Healed a year ago

One year ago, I was struggling to do anything. I could barely care for myself, not to mention a newborn or anyone else in the house. Ian was in constant contact with our doula and friend. Despite their best efforts and friends support, I continued to slip further into a depression. This depression was SO different from my last. It came on fast and in a more physical way. It got so bad, that Ian said that if it did not change, he would have no choice but to hospitalize me. I wanted to get better. I just couldn't. Reluctantly, I went to Thanksgiving dinner. It was very humbling and difficult. I don't know when it happened, but I was healed that night. The Lord lifted the fog! Thank you Lord, Ian, and friends for helping me get through it.

Happy 1st Birthday Abigail Lael

Hey honey, remember when the baby saved us from the fire?

So around 4 this morning Abigail woke up. I thought the timing was odd, but nursed her anyway. As I got back in bed the heat was on, but smelled funny. I layed there a minute betting that it was nothing. Thinking that might not be best response, I went downstairs to make sure all was ok. Nothing seemed wrong! By the time I came back up, the front room was filled with a haze!! Scenarios ran through my mind as I went to wake Ian. We turned off the heat, and opened the windows. We found no cause, but would seek it out in the morning. Turns out that a baby ball toy, rolled down the duct work and started melting on the heat element of the furnace. If Abigail did not wake me up, we all would have woken up to the fire alarm, whisked the kids out and called the fire department. God is good, yet again

Pumpkin Patch

We made a quick trip mid week to a local pumpkin patch with our ice skating friends the James'.  I only got a few pictures on my phone because our camera broke as I went to take this photo.

 Everett age 9

 Isobel 6 (does she ever just smile for a picture?)

 (and look at the camera)

I foolishly followed a 6 year old and two boys into a corn maze.  I was lost, but they found the way out.

Skate Park

We are trying to enjoy all the good weather days.  Everyone there was great and we had a great time.

Mud to Suds

I'm more than a little behind on blogging but I'll do some quick updating.

Everett participated in the Mud to Suds race a while back.  He did great and had a good time.  I tried to keep up and get pictures but he was much faster than I with a baby on my back and a six year old by my side.  Look at that face!

Being hosed off by the fire department was a highlight.

Fair 2012

 This is the chair that Ian made and submitted.

 This became a HUGE disaster. 

 Wrist bands for the rides have been a great idea as the kids get older.  They get a little bolder each year.  This year they rode a roller coaster, spun around and around, and Isobel even went solo on one that took her up high and did a control drop. It was a long wait for this ride though.  We had to wait as they repaired it.  Then one of the men used his hands to cross his chest in a cross pattern.  Not exactly what we wanted to see right before she got on.

I think Demolition Derby passes might be needed next year.

This is still one of their favorites at the fair.

Here is Everett's Lego entry

 And Isobel's too.

Beach

A little bit of sand does not ruin Abigail's day.  She has no problem exploring the beach.  It took her a few times at the beach before she learned to crawl down to the water.

 Everett made it to the dock this year.  Our rule for jumping off the dock is to be able to swim to it first. Some encouragement from friends also helped him get there.

And Isobel? She was in her messy element.  She was collecting clams and digging away.

 The beach with friends was a great way to enjoy the summer weather.

What's up? How you doin?

Abigail found a blue pen that accidentally fell into her toy basket.  She is now 8 months old.  I don't think that there is a food she does not like.  Although not crawling yet (still hates being flat), she is scooting, pivoting, and beginning to coordinate her arms and legs to crawling positions or pulling herself up a little.

Everett became a Busker at our Farmers Market.  He has become quite the magician. He had no problem in drawing a crowd and had plenty of tricks to fill his 30 min at each station.  We are very proud of his confidence and growth in independence to try entertaining in public.

Isobel turns 6 today!  She lost another tooth yesterday.  Isobel is incredibly creative, confident, great hostess, aspiring sewer, willing assistant, and so fun to be around.  She keeps us smiling for sure.

Just like Dad

Track Nights 2012

 Track nights in our town are on Monday night.  The kids race in heats against kids in similar age groups.  Everett is competing against 9 and 10 year olds.  Isobel races against 5 or 6 year olds.  Her running style has only sightly improved!  She continues to take up the whole lane with elbows swinging and feet sprawling.  She becomes more composed the faster she gets down the track.  They love it.  They each do 50m hurtles, 100m dash,  200m, 400m, 800m, long jump and mini javelin.

Everett is in the far lane in a black shirt.  Here he is back in 2008.  Both of them in 2009, 2010.

Abigail is just along for the ride still.

It's gonna be a busy weekend

We are looking forward to reclaiming our back yard.  It took my men about an hour to destroy and remove our old walk way.  I have to see how we can use this for Scouts ;-)

Crossover 2012

Everett became a Webelos (We Be Loyal Scouts) last night.  These two years of Cub Scouts will transition him into Boy Scouts.

 Ian greeted him with a new shirt

 Papa pinned some elements on

Although blurry, this was my favorite picture of the men.

I'm very proud of Everett's (and mine!) accomplishments thus far.  Now it becomes more of him and man time!

Blossoms

I take Isobel's picture every year in our neighbors cheery blossoms.  This year I got to take both girls photos.

Abigail almost 5 mo

Abigail 5 mo and Isobel 5 yrs

I've been so focused on getting Abigail sleeping though the night (another sinus infection for both girls, and a cold and laryngitis for me did not help), staying current with school so as to finish on time, and helping Everett in his activities (baseball and Scouts) that there has been very little time for anything blogging to record any of it.  If I did have a minute I tried to be with my hubby who has been working 8-10 hour days 5-6 days a week.

Everett Pitched His First Game

I did not get see all of it since I was across the field at Isobel's soccer game.  Ian and I were in constant text, trying to keep the other informed ;-)  Both kids did great.  I don't ask about the score, but rather if they had fun and tried their best.

And for the record, this is Isobel after school and a field trip.  Guess she had enough "stuff" ;-)

Stuff

That's all it was to Isobel yesterday.  Grandma asked Isobel "what did you learn in school today".  "Stuff" she said so passively.  Ugh.  We started learning about the Netherlands in our geography unit so I planned all weekend for it.  That included a special chocolate toast breakfast, windmill and pinwheel art projects, map work, Gouda cheese sampling, and an Anne Frank video.  Plus her math with coloring, new language book she was looking forward to, and language arts activities that she thinks are so funny.  But it was all just "stuff".  ;-)

Everett earned 2nd place at the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.

Isobel has been playing soccer with cousin Rhylee.

It is so cool to watch our children cheer each other on.

Ian just finnished a short break from work. He was home for two weeks, so we took advantage of the time. Ian went ice skating with us. He helped with school. He helped Everett with Scout stuff.

And Abigail? She has had a crazy sleep pattern of waking every two hours at night and 45 min into each nap. Ugh! But she has begun to like toys and can roll over from her stomach to her back. She weighs 13 lbs, has more hair than either of her siblings had at this age, is talking A LOT.