Fitting right in

So as you can see from the picture below, this little rosie girl is running out of room. Apparently it's still fairly comfortable in there, though, as it seems she's content to stay for a while. Anika was two weeks early and Eben one, so we've been laughing that #3 is a little rebel--already scheming how to be different from the siblings. On the other hand, other than our kids birthdays, have any of you ever known a member of our family to be early? Ahhh, that explains it all; this little sweetie fits right in already! (We are so ready to love on her, though!)

Anika said it best the other day as I was buckling her into her car seat: "Mom, when is that little rascal going to come out?" :)

The joys of spring...

Spring is here! Besides the excitement of new life for our family (baby sis coming any day now), it is so much fun to see the columbine and hollyhock resurrect (and anticipate their unique and beautiful blossoms), the tightly-wrapped nubs of what will soon be lush hasta leaves peeking out, and the little sprouts of mixed greens emerging in the garden. Almost every morning when Eben wakes, we head outside or just stand at the window for a while and take it all in. (He hoots with excitement each time he sees a bird land on a wire or a cat mosey down a driveway. Each new blossom has to be thoroughly sniffed, whether it has a fragrance or not.)

Of course,some folks are moving right past those joys of spring and are on to the fun of summer. Despite the spring chill, this girl was not going to pass a sprinkler moment--not when the sun was out and Mom was feeling lenient.:) Can't say that I joined her, but it sure gave me a good laugh to watch her have her fun.

Eben was a little more sensible in his attire, but enjoyed the sunshine on his new lil Kawasaki all the same. (Dad picks out the best toys!) Thankfully, he's got his big sis to help steer him away from the rock wall drop-off, and to remind him that he must let go of the gas when speeding into the flower beds.

A good time for a GOOD book

Our good friends, the Morr family, gave Anika a C.S. Lewis classic, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, for her birthday. I wasn't sure if we should wait a bit to start reading it (thought the witch might scare her), but when she got sick a few weeks ago, a good book seemed like the perfect medicine, so out it came.



If you have not read the Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, I hope you do at some point. What a beautiful, poignant allegory. I was not prepared to be reading through teary eyes and a lump in my throat. Anika was so moved, she told me it was the saddest she has ever been in a story (not the end...just the climax). A story to make the true sacrifice, redemption, and freedom that we celebrate on Easter come alive. A story which draws your heart to love and celebrate the true Lion, one who "is not safe, but He is good."

Back at it in 2010!

Yes, yes, I know that I have been a terrible blogger. If you are still checking this site, you are quite a faithful and devoted follower. Oh my, I will try to update a little more often than every 5 months from here on out! I'm going to blame it all on pregnancy. (I only have a few more weeks to use that excuse, so might as well!:)

Yep, only a few more weeks. Baby sis, whom we've come to refer to in the family as "Rosebud" thanks to Anika's insistence that she have some sort reference to a rose in her name, is due April 23rd. She is already so loved! Anika likes to snuggle up close to my tummy and see if sister will kick her right in the face. She acts a little offended and quite thrilled when it actually happens. Before I leave anywhere, I get a kiss and so does my belly, along with a few tender words from Big Sis. Eben on the other hand, shows his love for his sister by blowing on the biggest, roundest tummy he has ever been in contact with. Many, many times. He feels quite comfortable lifting my shirt up anytime, anywhere to make sure his sis gets a big, loud blow. I think he's going to be quite disappointed when that is deflated in a few weeks, but he'll have a new playmate to make up for it! No silly anecdotes about Ed and my tum (sorry!:), but we are both thinking of this new little life daily, and filled with thankfulness for the blessing of another precious child.

So...other events/news since my last entry in November...

Tap, Toe, and Tumble Performance:

Anika had her first dance performance in December and she did GREAT! I think she was a little shocked (as was I) at how many people were in the audience. I absolutely love the pic below; her expression captures the intensity of this new experience for her. The two other girls are buddies from our church whom she was thrilled to take the class with.

December Fun:

Anika and I got to watch the fantastic Nutcracker ballet with Auntie Malena and cousins Eva and Naomi. The performance filled Kans with so much joy and inspiration she was literally dancing in her seat. We have been watching her lengthy performances to the soundtrack ever since. :)

Ed and his mini me playing in the snow on a trip to the cabin.

Christmas fun with the family...looking a little more fresh on Christmas Eve vs. morning, below.:)


February Happenings:

Birthday Fun: Anika turned 5, and she celebrated with a little family party! Has it really been five years since this little firecracker burst onto the scene? Oh Anika, we treasure each stage of those five sweet years with you.

Blowing out the big 5, surrounded by cousins.


Getting a little nutty as the night wore on...:)

Welcoming Baby: Our dear friends, Mairead and Jason, delivered a beautiful baby boy in February. What a joy to see the Shutts become a family, and to hold this precious new life in his first few days here! Welcome, Truman!

March:

Gym Class: Ebbs and Kans have been hitting the gym lately. Watch out! (Ebbs has to have a tag-along parent for his class, but he does his best to ditch us--as well as the rest of the class--to do his own thing.) He absolutely loves the bars and the foam pit. It makes me laugh just thinking about our Thursday morning adventures.

Anika can do a bridge now, and she enjoys the challenges of gym in general. She is also a super cheerleader for Eben during his class.

So, that's about it for now. Life for us is busy and changing, full of lessons and blessings.

Never a dull moment...

Do not worry when you view the photographs below. No, the children are not left unattended for hours. Yes, I do bathe them and try to give them healthy meals for the most part. The trouble is that they are fast...and creative...and delightfully curious!

Anika, full of anticipation for our dear neighbor, Rosemary, to arrive for a tea party.

Eben, caught in the act of snatching tea party goods before the guest of honor arrives.

The scene when I turn my back for a few minutes to attempt painting the new window seat in the dining room...

Kitchen cabinets are cleared, pots find a new use (thank you Eben)...

their respective lids become useful steering wheels (with the help of my leftover painter's tape.)

And finally, a few of the kids' new favorite things to do:

Slide down the stairs with footie pjs until overtaken with heat and exhaustion.

Practice Tap, Toe, and Tumble moves (Anika), or slip on some cowboy boots and make just as much noise as tap shoes anyhow! :)

Climb onto the sofa, reach onto the coffee table, grab, unwrap, and inhale as many Almond Rocas as possible before discovery. (I let him enjoy the fruits of his labor just this once, but put in him his highchair for it!)

Yesterday, Eben managed to pull out his lullaby CD in his room and switch the stereo to LOUD rock music. Anika came bursting out of the room exclaiming, "Mom, it's rockin' in there. I LOVE IT!" It's pretty hard not to laugh around here!:)

A few fun fall pics

There are few things more fun in autumn than

enjoying the confetti of leaves...

good for kicking,

and an extra cushion for running, jumping, and sliding.

Ahh, a first of many attempts (I am sure) for a Christmas picture. :)

A joyful little Eben, quite content to drum on his pumpkins.

And gearing up for the big monster truck ride with Greg, Darci, and Allie after finding four perfect pumpkins.

Much to love about fall!

Anika's World

Sometimes, late at night, I'll be attempting to tidy up our day's disasters around the house and I'll admit, I'll maybe be feeling a bit tired of doing the same old clean-up as the day before (and never a long-lasting, satisfying clean). But sometimes, in the middle of all my puttering and muttering, I am stopped by a scene that just makes me smile. It is a little window in Anika's thoughts--the animated world where plastic forks, toothpicks, dollies--anything, really, becomes alive and interacts with the world. Her scenes have been found just about everywhere...windowsills, behind sofas, on the picnic table,

In the bathtub: This circle of buddies have been hangin' out in our tub for weeks now. Sometimes the monkey can be spotted with a white washcloth draped over it's head and displayed behind. Monkey bride.

On my nightstand: Anika discovered an old Ikea lantern in the playroom, removed the dusty candle and replaced it with her bird finger puppet. It's resting atop a pile of mancala beads--the birds food, in case you didn't know. His home is made complete with an undie covering.

In her bed: I tucked Anika in her bed one night snug on her pillows, the day's clothes (including her pink poncho) strewn across her floor. I came in the next morning to Rose in the prime resting spot, wrapped in that sweet poncho. (Anika is perpendicular and at the foot her bed, where the blankets are bunched on the left.) Oh, to hear what transpired between her and Rose!:)

...and those things I do not clean up, but leave for another day of imagining, another day of mess-making...another day to be thankful and do both great and small tasks with joy.