Track - N - Field Day

Today was track and field day at school!  Our kids have been looking so forwards to this day!  When it was time to get out of bed this morning, it was no problem!  Matthew said, "Mom, do you know why I couldn't sleep last night?"  (He was snoring and sacked out when I went to bed!)  "Why", I asked.  "Because it's track and field day today!"

Then after they were both dressed, breakfast was eaten, and teeth brushed, they were both doing stretches and exercises.  Matthew was doing toe touches and jumping jacks and then ran around the house two times!  Hadassah was filling up her water bottle, stretching her leg muscles and ran too!  (Whatever motivational speaking given at school for this day, sure worked for these two!)  They were off to the races when the bus came to take them to school.

Ashlyn and I went to watch this exciting day!  (By the way, it was a gorgeous, very warm day!  Perfect!  Thank you Jesus!)  School divided the grades K -  5th grade into colors.  Hadassah was on the blue team and Matthew on the yellow team.

HADASSAH AND ALINDA ... GOOD FRIENDS!

 They did lots of relay races in the morning and then the running, jump rope, high jump, etc. in the afternoon.  Here Matthew is passing the yellow ball to a team mate after running around the group.  This was called "Circle Relay".

 Broomball ... here the kids had to sweep a ball up to a line and return it back to their team.

 Mississippi Flood ... Matthew carefully carried a small cup of water to the line, poured it into a gallon jug, and ran the cup back to his team!  The team with the most water won.

 Talk about determination!  Go Yellow Team!!!  Hadassah is doing the same thing with her team - blue!

 Scooter Race ... the point of this game was to push with your feet while sitting on the scooter to the line and run it back to your team.

After the relay races, Matthew went into school for the rest of the afternoon and had school. 

 Grades 1 - 5 stayed out and did the running races.  Hadassah ran in 50 Meter, 100 Meter, 200 Meter. 

She also did jump rope and jumped 110!!!  She was so proud that she jumped the most!

It was a fun day and a couple of times I held back tears. 

Seeing our children growing and competing with a good spirit is awesome! 

We now have a base tan from all the awesome sunshine today! 

Looking forwards to the upcoming weekend of nice weather.

Growing things ...

We are benefiting from some of our little garden foods!  I love homegrown lettuce!  My favorite is buttercrunch!  We've picked some and have eaten it with joy!  I think there's not a better salad made other than with your own grown lettuce!  Plant, pick, wash, cut and toss the lettuce!  Add some yummy radishes!  We got a few radishes so far.  Can't wait till we get some more sunshine and make the others that are still in the ground ripe!

WAITING FOR THESE YUMMY BERRIES TO TURN RED!  COME ON SUNSHINE!

NOTICE THE WETNESS IN THIS PICTURE.?.  I PLANTED A BLACK EYED SUSAN VINE IN MY GARDEN AND IT IS SOAKING IN THE RAIN.

THIS YEAR I DECIDED TO GO WITH YELLOW DAISY'S IN THE GARDEN TOO!

I HAVE ALWAYS PLANTED BUTTERCRUNCH LETTUCE BECAUSE I LOVE THAT KIND.  THIS YEAR I ALSO PLANTED CUT LETTUCE AND SPINACH.  IT SEEMS TO BE DOING WELL!

LAST YEAR I PLANTED BABY CARROTS AND GOT SO FRUSTRATED.  I COULD NOT DIG THEM OUT WITHOUT THEM BREAKING!  SO, THIS YEAR I AM TRYING BIG CARROTS.

TOMATO VINE ... WE LOVE BLT'S AND FRESH SALSA!

Just today, I drove past a friend of ours that grows lots and lots of strawberries.  The kids and I usually go and pick them there if we don't have enough with our own for jelly, etc..  She had her sign out today that she's got some for sale and because ours are not ready to eat yet, I stopped and treated my family!  $3.00 a quart!  Not a bad price.  Most places are charging $4.00 a quart.  We baked a strawberry shortcake (the recipe is out of the Honeybrook Cookbook!  Love that cookbook!!!)  and enjoyed the sweet strawberries for our dessert tonight!

Friday!!!

We've had a rainy week. 

However, the raindrops are pretty on this flower.  

Be encouraged!!!  Sunshine is forcasted for the weekend!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Shopping

A wonderful birthday gift ...
My sister-in-laws planned a day of shopping for my birthday.  Not just any shopping mall though, no, it was the King of Prussia Malls!  We left yesterday at 8:30 and got there around 9:45.  After some shopping, we ate at the Cheesecake Factory!!!  Oh ... my ... word ... so yummy!  The menu was unbelievable!  Tons of food options.  I ordered something that I think was on page 13!!!  Not kidding!  It was a wonderful slice of salmon served along side of mashed potatoes.  This was very neatly on top of asparagus with some tasty white sauce!  I said after I ate ALL my food, "I could just lick off my plate yet!"  Oh, so good!  Then, then we topped it off with their famous CHEESECAKE for dessert!  33 different flavors to chose from!  I got the tiramasue cheesecake!  Again, so yummy!  (I spared the calories and had to save some of the dessert for Mike!  He's a cheesecake fan too, especially if it's that tasty!)  After lunch, we went shopping again.  I was so tired by 3:00 because the malls where huge and a lot of walking.  Linda and I took our babies along too.  They did so well!  I didn't take my camera along for the day, wished I would have!  I took some with sister Linda's camera.  Might have to post that another time?

7 WEEKS OLD ... Ashlyn is doing well.  She gave me little tough time last night.  Most nights she's been getting up anywhere from 4 - 5:30 AM and wants feed.  She usually goes right back to sleep.  Not last night.  She was up at 3:15 AM and drank her bottle and then looked up at me as if to say, "Good morning, mom."  I could tell she wanted to be awake for awhile yet.  I of course was not into that, so I started to hold her tight, stick the nuk in her mouth, and rock the chair!  What else do mom's do in situation's like these?  She did go back to sleep ... I think at 4:30?!  I flopped on the couch because I didn't feel like disturbing Mike.  Hoping she has a better night tonight!

Mike & Ashlyn are the blue eyed in our family.  All the rest of like are brown eyed.  Mike feels like there's not a whole lot of bonding yet between him and Ashlyn.  Most times when he holds her, he cradles her in his arms and it only lasts for a short while.  She's being more alert and gave a huge smile to him last night!  I think it's only going to be a few more weeks and she'll be a 'daddy's girl'!  I love when Mike spends time with the children - even at such a young age as Ashlyn.  He has always done so good at this and loves every minute he can be with his kids!  Here's baby and daddy ...

Turning 30

Yep, last week I left the 20's behind me and I am now 30 years old.  I used to think 30 was old, but I say now, "It don't matter the age or number, as long as I feel young!"  Looking back at my past 29 years, I have lot's of memories. 

1. I was mom's first 'planned' c - section birth.  (She was in labor with my sister and then needed surgery.)
2. I am the second born and second daughter.
3. When I turned 3, my little brother was born.  (He has no body proof now that he was a preemie!)
4. We lived in an apartment in Hatville.  I still love that neighborhood!
5. Started kindergarten at Linville Hill School!  Another baby brother was born into our family.
6. Going everyday to school and entering into first grade was fun!
7. Second grade and a man teacher.  We had a girls sleep over at school and cooked breakfast outside!
8. We changed churches and dress.  We went from Ridgeview Mennonite to Spring Garden.  I made new friends quick and met my best friend Rosa!!!  We also moved from the apartment to just down two houses into a rancher house. 
9.  In fourth grade.
10. I remember being so proud of turning 10.  I said, "I am now two hands full!" 
11. Entered 'middle school'!  My youngest brother was born!
12. 7th grade.
13. A teenager!!!  I remember making a public confession to giving my life to Christ!
14. My birthday is in May and I turned 14 just before graduating from 8th grade!!!
15. A freshman in high school at Faith Mennonite High!  I was 'baptized' into the family of Christ.
16. SWEET SIXTEEN!!! And yes it was sweet!  I could not wait to be sixteen and 'run around'!  Mom & Dad gave me my 'ranger' and I was excited!  I loved our youth group and loved my school friends!  My sophomore year in high school was my hardest year in school.  It was my hardest academically and my busiest with trying to balance my 'running around' and school work.
17. Junior in high school.  Had my first date!!!  Yes, with my husband Mike!  I have always prayed that I would have only one boyfriend.  I never wanted the regrets of exes.  I am blessed to say my prayer was answered!
18. SENIOR YEAR!!!  I couldn't wait till I was a senior!  My easiest school year and by far the funnest.  Our class was more mature and with that came more respect for each other brought great socials, great friendships & tons of laughter!  This year was also the first I went on a missions trip out of our country.  Our senior trip was to Grenada.  We were there for 1 week and taught Bible school to the native children.  Graduating from high school gave me an accomplished feeling.  I was proud I went through high school.  It was a great experience and a huge spiritual boast in my teenage years!!!
19. ENGAGED!!!  Mike asked me to marry him in August of 1999.
20.  Married my best friend!!!!  Mike and I went to Cancun, Mexico for our honeymoon.  We moved into a rancher house that we called 'our home'!
21. Gave birth to our first child ... Hadassah Grace!
22. Mike & I were youth leaders for three years.  I became a Longaberger Consultant.
23. Grieved the lose of our miscarriage.  I was 6 weeks pregnant and excited.  We were very sad when my pregnancy ended way too early for babies survival.  This was also the year that we got to see George W. Bush go through our home town!!!
24. Very excited to be pregnant with another baby!
25. Celebrated our 5th Marriage Anniversary!!!  Flew to Cincinnati for an anniversary trip!  I also gave birth to our second child / first son, Matthew Tyce.  We also spent a week in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina went through.  We helped with setting up a base for other groups to go down and help with the clean up!
26. Sent our first born off to Kindergarten!  I cried.  I prayed.  "Please, Lord, keep her safe!"
27. Celebrated another anniversary, but this time in San Diego, California!  
28. Excited to be pregnant with our third healthy child.  Sent our son off to kindergarten.  This was hard but I knew his big sister would help him!  "Protect our little son, Lord!"
29. Celebrated our 10th Wedding Anniversary!!!  It's a mystery how marriage can better as years go by.  I really did truly love Michael on our wedding day, but somehow I think I love him even more now!  Also, gave birth to our third child, Ashlyn Marie!  She's healthy and beautiful!
30. Only God knows my future.  For now, I am a mother to our three dear children and a wife to a great husband!

God has been so good to me!  I am so blessed.  As I look back at some of these milestones in my life, I smile at God's grace for me.  I have taken some pictures of pictures of me when I was 'younger'.  The truth is in 'real life', your age does change and you get only older and never younger, but along with getting older comes ... maturity, spiritual growth, changes, and eventually eternally. 

Go ahead and smile at these pictures!  Oh, the younger days ...

MY BABY PICTURE

 2 YEARS OLD

 OUR FAMILY PICTURE

 MY SCHOOL PICTURES AND THE YEAR WE CHANGED OUR DRESS & HAIR STYLE!  (SMILE)

 THIS WAS AT UNCLE SAM & VERNA'S HOUSE.  I LOVED GOING THERE! 

THEY HAD THIS BIG STUFFED HORSE I LIKED. 

THANKS TO UNCLE SAM'S PHOTOGRAPHY.

 ANTOHER FAMILY PHOTO.

 BEST FRIENDS!  15 YEARS OLD.

 PROOF OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION!

 ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED IN JANUARY, 2000!

 JANUARY 27, 2000!!!

OUR 2010 FAMILY PICTURE





So much has changed already since our last family photo.  I need to have an update already with Ashlyn being present now!

Well, have a great Tuesday everyone!

Baby is 6 weeks old already!

Ashlyn is six weeks old already.  So hard to believe that.  Time goes by so fast! 

She is doing so good for us!  She's still drinking her 4 oz's of Sensitive Simalac.  She is being very giving with her smiles and we love that.  She has this really big smile that brightens her entire face!  Adorable.  I really love it when I am feeding her and she stops drinking her milk and smiles ... then starts drinking again!!!

She is doing much better with her sleeping pattern too.  Other mom's have said to me, "It's normal for newborns to get up a couple of times during the night.  You just forget."  Well, maybe I did forget but she was sure to make me aware that that's 'how newborns do'.  Last night she was settled in her crib and sleeping at 10:30 PM and slept till 5:00.  I got up and gave her her nuk and she fell asleep again till 6:00 AM.  I was so proud of her and I woke up feeling great!  She eats every three hours during the day time and after she's awake for about an hour after a feeding, she's ready to be layed down for a nap.  Baby life!

Mother's Day

What a gorgeous day!!!  Mother's Day was a great day for me!  I woke up to the warm sunshine, birds chirping, and drank a good cup of coffee with a dab of whip cream on top!  When the kids woke up they said, "Happy Mother's Day!"

Mike gave me a card!  Hadassah made me a teapot card with a delicious peach tea bag tucked in the lid.  Matthew gave me a marigold flower in a little cup that he planted in school.  So cute!  So thoughtful!

We went to church and in Sunday School the kids did projects for the mother's.  Hadassah decorated a really yummy brownie that said, "#1 MOM".  Matthew decorated a flower pot with another marigold flower planted inside.  In the church foyer, there was a huge display of homemade bread and jams that each mother was allowed to take a loaf of bread and jar of jam along home!  (Thanks to Uncle Alvin's bakery!!!) 

We ate lunch at Matt & Lena's.  Matt grilled and the guys did the dishes!  We ate the brownie Hadassah gave for dessert!  The afternoon was nice that we sat outback in the yard and enjoyed the warm sun.  Mike, Hadassah, and Matthew went for a jog/bike ride.  Matthew's bike pedal was giving some problems so I needed to pick him up. 

The day was relaxing.  Fun.  Special.  Hanging out with my husband and children is the best gift of all!!!

HERE'S THE TEAPOT CARD HADASSAH MADE FOR ME ...

THE FLOWER MATTHEW GAVE AND DECORATED THE POT!!!

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER ...

MOTHER AND SON ...

MOTHER AND BABY DAUGHTER ...

Thinking of my mother ... here are a few things that I really appreciate about my mom!!!

M - Makes the best food!!!  My mom has cooked so many meals for us kids.  She has made meat, potatoes & vegetables almost for every supper meal.  For breakfast, it was not pop tarts and cereal!  No, it was cooked ... eggs, toast, creamed beef, egg in a nest, scrapple and bacon!  Breakfast at it's best!!!

O - Organized & On time!  Mom likes her house neat & tidy.  When I was a girl, I was a test for her.  My things were laid here and there and everywhere.  She taught me how to be neat and now I like my house in order too.  Mom also likes to be on time.  Dad has made her a more 'patient person'!!!  (Smile) 

Opposites attract they say!

T - Thoughtful.  Mom is a very thoughtful person.  She sends birthday cards to all her nieces and nephews!  She never forgets anniversaries.  She thinks of others and those in need. 

H - Honours her parents.  We've always lived neighbors with my grandparents. 

Mom has always showed respect and honour towards her parents & I appreciate that!

E - Early riser ... Mom has always gotten up early mornings! 

What she gets done in the morning hours is what a lot of other women get accomplished all day! 

Her wash is always hung out in the wee morning hours. 

R - Raised God - fearing children!  Mom & dad have done an outstanding job raising us 5 children.  Not perfect kids.  Not kids that never did wrong things.  (We are all sinners but redeemed through Christ!  Amen!)  They paid a lot of $$$$ to put us in a Christian Day School & High School.  They put lots of hours into being youth leaders and being involved with my teenage years!

Thanks mom for all you have done and still do for me!!!  I love you!

FREE Kittens

More kitties.  I cannot tell you how many kittens we have been blessed with (are those the right words to say???  Blessed????).  We got "Whiskers" when Hadassah was 1 year old and this female cat has had kittens at least once every year.  Most times it was Spring and Fall!  She has really cute kittens.  With every litter of kitties, she has had one 'really fluffy' kitten!  This one is usually every one's favorite!  It looks like a ball of fluff!  We have given them to friends.  We have sold some for $5 to a family that actually have two as house pets.  We have taken some to the cabin.  Some have just roamed and found new homes!  Well, Whiskers has had another litter a few weeks ago.  I have no idea how she found out that behind my dryer in the garage, there is a hole in the drywall.  The last batch of kitties she had she moved them all back there in the wall.  It was such a pain to always keep the garage door open a bit so she could go in and out.  We tried to keep the garage door closed as much as we could this time, but we forgot this one time!  She moved what we thought 3 kittens back behind the dryer.  Now the garage smells like cat!!!

The other day, I was sick of the smell and got the kids to crawl back there and see if they could get these kittens out.  I kept hearing them meowing!  Matthew crawled back with a flashlight in his hand!  He yelled, "I got one!"  He handed it to Hadassah.  He said again, "Got another one!  There's a lot of them!"  Again he gave it to Hadassah.  He did this 5 times!  Yes .... 5 kittens.  The kids were so excited.  I just sighed.  What do we do with 5 more kittens???

We moved them to the front door.  This is usually where Whiskers had her kittens until she found the hole in the garage.  The kids played a lot with these already and love going to the front door to take another look at them with they wake up for school. 

Hadassah always has a favorite.  Matthew just likes them all.  Well, on Sunday she was holding 'her favorite'.  It's a three colored one and she always makes us very aware that we should never get rid of 'her favorite one'!  It really is cute, but if we would have never given away her fav ... well, that would leave us with a cat farm!  No thanks.

Yesterday, she got up for school and went to take a peek at the 5 little animals.  Her favorite one was missing!!!!!!  She looked around a little but then had to be off for school.  I searched around the house and could not find it.  Matthew looked too.  When Hadassah came home from school that afternoon, she searched.  No kitty.  Where did it go?  Where was it?  It's a mystery.  Hadassah was so broken hearted!  She sat in the mulch asking Whiskers in her tears where she put this kitten.?.  Hadassah cried and cried!  This has happened at least twice that her favorite went missing!  Why?  We do not know.  After about 5 minutes, she stopped crying.  Still sad.  Still hoping the kitten will show up.  Later, she said, "At least Whiskers and Ginger (our dog) are not missing!"

These are just pets.  Little kittens have no eternal soul.  When I see how Hadassah loves each kitten and really misses one if it goes missing, it reminds me of God's love for His people.  God wishes that every single person would make a choice to follow Him and go into eternally with Him!  When 'one goes missing' and wonders away from God, I can't imagine how sad God must be!  In "real life" this leaves a reminder for me.  How much do I really care about others souls?  Do I proclaim the gospel of Christ in my life EVERYWHERE I go?  Do I 'shine my little light' to the dark world?  I need reminders like these to refresh my boldness for Christ!!!

If you are interested in a kitten, please let us know.  They are free unless you would like to 'bless' Hadassah with a small donation.  (Smile)  Take a look ...

HOLDING ALL 5 KITTENS ...

HADASSAH HOLDING HER FAVORITE 'MISSING' KITTEN ...

 HER FAVORITE ...

5 weeks old

Ashlyn is 5 weeks old already!  The time is going so fast and yet it seems like a really long time since she came into this world.  I can't imagine our lives without her already! 

I feel this week like we are 'connecting'.  I know how she likes to fall asleep.  I know most times what she wants when she cries.  She's getting into a routine.  She smiled at me the other day when I was fussing at her!  She's been so sweet the past week and I am really enjoying her!

I have a devotional book I read that someone gave to me with one of my other pregnacies.  It's called, "The Hand that rocks the Cradle."  I am really liking each devotional and so many times it is exactly what I am dealing with that day.  Yesterday, I read this ...

EXCHANGES - "Some exchanges are obvious.  I've exchanged my elegant black purse for a suitcase-sized bag bulging with neccessities.  I've traded a girlish figure for a matronly one with the stomach of a Shar-pei.  I've exchanged my love-to-curl-up-with-a-good-book reading for Thomas the Tank Engine and Peter Rabbit.  But the invisiable exchanges are far more priceless.  I'm exchanging time spent on myself for time invested with my never-dying babies soul.  I'm exchanging dreams of a career for the most worthwhile and precious one God gives - motherhood!"   Dianna Overholt

Typiclly, I am one that does not really like changes!  I would love for my little world to always stay the same.  (I praise God for this though, because that must mean I have a great life!  Not perfect.  Not without trials.  But great!)  A baby defiantly brings on a BIG change into life!  Change for an independant mom that has a 9 & 5 year old that can do most things without me right beside them.  We were ready though for a baby.  We prayed for this baby!  But when I am getting up during the night to feed baby, it's not always easy.  The past few nights she's only been up once through the night and I praise the Lord for that! 

I made my own baby annoucement card ...

... 5 WEEKS OLD ...