Cuneiform

We have been studying Egypt since the beginning of October, we have done lots of really neat crafts. Right now our mummified chicken is on week 3 and it is working! 3 more weeks and he will be done.
Today we made salt dough tablets with cuneiform writing. The above one is Austin's and it says "God is Good" The bottom left is Zachary's and says his name and the other is Natalie's which also says her name.
This evening we pulled out the playdough and practised writing messages to each other.
I thought is was pretty neat to have my 3 years old know what cuneiform was and figuring out the what symbols were what letters. Smart little man.

Waiting for Daddy

All my children have done this around this age. The time daddy gets home from work is just so exciting. Sometimes I wonder if my baby can tell time. Around the same time every afternoon she crawls up onto the sofa to look out the window. Sometimes I say " oh not yet Ray-Ray" "soon". And she just lights up.

Since about 8 months she has clearly said "hi dad". I don't think there is anything more great than to see your children SO happy there daddy is home. And I am just so thankful I married a man that is just as happy to see them at the end of a day.

A day at home.

I feel so blessed! I had such a wonderful day with my little beauties today.

We all were up quiet late since we had home church in the evening. So it was a late start to our morning. I love how every morning all five of my children crawl into my bed for morning chatter.

With my older ones we discuss our plans for the day what we would like to get done and what we may do.

After we got the breakfast chores done we headed to our school room and got as much as we could done. We breaked for lunch and then did some more. After school I got caught up on the laundry ( speaking of laundry I have been making my own laundry soap that I will be posting about) and the children headed outside until it was starting to get dark. When they came in from the chilly October temps the house was peaceful and calm with dinner in the oven and the warm glow of candles. I love fall it makes me love with being a homemaker.

After our evening meal together I ran my little's a nice warm bubble bath and sat in there listening to there games. While Chris went over bible verses with the older boys.

This is what makes my life great! Being home with my husband and children. The contentment, the peace, the joy. We are not effected by outside elements, yes life still happens and there are things that will come that we can not control but with the Lord we will get through life together as a family.

Born Alive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPF1FhCMPuQ (part 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8B1nKGIAeg (part 2)

Telling The Family

Saturday was such a fun evening together. We had been planning for a while on how we were going to tell the kids and we thought this would be fun.
After dinner we put the cake in the middle of the table and asked them to read it. It took them a few mins to clue it but as soon as they got it they were yelling and cheering.
My older 2 have been praying for quiet sometime now so it really blessed me to see how pleased they were. Chris has been a great example to them.

Baby's First Birthday

I went to the hospital at 8:30am on the Friday. My doctor broke my water right away. Nothing happened. So at 11:30am I said "ok lets start some oxytocin cause this is really not happening "LOL So at noon they started a drip. This isn't the way I had wanted things to go, but in the moment I ended up changing my mind. I labored on the ball the whole time. But we couldn't keep track of the baby's heart beat since I was refusing to change positions. So they had to put a scalp monitor on. So when I got on the bed for the doctor to do that. It was a matter of mins and I was pushing.At 1:23pm We had a BABY!!!

It has been such a wonderful year watching her grow. She is loved very much.

On Sunday we celebrated with family. It was lots of fun.

Once everyone went home we jumped in the truck and went bowling. The kids love bowling and it is so much fun.

Things Rachael is doing:

Crawling

Walking around things

Taking steps in between things.

Says:

bye-bye

hi

Mama

dad

Aust (austin)

Zach

baby

Nummy (yummy)

peek a boo

puppy

bob (we don't know why she says this LOL)

Nods her head for yes.

uh-oh

banana

Pumpkin Patch

Pouring Out

Fall has come! It has been beautiful, we have spent a few afternoons playing in the park. I love the crisp fall air, it makes me feel totally fresh and renewed.

I sat at the park picnic table the other day

playing patty-cake with my little one and my heart was bursting with joy. I was scanning the play ground watching the other children with their bright red cheeks and there runny nose from the cool air and I thought I seriously have the best life.

I have been thinking about how Jesus calls us to be servants. He says the greatest are the stooped. The humble are exalted. Jesus poured his life into 12 men day and night. And through the power of the Holy Spirit those men turned the world upside down for Christ. I want that to be my testimony. I want to pour my life into theirs. I want to make it my ambition to love them well, to show them Jesus EVERYDAY. I want them to one day leave my little school of discipleship and go be world changers.

But even before the children I have completely devote myself to my husband. Who truly does love me the way Christ loves the church. God has blessed me with a wonderful man who makes my job alot easier. I love him selfishly the same way I want to be loved.

Mama's for those who are reading take time to cuddle your babies, even the big ones. Let the mess sit for a while. When your tucking your toddler into bed for a nap crawl in with him and watch him fall asleep. I promise your heart will be full. When your driving in the van sing with them. Today I took my 3year olds' cool little hand and we walked through the yard. It was so wonderful to hear the excitement in his voice to show me what he has built.

The winds have calmed down now. We were having gusts up to 80klms/hr I have a pleasant cool breeze blowing through my window. I think I am going to curl up with my book now and then go to sleep. We have a full day tomorrow which I am very much looking forward to