Summer Recap Two - August Version

Here's our August fun!

Richard's brother and sister-in-law and their twin girls came to visit! The cousins are the same age as Clementine, and it was super fun to have them over! Of course everyone packed into the pool.  =]

Grace was big sister/cousin extraordinaire, and kept all the Littles happy with bubbles

Look at those three adorable little girls! (And one sweet big girl. And a handsome boy.)

I made some wool diaper covers for Clementine out of recycled sweaters. Got a little fancy on this one.

Off to catch butterflies in a new wool soaker!

These three are just hilarious. You'll have no idea what they're talking about here unless you've ever played a computer game called Zoombinis. But it captures just how much of a little parrot Clementine is!

We spent even more time in the pool and backyard!

 

Clementine figured out how to push herself on the swing.

We went to church and the boys helped their little sister in a very adorable way.

BIG NEWS!! We were surprised to have this little one discovered lodging in Mama's tummy! We're expecting him or her to appear in early April 2012. 

I *love* this little clip of someone that doesn't really resemble a baby yet, but definitely has a beating heart!!  

 We had a bonfire in our fire pit and enjoyed S'mores!

 

Richard fanning the flames... our wood was a little damp

Clementine took charge of the marshmallows

Judah had the chocolate

Finger-lickin' good!

 

 

Not the greatest picture but don't these two look like twins in it? I usually don't see the resemblance so strongly.

Grace and I attempted to make roasted apples in the coals. Charred apples would be understating what we ended up with.

 

The sisters hung out by the fire

Moses pushed Judah on the swing while waiting for another S'more

Contemplating the fire

 We haven't done the State Fair since Moses was a newborn. It's just not quite our thing. (The amount of money dropped to go, the crowds, the sick tummies from eating too much fried food on a stick...) But we DID go to this Threshing Show in a more rural town northwest of us. Free to get in (thanks to a friend with an extra family voucher), a few greasy food stands but not too much, much smaller crowds, and still a lot of fun things to see and do!

This wagon is worth it's weight in gold.

Going to see the steam-powered saw mill!

This thing was powering the saw mill

They had a pioneer area where the kids got to try their hand at pioneer games and chores

Grace was really good at the hoop rolling!

Doing laundry the old-fashioned way!

Grace was quite good at it! We'll be fine if we ever have to live like pioneers.

A really cool decked-out chuck wagon.

Grinding wheat into flour

Judah took this very seriously, of course.

Pumping water

"Here Papa, wash your hands!"

We watched the steam-powered rock crusher for a while but the kids liked climbing the rock pile better.

This was their favorite - riding the miniature steam train!

This was a really fun day and I think we'll go again in the years to come!

A couple miscellaneous pictures:

I completed one of the several hundred home decorating projects I'd like to do. These pretties went into our bedroom. I got the huge embroidery/quilting hoops at Goodwill for 99¢ each and used them to frame some pretty Amy Butler fabric. I can't wait to paint our walls next!!

Moses got a tattoo and he's really tough and cool

Three little cuties with scruffy hair!!

What can I say about this girl??

She's adorable.

More playing in the backyard:

Grace was teaching the boys the art of swordplay (her words)

They killed Grace

"Sissy, are you okay?"

 

After a long day playing outside, it's nice to take a break and read a book with Papa.

Summer Recap One - July Version

Wow, 1 post in July...one post in August. It's been busy and blogging has taken a very backseat! But I do want to recap some of the fun we've had this summer!

Here's July, briefly:

(Okay, this is technically the end of June, but I had to add it.)

Richard brought home a turtle he found at work.

One little boy thought it was wonderful.

 July 4th weekend, we spent up north with my side of the family. Since our kids are getting bigger, there's not room for us to board with family members so we stayed in this fabulous lodge. It was a great weekend!!

The little goofballs, ready for the day

Richard and the boys went fishing with Grandpa Mike

Big catches!

Enjoying the pontoon ride

Coffee, anyone?

The proud fishermen!

We got a lot of use out of our little kiddy pool in July! It was HOT out! Sometimes the kids would get dressed in the morning and head right into the pool. I made an observation this year: I do a lot of laundry in the summer.

 Richard brought the work truck home with a load of dirt and we did some landscaping out front, in order to resolve a wet basement problem we've been having! Good thing we have such strong helpers.

Ready to start digging dirt and raking rocks!

In the dirt pile....

Clementine wants to help too

They LOVE the work truck

Working together to maneuver the wheelbarrow

Grace had to leave us for a week of vacation with her dad. We missed her terribly.

This girl is sweetness itself.

Papa and Clementine enjoyed some quality time

We ate outside a lot, we played outside a lot, and we generally enjoyed our backyard to a great extent!

Clementine has learned to leave her hair decorations alone (mostly) and I had fun "doing" her hair. She seemed to appreciate it too!

We went to this great, FREE, wading pool/park in Minneapolis a couple times. Super fun!!

Ahhhh....

chooo!!

So that's what I have recorded in photographs for July! We've spent so much time enjoying our backyard, walks to the library and the park. We've done a lot of bike riding too, thanks to our new set of bikes! (See this post). Richard celebrated his last birthday in his 30's in July as well.

i miss you

I miss this little boy today! I often wonder what he would look like if he were here with us, what he would be like, who he is. Every year on his birthday we set a place for him at the dinner table, just as a reminder that part of our family isn't here and to show that we feel his empty spot. Last year God gave me a brief image in my mind of a brown haired boy, five years old, sitting at the table with the rest of us. He was a quiet, sweet, thoughtful boy with a gentle smile and deep, knowing eyes. The image came totally unbidden to my mind, just a flash and it was gone. But I think God understands my longing to know more about Matthias than the 2 day old baby that I remember. It was very sweet and I treasure that image, whether or not it's exactly what Matthias would be like.

It's often odd to me, to watch our large, rambunctious brood playing together or wrestling on the floor or reading books with us, and remember that one of our children isn't here. Our kids are all so wonderful, and all so sweet, and all so different. I can't help but wonder what it would be like to have Matthias in the mix.

I believe his spirit is in Heaven now with Jesus, but I don't know much (I don't think anyone does) about what happens to baby spirits in Heaven. Does he grow? Can a spirit grow? Will his resurrected body be a baby still? Has he been cared for and mothered by heavenly beings? It's made me think about Heaven so much more than I would otherwise! But I'm settled knowing that Matthias is in perfect peace, fullness of joy, and without any sadness or pain. He's the happiest little heavenly spirit that he could possibly be. (Sweet boy! I'm so glad you are There, but I miss you so much!) I'm pretty sure he'll know me as his mother and I'll know him as my child when I see him again.

In the mean time, I remember the very, very brief time I had with him. I remember the pain and shock of letting him go. I am thankful for the healing God has brought in our lives. And I rest in the sure and steadfast Hope we have in Christ!

"Therefore you too have grief now; 

but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, 

and no one will take your joy away from you."

John 16:22 



Matthias' Story 
Photo Montage of Matthias
My Journal Through Grief