Jamie James

It's time to do a little updating on how our little kindergarten grows. I used to make notes to myself in my journals on how each child was progressing and changing at each new stage. Rather than dig out a journal and feel the pressure to fill in all that has happened since I last wrote in it, I'll happily record it here minus that pressure-y feeling. I would probably have to start with James' birth story or maybe even Josiah's.

It's been a long time since I've written in those journals!

I think I'll start with the littlest sprout, James. 

At 9.5 months, James is on the cusp of toddlerhood.  No longer a sleepy newborn, he begins to have a little boy look about him. He crawls after his siblings and "crumb hunts" under the kitchen table. He pulls himself up at the playtable and babbles at the big boys while they remove the Lego choking hazards from his reach. He sleeps contentedly all night and through most of his 2-3 naps during the day. He is SO relaxed.

His big goofy teeth fill his little chubby mouth. James joins us for most meals at the table but still nurses as often as he did at 5 months of age; four times during the day. For all the yummy food he eats, he sure doesn't make us change many diapers. Where is it all going, James? You don't seem uncomfortable but sometimes I wonder about your personal habits!

James' days are filled with an outpouring of affection from his brothers but mainly from Mercy. She runs for a burp cloth when he spits up, feeds him at the table and wipes him with a washcloth when he's all done. She is generally apart from him only when I separate them for naps or for some other reason. Usually that other reason is to give James some... space. I'm thankful for her devotion to him and for the view I have, watching their relationship grow. I wonder what you will be like, James, as a big boy, with this mini-Mommy as your big sister?

I'm going to miss your baby stages, James! I know you aren't a big boy yet but it sure seems like you are growing and changing so fast...

 We love you, Jamie James!

Six years of Michael

Our second born son is SIX! 

Happy Birthday, Michael!

We love you inside

outside

upside

down!

How to have a reading party before you go to bed

Put on your jammies and congregate somewhere cozy.

Snuggle up with whomever is onhand. Cousins are especially nice for reading parties.

Choose a book. It's okay if you've memorized it. The good ones are worth memorizing.

Wait patiently until it's your book's turn to be read.

Books are good for more than just reading. Build a fort with Calvin's Commentaries while you listen.

Show the babies how not too rip library books.

When you get sleepy, finish the chapter and put everyone to bed.

Winthrop 2010

We're almost all the way through June and I haven't yet posted any pictures to commemorate our annual trip east.

So here are a few of them.

Mercy rides horsies on the deck... one of her favorite things to do at Gammy Carol's house.


Josiah doesn't like bouncing around up in the air. No swings at the park for this boy. When I found him like this he told me he was riding his horsie.


Michael spent as much time as possible in the sand box...

Daniel spent as much time as possible doing whatever his cousin Logan was doing. I think they may have chosen to dress alike, too.


While I didn't get pictures of everyone in attendance, I think Pa, Joy and James win the prize for being the cutest people there.


We took some walks and a hike up the ridge.


We saw so many of these delicate little flowers that seemed to grow right out of the granite outcropping up there. Pretty.


Grandad went fishing with Papa Jim one morning and Mercy was on hand to help tell everyone about the size of Papa Jim's fish.


Logan and Elena: You two are some of our very favorite friends! We can't wait to see you soon!


We love our visits to Winthrop... Thanks so much to Gammy Carol and Papa Jim for being such great hosts to all of us!

I love our stroller

Here it is at full capacity.


Well, it's probably over capacity.

But this is generally how we use it when we need to get movin'.

I really love that stroller...

On our window sill

Well, everybody, our "last day of school" is tomorrow and I'm beginning to see the bright light at the end of the tunnel.

Unfortunately for me, that bright light happens to be the sun.

The hot sun.

Summer is coming.

And while I dread the heat I do look forward to the end of our homeschool co-op year and the beginning of our summer lessons.

Before we jump right into a new season I have a few springish pictures left to share. I took pictures of this charming display mainly to preserve it. It's such an odd collection of items to have on one's window sill.

Unless you have several boys.



Want a closer look?

This is Jack the Cricket. See him sitting on the slice of potato?


Next we have a container of worms, I think. I know it's neither cooked black beans nor
"tah n ". It has no lid so it must be the worms. They aren't big escapers.


Several boxes of caps...


Oh and my favorite: the owl pellets...


Happy almost end of the school year to everyone out there!

A cheerful heart is...

good medicine. Right?

I have a little cold. Not much to speak of really. But you know how it is when you first wake up in the morning?

Extra scratchy voice and quite a few coughs before you can really start talking. Waking up knowing this is probably the worst you will feel all day. A hot shower would help.

That was me this morning. And like I said, I'm really not that sick.

But four year old Mercy came in to find me in bed still at around 8am, warming up my voice in a not-so-melodious way. Oh, I had also been up in the night with Sweet Baby James who just might be growing a tooth.

Without waiting to be asked to do a thing, Mercy took off to the kitchen with an empty glass from my bedside table, calling over her shoulder that she would get me some fresh water. She may have even put her little hand on my face before she traipsed off.

I just wanted to remember this.

I'm so thankful for being noticed and cared for like this by someone who is still learning not to do obnoxious things to get my attention.

Today I was humbled and blessed by her attentions toward me.