Planting tomato seeds

Us =)
Meri and her babies =)

Good Morning baby James!!! He's like a magnet for the kids in the morning =)

A little bit of what's been going on around here:

*most of you probably have heard about my Dad's heart attack by now. I guess I used Facebook for updating. He's doing really good now and at home since Saturday. I was there at the hospital last week with my family.

*I got back Friday evening as he was doing really well and there were talking like he'd be able to go home soon.

*Saturday it was decided we'd do Linda and my bday party here. So, I got busy on a house left in turmoil and neglected all week.

*Sunday we had the party at lunch, minus Ben & Heather & family (we missed you guys!), then gospel mtg and a visitation to attend.

*Monday was a mega laundry catch up day (which is overflowing into today) and Larissa and Wyatt were here most of the day. The kids had fun sledding outside, and of course they found a mud patch (Yay, melting snow!!!) much to Tanya's and my delight...ha...

*Today I'm still playing catch up, I'm sure I will be for a while. But things are slowly returning to normal.

*Sunday I realized Meri must have grown. Each dress I pulled out for her to wear to mtg was TOO SMALL. So, I am hoping to dig through our loft and find her the next size of clothes. Good thing for hand me downs!

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Grandma Linda!
We hope you have a wonderful day =)

XOXOXOXO

Jacob, Emily, Meri & James

Awww...

Sweet baby boy You're getting so big

already...

Adoring sister Emily

"Can I hold him???" then "take a picture!!"

Time is flying! Have I said that before?? Yes, it still is. James is 3 1/2 weeks old now.

Our days are filled with baby & kid needs...but that's as it should be, I'm glad I can be here at home to meet their needs.

James is a very good baby, and he loves his swing. AND, he loves sleeping in his swing. Well, I love it too right now, because then I can sleep! As long as I keep a stock of batteries it's good =) I figure we'll have time later to ajdust to the bassinet/crib thing. He usually starts out in his bassinet and will sleep there a few hours, then he'll wake up and I'll nurse him and try to lay him back down in it, sometimes he'll sleep a bit longer in it, other times he's done. So, it's on to the swing we go. I have a hard time napping during the day, well, with 3 other non-napping kids what do you expect??! (Meri will nap once in a while but then she's wound up until later at night, where I'm ready for bed by oh, 6:30 or so ;-) not that I actually get to bed at that time!)SO, by nighttime I'm ready to crash. Oh well, tis to be expected!

Wishing you all a happy Valentine's Day in advance!

Sledders

Couldn't resist posting these videos. The kids and I were outside quite a bit that afternoon, because it was warm (30ish) and beautiful out. I think I was having a bout of cabin fever because I just needed to be outside! So they enjoyed sledding and I took some pictures and then ended up helping Meri sled because she was having some difficulties...All in all, we had fun, and it was so refreshing to be outside!

It's hard to believe...

...that James is now 2 weeks old ALREADY. Here's the little boy just a few days ago. He's captured our hearts, well, that was right from the very start, but we just love this little bundle & give him all the cuddles we can =) He is a very alert baby when he's awake, he's always looking around with his big blue/brown eyes. Jake is hoping they turn brown like his eyes, which, I think they look pretty dark and might just do that. Or will they be blue like daddy's and Meri's?? Either way, he's a keeper =) Dressed in his Sunday best, a flannel of course =) He did wonderful in his first meeting, he slept through the whole thing and then some. I think it was 4+ hours total! He is a very content baby so far, but he will let us know when he's hungry, of course and that he hates having his diaper changed.
As I know how fast these last 2 weeks have FLOWN by, I think before I know it he will be a couple months old and it's a good reminder to me to CHERISH. EVERY. MOMENT. Even the 11, 1, 3, & 5 a.m. feedings because that's what he needs right now, and it will not last forever. So I will snuggle my little baby boy and rub his soft little head and smell his sweet baby smell and enjoy each day with him.

Looking back 2 weeks ago already, more pics from the hospital....

Proud, happy daddy Tired, happy mama

I got a kick out of Meri checking out her new baby brother...."hmmm, do his toes stink like my big brothers?"

"He has a little nose!!" I also remember her saying excitedly, "HE HAS EARS!!" =)