Hair Cut For Zander

Our busy day began with a much needed haircut for Zander. He HATES people touching him. I've always buzzed him. He has been informing me that the doesn't want me to buzz him because the razor will eat his head. We've tried to go to a salon but there you have it...he freaks out when "strangers" touch him..... and it takes a while to get a cut done because he has those (can we all say it together?) Sensory Integration Issues. ::snort::

I told him yesterday I HAD to cut his hair. We began. It took us about 35 minutes, and I'll have to find minutes through the rest of this week to finish it up - but we succeeded. I think it's "ok" and certainly better. Can't really see - but here's a photo.

Birthdays Galore

FIVE BIRTHDAYS! These were all the boy's birthdays which had been missed during Mike's deployment. The celebration was well worth the wait and it was an added bonus to have the girls home too!!! I think Mike and I will forego our birthday celebrations from this time period.

I inadvertently began a new tradition on Mike's 45th birthday. The balloon bouqet tradition. Each birthday celebrant gets a helium bouqet with a balloon for each year of their life. SO....we had lots of balloons on Sunday.

The boys chose to eat at a local pizza spot - Double Dave's....Yummm.

Then we zipped home and began the gift giving extravaganza. We do spend twice as much on our budget for birthdays as we do for Christmas...and having five of them to do - well it really did look bigger than our Christmas' and was a bit overwhelming. Not sure quite how to handle the photos - the girls were here and the only others who would want to see ALL the photos are grandmothers. ::snort:: Here's a few. Each boy sat in the recliner, surrounded by his ballons and presents. He HAD to wear ye ole pig hat and was seranaded by one of our various versions of Happy Birthday (which always sounds nicer when Bre is home ::snort::).

Zander loved his rocket man....

Zander received two remote controllers and then a converter that will allow 4 to play at once on play station. We were SHOCKED when he opened the converter...he look puzzled for about 3 seconds and then said "Oh - so more controllers can work!" ::snort::

Nolan with a flying frisby from Bre

Jared was SHOCKED by a 2 gig ipod. He kept saying "whoa". He'd asked for a walkman he could run with and use while mowing yards. He also got the sport band and we welcomed him to the 21st century.

Jamin got a movie and lots of heavier hand held weights. Mike and Krista made a scavenger hunt for him to find the weights.

Josiah's main gift from us went together with his Christmas gift and was his ipod Nano. BUT the kids all went together and got him this FM thingy for the ipod for his NEW CAR...and he likes it.

Then we moved to the kitchen for Mike's terrific ice cream cake. This is the first time we'd tried it with homemade icecream and it worked well. We had one layer but lots of goodies on top and Mike had gotten some mint chocolate pieces in the midst of the ice cream layer too. Yumm!

Sticking Candles on with hardshell

What's So intimidating about THIS man? He's a softie, I tell you!

BLOW!

While eating cake we all realized that Krista's birthday is NEXT Sunday and Bre's is the Saturday after THAT....we should have done them too. Ah well.....

FREE - Steven Curtis Chapman

Bre and Krista have been teaching the younger ones a human video to this song. They preformed it for us Sunday afternoon. It was AWESOME. I wish the girls were here one more Sunday - it would have been great to do in a couple of the chapel services.

Nolan as Christ - others nailed chains etc to him - true freedom only through Him

AIRPORT AGAIN

As the afternoon drew to a close we all knew it was nearing time to say goodbye to the girls. They were packed. We'd had a full day.

The olders and Mike played a rousing game with cards, spoons, and much hitting.

The youngers and I explored new toys and such. This was a CRAZY buy on my part- but that is what happens when you shop with very little energy! ::snort:: These are LOUD. I don't buy toys that make noise because we have plenty of real noise makers around here and don't need to add artificial noisemakers. Ah well...he loves them.

The buzzer went off. The girls had 15 minutes before needing to be at the airport - we live 7 minutes from the airport. The hunt for shoes began. Krista ended up leaving with a pair of my sandals instead of her flip flops. We made it in plenty of time. We always laugh at this tiny airport. They want everyone through security so EARLY and it takes all of 3 minutes to get through...but we cooperated....

We had a wonderful week with the girls home. Now it's time for them to continue on the path that God has placed them on.....and we simply rejoice when our paths allow us to be together in real life....until then....there's always blogs, my space, and phones!

After the Airport....

Mike asked, "Why do you have a loaf of bread in the van?" I explained that we'd been trying to find ducks to feed all week. He is so great. He knew that I'd want to do something besides going home right then to my "emptier nest". We went in search of ducks. The ones down on the river walk were NOT interested in our bread. We went out to another park on the north side of town and found lots of friendly geese and ducks.

Ah - Stacia still likes the sling. I find she is heavy after a bit but there were HUGE/GIGANTIC ANT MOUNTAINS all around and lots of aggressive geese....so we did the sling thing.

This duck got agitated when the boys were trying to feed it and tried to fly away. The tree hampered his flight pattern and he ended up flying around and around the kids.  Perhaps it was caught between wanting to fly away and wanting more bread. 

As the evening drew on Stacia discovered the sling worked well for extra warmth....and I discovered the tail made a great leash to keep her nearby. ::snort::
Back at home the olders watched one of Jamin's gifts - Eragon. The youngers, Mike and I watched two of Nolan's Gifts - Veggie Tales. The girls winged their way back to Washington State.

Photos by Bre

Bre took these at lunch yesterday....
Bre reports that the common feeling among MC students is that Mike is intimidating.....what? I have no trouble with him at all. ::snort::

A Letter from Bre

From Bre's My Space...Bre has written letters on each of the younger ones birth days for their "baby book" - which I never compile. ::snort::

To an unborn child...a tribute to my miscarried brothers & sisters

May 24, 2007
Dear Little One:

In a way it is ironic that I call you "little one" as if I am wiser than you. Already I am sure you have more wisdom than I will ever acquire in this life as you are in the presence of God. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (Prov 9:10) "By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations, by understanding He set the heaven's in place; by His knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop their dew." (Prov 3:19-20) However, to me you will always be the baby I never got to hold, the soul I never got to know, the life that seemingly never blossomed.

I take comfort in the fact that you will never know the pain of stubbing your toe, breaking your arm, or spraining your ankle. You will never fear frost bite or catching a fever. You will never know sorrow, betrayal, or a broken heart. However, it seems to me that you will miss out on so much of life. You never even drew in a breath of air.

It seems senseless. Why are other people who will not care for their children, who will abuse and scar their children, given children? While my parents (who have proven themselves good stewards of the children they have received) and my family (who already love you) lose a child. Why? Why does God give life only to take it away before you even had a chance to see the morning? But who am I to make this judgment call…I who does not see things as the Sustainer of the Universe sees? God's timing is perfect. He knew the perfect amount of days for you. "The days of the blameless are known to the Lord," (Prov 37:18a) God knew these days and I believe these are the days you were meant to have. I do believe that life begins at conception, that you have a soul that now resides in heaven. I also believe that every life has a purpose and that God's purpose for that life will prevail. "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." (Prov 19:21) You may have never received a name to be known by, but your legacy lives on in the testimony of those who were touched by you life and death. It lives on in the hearts of those of us who were brought to a new place of trusting God because of your existence. You are a gift that we never got to hold in our arms, but that we will always hold in our hearts. I love you.

~Bre

To those of you who have not yet received word: my family is mourning the loss of the child that was to be born this December. Watching my parents is baffling. They have such faith, such trust in God, such submission despite the way their hearts are breaking and Mom's body is feeling. Surely this is the result of the maturity that comes from walking with the Lord for many years. They continue to choose joy and thank the Lord for the blessings He has sent. Please pray for them and for all of our siblings as we walk through this.

Life is precious and none of us know how many days we are really given.

What am I doing with these days I have?