Valentine's Day 2013: Treats & Torture

On Valentine's Day this year, I took the boys out "on the town" for the day, to celebrate how much I love them. We live in a small town, however, so downtown is only about three minutes away....and is pretty much where we go every other day anyway. Still, it was special! We went to our favorite burger/ice cream place: Arctic Circle; then to the library & the dollar store. Because we're fancy like that. We are well-cultured, in addition to being well-mannered.

Mr. Seth looks the part of the grump here, but he was simply being a good sport about hanging out with his ole' mom, instead of his buddies.He has become quite the funny guy, comfortable in his own skin, and more than willing to humor me in the bazillion pictures I love to take of him & his brothers. Jarod, on the other hand, has to be begged, bribed, nagged, and whined-at, in order for me to get a shot of him without his hat over his eyes, or without him ducking behind the nearest large structure to avoid the camera. In this case, he had ice cream, so he was semi-tolerant. Poor kid. 13 is such a rough age. I have learned recently, from a reliable source (I have an inside person within youth group leadership), that he is the talk of the town/church. Alllll the middle school girls love him. I fear I may be in for some trouble. He really is so pretty, after all. I've already had to fend off one fairly persistent little lady! SO....I'll take his shyness & standoff-ishness for as long as it lasts! But I shall continue torture him, with my picture taking, because he will never be 13 again, and because I must. 

Not as malevolent as he appears, I swear.

Any 80's/90's girls remember these? What
a blast from my past! These stories were awful.
 Still, fun memories.
These books contributed to
 my love of reading, after I was over
my Nancy Drew phase, that is (which I may or may
not have actually ever "gotten over"...eh-hem).

  

Not as innocent as he appears.
This I also swear.

The library is truly our favorite hang-out. Here, Jarod is losing his patience with me & my camera. I told him it was candid, and to pretend I wasn't there, and to, for heaven's sake, quit scowling at me. 

Here's a shot of me with the boys who still love their mama, and are not trying to leave her forever (for some college in a year), and/or avoid her at all costs (because she's so annoying)....unless ice-cream is involved. 

Everywhere we go, it's a party! 

If you build it, they will climb.

My oldest & hairiest valentine gave me these
purdy things & took me out on a date. Sure am
in love with this handsome fellow.

Speaking of torture forms (the first being my incessant picture-taking ), one of the
biggest joys Justin & I derive from living is grossing our kids out on a regular basis, with frequent, and often public, displays of affection. Nothing is quite so amusing & entertaining than hearing our kids' fake
gagging sounds, and horrified gasps. Especially when their friends are around.

Thanks for bearing with me while I catch you all up on our life, in pictures. Now that Summer is almost here,
happy late Valentine's Day!!!! 

Winter 2012

Early December, we played towns people in our church's 'Bethlehem Live' production.

Christmas was a blissful time of tree decorating, Mommy constantly listening to Christmas music (to the joy of Daddy, who is so immensely fond of holiday music), dinners with friends, church activities, and a lovely visit from Uncle Joshua & Auntie Heather.

Fun beating Uncle Joshua at connect four

Snuggles with Auntie Heather

Winter Birthdays:
Cousin Abigail turned 8 years old in December. Her Daddy & her step sisters came from WA to celebrate with her.

In January & February: 
*Gideon also turned 8 years old
*Cousin Aiden turned 2 years old
*Isaac turned 4 years old

Happenings of Fall 2012

#1. My boys have each grown 5 &1/2 feet since last fall.

 





   #2. Justin has been a bread-bakin' fool the past few months. Be jealous, ladies. Be very jealous. Not only is he the sexiest, best husband & daddy on the planet......he is amazing in the kitchen. He home-bakes most of the bread we eat now, which saves oodles of "dough" (yeah, I just said that), and tastes better. In this picture: Justin & the boys posing with some tasty pretzels they made together.

 

 

#3. Halloween happened.

The boys & their cousins went to our church's 'Trunk or Treat'. Abi was Snow White, Olivia was a kitty-girl, Aiden was a baby elephant, Jarod was a zombie (note the masterful paint job by yours truly), Titus was a monkey, Isaac was a bug, Micah was a karate-guy, and Gideon was a storm trooper. Seth was ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, and his friend, Logan, was a leprechaun-zombie, naturally. Eeek. They had a much-more-cool-party to go to, so they missed trunk-or-treating. I had forgotten to plan a costume for myself, so I decided, at the last minute, to just go as a mom of 6 boys.

 

 

 

#4. Olivia had her 6th birthday. (This should actually be #3, but I am fighting with the Blogger layout & it is kicking my tushy.) She is my shy, silly, sweet princess/kitty-cat-niece, aka: 'Yaya', and I adore her. She, also, has grown 5 & 1/2 feet since last fall.

 

#5. SweetTarts rocked the nursing home! OK....so, I know the last gig was supposed to be my last gig, but it was our lead singer's grandma's 80th birthday party. Couldn't pass that one up! But it's my last, last gig. I swear. Until the next last gig. (And this should really have been #1 on this list since it happened in September. Oh, well.) The SweetTarts have since left me in the dust, performing around the city in various cool places, gaining more popularity in the local music scene. Meanwhile, I  have turned back into the home-body I was created to be. I am still very involved in music, however, singing to my boys at bedtime, singing in the shower, and playing keyboard in the Celebrate Recovery Worship Band. I am also blessed to be able to, on occasion, go with a friend and sing hymns in another nursing home. Love it!

 

 

 

#6. The Black Plague hit our household. Every single one of us, except for Justin (who got it a week ago), were all sick with body aches, fevers, and the worst sore throats of our lives. I'm pretty sure it was strep, but my awesome naturopath (http://www.nuzumsnaturals.com/) helped us get through it with some natural remedies & such.

 

 

 

 

 

#7. Thanksgiving happened. All the local in-laws & cousins came for dinner, as well as my sweet friend, Robin. She was very, very, very brave. Justin did most of the cooking (yes....be jealous, ladies). Of course, I had to make my famous coffee cake recipe (which I stole from my mother-in-law) for breakfast, and a couple loaves of pumpkin bread & a couple pumpkin pies (which I made the day before).....but, other than that, I was able to chill most of the day. Jarod made yummy apple pies. Then he went outside with his brothers all day, to dig out a camouflaged "spider hole" so that we will be ready to defend our territory when the poop hits the fan. Thank you, honey, for watching 'Doomsday Preppers' with them.

 

 These "preppers" know how to get the job done....in comfort, and style.

After the turkey.  

 

 

#8. The sexy, bread-makin', weird-show-watching stud had a birthday. Apparently I didn't take a single picture of his party. He shares this birthday with his little sister, Auntie Jubilee. We all celebrated & went out to dinner.

 

And that was our Fall. The end.