Gnome'd

We have some terrific neighbors! We couldn't ask for better neighbors. They are like family to us. Interestingly our neighbors like gnomes. They enjoy making gnomes. . . and putting them in unsuspecting people's yards . . . .like a rare hobby. Well, one of their friends that they had "gnome'd" got them back a few days before St. Patrick's Day. Malachi liked the gnomes. He was a little bit tinier than them though.

Then, Sunday morning, we woke up to a newspaper on our porch, as well as:



3 little gnomes in our flower beds. One with a Z, one with an L, and one with an M. They're kinda cute. . . if you like gnomes. . . and they're growing on us. I really enjoyed taking these pictures knowing that snow was gone and we were starting to see sprouts of green and yellow for the flowers! Spring is HERE!!!!

Boys, Boys, Boys

Last night, Courtney had an appointment for her baby due any day now (yipee!!!). She left Taige and Tarin at our house. Zach was having a major melt-down from lack of sleep, so the 4 other boys played the Wii and tackle. My dear cousin has 5 girls and I always wondered what that would be like and last night- I knew I am very blessed to just have 3 boys! :) Adding two more to the mix doesn't add to much more chaos but it was interesting when both Tarin and Malachi went and dirtied their diapers at the same time. :(

Here and There

We've been here. . . and there. . . and wishing for warmer weather, but knowing it will soon be HOT and we'll again wish for cooler weather. So. . . until then, the boys are cooped up, suffering severe spring fever and reminiscing the warmer (yet windy) days of playing on Aunt Laurie's farm.

Lily and Malachi

Lily is a heifer that was very tame. She enjoyed watching Malachi speed around on his bike:

She also enjoyed some treats of hay from the boys:



And, Malachi tried to feed her from the bunk:

Oh, look! Lily sees you Malachi.

Oh, no! She sees the hay and she's mooing! Here she comes:

And, there he goes:

But with a little help from Anna, he got back in the bunk and fed Lily:

Still, he wants to be a cowboy and go stay at Aunt Laurie's. It might be hard to return to a normal schedule after this wonderful spring break.

Warmer Weather and Wider Spaces

Boy are we missing the warmer weather, where we were even complaining about not packing shorts!

The boys sure are missing the wider spaces too that they had on the farm.


There sure seemed to be more options to do outside also.




Malachi got REALLY good at riding his little bike. He now thinks it needs to go EVERYWHERE with us. :(



Aunt Laurie was trying to help him pop a wheelie! :)

We are enjoying spring break. I've gotten a little bit of homework done, some play time with the boys, a few headaches as well. . . . and maybe a few extra minutes of sleep.

Missing the Farm

The boys are missing the farm. . . Laurie's farm. . . where they got cute hats at a consignment store, rode baby calves until they were bucked off. . .


learned its okay for cowboys to be a little scared of big baby calves. ..

and mom takes WAY too many pictures. . .

Aunt Laurie spoils them and cooks like . . . Grandma Pacey.

The 3 boys must have felt "reddish" today.

Malachi warmed up eventually to the bigger dogs. He was terrified right after we arrived.

Broccoli and Malachi became great friends.

And, oh how the boys loved the cats.

Today's my 29th birthday. I am getting little bits of nothing done. I woke up crying in pain from the joy that I had yesterday. Shawn and I went out to celebrate my birthday yesterday since we didn't have boys. I really overdid it. I haven't really been to the mall for awhile or walked as much as I did yesterday, but I felt great and thought for sure I was HEALED. I mean, I know God works miracles and I'm fully aware that He could heal me. So, while I felt terrific, we did EVERYTHING possible that I wanted to do- lots of shopping, out to eat, exploring in the library and some ice cream before heading home. Besides a little light-headedness in Menards (I don't think they have AC or something), I felt terrific. However, last night, I hit bottom and my body reminded me that I'm not ready for those kinds of days . . .yet. So today is kinda a bummer birthday reminding me how fortunate I am to have come so far, but also knowing I have a long journey to go until I am where I can enjoy days and not have to "pay" for them with such pain and fatigue.

Hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather. I have lots more pictures to post of the boys from Aunt Laurie's farm.

A Trip to Start off Spring Break

I promised the boys that we would go visit Aunt Laurie over spring break. Well, Logan woke up EARLY Saturday morning and asked, "its spring break now, so can't we go to Laurie's house?" The boys had a BLAST at the farm- especially Malachi. He's ALL farm-boy! They had a hard time saying 'good-bye' today as we left to drive the long trip home.








Boy we could enjoy this weather forever. Its been BEAUTIFUL!