Hair in the chicken and several birthdays

Friday was Mia's 6th birthday! She was sooooooo excited to have a birthday, and told everyone about it. 

That morning, Mom and Dad took her out to have breakfast at Cracker Barrel, and then ran errands. 

Meanwhile, the other kids decorated the downstairs some to surprise her, made cards, and ran to Dollar General to get a balloon, a card, and a couple of gifts. 

My Instagram post for her.

Texting with Mom while they were out.

The card collection.

Mia received a card from Gabe that made for some classic reactions. The card wasn't exactly something that should be shown on a family blog... But since Gabe was the one picking it out and Mia was the one receiving it, it was okay for once. 

The pictures are a little dark, she is smiling really big.

Now she is *palm foreheading*

This is my favorite.

In the afternoon, Mia came down with a fever and rested. She was very cheery, but didn't feel good. The rest of us, including Nana and Grandfather, enjoyed her dinner meal and she joined us for dessert. 

I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to get this photo facing the right direction, 

but here is her cake! (There was also rainbow sherbet and ice cream.)

We did not make a very big dent...

We finished the birthday celebrations by viewing "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." 

Saturday saw the beginnings of packing activity! Mom began working with the littles to get their clothing together. It's coming up! 

I finally got a GOOD curtain set up for our theater. The last one was made of a jump rope and a sheet and safety pins. It did not work very well. Like, at all. 

This one is made of a metal pipe, curtain rings, and a fancier sheet. 

And we have a costume rack! Instead of the floor... 

"Pose real quick on the stage."

Like our pillow- I mean rocks?

I did some other sewing. These pillows are adorable!

Mom and Mia stayed home from church, as Mia was still not well. The rest of us bid most of our church family good-bye for six years a month. (We still will see some of them at small group on Tuesday.) 

Sunday, we were all out the door by 10:30 am. The goal was 10:00 am. I drove Christian and Ava down and the others took our other small car so that we would be able to come home in shifts if needed/wanted. 

At Gramma's we all received our photo books containing all the best pictures that would fit in the books. Because there was no way we could get ALL the best ones to fit in just two big books... It was SO fun to get to look through it, and take a trip down memory lane, knowing that by the end of the week some of us will already be there! 

Soon, the rest of Dad's side of the family arrived, and we all ate pizza...and salad. Grandpa had been in Montana since the middle of July, and was not supposed to arrive home until the end of this month I believe, but Gramma was missing having him around so on Friday he packed up in two hours and drove almost straight through to get home as fast as possible. He arrived early afternoon, and was warmly welcomed by all. 

The main purpose of the family gathering was to celebrate Aunt Candice, Mia, and Chloe's birthdays, as well as to give everyone opportunity to see us one more time before we leave. 

We of course had ice cream and brownies for dessert, opened cards, took pictures, and some of the kids swam. 

At home we showered and had smoothies and popcorn for dinner while watching "Five Mile Creek."  

Gabe wanted his own personal screen.

(We are having to play disks in our laptop because the DVD player is messed up.) 

We Are Grateful

Getting to spend time with friends. -Ava

That my new math book finally came. -Chloe

That I'm doing better in math than I was. -Christian 

For a week at home more so than before. -Me

I've Been Pondering

First, a story. 

Our little cousin climbed onto a chair to switched off the fan while we were at our family gathering (we'd asked him to). The first time, to get down, he turned around and slowly, cautiously, slid to the ground. 

Then we wanted the fan back on a little while later. So he tip-toed over to the chair, climbed back up, hit the switch, and this time all while his dad stood next to him to help him. (The first time he hit several of the wrong switches.) 

When he finished he turned, and without hesitating, leaped off the chair, knowing his dad was standing right there, and would catch him. 

The cute exchange probably lasted all of 45 seconds, but what a picture! 

How often do we hesitate to carry something out, afraid that we will "fall?"

 We know God is standing right there to help us and we know the moment we take that "leap of faith," He will place His arms around us and set us gently down in the very center of His will. 

Our cousin was confident of his dad's love and care and ever watchful eye and so to choose to leap was hardly something he even had to stop to think about (in fact, he didn't really).

When will we stop hesitating? 

When will we be completely confident of Our Father's love and care and ever watchful eye? 

When will we leap in faith? 

The Herd: Quoted

"Did you brush your teeth, Gabe?" -Dad

"Not quite." -Gabe

"I spit a little on the cake." -Mia 

"Why don't they just blow the stinking thing up?!" -Gabe talking about who knows what.

"Man! I just dipped my hair in the chicken." -Me

"Lydia be the first one up on a Sunday? That's a joke." -Mom

"Did you get some salad?" -Dad

"Not quite." -Gabe

"We read our favorite book in the car." -Mom
"Our Maui journal?" -Me
"Yup!" -Mom

Don't Choke

Saturday was another normal day. We left early for church so we could go to Costco. Then we had to go to Sprouts afterwards. Mom stayed home not feeling the greatest. In the car us kids worked on our lines, without the aid of a script. That'll show you how well you know it, whether they are your lines or not! 

Today was very laid back and restful. Chloe was returned to us by Uncle Phil and Aunt Lauren late this afternoon and they disappeared to talk with Mom and Dad. Hours A little while later like 5 hours maybe an hour and a half or so definitely more like 6 or 7 hours Chloe, Ava, and I decided to make dinner for everyone to surprise them. We had about 25 minutes to pull it off and we did it! 

Christian arrived back from a Ranger's game with friends just in time to try not to die choking because of Uncle Phil's hysterical true stories eat with us. 

I've Been Pondering

You know those times when you are so hungry that eventually your stomach gives up on the idea of food and leaves you forgetting that the last meal you ate was forever ago and so you don't eat until you realize you have a headache and are about to pass out? 

Don't let this happen with you and God. 

Don't push Him aside, tell Him 'no' or 'later', forget to worship Him in every moment, call upon His name with every breath, fold yourself in His love, speak His promises over each situation, marinate your soul with His word, and totally and completely fall in love with Him. 

Don't allow yourself to become so hungry for Him that your soul ceases to cry out for Him. 

Walk with Him every step you take. 

Don't wait until life crushes you to be reminded how much you need Him. Every day, hour, minute, moment you need Him. 

By His mercy though, the refrigerator is just a short walk away and is always overflowing with food for your heart- His love and grace. 

Those times when you do become distant hurt Him far more than the early stages of hunger we experience when we forget to eat, He longs for you and the moment you realize you are starved for Him, He is there waiting with open arms.

We Are Grateful 

A nap. -Dad

I'm grateful for good friends and loving family. -Mom 

Sunsets. - Me 

A fun weekend. -Chloe 

I'm grateful that I was able to go to the baseball game. -Christian

To spend time with family. -Ava

Another day on plant earth. -Gabe

That we are all here. -Mia

The Herd: Quoted

"No, they had it all planned out. If they stayed in there for two hours eventually we would get hungry and decide to make them dinner." -Me

"Yes, Lydia, it was all a conspiracy, why didn't you catch on to it sooner?" -Chloe 

"Oh...sorry." -Me sheepishly. 

"Guess what movies I watched." -Chloe 

"All the Jurassic Parks, Iron Man 2, and Thor." -Me without hesitation. 

"Yes! How did you know?" -Chloe

"Wait, I was right?" -Me 

"What is in this yogurt?" 

"Grasshoppers!" -Ava

"Wait, really?" -Me

"Yes, it says 'Organic Locust Bean Gum' right on the container." -Ava

"What makes it Australian?" 

"It's Kangaroo milk!" -Dad

Our Sunday Traditions

I bought my first ever baseball hat. 

Chloe says its adorable and I should wear them more often. I have never worn a hat. 

Update on the kids- apparently I spoke too soon, Gabe and Mia got worse last night. This morning, however, they were back to where they were earlier. We are praying they will be on the up-swing from here on out. The rest of us are still fine though. 

Finally, here is the long promised post- Our Sunday Traditions. 

Thinking about it now, we have maintained almost the exact same routine for the past, I don't know, 8 or 9 years probably. Sure it has adjusted some, but not much. 

For many years, church was early Sunday morning, as in, service at 8:00am. Now we attend a Saturday evening service. When church was on Sunday, the afternoon held naps for everyone, but not so much any more. And in the Summertime we will often go swim at Gramma's. Today, our day usually looks like this:

Normally we all sleep in Sunday morning. This varies depending on the person. For Gabe, Ava, and Mia sleeping in is like until 8:00am. Dad will often get up around the time they do. Chloe and Christian wait until closer to 9:00am, and I delay rising until as late as possible. (I try to be up by 10:00am.) Mom may be up at any time, but she pretty much stays in her room resting, reading, having her quiet time, talking to Dad, etc until 10:30am. 

Dad and I are the resident brunch makers. Others help sometimes, but mostly he and I work in the kitchen together. His specialty is hashbrowns from scratch, as in, shred the potatoes and everything. While he works his miracles in the three skillets it takes to make enough for all of us, I make oatmeal chocolate-chip pancakes, also from scratch (and memory, because I have been making these for the past 6 years at least). To those we add sausage (from a package, we aren't that adventurous), skillet vegetables, and eggs from our chickens. 

Yup, it takes a very large bowl. 

Hash-browns. 

(The day I took these pictures he wasn't making as many.) 

48+ pancakes later...

Brunch takes upwards of an hour to prepare and then we gather at the table to eat together. Conversation topics of course have altered over the years- today we talk of anything from movie quotes, to plans for the week, to things we are grateful for, to the sermon from the pervious night, to things Mom, Dad, or I have noticed in our quiet times, to our all time favorite-how many days are left until we go to Maui again and what we are looking forward to doing there. 

Everyone helps to clean up. Sometimes Mom will read aloud, our we will play games. Often I will slip away to play the piano. 

Early in the afternoon we will all scatter to our respective rooms for at least 2 hours of rest time. For each that has a different meaning. For Mom and Dad it still often means a nap. Or they will talk about the week. Or Mom will read while Dad sleeps. I may be doing any number of things- reading, writing, working on a project of some sort, drawing, or whatever else. Chloe is always reading, 100% of the time. Christian reads or listens to a baseball game. Ava likes to read as well, or listen to a story while knitting, much like I used to when I was her age. Gabe listens to history stories and plays with legos to his heart's content. And our genius, Mia, reads chapter books as of the past 3 months. 

Some will remain in their rooms all afternoon, others will venture out as soon as the minimum time of confinement has passed leave to do other things like play games, talk, etc. Christian will often come and have lengthy conversations about all manner of random things with me. (As he did today.) 

Dinner is much lighter and casual on Sunday evenings. Sometimes we even eat in front of the tv. But either way we all gather in the living room to watch something as a family. Other nights we might split up to watch stuff more tailored to our ages, but Sunday we always stay together. We may not all like the entertainment choice, but we stay together. Truth be told, its is Sunday evening and a movie is on as I write. I wasn't interested in the choice (White-Fang), but I wanted the homemade ice cream and I like being near my family. So I am half-watching while I write (and I eat ice cream). 

We are Grateful

I'm grateful for homemade ice cream. -Dad 

I am grateful for healthy children, that your bodies are able to fight off this infection and we are not sick very often. -Mom

I am grateful for gorgeous sunsets. -Me 

I'm grateful that I am not sick. -Chloe 

I'm grateful that Lydia was able to take us to the thrift store the get the things we need for Montana. -Christian

I am grateful for good food. -Ava 

*Long silence* That I am almost done with my pain. -Gabe

I'm grateful that Gabe and me are getting better. -Mia

The Herd: Quoted

"Do you want to play Apples to Apples the right way or the wrong way?" -Ava 

"Which one is easier?" -Gabe

"Well, probably the wrong way." -Ava

"Which way is the wrong way?" -Mia

"And I got this to put my planner and everything in." -Mom

*I make a aw-man-why-didn't-I-think-of-that-before-you-closed-the-order face* 

"Dad, we found a house!" -Me

"Y'all crack me up." -Dad

"Mom and I are the same, we get an idea and start figuring out how to make it happen right away, we have to jump on that ball and get it rolling!" -Me

"How about you don't hurt yourself." -Christian

"I just pulled my hair, I probably should be used to it." -Me

"Yeah, you probably should." -Christian

"When I go stay at the "blank's" house you don't have a problem." -Me

"Duh! Cause I'm match-making!" -Christian 

* I Facefloor* 

"And by the way, that was mostly in jest." -Christian

"Then you probably shouldn't jest with me because I always believe you." -Me

"It was 27% jest." -Christian 

"That's not mostly!" -Me

"We need to talk about percentages..." -Mom laughing 

"I was up at 6:45 this morning, and out on the porch having coffee by 7:00am. Just so you know. But you are right traditionally..." -Mom reading this post