Ethan's birthday

Well, this month my oldest turned 12.  Next thing I'll know he'll be shaving!   He had a great time with his buddies sleeping over and and chose to top it off with both a big chocolate chip cookie and his favorite of all time - a pumpkin pie.  The boys wrestled, laughed, played Legos & the video games.  No one was hurt but it was pretty crazy around here that night.  Despite my best attempts, I still managed to miss one of the boys in this photo below.  Too many for me to keep track of them all I guess.  

I can see how he's growing up in so many ways.  Obviously he's physically changing before my eyes (and he has the same size feet as I do) but I love to see the glimpses of maturity in him as well.  He still knows how to be silly, that's for sure, and I was impressed to see him spend his birthday money on a Kindle rather than on more Legos.  What impresses me most is his heart for others.  He has reached out to a new friend the last few months that doesn't have many of his own.  He has demonstrated more generosity, not only to friends but even to his siblings at times, that's new!  He is learning to control his emotions in a more "grown up" way, he is confident standing on his own and even staying home alone at times, and shows more responsibility in getting his chores and other requirements done quickly without stalling.  He even talks about his desire to maybe be a missionary someday.  Only God knows his future but we pray he will continue to walk in the Light.

Rejoice with us as we watch our boy become a young man.  Happy Birthday Jaybird! 

Merry Christmas!

We hope it's been a very merry Christmas season for your family!  I just thought I'd share a few glimpses of our season as we close out another year together.  As you see, little santa here is still a fun fixture at our house.  Adorable huh?

Making cookies, decorating gingerbread houses, and cultivating friendships.  There has been plenty of time for that over the holidays. Where has the month of December gone?

Even without the beauty of a white Christmas we enjoyed the magic of Christmas morning blended with the joy of children.  Though we are filled with laughter and fun at our house, I can see these years melting away as my children are growing up so fast.  May we never forget to be present in today and make it count toward a better tomorrow.  We have been so blessed. 

In just 3 more days I'll celebrate 16 years as one flesh with my Man.  I never could have imagined the life we'd have together and I wouldn't trade a day of it for anything.  This wild and crazy family is a blessing from God and I pray I never lose sight of what I have to be grateful for.  May that be true for you as well in the coming year.  God is good, all the time.  Happy New Year!

Christmas Plays

It's the most wonderful time of the year....... (cue music)

We were blessed with 2 tickets to see a professional production of A Christmas Carol.  I almost turned them down as I figured there was no fair way to decide who would get to come with me.  Well, I was very pleased to watch as three of my kids bowed out gracefully so that their sister (who fancies herself an actor) could go.  Goose and I had a great time and made some fun Christmas memories with Ebanezer Scrooge.  Thanks for the tickets Lori!

The following week I enjoyed watching the kids in their annual Christmas Pageant at church.  This beautiful angel even sang a few lines with only 2 friends (that's HUGE for a shy girl who used to cry standing up with a group).  Precious.  Goose and Spiderman had some speaking parts (which they handled wonderfully) and sang with the entire group.  Jabird was a bit too old (and very relieved) to be in the performance this year.  It was a sweet play and we were all reminded that there would be no Christmas without Jesus.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!!!

More important firsts.

Not to be outdone by their little sister, the boys recently had their own big "wildlife firsts".  Spiderman shot his first deer, this beautiful buck.  Of course it came with it's own drama.  He took the shot without much light left in the evening and they didn't see where it ran.  They searched the area with lanterns but had no luck and began to question if he even hit the deer.  Spiderman was in tears to think he either missed the buck or hit it and lost it, what a rough evening.  The next morning, my man went looking again in the daylight and found it laying in some long grass.  When he came  home with the good news, Spiderman was overjoyed (and he got out of school while he helped Dad haul it home and hang it up).  What a RELIEF!

Just a couple days later, Jaybird came home ecstatic to report that he had caught 2 racoons in his live traps, more firsts!   This photo is of a particularly large male (that earned him $9 from the buyer).  He has since caught even more, bringing his total to 6 racoons.  Now if we could only trap the pesky coyotes that like to hang out at our place. 

Now, I don't post many photos of my man's deer harvests because there are always so many (he's shot 6 so far this year) but this particular buck is special.  With 15 points, it's almost the biggest deer he's ever killed (technically he has a 10 point on the wall that measures slightly bigger) but this one is visually more impressive to me.  The only thing that would have made him more proud would be if he'd taken it with his bow instead of a rifle, archery is his true passion.

So - way to go men!  I'm proud of all of you!  

Boo's Birthday

Believe it or not, my "baby" is 8!  (This is particularly momentous to her because she no longer has to ride in a booster seat)  We recently celebrated with a party of friends.  It's so fun to watch her with her peers.  Boo's always been my more independent child, willing to play on her own.  She has begun to branch out and find some friends of her own and yes, to navigate the complex friendships of girls.  Here is the party crew down below.
 

Boo still loves her imagination and the limitless possibilities it will provide.  It's not uncommon to see her outside making pud pies for her doll or practicing her ninja skills on the trampoline.  She always has a song in her heart and on her tongue, whether or not she thinks anyone is listening.  Delightful!  Above she is pictured with her doll, Kara, who is modeling the new clothes that Grandma made for her.  Boo also loves to do her hair.

And finally, Boo wanted to get her ears pierced for her birthday.  She'd had them years ago but eventually let them close up.  Now she feels "big enough" to enjoy them and take care of them on her own.  We made the trip to the store and she nervously sat to have them done.  As soon as the first one was in, she emphatically declared that it didn't hurt at all.  About five minutes after they were finished, she started to change her mind. :)  I love the earrings she chose, little hearts with crystals in the middle.  They are just like her - sweet on the outside and twinkly in the middle.  I love you Boo!

Doe, a deer, a female deer

Yep, that's my Goose with her first ever deer.  She was so excited to harvest this deer on her own (sitting by Dad) and her first words after the shot were "Thank you Jesus!"  My man couldn't have been more proud of his daughter.  It was a perfect shot, a quick kill, a major accomplishment and a memory that neither one of them will ever forget. 

Friends like family

What a fun week we shared with our friends the Jeffries.  Friends since WAY back in college, is was great to reconnect.  We've actually been able to do this a few times over the years so they are certainly not strangers to the kids.  We took the week off of school so the kids could play, the men could hunt and the women could scrapbook a few pages while trying to keep our sanity!  It was a FULL house with all these people squeezed in but it was full of laughs, love, stories and food as well.

The boys got along famously and spent  many, many hours locked in their room with the Legos.  Most shocking was that there were no requests to play video games ALL WEEK!!  Unheard of!  Just don't expect to see the carpet on their bedroom floor - it was replaced with the Legos.

These two girls were the biggest surprise.  Boo is usually tagging along with the older kids and their friends but doesn't have many close playmates.  All week these two were off playing pretend happily and expanding their adorable imaginations.  Goose got into the mix as well but she really bounced between the girls, boys and even the adults (going hunting once with "Grandpa Skip" to keep him company).

Everyone is already scheming to see if we can make another reunion next fall.