Eight is Enough

Cousins Camp

2010-07-05T17:20:00.001-07:00

David & Lily came home to the States and we all gathered up with Papa Joe for 3 days of camping. We did so many fun things together. One of the best was the fort that Papa Joe helped us build.

David has grown up so much. He quickly became a favorite to all of the kids.
Of course, we added a little swimming to our time together.

Papa Joe & Mama T treated the kids to a trip to the carnival. We rode rides and played games. It was the end to a really fun day!

Celebrating Her 65th Birthday!

2010-06-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I traveled to Michigan to celebrate my Mom's 65th birthday. It was a really fun day. I went by myself which was a much needed break, but also allowed me to truly enjoy spending time with my 3 sisters and mom. We took Mom out for little makeover and lunch.

The party was that evening. It was so much fun to see Mom's friends and family surround her and celebrate her birthday.

Happy Birthday Mom! I love you.

For the Love of the Game

2010-06-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

Spring is one of our favorite times of the year as a family. Lynnea begins her season of softball and Joseph and Benjamin start back up with Pee Wee Baseball. It is so much fun to spend our evenings at the ball park seeing our friends and playing a game we love!

Jason really gets into the season!

Memorial Day Weekend

2010-05-31T18:22:00.001-07:00

We loaded up and headed to Papa Joe's house for Memorial Day camping. It was a great time to be outside and enjoy some baseball, cooking over the campfire and lots of good family time. I didn't take many pictures, but here are a few...

Joseph requested that Papa Joe teach him how to play the guitar for when "he and Evan start their band". Papa Joe was very patient.

Of course, Lynnea wanted some help strumming out to "You Aint Nothing but a Hound Dog"

We visited a Memorial Day service. It was so good to be reminded of the price paid for freedom in our country. It was a blessing to share this with our children.

Doing Life Together

2010-05-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

The longer we are married, Jason and I become more convinced about the importance of friends walking alongside each other to sharpen, encourage and enjoy one another. One of our favorites is the Gates family. We met them several years ago in a church small group. Our values are so much the same and we live life very similar. The Gates have 6 boys, 5 that are the same age as our boys. We understand the challenges of having a larger family together and celebrate the joys of marriage, parenting and even greater, our walks with Christ. It's always a blessing to spend time together! (One of their boys and Lynnea were gone on this night together.)

Joseph and Jake have been the best of friends. They are so much fun to enjoy!

Their twins are #4 & #5 too and are the same age as Isaac.

Caleb & Benjamin are the oldest and we always compare to see who has gotten taller.

Growing Up

2010-03-04T06:34:00.000-08:00

Our Sunday School class has been working through "Growing Kids God's Way" by Gary and Anne Ezzo. It has been such a great reminder to me of the time it takes to truly raise great kids that love God and have a heart for those around them. I began praying that God would help me slow down and take the time to "train" my children, not just throw out empty threats and miss great teachable moments. God has been so faithful in answering my prayer. I am so thankful to see changes in their hearts and the ways we relate to one another. I still have my moments, but they are fewer and farther between. Working through the concepts from GKGW has renewed my excitement to be a part of my children growing up.

Frosty the Snowman

2010-01-15T13:25:00.001-08:00

Snow came to our world back in December and the kids took to the snowsuits and snow everyday. They worked really hard to make their snowman. Brittany is a friend from church who the kids adore. She helped out on this particular day and they loved it. I just love the intensity of putting together the final touches.

Boys Will Be Boys!

2010-01-13T05:57:00.001-08:00

For some time, I have wanted to find a play kitchen for my boys. We used to have one for Lynnea that was in pretty bad shape. I got rid of it thinking that the boys would have other interests. However, they love to play with "food" and play with other children's kitchens when they have them. Over the weekend, God gave us a kitchen! It is so much fun! The kids have set up several times, cook food and prepare for each other.

This is what I wasn't expecting, but should have known it was coming....You gotta love it!

Can they really be "4"???

2010-01-11T08:53:00.000-08:00

I took these pictures last fall and forgot all about posting them. It was so much fun. Noah and Samuel loved being on a "photo shoot" all by themselves.

Noah's pretty smileSamuel flashes his pearly white teeth tooI love watching them laugh (especially at each other).

I will try and put out some pics of the big party next time!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-06T05:38:00.001-08:00

A new year has begun with so many new hopes and dreams. I remember once again how blessed I am to enjoy a wonderful family. With each new year, our children are simple reminders of God's grace poured on our lives. When I was on my bed reading my Bible on January 1st, I was praying about what lives God would want me to reach out to. A quiet voice said, "start with your children". I was so thankful for that. Joseph was "supposed" to be taking a nap on my bed. We have long prayed that Joseph would make the choice to follow Jesus with his life. I began to once again share Christ's sacrifice and redemptive plan to Joseph. He said, "sometime I want to do that". The very next day as I was getting ready, he came into the bathroom and announced, "there are two things I want to do today...1)go play in the snow and 2)I want to ask Jesus into my heart". What an exciting day to rejoice with the angels of heaven as Joseph stepped into the hope of today and eternity. Thank you Father for those quiet words to reach my children...reminding me once again that reaching them is my very first priority.

Can't wait to spend eternity with you Joe!

Open Basement

2009-10-22T07:10:00.000-07:00

16416 Chancellors Ridge Way

Westfield, IN 46074

October 24th & 25th

Saturday and Sunday

2:00-5:00 PM

Welcome to the Walk to Cure Diabetes!

2009-10-13T16:57:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a fabulous day with great weather, support from friends and some good exercise. Our team joined up together and drove down to Military Park in Indianapolis. After registering and looking around a bit we gathered at the stage for some warm-up exercises, t-shirt competition and the national anthem. Then we were off for our 2 mile walk. Teams of many different colored shirts joined together to leave the starting balloon line...all with the same purpose of seeing a beloved friend or family member have a cure. The kids were excited...some raced ahead, others walked quietly looking around with great interest. Lynnea walked in the middle of several girls chatting about whatever little girls chat about. Her face was at peace enjoying the day. The two miles passed quickly as I talked with friends and counted and recounted children. We made our circle hike back to the park. Some of our team left as others enjoyed the face painting, food and jumpy house. It was so much fun to see this activity come together. As we talked about our weekend Sunday night, Jason asked the kids what some of their favorite things were. Lynnea quickly blurted out, "The Walk!!!" That's all we needed.

Heavenly Father, How I praise you for moments like these when our children can witness what it means to join together as the Body of Christ and love and support one another. I continue to believe that oneday you will heal Lynnea from this terrible disease. I KNOW that your plan for her life far exceeds my own desires and dreams. Give us grace in the daily challenges to have great hope and faith for the day when all of this will have clear purpose and we will see your divine leading. We will wait and trust...and above all, we live to glorify You! Amen.

Labor Day Rewind

2009-10-10T18:41:00.001-07:00

We decided to go to Jamestown, OH for Labor Day to visit Jason's sister, Jill, and her family. Greg and Jill had remodeled a home and we had yet to see it. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of their beautiful home, but I have some highlights from our weekend. Jamestown is near Cedarville which is the "home" of Labor Day. Jason's other sister Jewel lives in Cedarville.

They have lots of great activities. Jill and I got a chance to join a 4 mile race during the weekend. The race was rather small, but made it great for us. Jill and I both are sporting our "medals for 2nd and 3rd place in our age group here...That afternoon our families visited a park. The kids enjoyed running and playing. Here is our nephew, Will, loving the swings.

Greg, Jill and Lauren

The kids loved it when Jill and Jewel got creative with Jason and created J & J's Ice Cream Parlor. Jill and Jewel served ice cream through a "go between" from the dining room to the kitchen. We still talk about visiting J & J's!.

It was such a blessing to enjoy a good time with family. We can't wait for another time together!

Too Sweet

2009-09-24T17:46:00.000-07:00

On October 10th, our family will join friends and family to walk in our first ever JDRF walk benefitting Type 1 Diabetes. We decided to come alongside Lynnea and show our support for her by creating a team called "Too Sweet". She is so brave everyday controlling her diabetes through finger pokes, changing her insulin pump site and enduring the highs and lows. I truly look forward to celebrating God's faithfulness in her life.Lynnea's Papa Joe nicknamed her "Too Sweet" in September 2004 when Lynnea was diagnosed. The name has always stuck.

Another School Year...and so much to share!

2009-09-23T05:42:00.000-07:00

We are well into another year of school. The schedules are full of so many good things. Lynnea will be in the community theatre this fall for the first time with a small role.Benjamin is having his first try and football. His first game was last week and he tried out his quarterback position.Jason is getting his fun watching Benjamin study his new aquired "play book". Joseph adds another year of soccer to his belt, mostly enjoying the snacks and friends. Noah and Samuel added pre-school to the schedule this fall. We are praying this will help in their speech delay. They have no idea of our intentions for language development. They care only about when it is their show-n-tell day. Isaac finds his schedule full of riding in the car everywhere and entertaining the crowd with his smiles and silly ideas.

In the midst of a full schedule, God is showing Himself so faithful to our family. We are growing in our understanding of Him as our Heavenly Father in new ways everyday. This is so apparent in beginning our self employment journey once again. In future posts, I will share more of Jason's new journey. What a blessing to walk everyday with great hope for the promise of our future!

Finally!!! I'm Back...

2009-06-26T18:36:00.000-07:00

My sister reprimanded me for my lack of attention to our blog. You can tell what summer does to this mom when all the kids are home again. Since I don't have any pictures to share of my recent visit with my sister, I will share some pictures she took during one of our manicure/pedicure/facial sessions...
Samuel asks Noah, "Am I doing this right?"
Noah would like to see his eyes show a little more colorJoseph plays with the neon pink blusher--ooh baby!yes, Samuel, I have trouble with the eyes too.
Shhh...don't tell Daddy!

For Hire

2009-05-25T18:47:00.000-07:00

Recently, Noah and Samuel had an opportunity to do some modeling for a clothing line. They posed quite well in the window. I am not sure whether they were the sale or the clothing. Who knows, maybe they will be the money makers in the family! Aren't they so cute???

Because I Can

2009-05-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

I am taking this post to brag on my husband again. One of Jason's main goals during this time of unemployment was to regain his focus on priorities. He would put them in this order: 1) God, 2)Family, 3)Ministry & Serving Others, 4)Career. One of our neighbors has stuggled with some health concerns with his heart. When I told Jason that he was struggling to mow his yard, Jason was all over it. I love these pictures. He jumped on it that very day (Yes, it is raining).

Trains & Automobiles

2009-05-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

Four years ago, we began our train collection. Benjamin was never really interested in it. Joseph began to take a greater interest. Noah is our HUGE lover of anything on wheels. So, last Christmas we added some more track and cars. However, the kids didn't really play with it because the track always fell apart. After visiting the library, I learned the trick. This week, I finally glued the track down to the table. It is non-stop pre-school fun at our house. The kids love it.

And of course, you can always make a snack out of it too!

To My Mom

2009-05-10T17:28:00.001-07:00

This past year has been the most enjoyable time in my life enjoying my mom. If you have ever met my mom, she immediately remembered your name, made you feel comfortable and took a sincere interest in your life and who you are as a person. It took me a long time to truly begin to appreciate those qualities in my mom.

My mom and I can be as different as night and day. I like to wake up early and get my day started off with gusto, however, by 9:30 I am mostly worthless. My mom sets her alarm only so she can push the snooze. She even gives herself 30 minutes in the morning to sit in a chair and "wake up". But, when night time comes, she is a party in a package. I enjoy scheduling and organization. Mom thinks structure and schedule is boring and lacks creativity. I tend to have strengths in the task side of things, while mom is definitely on the side of people. My house might be neat as a pin, Mom would go out for coffee first with a girlfriend. I am strong-willed and enjoy leadership, Mom has a servants' heart and finds it really hard to say "no". For many years, I struggled to allow Mom to be Mom. I watched my girlfriends' mothers around me and favored those who acted like me and did life like me. I asked the question, "why can't mom be this way?". I held expectations on her that suffocated her and I think kept her from wanting to spend time with me.

About a year ago, I was going through my attic and found my baby book. Like my mother, many lines were empty (probably because the phone rang and that person distracted mom to help meet a need). I found this picture in that book...

I saw this beautiful woman holding tight to her baby. It was MY mother holding ME! Immediately, I realized that my mom and I were so much more alike than I realized. She loved her precious baby the same way I hold my babies. She spent nights just watching me wondering what I would become, dreaming of the times we would have together and just praying for me. God began to do a work in my heart. I began to pray that God would free me from bitterness of unmet expectations. I prayed that God would help me to love Mom for who she was. God began to reveal to me all of the ways that Mom was playing a huge role in my life. She is my biggest prayer warrior, she supports me in being a mom of 6 children (she did 5 herself), she loves the details of all of my days and will laugh with me, but most of all she forgives me for all of my shortcomings (there must be so many). I began to realize that many of my friends' mothers who might look like they had it together, didn't take phone calls from their daughters at 2 AM, favored their career over riding in the car 45 minutes to watch a volleyball game and never had the conversations Mom and I had. I could tell my mom anything and ask anything.

So, why do I tell you all of this? I prayed before I wrote this blog tonight that God would truly bless my mom from reading this. Mom, you are truly the best mom this 32 year old girl could ever ask for or need. Also, I know many of you struggle with your moms like I did. I know, I have talked to you. I want God to do a work in your heart too. God didn't give you your mom on a whim. He placed you in her arms for a specific purpose. I am praying that God would reconcile you together and change that relationship.

Thanks Mom for a great year. Thanks for loving me and my family. Thanks for all the sacrifice you make for us day after day. Thank you for loving God with all of your heart and passing your faith to your children and grandchildren. Thank you for the never giving up, never leaving, never stopping love that I experience from you everyday. I love you.

Waiting with Expectancy

2009-05-05T09:26:00.000-07:00

From my recent delay in posting, I am sure that you can tell I have lost my computer to a husband trying to provide a living. Here is just something simple that I wanted to share today. If you have ever visited a dollar store with a kid, you have had these little sponge growing tablets before. You put them in water and then they disolve into an animal, car or something. The kids love them.

Lynnea got some of these this weekend. I laughed as my kids surrounded the table watching the glass to see what it would become. Even Isaac was laying prostate across the table so no one would take away his view of the glass. When I looked over these pictures, I was comforted to know that my Heavenly Father watches that close over us, His children. He knows what we will already become. I am so thankful that no one can get in His way of watching me. I need to know that in these days of uncertainty.

By the way, the finished product was a rooster.

Upside Down & Inside Out

2009-04-22T11:15:00.000-07:00

During our winter months, Jason changed roles in his company from supervisor to sales. If you watched our family during this time, you knew it was very difficult. It required him to work weekends and some evenings. We recognized that during this economy, we were very thankful for a job and continued to trust the Lord for grace for each new day. Some days were harder than others. Now, I know there are many others that have this schedule and do great. However, with 6 children, our family struggled to spend time together.

We prayed for a change in career paths, but never sensed the Lord's direction to change at the time. On April 1st (no joke), we were on the floor praying that God would give us a sign. We wanted it clear that Jason should stay where he was at or move us elsewhere. The next morning, his boss told him that his job no longer existed. It was a strange excitement to know that the Lord has answered our prayers, yet somewhat scary to know what this new adventure looked like.

After two weeks, we don't have a definite career plan in front of us. However, I am testifying to God's great faithfulness. He is providing our daily needs, giving us hope in new job prospects and allowing our family to serve Him in new ways. I am overwhelmed in my spirit right now to think of all the ways we are seeing answered prayer. I KNOW that we are in God's care and I love being right where we are. I am so thankful that God has chosen us to be in relationship with Him. I don't know how I would do life without Him...I guess I just wouldn't truly live life. Thank you Father!

He's Not Heavy, He's My Brother

2009-04-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

I have really enjoyed watching the "boys be boys" lately. They run hard, play hard and sometimes sadly enough fight hard too. I really love each of my boys and am so thankful God gave them to us. Here is a look into some of our days...

Samuel & Noah try out their NEW (used) bikes!Isaac tries to phone home.
Benjamin brings home his friend, Dalton, who fits right in with defending the peace (or lack thereof).
We have never seen these 2 aliens again.

Sickies

2009-04-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

Our week has been full of getting sick-uugh! After our little Spring Fling, temperatures starting going up, coughs were heard and we ran out of tissues. Poor Benjamin finally made it back to school Thursday. I change up our whole diet when illness comes into the house. Usually, you can hear it said, "somebody must be sick". I try to get all of the junk out. We eat mostly veggies, fruit, some protein, grains, NO sugars, and drink lots and lots of water. It's a good kick start back into some really good healthy eating. Overall, our kids are pretty good sports. So, hopefully, I can get some more done on our blog next week. So much going on ...

Poor Baby!

Spring Fling

2009-04-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

It's Spring Break this week for the Hummer clan. We decided to take the kids away for a couple of days. The plans for this trip were not decided until the last minute. We toyed with several options, but I kept coming back to the ages of our family. I really don't like to spend money to take our littlest kids places that they won't appreciate. We try to save those for later. We have plenty of years to add in those vacations. So, we capitalize on the simplicity for now so they can have something to look forward to as they get older. So, here is our trip...

We reserved two adjoining rooms at a Comfort Suites in Indianapolis. This was great because we had lots of space. We got the rooms for $45 each!!! I hunted for some great rates that included a pool and continental breakfast. The highlight for the kids was the pool, of course.

Jason had been wanting to take the boys to "Ride Makerz" to build a remote controlled car. He took the boys that direction and I took Lynnea to Build-A-Bear. It was a good morning.

In the evening, we took the kids to the Old Spaghetti Factory, thanks to our friends' recommendations. We reserved the "train car". It was a good meal and lots of fun.

We walked around downtown and the kids loved looking at everything.

Our last big adventure was to go to the IMAX Theatre to watch "Monsters & Aliens" in 3D. The 3D was the best part on the BIG screen. A couple of the kids took their glasses off so they wouldn't be scared.
Our family had a great time together. It was a much needed break to spend some time together. I think we suprised the kids and made for a memorable time. While I can welome our regular routine, I thank God for times of R & R.

Monday: Wash Day

2009-04-06T10:24:00.000-07:00

So, how does a mom with 6 children tackle all of my laundry. I make it very simple. I have a few things working for me. In 2006, my wonderful husband bought me the washer and dryer of a lifetime! It is the Whirlpool Duet HT. It has commercial capacity which took 3 loads of work into 1. That was great shortly after the twins were born. Other tools I use are a laundry sorter, drying rack, ironing board and baskets. Also, during our home remodel, we remodeled a room into a killer of a laundry room with a laundry chute. I have plenty of space.However, my tips for laundry have nothing to do with either or these. They work for any washer/dryer, any family size, and any size room.

I picked 2 days that are specified laundry days where I work diligently at laundry. These need to be days I am at home most of the time. I picked Monday and Thursday.
I plan to begin laundry early. If I can, I sort the laundry the night before. This way, I can throw in a load before getting the kids up in the morning.
I listen for the washer/dryer signals and go immediately to switch the load above any other task (excluding feeding lunch, helping a child, etc). I make it a priority over my other jobs. This keeps it moving.
I iron sometime during each "laundry day". This pile could get HUGE if I don't stay on top of it.
I fold laundry as I take it out of the dryer. This helps with wrinkles and avoids loads of laundry sitting in baskets haunting me =).
I have 4 baskets designated for each bedroom. As I fold, I sort the clothes into one of those baskets.
I teach my children to put their own laundry away by age 4 or 5. They take their basket upstairs when the loads of laundry are done and work together to put away their clothes.
Each of my children have a bath towel with their name embroidered on it. We reuse towels. I wash these towels after about 5-6 uses. Their bodies are clean when they use them...so why wash after each use?
I wash PJs after about 3 uses, unless they become soiled during the night. This eliminates more clothing.
I teach the kids how to sort their clothes for clean vs dirty when they are about 5. The clean we put back in the right place. The dirty goes down the chute. Before age 4 or 5, it's ALWAYS dirty (or so it seems).
I clean up the laundry room at the end of the work so it doesn't look like anything happened that day. It's nice and fresh for the next time around.

Laundry isn't consuming this way. I get it done and over with...and I kinda like it too. Sometimes I get more help than I need too!

Baby Isaac fit in the laundry chute. The kids got a real kick out of that one.Happy Monday!

Simple Pleasures

2009-04-05T11:12:00.001-07:00

Be Who You Is

2009-04-02T05:22:00.000-07:00

This blog is an inside look into what God is teaching me, kinda journal like. It amazes me that I am just now figuring this out and I thought that it might be an encouragement to my friends. I am becoming more aware of the need to find who God has made ME to be and then grow within that...not find out what God made YOU to be and then strive to be better at that. Strange, you might think, but everyday I am met with the desire to compare myself with others and allow that person to be a determining factor as to whether I measure up to the "standard". Yesterday, it became clearer than ever that I don't want to do that. It can be so exhausting and I don't believe it to honor God. I began to realize that I am a learner, loving to learn new things, but I might not have to be the master in each of those. I can thank my parents for that love. Here is my list that I started...

Bible Study-I love to read the Bible and gain new insights. I love to see how it fits my life, family and the world around me. I don't like to do inductive Bible Study.

Teaching-I enjoy sharing truths that I have learned in almost any area. I love to pass that along to others in most formats. I don't enjoy studying for hours to make a presentation.

Parenting-I love to spend time with my kids doing something-reading, making something, going somewhere. I am not good at playing toys with them.

Exercise-I can appreciate a good workout for good health and really enjoy it for about 30-45 minutes. I don't have to master every style of exercise and really don't want to.

Fashion-I love to dress stylish and LOVE shopping (with money). I don't have to have a huge wardrobe. A few new things for a season and I am set.

Finances-I enjoy working with numbers and learned truth from God's Word about spending wisely. Sometimes, I can splurge and break out of budget.

Bargain Hunting-Everyone can appreciate a great deal. I enjoy finding them when I have the time. Sometimes I can work too hard for one. However, I don't enjoy 2nd hand shopping and I might pay too much for a great sweater just because I love it. Quality is probably most important to me. How long will it last?

Photography-I love pictures. I love looking at them again and again. I love finding the right angle and I think I have an eye for it. On a nice day, I don't have to have my camera attached to me. Sometimes I forget to take it to events and I am okay with that. I love to scrapbook, but for short periods of time. I enjoy the finished product mostly.

Housework-I love seeing my house in order. I like it clean. I don't obsess with it's perfection. I might hide something in a closet just to deal with it later. I usually have one room needing attention.

Cooking-I love to cook and bake. I think it's fun to try new recipes and prepare a beautiful meal. I don't like to experiment much on my own.

Eating Healthy-It is a priority to create meals for my family that are healthy. This has to stay within a budget, so sometimes I have to trust the Lord to keep us healthy when I can't afford to buy all organic, fresh or something. I can appreciate a trip to McDonalds or some candy and chocolate. Ice cream is my favorite!

Decorating-This is one of my favorite places to allow my creativity to flow. Unfortunately, budget and my love for quality slow me up in this area. It takes me too long to decide so my home is somewhat empty. Simple is best at times.

Relationships-This is probably my #1 love. I can distracted from everything else to spend time with others. I might think I would like a day to myself, but it's always better to me to take someone along...especially Jason or one of my kids, mom, sisters, friends,...you get the point. I really dislike being misjudged and wish pride didn't exist in relationships.

Okay, here is my start. This has been good for me to do. Being honest with myself allows me to pursue what I love and spend time following what God wants me to do. I will probably struggle with being a perfectionist and wanting something right and precise. But, I applaud you for what you are good at...the best cook, photographer, blogger, cleaner, shopper, whatever...but enjoy it. Live life to find God's purpose for who you are!!!

Joseph's Totally Rockin' Party

2009-04-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are some details from Joseph's big party. I need to let you in on a few things first. When this all started, we were going to invite 3 families to the party. During the course of two weeks, Joseph invited 4 more families. Jason and I wondered how to really pull this off. We decided to just make it a HUGE carnival theme, add some desserts and a "pinalla" (pinata) which was Joseph's only request. In the morning, I made a chocolate cake, rice crispy treats, brownies, white chocolate cookies and chocolate peanut butter dessert (my favorite). All the kids got involved and it was suprisingly fun that morning. During nap time, we decorated, taped the floor for games and put on the finishing touches. We all went out to McD's for dinner so the little boys wouldn't destroy everything before the party.

So the guest list looked like 14 adults, 19 children and 5 children under the age of 2...yes, 38 people in our house at one time. I got rather scared as some families entered looking very overwhelmed. I knew by their expressions, that they might have like to run away quickly.

This started as a little pool to dig for buried treasure and ended up being a pool to swim around in.Joseph's lifelong friend (literally), JakeNo party is complete without the Gates FamilyJoseph with friends Mary Ellen and "A Bekah" (Rebekah)Joseph with Evan. I think they are planning the next sleepover.Joseph & Noah with Iain & EmmilynnDon't believe their faces...I know that the Orbaughs had a good time.Neighbor friends Clay and Graham (with Hogan not knowing he is in the picture)We had a great night! It was so much fun. All the adults were good sports about it. This party reflects Joseph's love to be with people....I guess I never took it so literal.POST PARTY CLEAN UP-CRAZY!

Five Is Fun!

2009-03-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

Today is the day that Joseph has been looking forward to for a long time. He has had a list of what happens when he turns five. It looks something like this:

1. I go to school
2. I stop sucking my finger

3. I get to sleep on the top bunk

4. I don't have to take nap

Joseph is really a joy to our family. He has a LOVE for people that grows everyday. If you are under the age of 12, you have probably been invited to our house for a sleepover with Joseph. He makes friends in the craziest of places and he remembers most of their names because they are all his "best" friends. I love those tender moments when Joseph leans up close and says to me "I love you Mommy" or "You are my best Mommy". He is a real funny man too. He isn't afraid to do the bizarre. Last week, he bought a pair of thick glasses with a big nose and mustache attached. He enjoyed wearing them through the grocery store just to make people laugh. The following is part of my attempt to take a "nice" picture of Joseph...

Happy birthday Joseph!

(Stay tuned for pics from a totally happening birthday party, JOSEPH STYLE!)

Kissing Cousins (Part 2)

2009-03-26T11:09:00.001-07:00

On any given night at our house, you might be handed a ticket that is an invitation to a "show" that the kids have created. Gwen's visit was no exception. Lynnea trained and directed each of the children in their part. Joseph and Maggie had the grand finale to a song from Upward's music CD. Please sit back and enjoy their part of the show.

Joseph is sure that after this, oneday he wil marry Maggie. Maggie is for sure to marry her Daddy. They are a little mixed up and someday they will believe us.

It was good to see Joseph revert back quickly from Prince Charming to Bon Jovi.

Anna is a little happier in this one.

Kissing Cousins? (Part 1)

2009-03-23T18:40:00.000-07:00

My sister Gwen is such a treasure. She does such a good job at being a great support and encouragement to our family. Gwen and her two girls visited early this week. We had a great time playing with cousins. I guess I enjoyed the countless times sitting down with Gwen and just talking about whatever. Those times are so rare and yet so precious. Here are some pics on a nice spring day..

Maggie is almost four. Lynnea loves to play girl stuff and dress up with Maggie.

This was a rare occasion when Anna got the car away from one of my boys. You can notice the determined look on her face to keep it.

All the cousins pose together

Gwen with Anna's "not so glad to take a picture" face

Yes, even I tried out the trick bike. Benjamin is much better.

Now I try to pose with Maggie and her "I don't want to take a picture" face

Isaac loves being older and getting to play with the big kids. Look at that face!

It's Our Turn Now

2009-03-18T05:38:00.000-07:00

Last night, Benjamin and I took our turn at the Mother/Son activity night at school (similar to Jason and Lynnea's date). We had a great time rotating through all the different games, obstacle courses and races. Unfortunately, my son beat me at most and I can't even say that I let him. It was really fun to be alone with Benjamin, something that I was looking forward to. While riding in the car, I was trying to drum up conversation. I asked, "what is your favorite thing about Mommy?" He said, "you cook for me". Sounds like a man. "What is the thing you don't like the most about your mommy?" "I get in trouble when I do wrong." Sounds like a child. If that is the worst thing I do, what a blessing! Because I know that oneday he will be thankful for correction and Benjamin's heavenly Father will be able to use him in mighty ways because of the self-control and obedience he learned as a child. Benjamin is a great boy. He has such a tender heart toward his brothers, family and even the things of God. I love to watch him desire reading his Bible, go to church and ask really great questions. What a blessing to have such a treasure in my son!

Lee, The Gap, Old Navy, American Eagle,The Buckle

2009-03-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Yep, I am on the quest for new jeans. I figured that it was time to trade in all my saggy bottom jeans since my weight loss (from the babies) for something more complementary. I had forgotten the challenge that lay before!!! I started out doing two things wrong. First, I headed out with my husband and 4 small children to the mall. Although, Jason was gracious enough to take the kids to the play place, I soon realized the mall was not for me. The first store I walked into sold jeans for $69.50. WHAT! I asked the salesman (who was too young and probably shouldn't be buying those jeans either) "do you have any jeans that I could actually afford?" He was nice enough to point me to the clearance rack. There was my next problem. Can anyone tell me what body type wears a "low rise" jean and never shows parts of their body that shouldn't be seen? I'm not looking for a rise up to my neck, but surely there is an in between. I headed to other stores to find more low rises and costs up to $139.00. This was not going to be the day that I bought jeans for sure. Jason was nice enough to not ask too many questions as we rode home that day.

Tuesday, I headed with Mom and Noah to the Outlet Mall. Surely here, we would be successful! I was excited at the first store that there were some pants a little higher in the rise. However, here would come my second challenge. Did you know that you can pick up three of the same jeans, in the same color, size and cut and they can all fit differently? I asked the salesman there, "Why is this one too short, this one too tight and this one fit just right?" He was also kind and tried to reassure me they were working on that. Mom explained to me that they must cut out 20 jeans in a pile at the same time.

You will be comforted to know that after trying on 18 pairs of jeans, I can home with 3 new pairs of jeans that fit (well, in that relative jean sort of fit). I stayed in my budget and I can give away the old saggy bottoms (oh, my last problem...it helps to have a butt when trying to find jeans that fit!)

Snow?

2009-03-08T12:50:00.001-07:00

These were some pictures that I meant to post and forgot. I thought the kids were really cute. Of course, I enjoyed their creativity that day too!

All of these buckets of snow resulted in a sledding hill down our front steps. It tooks days to get it all off.

Any guesses on who these crazy boys are?

We Remember...

2009-02-27T15:20:00.000-08:00

I know exactly where I was one year ago...having taken Anna to the airport, I was coming down Golf Course Rd. to take Lynnea back to school when my cell phone rang. It was strange that my brother was calling me in the morning. He asked if I could pull over. The next few seconds were like hours as my mind raced to what could have happened. "Jen, Dad died this morning". Those words changed who I was for the rest of my life. I had to grow up in a new way.

I grew up for most of my childhood in Ionia, MI...on a little farm...with one brother and three sisters. My Dad wanted his kids to enjoy a big place to play and he wanted to try his hand at farming. It was the life! There were great times to be had on that farm. Of course, there was always the occasional trip to Lake Michigan.

My poor brother is missing because someone had to take the picture.

My parents divorced when I was in high school and seeing Dad was much more limited. He always had a special place in my heart. We spent many of our visits at a Burger King having Cokes or outside at a park playing tennis or having a picnic.

When I got married and became a mom, I got to enjoy a new relationship with Dad. He loved hearing stories of the kids and he always encouraged me at being such a great mom. He really did try to keep up with an occasional package in the mail or phone call or email.

It's amazing that one full year has passed. I miss my Dad differently today than I did one year ago. I feel like I know him better. One of the things that I know I inherited from my parents is my love for books, specifically from my Dad, the love to research, study, and gain knowledge. I have been reading one of Dad's favorites lately. He commented in his handwriting all over the pages. He was so brilliant to retain a lot of great information. It has provided some great memories for me. I still wonder if I will ever be able to take his phone number out of my cell phone, his e-mail off my computer or his address out of my phone book. Maybe not, but it's okay.

Jason's dad brought me a gift last weekend to remember my dad. I love it. It is called, "Quest". It is a great representation of my Dad's life. I believe that he loved God with all of his heart and wanted to know and understand God greater. I pray that I too will always stay on this "quest".

I Love You Dad. I Will See You Real Soon!

Meal Planning Discovery

2009-02-24T07:32:00.000-08:00

In January, Jason received a very basic spiral calendar from a company. He didn't need it, so I began using it to meal plan. I sat down and planned out a menu for everyday-breakfast, lunch & dinner. With the size of our family, I almost have to have an idea for every meal to make sure there is enough for everyone. Planning for a month has made a HUGE impact in my sanity, our finances, healthy meals and the anticipation for the next meal. Since I took the time to do it the first month, I can rotate many things for the next month and then just add a few fun fresh new recipes or desserts. It took me about 20 minutes to plan a month. Then, each week, I just make out my grocery list from that plan. It works great. I have done monthly meal planning before, but having it in this spiral bound book makes it very easy to look back for the things we love. Do you have any ideas that would contribute to my plan? I love to cook...so I would even love to hear some new recipes that your family loves. I have an extra copy of this calendar so if your comment is chosen as a family favorite idea or recipe, I will send it to you!!

And The Two Shall Become One

2009-02-20T13:43:00.000-08:00

No, it isn't our anniversary. Last weekend, my Mom and her husband (Basil) visited our family. We had a great time. Basil was sharing how he was doing a study in his bible over the phrase "and the two shall become one" that is often spoken at weddings. He discovered that phrase to mean that a husband and wife become ONE after they have a child. I have not researched that and obviously, WE have become ONE six times...

That conversation prompted this post. I felt the need to brag on my husband. I am often amazed at what a great man I married. Jason does such an amazing job leading our family. He has such a passion for God's direction in our lives. Almost daily, I hear him saying something to our children that teaches them about Jesus and how to serve and obey God in their lives. He is such a HUGE help to me. He jumps in at home as soon as he walks in the door and is attacked by 6 charging superheroes coming to meet him at the door. Often times, he will look out for me to make sure I get a break, even if he hasn't gotten one. One of my favorite things I love is Jason's ability to develop relationships with people. I see this most often at his work where he is a salesperson. You might think he invests in people just to sell a house. However, he truly cares about that person and the needs in their lives. We have had many of those clients over to our house for dinner just because Jason wants our family to share in their lives. We pray for those clients. I have so many other things that I would love to share...maybe I will save that for our 10th Anniversary blog in a couple of months. You win if you know the exact date. In the meantime, here are some early pics of us...

September 1998 Dating

Engagement Picture

(props to Photos by Greg in Tipton, we were one of his early clients)

The Big Day (again, thanks Greg)

WOW! Looks like we need a tanning bed or something.

After looking back at those pictures, I can tell that we had no idea what we were getting into. We were the greatest parents then (isn't everyone who doesn't have any children???) I think we have learned a lot and the best part is that I would rather spend time with Jason than anyone.

President's Day

2009-02-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

At the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, they offer free admission on President's Day. Seeing this as a great opportunity, the kids and I loaded up to go. I really should have thought beforehand that all of the greater Indianapolis area might take this opportunity too. I knew I was right when the city bus in front of us stopped and 15 people got out. It was a long walk from where we parked to the museum. The kids did great. We made it past getting coats off, the restrooms, and out to look around. The kids loved the dinosaurs, playscapes and comic strip area. Here are some pictures from our visit. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera (very VERY sad) so these are from my phone.

Sitting on the throne at the new lego exhibit

Benjamin dresses up as a dinosaur in the dinosaur exhibit

Noah & Samuel take a drive in the cab at Comic Strip dress up

Isaac thought we forgot about him until we let him out of the stroller to play in the water in the preschool Playscapes area. He squealed and splashed. I loved it!

Lessons Learned:

1. Pay attention in Driver's Education on how to parallel park

2. Peeing outside before coming in a busy building might be a better option than waiting in line 20 minutes.

3. Do not correct your daughter for pulling around your 3 year old by the collar in fear she might lose him. It might eliminate the need for a museum worker to return him to you later.

4. Preschoolers and Grade-schoolers enjoy exhibits differently.

5. Know when the museum closes so you don't have to sprint the last floor in 25 minutes.

6. Remember your wallet.

7. Sand & Water don't mix inside or outside of the mouth of a toddler.

8. Do not plan to make dinner at home later because you will never get home in time to eat it. It's not worth the preparation time before leaving while the remainder of your home is being remodeled by little people.

9. No matter how Verizon Wireless sells it, cell phones were not made for photography and great memories.

10. DO NOT GO BY YOURSELF WITH SIX CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 8 TO A MUSEUM ON PRESIDENT'S DAY JUST BECAUSE IT IS FREE!!!

Maybe Eating at Home Isn't So Bad

2009-02-17T09:19:00.001-08:00

The smiles on their faces are a great representation on how this night "started" out. I had been wanting to share this with you for some time, but forgot. Some friends of ours had taken the older three kids out for the evening. Since this rarely happens, Jason and I decided to take the younger 3 out for fun. I need to tell you that we had just come through a week of some of the kids getting sick. We went to Burger King (I know, we are such big spenders). Anyway, while we are eating, Samuel told me his tummy hurt and he needed to go to the bathroom. As I am getting up to take him, it is already to late. He had messed in his underwear. I hold him straight out from me and carry him to the bathroom to clean him up. It's a mess. I have to put a diaper on him and he walks back "pantless" to our table.

When I get there, Jason told me that Isaac had thrown up while I was gone. Can you believe it??? Trying to finish up quick, Samuel messes out of the diaper again. We clean up the table and run to the car. Samuel sits on my coat in the car and we make it home for baths and bed. The Lord was gracious to us to allow us to be able to laugh at our evening. Could it be any crazier? Life in our house with 6 children is never the same!

Daddy, I Love You.

2009-02-13T18:45:00.000-08:00

I love to watch the relationship that Jason has with Lynnea. It amazes me how a little girl can believe that her Daddy can fix anything, rescue her from anything, and give the best snuggle in the world.

This past week, Jason and Lynnea went to school for an annual Daddy/Daughter Activity Night. Lynnea looked forward to it all week. She planned to wear her favorite purple hoodie....a little like Cinderella getting ready for her ball (except with a hoodie and jeans). I took these pictures before they left.

I pray that we never forget the daily impact we have on our little girls. They are beautiful, delicate and full of God's creativity. Lynnea is absorbing new things everyday and I want God's truths to become part of who she is. Thank you Jesus for our little blessing... however silly that might be.

Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic

2009-02-10T15:04:00.000-08:00

A HUGE thank you to the Majercik family who sent our family to see the Pacers on Friday night. Every year, they have been so kind to give us tickets to their box seats.

I am not sure whether the kids enjoy watching the game more or visiting the dessert cart. This year we took the entire family.

Noah and Samuel were rather reluctant to go down the steps in fear that that they would fall over the glass. This was forgotten when they got their own can of lemonade.

This year we bought boom-boom sticks and the kids thought that was awesome. Unfortunately, the boys didn't know they were for cheering...swordfighting was more appropriate. Sorry to all those in the box with us.

Jason "thought" he was getting his picture taken with Larry Bird????

Routine is Where it is At

2009-02-09T07:43:00.001-08:00

We get asked often, "how in the world do you guys do it with all of those kids?" This morning I was reminded of how blessed we were to get some great information early on for our baby Lynnea. I know so many people have heard or experienced mixed emotions "On Becoming Babywise", but I can testify that after 6 children including a set of twins, following a balanced approach to this book is the best thing out there for parents of newborns and older babies. As new parents, we were able to have very happy babies who slept through the night at 8-10 weeks. We knew when they were supposed to eat, be awake and sleep without the guesswork of "are you hungry already again?". Our children are some of the best sleepers, healthier and it even made our marriage stronger. It was a great foundation for behavior and being better parents. I just wanted to pass this along in case the Lord would use this to encourage you or a friend . If you would like to learn more about this, you can get with me or check out http://www.gfi.org/. Visit their store and scroll to the bottom to get a copy of the books.

Lynnea at 6 months in Florida.

Trusting Actively

2009-02-07T12:18:00.000-08:00

For as long as I can remember, I would say that I "trust" the Lord to provide my needs or I "trust" that God cares about me. Recently, God is teaching me a lot about trust. I am beginning to learn that trusting the Lord is a very active state of mind. I can tend to worry about many things. I can worry about our finances, the safety of my children, what might happen later in my day or various things that are fairly common to most mothers. I am learning that trusting in God means stopping my thoughts right in the middle of the concern and beginning to think truth. It might be as simple as thinking, "God, I know you promise to provide for me, I trust in you". I might emotionally not agree with what I am saying and many times have opened my Bible to read familiar passages. I am amazed at how quickly the Holy Spirit speaks to my mind and heart and I am comforted to truly be able to walk in trust again. My thoughts might wander again later to fretting, but I am beginning to catch myself sooner and as an act of will choose to think on the promises of God. I am challenged by this, but my stomach feels much better my relationship with God much deeper. I am truly His child.

Baby Baby

2009-01-31T11:33:00.001-08:00

Jason and I are quickly learning why the baby of the family becomes the baby of the family. It's amazing how quickly Isaac can do things...or do we just miss it because we are busy tending to the needs of another child. I think that we do pay closer attention to the cute things Isaac does because we don't want to miss it on our very last. I am sure that he can get away with plenty when he gives that cute little melt your heart smile. So, I felt the need to post these pictures to show why I think the last child is so determined...it's the only way to get fed around here...

I must say that he did not get his way with Spaghettios today. He very much wanted to feed himself, but we have to draw the line somewhere (oh, and did I just admit to allowing my children to have Spaghettios!!!!)

For my Girlfriends...

2009-01-06T15:57:00.000-08:00

I begin this post by writing that I give 100% glory to God for what I want to share. I know that without His power, I cannot accomplish anything on my own. In 2008, I was watching "The Biggest Loser" show. I was somewhat saddened that our country would embrace obesity by creating a show about weight loss. In my own embarrassment, I realized that I had 20 lbs. that had been creeping on from having babies. I decided to figure out what I had to do to be 20 lbs. lighter. I thought that it was going to have to be this formula that only a genius could figure out with an exercise regimen that required 2 hours a day. What I found to be true was that it's very simple. I began counting calories and walking. I cut back my caloric intake by 500 calories and exercised 5 times a week for 30 minutes (http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm helped me figure this out). In 4 months, I have been able to lose 21 lbs. I really felt that God wanted me to share this 1)because I need somebody to celebrate with me! and 2)I know that many of us set this New Year's resolution and never follow through. We all have this crazy rationale that keeps us from being the slim woman that we want to be. Believe me, I have said them all. But, I have also conquered them too. I have 6 children, 4 preschoolers at home, serve in ministry, have been up several times during the night, love going out to eat, have sore knees, am married and have date nights, been exhausted, gone through major hard losses in life, wished that I had planned better, etc. I found that I had to have perseverance and by God's grace, I have 9 lbs. to conquer before March 1. Sometimes, I have had to work out before bed or get up at 5 AM. I survived the holidays and didn't gain a pound. So...I challenge you to really get going. Make it bigger than skipping the cookie or not choosing dessert after a meal. Counting calories might feel consuming, but it is to accomplish a greater goal. It gets easier once you get in a routine. Get good sleep at night. And, get out those old exercise tapes and get moving. YOU CAN DO IT!!! I really want to be of some encouragement to you. I know that I needed someone to give me a swift kick...too bad it was TV. Let me know if you have decided to get moving. I would love to pray for your motivation and know that I have another person working alongside me. We can do great things for God in our healthier slimmer selves!!!

And a Happy New Year!

2009-01-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

Just thought that I would post some pictures from our time with Jason's family. Of course, it's always a good time together...

Lynnea really enjoyed having Aunt Jewel do her hair and spend time listening to her.

You sunk my Battleship!!!

Papa Joe & Little Joe

"Mom, Will is my best friend"

Crazy Cousins

"Did Papa Joe and Mama Teresa get me that puppy I asked for?"

Daddy & Joseph

Lauren takes refuge with her parents away from Isaac's attack.

Posing for a cute picture

Traveling for Christmas

2008-12-29T17:28:00.000-08:00

We braved the winter ice and snow to travel to Michigan to spend time with my family. It took 7 1/2 hours to make a "normal" 4 hour trip. It was all worth it to be together with family. I just wanted to post some of our pictures with some of them...

Benjamin with Grandma

Lynnea poses with my niece Samantha. Lynnea really enjoys doing "big girl" things with Sam!

Me with my sister in law, Betsy. Isn't she cute?

This is the guy I roped into driving me through the messy weather just so I wouldn't miss out with family.

Samuel loves his new big toy!

Of course, we can't leave out Anna. It was so great to have her home from Peru to spend Christmas with us!

Jason and my brother Dave sport their new Farm all shirts from Betsy.

When did Nick grow up? I made him pose like that with the new shirt we got him.

My sister Juli poses with the girls.

Life As We Know It (or are trying to know it)

2008-11-24T17:56:00.000-08:00

I don't have any pictures to post...just wanted to give an update on our crazy life. Jason started his new sales position November 15th. This means that he is working weekends now. He gets Wednesday/Thursday off, but has found those days to do some side jobs. I am so thankful for the way God is providing for us during this economy AND the fact that housing is not the best line of work to be in right now. His change has made for a change in my work load. Jason does so much to help me out with the kids and the house when he is home. I have missed his help.

We have also had our share of colds and sickness. Poor baby Isaac was diagnosed with pneumonia over the weekend. Thankfully, it wasn't bad enough to be in the hospital, but we have had some sleepless nights. He is doing much better.

It's just amazing how this time gets so busy. We are really looking forward to Thanksgiving and spending some time with Jason's family. It's been too long since we have spent time with Will and Lauren. The kids are really excited. We have much to be thankful for as well. I am so thankful for how rich we are in this life...our family, church, neighborhood and mostly the faithfulness of God.

Okay, I will just include this one picture so you can see how kitty is doing too. Poor Harley!

Baby's 1st Haircut

2008-11-08T11:19:00.001-08:00

Well, we took Isaac on Thursday for the last 1st haircut our family gets to enjoy. It's really silly how long we let it get. It fell over his shoulders nicely. On Wednesday, 2 people in the grocery told me how precious our baby girl was. It's one thing when your child has no hair, it's another when you can actually do something about it. He looks so handsome now. Needless to say from the pictures, he did not enjoy his trip one bit.

Before

During

After

The People You Meet Along the Way...

2008-11-06T18:13:00.000-08:00

Today I went out to Zionsville to see the house that Jason is finishing. While there I met a man that lives next door to the homeowner named Larry Houser. Larry invited us over to meet him and show the boys his dogs. Larry's friendship with Jason has been very rewarding. You see, Larry was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Jason had an opportunity to talk with Larry about eternity and his relationship with the Lord. Through this conversation, Jason discovered that Larry was already a brother in Christ! Larry has an amazing testimony as he endures chemotherapy, weariness and his future. If you would like to read more about the conversation Jason had with Larry, you can read it at www.caringbridge.org/visit/larryhouser. Jason's excerpt is written on October 20th (the person who writes the blog called him Justin). It's really great. Here are some pictures of our day at Larry's.

Playing with the dogs.

Isaac and Noah begin a conversation

Joseph poses with Mr. Larry and Nevada

Of course, Samuel wants to be held.

Isaac loves wandering in the grass

The Reigner House in its almost finished state.

Welcome to the Neighborhood!

2008-10-31T19:13:00.001-07:00

The kids had a great night out tonight visiting our neighboring steets. Lynnea went as herself/princess/just wanted to wear her favorite dress. Benjamin/Peyton Manning told the neighbors "he would play better this weekend". Joseph is our star b-ball player. Noah and Samuel just switched the costumes they wore last year. Little Isaac is our resident zoo animal giraffe. And as we go to bed...we thank the kids for allowing us to indulge in all the candy (just don't tell them).

Thanks Grandpa & Grandma Legg for our Halloween bags...the apple entertained Isaac for at least 45 minutes!

Like Father...Like Son

2008-10-28T14:07:00.001-07:00

When sorting out some of Grandma Charlotte's things, Jason told his dad that he wanted the family tractor willed to him. Papa Joe is still in good health. However, for Jason's birthday, he brought over the little red tractor to Tipton, Indiana. Jason took all the kids for rides. As I took pictures, I realized how things had changed. We used to take pictures of the kids with Papa Joe on the tractor. Now we take pictures of Daddy on the tractor. There is a good bit of humor having a tractor in town at 237 N Independence Street. It doesn't quite fit the "farm" look. Who knows, maybe it will fit in a parade or something!

Joseph is really excited!

Isaac, Daddy, Papa Joe and Samuel take a ride together.

Who says we need a minivan? We can fit everyone. We just have to be creative.

Can I Really Have An 8 Year Old???

2008-10-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow (Sunday) Lynnea, will turn 8 years old. The reality really set in this morning for me. Can this really be true? Last night, we hosted our very first sleepover with 3 girls. We started out the evening going to the premier of "High School Musical 3". This was a huge event for many reasons. 1)This was Lynnea's first visit to a big theatre (outside of the Tipton Diana Theatre). 2)I had banned most of the older kid Disney shows to my children for the past couple of months. Although most are very cute, they are just too big for my kids. Lynnea was thrilled to get to see her "friends" from Disney again. We had a great time.
We went home to begin the slumber which of course took some time. The girls woke up to French Toast. Then they got ready for the big event, A DRESS UP TEA PARTY!

Again lots of fun. It was funny to watch Benjamin and Joseph try to get involved. They put on collared shirts (of course Joseph added the Superman cape). But...they all drank from tea cups and ate their crumpets (vanilla wafers) very politely.

Benjamin did a good job being a good sport, but it could only last so long...
Sunday, we will have our family birthday with Lynnea. Papa Joe, Mama T and Grandma Legg with come over for apple pie (Lynnea's choice)! A very full birthday week!

Harley Humrichous

2008-10-21T05:30:00.000-07:00

As if we don't have enough babies...
We found Harley at Cherished Life an animal rescue near Indianapolis. Lynnea has wanted a kitten for some time. Her favorite "stuffed" kittens at home are white (4 to be exact). We began searching because white kittens are somewhat hard to find. We wanted to get her one for her 8th birthday. We had almost given up hope until Harley's picture came up online. He was the only one to survive from his litter. He is a mix of two different kinds of Himalayan kittens. The kids are enjoying him so much. He is really a great fit. He is very calm, yet playful....and we have had no accidents. Happy Birthday Lynnea!

Mums and Other Things...

2008-10-02T11:10:00.000-07:00

As you know, we finished remodeling our home last December. It was nominated to win "Tipton Beautification Project". We lost our nomination when the tree fell on our house. Well, the repairs are finished. We have won for the month of September. Our picture and home were put in the paper, we are on the local TV station and we were given a sign to put in our front yard and a framed picture of our house for inside.

With a questionable future regarding our finances, Jason's job and the economy, Jason and I have had to be very conservative in our spending. Many times, I have passed this garden store (pictured above) and wished I could purchase some of their beautiful mums. Realizing that this is not a need at this time, I have prayed several times that God would provide mums. Silly, kind of, but I know that God cares about those little things. Before leaving the presentation, Tim Horton (owner of the garden store) handed us a $25 gift certificate to his store and told us to take home six mums of our choice! I am reminded of how much God cares about the simple. Thank you Lord for taking such good care of us...and for mums.

The Best of Show

2008-09-20T17:56:00.000-07:00

At the end of last year, Jason's company asked him to supervise the building of a home that they would enter in this year's home show. It's been a HUGE project consuming much of Jason's time in the past few months. Last night was the premier party for the show which included 5 homes. Jason's company, Heartwood Custom Homes, won several awards including the best of show. It was really great to see some hard work pay off. The house sells for 1.9 million and is absolutely beautiful. You can check out the show at http://www.lifestylehomearama.com/.

Last Saturday, I took Jason dinner while he was working some late hours. I toured the house and watched the designers at work. They are amazing and so very creative. I spent some time with the photographer who has staged some of her work throughout the house. It's amazing. I found myself reflecting quite a bit while I drove home. This home is exquisite. So much time and money has been spent on this project. What does God think of all this? Does He celebrate the beauty and amazement with me? Does He understand my desire to get in there with the designers and create a beautiful space. A quick response from a friend reminded me that oneday it would all be gone. Although true, I didn't want to take a cynical attitude. I didn't arrive at some huge discovery or revelation, just a brief reminder. God loves beauty as evidenced in so many "projects of building" in the Old Testament. He created us to be able to design, build and create. It might be as simple as my 4 year old's sketches of rainbows on a paper or as big as the temple built in Jerusalem. In the end, He will use it all to bring glory to Himself. And who knows...maybe someday I might just get my chance...

Look Out Sarah Palin!

2008-09-05T05:39:00.001-07:00

Lynnea's name was selected to participate in Tipton's festival princess pageant this year. She loved it and had so much fun. The day started with getting out of school early. She had an interview with 3 judges. Then she went on to ride with the girls in the evening parade. The pageant was the big follow up. Other than the rain, the event was a success!

When asked if she had any pets, she replied, "yes, my brother Joseph!". Of course, the MC loved that she had FIVE brothers. It was a lot of fun for the girls in our house to mix up the countless soccer games with a little flair!

Blowing kisses and waving in the parade. The little girl next to Lynnea is Benjamin's "favorite girl in the whole world!", Paige Golden.

The MC interviews Lynnea on stage

Mommy takes pictures at the park

I love this picture!

Of course, twirling in her dress was a highlight too!

Potty Training Twins? Yeah Right.

2008-08-22T06:17:00.001-07:00

Since I couldn't decide whether putting the actual pictures of the twins training was appropriate on the web, I decided that Isaac would have to pull it off for them. He is very interested in this chair.

I have quarantined the twins to a room with the TV and hardwood floors. We are on day 3 and are doing pretty good. Samuel was dry last night and they are both running to the potty to try to go. They can get easily distracted so I have to remind them frequently.

When I potty trained Joseph, my sister in law introduced me to this book on the internet. He potty trained in one day! I definitely recommend it to anyone! The twins are on their way to success and it's the beginning of day 3. Check it out at http://www.3daypottytraining.com . Please make sure to follow the acceptable use policy.

Over the River and Through the Woods...

2008-08-17T17:54:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we will go to be a part of celebrating Grandma Charlotte's life. We will spend Monday night and Tuesday in Georgetown (Danville area), IL. We remember Grandma Charlotte tonight and think about the things she loved. She made great lemonade. She loved doing crafts. We think about the odd little treasures you could find in her house and in the barns. She would recount stories of making meals for the hired hands that worked on the farm. Her house is filled with antiques. She could remember where each one came from and the story about it.

Jason began telling me tonight about how Grandma's farm seemed to be such a place of strength when he was a child. There were new tractors and big well-cared for barns. Reflecting on how through the years things would begin to deteriorate, the tractors were sold and now the loss of Grandma, we are reminded of the brevity of life. If our lives don't count for Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, our time on this earth is empty and our strivings are in vain. This challenges me to continually be placing my time, my family and my choices before my Father God for his guidance and his approval.

One last story...when I told Lynnea about Grandma Charlotte, she asked me, "so Mommy, will this weekend just be a sad weekend?" I told her that if she felt sad or if Daddy did, we could talk about it, but not everything had to be sad. She responded, "but Mommy can we have a party or celebration or something?" When I asked what she meant, she said, "Grandma is in heaven now! We should celebrate that!"

Back to School

2008-08-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

Well, they are off and running. Both Lynnea and Benjamin had their outfits picked out way in advance. It was very important to Lynnea that her outfit match her new shoes. She is sporting her new Hannah Montana purple backpack. Of course, inside, are 2 folders. One, Sharpay from High School Musical and the other, you guessed it, Hannah Montana.

I told Benjamin that he should choose a nicer shirt on his first day of school. This was a great disappointment to him since his favorite tacky neon-green dinosaur shirt would be much more appropriate to him. Can you tell his favorite color is green?!?! He is very excited about wearing new shoes and being in the same class as Paige Golden (I have to type it that way because that's the way he says is). Life couldn't get any better!

Lord Jesus, I lift up my children to you as they begin another year. I pray that you would protect their hearts. Keep them pure. Allow them to be used of you even at such a young age. Help them to choose friends who pursue you with all their hearts. May this year be a time when we look back and are able to testify "that the Lord is SO good". Amen.

Trip to the Fair

2008-08-14T09:57:00.000-07:00

These were some pictures from July that I forgot I wanted to post. We visited the Howard County 4-H Fair. The boys loved the tractors. I wanted them to remember that they could fit in the wheel.

Samuel shows off his muscles!

Finishing Summer with a BANG!

2008-08-10T18:55:00.001-07:00

School starts again for the kids on Friday, so we took a much needed family vacation to my favorite "home" spot of Lake Michigan before the fall begins. We were in a lake cottage right on the lake which has its advantages of being in the water almost all day, yet close enough to walk back for a quick lunch and a nap. Lynnea and Benjamin were much more comfortable in the water than 2 years ago. Samuel and Noah were very timid with the water, but loved the sand and sun. Isaac really enjoyed the taste of sand-yuck!We visited a dairy that makes their own ice cream. The kids really loved watching the cows. It was a toss up between whether the cows or the ice cream were more popular! We were sad to see our time come to an end, but thankful for the rest and quiet time together.Good-bye summer.

"I'm 6, but I look like I'm 7!"

2008-08-02T19:41:00.000-07:00

These are the words that Benjamin said to Auntie Anna when she called him on his birthday. He got a little confused when we were measuring him on our family growth chart. He measures 2 1/2 inches taller than Lynnea did at 6. He took it to mean that he measures to be 7. Regardless of the details, he is getting so big. We had a family birthday on Monday night. Jason and I gave him "heelys" which he had asked for awhile ago. He was very excited. Grandpa and Grandma Legg came along with Aunt Gwen, Maggie and baby Anna. Friday night we had some friends over for a cookout and games. Here are some pictures from our parties together!

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It's Off to Work We Go!

2008-07-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

Jason and I have always said to our kids, "Humrichous kids are hard workers". We have also taught them that after we work is when we play. They often hear us say, "if you don't work, you don't eat". Lastly, during the remodel of our house, we continued to tell the kids that last year was the year to work (and we sure did) and this was our year to play (and oh, boy are we!!!). This summer I am convinced more than ever that teaching our children to work is HUGE in our parenting. In a culture that has so many conveniences, I am reminded at how we have to look for opportunities to teach our kids to complete "tasks". I am amazed at how many parents do so much work while children watch countless hours of television or play video games.

So...how have I done this? First, from a small age, I have taught our children to throw their own diaper away or to get trash bags out to put in the trash can. They learn early and I love their faces when they feel a sense of accomplishment. Second, we are very measurable in our "work time". The older children (7,5 and 4 years old) work with me in the morning primarily. I tell them how long we will work, what their jobs will be, and what we will do when we are done. This really helps them see the "light at the end". Lastly, an invaluable resource that has helped me find age appropriate jobs is this great book. It is called What Every Child Should Know Along the Way by Gail Martin. It is available at http://www.gfi.org/. You might check it out. It also contains some great information on manners, character and other teaching tools.

We have a friend that visits our home in the morning. Often she asks to take a couple of our kids home with her. In the hour she is here, Benjamin has vacuumed the floors, Lynnea emptied the dishwasher and baskets of their own laundry are on their way up the stairs. Our home can stay neat (most of the time) and our kids take ownership as well!

Could they be any more beautiful?

2008-07-23T18:36:00.000-07:00

Now....I pose as the proud sister and aunt wanting to show off my beautiful nieces. I know that I am partial, but these girls are such dollies. My sister Gwen lives in Michigan with her awesome husband, Josh. They are in youth ministry and I love their hearts for the Lord. Maggie just turned 3 and Anna is 8 months old. Enjoy these pictures!

Happy "Last" 1st Birthday!

2008-07-19T18:23:00.001-07:00

Tonight we celebrated Isaac's 1st birthday. It's amazing after all the work you put into a party...how fast it can go. I find myself reflecting on the past year... how fast it can go. I remember being in the hospital after my first c-section thinking "how in the world am I going to go home and do this?!?!? Amazingly enough, we did it. I really thought watching "our baby" get bigger was going to be easy. Yesterday, I found myself shopping in a boutique for Isaac. I had a gift card that I wanted to use to buy him an outfit to wear for his birthday. One thing led to another as I scanned the layette. No more little tiny outfits. You guessed it. Crying my eyes out while waiting in line. I can only imagine how much harder this gets.

Anyway, our party was fun. Isaac was the little charmer smiling at all his guests. Mostly, he just loved the balloons and tissue paper. Grandpa and Grandma Legg came with their grandchildren from CA. Our beloved Burton family with their 3 little boys came as well. We sang Happy Birthday, ate cake (which by the way had the San Andreas Fault line running through it...it broke when frosting it...it really does pay to wait until it cools!), opened presents and played some more. The house is a mess, but a good mess. The kids are asleep (Jason too). And here I sit...so very thankful for our little baby. Happy Birthday Little Isaac!

Family...Family...and more Family

2008-07-07T15:47:00.001-07:00

Jason's older sister Johanna and her family are on furlough from Nicaragua for the summer. We all got together at our house for the 4th of July holiday. Jason's younger sisters (Jewel and Jill) and their families traveled over from Ohio and his dad came from western Indiana. We had a great time eating together, playing at the park, eating, riding bikes, eating, and much much more. Most everyone left on Sunday to travel home. Bob, Johanna, David and Lily will be here for the week.

I am reminded at how blessed we are to have such a nice house to house everyone. It has been wonderful to have a room for all of the families. It was my dream for sometime to allow our home to be a place of fellowship and wonderful fun. I praise God for giving me this opportunity once again!

And More Baseball

2008-06-27T19:09:00.001-07:00

We have just finished our first season of baseball and softball. We really enjoyed so many things about this season. We loved being outside, spending time with friends and watching the kids learn the game. As it comes to a close, here are some shots of Benjamin. His team had the most drafted 5 years olds this year. They did really great. When our coach found out how many boys we have he commented, "we have drafted a dynasty!" We calculated and there is a chance 4 of our boys might play on the same team one year!

Whether he knows it or not, he is still my little boy.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

2008-06-20T09:55:00.001-07:00

There is nothing like watching our kids experience something for the first time. We entered into Victory Field, took our seats and watched the kids begin scoping out the sights. Benjamin's eyes were glued to the the field, wanting to know what everything was, where the bases were, who was the pitcher, how to read the score board, and if running from 2nd to 3rd base was longer than his pee wee field.

Jason's company took us to see the Indians play in Indianapolis. The kids were able to get a hot dog, soda, hat and small baseball bat. They loved every bit of being there. Also, we were very entertaining to the crowd around us who couldn't believe there were 6 kids and especially FIVE BOYS!

I am amazed at God's provision and blessing allowing us to enjoy sharing an activity as a family. We, as a family, have been cutting corners as the rest of our country. I really wanted some day activities to share with the kids, but decided it was best to stay close to home and enjoy some of the free acitivities of library, little pool, and friends. I am so thankful that God gave us this "free" activity for our family. Isn't is amazing to watch God give us special treats that we don't even know are coming?

Isaac's attempt to squirm from anyone who holds him. Samuel watches the pitch! Jeff Langston, Jason's boss shares his hat with Isaac. Entry to the Victory Field. What six children look like at 10 o'clock at night after a baseball game!

And the Champion is...

2008-06-17T17:52:00.000-07:00

Last night was a big night for our little girl. Lynnea's team was ranked 7th out of 8 softball teams going into the city tournament. The tournament was double elimination. They lost their first game. Then, they won every game through the losers bracket. They made it all the way to the championship game. The girls started out great. They were up 3-2 after the 2nd inning. The excitement ran through the crowd (okay, mostly moms and dads were very excited). The other team had several hits in a row.

Tipton Ace Hardware couldn't come back. They lost the game 9-6. Although unfortunate, making the championship game was a HUGE comeback. The girls got a big trophy that Lynnea proudly displays in the center of her dresser. Lynnea enjoyed playing center field and catcher. This picture displays her love of the game.

Way to go Nay-nee!!

Good-bye Tree!

2008-06-10T19:21:00.000-07:00

Our neighbors caught some video of our tree being removed. I knew my Mom would really appreciate watching this. Here you go Mom...

This is taking off the top of the tree

This is removing the trunk of the tree.

This is lifting the tree off of our house.

After all of this process, we surveyed the damages. The roof is punctured and we will have to repair the ceiling, gutter, and miscellaneous. And for those who care about my plants, they are fine. My salvia was broken, but they will bloom again. They appreciate your prayers-HAHA!

Making a Schedule....

2008-06-10T10:35:00.001-07:00

Before school got out, I was really nervous about having all six children home. Mostly, I was concerned about having days just dragging along without any sense of purpose or intention to enjoy summer. As most moms, I didn't want to hear how bored the older kids were all the time. I began praying for creativity that was really fun, but let me get my work done and some much needed quiet time. Here is what has worked out for us. I started by planning an activity each day that would be the same each week (Monday-park, Tuesday-library, Wednesday-pool, Thursday-groceries, Friday-playdates with friends). They could come to expect something each day that they enjoy (okay, except groceries, but that just has to happen). We start our mornings by getting ready for the day and breakfast. After that, we work for one hour together to get our cleaning done. The littler ones take a nap or play in their room. Then we head off for our activity until lunch. My favorite part of the day happens after lunch. The four little guys take their naps. Lynnea and Benjamin have quiet time. Their quiet time consists of reading an age appropriate Bible story book, doing some workbook pages and then reading their library books. This goes for one hour. Then I let them have one hour to watch library DVDs that they have chosen until the others get up from naps. (Getting their own library cards this year was a HUGE thing for them. I decided to let this be a priviledge when they start reading.) This has worked out wonderful to enjoy summer, yet still have some order. Sometimes I get teased about having a sense of organization and control. In this stage of life, I am very thankful for this. I think the kids are too.

Twin Time

2008-06-07T20:02:00.000-07:00

I can still remember the day that I was at my doctor having an ultrasound done. I was 6 weeks along. I had said a quick prayer again the night before asking for the priviledge of having twins. I remember the ultrasound tech looking somewhat confused and asking, "do twins run in your family?" I remember crying and thinking about answered prayer and the gift God was giving us. Samuel's name is a great reminder of God's blessing of a child (or in our case, children).
Here we are over 3 years later with 2 year olds. For as curious and crazy Noah and Samuel make our life, we are so blessed. They are so much fun to watch and enjoy. We enjoy the way the talk to each other in their own language, the way they look out for each other and the way they run through the house together. Sometimes in my crazy days, I forget to just watch and enjoy.

I took these pictures after a crazy day. They were being so cute walking around our porch in their bare feet. They had such a good time enjoying being outside. I love their faces and how authentic these pictures are.

Summer is Here!

2008-06-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

From the first time we could wear short sleeved shirts, the kids starting asking me when it would be summer. Benjamin counted the days until school was out because he was for sure that the cold weather would be gone and he could wear "short pants" all the time.
Yesterday, we broke out the pools. The twins were very timid at first, You can see from the picture that they worked out their fears rather quickly. They loved splashing and rolling around in the water.
The goggles were a big hit. Everyone enjoyed wearing them for a short time.
After Isaac's nap, he joined the twins in the baby pool for a swim or in his mind, drinking the water and picking out the grass to eat.
Joseph tries his hand at playing the diving stick. He is quite the musician.

Lynnea enjoyed posing for the camera. We teased her that she was posing for her senior pictures. She is our brave one in the water. She took the dare to be the first one to put her head under the water when we first filled the pool. It was cold!
Benjamin tries out his water acting while in the pool.

Living in a Treehouse

2008-06-07T06:49:00.001-07:00

Last night was going to be an ordinary night for the Humrichous family on a Friday night. We ordered pizza, went for a drive, then came home to ride bikes and eat ice cream. While playing outside, we saw a storm starting to move in. We started putting away toys and bikes. Everyone made it to the house (before the torrential rains and 80 MPH started) except for Lynnea and Joseph who were stuck in the "unattached" garage. Through coaxing from Jason, they finally decided to brave the rains and run inside. The inside was very dark. We started drying everyone off when Jason had a chance to look out the front. The beautiful tree you see in this picture had significantly changed. The winds split the tree in two and it fell onto our brand new remodeled porch. We waited for the rains and winds to slow up a bit (all of 10 minutes) and Jason went out to survey the damages. Thankfully, it looks like the the structure is sound. The roof might have been punctured because there is water coming into the porch through the ceiling. Silly enough, my next concern after the structure was whether my new landscaping was hurt. I have worked so hard to keep it growing and blooming. Today a tree removal service is coming so we will see more of the damages. When I asked Jason for a playhouse with swings and a fence for the kids, I didn't think he would take me quite so literal!

This whole experience has reminded me how fleeting this life is. My possessions can never become greater than God's plan for my life and the time I give to things that last for eternity. In a strange sort of way, I am thankful for this reminder from the Lord. Once again, I eagerly await heaven!