Frist Prison Visit

Back at one of our old churches we were a part of a ministry where we became family to a soon to be felon who had no one else. Collin is a great guy who "messed up" and it's been a blessing to be able to be a part of his life! We were excited to be able to visit him when he was moved to Lansing/Leavenworth min security prison which is much closer to our home.
The kids of course were not allowed in so Matt and my mother in law took turns seeing Collin while I stayed the whole morning since Matt had already been to visit previously. It was an experience! Because the town was so tiny, Matt had to find something to do with the kids while we visited. They found a church to explore and play in for hours and they had a great time! I thought these pics turned out great.

Finally!

The kids are enjoying helping... Truly enjoying it! Titus and Wyatt love pushing around their play vaccuums and proclaiming, "I'm helping you Mommy!" I love to daydream of the day when ALL the chores are spread equally among them; when chocolate gold coins fall from the sky and Leprechauns paint my toenails for me... It could happen, right?

I'm back! :)

So I took a little break from blogs... Got healthier (lost 65 lbs)... am babysitting... homeschooling... etc. Not a whole lot of reasons for it and didn't plan on it my little herd. Forgive me! Oh, the best layed plans. I feel like a goober for deciding to do the daily picture and it lasted like 5 mins... So it goes. I will try my best to post and blog some more!

Poetry Wednesday: L*O*V*E

I know it's commonplace now to use Shakespeare for any and all love topics and I'm being totally unoriginal by using one; but this sonnet is so wonderful simply because it's not full of fluff and is just so realistic and funny! Ahhh, I love reading it. And I really love reading it out loud! The days before LOL and BTW were part of our vernacular....
That "thing" that drew Matt and I together has always been our shared humor which makes this so much more fitting. It reminds me of the first time I heard "Funny Valentine" sung by Frank Sinatra. I swore that if Matt ever sang that to me we'd have to box it out! :) We had a laugh over it... Anyway, I will stop rambling and let you read!

SONNET 130
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare. 

The View From my "Office"

It's amazing to me how God has created us with a built in need for a little of the wilds to be with us or near us at all times. Some may argue that they are "city folk" and don't long for the outdoors, but will covet their dog or plants with as much fervor as any backpacker or hiker of their favorite trails. In the late winter, when the grey skies and dreary cold seem to smother and choke with their weight and the snowfalls are seemingly unending, I struggle so much with the blues and blahs and the "woe is me's." I'm constantly attempting to remind myself of my blessings and remember reasons to laugh. Ah! I feel so guilty for being down for such a silly thing. Though I admit, it does make starting Lent a more somber time filled with the seriousness and solemnity that it should contain, and makes Pascha that much more joyful when accompanied by spring.
I took this picture on a day given by God as respite from the dreary season we are in. I was able to open my windows and drink in the sun like a man drinking in water while in the desert. So refreshing it was! It made me smile, as does the poem I found for Poetry Wednesday (again, sorry I'm late).

North Wind
by Debbie Ouellet

Stepmother’s-breath
hissing through barren boughs
dispensing discontent,
cold as a witch’s kiss.

Scandalmonger of the fields,
grips ragweed by the forelock
to lay across the line
and beat away the dirt.

Hickory switch,
finger wagging
at a giggle of snowflakes
leapfrogging through ochre fields
and playing knock-knock—

upon her parlor door.

5/365 and last picture till Matt returns home from CO!

4/365 Courage
Ella getting ready to do her somersault with the aid of the teacher.

The pictures are blurry and taken through a window but they so caught the excitement of Ella's first day of gymnastics. I think we finally found the niche my Ella will love! Part monkey like her father, she enjoys climbing any and everything she can and has been bursting at the seams with excitement to learn how to do a cartwheel. It will be exciting to see her blossom in this environment.

So I haven't give up on the picture project. I've been taking one a day, but haven't formally stuck into my routine enough yet for me to remember to upload them to the blog. This week Matt is gone on a snowboarding trip to CO and has taken the camera (and my pics with him) so I will have to catch up next week. I will persevere! :)

Siblings

This is Titus. Wearing a baby leash which his sister placed on him, he is holding up his new favorite toy dubbed "Bobee." This is him after saying for the millionth time that day "This is MY Bobee!!!"

Twins in matching sweaters before church and after picking a nose...

"Don't Get Too Close To Her Beak!"
3/365
We had a great time visiting my friend Ruth. This is her lap, surrounded by the five and under masses, with one of her many chickens at her urban eco farm. :) I could not stop jumping every time the chicken moved her head as Ella and Titus were keen on snuggling with the chicken's head. Not really, but it sure felt like it! Wyatt wanted nothing to do with it. The little stinker!

Our homeschool group had a resident artist in Wichita come teach the kids some ceramic techniques. Ella adored every second of the lesson and came home with a pinch pot, some beads, etc. Such a wonderful event! Our Orthdox homeschool group is such a blessing. The playtime with clay was preceded by a lesson from Fr Aron on songs song in liturgy.

Culture 2/365

This picture is kind of cheating since it was taken last November, but it's too much fun to gloss over. The art museum in town has free art classes for pre-k that Ella and the little guy I watch, River, just love! It's sooooooooo stressfull, so much work, so tiring. I bribe the boys to stay in their stroller (a museum rule for kids under three) with organic lollipops and spins in the halls while the older two get their fill of beauty and a creative outlet where Mommy isn't freaking out when paint is accidentally flipped on to the walls. It's hard, but totally worth it.

Potential 1/365

I needed something to keep my hands busy. I needed to reconnect with my creative side which has nothing to do with diapers or a broom or dinner. That which God placed in us; the ability to create beauty and the urge to do so. So, I picked up knitting! A friend (thanks Melissa) so generously offered to teach me and I've quite enjoyed it since. Though I've made nothing yet but a few pretty knots, I can feel that this will be an activity I will enjoy for years to come.

Ella's Theater Experiment

This is Ella with her teacher Ms Brenda. Ms Brenda SO looks like a fairy tale theater teacher! Bubbly and bouncy curled, Shelly Duval'ish.

Ella was the duck in "The Ginger Bread Man." At the end of their skit they got to decorate cookies.

Here's Ella picking her nose in front of the camera. After many practice sessions going over her lines repeatedly, she was able to say them load and clear. Ella who is so melodramatic and jubilant in all she does, was incredibly nervous and had a hard time looking up. She's decided to go to gymnastics. We start this week! So when do they find their "thing?"

Previously Mentioned Super Cool Christmas Party

After a Hard Day...

So it's true... After a long day of opening toys, they decide on a box as their favorite!

St Nicholas Party at Church

I love, love , LOVE the depth and the meaning of Christmas and how it's been elevated to it's rightful place in the Orthodox church. I also love the really cool St Nick suit that our youth leader dons every Christmas for the sake of scaring the children; mine being no exception. We had a great time and the kids had nightmares for a week! Not really...

More Christmas

This is our Christmas card for 2009. Pictures taken by the fabulous Ruth Baker! http://ruthlbaker.blogspot.com/

I tried to keep the sugar fest down to a minimum and made organic sugar cookies and spelt pretzels dipped in organic white chocolate. Yes, still sugar but mostly from brown rice syrup. Luckily my herd didn't seem to notice!

Christmas

It was a quite Christmas. Nice and white and freezing cold! I bought most of the kids gifts once again off of Craigs List. One of the last times it will work I'm sure! Matt's sister came down from Chicago to spend the weekend with us. She is Ella's new hero of the moment and they enjoyed lot's of girly time together (that's them on the sled being pulled by a jeep). I love the picture of the kids piled on the floor next to Grandma watching Polar Express (I can't stand that movie though my mother in law loves it so I have to let them watch it with her). A very relaxing time! I can't claim the pic of Wyatt on the floor but isn't it great? I love the lighting and everything about it. The light is coming off the snow outside the door.