Value in the Mundane

One day there won't be super-hero socks, little tan pants, or small pink and blue things on my clothesline. 

I know that I will miss the little bodies that created so much laundry to clean and dry. 

With offspring that span as many years as mine, I get a somewhat unique view of the passage of time and the growth of my children----from large work clothes down to itty-bitty onesies, I know there is value in the mundane. 

While the world tells me to "get out", 

I know in my heart there is much to do *here*.

Changes on the Homefront

Things have been quiet here on the blog

even though things been anything but quiet here in our life.

In September our 18 year old nephew Noah moved in with us.

Christopher turned 10.

Linnea turned 15 and I didn't get any pictures. *sigh*

We had our annual family hayride at my parents' farm.

We had our 19th wedding anniversary.

The boys played a ton of football
and we drove to a lot of games.

In October my baby Cece had her 1st birthday
and started walking.

Linnea began to participate in a choir comprised of all homeschooled students that meets once a week.

Isaiah's football team had an undefeated season record.
We made it to every game, sometimes driving some pretty big distances for this farming family.
They won their section championship and made it through to the semi-finals for our state.

Linnea is going out for basketball this year and practice will start soon.
I'm excited for her but will miss her in the house knowing she will be gone often
for practice and games.

Starting in late July/early August, I got "promoted" to work in the barn.
haha.
I do the morning milkings now because Dennis has a job in town.
During football season, I also did many of the evening milkings so that we could be on the road as soon as Dennis got home from work.
I used to milk all the time up until Andrew was born so it's not exactly new to me
but Linnea and I have had to really work hard to keep the house running
with me in the barn every morning.
It took some adjusting for everyone
and the boys and I have admittedly butted heads a few times on a few things
but all in all it's been a very positive thing all the way around.

Andrew became a teenager last week
aaaaaand I didn't get any pictures on that day either.
He is really growing up in so many ways.
Today I heard him moving cows in the pasture and thought his voice is sounding more like Dennis' now.

Abram is adding words to his vocabulary daily.
He took his time speaking, but has a lot to say now!
I'm always a little sad when they change the sweet way they say some of their words...
He used to pronounce his name "A-mum" to "A-bwum"---still super cute, but I get nostalgic about stuff like that.

THM (Trim Healthy Mama) is still going well.
I highly recommend it.

I don't know how much total weight I've lost because I've been gaining
some in preparation for Baby #12 who is due to arrive in March.
(the farthest "down" I got was 65 pounds lost)
I have felt quite well this pregnancy, the only "ailment" being fatigue.
I don't know that I can blame that entirely on the pregnancy, though,
as there are several other factors in my life that are likely contributors.

I appreciate all the "checking in" since I've been posting so rarely.
I'm still here...just a tad busier and away from the internet,
perhaps a bit more guarded with what I say.

I cannot quite wrap my brain around the fact that we are almost to double digits in November.
I love the changing of the seasons and I find things to look forward to in each one.
Right now, I am enjoying the coziness of sweaters and multiple cups of tea,
kids with cheeks rosy from the chill wind as they play outside in the dusk before supper,
the quietness of the barn in the mornings
and the brisk wind that dries the clothes so quickly on the clothesline.

Linnea's Confirmation

 Linnea was confirmed May 24th.

With the help of my family,

we were able to put together an open house party for her after church.

 Me, Linnea, and Dennis

Our crew.

It was the best of what was taken.

 Linnea with Dennis' parents

Grandpa Gayland & Grandma Harriet

 All the grandparents 

 My parents and my grandma Mavis

 This picture sums up their relationship.

These two enjoy one another's company.

 Elizabeth 

 ~ Elizabeth and Abram  ~

While I was taking pictures after church

these two thought it quite fun to be "up front" in church.

 Linnea's godparents,

my sister Bethany and her husband Mike.

A very nice picture!

Here are the two preceding shots.

 Indeed, a picture worth a thousand words.

 Abram was given a turn with his cousin Wade's camera.

He wanted to be like all the adults taking pictures.

 My brother Aaron is another of Linnea's godparents.

 Elijah

Linnea's other set of godparents,

Melissa and Scott

Easter 2015

To start this post, I mean, really, 

who could resist this face?!

This is how Abram "smiles" for pictures.

See?

 And I need to work on proper etiquette with Elizabeth while wearing a dress.

 We went to my mom & dad's for dinner Easter Sunday.

My mom has this cute little flower in her windowsill

and it moves back and forth via a small solar panel.

Abram was mesmerized!

 This little mister turns 2 at the end of this month.

He is growing up so much!

But I think sweater vests have a way of doing that to little misters...

We had been at my grandma's house the day before 

and Abram took a bad tumble on her pavement

earning him a owie lip

but it didn't slow him down for long.

 Miss 'Lizabeth was so excited to wear this "park-ly" dress

that is a hand-me-down from Ruby & Ivy.

 Ivy Joy

 Ruby Kathryn

Cece's first Easter :)

CecePie and Ruby

I didn't get any individual pictures of anyone older than 6

but we actually managed to get a group shot! 

 the back row is Andrew (12), Nathaniel (19), Linnea (14), Cece (6 mos) and Isaiah (17)

in front is Abram (almost 2), Ivy (5), Elizabeth (3), Elijah (8), Ruby (6), and Christopher (9).

*whoa--I had to stop and think on the ages there...they didn't stand in chronological order!*

I can't recall the last time I got a picture of my parents and the children.

I include this one because Abram is smiling so hard it makes me laugh!

And doesn't the back of Cece's head look great?!

Ooh, and look at Elijah's face....awesome.

This one is better...except Abram is chewing on a 

grape that we used as bait to get him to stay within the frame

so he looks like Joey Tribbiani.

"How you doin'?"

 And, because we hadn't all been dressed up and in one place since Cece's baptism,

a picture of all of us.

Again--the back of Cece's head looks great, along with my awkward stance 

to try to get her to look forward.

Also included for your viewing pleasure

is this one of Ivy's muscles and two of my teenagers blinking.

But look--Cece's face!

Mothering eleven children is no small feat, my friends.

Plenty of small feet, yes--

but the rest of this life = no small feat.

Baby, It Was Cold Outside

We had some pretty cold temps and strong wind 

at the end of February here in MN.

The cold is very draining for my guys working outside

and Andrew often takes a nap in the afternoons.

The day this picture was taken the wind had been quite vicious

and had whipped his cheeks to a shade of pink.

Snuggling with a baby was a good remedy.

His arm around her,

her thumb in her mouth, 

ohmygoodness it warmed this mama's heart.

Christmas Program

On the Sunday before Christmas

our kids had their program at church.

Linnea and her friend Amy (we jokingly call them each "Linamy" when they're together)

played for the program.

I was able to grab this photo while they were practicing beforehand.

Elizabeth helped. :)

two of my girls

I thought she looked so grown up

in her lovely dress.

 I think our church is beautiful year 'round

but especially so at Christmas.

 Ivy's group was, fittingly, the animals.

Elijah and Christopher were of the shepherds.

 Grandpa and Cecelia

 Linnea wore this outfit on her first Christmas

fourteen years ago.

Abram and Daddy

Ruby was one of the angels 

Here I caught Bipper and Elijah together

as they walked out from the first portion of the program.

 Ivy loves to sing and participated well.

Ruby was a little nervous about the whole deal

but stuck it out and did great!

 Elijah has no qualms about being "in front" and sang his heart out.

Christopher is a tad more reserved.

 Abram sat with Grandma Harriet

Elizabeth watched with rapt attention.

 saying their parts

Linamy sang a duet.

 Big Grandpa hands, little Cece baby.

 Andrew and Abram

still the best seat in the house

 Ruby and her best friend Hannah,

who is Amy's little sister.

 Ruby and Hannah

with one of Hannah and Amy's older sisters, Emily.

 silly

lastly, a chance to wear Grandpa Wayne's fancy hat.