cabbage patch and kids

We have been purging like mad around here, attempting to regain some order. We have never lived in a house for more than 2 years, upgrading to this house. We have been here for 6 years now! I know that is not long in the grand scheme of things, but for us that is enough time to have filled every corner, every closet, and each square inch of storage space with stuff. Things are beginning to spill and spread....everywhere. I was dejunking the backyard, and I was able to get rid of all the broken, unused, and out-grown kids toys (that felt SO good!). I also went through all my old garden pots and ended up giving most of them away. I only kept a couple. I haven't filled pots in years. But since we are fixing up the front of the house -staining and painting and adding trim, I thought I would buy plants for my pots to put on the front porch.
So off I went to the Nursery today. I had some specific flowers in mind - which they didn't have. And then I saw these -

 Ornamental cabbage. 

I remember the first time I ever saw these plants. I was NOT a fan.
Why would one put vegetables (even ornamental) in pots at their front door?

But today.... today I kind of liked them.

I thought that they would be just the thing.

Now the real test - if they are still there in the morning!

Those deer, I may kick myself for buying them, while they thank me for the tasty treat.

 I am finished this front area - staining, and repainting the trim. 

So much house to go yet.

But shingle by shingle we must finish before the wet weather comes. 

Oh, and this. 

This is my door bell. 

It was one of the very first things I noticed when we came to view this house 

and I have loved it every day since. 

Can one actually be in love with their door bell? 

Well I am.

I am sure you don't care, but there it is, nevertheless.

And while I worked away on the house, the boys did this:

 Over and over, down the hill. 

It made me laugh.

Reminded me a very large amount of a biker and his babe.

(I love Bergen's face in the first picture)

an upcoming week of camping calls for a cut

Tate's Bake Shop

In January, during one of our trips to the library, I came across this book. Tate thought it was pretty cool to see his name on the cover of a book, and he insisted that we take it home with us. We had fun over the next few days baking. 

Tate's Bake Shop - Southampton NY

When the time came for me to return the book I called the local book store to see if they carried it. I wanted to buy a copy for Tate. She said that they didn't, but that she could order it in for me. She asked me which one of the 2 different books of that title I wanted. There was the original Tate's Bake Shop, and another one called Tate's Bake Shop - Baking with Kids. The one for children hadn't actually been released yet, but was available for pre-order. A kids version? Even better! So I had her pre-order the children's version, and over the next few months forgot all about it. Then last week they called to tell me it was in and awaiting pick-up. We hopped in the van and drove into town. Tate had already picked which recipe he wanted to try before we even got home.  

Just as I was getting all the ingredients ready, Tate fell and hit his cheek pretty hard on the tread of the deck stairs. 

He came howling into the house, and I quickly put ice on his face. He fell asleep as I sat with him, poor little guy, 

and I was left to make cookies on my own (actually, Nya helped).

I used my new mixer that Darren and the kids gave me for mother's day. I have wanted one for as long as I have been married. Thank you. I love it. 

I woke Tate up an hour and a half later to fresh cookies - served in our favorite way, lately - ice cream sandwich style!

His cheek continued to get more swollen and purple as the afternoon went on. 

So recently after Nya's black eye, all I could think of was," another one bites the dust". 

At least we have cookies and ice cream to ease the pain!

p.s. I love you

Since moving away last summer, my parents, mostly my mom I'm sure, hasn't missed an occasion to send cards to my children. They LOVE this. I LOVE this. She never forgets. Every holiday they are there, waiting for us in the mail box. The excitement that these small pieces of paper bring - I hope you know, mom, just how much they mean to us all.

A return letter to Grandma and Grandpa from my little Ginger Snap.

To Mom and Dad from me:  My heart felt heavy and sad, and my eyes filled with tears as my little brown eyed boy looked up at me today and said, "I miss Grandma and Grandpa". That is it - all he had to say, as if my heart had silently spoken those words to him, as if he knew what I was thinking at that very moment.

We hug and I tell him, "Me too, Tate. Me too." 

6 years and snow

It snowed today..... finally. 

6 years ago at this time, I was hoping it wouldn't.

6 years ago I was expecting my 4th baby, a little boy. I knew, and Darren knew, and Bergen knew. But we did not tell anyone else. This was our secret for 5 months. This was the first time we had ever found out. We shared our secret with Bergen because we were so excited for him that he was going to have a brother. When we told him he simply said, "I know". 

All during that pregnancy, knowing that we would have to drive to Victoria, over the Malahat, I worried that it would snow and that we wouldn't be able to get there. I could, of course, have gone to the Duncan hospital, but anyone who has ever felt bonded to the doctor that helped deliver their babies will understand why the trip was made. 

6 years ago today my water broke, just after dinner. We packed up our bags, settled the other children with my mom, and drove away in great excitement. There was not a snowflake in sight. Whether or not the forecast called for clear skies, I felt that my prayers had been answered. I was so sure that I was only a couple of hours away from having a baby in my arms. But that is not the way it was to be. Little did I know that he was still hours and hours and hours away.

As I watched the snow gently falling today, my mind was filled with all these memories. 

As I watched Tate watch the snow fall, and wait with great anticipation to be able to go outside and play, I recalled my own feelings as I waited for this baby to come. Although he came on his due date, he came in his own time, as slowly as the gently falling snow.

In celebration of the snowfall we made snowflake marshmallows to enjoy with out hot chocolate.

I first saw this idea on pinterest, via Martha Stewart. Instead of using that recipe though, which seemed more complex than it had to be, I thought I would use marshmallow fondant instead. So easy.

1. melt marshmallows and water in microwave, stir
2. add powdered sugar, mix
3. turn out onto counter, knead, and roll out
4. cut shapes with cookie cutters  

{link for marshmallow fondant recipe}

I hope....

I found this picture here (this blog has some really great free printables), via Pinterest, and I knew I wanted to put it here, in the boys room. So, I sent the picture off to Walmart, bought a frame, and put the 2 together. Now every time I walk into the this room, it is the first thing I see, and it makes me wonder. 

Although Tate tells me that he never wants to grow up to be a man (we have been learning about Peter Pan), I know the day will come when I will be sending my sons out into some part of the world that they have probably never been, for 2 years. I wonder of these boys I now raise. I wonder what they will be like. I worry, of course. Will I be able to get them there, to the place a boy becomes man? 

I wish for them to be just like their dad. I imagine the men they will become, and my heart feels hope. 

I may not be able to walk them through to manhood, but I will do my best to get them to the threshold. And with the Lord's help they will go, and grow, and return, no longer the boys I sent out, but men of God.

{I was going to clear off the dresser before I took this picture, but for the sake of a friend (you know who you are!) I left it as is. The way you would find it if you were actually in our home - complete with Mater riding the plane!}

bed head

This is the first face I ALWAYS see in the morning. As soon as he wakes up he comes in to say good morning! Today when he came in he said, "Mom, I look like a hedgehog!" 

I opened my eyes and smiled when I saw him and said, "Yes you do!" This kid has the greatest hair. He even makes bed head cool. 

Kevin Schmidt, you would be proud! 

The Men in my Life: Of Like Mind

The apples from his tree - they didn't fall very far.

They're just like him!

brown eyed boys

This is Tate. Tate has brown eyes - the only 1 in our family. I love these eyes. I tell him all the time. As I was hugging him today I told him that I was so very grateful that Heavenly Father sent him to me. Then I asked him if he knew why he was sent to me, and he said, "because I have brown eyes......and kissing pillows (which is what I call his soft chubby cheeks). I laughed and told him, "YES!!, and you are the only one with brown eyes. That is pretty special." He then said, "Kevin is the only kid in his family with brown eyes. He is my best buddy." Kevin, we love you and miss you! Have the BEST experience you can, and we will see you and your brown eyes in 2!

the trouble with tate

During family home evening, while playing hide-and-go-seek:

Older kids: "Tate keeps telling everyone where we are!"

Dad: "Why don't you have him come down and count"

Tate: "I can't do it!! I can only count to 3!!!!"

So not true, but oh so cute!

forget-me-not

As I was leaving to go out for the evening, Tate brought me my camera and showed me this picture he had taken of himself. He told me to take the camera so I could look at the picture whenever I wanted too and remember him.
How could I EVER forget!

English 101 - Tate Style

How does one learn to write around here?

 Simply empty your closet of every t-shirt that is sporting words and copy, of course!

January Babies

I loved expecting a baby in January. After Christmas I still had something so very exciting to look forward to. Such a wonderful way to start a new year! I would like to wish both my January babies a very happy birthday.

To Noelle - You made me a mother. I walked into motherhood with rose colored glasses on and thought I knew everything. You came so sweet and small. We could not have loved you more. You have grown into a beautiful young lady. Your dad and I will often look at each other and then back to you and wonder what happened. Where did the past 11 years go? How could you have grown so quickly? Will the next 11 years go by as fast? To you I would say, take your time. Be little as long as you would like. You will have plenty of years to be grown up. And when I look at you and foolishly say, "You are acting like a child" (I actually said that once), and you so gently respond with a giggle, "I am a child" - Remember that, even at times when I may forget. As I ask to you to grow up and stay small all at the same time, do not think I'm crazy, just know that I am walking through wilderness that I have never been in before. You brought a world of firsts with you - for you and for me. You are a wonderful daughter. You are entering the years where one discovers that their parents don't know absolutely everything, and we may even seem a little strange at times. But we are yours and you are ours, and we love you, and we will always be there for you, no matter what. Remember that. You are my dearest friend.

To Tate - You, I thought, were the end to my perfect family. You came along not so small but every bit as sweet. You have the most beautiful brown eyes and the chubbiest cheeks I ever did see. God gave these especially to you. He knew that at times you would need the extra cuteness factor to work in your favor. And he knew that those 2 things would do me in every time. You grew and with you your will also. You ripped those rose colored glasses off my face and showed me what real parenting is like. I now  realize just how little I knew and how little I still know. You, my little Tater-tot, play for keeps. You do nothing half-way. You love hard. You play hard. You laugh hard. You get mad hard. And thankfully you also sleep hard.  You live with your whole self, and you take my hand and teach me to live in the moment with you. I thank you for that and for your love that you so generously give each day in every way.
Happy Birthday my babies!