Last Few Days

Friday was Hannhah's 2nd Birthday. She really seemed to know what was going on. I think because we have so many birthday celebrations in our house that it's old hat to her. I did my usual "decorate the dining room" when she went to bed the night before. So when she woke up and we were all telling her "Happy Birthday!" she kept saying "Oh!" with her eyes real big. It was so cute!! Elijah wrapped her gifts (one from mom and dad, one from siblings) and made her some birthday signs. David was at guitar, so he didn't get to help much. Ann decorated her cake. I put the white frosting on, and Ann purplefied it with a tube of frosting. She was sooo proud, and it actually looked really good! There were "flowers" and stripes all over it.

I also took the the kids to our free local zoo (aka Petco) especially for Hannah who loves to look at the fish. She was screaming "fiiiish" most of the time. Atleast people think it's cute at her age. We love going there! There are a ton of cute critters to look at, all at a kid's eye level. Plus people bring in their own animals for us to gawk at. AND there are the cutest little buggies for the kids to push, I put stuff in it for them and then put it back before we have to pay for it! David and Elijah always want to go next door to look at the store, not Big 5, but Staples! Weirdos! They love to save up and buy their own rubberbands, paperclips and whatever else you can reinvent into something else. I just take them, and pick-up supplies for the Corps. I love to pick on the youngest children and ask them to help me lift the 50 pound box of copy paper into the buggy. It makes me laugh so hard! Everyone's had their turn, lately it's been Hannah who tries soooo hard and grunts and everything!!

Saturday we had our very good friends, Stacie and children (minus the husband who had to work), over at lunchtime. The kids played and played and I talked and talked. Paul played and talked. It was great. The Brown kids are just about a perfect match for all of our kids. Their older boy is a few months older than our oldest. Their next 2 are one year older than our next 2. Their fourth just kind of roams about. It's funny to keep track of him, but so nice that he keeps himself entertained! And then we have babies, well 2 yods, that are the same age by about a month. It makes for everyone to have a playmate of their own, including us adults when Steve's around, plus extra! Our next babies will only be 2 weeks apart. Crazy! In fact when I met Stacie, I had just moved here and was pregnant with Ann, and she had just been pregnant with Andrew. I try to play matchmaker with the kids, but the personalities are still not mature enough to figure it out for sure. Elijah has already said that if Stacie has a girl next, he gets dibs on her!! Great way to think ahead! Ha!Ha!

Today is a full day, especially for me. My turn to preach (Psalm 71, "A Lifestyle of Dependance") and my turn to go to Evergreen nursing home to hold church (the boys and Ann will come with me to help), in addition to my regular teaching Sunday School, pick-ups/drop-offs, and be bombarded by 50 people at church (oooops... did I say that? he!he!). That on top of the regular get my own children out the door and kept track of! Wow, when I write that down, I don't feel so guilty about my feelings toward the day! But I've done it long enough to know that when all is said and done, I'm really the one who gets the blessing! And I've learned that in just fulfilling my duties (being obedient!), God gives me enough grace for the day!