Basketball for child #4

So here is Isaac doing his thing. Now mind you he isn't really super excited about this sport. He is tolerant of the parental mandate for winter exercise. Because of his height, Isaac was a very active participant in the game. After all, one can see him from most every part of the court. First picture is case in point as to the extremes in height.





Giving it the heave ho.


Ok, I love this one because I can only imagine the exchange going on between Isaac and his coach. This kid always has a verbal exchange ready to share in any conversation.


This is my favorite because it most accurately depicts child #4. Isaac is a gentle giant and will take advantage of any moment to "hang" around with a friend. Raina, well she is a hoot and together they clearly have a great time. This picture will be one of those that comes back to haunt him in his senior year.

Basketball Time H&Z

The Basketball season has come and gone so I thought I would throw a few pictures up of the kids playing. Here is my favorite one of Hannah. Deadly elbows.



Whatever vertical she has, well she doesn't get it from her mother (side note, the baskets behind her are not part of the game).








Here is Zach doing his thing. Scott was his coach again this year.

Holiday Leftovers

These are photos taken the neighbor gal (affectionately named our adopt-not, because we would take her as child #6 but her parents don't seem to want to get rid of her) per Hannah's request. Bless her heart, she knew her mother was stressed this past December trying to work 4 days a week, manage a family of 7 (plus a bored dog) and get ready for Christmas while the hubs was taking finals, writing a sermon and helping direct the move of our church back into the building. It was a crazy time needless to say. Hannah took charge and had these all downloaded and ready for viewing. I was so thankful.

These are the ones that did not quite make the actual letter but wanted to post them anyway because I thought there were some fun artistic shots if only everyone would have cooperated.














Job well done Hannah. Thanks for helping your mom out. You are so sweet!

Another Dose of Isaac

Musical beds are a fairly regular occurrence at our house. Saturday night Isaac was getting ready to sleep in the guest bed with Zach. Elizabeth decided to make her home in his bunk. This met with disapproval from him.

I rebuked Isaac telling him that he lets me come in his bed sometimes so I asked him why his sister wasn't entitled to sleep there, to which he replied, "well, because you are the owner of this establishment." Establishment? I couldn't rebuke him when he used a ten dollar word in his opening line of defense.

From there I complimented him on a superb choice of words and told him that the co-owner of this establishment just over rode his argument.....Elizabeth slept in his bed.

Our Young Man is 12

February 14th came in with a "loud bang" this year when Zach turned 12. There was one thing and one thing only that the boy wanted for his birthday. He was willing to sacrifice the number of gifts to get his hearts desire.....

The crew. Nice cheesy grin from the wee one.


This is the "cake" Zach always requests.... Grandma Gwen's lemonade dessert. It gives him great delight.


Isaac sharing some birthday love with his brother. Zach's fairly tolerant.


My parents were in town visiting and Mom ( and I) felt badly that he wouldn't have "gifts" to open birthday morning (as his gift was to arrive a couple days late) so we found him some cheap shirts that screamed Zach to us.


He loves to draw the bones in the body and he loves music so this was a hit!


So here is the coveted gift. Yes indeed I have totally lost my mind. First I consented to a big black dog living in my house. As if 5 kids and a dog cannot sustain an impressive enough decibel level, I willingly invited these babies into our home. What a mama won't do for her kids! This smile is worth all the expense I will invest in Ibuprofen for the next 6 yrs.


"Oh yeah!" He didn't even care that it wasn't there just yet. He was pumped regardless. We do have it now. I just need to take the camera down stairs and get him in action. It is worth the investment when I see him practicing, feeling it in his bones.



One really funny moment was when Scott and I were putting shelves in the girls room the other day next door in the girls room and overheard Isaac telling Zach jokes. As he would finish Zach would give his, "bu-dum-bump-tsh." What an act. Before I know it they will want to take their act on the road. They are just so bloomin funny!

Zach at 12:

1. An artist
2. A musician
3. Ultra laid back
4. A hard worker
5. A studier of people
6. Sleeps like a ROCK
7. Lives for one on one time
8. Can see a 2yr old and tells me, "Mom she was so adorable" (great dad in the making!)
9. Has a huge heart of compassion for the less fortunate
10. Is almost "worshiped" by his little brothers
11. Desperately wants a lawn mower so he can make money this summer
12. Has persevered through some struggles only to be made more firm in who God has made
him to be.......great contentment
13. Loves learning to hunt
14. Just like his dad, he loves to fix broken things
15. So creative, he will invent something someday


We love this kid, so deeply, and can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for his life!

Happy Birthday to the best Valentines gift your we have ever received. You are wonderfully made.

That's Isaac

Today happened to be one of those days where I had gotten dinner started before I went to work. I had a roast cooking all day that had been smothered in a concoction of cream of mushroom soup, sour cream and french onion soup mix. Needless to say there was quite the aroma permeating the house by mid afternoon.

Isaac walks into the kitchen wondering what we were having for dinner. On the subject of dinner he asks me, "when are we going to have that toast with a ball of potatoes on it?" A little confused initially, I probed a little further to discover he was referencing a hot beef sandwich garnished with a scoop of mashed potatoes and gravy. Once I understood correctly he responded, "that would make my taste buds party."

This child loves food, especially "meal" food (as opposed to snack foods). Give him meat, potatoes, pasta, bread, corn or peas and he is very happy. I can't say that I blame him as he gravitates towards carbs or many varieties. Love them myself.

Anyone want to come over for a taste bud party?

Naivity

Oh the gullibility of younger siblings. Somehow Zach and Elizabeth painted the picture that this was a good time. It appears that Aaron had no trouble buying what they were selling. As good parents, we quickly took a picture and then rebuked the older two, telling them that that type of confinement is never, ever appropriate. You do what you got to do, pictures for the record then teach. Priorities ya know. :)