Phone Pictures

These are some of the pictures I finally uploaded off my phone. I love that I pretty much have a means of photography no matter where I am these days. The bigger cameras stay home, but to get those silly moments when we are out and about is so nice. They are in random order, but I will explain them...

Peter is showing me his hand (it's backwards), but it's all purple from the chalk outside.

The kids were playing at the Kremser's house and these are the eggs from the basket. This day, they were scared to go into the coup because Daddy wasn't there to carry them and the chickens were swarming the door. So, unlike the other times, they can take NO credit for having retrieved these eggs, but they're showing them like they can :).

Ella is "painting" the house with chalk in her swimsuit and sunhat.

Those two fingers are better than any pacifier in the world. John hasn't used a pacifier since he was about 2 weeks old and even then he'd rather have his fingers.

Ella's playing dress up in her coat and hat that I got her at a garage sale for next winter. You can see she has a little growing to do before they fit. Too cute and old fashioned to pass up.

Peter at the beach in California (March).

John was about 4 months old here.

I got some packages and in them were these packing peanuts. We borrowed a "pen" from a friend of mine and Ella asked me if we could dump all of the peanuts in here to play. I couldn't resist, so for about a week, they played in here and I spent a lot of time picking these up, but they loved it. These are the earth friendly kind too, so after they were smashed to pieces, we watched them dissolve in the sink!

Almost every day Peter will get up from his nap and say, "Hold me Mama." If the other 2 are still sleeping, this is what usually happens. Wouldn't trade it for anything.

Our friends live by a farm and every time we go there, we have to stop and see the cows. So, I decided to pull out my phone and take a picture so the kids can see them at home too :).

Driving home one day from another friend's house, there were a bunch of guinea hens in the road. I stopped and let them cross while I busted out the phone again to take a picture. The kids thought they were ducks and kept yelling, "Ducks in the road! Ducks in the road!"

This week on Monday, I needed out of the house and our friends were at Playland. We decided to join them there, but before leaving we never forget our free "kiddie cones."

So, it's fun to have my camera phone and today while the kids are napping I wanted to share some of the pictures. I've been feeling pretty sentimental these days. Don't know if it's because everyone around me is pregnant and I am seeing John grow and grow before my eyes or what, but I've been taking lots of pictures and writing things down so I don't forget anything. Facebook has been a good way to get the little funny phrases about the day jotted down and I hope to put them on here soon. Blogging has been fun, but there are days when I get stressed because I want to share a story or I have thoughts in my head that need out and I don't get a chance to sit down. Sometimes I find myself thinking in blog or facebook mode, like, "Danielle is doing..." or asking myself, "how would I put that in our blog so people wouldn't think, 'guess you had to be there...'". Anyway, I try and that's all that matters, right?

If Ever You Worshiped

This is a song I heard at a MOPS conference

group and wanted to share the lyrics. You
can learn more about Danny at his website:
www.dannyoertli.com


It wasn’t that long ago
You were a girl all alone
There was no way to know
How soon you’d have kids of your own
Now you’re the first one awake
The last one asleep
Cleaning and making your plans
And there are days when it feels
Like there’s no time to pray
You wonder if God understands

But if ever you worshiped it’s now
If ever you kept your vow
You may not understand how
But if ever you worshiped it’s now

The memory of leaves in the fall
Walking through the canyons so tall
God was so close in it all
Now your chance to worship seems small

You’re the first one to taste
But the last one to eat
When everyone goes their own way
And it’s your name that’s called
In the deep of the night
One more hour of sleep floats away

But if ever you worshiped it’s now
If ever you kept your vow
You may not understand how
But if ever you worshiped it’s now

Every shirt that you fold
Every nose that you blow
Is a gift to the Father above
Every lunch that is made
Every game that is played
Is an offering of love

But if ever you worshiped it’s now
If ever you kept your vow
You may not understand how
But if ever you worshiped it’s now

Mother's Day May 9, 2010

These three blessings are why I get to celebrate this day. "Mommy" is such an amazing name to take ownership of, even with all the trials that come along with it. I find that with each day, I see more and more flaws about myself and feel less and less like I know what I am doing. The questions and arguments that Ella comes up with and the outbursts and energy that Peter brings, not to mention trying to nurse a baby while dealing with it all has tried me to my max by 8pm. I have come to realize that my temper is short and my words can be loud. But, to my defense, I always apologize and I keep asking God to show me better ways to deal with everything in the moment and not always in hind site. My kids are happy and healthy, for that I am so thankful. They love life, friends, and each other. They are learning about God and His love for them. Ella got her first Bible and it was such a special thing to give to her. Peter was recently told that disobeying makes God sad (and mommy and daddy), so after he disobeyed and said sorry, he said, "Sorry God, you sad." It about broke my heart, but he's right and he needs to keep learning that. We are trying to teach forgiveness too. All of these things will come in time, but there are days when I wish they could all just be 6 months again, fat and happy little babies, like their brother. Not that triplets would be easier, but boy, John sure is a great baby, and Ella and Peter were too at 6 months. This past year as a mom has been the most challenging with the pregnancy and birth of a third child in 3 years. I am sure over time, I will say that almost every year (about the challenging part, not the more children part), but it has also been a blessed year. All the time I am more and more thankful for my mom and my mother in law who have given Andrew and I life lessons and examples to parent by. I have also recently taken to reading blogs and stories of other Christian moms who are in the midst of parenting small children. They make me smile and let me know I'm not alone in my daily craziness. I only wish I could write as well as some of them, or post updates regularly, or make food and crafts all while juggling my day. My kids don't "play" for more than 5 minutes before I become referee and not mom. Blogging and knitting only happen after they are in bed, in the brief moments of nap time or bring a 30 minute episode of "Barney." Yes, TV is sometimes how I get things done. Don't even tell me I'm the only one who uses this method of bribery. I know that my time with little ones is short and I'm trying to soak it up. I already miss so many things about having tiny babies, but that's why I try and take a million pictures and write about it.

Ella says "impameal" for oatmeal.

Peter still wants me to hold him all the time and will fall asleep on us.

John's smile always makes Ella and Peter happy.

Ella laughs whenever someone else is laughing, even if she has no idea what they are laughing about.

Peter plays and plays and plays some more. He loves his mower.

John is starting to smile at the camera. He's very photogenic.

Ella loves playing out in the water. She would water the grass all day long if I'd let her. She watered the census man who came by the other day!

Peter is handsome and will be locked in his room and homeschooled until an appropriate marrying age.

John is rolling, but doesn't love to be on his tummy. Not quite sitting yet, but loves to find his toes.

Ella is a trickster. She loves to hide things and make me find them, or Peter find them.

Peter is yelling "cheese" in this picture. He loves his soccer ball shirt that he has on and I was asking him to show it to me for the picture.

John has blue eyes. I want them to stay blue. He's such a precious baby.

I love this picture of Ella. Finally letting me put her hair up and leaving it up.

This little man may make me more mad than I thought I could get, but he has such a sweet spirit and loves to make others happy with hugs and helping.

John likes to be held facing outward. He likes to know what he's dealing with.

“To a child’s ear, ‘mother’ is magic in any language.” Arlene Benedict

You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around – and why his parents will always wave back”. – William D. Tammeuse

“Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs… since the payment is pure love” – Mildred B. Vermont

Random Days- Three's company, John's Eating, Ella's Sorting, and Peter's in a TuTu

Ok, I could not get these pictures to work for me today in the right order no matter how much I cut and pasted, so oh well. Here they are "in random order" our days recently. I have been trying to take as many pictures of John as I did with the other kids and so far I'm pretty sure I've succeeded in this area. Especially now that I have a new camera and I love using it during the day to practice on the kids, and just to document our days. My Ella and Peter are nuts. I will just go on record saying that no matter how much I try and get them to just sit quietly with their hands folded so that I can get cleaning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or maybe even a phone call in, it just DOESN'T HAPPEN. You show me a mom who can do that with 2 toddlers in the house and I will give her some kind of award. Like maybe a knit hat or something. So, I do all of those things with them running around me, attempting to help, fighting over who gets to stand on a chair the closest to me, or going right behind me messing the room up again. Then there's John who usually sits and plays in his jumper or chair, rolls around on the floor dodging balls and trains, and smiles contently amidst all the nuttery. (Is that a word?) Our house is filled with it, even if it isn't a word, but you know, at the end of the day, when all is done and they are sleeping, I sorta look forward to what the next day may bring.

I got a package filled with these packing peanuts. I put them in their play pen and they went crazy. Here they are all sorted and put in containers because Ella is "going to work, and this is lunch." I was specifically instructed not to put them away while she was napping. Each container is filled with them and she was so proud of herself.

The other picture was after she woke up and decided she would sort all of her farm animals by color on the plates and in the pots behind her. She's getting really good at this and I am really proud of her. She' even teaching Peter colors and how to sort them.

Kasey came to see us for the weekend. The kids sure love when she's here. I do too.

Little John Lewis starting eating solids back in March. I have been bad about posting stuff like that, but he was 5 months old exactly and it was time for him to learn a little about eating. (Not that his rolls would indicate he didn't ALREADY know a lot about eating), but real food is another story. He was unsure at first, but he did a great job and still likes his food very much. He made some funny faces just like the other kids.

Peter is wearing this get up because Ella wanted hers on. Peter wants to do everything like his sister and while he's 2, that is probably OK. They were playing ring around the rosy and Peter is helping Ella of the ground since "they all fell down."

I think this picture shows well how much John has been looking and watching Peter lately. After naps John will see Peter and just smile and smile even if he was just crying. I love how much Ella and Peter look out for him and want to help with everything. He makes a spitting noise and Peter tells me, "John is talking like a Elephant!" They are fun even if they're nuts.

Peter is 2!

Well, here you have it, my crazy Peter is 2 now! Time has flown by this past year and I am amazed at how much he has changed. He talks up a storm, way more than most other kids his age (all he does all day is mimick Ella), and he has more energy than I can channel in a 13+ hour time frame. The boy loves to be held and read to, play outside, and his new thing: trains. He knows all the names of the 10 engines we have so far and this is why I made his "brownie track" instead of a cake. (Not to mention, I was not in the mood for cake). We had a party for him the weekend before his birthday because Andrew wasn't working then. The kids all had a lot of fun and Ella was a big "help" opening Peter's gifts. Just wait, this year he will try and "help" her. We will see how that goes over. I made a birthday banner this month and Peter got to be the first to start the banner tradition. We left it up the whole week and when we took it down, Ella said, "He where did you put that 'fing' that was hanging there?" I told her the birthday week was over and when it's Daddy's birthday in July, we'll bring it back out. "Yeah, and for mine in October!" was her reply. Yup. She already can't wait. Peter cried when he was sang to. I guess my kids do not like to be sung to. Not sure what that's all about, but to cry over your burning candle is not safe, not to mention makes others sad. I am going to try and keep teaching them this. Peter was a good host, he said, "Fank Yum" (thank you) for all his gifts and did the same to thank everyone who came to his party. He ended the night by putting the mixing bowl on his head and running around. This sums him up perfectly right now. Silly silly little man.