Well then. Have at it, my Loves!
The State of Things.....
Uncle Aaron is here helping Daddy with our chicken coop. Kaden very seriously marches in stating: "I need my hammer. A real one. I'm going to do big boy things with the guys. Jesse can come too."
Well then. Have at it, my Loves!
Well then. Have at it, my Loves!
Weekends!
Oh praise be! A weekend is upon us again! I so very dearly love these things called weekends. And even though all of my little hoodlums woke up for the day at 5:30 and ran around the house all morning in just their undies, it's turning out to be quite a lovely, lazy day.
My little bro Aaron has breezed through for a few hours. He is one of Kev's and my bestest friends, so it's just cozy having him here. We had lunch together, the kids showed him all of their bugs and tadpoles, and now he and Kevy are brainstorming together about how to make me a rockin' fine chicken coop for the girls who shall be arriving in a week or so.
Today will be a project, errand, laundry, get bills paid, and get on top of life kind of a day, and then tomorrow will be a "kick it to who knows where" kind of a day. I think the ocean is calling all of our names. I'm not sure. We'll see what tomorrow brings. I'm starting to get the yard sale itch - both the itch to have one of my own AND to go and conquer everyone else's. Oh man - I totally and completely hate shopping, but yard saling is another story. It's like Christmas - you never know what sorts of treasures you'll find!
In other news, Jesse had yet another cold - what is the story? Ransom is beginning to show signs of "strength," shall we say. And loudness. I was so hoping for a quiet and truly mellow one. I'm still holding my breath, though. And Kade-man is filling the kiddie pool with tadpoles and dragonfly larvae so that he can swim with them.
I am off! Have a glorious weekend, dear ones!
My little bro Aaron has breezed through for a few hours. He is one of Kev's and my bestest friends, so it's just cozy having him here. We had lunch together, the kids showed him all of their bugs and tadpoles, and now he and Kevy are brainstorming together about how to make me a rockin' fine chicken coop for the girls who shall be arriving in a week or so.
Today will be a project, errand, laundry, get bills paid, and get on top of life kind of a day, and then tomorrow will be a "kick it to who knows where" kind of a day. I think the ocean is calling all of our names. I'm not sure. We'll see what tomorrow brings. I'm starting to get the yard sale itch - both the itch to have one of my own AND to go and conquer everyone else's. Oh man - I totally and completely hate shopping, but yard saling is another story. It's like Christmas - you never know what sorts of treasures you'll find!
In other news, Jesse had yet another cold - what is the story? Ransom is beginning to show signs of "strength," shall we say. And loudness. I was so hoping for a quiet and truly mellow one. I'm still holding my breath, though. And Kade-man is filling the kiddie pool with tadpoles and dragonfly larvae so that he can swim with them.
I am off! Have a glorious weekend, dear ones!
Isn't It Ironic?
I had a very interesting little conversation this week with one of my dear relatives concerning God, faith, weddings, and raising our kids to love Jesus! The entire discussion centered around what took place at our wedding eleven years ago. Before I walked down the aisle, I had pre-recorded a message to Kev that I played over the auditorium's loudspeaker. The basic jist of the whole message was that I was walking down the aisle toward the man I had prayed for and saved myself for ever since I was a little girl.
Apparantly, that little pre-recorded message was the topic of much discussion for many of my extended family members for many months to come! Who knew? I guess they all found it to be completely "inappropriate" because didn't I realize that there were young teenagers in my audience who heard this? Why yes, I was WELL aware of those teens....I believe I invited them to that blessed event seeing that it was my wedding and all.....
I guess the irony in the whole thing was that a comment from a twenty year old woman on her wedding day stating that she had "saved herself" for her husband who she planned to stay married to for life was completely inappropriate for a teen to hear; yet it was completely acceptable for those same teens to be taught in their schools that it's okay to have sex with whoever they want - whenever they want - just as long as they are responsible and keep it "safe."
Does anyone else not see the irony here????!!!!
Yes - I was WELL aware of the teenagers in my audience. Yes - I WANTED them to hear that waiting for sex is STILL taking place in today's culture by some. Yes - I wanted them to see that there IS another option out there. Yes - by God's grace, I am not ashamed to say out loud that I was a virgin on my wedding day. (Although, I was much more discreet than that, even. I stated, and I quote: "Ever since I was a little girl I have worn a special purity ring on my finger reminding me and those around me that I would wait for the man whose name I would one day share." I said the word "wait." I wasn't crass, and I wasn't being cocky).
And YES - a thousand times, yes - I will teach my boys that waiting for marriage is good and right. It's appropriate. It's because I love them. IT's because I want what's best for them. It's because I want to save them heartache and baggage. It's because that's God's perfect option. Might this not happen? Sure, and I will love them no less. But I want them to see what a great gift it is that they can give to their bride one day. I want them to be aware of the pitfalls they can avoid and the things that they can hold strong and fast to. I want them to view it as something to be guarded - something to be treasured. I want them to be men of integrity and purity that any young woman would be honored to marry.
And if it ruffles a few feathers along the way, that saddens me, but so be it.
Apparantly, that little pre-recorded message was the topic of much discussion for many of my extended family members for many months to come! Who knew? I guess they all found it to be completely "inappropriate" because didn't I realize that there were young teenagers in my audience who heard this? Why yes, I was WELL aware of those teens....I believe I invited them to that blessed event seeing that it was my wedding and all.....
I guess the irony in the whole thing was that a comment from a twenty year old woman on her wedding day stating that she had "saved herself" for her husband who she planned to stay married to for life was completely inappropriate for a teen to hear; yet it was completely acceptable for those same teens to be taught in their schools that it's okay to have sex with whoever they want - whenever they want - just as long as they are responsible and keep it "safe."
Does anyone else not see the irony here????!!!!
Yes - I was WELL aware of the teenagers in my audience. Yes - I WANTED them to hear that waiting for sex is STILL taking place in today's culture by some. Yes - I wanted them to see that there IS another option out there. Yes - by God's grace, I am not ashamed to say out loud that I was a virgin on my wedding day. (Although, I was much more discreet than that, even. I stated, and I quote: "Ever since I was a little girl I have worn a special purity ring on my finger reminding me and those around me that I would wait for the man whose name I would one day share." I said the word "wait." I wasn't crass, and I wasn't being cocky).
And YES - a thousand times, yes - I will teach my boys that waiting for marriage is good and right. It's appropriate. It's because I love them. IT's because I want what's best for them. It's because I want to save them heartache and baggage. It's because that's God's perfect option. Might this not happen? Sure, and I will love them no less. But I want them to see what a great gift it is that they can give to their bride one day. I want them to be aware of the pitfalls they can avoid and the things that they can hold strong and fast to. I want them to view it as something to be guarded - something to be treasured. I want them to be men of integrity and purity that any young woman would be honored to marry.
And if it ruffles a few feathers along the way, that saddens me, but so be it.
The OTHER Men in My Life!
I'm from "The County."
Kev always mocks me when I say that, but it's true. Everyone from "up there" says it, and everyone from "around here" knows exactly where I mean when I say it. I'm not just being cocky - it's where I'm from. That's just the way it is.
But, I digress....
Anyway, it's a whole different world up there - a completely different culture. The pace of life is slower. The whole art of "dropping by for coffee" like people used to do in the olden days still takes place. And often, at my parent's house! Everybody knows each other. Granted, everybody knows each other's business, too, but people know when their neighbors are sick. They know when there's been a death in the family. And they know when a good old fashioned casserole would bless someone!
One of the things that I was most excited about in being a homeowner again, was the prospect of having neighbors and getting to know the people who live around us. So, in the past six months since we've been living here, the boys and I have sporatically taken cookies and soups or any little extras of anything that we've made to our neighbors on either side of us. We have sweet little widowed men on either side of us, so I often have them in mind whenever I'm baking and cooking.
At first, Kev was a little skeptical. I think in the beginning, he might have even said, "We don't really do that around here." But, I assured him, a little buttering up of the neighbors may come in handy some day if and when our children ever ran streaking through their yards, or something like that. With three boys, I can't even begin to dream what our lives may continue to look like through the years. So, getting on our neighbors good sides, first thing, is always a handy idea.
Anyway, I know for a fact that the previous owners who lived here were most assuredly not allowed to hunt on my neighbor's 75 acres of land behind us, because there were posted signs about five feet into our woods facing our house directly. Well, one fine day, Kev went over to introduce himself, and within five minutes, he not only had permission to hunt the land, he is also allowed to leave a deer stand up, AND we are allowed to play on his land AND in his pond! Nice.
That's what homemade cookies and cream of brocolli soup will do for ya!
Just this past week-end, I was once again reaffirmed in my strong belief that being neighborly always pays off. My good pal, little old man #1 named Lou popped over on Saturday wondering if we'd like our garden plot tilled. I joked that I was just getting ready to walk over there this week to see what it would take to butter him up for a few hours of borrowing his machine. He promptly walked back home, walked his tiller over, and tilled almost our entire garden all by himself!!! I'm making that man one fine meal next week. He was so sweet.
Well, he didn't quite do the whole garden because part of it was still a little wet, he thought. No big deal to us; this garden is ginormous, and we want to start out small anyway. So, I thanked him profusely, I think he called me "Doll," and he'll be getting a visit from me and the kids soon.
Not ten minutes passed before my other good pal, little old man #2 named Arlo knocked on my door saying that he noticed Lou had beat him to the job of getting our garden ready for us! I said, "Yeah, he just finished up a little bit ago," and Arlo decided he needed to go down and have a look-see. "Why didn't he do the whole thing?" he asked me. "Lou thinks it's a little wet along the edges," I responded. To which his prompt reply was, "I'm going home to get my tractor." Not two minutes later, Arlo is down there finishing the garden for us!
I think that man needs a loaf of my homemade bread and strawberry jam!
Seconds later, Lou is back checking out Arlo's work while I get a large kick out of the whole thing. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Kev is up on our roof fixing our gutters and looks down at me with a grin. "I think those men are trying to please you, Honey!"
I'm golden.
Kev always mocks me when I say that, but it's true. Everyone from "up there" says it, and everyone from "around here" knows exactly where I mean when I say it. I'm not just being cocky - it's where I'm from. That's just the way it is.
But, I digress....
Anyway, it's a whole different world up there - a completely different culture. The pace of life is slower. The whole art of "dropping by for coffee" like people used to do in the olden days still takes place. And often, at my parent's house! Everybody knows each other. Granted, everybody knows each other's business, too, but people know when their neighbors are sick. They know when there's been a death in the family. And they know when a good old fashioned casserole would bless someone!
One of the things that I was most excited about in being a homeowner again, was the prospect of having neighbors and getting to know the people who live around us. So, in the past six months since we've been living here, the boys and I have sporatically taken cookies and soups or any little extras of anything that we've made to our neighbors on either side of us. We have sweet little widowed men on either side of us, so I often have them in mind whenever I'm baking and cooking.
At first, Kev was a little skeptical. I think in the beginning, he might have even said, "We don't really do that around here." But, I assured him, a little buttering up of the neighbors may come in handy some day if and when our children ever ran streaking through their yards, or something like that. With three boys, I can't even begin to dream what our lives may continue to look like through the years. So, getting on our neighbors good sides, first thing, is always a handy idea.
Anyway, I know for a fact that the previous owners who lived here were most assuredly not allowed to hunt on my neighbor's 75 acres of land behind us, because there were posted signs about five feet into our woods facing our house directly. Well, one fine day, Kev went over to introduce himself, and within five minutes, he not only had permission to hunt the land, he is also allowed to leave a deer stand up, AND we are allowed to play on his land AND in his pond! Nice.
That's what homemade cookies and cream of brocolli soup will do for ya!
Just this past week-end, I was once again reaffirmed in my strong belief that being neighborly always pays off. My good pal, little old man #1 named Lou popped over on Saturday wondering if we'd like our garden plot tilled. I joked that I was just getting ready to walk over there this week to see what it would take to butter him up for a few hours of borrowing his machine. He promptly walked back home, walked his tiller over, and tilled almost our entire garden all by himself!!! I'm making that man one fine meal next week. He was so sweet.
Well, he didn't quite do the whole garden because part of it was still a little wet, he thought. No big deal to us; this garden is ginormous, and we want to start out small anyway. So, I thanked him profusely, I think he called me "Doll," and he'll be getting a visit from me and the kids soon.
Not ten minutes passed before my other good pal, little old man #2 named Arlo knocked on my door saying that he noticed Lou had beat him to the job of getting our garden ready for us! I said, "Yeah, he just finished up a little bit ago," and Arlo decided he needed to go down and have a look-see. "Why didn't he do the whole thing?" he asked me. "Lou thinks it's a little wet along the edges," I responded. To which his prompt reply was, "I'm going home to get my tractor." Not two minutes later, Arlo is down there finishing the garden for us!
I think that man needs a loaf of my homemade bread and strawberry jam!
Seconds later, Lou is back checking out Arlo's work while I get a large kick out of the whole thing. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Kev is up on our roof fixing our gutters and looks down at me with a grin. "I think those men are trying to please you, Honey!"
I'm golden.
Weekending
OH, how I LOVE beautiful weekends.
The kiddie pool is set up, projects are being started, and the boys are in their element catching salamanders, tadpoles, leeches, bumble bees, butterflies, and bugs of all shapes and sizes.
Kevy and I are having fun too. It's been awhile since we've owned our own place, so projects that I'm quite sure will quickly become a pain, haven't lost their novelty with us yet. :0) Kev is putting up rain gutters to hopefully prevent another ocean in our basement when the next storm hits, I'm mulching and building rock walls and planting seedlings (even though I don't have a sweet clue what I'm doing), and as a family we are trying our hand at tackling a chicken coop for our new babies that are soon to arrive.
I love these kinds of days.
We live outside and come in only long enough to track up the floors, grab a bite to eat, and change a diaper or two.
Good times.
Yesterday, we all got in the car and kicked it south for the day. No real plans of where we were going or what we were going to do. We ended up at Old Orchard Beach - walked around, collected shells, and got thoroughly sandy and wet; and then we slowly made our way back home - hitting Cabelas and a coffee shop along the way. A family "play today."
Today we work. But, I can hardly call it that. It's been too long since we've had this. And it feels SO GOOD to get dirty! We are thankful, and we are blessed.
The kiddie pool is set up, projects are being started, and the boys are in their element catching salamanders, tadpoles, leeches, bumble bees, butterflies, and bugs of all shapes and sizes.
Kevy and I are having fun too. It's been awhile since we've owned our own place, so projects that I'm quite sure will quickly become a pain, haven't lost their novelty with us yet. :0) Kev is putting up rain gutters to hopefully prevent another ocean in our basement when the next storm hits, I'm mulching and building rock walls and planting seedlings (even though I don't have a sweet clue what I'm doing), and as a family we are trying our hand at tackling a chicken coop for our new babies that are soon to arrive.
I love these kinds of days.
We live outside and come in only long enough to track up the floors, grab a bite to eat, and change a diaper or two.
Good times.
Yesterday, we all got in the car and kicked it south for the day. No real plans of where we were going or what we were going to do. We ended up at Old Orchard Beach - walked around, collected shells, and got thoroughly sandy and wet; and then we slowly made our way back home - hitting Cabelas and a coffee shop along the way. A family "play today."
Today we work. But, I can hardly call it that. It's been too long since we've had this. And it feels SO GOOD to get dirty! We are thankful, and we are blessed.
Taking Stock
Kevy & I are once again at the place of assessing and re-assessing where we are at in life. I don't know about everyone else, but it seems as though we are always doing this. On the other hand, it also seems as though we are the only ones I know who are somewhat nomadic and who do things that noone else fully understands. But that's okay. I'm at peace with my life.....
Anyway, my apologies to my peeps who have left me phone messages as of late asking if I am dead and "why am I not returning any calls?" I go in phases of being really great at communication and then being quite wretched. These past few days, I'll admit my horrid-ness at it all. Biggest "sorry" goes to Esther for not getting back to you about Moxie. Sorry, girl. Hope your doggy found a nice babysitter this past week-end....
So, here we are.
Last Sunday, Kev announced to the church that as of May, he will be stepping down from his position as worship leader. Kind of a bittersweet decision - bitter in that we really love it and will miss it tremendously; sweet in that our ministry is growing like crazy, and he was finding it increasingly difficult to juggle both - not to mention the fact that we need the freedom to be able to be in other churches on Sundays, if need be.
So, as of next month, thus will end an 11 year run of working in a church for pay. Kind of crazy. All three of my boys have literally been raised in church where we practically live there on Sundays! They've all learned to nap wherever Mama lays them, and to get quite comfortable with the fact that we are often one of the first to arrive and just about always the last to leave.
It'll be strange. But it's good and it's right.
So, that's kind of the biggy. And now we're trying to figure out what this NEXT chapter of our lives is going to look like. Always chapters, always seasons. We've got training in May that's pretty big, we've got the whole school decision to make for Kaden, and we are in our final stretch of support raising. All exciting stuff, and all a little scary.
Change is good. Change is our friend. Change is good. Change is our friend.
Anyway, my apologies to my peeps who have left me phone messages as of late asking if I am dead and "why am I not returning any calls?" I go in phases of being really great at communication and then being quite wretched. These past few days, I'll admit my horrid-ness at it all. Biggest "sorry" goes to Esther for not getting back to you about Moxie. Sorry, girl. Hope your doggy found a nice babysitter this past week-end....
So, here we are.
Last Sunday, Kev announced to the church that as of May, he will be stepping down from his position as worship leader. Kind of a bittersweet decision - bitter in that we really love it and will miss it tremendously; sweet in that our ministry is growing like crazy, and he was finding it increasingly difficult to juggle both - not to mention the fact that we need the freedom to be able to be in other churches on Sundays, if need be.
So, as of next month, thus will end an 11 year run of working in a church for pay. Kind of crazy. All three of my boys have literally been raised in church where we practically live there on Sundays! They've all learned to nap wherever Mama lays them, and to get quite comfortable with the fact that we are often one of the first to arrive and just about always the last to leave.
It'll be strange. But it's good and it's right.
So, that's kind of the biggy. And now we're trying to figure out what this NEXT chapter of our lives is going to look like. Always chapters, always seasons. We've got training in May that's pretty big, we've got the whole school decision to make for Kaden, and we are in our final stretch of support raising. All exciting stuff, and all a little scary.
Change is good. Change is our friend. Change is good. Change is our friend.
Barred Rock Beauties!
Meet the soon-to-be newest members of our family.
You're lookin' good, girls!
Well, actually, they'll come to us looking more like soft little black and grey preciousness.
I really have no idea what I'm doing, just so you know. I had chickens all growing up, but the only thing that I can remember is watching them fly around like a bunch of crazies after Dad chopped their heads off and then plucking them while discussing with my bros which one was "Fluffy," and which one was "Red."
Scarred for life.
To be honest, part of the draw in choosing this breed is that they are both egg layers and meat birds. Soooooo, should I discover that I have "bitten off more than I can chew" so to speak......we will have ourselves a couple of fat hens to chew on for our suppers this winter.
That might be too mean to the boys, though.
In all seriousness, I did a lot of research on all of the different chicken varieties, and although I do somewhat agree with the experts that "chickens are chickens" and "they'll be as friendly as the amount of time you spend with them," I also wanted a shall we say, "hearty" bird who could handle some serious "loving" from three crazies. Also, I have been told that they are, and I quote: "not discouraged by the cold." That's good, since Kev probably won't let them in the house this winter.
Sooo, sometime around the second week of May, we are going to have ourselves a few new little babies in the family. And possibly a wee little duckling or two, if I can convince Kevy. Still working on the baby lambs and goats that are at Blue Seal right now. Kev says he has to draw the line somewhere.......
You're lookin' good, girls!
Well, actually, they'll come to us looking more like soft little black and grey preciousness.
I really have no idea what I'm doing, just so you know. I had chickens all growing up, but the only thing that I can remember is watching them fly around like a bunch of crazies after Dad chopped their heads off and then plucking them while discussing with my bros which one was "Fluffy," and which one was "Red."
Scarred for life.
To be honest, part of the draw in choosing this breed is that they are both egg layers and meat birds. Soooooo, should I discover that I have "bitten off more than I can chew" so to speak......we will have ourselves a couple of fat hens to chew on for our suppers this winter.
That might be too mean to the boys, though.
In all seriousness, I did a lot of research on all of the different chicken varieties, and although I do somewhat agree with the experts that "chickens are chickens" and "they'll be as friendly as the amount of time you spend with them," I also wanted a shall we say, "hearty" bird who could handle some serious "loving" from three crazies. Also, I have been told that they are, and I quote: "not discouraged by the cold." That's good, since Kev probably won't let them in the house this winter.
Sooo, sometime around the second week of May, we are going to have ourselves a few new little babies in the family. And possibly a wee little duckling or two, if I can convince Kevy. Still working on the baby lambs and goats that are at Blue Seal right now. Kev says he has to draw the line somewhere.......
Ransom
Tomorrow wee little Ransom turns 6 months old! I CANNOT even believe it! Unbelievable. In some ways I feel as though he's been with us forever, but in others, I can't believe he's almost done being a baby.
He is such a dream - so easy - the kind of baby I would wish for everyone to have for their first. I finally understand, third time around, what people mean when they say how much they love the baby stage and how much they "always loved having a baby in the house." Up until Ransom, Kev and I both were like: WHAT?!!! Us - not so much, thank you. We like them around the 15 month and up mark. From the time of this child's birth, I kept waiting for the ball to drop.....thinking, okay when is this child going to start screaming? When is he going to hit that point where I am the only person who will be able to console him? When is he going to enter freak out land?
And....it's never happened. He remains so mellow and chill, so sweet and contented, so easy to guide into a little schedule, a great napper, an amazing sleeper-through-the-nighter, and he's just totally up for whatever adventure we want to drag him along on. Perfectly suited for two older brothers. If I knew all of my babies would be like this, I would have at least two more. Seriously.
We think he's our favorite.
Large joke.
Kind of.
Anyway, Mr. Delicious had his six month well child check-up yesterday, with our MOST favorite osteopathic doctor, by the way. He is our first child who is a bit of a peanut! It kind of cracks me up after having a child who we were told was entering "infant obecity," and who "was not only off the charts - but was sky-rocketing off the charts!" Little Rancey Pants weighs 15lbs.7oz. and is only in the 25%! He is long, however, like my brothers - and is in the 60% for that, and (also, like my side of the family) has a jug head that puts him in the 75%! Good times.
So strange, how each baby can be so different, and you do the same exact thing with each one.......
We have three little gifts - all so differnt and unique. Different personalities, different needs, different ways they need to be trained, different ways they respond to our parenting. I am continuously awed and overwhelmed at the responsibility that God has given to us to "train up each child in the way that he should go."
What a gift. What a privilege. What a perfect way to keep me daily on my knees.....
He is such a dream - so easy - the kind of baby I would wish for everyone to have for their first. I finally understand, third time around, what people mean when they say how much they love the baby stage and how much they "always loved having a baby in the house." Up until Ransom, Kev and I both were like: WHAT?!!! Us - not so much, thank you. We like them around the 15 month and up mark. From the time of this child's birth, I kept waiting for the ball to drop.....thinking, okay when is this child going to start screaming? When is he going to hit that point where I am the only person who will be able to console him? When is he going to enter freak out land?
And....it's never happened. He remains so mellow and chill, so sweet and contented, so easy to guide into a little schedule, a great napper, an amazing sleeper-through-the-nighter, and he's just totally up for whatever adventure we want to drag him along on. Perfectly suited for two older brothers. If I knew all of my babies would be like this, I would have at least two more. Seriously.
We think he's our favorite.
Large joke.
Kind of.
Anyway, Mr. Delicious had his six month well child check-up yesterday, with our MOST favorite osteopathic doctor, by the way. He is our first child who is a bit of a peanut! It kind of cracks me up after having a child who we were told was entering "infant obecity," and who "was not only off the charts - but was sky-rocketing off the charts!" Little Rancey Pants weighs 15lbs.7oz. and is only in the 25%! He is long, however, like my brothers - and is in the 60% for that, and (also, like my side of the family) has a jug head that puts him in the 75%! Good times.
So strange, how each baby can be so different, and you do the same exact thing with each one.......
We have three little gifts - all so differnt and unique. Different personalities, different needs, different ways they need to be trained, different ways they respond to our parenting. I am continuously awed and overwhelmed at the responsibility that God has given to us to "train up each child in the way that he should go."
What a gift. What a privilege. What a perfect way to keep me daily on my knees.....
An Update
No beds are made for the day, breakfast still sits on the table, my hair is up in a towel, and mountains of laundry await, but for now - Ransom naps and the boys are playing (somewhat) happily together, so I thought I'd catch up a bit over here.
We've had company with us this past week - the best kind of company - the kind that's family or "just like family" where you can be yourself and not worry about putting on any airs. The kind where you can just "be" together and enjoy each other. And the kind where you can burn many a meal because you're distracted (sorry, guys) and they will still compliment you on it, because they love you!
My little bro and his wife breezed through for a night at the beginning of the week. He is freshly home from Border Patrol training in Texas, and he will now courageously protect and defend our borders in Rangeley. Who knew there was even a border down there? Anyway, we Love Rangeley - it's where we spent part of our honeymoon, so we shall see them lots over the summer, hopefully. They have no kidlets yet, but didn't seem too overly taken aback by the loud, crazyness of our lives. In fact, I think they quite enjoyed themselves. I know for a fact my boys LOVED them. Kaden cried when they pulled out of the dooryard! Aaron is one of my dearest friends, and I am so thankful that he is back in Maine now.
And then, for the past four nights we have had some of our dearest friends that we made when we were in Pennsylvania stay with us with their two little girls. Her oldest is just 4 months older than Jesse - they are our PA "souvenires" - and her baby is just 5 days older than Ransom! It's been really fun walking through life together - doing very similar things like moving just days before giving birth etc. - even though we now live hours away from each other.
I always called Rachel my "sanity" while we lived out in PA. She was my kindred spirit out there when I was so sad about leaving home and family, we have the same loves and interests, she came and slept on my couch at 3:30 a.m. when I went into labor with Jesse - and made the day really fun for Kaden while I was in the hospital, and she went on many a walk with me during the early days when all Jesse did was scream. Our families always loved playing together, yard saling, and camping together. There were not too many other couples out there who found the same things to be fun that we did - LIKE camping in freezing weather etc.! She left a year before we did, and I was SO not impressed......
So, anyway, we haven't seen each other for about a year - we were both pregnant with our babes when she last made the drive. It was too short of a visit, and I fear we wore them out more than relaxed them, but it was lovely to have them here. We just did a whole lot of nothing really - wading in the stream, collecting bugs, frog's eggs and all sorts of "treasures" outside, antiqueing, playing outside as much as we could, having a fire at night, hunting for Easter eggs together with our kids, a trip to Campden, and a lot of catching up on each other's lives. Our kids played so well together and her little girl was just as psyched about catching frog's eggs and leeches as my boys were! I think Jesse may have a wee little crush - about five times a day each day that they were here he'd say: "Mommy, I love that girl!"
We were all kind of bummed to see them go. And we're trying our hardest to figure out a way to convince them to move to Maine.....
I love you, Rachey Rach. So thankful for your friendship......
We've had company with us this past week - the best kind of company - the kind that's family or "just like family" where you can be yourself and not worry about putting on any airs. The kind where you can just "be" together and enjoy each other. And the kind where you can burn many a meal because you're distracted (sorry, guys) and they will still compliment you on it, because they love you!
My little bro and his wife breezed through for a night at the beginning of the week. He is freshly home from Border Patrol training in Texas, and he will now courageously protect and defend our borders in Rangeley. Who knew there was even a border down there? Anyway, we Love Rangeley - it's where we spent part of our honeymoon, so we shall see them lots over the summer, hopefully. They have no kidlets yet, but didn't seem too overly taken aback by the loud, crazyness of our lives. In fact, I think they quite enjoyed themselves. I know for a fact my boys LOVED them. Kaden cried when they pulled out of the dooryard! Aaron is one of my dearest friends, and I am so thankful that he is back in Maine now.
And then, for the past four nights we have had some of our dearest friends that we made when we were in Pennsylvania stay with us with their two little girls. Her oldest is just 4 months older than Jesse - they are our PA "souvenires" - and her baby is just 5 days older than Ransom! It's been really fun walking through life together - doing very similar things like moving just days before giving birth etc. - even though we now live hours away from each other.
I always called Rachel my "sanity" while we lived out in PA. She was my kindred spirit out there when I was so sad about leaving home and family, we have the same loves and interests, she came and slept on my couch at 3:30 a.m. when I went into labor with Jesse - and made the day really fun for Kaden while I was in the hospital, and she went on many a walk with me during the early days when all Jesse did was scream. Our families always loved playing together, yard saling, and camping together. There were not too many other couples out there who found the same things to be fun that we did - LIKE camping in freezing weather etc.! She left a year before we did, and I was SO not impressed......
So, anyway, we haven't seen each other for about a year - we were both pregnant with our babes when she last made the drive. It was too short of a visit, and I fear we wore them out more than relaxed them, but it was lovely to have them here. We just did a whole lot of nothing really - wading in the stream, collecting bugs, frog's eggs and all sorts of "treasures" outside, antiqueing, playing outside as much as we could, having a fire at night, hunting for Easter eggs together with our kids, a trip to Campden, and a lot of catching up on each other's lives. Our kids played so well together and her little girl was just as psyched about catching frog's eggs and leeches as my boys were! I think Jesse may have a wee little crush - about five times a day each day that they were here he'd say: "Mommy, I love that girl!"
We were all kind of bummed to see them go. And we're trying our hardest to figure out a way to convince them to move to Maine.....
I love you, Rachey Rach. So thankful for your friendship......
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