Weekend with Grandparents

Nathan's parents were able to spend the weekend with us. Our time together is usually packed with all kinds of things. We went to a fun center where the kids got to run around. Last time Tirzah didn't enjoy this place very much. This time...well, let's just say that I followed her around for awhile and was exhausted! After climbing up, over, around and sliding down about 10 times Grandma was brave and took a turn (or two!).

Here they are just starting the climb. Out of respect for my mother-in-law I won't post all of the climbing pictures. I'll just say that she did a great job! This picture is kind of dark, but there are three slides that actually go pretty fast. Keziah is on the middle slide and Grandma and Tirzah are getting ready on the slide on the left.

And she made it down! All in one piece I might add. I think she deserves some kind of medal for that, don't you? Then she was brave enough to do it all again. Kudos to Grandma!

The next day we began a project that ended up being a little bit more that we had anticipated. While we were busy on the project Grandpa played catch with Josiah.

And here's the big project. Getting rid of old, stinky dirt and carpet in the sun room. We're not really sure why it was in there to begin with. Later Nathan busted out the brick wall he is in front of. I'll try to remember to post more pictures of this project as time goes on.

All of the kids were big helpers. Here Titus is having fun digging in the dirt. (Yes, the dirt goes all the way to the bottom!)

All of that dirt had to go somewhere. We had no trouble finding uses for it. Of course, Tirzah likes to help.

After working for many hours on this project, we decided to call it good for the day. So Grandma played a game with the older kids...

while Tirzah and Grandpa played chase on their scooters. It was so cute. Grandpa's scooter has a button that when pressed it beeps. Tirzah started calling him Grandpa beeps. I think that name might stick (for awhile anyway).

Grandma took our picture before we left for church and they left for home (they had a long drive ahead of them). This was about as good as it got.

When we got home from church Tirzah walked around the house asking, "Where Grandpa beep go?" :)

Michigan Gosherts

A couple of weeks ago we met up with our sister-in-law and her kids from Michigan. It had been almost two years since our kids had seen their only Goshert cousins. We had a lot of fun together, even if our time was so short!

Here are the boys playing baseball...



I think Tirzah enjoyed hanging out with her cousin Andrew...especially since he was just her size!



Keziah and Abby had fun on the tire swing.

We had a lot of fun with Aunt Katie and the kids!

The Goshert cousins...

We can't wait to hang out with you again! Hopefully Uncle Joshua can join us next time. :)

Saying 'Yes'

I was reading a friend's blog recently and she was talking about how she felt like she was always telling her boys 'no'. And most of the things she was saying 'no' to were not things that were harmful or destructive, it just required a little more effort and energy on her part. So she was going to try to say 'yes' more. For things that really didn't matter. I could really relate to her thoughts! That's exactly how I've been feeling. So many times I say 'no' simply because of my own selfishness. So I've been trying to say 'yes' more.

Saturday I had a perfect opportunity to try this out and it turned out to be something so fun! I needed to get a few groceries and all of the kids wanted to come along. 'Yes'. After we got our groceries and headed for home we saw a truck full of corn, heading to the elevator. One of the kids asked if we could follow the truck. 'Yes.' Oh they thought that was so funny! As the truck turned off to the elevator it dropped some corn on the road. Someone asked, "Can we pick up some corn?" 'Yes'. They all piled out and started gathering corn, like little squirrels getting ready for winter. They were so excited they actually got to get some! When we got home they got busy playing The Little House on the Prairie. It kept them busy for hours. And it was completely worth saying 'yes'!

Thank you Lord, for saying 'yes' to me when I asked to be a mommy!

No video :(

I had a super cute video I've been trying to upload of Tirzah dancing and singing on her sister's bed. I really wanted to show it to you but I can't get it onto my blog. So I guess you'll just have to come over and see it on my computer!

Instead, here's a picture of daddy giving Tirzah trumpet lessons.

Birthday & Apples

Friday was Keziah's 9th birthday. Where, oh where does the time go? We had fun celebrating with her!

I got a few belated birthday gifts...thanks Audrey!

My mom got to come for the weekend. Titus said she came to "look at what we were doing." Hee, hee! That's what he said to Papa Chet on the phone. Too cute! Actually she brought us some apples from their trees. Oh so yummy! All of the kids were helping at some point, but Josiah became quite proficient in using the apple peeler/corer/slicer. We made apple sauce and sliced a bunch to freeze.

Mom was up bright and early (No, never mind. She was up so early that it was still dark!) working on apples. It was so fun to work on it together! Thank you mom!!!

Big Girl Bed

This past week Tirzah moved out of her crib and into a big girl bed. She had been attempting to climb out of her crib and since the floor in the girls' room is hard, we decided it was time to move her...before there was a serious injury!

She really seems to like her new bed. She feels all big and grown up.
She also really likes being close to her big sister (and, truth be told, I think her big sister likes having her close too!).

Most of the time, though, she would rather climb right into bed with her big sister. And since Keziah doesn't mind having her there, we usually just let her be.

It's so hard to believe that my little baby girl is so big!

Spoiled!!

This past week I celebrated another birthday. This year Nathan decided to shop for my gifts on-line. The "problem" with this is that once the gifts came they were burning a hole, so to speak, in Nathan's pocket. So several days prior to my birthday he started letting the kids give me a gift. Somehow it was always at mealtime, so most all of the pictures of me opening gifts was at the table.

Let the fun begin! The gift bag of choice for the week was Tirzah's pink travel bag. Too funny! Yet, somehow very appropriate!

On the morning of my birthday the gift Josiah gave me was in his book bag.

Throughout the week I was showered with many gifts. I felt spoiled rotten! One of my favorite gifts was a book called Shopping for Time; How to Do It All and NOT Be Overwhelmed. This was a very appropriate book for me. In fact I dove right in and finished it already! Granted, it's a very short book, but still...I finished a book! It has some great advice based on Scripture for how to shop for time. I highly recommend it!

Nathan and the kids picked out a small brownie cake for me. I must say, though, that I feel like the candles should be turned around!!!

All in all it was a good day. A good week! I am so thankful for my family!

By the way, just in case you were wondering...the cake was enjoyed by all! :)