Happy Sam

When we were expecting our 3rd child, I think most people who knew us thought that would be it.  I mean, really, THREE children??!!

And because this pregnancy would of course be our last, we all thought this child should be a girl. So, as I waited patiently for the ultrasound technologist to tell me I was having a daughter, I noticed the look on her face.  She smiled sweetly, looked me right in the eye, and said 'It's another boy.  And he's beautiful.'  And he was.  A shock of black hair and the fattest cheeks ever.

He was so happy as a baby, Danny nick-named him Happy Sam.  And Danny even sang a little song about him, while he was poking him in the face and rocking him ever-so-gently in his carseat.

Samuel means 'God has heard my prayers'.  And John means 'Friend of God'.  This boy is special.  He is generous and thoughtful and creative and diligent.  He hums when he works and loves to encourage people to climb new heights.  He is a deep thinker and doesn't let the struggles of life keep him down.

When he was little, he wrote his name for the first time.  Samul Gon Sorgit. 

 Happy 15th birthday, Samul Gon!

 Wow, do I look tired or what! 

 Michael Jude loves a party!!

 This is my handsome offspring.

 A house-full of friends. And their brothers.  Lots of testosterone. 

 And food. Piles of food.

 Sammy has composed some beautiful pieces.

 Dad's gift-Starbuck's coffee and French Vanilla creamer

Reading his birthday card from Emma.  She made it after the 2nd Presidential debate.  It said 'VOTE FOR SAMMY'.

My First-Born Daughter

After 3 handsome sons in 3 years, I got my first daughter.  The day my mom and I saw her ultrasound, I posted a poem on the garage door for Kenny to find after work.  It said, 

'Roses are red, Violets are blue; Three boys and a girl for me and you!'

And this month that sweet thing turned into a teenager.  My goodness.

Hannah means 'full of grace', and Rachelle means 'little lamb'.  She is sweet and trusting and insightful and simple.  She loves jeans and a t-shirt, like her Mama. Nail polish? Not so much. But can that girl bake.  And she is becoming my good and wise friend, even better.

What a gift for a first daughter.

 Oh Yes.  Another COSTCO Bear!  I know, I rock.

 Her friend's little brother made this cool 'I Love Jesus' bear for her.

 Her sweet and fun friend, holding Bubbs.  And yes, I know we're beyond the age of red-eye, but I'm too busy to deal with it.

Two amazing Bundt cakes.  Don't worry, I frosted them before the guests came.  Not that they lasted long enough for me to take another picture...

And for dinner Hannah requested Alton Brown's Sweet and Sour Pork.  Hand-breaded.  With fresh pineapple.  And steamed rice.  And cabbage salad. Wow.

Double Digits!

October is a busy month for birthdays around here. And it's possible you've heard my husband joke about how busy we were in January to get 3 children born in October.  But not from the stage at church on birthday Sunday, no, he wouldn't embarrass me that way.  No way.

Anyway, Emma, Hannah, and Sam have their special days all within 12 days of eachother.  Emma is first, so this is her post!

She turned 10 this time.  Yep, our 6th child is double digits.  Before she was born she was going to be a boy, but miraculously turned out to be a girl, and since she joined four brothers and only one sister, her middle name is JOY.  'Emma' means 'caring one, as a nurse'.  And she is that.  She will run her home strictly and efficiently, with beauty and vitality. She is creative and sparkly and intense and affectionate.  And I love her very much.

Her are some assorted pictures of her celebration...

 A COSTCO Bear!! Can it be true??!!  She also got

Grammy's awesome camera (thank you, thank you), and a wad of cash.  

What a day.

 All my beauties on our friends, the Erickson's, acreage

Emma and Elisabeth, celebrating being TEN together.

World Traveller

With Kenny's job, sometimes he gets to travel.  He's been to Rwanda, Belgium, London, and a few states around here.  Last week it was the Big Apple.

We have awesome family in New Jersey, and Kenny was able to meet up with our brother-in-law for a bit one evening.

So while I was in the ER with Ellie, Dear Husband was rubbing noses with all kinds of

 big-wigs...including Uncle Jim.

 Uncle Jim rocks.  He is my sweet sister Ann's crazy husband. He took Kenny out to an amazing Italian dinner when Kenny was in New York.  I think we had hot dogs back at the ranch.

A very happy tummy. And good fellowship to boot. Not bad for a guy with no college degree.  

Getting Away From it All

A few weeks ago, my husband and I got the chance
to ditch the kids and head out to the mountains for
a couple of days.  Estes Park had been calling
my name all year, and what a joy to finally get to go!
Kenny insisted that I was not cooking, and
oh my word- I didn't know it could be that relaxing-
no planning, no prepping, no work, no clean-up!
Woo-hoo! Hooray for generous husbands!

The weather was absolutely perfect.  There were
bright gold aspens everywhere, and the only tourists there
were retired folks, so it was just really quiet.
Well, except for our baby, who chattered and chirped and
squawked happily along the way.

We walked up and down this river,
hardly talking, just soaking it all in.
We tried really hard to not talk about
the kids or work, and most of the time
we succeeded...
 

Downtown Estes in early October.
Oh yeah.

This beautiful little candy store made
our little ones very happy when we got home.

As we headed down the mountain for home,
we decided to stop at Celestial Seasonings Tea.
We loaded up from the bargain bin, and ran into
some of our best friends, the Baughmans.  What a treat!

Wow. Really, Lord?  A trip away with my hubby
in Your breath-taking creation and a quick visit with
my dear friend Amber?
I definitely came home filled.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

My husband and friend, who leads our family daily to the Water of Life

 

 

This little girl, when the wheels start turning

6-year old boys who are too handsome for words

Still waters that run deep

Our Virginia Creeper that graces the front of our home each year

Buttery-soft, baled-headed baby boys who kindly fall asleep
in the cutest ways just so I can look at them and sigh

Ellie's Concussion

Last Monday, Ellie fell off her chair at lunch.  That's it, nothing major, just slipped from her short little chair onto our vinyl flooring.  She screamed, then let me rock her for a minute, then got her shoes on to run errands.

A few minutes later, as we pulled out of our cul-de-sac, I saw her falling asleep in the rear-view mirror.  And then she'd open her eyes, and they'd roll back into her head.

'Hmmm'...I watched her for a few minutes as we drove across town.

And then she started vomiting.  All over the place.

Here she is, unwilling to wake, at the pediatrician's office. Hannah, Emma, and Sarah were so helpful and thoughtful through it all.  Natty was pretty great too, just a little less um, nurturing.  'Oh why did I come? I wish I'd stayed home.  This is going to be a long day.' Such compassion he has.

Sarah waited patiently for her best friend to get checked out.  She was so concerned for her side-kick.

After more vomiting in the doctor's office, and a failed attempt to rouse Ellie much, Dr. Healey sent us off to the ER.  Yeah, the same ER Sammy and his dad went to for the snake bite...The staff was wonderful, although the CAT scan lady must have thought I was nuts.  She said I could come in with Ellie to get her scan, but then paused and asked if there was any chance I could be pregnant because if there was, I couldn't be with her until the scan was over.  I said that I didn't think so, but that I guess there could always be a chance.  This woman just stood there, looking at me, then at the 5 children I had brought, then back at me, and said, 'there's a chance? Are you pregnant or not?'  And I said, 'you asked if there was a chance, not if I thought I was pregnant.'
And if you know my Emma Joy very well, you can probably guess what was going on in her mind through this conversation.  And it shot out her mouth.  'Mom, does she think you're PREGNANT?!  I mean, you just had a baby! Why would you be pregnant?' I left her clamoring on as I walked down the hall to the Cat scan room.  And the lady had me wait outside. Just in case.  

As you can see, my beautiful little girl recovered very well.  She  looked pretty out of it for a few hours, but then just kind of came to, and asked for food and a trip home.

Since she had ruined her dress when she threw up, the ER nurse let her go home in this little beauty.  Ellie thought it was the height of fashion, and her sisters were thrilled she would have something to wear when they play hospital.