My Sweet Gideon,

     You are changing so much lately; especially in your speech. Up until now you've been a little man of few words but now you are letting loose. And we can all see our reflection on you. At dinner, your sisters fill us in about almost every detail of their day...your Dad wonders how we can girls can talk so much. :) Anyway, you will chime in with this jibberish and then start laughing as if your trying to keep up with your sisters. We all get a good laugh.

   Apparently I say "do you want this or that?" of "did you do this or that?" And your reply is always "I do" or "I did". You talk to dad in regular conversations. When he arrives home from work you'll say "Hi Dad" and continue to tell him about whatever it is that your busily playing. The sweetest thing you said to me recently was out in our garden. We were preparing the dirt and I grabbed your plastic shovel to move some dirt. Unfortunately, it snapped and broke. You looked at me and it and I told you I was sorry. I scooped up the head of the shovel and kept working and you said "there you did it" in the most encouraging way.

   You are also an incredibly hard worker outside...you need a lot of encouraging to clean up inside. :) But you will work and work and work outside until I tell you that's enough its too hot, as your pale face is flush and hair is sweaty.

Some other things you do or say..."hold you" which means you want someone to hold you. "Hug" and you give loves. Scratch your eyebrow which is our family's way of saying "I love you" from afar. Take your chair in the kitchen to climb on and off counters when someone is baking, cooking, or cleaning-you are a part of everything.

You like watching old Lassie shows and shows without any words like Shaun the Sheep and old 50's cartoons. You play cowboy with your hat, horse and pop gun rifle to "get that bear" you say. You enjoy looking in the fridge or pantry for food to eat. You love to go in your sisters rooms when their in there and take some of their stuff which in turn they get a little annoyed by what you take...then it becomes a game for you. ;)

The girls heading out the door for their first spirit day!

And sometimes you surprise us by praying at dinner or bed...you'll fold your hands or we hold each others and you say "mama, daddy, nannan, jaj" apparently your praying for each of us.  Oh and much more but that will do for now. 

Love,

Devoted

This past weekend Daddy and I celebrated our anniversary...it is a joy to have someone so devoted for the last 2,924 days! Some things I love about your Dad...

He's SUPER smart!

He's a hard worker.

He's very humble...I think this is why God blesses him so much!

His blue eyes...we know he thinks their green but majority rules.

He will talk to me for 2 hours in the middle of the night...its usually a lot of reminiscing about when we met and our hopes and dreams as a couple and for you our children.

His jokes that come out of now where but I still think we (girls) are funnier!

He can fix just about anything; and he'll learn if he doesn't.

His laugh.

He enjoys being out and about exploring.

He's protective of each of us.

The way he can flex his pecs...it makes me laugh.

The way I can be a little at odds with your Dad and he makes me smile!

His dancing skills...those make us all laugh.

His BBQ dinners.

He's saved and puts God first and loves Jesus with all his heart!

Hard-working Dad.

Multi-tasking Dad...talking to Grandpa Luis, BBQing and holding Gideon.

Teaching Dad...showing Jocelyn how to really skip rocks.

Family Dad...just hanging out.

Love,

Change Up

I enjoy having a blog for keeping up with memories but I feel like it can be impersonal...since its purpose is to be a sort of memory book for my family.  The girls look forward to each new post and what it is I've shared about them. :)  I'm going to try something new.  I love to write...not type.  Write.  My family's used to my little or long letters/notes here and there...it comes natural for me.  We are a very sentimental family so all our letters/notes to each other are tucked away here and there, seriously...my husband kept a pink feather I gave him the first time we met that was taped to the top of my pen and had fallen off. :)  So I'm going to try this out here and see if it makes blogging more personal for me--less of a task.  Don't worry my sweet family...I'll still write you those hand written letters/notes.



My Sweet Gideon,

       This past weekend we celebrated Elle's birthday.  Rachel took this great photo of you and one of your sisters.  I cannot believe how each of you continues to grow inside and out.

      Gideon you are growing the most all around!  Lately, you've been waking up at 5:30am!  I am sleepily getting Daddy's lunch and coffee ready and who pops up but you!  The funny thing is you want to eat that very moment...and of course only pancakes will do.  Fortunately, you've taken to the oatmeal I whip up.  Let's save the pancakes for the weekend.  Speaking of pancakes, you also want them for lunch--that doesn't happen.  You've also started talking more and more.  The other day you said "Mama, Dozer scratch door."  What?  It was perfect.  I'm learning more about you every day.  Just this past week I've realized your a child that needs warning about things so you don't freak out.  I'll tell you 10 more minutes, 5 more minutes, 2 minutes, alright all done.  Everyone's happy.  I love you my Mister Gideon!

Love,

Week's Wrap Up

Wow, the first school week in nearly over!  I am happy to report that the girls had a fantastic first week.  Jazz has been super busy with both school work and cross country.  Joce has had a mellow beginning which fits her perfectly.  I love the time I spend with my family!  Last night, Joce was chatting to Jer and I about how her feet hurt from "walking over rocks and up stairs" at school.  We both laughed and Jer teased her a little about all that "work".  :)

Gideon and I had some visitors this week too.  We babysat Gideon's little friend Ali and her sister.  Ali and Gideon share the same birthday...I thought I'd post a photo of how much they've grown.

One year old

Two Years Old

And to wrap up...Gideon moved up to painting this week.  He's good with crayons and markers so I thought why not?  I did not attempt this unprepared...I laid a drop cloth under his table and chair and had a damp rag to clean up any spills.  And he was stripped down to his undies. It turned out great; love his concentration...he's hard at work! :)  I love being able to stay home with him!  I thank Jer everyday for his hard work for us! 

Oh and I almost forgot!  I have made laundry detergent in the past and it works great.  Proof is in the hubby.  I recently switched back to the commercial made and he says "my work shirts haven't been smelling as clean" so I made another batch yesterday and it turned out great!  Anyway this got me thinking what else can create; thus I sought out the expert...pinterest. :)  I found some stuff but wanted some proven results so I went to the next expert...google.  I finally found a glass cleaner, tub and shower cleaner and a wood cleaner...let's say this all cost me nothing more than what I had on hand and all worked like a charm; seriously!  And the plus was no weird fumes. :)  I LOVE the tub and shower cleaner!!!!  My shower sparkles and shines!  Don't get me wrong it was clean before it just lacked the luster. :)  Now there's nothing like Clorox...that's one thing I don't think I'll ever give up!  So if you want to try them just check out this pinterest board.  Enjoy your weekend!

What's Been Happening

Jocelyn had her first day of school with orientation...

Today is both girls first official day....

Gideon will be playing cowboy and when I asked him what he was doing at his desk he said "school". :)