Birthday Girl

Today Beth turns three.  She is such a special blessing to our family.  When I was pregnant with her someone at church asked me "What's wrong with you?" because I was having so many children.  Beth was our first home birth.  My husband calls her 100% home grown!  Her birth was my easiest.  

 She is a little mama with so many baby dolls I lost count.  Anytime we see a baby doll at a yard sale she wants to get it to add to her collection.

She loves to take care of baby Hannah.

and dressing up with the older kids

She has the lightest colored hair of all my children, and is finally getting enough hair to do something with it, but usually takes it out soon after I put it in.

 This is the aunt that she gets her hair from.  

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETHY!!

Funny Sayings

One Sunday sfternoon while I was fixing lunch the boys were busy shooting imaginary Indians. I did inform them that they were Indians, but the told me that they were shooting "bad" Indians. Beth came to me all told me in a worried maner that the Indians were going to shoot her. I told her to get her brothers to shoot the Indians. She did and while they were shooting the Indians out the window, she fell down behind them and said, "Indian got me. Indian got me." Then the boys turned around and "shot" the Indian. She got up and went on her way.

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Josiah at church one Wednesday evening said, "When Hannah grows up and I grow up, I'm going to marry Hannah."

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Abby while we were going to town one day said, "I wonder what color my Honda will be when I grow up."

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Abby is my question child. Always asking something which usually has nothing to do with what I just told her or asked her to do. The other day at lunch she asked, "If we take water to teh sun could we put out the fire?"

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Kids are so much fun. A lot of work too, but the fun times help balance it out. I was talking yesterday with another mom with several children. We agreed that we don't know how we get everything done that we do, but somehow we do it. So the next time some stranger asks me how I do it I'm going to say, "Fairies help at night while I sleep!"

Twenty Dollar Table

I love to shop yard sales, and so does my husband. A few weeks ago we found a table at a yard sale. The top was very ugly. It had been outside for a while, but the table seemed solid. We talked them down to $20. I saw it as a project for my dad, who wants to stay busy when he comes to visit. I had wanted a table to put in my dining room. The room is carpeted so I will not let the kids eat in there, but we want to take the carpet out and put in laminate wood floor next year. My dad got started right away. It looked so much better as soon as it was sanded.

Before

Work in progress

After

It is now my project table. I have all my school books on it now as I prepare to start a new school year. I have also used it to sew. I love the space to spread out and I don't have to clear it off to eat. I've never had this luxury before.

Five Months Old

I can believe how fast time goes! Five months old already! She is adored by all the family and is as cute as can be! Her favorite pastime when lying on the floor is to hold her feet together. It is so cute to watch. She has recently started rolling over, but still hold the feet together even on her tummy. I love to see her do it. My mom recently visited and told me that I did the same thing as a baby.

Water Ballons

The weather has been very warm lately. Last week I decided to let them throw water balloons at each other to help them cool off and have some fun. Abby, Robert, and Josiah had a blast. Beth seemed a bit reluctant to get in on the action. She did not want to throw the water balloons. Her siblings were quite happy to help her and they threw several of her balloons. When I handed out the last water balloons, she refused to let anyone have her balloon. She started crying and yelling at the others if they got near her balloon. I asked her what she wanted to do with the balloon. She said, "Hide it." I asked, "Where?" She replied, "Outside." I told her that the heat from the sun would pop it. She then told me "put it up high." I did put it on in a safe spot and told the others to not touch it - that was her greatest concern.
Later I saw her carrying it around and kissing it like it was her baby. Than she was walking around with Robert carrying her "baby". Every one joined in the game and called it her "baby". She allowed the others to hold it for a little while, but soon wanted it back. Abby drew on it while she was "babysitting" (Abby draws on almost everything).
I was worried about it popping in the house, but I told myself, "It is just water. It will dry, and it isn't messy like other things that have spilt in the house."
The inevitable finnaly happened late in the afternoon. It popped, and she got drenched. She was very upset about it. After a change of clothes, hugs, and promises of more water balloons, she calmed down. Now everyone wants a water balloon baby!

The fight outside - yes the lawn needs mowed!

Jojo showing off his balloons - just seconds before they popped!

Beth and her "baby"

The reaction to the end of the water balloon.
With a reaction like that I'm not sure I want to fill water balloons for a while.

Wedding photos

Abby loves to dress up in beautiful dresses and accessories. She can't wait to get married so she can wear a wedding dress. Last month someone gave us a suit coat for Robert. The next day Abby wanted to "marry" Robert. Here are the photos I took after the wedding.
My internet connection was messed up last month, plus I've been busy with five kids six and under. That is my excuse for so few posts!

Group photo

I took this quickly this morning and was surprised how well it turned out (4 of 5 are looking at the camera!).