Morning Birdsong

Stuff That I've Been Finding

2012-02-17T21:03:00.000-06:00

I found these fabric wings made by Feather and Bone (via DesignMom) -- I *LOVE* them and really want to make some for every kid (and maybe an extra set for me).

I saw these bunkbeds on Apartment Therapy. They would be perfect for Dietrich -- He wishes he lived in a tiny little room all safe and snug. I always did too. I think it would be especially cool to have beds like this when all three boys share the same room, that way if they really needed some alone time, some tiny place that was all their own, it'd be there.

I found these awhile back also on Apartment Therapy. They are just plastic animals spray painted bright colors, glued on jars. Easy, inexpensive, would be fun to store art or sewing supplies in.

Same thing but glued to candle holders for cakes and such. Neat (-:

Girl's coat from Crewcuts (J.Crew). I love it. I wish it were heavy flannel instead of wool but otherwise it is pretty near perfect.

I love the English children's clothing line Hucklebones. This is one of their dresses.

I found these hair stars on the blog From Me to You. They are from Rodarte's runway show during this past week's New York Fashion Week. So pretty.

One year in 40 seconds from Eirik Solheim on Vimeo.

Atticus the Fearless Draw-er

2012-02-16T20:22:00.000-06:00

I've been collecting these drawings for awhile now. When Atticus first began school every piece of paper he brought home had a drawing on the back of it. I was surprised, amazed, happy to have these brought home day after day. I love that Atticus finishes a sheet of homework at school and flips it over to make a story in pictures. Hooray. As the year has unfolded, he still does this though not quite as often. But sitting to draw (or do his take-home homework) is still one of his first choices of activity -- up there with sitting to read or wildly wrestling with his brothers. Three sensible, balanced favorite activities, I think (-:

He made a friend cry. Accidentally.

A dragon

Happy boy and girl (prince and princess) with a snow owl and polar bear and a house with a Santa hat.

This is my favorite. One day he brought it home on the back of a piece of schoolwork. I asked what it was. He said it was from a day dream he had that morning. He dreamt that he was lying in bed asleep when he smelled something funny. I asked good funny or bad funny. He said, definitely good funny. Then he said he opened his eyes from sleeping and there was a very pretty girl lying next to him. I asked, she smelled funny? He said, yes, girls smell different than boys. Like how, I asked. Different, maybe like lemons. Anyway, he said, the pretty girl was lying there and we smiled at each other. We were happy. Then we got married. That was his day dream. That is so so wonderful.

A robot

This is actually a drawing from our neighbor girl Gigi. She and Atticus used to draw each other pictures and write short notes and run them down to each other's mailboxes. Since they started school, Gigi has made some close girl friends in her own grade (she's in 1st) and hasn't been as interested in a friendship. I am thankful for the fun they had sharing drawings though. Even in kindergarten, there has been many heartaches and learning how to forgive and understand friendships. It is weird being a mother seeing shadows of what your child is trying to figure out. Today he wrote a letter to a friend at school with a drawing of a boy crying and a girl standing next to him. It said, You made me sad. On the back it had the girl's name with the word, Meanie, under it -- Atticus had erased it and put, You made me sad, from Atticus. I asked him what happened. He said that their friend Caitlin had decided to sit next to him instead of the other girl and the girl was angry and said Atticus was now her enemy and they would never be friends again. He was upset that she said it and thought all three of them should still be friends. We talked about forgiveness and being kind even when others are mean. And what jealousy means. And how to cheerfully try to include others even when they are angry or upset. It is definitely confusing. Sigh. Kindergarten. Ai ai ai.

Four different monsters: What I like best about this is that Atticus assigned himself a project to try drawing different kinds of things. Like 4 different cars or 4 different houses. This is part of the series.

Castle

This is a self-portrait as silly elastic man.

"Played with Deke" is the caption he wrote for school. I like that it is a super hero in a cape taking on a giant hand protecting a princess.

This is Atticus and his dad going to a baseball game. Pretty awesome pants and beard for Brad, eh?

Atticus sitting drawing at the table (see the pencil/marker/pen tray with the marker bucket) to draw while I keep him company ironing clothes.

This looks like some kind of tribal dream painting, right? The stars, the bird flying, the strange head of the bigger guy reaching out to the smaller guy...weird.

Inside Dietrich's Head

2012-02-16T19:57:00.001-06:00

Dietrich doesn't draw very often. When he does, what comes out always surprises me. He'll have jumped to another stage or add things he never tried to draw before (and often never does after that). It's hard to find patterns with his imagination that comes out on paper. This drawing was during church a few weeks ago. There is an octopus, a jail and some people with a throne. Most of his drawings are really a sequential piece of work where Deke tells a story as he draws the various components on the page. I love how he creates so differently than Atticus. They are each so very much individuals.

This might be my favorite drawing-story he has done. It was also in church -- a different service. It began with some people walking in a garden, in the front. Then we find out it is the garden around a castle. Then it begins to rain. A knight appears with a sword. Then the rain stops and the sun comes out. All is well in the kingdom.

These were some pieces of paper-work-art Dietrich made up a couple months ago. It involved ripping lengths of paper and glue-ing them on in patterns. They had so much texture. He made quite a few -- many which were later dismantled by Lincoln. These two examples survived on my camera.

This is a drawing of me. He did this quickly and under duress, because I wanted him to do something constructive. He wanted to do circles with his Razor scooter very fast around the dining room. He made two pictures and was excused to his scooter.

These next few were from before Christmas...for awhile he had this neat way of drawing humans which depicted everyone with wings. I like that.

Alien with his ship


First time he wrote his name all by himself. Now he does it frequently though still unsure of himself. He knows how to write all of his letters, but doesn't venture any writing unless he sees it written down in front of him. He doesn't like guessing.

For Charity

2012-02-16T15:08:00.000-06:00

We have a friend named Charity who knitted this so pretty pale pink baby hat for Thea Belle when she was a newborn. It is so perfect. I love it. I had it stored away when I found this rag doll for Thea's Christmas gift. It is from Pottery Barn Kids. It had a knit hat on it originally. I snipped it off (it was only sew tacked down) and re-tacked Thea's baby hat on. It fits exactly right. So soft, just the right color. Hooray. I found this dress for Thea Belle at Target. It's a bit too big for her right now, but I bought it for spring/summer. I love that it looks vintage and handmade and is my favorite colors. Thank you, Charity!

This is what Lincoln was doing while I took Thea's picture.

Guarding the bedroom door...

Just in case...

you never know.

Piggy-tails...awww....

2012-02-16T14:56:00.000-06:00

Thea Belle's first piggy-tails! (-:

Yes, she kisses everything, even animals in books.

Carded Spies

2012-02-16T14:49:00.001-06:00

So you know when chic bloggers show their family crafts and sewing projects and the photography is so cool and their kids look excited. I am coming to you with no illusions. And a sad ending. The boys, Dietrich actually, said they all needed these billfolds to keep their I.D.s and spy cards safe. I had some craft felt squares sitting in my bedroom next to my sewing machine. They were supposed to be for a sewing project with Atticus but it hasn't happened yet. I cut four rectangles and another 4 contrasting colored narrower rectangles. Then I sewed down the middle and around the side and bottom edges of the smaller rectangle. Then I cut little half circles to make getting the cards out easier. It took about 15 minutes -- 10 minutes longer than the attention/interest-span of the three younger kids (Atticus was at school). Then they were excited for about 5 minutes and all but two of the wallets (that keep randomly floating up to the top but never because they were being played with) are lost. So sometimes I wonder...Anyway, this was a serious attempt at getting a picture of them, but the kids had other ideas.

Eyeball Spider Cupcakes Because...

2012-02-16T14:35:00.000-06:00

So another treat-y craft from Aunt Kara's monster cookbook. I thought it was funny that the best pictures were all of Brad working on his and Thea's. Ha! It looks like I was crafting with my husband -- which is funny if you know Brad. We can do crossword puzzles together and even house projects (which are often like crafty logic puzzles) and he would love if I did math puzzles with him (which I do enjoy but is too intimidating with Mr. Engineer Man -- though I comfort myself sometimes by remembering I was on the high school math team -- though, why, I am not sure).But crafting isn't really his thing. Eating donut-topped frosted cupcakes is though, so...

Just to prove it was an all-family project...

I got photos like this one, hmmm...

And other attractive ones like Annoyed Baby...

Lots of Annoyed Baby, not even one Lincoln...who wasn't too into this project -- except the eating part...

60-26

2012-02-16T11:07:00.001-06:00

At the end of January and the beginning of February my dad and sister celebrated their birthdays here in Minneapolis. My mom and dad came up for the pastor's conference at Bethlehem and it happily coincided with my dad's big 60th birthday. My dad didn't want a big party but he thought going out to eat would be fun. So we took them to the new Wise Acres restaurant down by Tangletown Gardens in S. Minneapolis. My dad gave my sister this card for her birthday -- which is more funny if you know my dad's aversion to all things pierced and tattooed and know my sister's enthusiasm for such things.

And then he proceeded to roll up his shirt sleeve and show off his Captain America temporary tattoo he had applied just for Bekah. That's how zany we get in our clan. Oh dear.

So we don't have iphones are ipads or game systems in our house. But my mom and dad do. Think my kids are a little "taken" with this activity? (-: (p.s. Lest you think we are holier-than-thou luddites, it is mostly just a case of being interested in other things instead of gadgets/technology. We still play CDs and have a hand-me-down non-digital TV about the size of a dorm refrigerator with a converter. We'll get there eventually. Let's not be too rash about such things -- I mean, heck, we'll probably get to bypass 50 versions of these things before we even jump in the pool.) Anyway! Happy Birthday, Dad and Bekah!!!!

Thea Belle's Hair in the Morning

2012-01-06T21:47:00.001-06:00

Christmas 2011

2012-01-06T21:38:00.000-06:00

This year we went to my folks for Christmas. All of my siblings were there. The nine first cousins were all assembled. Atticus is the oldest at 5 1/2. Wow. My mom made them all pajamas and this is our first official all-cousin Christmas Eve photo.

My dad reading the Christmas story before opening gifts.

(p.s. I wish I could figure out the light settings on my point and shoot -- seems like I get wildly different results on exactly the same set-up).


My brother Aaron and his son Grant

My sister Bekah holding Thea Belle

Celebrating Dietrich's birthday happened earlier on Christmas Eve.

Watching some movies...

Talking...

Chewing on frisbees (standard Christmas tradition) and wearing beads with brightly patterned tunics (par).

My Dad with Lincoln -- both looking cute...

And Thea Belle does this when almost anyone other than Brad and I or (feel honored -- ) Liz or Leah try to hold her. Poor Thea! I am glad my Dad was laughing (-: -- Thank you for understanding, Dad!

Then we went to Brad's folks over in Des Moines. But Atticus, Brad and then myself got the stomach flu. And I lost my camera (which was found as we were packing to leave) so these are the only pictures. And we came home to Minneapolis earlier than normal to go to a Dawes concert at the Varsity over in St.Paul (Christmas gift to Brad from me (-:). And we were feeling better by the New Year. For New Year's Eve we played games with kids until we put them to bed around 9 pm) ripped out our kitchen floor (to start our kitchen remodel), drank a glass of wine and watched the first half of Moonlight in Paris (which we bought for ourselves as a New Year's gift). We love Owen Wilson. We love not having the stomach flu. We love our families. We love coming home to Minneapolis.

And we had our own Christmas with just us back at home -- nice and quiet before the marathon of late, late nights working on the kitchen project. But for one day we tried to ignore all the vacation laundry and the kitchen appliances in the dining room and our still-queasy flu stomachs and just enjoy each other as a family. It was a good morning together.

Rahrr.

2012-01-05T22:23:00.000-06:00

Atticus likes face paint. He wore this all day until bedtime.


Dietrich did not like face paint. It was itchy. It was removed directly after this photo.

Dietrich Lewis is Four!

2012-01-05T21:57:00.001-06:00

Dietrich Lewis turned FOUR on Dec.20th right before we left for Christmas family visits. He gets a party at home and one at each of his grandparents' houses. He loves Batman and his Razor Scooter and stories about heroes who save the day. He wishes he could grow up and be a super hero with special powers. I tell him that he can but not necessarily the way he thinks -- that super powers are thin and small in comparison to being able to be faithful and noble and honorable and responsible and kind and generous and wise. And to live that way day after day in the small and the big things no matter when it gets hard or when you are tired or when you get discouraged or restless or annoyed. He said, "Hm. But I really wish I had super powers." I am still trying to find out about him. I know that he is very focused and deliberate and determined. He figures out anything he applies himself to. He is intense and emotional and sometimes completely affectionate and thoughtful. He is always thinking and trying to work out what he hears and find a way to assimilate it. Sometimes when he can't sleep at night he will come down and sit on our bed and ask questions and then tell us what he has been thinking about. He is getting better at learning how to be gentle and play with Thea Belle. He is learning that Lincoln can be very fun to play with especially because he likes playing with action figures and coming up with all sorts of stories too. Dietrich adores Atticus and also has an acute ability to instantly make Atticus insane with emotional fury -- and to do this without breaking a single house rule. It is horrible and amazing. Dietrich hates winter coats and sleeves that touch his wrists. He loves Gonzo from the Muppets. He loves to recite the names of the three Members of the Trinity. But he is not sure he wants to have Jesus be his King mostly because he doesn't think it is necessary since Dietrich is so very strong that he will punch all bad guys including Satan in the nose and also because he agrees with God that we should be good and not do bad things so Dietrich will just go ahead and do that without having to trouble Jesus about it. Sigh.

We had a small party for him the Sunday before his birthday with our family from up here -- Aunt Bekah, the Millers and the Bergets.

A few days later on Dietrich's actual birthday, we all celebrated early before Brad dropped Atticus off at school (to give us a little more time together as a family with Dietrich). His favorite gifts were the Razor Scooter he's wanted since last Christmas and a Gonzo doll that he likes to have ride on the handlebars.

Atticus' Kindergarten Party

2011-12-21T14:09:00.000-06:00

Atticus' kindergarten class had an end of the semester program last Friday. The unit study was on buildings and our city. They had different parents of all different professions come in to talk with the class about what kinds of things they did each day -- an architect, and engineer, a firefighter, a doctor, a construction worker, etc. The program started with a musical play of the The Three Little Pigs and The Big Bad Wolf. Atticus was part of the Stick House. His friend Oliver is the Big Bad Wolf. His teacher (blond) is Mrs. Wisniewski and also to the left is their student teacher Miss Engebretson who the kids all adored. Atticus was so sad that it was her last day in their class. Dietrich and Lincoln are sitting on the floor in the middle aisle at the front. Brad came over from work and is behind me holding Thea Belle. (I'm going to post quite a few photos here -- mostly for the grandparents who wanted to be here for this (-:)

There was artwork everywhere down both sides of the hallways and along the walls and on tables, even hanging from the middle aisle in the center of the room. Parents volunteered to set up the display. It was so well-done -- like everything else Mrs. Wisniewski seems to do with the children. I am so thankful she is Atticus' teacher this year.

Blurry photo but to show you the hallway display...

Atticus in the middle here...

Some of the books they read together for the unit study.

According to Atticus -- a "Gunscraper" is a gun that is secretly disguised as a very tall building.

Hmmm...

My attempt at a group shot -- hoping to get a picture for a January Christmas Card. Ha!!

I was there. Proof from Dietrich's photo.

We love you Grandma Susan and Grandpa Gary, Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Tom -- We hope these pictures help you feel a little like you had been here with us. See you for Christmas!!

Thea Belle and The Incarnation

2011-12-20T21:28:00.000-06:00

So it is December 20th. Dietrich turned 4 today. We leave for my folks in 3 days. Gifts are wrapped. Some baking is left to do. One school party day is past and a preschool pajama party is waiting to happen. I am taking a break from listening to Christmas music to take an evening with Josh Garrels' and Bon Iver's music while Brad is out ordering a cabinet and counter-tops for our kitchen and then heading over to St.Paul to hear one of our friend's bands perform. The kids are all just asleep. Tonight I read another post from Rachel Jankovic on Making Christmas Happen for our kids. God has apparently linked up her head/heart to mine so that everything she writes is a direct exhortation and encouragement to me straight from God Himself. He's given her very earth-y, real-time biblical wisdom that completely translates into Sarah-ese.

Lately I have been having an unwanted visit from old frenemies: confusion, restlessness and deep, drifting sadness. My thyroid medicine has skewed off in the past month and had to be increased so I know there is some physical cause behind the yuck. I also know that Brad and I have been incredibly busy these past two months which means less time together and when we are facing each other, we are drained and faded out so there isn't much conversation or "space" to find our way into connection. Sort of like "1-2-3 Ok, Go!" Relationship Time: 20 minute slot at 11 pm after a bootie-kicking day. This kind of living-life-merely-existing-next-to-my-husband makes me grouchy and forlorn and melodramatic. And there is another thing: Thea Belle is 16 months old in another week. She is our last baby. Not unexpectedly, other people continue to have babies. This is how it works. One person is done having babies. Other people are still working on it or just beginning or still waiting for it to happen. Pretty standard. At some point we are done welcoming children into our family, and when you start a little later in life and/or you have a smaller number of children closer together, it is a relatively short part of your overall life. I have asked a number of women with older children how they knew they were done having children. The answers were in a few categories: 1) Something physical had happened that caused them to be done 2) They just knew that 2 or 3 or 5 children were all they could focus on and do the work required to raise them well 3) They prayed and talked it over with their husband and both felt at peace about it. Brad and I really prayed and talked through our decision. It is right. I have been challenged before and again by adoption, by foster care, by vasectomy reversal, but there are many reasons the first two just don't seem right for us. And the, third, still siren-call tempts me. But there are four big reasons that make me feel we, makes Brad (who is the exceedingly better decision-maker in our team), sure that we are a full-house: 1) We really want to know each of our children very well and want enough time/erenrgy to do that 2) I will be 54 when Thea Belle graduates from high school. So considering the life expectancy of my side of the family, I probably have about 10 years after that to see, enjoy, help my children into young adulthood. If we were to do some kind of reversal (in the next year or so) and IF that worked right away I (like within a year of the procedure) I would probably be 40 or 41 when I had another baby. That would put me at near 60 when that child reached 18. It's not all about numbers and no one knows how long you live, but when trying to make a decision like this... 3) We want to be able to serve others with and out from our family and the tiny baby/young children mode definitely puts a couple/family into a very insular, needing more help than they are able to give, high inward demand (read: needing the full attention and resources of the parents) mode. We are thankful for the good things inherent in this needful semi-monastic place we are in, but we have always felt our family (including our children) is meant for wider and outward, out-spilling life. So it seems right to move on from here. 4) Bluntly, I am not naturally gifted at parenting toddlers or preschoolers. I continue to hope that I will begin to show some kind of improvement with school-age kids...maybe I see it with Atticus (though it is hard to ascertain with the still enormous pull of the youngest three's emotional, disciplinary, physical constant and loud needs). I know that God changes (sanctifies) us through the challenges and "loads" He wisely, perfectly lays on our shoulders, and that if I were to have 5, 6, 7 children then He would give me the grace and humility and strength to be further and more deeply broken and re-made. I know. I am also aware that with the increased work (the emotional and spiritual strains being the hardest) and personal sacrifice (dying to my own pursuits of reading, writing, creating, thinking, having order and peace and space) comes great buckets and troughs of good things. I am still, after a few decades of living, uneasy with the tension of blessing-trial/happy-sad/enjoyable-uncomfortable/awesome-horrible that so much of life is made of. I read a Slate (?) article a couple years back that said people with children were both happier and more miserable than people without. I snort at that even more now -- because, it really feels like that. Being a parent is incredible and satisfying and sometimes painfully (big-time cheese-ball cliche) magical and also limiting and painful and boring and annoying and terrifying and relentless and so un-endurably heavy that you can't even believe you are able to keep carrying it.

So after all that rambling, where was I? I get sad every month when I have not miraculously become pregnant. Really. Isn't that crazy. Yes. Yes, it is. At the same time, Lincoln's two-year old angst and drama is threatening my very sanity. Dietrich and Atticus complain and bicker and jostle for attention. Thea Belle is clingy and screech-y and very much needs gentle, deliberate attention in this messy, noisy pack of male dogs she has been dropped into. I never have enough time with any of them. I know I am ready to move on into the next lines of the story. Still....I can't believe I will never grow another baby or meet and hold that newborn child for the first time. It is the one and only creative endeavor whose culmination did not disappoint -- it exceeded, broke the very farthest bounds of my expectations. I try to remember that the creative endeavor of making this family is on-going, is full of hope...to not quit believing that God will bring this family, these children to something greater, something surpassing the fulfillment and inscrutable right-ness of those first moments and weeks of my sons or daughter. I just have so much less certainty, or assurance of what the story to come is. So much less faith that I am who I need to be to mother, to "wife", to live in a way to make joyful, God-reveling, honorable, creative, kind, truth-loving, diligent, peace-hearted, faithful, wise humans...because I am not those things I wish to make this family, I am not the things I want for my children, for my husband. I didn't know how to be or become those things before I had children. And I still don't know. Plainly, I really feel like I don't know what I am doing. But here I am with these four children sleeping in the next room and I am shaping their lives at every turn. It is scary and confusing and too much. Meanwhile, I need to fold the 5 loads of laundry on our bed, wash the dishes, and finish Thea Belle's Christmas dress. No more rambling for tonight.

Tree!

2011-12-13T21:20:00.000-06:00

Thanks!

2011-12-13T21:09:00.000-06:00

Our family tradition of the Thankful Tree -- where everyone traces their hands and adds things they are thankful for through-out November. This year I was happy that the older two kids started tracing and cutting and writing things they were thankful for on their own initiative. Dietrich, who needs help writing, had the great idea of drawing pictures of things he was thankful for.

We also like making something holiday-ish to put up in the windows. Here are the turkeys we made together.

Dietrich wanted these colors and gave the Turkey super-goggles and breastplate armor.

We went down to my in-laws in Des Moines for 5 days over Thanksgiving. My sister-in-law Kara had a neat "craft" for all the cousins to do together -- a candy turkey to put at each child's place setting for the Thanksgiving feast.

Kara making it happen (-:

(Kara is pregnant with Baby Cousin #3 on Brad's side, in case you didn't know...(-:)

Cousin Max!

Cousin Ivy -- You can't tell her and Thea Belle are related, right?! -- Ha!

Doing the Turkey -- as demonstrated and spurred on by Brad -- awesome-ness!

Cooking with Grandma Nancy before the Thanksgiving Celebration

Playing with He-Man Guys!!

They were very insistent that I get photos of this. Very serious.

Great Aunt Caryl is a Zumba instructor and enthusiast and came with a short, fun routine to try with the kids including special t-shirts for them. My boys were pretty lame-o about it except for Dietrich who was very good and really enjoyed it.

Brad, my brother-in-law Brian, my father-in-law Tom, Brad's cousin John

Watching a football game with cousin Jason who came by for an afternoon

With Grandma Nancy

The boys wrestling with Jason at half-time

Cousin Sarah who rocked Lincoln to sleep by the end of the game...

Grandpa Tom had the hot tub set up -- Attempts at a family photo...hmmm...

Fancy Nancy Day

2011-12-13T20:49:00.000-06:00

The first day of school back from Thanksgiving Break, Atticus' kindergarten class had a Fancy Nancy Day (inspired by the book character Fancy Nancy -- who loves everything fabulous and snazzy -- in case you didn't know who she was...). I think A. looks quite dashing.

Aunt Bekah Beehives It

2011-12-13T20:45:00.000-06:00

My sister came by a week or so ago...and gave and received many hugs. And, I like her hair.

Mornings...with the Box, Superheroes, Attitudes, and Thankfulness

2011-11-16T19:49:00.001-06:00

So do you know what? My two younger boys have had many emotional and attitudinal and relational struggles as of late. In fact, one day this past week my friend Leah stayed for lunchtime when she brought Dietrich home from preschool. And on this short visit she sypathetically exclaimed how crazy Lincoln had been while she was there. I looked at her in surprise and said, "Oh my! He's actually been great since you've been here. The last hour has been the calmest of the day!!" We laughed together at this. And later when I had time to think about it I realized that God has been giving me greater grace to deal with the day to day emotions and conflict of my children. I am finding more stability in my mothering. I read a great post by Rachel Jankovic this week on the importance and power of mothering, homemaking and realized what a perfect match this vocation is for me. I spent 21 years (13 years post-college) actively, intensely trying to find a meaningful vocation and actually moved up here to Minneapolis in a brave, I-turned-30 leap into art school for a second bachelor's degree and a try at making a vocation out of something I loved when - shazam! - I meet The Bradley Johannsen of Des Moines, Iowa. And 10 months later we got married and 9 months and 4 days after that we had Atticus. Since then I've had this guilty, yucky feeling that I cheated. That I never found my true vocation. That I failed the test of those 13 adult years of singleness. But I am just now starting to see what Brad has been telling me all along: that I didn't fail the test. That God knew what He had in store for me. He knew what He wanted me to read, where He wanted me to live, who He wanted me to meet, the conversations He wanted me to have (with others, in my head & heart), all the jobs and wanderings and questions and friendships and loneliness He wanted me to experience. He was preparing me for this. And I don't need to be embarrassed -- as if being a stay at home wife and mother is a consolation prize or the kind of job you do when you don't have any other skills or ambitions or passions or interests. No, no, no! I feel so privileged to have this career. I love the utter meaning of what I am doing. Every job has it's monotony, it's dull stretches, it's hard parts that chaff at your spirit -- but this one is so completely meaningful in all it's repetitive cleaning and folding and straightening and correcting and training and book-reading and nose-wiping. So utterly meaningful and I feel the possibilities and excitement of building up these four children and having our family, our home being a place to love and know our neighbors and friends and strangers and spilling over into the lives each of my children who will increasingly have their own circles of loving and knowing others and doing things that are worth doing. I still have spinning myriads of ideas and dreams of beautiful, true things I want to sew and draw and construct and make but it is part of and out from this solid, central place of caring for and knowing and loving these 4 little ones and Bradley. Instead of finally finding my vocation, I was being prepared for it all along and now finally here I am in the thick of it. Hallelujah and Amen.

This kid's face is incredible. Oh I love him.

Oh yeah.

I know you all wish you had one like this...but there's only one, only one Lincoln Carver.

Thea Belle got up on the couch and pointed to the camera and did this pose. Ha!!

Hmmm....

Yeah, I think your concern is warranted, Thea Belle...

p.s. so today I found out Thea had all 4 molars show up sometime in the last two weeks -- poor kid, I didn't even know...

Almost 15 Months

2011-11-16T18:15:00.000-06:00

My Men

2011-11-16T18:11:00.000-06:00

I love being married to Brad for a million reasons. One of them is walking in finding this going on.

The Boys Gots Style

2011-11-16T18:09:00.000-06:00

These are the outfits the boys chose for Sunday morning.

(I promise that's all costumes in the corner there -- really! And the cardboard box is from the kitchen vent -- their favorite toy the last couple weeks!)

Venting with the Animals

2011-11-16T18:03:00.000-06:00

So two weekends ago there was a whole lotta this going on in our kitchen. My wonderful mother- and father-in-law took Atticus and Dietrich to Des Moines for a weekend sleepover. Brad installed our new oven vent (pictures to come -- still getting the drywall mudding just right...). I took Lincoln and Thea Belle to the big zoo. It was so fun with just the two of them -- going their pace, seeing what they wanted to see and zooming in circles through the crowds.

Just one more picture of this because that man of mine is so darn manly using power tools...

To Lincoln's utter amazement Diego was at the zoo. Diego!! And he was liberally handing out hugs. Lincoln talked about this moment for days afterwards. He would hush his voice and widen his eyes in sheer disbelief that such a thing would happen. I never know what to do with kids' celebrity cartoons (we rarely watch any of them and they aren't allowed to wear clothing with them on it) but it was pretty hard not to love the schmoe who planned for this guy to be at the zoo on a Saturday morning.

Lincoln so serious...This is a big deal.

Pretty Thea illegally picking tropical vegetation(-:

Tiny Garden Treasures

2011-11-16T15:52:00.000-06:00

This year my garden was a very sad little place. It began with poor planning, continued with very little care, and ended with paltry harvests (as almost always happens with gardens and anything else of any importance). BUT a happy, funny surprise: The ginormous, teeming tomato plants of two summers ago suddenly sprouted prodigy sometime in late August. Somehow seeds from those crazy plants finally germinated into the only plants who survived my neglect. And all September and half of October they were still giving me the sweetest most intense tomato-y tomatoes. I slow roasted pan-fulls of them with brown sugar lightly sprinkled across them. Then I experimented with the most awesome pasta sauces. Man, they were good. And I found that even taking a few handfuls of these little cherry tomatoes and pan roasting them with some other vegetables gave you this tiny, hot bomb of sweetness that I never would have thought of. It feels like I am exaggerating, but these tomatoes are other-worldly.

And though these poor carrots couldn't compete for my enthusiasm, they are my first crop ever of carrots which is exciting. And being Brad's favorite vegetable, he was pretty stoked with them pan roasted. He declared them most carrot-y and gave them a good raving to sort of baptize their one and only inaugural meal (-: Next year: planning garden is starting in January!

I Vant You

2011-11-16T15:35:00.000-06:00

So Aunt Kara's Monster Cookbook came out again. This time the boys wanted the scary vampire teeth mouths.

Facing the Body

2011-11-09T15:37:00.000-06:00

So months ago I decided to try keeping track of the outfits I wore everyday. I was in a phase of following a few style blogs and thinking through what direction, if any, I wanted to head with my clothes/appearance. There are so many thoughts (simmering on back burners) assessing who and where I am as a person as I approach 40. I said awhile back that I'd try to explain a little about what I learned from that month of clothing photos and accompanying "thinkings".

I realize now that I do in fact have a "style". But it is a style that is unavoidably shaped by my financial resources, my body shape, what is available in stores (or by what I have time and ability to make), the climate I live in and my profession as a mama and homemaker. Oh and one more important factor is my value system. No matter what your fixed financial and time resources are you still have to decided how much of it to spend on finding clothes, working on your hair and makeup and whatnot. And then add desires to give time and money to other people in your family, church, and out from there; And not just giving it to people but there's your house, yard, crafts, music, books, all manner of things for your kids and so on. I find it to be crazily complex.

So the short of it is that now that I am done nursing and far enough away from pregnancy and childbirth to see what kind of body I am working with, I am easing into acceptance of this body I have. It did an awesome job of carrying and birthing and feeding four healthy children. It is strong and agile enough to do this work at hand. It sounds too earth-mama to say something like, "I need to honor and respect this body I have been given." And it seems too Christian cliche to say, "I need to be thankful for the body God blessed me with." But, in truth, I do have greater respect for this body that God has so mercifully given me. It is amazing and has a kind of beauty in its irregularities and oddness that I am just beginning to allow myself to see. I spent a couple decades despising my body so vehemently that I still hear shuddering echoes of that wasteful, sinful, solipistic heap of lies. God has been so kind and gentle with me these last few years to forgive my consuming hatred and to destroy so much of that darkness. Using Brad's love. Using pregnancy and childbirth and nursing. Giving me a life that is so much more full and dimensional and heavy with satisfaction that there is scarcely room for all that garbage.

So...do I know what I am doing with my clothes? Not particularly. I know I want to find a way to wear dresses and skirts all the time -- because they are so much more comfortable than jeans and I like the way they swish and swing and make me feel happy. But I live in a place that is dang cold half the year. So I need to get better tights or break out into some sort of leggings or skinny jeans under dresses which requires time to find and money to acquire. Until then I'll keep looking for the perfect-for-me knee-high boots and persevere in my sewing experiments whenever I am able to. I feel at peace about working toward something better but not panicked about not being "there" yet -- in fact, I am realizing that like everything else (house, yard, sanctification, relationships, education, skill-acquiring...) it's all "process", all "story-line" -- no "function boxes" that you put in the numbers and come out with a nice clean finished "answer". And then your done. Nope. Not how God designed it. Okay. Easing into the acceptance of it.

In related news: I had a bangs mishap recently. It's been a lifelong siren call for me -- I think I need bangs to "soften" my face, then immediately regret them because of my multiple cowlicks and unique hair texture requiring way too much "fussing" to get them to lay right. And they irritate my face and look way too matronly/dowdy as they grow out. Patooie! (as James Marshall so aptly expresses it). I think this time I had a break through: I finally realized it truly is no big deal. I cut them. Okay. They grow. Next time I hope I remember that I like having no bangs better -- I feel more like myself, they fit better with how much time I like spending fussing with my hair; Furthermore I declare to myself that "not cutting bangs" isn't because of laziness (to keep up with styles or do grooming) or ignorance (of what is "happening" with hair or how my hair "works"), it is simply, the way I like to wear my hair. For me simple (with clean lines) is almost always better when it comes to hair and clothes. (p.s. this above photo is my attempt at the juvenile facebook pose -- the one every women uses to look thinner, younger, shinier...and maybe river-otter playful?)

Because you can really only take so many pictures of yourself trying to get a good photo before you give up and recognize the silliness of trying that hard to catch something that elusive and so low on the importance totem pole.

Plus it was Halloween week...and I was depicting Munch's "The Scream"...

Oh, forgot to mention, I experimented with some make-up this night...hmmm...lipstick, eye liner, and mascara -- not for me. But it was worth finally finding that out, deciding it was okay to not like it. At least now, if Thea Belle is interested in such things later on, I have done enough reading and research and experimenting to give her some starting points and let her see if it works for her, if she likes it for herself. I feel much better about being able to do that for her and more okay about not being a make-up kind of mother for her. I am still a woman who loves being a woman. And she will know that even if I don't wear mascara and dislike hairspray and curling irons. Amen.

I kind of hate this picture but I think it looks the most like me except I never sit that still for that long unless I'm working on something, reading something or asleep. I wish I had a delicate, sweet, graceful face but I do not. I think I look strong. I think I look determined and hard working and straightforward. These are good things and shouldn't be maligned by fierce wishing for something else. Perhaps what nags at me more is that I don't have a spirit that is quiet and gentle -- but one that is easily riled into fear or frustration or confusion or restlessness. And everything in me shows on my face. You can ask my husband who daily watches storms brew and circle across my face, and then comes (sometimes gently, sometimes a little roughly) to help sort through the tangles and labyrinths of thoughts. But I do like how much faces tell and am disturbed by people who I can't "read" -- can't see what's happening in there. Faces are my favorite thing to watch, to draw, to see in photos...followed closely by the wondrous body. Faces and bodies. We are each given one. To take care of, to use. I love that. And for good or bad, it's a huge part of why I majored in Biology in college. So there you go -- some thoughts on clothes and style and coming to a peace about it's place in the big jigsaw puzzle of my particular life. I love pretty clothes, I love color and texture and shape and line. I love fabric. I love being a woman. I love making something useful. But I love so many other things and people and pursuits too. So it's just part of a life lived in a body in a physical world. Amen.

Treating with Friends!

2011-11-06T20:29:00.000-06:00

Halloween night our friends the Jamiesons were traveling through Minneapolis from Michigan to Montana and came to spend a night with us. So all four of their kids trick or treated with our four and more kids from the neighborhood. As Andy J. said, "Our whirlwind meets your whirlwind" -- indeed! It was wonderful to see them -- way too short but wonderful nonetheless. Our kids all got along famously and candy was overflowing for all. (-: I wish I had taken better pictures of them all together. I especially left out the two little ones -- Thea Belle is on to week three of this epic cold her and I are struggling through. Her face is broken out into a rash of some kind, and she has a constant chapped and occasionally bloody nose so it has been difficult to catch flattering photos. I feel wrong posting ones that immortalize a nasty cold. So I will wait.

I thought it would be fun for the kids to all carry glowstick swords (from the party section at Target). And it was. Until later when Lincoln BIT ONE OPEN. Yep. He chewed until it exploded it into his mouth and all over his brother Deke, the floor, and our couch. It was awesome and no doubt toxic and took awhile to clean up (what could be cleaned) and for the rest to stop glowing.

Look how adorable Josiah Jamieson is as Winnie the Pooh! It suited him perfectly.

Sweet Danica Jamieson

Fierce Turtle Ninja Timothy Jamieson

Our neighbor Dominick dressed as a truly creepy Transformer Robot Jedi. Lincoln thought he was real and bravely tried backing everyone up for safety and then fiercely attacked him repeatedly.

The jig is up for the older boys but notice Lincoln is not buying it. Ready for another attack.

Carving Out Some Time

2011-11-06T19:38:00.000-06:00

So we finally carved the pumpkins my dad sent from his garden. We don't do it too early because we have mad squirrels around here who steal whole pumpkins and devour them down within a few days. We find our lids at the bases of trees and strewn across the neighborhood. Ahhh!!! Anyway, there isn't really pictures of the kids carving the pumpkins because they aren't allowed knives and wouldn't touch anything slimey. So actually Brad and I carved them. And that is that.

p.s. Dietrich taught himself to snap his fingers which impresses Atticus to no end. D. learned the Days of the Week song (sung to the tune of the Addams Family Theme Song) at preschool and determined to figure out how to snap. One week of constant practicing and -- Shazam! -- He got it. I love this kid's methodic determination.

Dietrich's drawing of the alien pumpkin he wanted

Atticus' drawing of a one-toothed pumpkin clown

Rosie Style!

2011-11-06T19:33:00.000-06:00

Rose Miller came to our house last week wearing about 6 necklaces. Leah said she did this herself. Yay!

Visit to My Folks: Clark's Birthday & Meeting Daphne

2011-11-06T19:29:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago we went down to my folks to celebrate our nephew Clark's 3rd birthday and meet his littlest sister, our new niece Daphne. We were excited that one of the families in my folks' church had their annual barn party while we were there. The kids got to play up in a hay mow, hold brand new barn kittens, and take a hayride. They loved all of it and I was so glad they had a little taste of some of the things I loved doing growing up as a farm kid.

My folks with Thea Belle

Waiting for the hayride to begin

My sister-in-law Robyn with Daphne

Getting ready for Clark's birthday party...some of his cousins from Robyn's side came to celebrate too!

Clark blowing out his candles. His sister Felicity to the left...Lincoln & Atticus on either side...

The Spide-y cake my brother Jonathan made for his boy!

Clark! (Robyn's photo (-:)

Robyn took the photo of Daphne -- love her little smile! -- and the one below of my brother Jonathan and all three kids! Hooray!

My dad gathering some pumpkins, squash and peppers for us from his amazing garden

This border of zinnias were as tall as me...They were just beautiful.

Lincoln and Thea Belle checking out the chickens

Mug Shots

2011-11-04T13:18:00.000-06:00

Aunt B. and The Pie

2011-10-11T15:49:00.000-05:00

The week after our family went to the orchard with the Bergets Atticus went to a different orchard with his kindergarten class -- His first field trip! He came home with a bag of apples and asked to make an apple pie for his dad. Now I am not a good crust maker -- I don't care much for any kind of pie and so I, selfishly, have not worked at this culinary skill. My sister happened to have come by on one of her surprise visits and cheerfully announced, "Well, I can make a crust. I'll make a pie with you, Atticus!" Atticus was elated. So after his brothers and sister went down for afternoon naps, he and Bekah made a pie. It was so sweet of my sister and so fun for Atticus. And as the pie was baking, the younger ones emerged from their naps, and Bekah took the dough scraps and helped Dietrich and Lincoln make jelly pop-tarts so they could have some cooking fun too! (And where was I during all this -- mostly sitting at the dining room table, watching, and happily [guilt-free] sewing!!!)

I did stop to help peel apples -- I have peeled many, many apples having had a small orchard on our farm growing up. I can still peel an entire apple without breaking the peeling -- one curly corkscrew (I am too proud of this skill). I tried to teach Atticus but his hands are just not quite big enough yet. He chose the short, choppy, stab method into the sink. Not pretty, but it works -- eventually.

First Race

2011-10-11T15:36:00.004-05:00

Inspired by our friend Anne Ryerson, we decided to sign Atticus and Dietrich up for their first official race: The TCT Medtronic Half Mile over at the capitol building in St.Paul. For a few weeks I would practice with them, keeping them running while ignoring their whines and whimpers and lethargic, tragic-comic protests of weakness, tiredness, hunger, injury, and my cruelty in making them do such a ludicrous exercise in futility. It was awesome. I fear for their future life success. I even spent a few conversations with them reading from the Bible about not running aimlessly ("beating the air" as Paul says) and running with purpose to "win the prize" -- trying to explain how running and finishing a race is like living life with Christ as our goal, as our happy thought to pull us through to then end, to throw off all hindrances and fight through the tiredness and the pain for a worthwhile end. (I'm pretty sure they heard nothing I said, but for a few days afterwards they thought running around beating the air was fun.)
Well, the day before, we picked up their t-shirts and running numbers from Atticus' school. We drove over to St.Paul on a beautiful clear, chilly Saturday morning to see the capitol building for (my) first time and meet up with the collected groups of elementary students out on the front lawn. We waited a long time...first for the starting line-up, then a longer time in a massive crowd of young runners and their parents. It was quite surreal with music pumped out over speakers, a radio announcer interviewing little kids, parents chatting, kids antsy, confused, and for my boys -- wrestling and fighting with each other while I broke up their fights 527 times. Finally we started off. Atticus did great -- no complaining, taking off ahead of us, looking back, running back to be with us, and then shooting ahead again -- in a casual, I-love-people-and-crowds-and-this-is-so-fun-I-am-totally-a-Johannsen-down-to-my-toes kind of way. Dietrich, well...yeah...Dietrich. Dietrich began complaining quietly to me, then he stopped "running" entirely as I encouraged him on. He began whining loudly. He started crying. Then he started weeping and yelling and, truly, truly, growling. Growling in a threatening, death-throes sort of way. Kid-runners made space for him. Parents stared. I just focused on my son. "Well, you can sit on the curb here and I will come back and get you. You will be safe." But he wouldn't stop -- not running, not wailing and growling. So I held his hand and we ran the half mile -- the entire half mile with his head thrown back growling threats and doom and death. And the respectable part of me was mortified. And the mother part of me was sorry for my poor boy and worried about his character and how I should help him become stronger. And the observer part of me, the part of me watching this scene from the crowd on the side of the street, started laughing. Yes, I started laughing, trying to hide it at first (so as not to incense further my furious child), but then I was laughing so hard, I was wheezing and crying and shaking. It was so ridiculous, and so exactly how I approach so much of living life. My poor kid. He is me. Except that he is 3 years old and he is a male which means he has even more rage and doesn't hide things very well yet. But we made it to the finish line. Volunteers at the end were holding armfuls of pretty gold medals hanging from bright yellow ribbons -- one for every kid who finished the race. One kind, silver-haired lady offered one to the still angry, weeping Dietrich -- He looked at her, looked at me, and yelled right into my face "No! No! I don't want one! I didn't finish the race!" I apologized to the lady, and took Dietrich aside to discipline him for his rudeness to her and to me. Then I told him, "Deke, you did finish the race -- not with the right attitude, not with the right heart, but you did finish the race. Would you like a medal? He glaringly but quietly took it from my hand. Then I took his hand and we went to find Atticus and Brad and the little ones. By the time we found them on the sidelines, Dietrich had magically transformed into smiles and lightness -- cheerfully showing Brad his award and proudly declaring how strong he was and how he has finished the race and made his feet to keep going all the way to the end, and so on, all the way to the car and home. I have no idea what he actually learned this day, but I am thankful he finished. Proud that Atticus cheerfully ran the entire course, and praying hard for wisdom through the emotions and growls of many more important races to come.

More of This, Please.

2011-10-04T15:46:00.000-05:00

Why can't there be more of this and less cleaning up disasters, administering discipline, breaking up fights, arbitrating disputes, and feeling utterly over-whelmed and parent-suck--errific? The latter things often make me forget that sublime moments of the above even happen. Let me remember, and please help the other stuff reap good fruit in my children. Please, God.

The Girl "Next" Door

2011-10-04T15:41:00.000-05:00

This is Atticus and Gigi (our neighbor) walking to the school bus.

Orchard Time!

2011-10-04T15:38:00.000-05:00

So it is the season for visiting an orchard with the kids. This is our third annual visit with the Bergets -- Hooray! We went back to Erma Krumbees South of the city. I felt pretty subdued and weird the Sunday afternoon we left...but the trees were beautiful and the kids seemed to really enjoy it. We also drove down "Baptist Style" (i.e. Women in one car, Men in the other) so all of us grown-ups had some great conversations there and back and were really able to "catch up" with one another.

This picture is for Leah -- yep, he requested I photograph this pose once again. What?

See the little boy in the background?

He came up and sat right next to Thea Belle and stared at her for 5 minutes until his mom made him move on...It was hilarious.

We came up with a questionable game that involved seeing how far you could whip an apple with one's mouth and a whole lotta body-torque.

The Falls

2011-10-03T20:40:00.000-05:00

A few weekends ago we decided to go hiking down by Minnehaha Falls. It was a perfect day and the boys did great. We had so much rain over the summer that the creek and falls were just beautiful. (Brad took all the pictures with his phone.)

When we got down to where the creek broadened there was a great rocky area where some kids were in their skivvies throwing rocks and splashing. We thought it looked perfect and let the kids have a long time exploring and jumping.

The boys climbed up this completely steep trail with enthusiasm and ingenuity. I was impressed by their perseverance and especially with Lincoln being able to "hold his own". Hooray for real hiking with my kids!!!!!

Tuesday * Thursday

2011-10-03T15:30:00.003-05:00

Dietrich began preschool the week after Atticus started kindergarten. We had originally decided not to send Dietrich this year -- mostly because he is so good at playing with others and is good at paying attention and following rules and has a good handle on his basics (alphabet, numbers, shapes, colors, etc.). But he was so sad to have Atticus leaving us in the mornings that we thought it might be good for Dietrich to have something special for himself. Another consideration was that with Atticus' early return (He gets off the bus at 10:40) we will be unable to do most of our morning activities for the winter months (most start at 10 am -- Open Gym, Story Time, even the zoo opening at 9 am would be a pretty rushed visit). Well, so far, Dietrich adores preschool. I share pick up/ drop-off with my friend Leah which means we regularly end up having lunch together for an added fun T/R activity. Dietrich loves chatting away about all the things he does and learns at school. Meanwhile back at home before Atticus comes home, I get about an hour to an hour and a half alone with Lincoln while Thea Belle gets a good uninterrupted nap. I have *loved* having time to cuddle, read, play with Lincoln. The first day we dropped Dietrich off Lincoln sobbed uncontrollably, "I miss Deke! I miss Deke!" It was heartbreaking. Finally I was able to calm him by promising that we would do "school" together when we got home. So sometimes we do color and alphabet workbooks together or a cutting/glueing craft. Usually we read a pile of books (that Lincoln gets to pick out) and play his favorite games. Then we walk down and pick up Atticus from the corner, come home make lunches, Thea wakes up, and we eat together until Dietrich and the Miller troops arrive. It is a truly restful rhythm to our weeks. This has been such a surprising gift for me. Hallelujah for time to breathe in each child, to give them freedom to go out and experience good teachers and kind friends and different kinds of spaces and activities. I am thankful God led us into these decisions for this year.

Another beautiful surprise was this lovely dress that so much embodies my gentle little girl. Awhile back I mentioned something on facebook about loving the new clothing line Baby Gap came out with this season. I mean really loving it. When I walked into the store and saw this particular dress, I stopped and thought I might cry it was so perfect. A perfect, ladylike classic cut, softest cotton, fully lined, the print so right. Well, the day I was at the store, I returned to this dress three times and couldn't justify buying it -- I had just purchased some seasonal basics for Thea -- like a couple tees and layering leggings and a cardigan from Old Navy and felt like it was enough. Plus I have two patterns and three cuts of fabric waiting to become winter dresses for my girl. So I came home. About two days later, the dog is barking at the front door. I go to see who's there and a FedEx package is there on the steps. I open it and, what do you think? -- There is the very dress. And, oh my goodness, do you know who sent it to Thea Belle? -- Brad's college friend Anne (whom I only know through her blog and fb -- she has three boys in our kids' age range and lives in Chicagoland). That's right. My husband's friend from college who only knows me through occasional emails and our blog-sharing, sent my baby this perfect dress. Anne didn't even know that it was this dress. I am embarrassed (maybe ashamed) to say I started weeping out of gratefulness and gladness for a beautiful piece of craftsmanship and how ridiculously blessed I am and how utterly thoughtful this woman is. So there you go...I don't even know what more to say. Thank you, Anne -- I have been working on a Thank You card since you sent this and still don't have it done -- it seemed so wrong to just send a note but now it is more wrong that I haven't said anything. You are kind and fun and I wish you were a Minneapolis-ite. Hooray and Amen.

Cool Stuff & My Boots Are Ordered!!!!

2011-09-28T16:36:00.000-05:00

So here are some neat things I have found over the last few months as I've been following different blogs. I did a horrible job of recording where I found them so I will try to guess. First, I love this monster hat! I'm pretty sure it's from the blog Rockstar Diaries.

I love this felted wool snowsuit. I found it on the blog Smaller.

These tutus are made by Tutu Monde and I found them also on Smaller.

I love the idea of this lofted bed (-- though the room itself is totally wrong for it.) I think I found it on Apartment Therapy.

These lovely cloth flowers are made by EmersonMade (I *LOVE* their clothes especially their jeans and blazers). Unfortunately, they no longer sell these flowers though I found a pretty awesome tutorial on how to make them.

I saw this crib re-fashion on Apartment Therapy. Isn't it a cool idea?

My dream winter boots. I am saving up for them for next year, maybe.

Another awesome tree-house bed!

I sold my four-seater stroller last week and ordered my dream boots the same day. Hooray and Hallelujah! They are Steve Madden for Piperlime, named Natalee. They will come mid-October.

Thea Belle & Lincoln Adore Each Other

2011-09-28T16:13:00.000-05:00

Mornings...

2011-09-28T15:17:00.000-05:00

My Family's Visit Part Two

2011-09-28T15:10:00.000-05:00

The rest of our week of Aaron & Lindsey visiting was good and strange with brad returning to work, Atticus starting school but fun living alongside each other. We took a trip to Linden Hills to the wonderful Wild Rumpus bookstore that has a menagerie of animals amongst the stacks of books: chickens and cats wandering, ferrets, snakes, chinchillas, lizards, all sorts of birds in cages. Afterwards we walked up to Sebastian Joe's for ice cream cones.

Aaron & Grant looking at the real snakes below the floor in the "haunted house".

Lilly loving on one of the cats.

The Hidden Cat

We also made it over to the pool over at Hiawatha Park. Thank you, Lindsey for all these fun photos!

Grant!

Atticus on a water jet -- all boys' favorite hang out place (-:

Atticus Starts Kindergarten

2011-09-28T15:01:00.000-05:00

Most of you guys have seen the pictures of Atticus' first day of kindergarten (because I am so behind on my blog posts!) but just so it's here on our family photo archive (-: Here they are again with a couple extra. Because of a few un-interesting reasons, my family's visit overlapped with the first day of school so Aaron & Lindsey were still here (they stayed a few days extra after my parents had to return to work responsibilities). Atticus is attending Hale Community School, our local public school. Brad and I have thought and prayed through this choice of school for a few years now, and we continue to research, pray, discuss what the next few years may look like for our family's education/schooling. I am working to get together a clear explanation of how we came to this year's decision and hopefully can post that in the next month. So far we have really liked A's teacher and Atticus himself loves school. He gets on the bus at 6:50 every morning. He gets off the bus at the end of our block at 10:40 am. Dietrich started two-morning-a-week preschool the following week (pictures to come) so we are finding yet another new rhythm to our days.

Going to pick Atticus at the corner

Cousins!

2011-09-28T14:45:00.000-05:00

So another attempt at a group portrait of the cousins represented during this visit. Yes, Lincoln thinks he is funny.

We actually were glad that at least his back was in the picture...

Who am I conjoling here? Yes, the fellow hamming it up below...

Ready for his grand entrance

Hm.

Yep, Dietrich...kind of sums it up.

My Family Comes for a Visit! Part One

2011-09-28T14:23:00.000-05:00

So every summer my family all gets together for a long weekend or a week long time of being together. My brother Aaron and sister-in-law Lindsey and their two kids have been down in Texas for a few years now and we've only been able to see them about once a year. This past year they moved back up to St.Louis -- Hooray! We all decided that this year we'd do our get-together in Minneapolis. Then next year we'd try St.Louis. After that -- we'll see-- We might just get crazy-cheesy and do Wisconsin Dells! (-: My brother Jonathan and sister-in-law Robyn had their third child the week before so they couldn't join us. Sad!!!!!!! Next year. My Mom and Dad slept at my sister Bekah's apartment downtown by Loring Park. A. & L. and Co. stayed at our house. We borrowed bikes and a kid-trailer for them so we could take some fun rides around town.Sunday morning we convinced everyone that we should ride our bikes to church (a common practice for Brad and me). I was so proud of how "game" they all were. In the picture above it was another ride we took later in the week -- just so you know my brother doesn't usually where gym shorts to church. (-: Jonathan, Robyn, Clark, Felicity & Daphne -- We missed you!!!!

Atticus, Lilly & Dietrich (series of pictures by Bekah)

Snuggle-Wrestling with Aunt Bekah

Most of the fun/great pictures of Dietrich in this post are from Bekah. For some reason, Bek just really captures all the sides of Deke in photos. Thank you, Sister!

At some point in the week a fire truck was parked a couple houses down on our street. The kids were super excited when the firemen let them look inside the truck and try on fire gear. (Atticus was at school -- posts to come on that...)

On Monday morning we all drove out to the Minnesota Arboretum -- one of Brad and my favorite of all places we have discovered in the last couple years. We were so excited to finally get to share it with my family.

Labeled herbs in the observation next to the herb garden

My mom and dad looking around amazed at the variety of herbs able to be grown -- they are both avid gardeners -- It's my dad's passion right behind God & His Word and my mom (-:

Bekah with her camera

Great photo Lindsey caught of mischevious Lincoln who ended up absolutely soaked for most of the visit (which, incidentally, didn't "dampen" his spirits one bit -- that cheerful little imp!).

Lindsey took this one of her Hallmark kids (actually I think they were either fighting or pretty heavily resistant to a photo shoot right before Lindsey fought and won for this one (-: Way to go, Lindsey-the-Mom!!)

My mom and dad with Dietrich.

Lindsey & Aaron

The awesome hedge maze...It was very difficult to navigate and I kept losing my kids. I could hear them falling and crying out there, somewhere. But it all turned out okay. We made it to the observation tower to take some pretty professional, formal group portraits.