More fun!

 Grandpa Harvey, the treat man, bought the kids some yummy treats!

 6 of 8 of the "greats"

 My Mom's youngest sister recently had her 1st baby.  It was so fun to meet the newest baby in the family!  My kids loved him!

Continued Pictures from Chicago Visit...

August is a busy month!  We're at the end of birthday season :) and planning ahead for the school year.  My mind and extra time has been spent devouring some books on home/homeschooling/chore management. (Teri Maxwell's books)  I've gleaned some great things to implement!  All that to say...pictures will have to suffice, b/c time for blogging is at a minimum.  Oh, and did I mention that my garden is full?  Mom, the kids, and I did 60 jars of jelly and juice from grapes our sweet neighbors let us come pick.  Whew!  Anyway...here was our visit:

Last Week Visiting Auntie Krista...

Celebrating Summer...

 Wow...I love these kids. :)  I'm loving every minute of this season.  It is SO fun.  The kids are growing and changing so quickly.  They say and do the funniest things!  Sometimes it's a little crazy around here...and loud!  But, it's such a blast!

 I realized recently, that I'm no longer the mom w/ 3 under 3--other friends of mine are taking that role.  The kids (minus Benjamin) just turned another year older.  So I have a 7, 5, 4 and a 1.5 year olds.  I wonder where the time has gone.  We've packed lots of good memories into these fun years.  They're learning every minute...I don't want to waste or neglect even 1!

Every day, I remind the kids, we're practicing.  Sowing either good things...or bad things.  Good habits or bad habits.  It's all in the little things: how we talk to each other, how we treat each other, picking up after ourselves, doing our daily "duties"--all those "insignificant" things are training ground.  They are building character and we're training "soldiers"  I'm so impressed w/ the great sense of responsibility before God and to them, to sow good and godly things in them.  Lord, give us grace!!

Samuel's 7th Birthday...

At 4:54 a.m., Samuel turned 7 years old. 

One thing I didn't realize 7 years ago, is that now I get to celebrate more than just my own birthday. I've been an active participant in 4 birth-days so far. It makes the celebration of life so much more special! A mom realizes in some small measure what it means to lay one's life down--not just on birth-day but every invested day in that baby's life.
So all this to say: It's Samuel's 7th birthday today!! Wow, has time flown. We have packed lots of fun memories and milestones in 7 years...it's fun to think of what the next 7 will bring!!

 Samuel is becoming quite the young man.  It's exciting to see him grow, learn, and mature.  Recently, he hit another milestone: losing teeth!  Yay!!

Happy Birthday to my little life changer!  Those baby days went so slowly...but the years are FLYING past.  I'm having a blast watching him grow up and participating every day in the process.  Happy Happy Birthday!!!

Madeline: 4 years old!

These are unedited...but before time gets away from me...I'll post a few, just for fun!

 Madeline turned 4 last week!  She is a joy and a delight to me (and her Daddy)  I'm so thankful God blessed us with a girl!

Madeline's Birthday Date