There was an Old Woman

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.

She had so many children, she didn't know what to do;

She gave them some broth without any bread;

Then whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.






This nursery rhyme has been going through my head lately....I wonder why? Maybe it has to do with the number of kids I have and how I feel like I am constantly having to feed someone!

Finally, after a year long wait

Last year the kids and I went to the H2O fest (picture above) mainly to get a tour of the Howard Duckett dam. As we were waiting for the group to gather, Eden began to cry and of course I had forgotten her binky, so we left without getting to walk on the dam. I promised them that we would go next year......

...And I kept my promise!!! Alan watched both Eden and Miriam while I took Hannah, Peter, and Joseph to see the dam!! It was fun, and they were able to push the button that opens and closes the dam. The were fascinated by the fact that one side was just a little river while the other side was a lake. I don't know that they learned any thing from it, but they can now say they have been on a dam!

Greatest Neighbor in the World

As a gift to Miriam, our sweet neighbor, Grandpa Dan, landscaped our front gardens. They look fantastic and with all the wonderful rain we have been getting, our green grass complements them nicely! I left in the morning to run some errands and visit a few people. I came home to Grandpa Dan and his friend, Bud Speicher from up the street, working so hard to make our home look beautiful. The end result is fabulous.

We are so blessed to have Dan and Norma Barkdull as neighbors. They are always so willing to do anything for us. We couldn't ask for more! Thanks!

One month old

I have a hard time believing that it has been a month already...yet with the lack of sleep I am surprised that we can accomplish anything. We are sleeping one 4 hour stretch at night...plus when she does wake up to eat, she isn't eating as much. With that I hope that we will be sleeping longer and longer periods at night. She is starting to hold up her head and is focusing on faces. She is doing very well in the eating department and is getting some cheeks and growing nicely. We have enjoyed having this sweet girl with us. Eden absolutely adores her, as do the other kids. Everyone always wants to hold her and give her hugs and kisses.

We have had some fun visitors over the last month to help out and to meet magnificent, marvelous, mad Madam Mim.

Easter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpFhS0dAduc

Desperate Measures

Unexpected Response

I was taking Eden out of the bathtub, which she didn't want to do...she loves the bath...and she was screaming. After she stopped, I asked her, "Was that really necessary?" Her response, "YEAH!!"

a First

Umbie fell off today.
Mom gave me my first real bath. I hated it. I cried really loud, but it didn't help. She kept singing and scrubbing.
-Miriam

All in the name of science

Hannah's Science Project this year was:

LIQUID FREEZE

Do all liquids freeze at the same time?

We froze water, pinapple juice, vineger, rootbeer to find the anwser. Hannah really enjoyed doing this project....it wasn't as complex as last years science project! Plus eating the frozen root beer and pinapple juice is always an added bonus!

12 years and counting

Alan and I celebrated our 12 year anniversary! We had a built in babysitter to watch 4 of the 5 kids. (Thanks Grandma!) We went to dinner at Clyde's of Columbia. I would highly recommend it, it was good food and a fun atmosphere.

It is so wonderful to be married to someone who you can laugh and talk with. We had a wonderful time and Miriam slept peacefully the entire time.

Thanks for being a fabulous husband and friend. I love you Alan!

Kiss Me...

I'm Irish!!

My sweet girls on my favorite day of the year!! I had a friend make hair bows for all of them (not that we knew Miriam was a girl, I just like to be prepared) just in case someone came on or before St. Patrick's day.

Meeting the Fam