A Sabbath in Nature

Sabbath... Ahh a brief respite from this very busy week. Feels like I've running like a chicken with her head cut off.
Last weekend was spent white water rafting with family at Smith Ferry ID. So chores that normally are done on Sunday were pushed into Monday and so the week went.
This weekend was the church camp out. I didn't feel as if I could cram one more thing in before leaving for Minnesota with my children on Tuesday. So we opted to stay home and take it easy. I packed us a picnic lunch and we headed out to South Fork/ Harris Park.
It was a cool day for August. I don't believe the temperature ever reached 70 or that the sun made an appearance- hence the jackets.
After eating lentil pilaf with baked potato followed by apples for dessert my little ones were air soft pellet hunting. I think they both had about 5 pellets by the time they were done.
Harris Park has a nice playground set; swings, slides, and sand!
We walked for about 45 min. on the trail at South Fork, finally coming to a stop at the burnt cabin. There my older two entertained themselves throwing rocks in the river, stepping from rock to rock and turning croc shoes into boats.
Rick and I had a chance for some good deep conversation. That in and of itself can be a rarity. I'm happy to feel like were more on the same page. Sometimes for us that can get lost in the sheer busyness of life.
I feel much better grounded and able to attack the next thing... Looking at 6 places in Tri-cities tomorrow. Praying that what needs to happen will happen.

Old and New Friends

Abrianna, Shiloh, and Lucas in the Lions Park creek.

Shiloh Loves Babies!

The "friendly" geese. Actually one of them chased/charged Shiloh's daddy.
Wednesday I had the opportunity to meet up with an old college friend and her family at Lion's park. I haven't seen her for 9 years. Our kids had a blast playing on the slides and in the creek.
Abrianna was filthy. Both were really wet but had a blast.

Three Months old.

A week late, but here is what has happened with my beautiful baby princess this past month.Mobility: I set her in the dry baby bathtub as a seat while washing big brother and sister. She got her little legs under her and launched upward. Didn't know there was a balance point in a baby bathtub. I do now. Yes I caught her before she hit the tile.
The other incident was in the car seat at Andy's. I'd undone the strap because she wanted to be held. Put her back in a while later. Was merrily grinding peanut butter, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw her launch herself up and the car seat dump over backwards. Caught her just as she was tumbling into the cart. Whew! Way too close for comfort.
Abigayle has developed so much personality this past month. She's a very contented baby overall.
She LOVES Lucas. When he talks to her she get really animated, cooing and squealing and grinning. Lucas thinks she pretty special. He loves to pick her up. (I'm still learning that that is okay. He's probably not gonna drop her. I just make sure it's not over the tile floor.)
I can coax a giggle or two out of her. So precious!
Lucas was trying to show her how to roll over and lo and behold she did it. He had been rolling her and when he stopped doing it she did it herself.
This past week has been a bit rough on her. I'm on antibiotics due to a kidney infection. This bloats her tummy making her cranky and so burpy. Yucky! Poor lil girl. We only have another 9 days to go. I hope she adjusts and isn't miserable this whole time.
I'll try to add more later. Must get to bed. G' night.

Sisters

Chocolate and Strawberry. What a great combination!

The Value of Work.

The Finished Product.

The MoneyThe RewardLately Lucas has been asking me to buy him toys when we're shopping . I've been vetoing his requests thus far. But why not use the want of toys to teach him the value of HARD work??
I told him that he could EARN the money if he wanted a toy. 7:30 this morning he was out hard at work armed with a little broom and dust pan. I think he spent an hour to an hour and a half patiently cleaning all the crud out of the car port. The end results were better than I'd expected.
He was so proud of that dollar and being able to purchase the car on his own. Now, I need to work with him on the value of saving, giving, and spending.