An extended birthday party!

My birthday is on the 6th of July, but Brad planned an extended birthday party this weekend, and it was so much fun! On Saturday the 5th we had worship practice with our good friends Marc and Amber Lutz. It went so well, and I have to say bringing this kind of music into a traditional Lutheran church is very exciting. After practice we all went back to our house and had lunch. Marc and Amber brought over a DQ ice cream cake (my favorite), and we hung out for awhile. Then we went to Nat Soo Pah, it's a pool that is heated by warm spring water. We stayed there for a few hours, and had so much fun! The kids were on the water slide over an over. Micah even got brave enough to jump off both the low and high drive. After swimming we came home and ate that wonderful ice cream cake! The Lutz's took off they had to get their daughter Gabbie ready for summer camp.

I sat on the couch just smiling, because it had been such a wonderful day. We ended it with putting all the kids in the tub for a bubble bath. That was enjoyed by all, Brielle was loving being with her brothers of course.

The day of my birthday we went to church and sang worship, it went so smoothly. I got to sing my favorite hymn, Be Still My Soul, of course we made it not sound so hymn-like. :) Afterwards we came home, and I watched as Brad and the boys did dishes. It's so wonderful watching Brad show the boys that household duties are shared, not assigned. Brad made a wonderful lunch of beef enchiladas, and I opened my gift. Brad and the boys got me a 22, for target practice. It was quite the surprise! But I love that he thought of me and took the time to pick something he thought I would really enjoy.

The rest of the day was full of relaxation...my kind of day. Family and friends called to wish me Happy Birthday and it really was.

Is it firework time yet?

What a day! We started the day out at the parade in Buhl. It was a lot of fun. The boys stocked up on candy, and Brad, Brielle, and I watched. The only bad part was Brielle fell off her little chair and hit her head on the ground. She has a ugly little bruise on her head, but other than that all is well. We spent the whole day together as a family, what a dream! It was so wonderful having Brad around for and extra day, and all of us getting to relax and just be with each other.

Micah and Christian were so anxious for fireworks they asked us almost every hour of it was firework time. I tried explaining that if you light fireworks when the sun was out you wouldn't be able to see them as well. They looked at each other like: "yeah right". But it seemed to satisfy them for awhile.

When it got closer to light fireworks we had some of Brad's family over. Marilyn his great-aunt, Susie her daughter, and Josh, Susie's son. The boys love having Josh over because first and foremost he plays with them, and second he's a "big boy" (senior in high school) and he's an athlete, it's really and unbeatable combo. Maybe we should start calling him "Cool Josh". :)

We lit fireworks, threw the poppers, covered our ears for the screaming ones, and laughed while the kids held the sparklers as far from their bodies as they could. It was really a great day.

I included a slide show of the day below...Enjoy!

4th of July pictures

Brielle loves to dance

Cream of Wheat mornings

This morning was a morning we all got to sleep in, except of course for Christian. He likes to wake up before everyone and get extra TV time. We don't allow him to play video games in the morning anymore because he gets to rowdy and starts jumping around and yelling at the game. It's not a pleasant thing to wake up to. Micah, Brielle, and I took our time waking up which felt great. No rush to be anywhere. The first thing out of Christian's mouth when he sees me is; "Can I play video games now?" after I say no he follows it up with; "I'm hungry." Part of me is tempted to say; "Well do something about it.", but since the kids get themselves breakfast most mornings I offer to make Cream of Wheat, a family favorite.

As I start breakfast I hear Micah get up, and then Brielle. I get her and snuggle her in with the boys and they all watch cartoons while breakfast is cooking. After eating, their bellies full of warm cereal and brown sugar they try retreating back to cartoons, but I remind them that there are chores to be done. They have to let the chickens, and the dogs out, and make sure everyone has food. Not too hard, but they think it is, and they are pretty sure being a chicken farmer is one of the hardest jobs ever. I don't have the heart to tell them otherwise. They are now all watching cartoons again, oblivious to me running around getting things ready for the 4th. We are going to decorate a float tonight, and tomorrow morning they might be in the parade. All they really want to do is light fireworks, it makes for a long day. :)

Lazy summer days.

I have to say that I am really enjoying letting this summer crawl by...however it is not doing that, it is flying by. The boys, i.e. Micah and Christian just finished their tee-ball season which was so much fun! Brad coached the team, and they did great! At this age the score is not kept which is fine. At some point they will know what it is to win and lose but not today. These days they get to be baseball giants. Recieving their trophies, and eating their ice cream. I don't know anyone who has it better, and I don't think they do either.



Micah is getting so big. Boyhood suits him well as he fumbles along trying to figure out what it is to be a man, and wanting so badly to be one just like his dad. The other day he asked me to look at his arm hair. He said; "it's getting to be a lot huh Mom?" I knew what he meant, because on so many occasions I have watched him look at Brad's arms and chest, and then look at his own body wishing a chest hair would be there. For now he settles to be called a gentleman, a title he holds with pride.


Christian is not so quick to embrace manhood. He longs to be faster, jump high, and throw farther, but has no desire for the responsibilty. I can't blame him. He just wants to play. I love that about him. His willingness to let go of any worry or concern is impressive. Of course his type of play almost always involves competition. We were at a pool the other day, and he started racing the boy that was swimming next to him...of course the boy didn't know at first that he was in a race, but after awhile he caught on, and they raced for some time. It's fun to watch Christian's drive for success.




Brielle is growing so fast, and loves being around her brothers every minute. Every so often she crawls down the hall because she can hear the boys playing in their room, I know when she's reached it because I can hear them shouting; "The destroyer! AAAAAhhhhhhh". She giggles and lets herself in. She loves to laugh, and I'm pretty sure she loves making people laugh. When she does something silly she look at me and wait for a response. She is also becoming more brave by the day. She will now let go of things while she is standing and balance all by herself. Her big smile lets me know that she knows she's becoming a big girl.


Anyway that's life right now. This baby in my belly is growing everyday, which is wonderful, but also makes sleeping some what difficult. I can't wait to see his or her little face. Sometimes it feels so weird to love someone so much that you haven't even seen. Every once in awhile I can feel a knee or elbow press against my side, and I can't help but smile. What a gift God has blessed Brad and I with, three healthy beautiful children with another on the way. I couldn't be more grateful.