Birthdays

Several of our extended family celebrated their birthdays this month:

Ralph - congrats!

&

Joseph and Anneke - who came over with their family

to our place on Saturday so we could celebrate with them.

Joe turned 3 years old!!

He's proudly showing off his Bob-the-Builder slippers

(sorry they didn't quite make it on the photo!)

*

Anna turned 5 years old!!

She's really getting to be a big girl!

I was treated to her very good reading skills as she read story books

to Joe and I with minimal help!

Here she is wearing her very own apron lovingly made by Oma. :)

*

Another special birthday was celebrated this month

Pastor Harry Bout turned 65 and is now officially retired (in theory only :))

Congratulations and the Lord's continued blessings on him & his wife.

Congratulations, John & Betty!

The lady who used to live at John & Betty's house is quite an artist...
this beautiful mural covers one wall of the basement...

and an upstairs bedroom is painted to look like the ocean.

Happy Reunion

The family, complete with new addition, Joanna. Mom says she looks like Betty - I can't wait to see her!

Sarah gets to hold the real baby Joanna at last!
After she heard the news of her baby sister, she promptly renamed her baby doll and carried it around for the rest of the evening, rocking it and showing us "Baby Joanna". The next morning, she prayed for breakfast and added 2 new requests: "Please help baby Joanna to have a good time and please forgive Joanna's sins." (so cute - especially b/c she forgot to ask forgiveness for her own sins). Photo by Oma -great shot!

Proud grandparents & grandkids

"Ooh my bea-uu-tiful quilt!!! that matches Esther's" (Sarah)
Oma finally finished it after many months (years?).

Cozy time

"All that cold fresh air and exercise makes us want to snuggle up...

... in "Anc-a-Geet's spot! Hee hee!"

That's okay, we can all fit

So comfy.....

In fact this is how we spent many a cozy times- not sleeping usually, but reading (when I couldn't, Esther would), and listening to young chattering... drilling Sarah on her AlphaPhonics - she's learning to read too! She also made herself a "desk" beside my couch so she could get my help for some of her other school subjects without being distracted by her sis in the kitchen.

Thanks Betty and John for letting us take care of them for a week for you :). Neat to see how they're developing and learning under your training and by God's grace. Tho I had hoped to be feeling better, it was still enjoyable and somehow (thru His grace) we all survived the extra work, early mornings, toy-strewn floors, dirty diapers, endless questions/chatter... Thanks also to Rachel who had them over 2x so I could have some recupe time! We so love all our sweeties (all 17 of them). Love to have them here - and love to see them go after a while - and miss them when they're gone!

More Snow!!

It snowed so much this week! Now Sarah's even getting stuck!

And the snow pile in front of our house is even bigger!!!
That's Esther way up there...

We're the Queens of the castle....

Feb 26 We're having fun with the kids as Mommy recuperates

(this post is supposed to come before the Wheee one - I had to redo it b/c the photos weren't working anymore.)

Ooops! 'Siah's boots come off! The snows so deep!

Since R&S left their sleds (thanks!) we were able to do a bunch of sledding with these kids too. When it was kindof icy, I went down with the girls and we went sooo fast! Almost too fast for Esther & I, but not for Sarah!

Even Opa went sledding!! Look out! Right in to the bullrushes he went!

More daring yet, now he's on the saucer ! - just missed the ramp! - this time!

OUCH! That time he didn't fare too well! "Opa, aren't you too old for this?"

Wheeeee!

This was after the wet snow, so the girls could go down on their own

after a couple runs with Auntie
Esther learned to steer well enough to avoid the ramp, the trees and the swamp area.

Here's she was actually running down the hill pulling Sarah behind her!

Sarah loved it!

Josiah preferred to watch with Opa

Opa didn't try any more sledding after the other day when he went flying and landed with such a smacker! (said it gave his neck a good adjustment tho :Z)



Getting ready for take-off

Betty & John's new little gift

Joanna Christina was born on Fri.Feb.23 at 5:50pm

weighed 7lbs3oz, healthy and whole! PTL!

What a blessing! Mom is doing well too.

(Betty can't blog so I put her pics on for her)

Jimmie loves his new found freedom!

He gets to stay here with his big bro & sis on Sunday nites now too!

What a cutie! & sweetie!

A couple more

Hey Adwu, make dis!

Chess lessons - Rachel's givin Dad a workout

After the snow storm last week

Jumpin' Josh

Ooh!

Flyin' Rach

Twirlin' Maria

Fun

No, they're being big little helpers :)

First day here and they were already taking apart my living room !

Love is patient

Love is patient and kind;
Love does not envy or boast;
It is not arrogant or rude.

Love does not insist on its own way;
It is not irritable or resentful;
It does not rejoice at wrong-doing,
but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
Love never ends. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (ESV)

Love received a little more focus in this household this week
with Dad bringing lovely red roses for Mom (with a few for me too :) so sweet!

And we had ample opportunity to work on showing real love
with a houseful of kids!

Being so tired etc doesn't lend to being patient,
(sorry kids for those irritable times) so I was thankful for added strength and for R&S's good parenting! It sure showed and made our week looking after your children quite enjoyable!
They are sweethearts - even (or especially) boofy Daniel :) what a smart little guy!
Actually we were pleasantly surprised as to how obedient he was - much of the time.

The snow storm provided great fun opportunities for them
and Josh - nice to have him for a day too!

Thanks C&M for taking Timmy then! He sure had fun with Kenny!
Thanks for the privelege of having your kids for a week, R&S! Glad you could go to the conference.

Now hopefully we have a few days to recupe and prepare for the next group, Betty! :)