North Dakota Trip--Day Two, Part 2

The first week of June, the kids and I visited my brother in North Dakota.  

(If you want, you can see other pictures here, here, and here.)

We played at a park that was right on the Missouri River.

Both my brothers have always loved on the kids so well.

Here, Aaron is helping Elijah across the monkey bars.

Bipper and Ivy's fast rides down the slide!

Ruby took a trip across

Andrew was the oldest one along and was a SUPER help with the kiddos!

I love this one.

That's the Missouri just on the other side of the grass.

Elizabeth traveled SO WELL.

She was happy, content, and peaceful.

Look at that twinkle in her eye!

Another trip down the slide...

aaaaaaaaaaaaaand a mouth-ful of sand.

I don't know what possessed her to do that,

but we just laughed, took a picture, and got her a water bottle to rinse it out with!

Yuck!!

My Job

I admit it:  some days I get overwhelmed.

I get frustrated when the house is messy and the children are distracted and disobey.

But every day--from the worst to the best to the mundane--

I am so thankful that I get to stay home with our kids,

and that I stay home with my husband's blessing.

He doesn't want me to go to work, he knows I have plenty to do right here.

Do we do without some things?

Yes.

Am I happy to be the one who rocks my babies instead of hiring someone else to do it?

YES.

This picture of Elizabeth, with her chubby body clinging to my chubby body--

this is my job.

This is what I have been called to do.

To cook, clean, and read stories.

To train, teach, direct, and disciple.

To wash endless amounts of laundry, change countless diapers,

settle disputes, kiss away hurts, and accept weeds flowers from little hands.

To wipe sticky hands, laugh at silly antics, encourage young and growing hearts.

These and much more are my life's work.

And I will do it heartily, as unto the Lord.

By MyTHELF.

You can hear her say it, right?

Getting dressed this morning,

everything was 

"by myTHELF."

She Brings Me Flowers...

Ruby is always picking "flowers" (dandelion and clover)

so today on my walk,

I picked some flowers for her.

She loves them.

Day Two--The Missouri River

Trip to North Dakota part 1

Part 2

Uncle Aaron built some bunkbeds just for his nephews/nieces to sleep in--but I didn't get a picture!! 

After the kids wound down that night,

they all slept well.

My brother is a single guy so we were a lot of sound in his house the next morning. :)

His dog, Daisey, was quite accommodating of us.

Ruby was bright eyed and ready to meet the day!

He lives just two miles from the Missouri River

so we headed over there after dinner.

Elijah found a "striped-y" rock!

We were the only ones on the bank of the river.

Christopher ran and ran and ran along the bank

and collected rocks.

Ruby thought the water was coooold!

The boys racing each other.

They asked then if they could change into their swimming clothes

so they could go in deeper.

It was really cold!

Dirty seat!

Miss 'Lizabeth thought the sand was fascinating,

and tasty.

Andrew in the Missouri

We bring a football everywhere

so the boys had one to toss around.

Andrew brought up some goopy sand from the riverbed

and had fun letting it drip from one hand to the other.

We finished our outing there with throwing many rocks into the water

and trying to skip the flat ones.

I could easily have spent an afternoon there by myself--

it was so peaceful and quiet.

Day One--Part Two: We Arrived

Two weeks ago, some of the kids and I went to visit my brother in western North Dakota.

Here is my post about the first leg of our trip.

My brother lives in the middle of nowhere;

you would never guess there is a house back in there when you are at the end of his driveway.

He had supper ready when we got there 

and had a bonfire planned for the evening.

The kids had plenty of steam to run off, 

and his place was a great one to take care of that!

I only had a bit of room on my camera card and very little battery,

but I walked around a bit and snapped a couple pictures before it got too dark.

Andrew was a good sport for Ivy's demand request to play horsey.

The kids traveled SO WELL.

It was 10 hours from the time I left home till we pulled into his yard.

My brother drives that distance in 4-5 hours.

Yeah.

I really don't even know how that happened,

other than I purposely stayed off the interstate because I don't like driving on it,

and I took some scenic routes that were gravel.

I did have to stop to feed the baby,

but I never once had to stop for anyone to use the bathroom!

We literally took our time, which was my plan--I just hadn't quite planned to take that much time!

We stopped at points of interest,

drove whatever route I wanted on my map,

and made our way there.

I was feeling very independent, and I guess it showed in the time it took me to get there!

He Used to Golf

 Elijah:  "Mom, I drew a picture.  It's of Dad--from when he used to golf."

He's actually right--Dennis "used to" golf a lot more than he gets the chance to now.

When we were dating, he used to golf fairly often.

Now, he's lucky if he gets two or three times a year.

Lest you get the wrong idea, it's not because I won't let him--I'd love it if he would! 

Maybe one day, he'll get to get back in the swing of things. :)

Six Months~I Must Have Blinked

 1 day

 1 month

 2 months

 3 months

4 months

 5 months

6 months

Happy Six Months, Baby Girl.

I love you to pieces

and I'm so glad you're mine.

Fishing with Dad

Dennis took the three older boys fishing on Sunday afternoon.

They caught over 300 fish (!!!!!!), 31 were keepers: 30 bass and 1 crappie.

Andrew was pretty proud to show me the bucket full of fish!

 Isaiah was happy--you'll just have to take my word for it.

 Nathaniel, Andrew, Isaiah

 Bipper wanted to take a look;

he gathered the nerve to touch one.

After cleaning all 31,

Dennis kept his promise to the younger boys to take them fishing, too.

They caught 11 more--10 bass and 1 sunfish.

 By this time, he was an ol' pro at handling fish!

 (I really like this picture)

 Dennis cleans 'em, I cook 'em.

Linnea is ahead of me--Daddy taught her how to clean the fish!

aaaaaaaaaaand she's a pro!

Now my laundry room smells like fish.

But the kids had a really fun time fishin' with Dad.

Thanks, Dennis, for taking the time to take them!