com/2011/09/17/oven-fried-onion-rings/

Happy March

Four hours later, I am not only able to write this but laugh about a certain 15 month old who climbed into a kitchen cabinet, shut the door behind him, and poured apple cider vinegar on everything, but also able to recognize that I really ought to have laughed at the time as well.
God causes us to grow - and that if we pray for more love, more grace, more ability to bear up, He always answers it with more of Himself.:)

I am sooooo glad March is here, it means that spring is just around the corner! The end of February was hit with sickness for all. I can deal with colds, ear/sinus infections as they seem to be a seasonal thing and comes with the territory of having little ones. Although on top of that Lani got the flu, 105 temps. Ezekiel thankfully avoided the flu but got a viral bug which he's still on antibiotics for... Matthias was on 3 different antibiotics for his ears, sinuses and cough...nothing which worked. His breathing was diagnosed from a wheezing to a crackle and to continue nebulizer treatments which we'd been off/on since December. We couldn't keep his fever below 103 even with Advil/Tylenol (of/on for weeks). The peds asked that we test him (blood work, chest exrays etc) but of course the fever has gone back to normal and he has started drinking again soooo...patiently we wait and watch to see how things (prayerfully) progress.

In the meantime, we've been staying close to home, testing one anothers boundaries. Giving thanks for new yet old blessings such as books, puzzles, cozy beds, chocolate (lots of chocolate), nice smelling candles, good recipes, phones, internet, prayer, and song, children to fill the home and make memories with.

Valentines Day...2012

What Love looks like...


In the beginning it looked like fun - Sweet, new a blessing and a gift!


It was free and exciting as we planned our life together.

Love grew - Full of surprises, challenges - children - it multiplied!
Challenges can break you - and they can make you stronger.
When it is done God's way - it can last:



"Love is patient . . . . . "


"Love is kind."
"It does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant or rude . . . . ."


"It does not insist on it's own way; it is not irritable or resentful ,
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth . . . . ."


"Love bears all things, believes all things
hopes all things, endures all things . . . . . "


"Love never ends."
I Corinthians 13: 4-8


Sometimes love looks like piles of laundry - more dishes - another trip to the store.
It can be flowers and sunshine



Love can be cooking and cleaning. There is always so much more.
It means work every day - not forgetting to sing


Love looks like
Washing dirty faces - even scrubbing the floor
kissing every skinned elbow - dusting every shelf . . . .


Love is really very simple -It's Dying Daily to self !



Romans 5: 8
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us"

Love looks a little different now than it did when we began
Now it's richer, stronger, truer

Resting safe in the Masters hands!

Happy Love Day!
every day