The Rose Bush News

September Update

2011-09-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

We planted grass! It's so nice to see little green shoots poking up on our rock-free, flat yard!

My little scientist -- capturing shots of weathering. She's inspecting her photo of the lichens on the rock as an example of chemical weathering. Somehow using a camera instead of pencil & journal was much more appealing.

Jones Creek -- full and overflowing. The soothing noise of listening to the rush of water is almost like being at the beach. Okay, I must dream sometimes!

Green bean pickers :). We accidentally mixed in some lima beans, so I've got to figure out when to harvest those.

Happy harvesters ... all done!

I know, I know. It IS sad to remove the mountain mural. But, I wanted a fresh, practical world map for our school room.

My eager wallpaper removers

I hire only the best! Look at those lights -- I think we'll need them permanently! I missed capturing the laser level for ensuring it was perfectly straight. And the t-shirt --- to make Grandma Jody proud! One more final photo once we clean it all up! I promise!

Remembering Carrie

2011-06-07T19:10:00.000-07:00

Each year we have a tradition of letting balloons go up on Carrie's birthday. This year she would have been 13. Titus was delighted to discover that he COULD keep one because Craige's mistakenly gave us 14 balloons!

Briella had the most questions this year. We had fun perusing Carrie's box of memories.

I believe babies who die are in heaven. It was interesting that Pastor Brett talked to Jared's class about this very topic a few weeks ago. I'm grateful for thought-provoking SS discussions for my son! We don't know for sure, but I do know God is loving and just. I trust Him with my little one.

This picture is for me. I am grateful for my kiddos!

2011-06-06T05:35:00.000-07:00

The cousin reunion -- hosted at Lissa's. Thanks so much for building such fabulous memories and carrying on some long-lived traditions.

Whenever Daddy comes home from work the kids love to run to the end of the drive to greet him and get a ride in the back of the pick-up. This doesn't change when they are teenagers. Their enthusiasm was contagious. Dan was "coerced" into rides for all!

Happy times with simple pleasures! They even collected "evidence" from the trees/bushes.

The annual German sweet chocolate cake -- singing to Lissa Friday night. We had several June birthdays to remember.

The slip-n-slide was a big hit -- Marci and Anna Grace.

Zack!

Marci,Anna Grace, Anna/Ashlyn, Micah, Luke, Adam

Dan, showing us how it's done! Such a kid :)


Rob and Zack, trying to figure out the "hand cuff" puzzle. Thanks, Uncle Chad!!


Silly String WAR!

We white people just don't know how to do this properly. But, we had fun!

Sweet time visiting with these people! Wish Lissa's face were in here too...

Making music in the loft


The men in the man cave. The pictures kept getting worse as more & more of them began to imitate Seth's example. This is the best I could get.


All the kiddos!

Self-timer -- needs some PhotoShop work. I'll get to it next week, but wanted to get the blog updated for those eager to see pics! :)

Dance Recital ~ Sneak Preview

2011-05-11T12:34:00.000-07:00

Long Live Elvis!

My beautiful dancer girl all grown up!


If You're an Addams ~ Musical Theater

It's picture week!! I was a sneaky parent and stole a couple shots behind the photographer to whet your appetite for the upcoming recital! June will be here soon and you're all invited...

First Friday Music

2011-05-06T19:11:00.000-07:00

Beautiful music on First Friday in Binghamton. Just fun motherly memories... I had to document them.

Brave Briella

2011-05-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

Briella's mere flesh wound. She crashed her bike and hit her head on a rock. This all happened about 20 minutes after I left for a jog. Fortunately Daddy cleaned her up and took her into the ER. I am so glad he was home!!!

This evening -- all cleaned up and reading in her bed. I am so very grateful for her nurse -- Renee Tyler. She is so awesome! She even called me after they had glued & steri-stripped her forehead so that I could hear her sweet voice. They did a CT scan just to make sure all was well.

And she had a big smile for me :). Praising God it wasn't anything worse! She had a very interesting story about two brothers -- one who had a bee bee in his abdomen and was being transported to another hospital for surgery. Sobering for my two boys who like to play with guns ... and shoot each other (darts, just darts!).

Marci's Recital

2011-05-06T18:47:00.000-07:00

As one of the older students, she was awarded the privilege of directing the little ones to the piano as their turn came. She's adept at this kind of job, thanks to her many siblings! I love this look :)

Marci: I played Schubert's piano duet Marche Militaire with another student and Liszt's Un Sospiro (a sigh) for my solo.

I can't believe this is the only picture I snapped! And she commented, "Yeah, and I looked fabulous!" So sorry I failed to capture the fabulous one up close! Maybe I'll upload the video footage later. (our OLD video camera - in 15 second clips -- better than nothing!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgo7vTMTC7Y (duet)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cSsAIMdDkc (solo)

Easter Sunday

2011-04-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

A "twirl fest" inspired by little Kerith (wearing Marci's 6-year birthday dress!). Ahh, what joy in girls twirling, skirts flying, air swirling, hair flying ... smiles!

And now she's not embarrassed to "get into" a big twirl!

Mommy: The Photographer; Daddy: The Entertainer.

DC ~ Cherry Blossoms

2011-04-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

Cherry Blossoms beckoned us away from the mountains to the big city. And, they were luscious and definitely worth the effort! We enjoyed the sunny, although chilly, day of walking amidst the crowds.

We were very happy to notice this sun-warmed bench right beside Herbie! What a welcome spot for our picnic lunch! Afterwards, we did bunch inside the vehicle for some warmth and more cookies :).

A gracious by-stander offered to snap the family photo ... so, here we are beneach Lincoln himself.

Now, this was just a favorite memory I couldn't leave out. We were at the museum and it happened spontaneously without Emily, so I had them pose with her in her rightful spot :). I love my kids!

(Cantaloupe, the lone surviving kitten, is still meowing this evening. New life is such a marvel. I've never been so observant of each milestone for a kitten. Her eyes are opening today. Tomorrow she will be 2 weeks old. I got to hold little Ella Ruth -- one week old today. I love newborn snuggles! Alas, I love any snuggles. I got hugs from nearly all the kids in Titus's class in an effort to convince Kerith she'd better hug me too. It worked! )

The much-awaited canoe ride. I had promised them a canoe ride once Daddy arrived; but, we ended up eating, visiting and going to bed that evening. So, before our departure for home Wednesday morning we bundled up for some time in the canoe. I think it was her favorite part of the trip! My kind of girl! We were so grateful for the luxurious accomodations at my cousin's place in Great Falls. We stayed in her barn which included a full kitchen of which she stocked the frig (my favorite part) and a loft full of every toy -- including dart guns (Dan's favorite part!). The dart guns were necessary to get the helium balloon back to the edge of the room so we could retrieve it for Miss Briella. So, yes, I'm grateful for the all the good shots.

This was the representative photo of our time at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. I think she should definitely buy these sunglasses -- what do you think?!?

Lots of walking ALL the way around the tidal basin. So glad Daddy was able to join us!

The youngest still managed to get a piggy-back ride. It WAS a LOT of walking that day. Dan claims it was 6 miles! Hmmmm.

And, just in time ... with many caveats in the plans ... Grandpa arrived! Can't believe this is the only shot Emily managed to snap of him. But, we all know about "no photography!" I'm very, very grateful for Grandpa who overlooks all my disorganization, my definitely-not-perfect kids ... and fills in the holes where he can. Love this man! Even though he did get me with his e-mail on April 1st that his eggs weren't staying down. Stinker! I worried all night 'cause it was too late to call. I'm thinking about next year...

The Violin Lesson

2011-03-27T08:40:00.000-07:00

Every Tuesday we head across the mountains to Mrs. L's oasis. Her garden is a litle piece of heaven and her music room is full of light and warmth! Most of all, her spunk and lively personality awakes all the musical potential in my daughter :). I am very grateful for her mentorship of my Marci!

I just love the perspective of this shot :).

A Terrific Tuesday

2011-03-26T18:41:00.000-07:00

The morning began with sunshine and an early trip to Binghamton (7am is early for this homeschooling mom!). I zipped back home to gather the rest of the crew who had the luxury of sleeping in. We made it back for the 11am concert --- the best part for me was getting to entertain little Chase and visit with my friends. Oh, the music was pretty good too!

Then we headed to The Discovery Center for lunch and a few hours of play. The classic big bubble exhibit ... still a favorite of all ages!

When she had to journal about today, her favorite part was talking on the phones! I love this face!

These boys wouldn't want you to know it, but they are having fun! The ambulance ride ... I hope they survive :).

Group shot!

Ragen honored me by putting her girls in outfits that E & M used to wear!!! I love these girls <3

Oreos! Titus and his buddy were running non-stop, so I didn't snap any other photos of them. They did sit still long enough to eat a few cookies, I see.

Just so you all know, Mrs. Ely STARTED the snowball fight. I was just being a good friend and joining in on the fun.

I love my friends. I so needed to laugh this day. The snowball fight did the trick! :)

I love this chair :) It was a Terrific Tuesday ... and I'm very, very grateful for all my friends who honored me with their presence at Marci's concert today, who played with me afterwards, and most of all ... who made me laugh! Love you ladies!!

The Snowy March

2011-03-07T18:43:00.000-08:00

We awoke to a quiet blanket of about 18" of snow. I had intentions of going out for a jog, but decided to bulk up on my arms with some shoveling instead. I'm feeling it now!!

Now Jared was one of my best shovelers, so he deserved some fun on the skis!

We have the making of this snow angel in sports mode, if you'd like to see more of the action. The simplest of snow fun!

The girls kept the "jump" built up -- here's Titus catching some air!

She looks so serious, but she was a speedy little daredevil and enjoyed every moment!

Shadows and Mud

2011-03-03T17:13:00.000-08:00

This picture is so March. The sap lines are out, maple trees tapped and pouring their nutrients into blue barrels. We're checking the lines and the levels daily. We have mud again! And, look at those shadows! The hope of spring is just around the corner now that it's March ... with mud and shadows.

Now you see the reality of this poor mother of teenagers must endure. Really. Do I deserve THIS for merely documenting the daily and ordinary?

The pirate dinghy. We're reading about William Penn ... Hostages on the Nighthawk. This toy from Grandpa Verlin & Grandma Jane complements our state history lessons perfectly!

And the birthday boy keeps sneaking away to Playmobil-land!

The Baby Turns Seven

2011-03-03T16:24:00.000-08:00

Titus had an awesome birthday a couple weeks ago. One, Daddy was home. Two, we had fifty-degree weather for skiing! It was slushy and slow, but a lot of fun. That evening we stopped in at Rob's to pick out his free birthday cake. Then we came home for "omelets by Daddy!" (Did I mention I love it when other people are requested to cook for meals?!?) Here we have Marci perfecting the arrangement of the candles.

This is "take two" for blowing out the candles due to the photographer having some issues. (Card full -- wonder how THAT happened?!?) So, Titus obliged us by blowing again! :)

Homemade crayons! And, look what delight! This amuses me because I know it may not seem like much, but it took time to create those special crayons. And, I love to see how each sibling gives. Such a joy when they love each other!

I had to leave this goofball grin in. What a little man has to endure with four older siblings -- this is how he entertains us.

Cool rocket cup from the Maynards!

Legos! Before bedtime Legos were EVERYWHERE in their bedroom -- and mostly assembled, I might add. I had to put an end to the completion of each set because I was just plain tired.

This was the gift Daddy found. I think it was because it was with selfish intent, but I would never accuse anyone of THAT. Let it be known that the dart gun wars have been intense ... by those of ALL ages! ;)

Eyes to See

2011-03-02T10:43:00.000-08:00

We have a deck full of snow. A bountiful supply. If you're gonna have snow, you might as well have enough to have LOTS of fun :). We do!

The roof is iced thick - a picturesque place from this perspective. It's all about perspective.

Just enough color. Winter is often so bland, but here the beauty of the red shines brightly. A bright contrast.

My view from my "top of the mountain" spot. Thanks to the power lines, we can see the beauty of the rolling hills. Eyes to see the white fluff of blowing snow, the gentle curves of the landscape and the brightness of a clearing from the trees.

Our fence along the garden. This fence makes me trek further up the hill than I'd like during the summer months, but it's good. It deters the deer from entering our garden from this side (I think). It used to keep horses inside. Fences hem in. Being hemmed in is something for which I'm grateful. I just plain like this picture :).

Emily was so excited to show me this series of shots. I love my Emily because she sees with different eyes than I do. I'm grateful for her perspective; all of these shots are hers. It was the morning after a fresh snow and the sun was out. I encouraged her to take the camera and go for a hike. I love our place through her lens. And, I love love that little face grinning in the bottom reflected back from the mirror just inside the door. Cool how you can still see the snow-covered branches as well :).

Looking up. That's it. If I remember to look up, I'm grateful when I look down & all around. I love the crisp blue of sky and the various tints of white in clouds, gutter and shimmery icicles. When I look up I'm reminded of Him who holds all things in His hand -- particularly my surroundings. He knows the exact place where I live. He placed me here at this time. He wants me to seek Him. I choose gratefulness.

Fabulous Fifteenth

2011-03-02T08:21:00.000-08:00

The Judge insists, "No tasting of the icing!" She, being the cook, was allowed multiple licks. Hmmmm. Emily somehow has had the last few birthday meals fall on Tuesday - her day to cook. This makes me very happy! She made spaghetti and a raspberry cake. The cake is superb and moist, if not a little floppy. But, that's okay. At least it won't sit on the counter for a couple weeks like the store-bought ones do! :)

Pretty flowers with the March birthstone: aquamarine. It was a tradition in my family to have our ears pierced at age 15 and Marci agreed to have hers pierced. I think the earrings from Aunt Nano at Christmas were an impetus. I love earrings for their feminity and I'm glad Marci is maturing into a beautiful young lady -- with or without the earrings! Her daddy told me to remind her of the verses in I Peter that speak about true beauty -- that of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God's sight. (I Peter 3:3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. )

Talking to her cute little cousins!! Such fun conversations :)

Mrs. Reitz - her piano teacher!! Lately, I've been overcome with sentimentality and have decided I'm going to make it a point to capture all of the things for which I'm grateful. This dear lady is one wonderful mentor for Marci! I'm very grateful because she is irreplacable!

More fun mommy memories. Sometimes it's the daily or weekly things we overlook. I'm grateful for the weekly trip out for lessons. Next week I'm going to document the violin lessons!

A Day of Prognostication: Spring to Come Soon

2011-02-02T19:30:00.000-08:00

It's my brother Rob's birthday today! Happy Birthday Rob!!! Last night on Skype the Georgia cousins wanted to see pictures of our snow. It doesn't look too exciting, but here it is:

Free popsicles!

We're trying to refrain from breaking these off in hopes they'll reach the snow!

My work crew this afternoon!

Buried in the snow. We're so sad.

NOT! Such sibling love!

Today was another snow day here in Montrose. So, we've been home with nowhere to go for THREE days straight. I think we're looking forward to dance lessons and music lessons tomorrow :). And, we're especially excited to see sunshine in Friday's forecast!

An amusing quote sent by THE FATHER:
Rob's Birthday - Groundhog Day BOTH occur on the same day.

It's an ironic juxtaposition of events; one event involves a meaningless ritual in which we look to a creature of limited intelligence for prognostication, on his birthday, while yet another involves a groundhog.

Snowy Valley Forge

2011-01-29T10:39:00.000-08:00

Thursday morning - Philadelphia's snow covered our vehicles!

Hotel staff helped us clean off the snow. When they noticed their audience, they bombarded us with snowballs! Fun memories!

Daddy's truck -- our guide to the park.

True conditions of what it must have been like for George Washington and troops.

I've been replaced as family photographer, so you don't get to see Miss Emily's smile in this one.

Somebody needed a piggy-back ride after taking a snowball from her big sister! So glad Daddy was with us today :)

At the Visitor's Center we looked through the artifacts to finish up our booklets for the Junior Ranger program. Titus was infatuated with all the guns and maps.

Good-bye for now!

The Franklin

2011-01-26T14:04:00.000-08:00

The Franklin Institute - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - January 2011

Inside the heart

The cow eyeball dissection -- worth the expert explanations!

Emily has an eye for cool photos! Love the pendulum, the marble stairway, my girls.

Another dissection with an expert -- I never knew how those valves really worked until I saw them here!

Now this guy was my all-time favorite! Uncle Chad - this photo is for you!!! This is the "Liquid Air" Show. He dipped the balloon in liquid nitrogen, in case you're wondering. He was a great teacher!

In front of Ben during the "fire alarm" break. Truly, we all had to evacuate the museum and hang out with Ben until the "all clear" signal.

Briella and Jack prove the ball will NOT fit through the ring.

Titus throws the rubber ball that was soaked in liquid nitrogen. Everyone was shocked at the results!

And NOW that ball fits through the ring?!?!! How'd that happen?

The big girls have fun too.

Pull...

Pendulum fun...

Briella and Titus "drive" the train.


:0)


Train Ride

Emily & Briella made "all" the airplanes. I couldn't get anybody to go in the flight simulator with me. This was a cool exhibit area that we nearly missed!

The erosion table -- a mother's delight.

Goodbye Philadelphia!

Hotel Life

2011-01-26T12:08:00.000-08:00

Online classes for the teens...

Reading amidst the pillows.

Titus made all of his sentences for phonics :)

Journaling about yesterday...

We really are doing school! History channel counts, right?!?

More Hockey Shots

2010-12-29T08:34:00.000-08:00

The Gifts of Christmas

2010-12-28T20:42:00.000-08:00

I returned from my jog to find the girls playing Anna's new game in bed. Such fun cousin memories!

The adults -- photo by Anna!

Titus was super pleased to get this gift from Aunt Nano. And the cool backpack too -- "secret getting place" deal! Last photo of Titus with his tooth still intact. He's hoping for another tooth fairy visit this evening! During our telling of the Christmas story, he wormed his way behind Grandma's poster to eat an apple. Uncle Ron had to pause his part of the story so we could dab up the blood and wrap the tooth in a paper towel!

We love games!

Perfect gift for Jared! He's already got it all assembled.

Anna was so pleased to have MATCHING socks with Marci! Marci rolled up her jeans to make sure everyone noticed her donning these hot new socks!

Emily's reaction to Uncle Dave's story of how he misplaced her leotard in the "goodwill" pile.

All the cousins -- Derek, Logan, Kirk, Brett, Casey, Dillon, Emma, Marci, Emily, Ben, Jared, Titus, Anna & Briella.

Go Huskers! (Thursday night)

The Air Cannon

2010-12-28T20:03:00.000-08:00

Santa missed hockey today because the first wiring job was faulty.

Santa busy at work on Logan's air cannon!

Ahhhh, it works well! A potato makes it to the ice!

Chad & Logan --- I know, you are hoping Dan draws YOUR name next year!

Logan will put this to good use, I'm sure. It shoots t-shirts :)

Blue Hill - Birthdays - Bummin'

2010-12-27T10:45:00.000-08:00

The December Bithday Club: Grandma (70), Uncle Ron (??) and Emily (16). :)

A new version of Catan! Thanks, Uncle Chad! Emily emerged the victor :)

I think Uncle Ron is winning!

Showing Uncle Chad how he re-used his motor from the robot.

Casey entertains, I mean endures, Titus!

Even though all his nephews now tower over him, Dan maintains he can still hold his own as ninja warrior (?!?). And, that's what really matters.

Ben lets Jared help him with his really cool Christmas EE kit. Jared is very pleased his mother is documenting this moment! I love 11-year old boys!

Grandma opens her birthday gift from Marci. We've been waiting to give this to her since August when we finished it up for the Harford Fair!

Happy 70th Grandma Jane!

Complements her angel collection. <3

Christmas Hockey

2010-12-27T10:15:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas fun on the pond. Sooo, good to stretch our legs after the 25-hour trip to Nebraska!

Emily must have had the zoom lens on from the house!

Christmas Day - just after arriving to Blue Hill. Woo-hoo!

Grandma and I switched places. See my cool hat that Marci made me?!?

Sweet Sixteen

2010-12-15T13:26:00.000-08:00

Upon opening a certain item of their "armor."

The very last Precious Moments figurine for Growing in Grace -- from Uncle Curtis and Aunt Jenny.

Can you believe she doesn't like these bright colors?!? Sigh.

Delighted to see her big sister opening her card -- which required her to do the chicken dance before following clues to find her gift. We agreed to leave the cameras off during her performance!

And, following clues for another sibling gift! :)

Reading the homemade card :)

December Birthday Girls -- sporting their "helmets of salvation" and "shields of faith!" They are ready for battle!

And, here are the feet "shod with the gospel of peace."

I love these girls!!

Mrs. Beckett's famous chocolate cake recipe -- such good memories.

And, last but not least, the birthstone ring. You'll have to ask the birthday girl about her date with her daddy. It was on a pond. Hmmmm, that just sounds a bit too familiar! He gave me a ring on a pond just over 20 years ago!

Cookie Day

2010-12-15T11:57:00.000-08:00

Briella, so meticulous!

The boys have fun, but they work fast so they can move on to Legos.

Even the big girls enjoy the fun of decorating :)

Poor Em didn't have a buddy this day. We had a contest for anyone who could make her laugh. Mrs. Ely succeeded!

These boys were eager painters ... AND eaters!

Jared's plate :)

And the award for the most-meticulously-painted cookie went to Olivia!

Odessa and her works of art :)

I so needed a friend and an evening of relaxation and enjoying my children. I'm grateful for friends when family is so very, very, very far away. Thanks for hanging out with us and loving us!

The Tooth Fairy must visit my baby!

2010-12-15T10:09:00.000-08:00

Checkin' it out!

What a hole!

YES!

It's very sad for me. I love those baby teeth all nice and neat. Booooo! My baby lost his first tooth! But, it's also an exciting step. He's getting his "man teeth!" He's growing up and I'm glad for him. (not for me, though!) Soooo, we made a call to the tooth fairy. She must visit this evening. I hope she can stay awake because, well, because the one who usually has "tooth fairy duty" is in Washington D.C.! (I hope it's safe to post that here on my blog!)

Merry Christmas 2010

2010-11-30T17:01:00.001-08:00

Family Frame Christmas Card

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View the entire collection of cards.

Violin and Bop-It

2010-11-20T15:35:00.000-08:00

Because a mother must. :) With dearest love to my teenagers.

Quiet Valley & Cinderella

2010-11-16T16:59:00.000-08:00

Grades 1-3 - ready for reading aloud together.

Boys on one side...

Rebekah -- getting the "tattle tail."

Ready for arithmetic!

Older kids work problems from a book at their desks. They check their own work.

Teenagers teach the rest of the classroom about the Boston Massacre.

Game time -- we divided into two groups and each took a turn dropping the clothespins into the jar. The "Dogs" beat the "Cats." Of course, I was on the winning side (with the boys) and contributed 2 points to our score! Go Dawgs!

And these are mine.

I wonder if this form of discipline would work in my home ... (??!!?)

Lunch at our desks.

Game time outside with homemade darts!

The entire group who reenacted our 1893 one-room schoolhouse day!

A tour of the farm animals -- chicken, geese, pigs (including one in labor), bunnies and horses!

I wish we could afford one of these for her 16th birthday. Sigh.


Preparation for the Boston Massacre lesson in the chilly cloak room.

I thoroughly enjoyed our chance to visit the Quiet Valley Historical Farm in Stroudsburg. It was a fun way to spend time learning about life in 1893 when Grover Cleveland was President. Especially since Jared was just Grover for Biography Dress-Up Night! We enjoyed spending time with the Longacres. But, it meant being loaded and in the car by 7am. Thank goodness Daddy was home and helped me get everyone fed, dressed, and loaded. Glad we don't have to do THAT every day!
We ended our day with the play "Cinderella" put on by our local high school. Awesome and so fun to see how the community showed up to support it -- a sold-out crowd! We especially loved the step-sisters, the black fairy godmother and the steward. The girls didn't believe I would try on the slipper, so I had to prove them wrong. I told the steward it fit, but he retorted, "I don't think so!" He snatched it off my foot and moved on to other women. Sigh.
I slept really well that night!

Elliot!!!

2010-11-16T16:17:00.000-08:00

Friday afternoon included a quick stop to meet Elliot!! Oh my word, it was heaven to be able to hold him, smell him and kiss him!!! Then we were treated to scrumptious cupcakes from Katie before packing back into Herbie for the trip home.

Scranton Cultural Center History Mystery Tour

2010-11-16T16:06:00.000-08:00

The Scavenger Hunt Masters

Look who can snap his fingers!!!

It was REALLY hard for these two not to R U N ... so they could be first :)

Jared was chosen to help the magician!

And then he chose Briella and called me an "Oriental Tourist" because I kept snapping so many pictures!

Monday morning was made much more fun by a trip to Scranton. We headed out at 8:30, found a quick parking place by feeding the meter ALL of our quarters. Titus explained this to an elderly man crossing the street. He gave Titus a quarter! He was 85 and so sweet :). The tour began by dividing us into four teams of different colors. The green team included all the Roses (except Emily & Briella) and the Elys. We had a blast going up and down that master staircase. I guess that made up for me turning around at Bill Bayne's this morning instead of making it to the top of the hill ;). And, we won the coupons for free Applebee Kid's meals ... which we plan to save for our cross-country trip at Christmas.

Monday afternoon was spent doing history, art, music and working on the research paper for the electric car. I have good motivation to keep up on my blog now -- a worthy excuse for letting the kids tend to the housework :). Unless, of course, they want to blog ... and gain tally marks!! (Hint, hint.)

The Hail Storm

2010-09-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

Hail! What a perfect opportunity to study the layers!

Goofball! He wanted his pic standing under the falling hail too.

It's times like these that make me grateful to have them at home :)

And, we can't forget this young man -- the last to brave the storm!

Tomato Soup

2010-09-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

Today, being the cold and rainy day it was, put me in the mood for blogging. And, my dh took the trip to the city for orchestra practice (Marci) and shopping (my Sam's Club/Wal-Mart list). I was very grateful to have the afternoon at home. I tackled the garden produce:

Finally. Ripe tomatoes!

Chopped tomatoes, celery and onions ... simmering, filling the house with warmth and the aroma of a fall tradition.

The most enthralling part of the straining process. I love my KitchenAid, Mom!

Whisking in the butter and flour paste to thicken it up.

Hey, this represents more than just an afternoon's work! Plus, it's 7 easy lunches this winter. It was horrible to have run out -- first time in my marriage since getting the recipe from my mother-in-law close to 20 years ago!

Weighty decisions put aside for another day. Anticipation of grandparents visiting. Wisdom, wisdom, wisdom needed for shepherding little hearts. Grateful for friends who call me. Good night -- sleep needed for a busy week of school ahead.

Parenting Quote from 1918

2010-08-29T16:03:00.000-07:00

First of all, we have given our children a home where harmony, affection, and humor prevail and co-operation between parents instead of dissension is the key note.

An order is never issued without taking time to see that it is obeyed and the sense of expectancy brings speedy results. On the other hand we answer their questions as carefully and politely as if they were callers.

I adopted a dear relative's custom of taking every belonging left about the house and depositing it in an inconveniently located "catch all." The delinquent never needed to inquire; conscience led his steps there for the mislaid cap or mittens. No words are exchanged on the subject, though a quiet smile might appear on mother's face. (from Sonlight Forums)

Oh, that I could give my children these three things!

The New Piano

2010-08-20T18:07:00.000-07:00

Our awesome Kawai piano - a Christmas gift from Grandpa Verlin and Grandma Jane. We are all thoroughly enjoying the new keyboard. An extravagant plus is the beautiful mahogany exterior. We are so grateful! Never did I dream I could have such a beautiful instrument in MY living room :). Praying we can be good stewards of the gifts God has given us musically. (i.e. We must PRACTICE!!)

The Harford Fair by Titus

2010-08-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

This is how the Indians would hold the alligator so they could tie a rope around its snout.

My favorite part of the Harford Fair was my root beer sno cone. I didn't get a root beer float, just a sno cone. That is root beer with ice. I liked the tractor pull. I liked it because it was cool to see the tractors when they were pulling and I liked to hear what they did. But, I lost my juice box. (It fell under the bleachers.)

Catchin' some shade by "Farmer for a Day."

I liked the alligator show. I really wanted to go up on stage. I would have put my hand in his mouth like this. But, Daddy wouldn't let me go up on stage to have my picture made with the other alligators. (It meant $$$!)

This is a sensor they stick in the ground. Mommy wouldn't let me pull it out so I could see what it looked like.

This is where they drilled a hole and put dynamite for the seismic testing.

The Orange Bag

2010-08-20T16:09:00.000-07:00

Whirrrrr. It's 7am and the helicopter is making its trek over our house to drop the orange bags. Back and forth the helicopter travels until it has picked up and delivered its quota for the day. Then the trucks begin arriving and parking in little coves off our dirt road. The men open the bags and lay out all the cords to line up with the pink ribbons.

A look inside the orange bag.

These contraptions are sitting out every mile or so. Rumor has it that if you unplug these boxes they will know within fifteen seconds and come find you within five minutes!

Better than a stork-delivery :)

Soccer Saturdays

2010-08-13T18:19:00.000-07:00

Featuring: Titus, the soccer stud!

Soccer Games Begin Again!

2010-08-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

Waiting for the game to start...

Go Titus!

Good block!

Kick it up the field!

Am I going to be okay, or cry? (he decided on the former)

Serious, tough man face...

Smiling face!

Coming in triumphant - 4 to 2!

Good game!

Look who was managing the grill up at the concession stand! :)

Productive Garden Weeders

2010-08-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

Ready, Aim...

Fire at the photographer!

Are you eating the weeds Titus?

"It looks like a caterpillar!" ~Briella

Busy weeding...

Hiding in the weeds (the tall ones outside the garden)

Wrestling in the tall weeds...

Uh, oh! Where did my glasses go?!

Of course he employs his brother to look for them

Marci the master searcher of lost glasses

Look who found them!

The beautiful sunset!

and a photo of the photographer just for Aunt Jenny!

Blueberry Picking!

2010-08-12T09:45:00.000-07:00

It was a race to see who could pick the most berries Mommy vs kids!

Is that a good blueberry Titus?

Reach!

Mother-load!

Yumm....

Blackberries too!

And a surprise in the blackberry bushes--a big yellow spider!

Our freezer is now restocked with blueberries thanks to hard workers...well most of them....some of them were just good eaters

Saturday Night Trip to the Emergency Room and More!

2010-08-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

Saturday night as Daddy was working on his trailer the jack popped out and hit him in the face. It cut through his upper lip badly enough that he went to the ER. They had to put 3-4 stitches in his upper lip. This is what it looked like as of Sunday afternoon:

He was making silly faces as I tried to take his picture! He says it hurts to say p's and b's but other than that he can still talk. And he manages to eat just fine! =)

So Mommy said that we could just photoshop out his eyes and put Briella's eyes there because her's are just like his. Which of course she responded with this look:

I have no idea why Titus was making this face, but well, it is a peanut-buttery Titus face!

And a Smirking Jared face (I tried to take his picture but he ran away until mommy told him to stand still and let me take his picture, but he wouldn't wipe the smirk off his face).

And there's your little update from the Rose Bush News!

4th of July Excitement: Parade, Thief, Lake, Black Bear

2010-07-05T16:51:00.000-07:00

Emily's photography makes me smile. I just love this cheery, bright yellow flower!

The kids' favorite was the Bridgewater Baptist Church float -- because they handed out frozen ice pops! And, it was a day deserving of such a treat -- a rare thing to have a nice, toasty 4th of July Parade!

Yeah, here's the thief we found upon our return home for Emily's suit! Went up on our deck, meandered around the house before finally heading to the creek. The roof was off the bird house and a 5-gallon bucket of sunflower seeds was spilled all over the deck. Must seal that one up better!

Soooo grateful that we have good friends who share their lake house w/ us! What a welcome treat to beat the heat with a swim with friends.

Miss Crafty entertains the girls by making bracelets :)

And, he's back! Not sure if I want to let my kids go play now that I know he's been here 3 times today! While we were at the lake a flower pot was turned over and the buckets were re-arranged on the deck. Maybe we'll keep our feed in the garage! Do I want to work in the garden this evening?!?

Summer Days at Home

2010-06-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

After all that productivity with the strawberries, I was ready for a lazy day. I insisted on nothing from the kids so that I could read, write letters, study, etc. It was rejuvenating for me. This is what they created: a make-shift camper on Daddy's trailer that he now hopes to sell. (Buyers??!?) They had a telephone, table ... oh, I forget it all. But, they were quite content playing on the trailer all morning. They asked if they could please eat lunch there. Why not, I thought?!? So, I made tacos and we carried it down to have a picnic in the "camper." (Emily is still at camp. Marci was working for Mrs. Campbell.)

Jared insisted I take this picture so that you could get the "full view."

Today: no more laziness and playing! I am on a mission to reclaim my house after all year of ignoring cleaning for the sake of school. Today we tackled 7 windows inside and out! And, they were all quite enthusiastic about cleaning their windows, mind you. At least for the first half hour :)! Well, I had to "tomato stake" one of them next to me for a couple extra windows for whining and complaining, but we did it!

My most enthusiastic window washer -- love that sparkly clean window ... and that little grin!

We made it to Logan's class on animal tracks by 4pm. Logan is studying to be a teacher and is preparing his portfolio this summer with excellent activities for the kids. I'm very grateful my kids get to learn from a gentle, soft-spoken young man instead of ... well, me! ;) And, he has their rapt attention!

The class! Quite the age range and he's doing a superb job. Go Logan!

This evening we made it back to Montrose to catch the missions conference at church. The kids had a great time touring different countries in the basement with Mr. and Mrs. Coleman. Wow. Upstairs the perimeter was lined with displays of the many different ministries based in Montrose, Pennsylvania displaying how they are reaching out to a world who needs to hear about Jesus. It was so awesome to have an ecumenical worship service. Reminded me of my days at LeTourneau -- a great missions conference challenging us to pray for God's leading regarding where he'd have us serve him. Eager to hear Mr. Newbrander's message this Sunday!

Dan made it home with his new gooseneck trailer. I really miss Emily who is away at camp. Blogging is therapeutic for me. She enjoys getting the mail and photos from me, I'm sure!

Camping in Iowa

2010-06-23T09:02:00.001-07:00

This scrapbook customized with Smilebox

Never a Perfect Family...

2010-06-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

My favorite family photo from the Nebraska photo shoot. You just have to love that littlest one who is aggravating his sister. I would love a big one of this, but ... that face on Briella?!? I guess this is an accurate depcition of family interactions in the Rose household.

Strawberry Day

2010-06-22T19:26:00.000-07:00

STRAWBERRY PICKING

Our Green Acres - Owego, NY

Titus and Jared were left alone on the deck with knives while I stepped inside to help Marci jar up the jam. What was I thinking? Titus was going to prove that the knife was really dull. It sliced his thumb really well, just like it does tomatoes. I couldn't get it to stop bleeding. I called my favorite nurse, Aunt Jenny. She said to just tape it up tight. He's sleeping now. Maybe I'll super-glue it tomorrow.

Fresh Strawberry Pie - a June tradition

Ahhhhh, the sound of lids popping. A clean kitchen (mostly). Mission accomplished. Looking forward to sleeping REALLY well tonight to the soft pitter-patter of raindrops on the metal roof of the garage just outside my window. Fresh air. Sweet little guinea pigs sleeping in my basement. All are tucked in. Emily is having fun at camp. Dan is still driving to Kentucky to get his gooseneck trailer. God is good, life is good.

2010-06-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

No shame. I'm trying to win a copy of the book Radical by David Platt. See this: http://compassinmyheart.blogspot.com/search?q=radical

2010-06-17T18:46:00.000-07:00

Summer Music and Entertainment

Had a great afternoon with Mrs. Gaster and Odessa :). Loved the music and the giggles!

2010-06-14T19:25:00.000-07:00

Bible Bee Bonfire - Friday, June 11, 2010

Look what happened when heavyweights Grandma and Emily sat on the log! Hee hee!

I think I'm laughing about Grandpa and Grandma fussing over their love letter correspondence!

And, my favorite photo of the entire evening. Titus needs alot of coaching and Grandpa has been excellent to provide that for him. I love this shot!

We had our Bible Bee Bonfire and reviewed what we learned from studying Colossians this week. It was an excellent time of sharing about impactful letters. Jared pulled a letter Grandma Jane had written several years ago. I found something from Dan from 1989! The kids enjoyed hearing it! Grandpa told us his definition of "mushy." I'm sorry, but you'll just have to ask him yourself! "I love you very mush!" :)

I'm grateful for the Bible Bee and the materials it is providing to families this year. If you haven't signed up, consider this a plea to do so! We are enjoying the inductive study of Colossians and the reminder to step up on the hiding of God's Word in our hearts. It's been so good ... taste and see!

2010-06-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

SWIMMING LESSONS - ELK LAKE POOL - 2010

Briella takes a jump! She loves swimming :) Briella got to take with her good friend Bridget!

Jared's sweet face for his dear big sister, Emily!

Titus is so focused he sucks in his cheeks!

Floating on his back, thinking about straight knees!

2010-06-14T18:19:00.000-07:00

My favorite seniors. Boy, I'm going to miss you guys!! Praying for each of you to be filled with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way, bearing fruit for every good work, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you might have great endurance and patience and joyfully give thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of Light. May God bless you abundantly.

2010-06-14T17:04:00.000-07:00

DANCE RECITAL 2010

Eager to see the show!

My little "Bugle Boy"

And, then the beautiful ballerinas... Wish you could hear the music!

Emily received her 8 year award! My, how the years do fly by...

Our good friends received the scholarship for a free duet next year!

And another good friend won the Teacher Award! Dance on, girl!

Don't forget the flowers from Daddy -- :)

Beautiful ladies :)

The girls...

She loves this, don't question that for a minute!

And, it was all I could do to get these photos uploaded today. No energy to expound upon our delightful evening...

2010-05-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

Much to Grandma's chagrin - the kids got muddy! We'll clean them up before the pictures at 4pm!

2010-05-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

Our Trip to Nebraska

The master packer fits it all in! Camping gear AND bikes.

And, we made it! This trip was 27.5 hours of family-bonding in Herbie. We left about 4:30pm EST and arrived in time for a SUPERB dinner with mashed potatoes, homemade bread, etc. YUM!

2010-05-28T17:49:00.000-07:00

Production!

A Chorus Line - absolutely stunning, in my humble opinion!

2010-05-28T17:35:00.000-07:00

We're in the Money!

And, after all that hard work at the competition we returned to the hotel room for some rest. We decided to take a walk to Target and found these to be a great substitute for Coldstone Creamery which was across the street. We also played Spite and Malice. Be sure and ask Emily who won :)! Great fun!

2010-05-28T17:10:00.000-07:00

SWEET GEORGIA BROWN

2010-05-21T13:57:00.001-07:00

Big Boys, Little Boys - Same Toys

2010-05-17T06:27:00.000-07:00

On the way to the concert!

2010-05-17T06:24:00.001-07:00

2010-05-13T19:20:00.000-07:00

Dance Photos

We're in the Money & Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy ~ Ballerina Briella & Sweet Georgia Brown

2010-05-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

More pictures at the pond!

2010-05-10T19:44:00.000-07:00

Meet the Goslings

This is my favorite spot on my entire jog :) (aside from the top of the mountain, I guess.) I do love this pond! And after telling the kids about the little babies I spotted this morning, I had to take them on an outing to see them firsthand. We tried to feed them, but they retreated to the safety of the water. I love watching families, particularly animal families in spring. I also had a lot of fun observing families this past weekend at the restuarants, rest areas, etc. Hmmmm... I wonder what people think when they observe us!

2010-05-10T19:10:00.000-07:00

We Witness a Live Birth!

The hooves are beginning to emerge.

Now the head is out!

A sweet little kid! Both mama and baby are fine.

I was so excited when my friend called me to let me know her goat was in labor. We skipped class and drove over rather quickly so we wouldn't miss it! In hindsight, I should have thrown in a picnic. I hated to let all those boys know that a 2-hour wait was a relatively quick birth! At least now they can't quote Prissy and say, "Lawzy, we got to have a doctor. I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' babies!"

2010-05-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

Runza Production

And, now our freezer is well-stocked for quick meals! Looking forward to being in Nebraska where Runza Huts abound!

2010-05-10T14:42:00.000-07:00

Friday Evening Fun --> Putt Putt Golf

We attended the annual CHAP convention in Harrisburg again this year. It was nice to get away and have a break from cooking and cleaning! The speakers were insightful and refreshing. I always love the opportunity to peruse the many vendors and find helpful ideas for teaching the kids. We heard Sam Rohrer speak - VOTE FOR SAM ROHRER for Governor, fellow Pennsylvanians! The best part of the weekend was just being a family. We enjoyed putt-putt golf at our lovely hotel, dinner at TGIFriday's and watching a bit of Twister on TV. I actually read a book this weekend! Ahhhh....

2010-05-01T06:50:00.000-07:00

TROUT STOCKING OF SNAKE CREEK ~ 2010

Mr. Smith knew of the BEST holes!

Emily nearly loses her bucket!

Ahhhh - wish we could have taken the rest of the afternoon to follow that truck!

2010-04-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

Marci was eager to try out the new swing at the Montrose Bible Conference! No fear in this girl! (videographer: Jared, comments: Daniel Fahringer)

2010-04-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

Here's a portion of the video footage.

2010-04-29T05:07:00.000-07:00

The youth led service on Sunday included Emily being raised from the dead!

2010-04-28T14:19:00.000-07:00

THE DAIRY FARM

My first volunteer -- way to go, Briella! She's cleaning before milking.

Jared was a pro right away!

This is how Titus was the entire time we were in the barn! It was a strong aroma, but --good grief -- not THAT strong! Okay, I did have to wash all of our attire once we got home. Dan could tell where we'd been. He claims pigs smell less than cows?!?

One of the newest little ones!

Jared got to hook the milking machine on. He was the only one brave enough to give it a try!

Since Titus has been studying farms for science, we decided to make a quick visit to a local dairy farm. It was loads of hands-on fun for all! Well, some people didn't like the slobbery kisses from the calf. And, some people refused to attempt to milk the cow. A chance of a lifetime! I tried to convince them, but to no avail. I love living in rural northeast Pennsylvania! And, I'm very grateful for awesome "neighbors" who are willing to take the time and show us their work. Fun memories!

2010-04-23T19:52:00.001-07:00

Great time at Game Night - Montrose E Free church! A time to forget reality and chill :) Now, back to my baskets of laundry...

2010-04-23T14:44:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY

Ahh - my kind of day. Sunny. Warm afternoon. Tackling some chores! No time for typing -- pizza is in the oven (homemade with Aunt Nano's crust). Game night at church this evening :). Kids are excited.

2010-04-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS

Since Titus is studying farms, in particular dairy farms, we made some homemade butter. This required an afternoon snack, of course.

Next we had to test the effects of erosion on different slopes. We tried three different heights before we decided to use the water source as a sprinkler. Who cares if it's only in the 50's?!? The sun was out!

And, at the height of three bricks, we had quite the wash out!

This afternoon we traded a kid with the Kesslers and spent some time at the park in Conklin while Emily & Briella had dance class. After unloading the cooler and uploading the pictures, I'm whipped! Looking forward to having my better half home from Germany. Goodnight!

2010-04-08T18:13:00.000-07:00

Today was so warm and sunny. We built a seismograph today, much to Jared's delight. He was my expert seismologist, as you can hear in the video. I confess that I am publicizing my ignorance by publishing this video! I know, I know. The Richter scale goes up to 10. And the Chilean earthquake of 1960 registered a 9.5. I've got that figured out now :).
On other news, the thunderstorms just rolled through. We have cool, fresh air and the pitter-patter of rain. I made pies with Titus this afternoon. We read a funny book about blueberry pies and then we just had to have one. He also picked raspberry/blackberry for the second pie. They were very yummy!
The snakes are out. My neighbor saw me throwing rocks in the road. I hate stepping over live snakes on my jog. I was trying to hit his head, but I'm not a very good aim when I'm scared. Okay, I'm not a good aim period. So, I had a not-so-small pile of rocks in the road! He told me some good stories about seeing two bears already. He proceeded on his tractor to my rock pile. I didn't watch to see if he let it go or rolled over it. I'm guessing he let it go, but I don't want to know that.
Well, I also made bread dough this afternoon and I must go tend to the that before I crash for the evening. Time to finish my World magazine! Goodnight :)

2010-04-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

EASTER SUNDAY
He is risen! He is risen indeed! I love the new life of spring ... the hope we have because Christ conquered death ... knowing that Easter IS the answer!

Here's a summary of our Easter in photos:

We lined up the kids before church for a quick shot.

Here's a quick family shot after church -- thanks Jen for taking time to shoot us!

The Easter bunny smooched me.

I had to include this one for Grandma Jane who likes to capture the grumpy faces! Someone "stole" the tiny egg she was trying to get.

And, after the hunt!

And, so that everyone knows, Emily LOST in Spite and Malice :). You can rub that in next time you see her! We really just spent the rest of our day lounging, folding laundry, playing piano, etc. I thought about hosting some adopted "extended" family since we are too far away from anyone to celebrate Easter together. But, it just didn't happen because I don't have my house and meal plan together for hosting these days. Sigh. I do miss being with family on days like today. Praying that my kids all live nearby and come home for Easter'til the day I die!!! Maybe I should have second thought about the grumpy ones ;)!

2010-04-02T20:45:00.000-07:00

A very good GOOD FRIDAY

Emily is "too big" for coloring eggs today. Plus, she wanted to finish reading Pride and Prejudice before watching it with her friends tonight.

Jared loved poking the holes for blowing the eggs. Just ask Titus about the one that exploded all over him!

Picnics all day today -- our first grilled burgers of the season! Ahhh, they tasted soooo good! I love the ease of grilling our food outside :).

Emily and I still have quite a bit of sewing if we're going to wear these dresses on Sunday!

And, this is taken looking out the now broken window in my bedroom. Boys, boys, boys.

And the best for last. I just love this shot of Titus blowing his egg today! Look at those neck veins!
And, to top it off, Dan has some consulting work lined up. This has been a prayer for a L O N G time! God's timing is perfect and He has taught us a lot over the lean times. May we not forget those lessons and be mindful of those around us who are facing difficulties as we have.

2010-03-31T11:43:00.000-07:00

Daddy's Roadkill Science Lesson

DURING lunch, no less. Thankfully I was finished eating before he brought this little guy inside. Our dining room table has seen entire deer quarters, but that was after mealtime. Our kids won't ever forget their webbed back feet or the little claws on the front paws. And, they hope Daddy doesn't save the tail for use as a paddle in our home as he threatened to do! Off to piano lessons & Wednesday night church...

2010-03-25T15:24:00.000-07:00

Last week we were spoiled with awesome sunny and warm days for March in Pennsylvania. We had a picnic at least three days! One was at the park with some friends for biking and playing. This week the daffodils are so cheery I just had to capture their bright yellow smiles! The kids and I planted some trays of tomatoes and peppers. Our garden is on it's way! Hooray for spring, new life and fresh growth!

2010-02-25T17:59:00.000-08:00

Fun snow memories from the past week! Thanks for your MovieMaker work, Marci!

2010-01-14T11:50:00.000-08:00

2010-01-14T11:25:00.000-08:00

pics to accompany previous post

2010-01-14T11:05:00.000-08:00

NEBRASKA CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Well, I just can't get the rest of the photos to upload. So, the rest you'll just have to imagine! The kids opened their gifts from our Nebraska cousins. The occasion was prefaced by some great music, as you can see in the first photo. Titus received a couple tractors. One is a "normal" tractor and the other a MONSTER tractor. They have since been accompanying him during math lessons, lunch, art, etc. He LOVES them, to say the least. When he came home from the basketball game the other night, he wanted to know who had moved them. (He had left them on the stairs!) Briella recieved a really cool book of nail art from Anna. Anna had created a page of her own designs and left a page for Briella to use her imagination as well. Currently Briella has an assortment of fruit painted on her nails. Don't be fooled - Emily really, really liked this gift too! Jared, sporting the plastic label of a milk jug as his headband, opened a magnetic dart set. This was most definitely a big hit among the males of the family. Marci is now sporting a very cool red purse while Emily totes an awesome bag made by Emma (?) or Aunt Teresa?!? Either way, the girls love them! And, it's so sunny and warm (40's) today that I must finish this update. Time for FRESH air before we have to run around to pick up a pair of glasses and drop girls off for dance lessons. Snowman snow!!!

2010-01-13T14:46:00.000-08:00

NEWBORN SNUGGLES

Ahhh, the best days are the quiet snuggles with a newborn baby! We got to meet little Chase Matthew Harman ... what fun, what fun. Not much time for typing... off to a meeting at the dance studio.

2009-12-29T15:24:00.000-08:00

This afternoon was so beautifully sunny. We helped Grandpa tackle all of the sticks the storm had knocked out of the trees. Only good picker-uppers got 4-wheeler rides after each stop. "Don't play around now, help out your comrades!" The kids are now hoping for a big bonfire tomorrow. Me? I'm just grateful to have had a morning nap and some peace and quiet in the house! I think we're all feeling the need for extra rest!

View Album - December 26, 2009

2009-12-26T16:59:00.000-08:00

View Album - December 26, 2009
We had a busy afternoon eating & celebrating Christmas with the Wallaces. Seth served as Santa and kept us all entertained for the entire TWO HOURS it took to open gifts! We had ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, mashed potatoes, crockpot corn, salad, a veggie tray & fruit tray followed by superb coffee and sweets galore. Ahhh, nothing better than a Southern spread! We hiked in the woods, shot the AR-15 (5.45X39 caliber), rode 4-wheelers, threw the football, etc. The sunset was spectacular! Well, I'm very, very tired. Uh-oh... they're pulling out the cards for game time! I must not miss out on the action :)

2009-12-08T19:06:00.000-08:00

Emily’s 15th Birthday

The day began with some delicious scones and homemade jelly from Mrs. Maynard. YUM! Such perfect timing for a special breakfast . I would have taken photos this morning, but Emily doesn’t get her shower before noon. We spent the morning tackling the usual school. At lunchtime she opened her gift from Aunt Jenny – her 15th Precious Moments figurine, Growing in Grace. How fitting!

This afternoon we made her requested birthday menu : Stromboli and orange fluffy salad. It’s forgiving, so I’m thankful! At 5pm we loaded the car and headed to the Mitchell’s for a “surprise” birthday tea. It was soooo beautiful – all in blue, her favorite color. Heidi has the ultimate collection of tea party fun and she goes all out. I felt so spoiled and lavishly loved!

The girls began with making a bracelet. The girls were very creative and each of their unique tastes was so evident! After the toast, a fun left/right game, the meal – which included the ultimate artichoke dip by Aunt Sandy – we headed to the living room to open gifts. Afterwards the girls had fun dancing and watching a bit of “So You Think You Can Dance.” It was a great time with friends and a memorable evening for Emily! And, I’m thinking and praying for just the right boys to join the Mitchell family … adoption, what an awesome way to love and practice James 1:27.

2009-12-07T14:10:00.000-08:00

COOKIE DAY at the KESSLER'S

We had such fun sharing lunch and then replicating the Winkleblech tradition of Cookie Day! The only sad part was that Marci is sick today -- no Marci and it just wasn't the same. Briella kept saying, "I wish Marci were here. She'd be really good at this!" Please pray for healthy kiddos. Titus is still sleeping -- a much-needed nap!!!

2009-12-07T13:20:00.000-08:00

Here’s a glimpse into our Thanksgiving!! =)

This Thanksgiving we celebrated by ourselves! (Just our immediate family) So this Thanksgiving was very quiet. This year I didn't help cook or bake! (When has that ever happened before?!? *scratches head with quizzical look on face*) Instead I cleaned my desk area. I had not cleaned it in forever and it looks tons better now believe you me! For Thanksgiving dinner we had mashed potatoes, sweet potato soufflé (with mini marshmallows!!), green beans, turkey (of course!), gravy, cranberry jello, cranberry bread, parker house rolls, pumpkin pie (with cool whip), pecan pie, and grape pie! (I don’t think I forgot anything…*quizzical look on face*) Our dinner conversation went something like this:
*Daddy finishes praying*
“Jared be respectful during the prayer and hold your brother’s hand nicely.”-Mom
*Smirks*-Jared
“Yeah, he was squeezing my hand hard!” *scowls at Jared* - Titus
“Boys, calm it down.”-Dad
*everyone begins to talk and pass food, in a very unquiet manner*
“Pass the salt and pepper please.”-Mom
“Please pass the jello.”-Jared
“How much do you want, Briella?”-Emily
“That’s good.”-Briella
“Where are Titus’ potatoes?”-Marci
“There on the counter, here.”*hands them to Marci*-Mom
*continued noise, some singing/humming from Marci’s end of the table, someone is tapping their feet on the floor, Titus is talking to himself as he eats*
“Can we please keep the noise down! Daddy likes quiet! Marci keep your chair on all fours.”-Daddy
*continued noise, somewhat subdued*
“Quiet, please!”-Dad
*Quiet. …except for Titus who is still talking to himself*
“And now we will put some gravy in the mashed potatoes to make a pond. Where’s the jello? Oh, here. *some motor sounds* Now we will put some shikin (Chicken, turkey really) in the pond for logs. *humming* etc."-TitusMarci and I look at each other across the table and start smiling, then laughing. Mommy and Daddy look at each other and smile. Mom starts laughing. Daddy continues to smile/smirk. Briella and Jared are completely absorbed in eating their food.
*Titus noise continues*
--the meal continues in a much calmer manner. =)
*After dinner Mom and I wash dishes. Dad clears off the table. Jared picks the rest of the turkey (with many complaints and groanings). Marci practices her Christmas songs on the piano. (I believe Briella and Titus escaped to play outside after they carried over their dishes as I did not see them for a long while) After cleanup, naps were taken for the older and younger family members. I finished cleaning my desk area, and others played quietly inside or outside.*
Later in the afternoon we hiked up to the swings (which are up the mountain behind our house). The swings are a circular board as the seat with a rope through the middle tied up high in a tree. There are several platforms of different heights of which to jump off of. After many swings by all members of the family, a few bruised knees, scraped hands from trying to get “evidence”, and as it was getting dusky we made our way back down home. Later that evening the some watched Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving, others sewed, and others ate snacks for supper. Then there were rounds of Clue, Dominoes, and a mixed version of Knights/Seafarers of Catan. Then baths and beds for all.
I hope you enjoyed your peak into my Thanksgiving day!! =D (Sorry that the end was so rushed)

2009-11-14T19:33:00.000-08:00

All in a Couple Day's Work

Marci's quilt top -- fun times were had at the Montrose Bible Conference this weekend!

Okay, sometimes life requires a seam ripper, but friends make it fun!

2009-11-12T06:33:00.000-08:00

RESULTS ARE IN!

Titus is happy to share that most people like Fall and Chocolate Ice Cream. Thank you so much for all who helped create his bar graph :). He loved all the notes!

2009-11-12T06:26:00.000-08:00

Briella is famous in Montrose, Pennsylvania!! The funny part about the picture yesterday is that all the men in the car wash were looking out the window smiling as we took her picture :). She's happy to have her picture up, although she's a bit shy about it.