Cheaper by the.....well, not quite a dozen!

We have had the opportunity to have the Ellis kids over for the last couple of days and it has been happy madness! This morning as I looked at the table I saw the cutest scene - 8 little people, with 8 little bowls, with 8 little spoons, feeding 8 little faces, with 8 big smiles. What a great way to start the day! 

Oh yes and don't forget the 80 little toes that Tate had fun tickling under the table.

Just in case you are counting, I have Nya in my arms while taking the picture, she makes happy # 8.

A Babysitter Of My Very Own

I just had a crazy thought.......Noelle is only 2 and a half years away from being able to babysit! On one hand I can't believe that this day is approaching as quickly as it is and I don't want her to grow up too fast on the other hand, YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Whistle While You Work!

All morning Tate has been begging to go outside- he is not allowed to go by himself, so he has been asking anybody and everybody all morning and then coming to me and crying every time someone says that they don't want to go quite yet. Normally they never miss a chance to go outside, but today their gigantic lego city, that is spread out all over the school room, has been keeping them occupied all morning. Tate, ever tenacious, asked Noelle yet again and she said yes. She is such a great big sister! I have been peeking outside every so often to make sure they are still there and still safe. Last time I looked out I saw Noelle with the rake in her hand raking up all the leaves that have fallen in the backyard. Yes, she was raking leaves, for fun!? We have the most beautiful Arbutus trees in our back yard that I would not trade for anything. They are green all year round and provide shade in the summer, they look great from our windows....but, they drop their old leaves ALL SUMMER LONG! Good thing I have a kid like Noelle! You can see in the pictures, which I could not hear from the deck as I didn't want her to see me, so I zoomed in with the camera from quite a ways away, and only realized after I downloaded the pictures to edit, that she is singing. That is so Noelle, if she is not at home it is oddly quiet as she is almost ALWAYS singing......even while she works!

Nya

It has been too long since I last posted pictures or even taken pictures of Nya, so we went outside today and had some fun!

Girl's Night

Last Saturday we had the McCullough girl's (by birth or marriage) up to our house for a clip making party. We had a lot of fun and I have found a new hobby. I can't remember when I last felt this excited about a craft. I love to make things, but the days seem to pass and I do not find the time. Since last Saturday my girls and I have spent a portion of each day making clips together and we have been having so much fun doing it. I feel like a kid again! I must say that they look so much cuter in the girl's hair than on the table (unless you can take pictures like Shannon, which I cannot, then everything looks like a perfect add, she's that good!). Thanks for coming up girls - let's get together more often!

Bergen

Bergen turned 8 on May the 10th. He chose to be baptized and we as his parents could not feel more proud (ya, I know, I'm not suppose to feel that, but this is my blog). I am so very grateful for a boy who, when he was born changed my heart forever, a boy who loved his mommy more than I probably deserved, a boy who use to organize his bug or dinosaur toys according to size, shape, color, ect., before he could talk, a boy who now drives me up the wall most days, a boy who enjoys nothing more than when any or all of his siblings are screaming due to his pesky behavior, a boy who has one perfect little freckle right in the middle of his perfect little nose, a boy who can make anything out of anything, a boy who, when asked to go and do something or stop doing something will forget before he is out of my sight and yet can memorize any song on the piano and not use his piano book for reference (he has informed me that it is harder that way), a boy who carries my heart with him, a boy I would not trade for anything in this world. I thank my God every day that he sent me this boy. I love you Bergen and thank you for being my boy. I hope that I will love you enough to help you become the person God sent you here to become.