Miscellaneous

Here are just a few photos I took over the last week. I thought you all might enjoy.

Yard Work

Eric revving up his new chainsaw to cut down alders.

Our house with the new cleared area.

Me planting raspberries

We were able to do some outdoor work while the weather was nice this weekend. Eric cut down all of the alders on our property and trimmed up some limbs on the evergreens. I was able to escape for a couple of hours while the kids were sleeping and plant the raspberries a friend gave us. I hope to get some more. It felt so good to work outside in the sun!

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

Benaiah is now a big boy in a big bed. He started sleeping in his new toddler bed this past week. It has "Cars" sheets and a "Cars" blanket my mom made for him. Life presently consists of "Cars," helicopters, airplanes, poo poo, potty, apple juice, Daddy and "town." (Not necessarily in that order!)

Birdies

I took a couple of photos of the kiddos before church. I know I am preferential as their mom, but aren't they cute?

Sickies

Eric and Benaiah have both been sick with sore throats and coughs this week. Here they are sucking on spoon fulls of honey. Benaiah thinks this is a great idea and should be continued indefinitely!

Bye-bye Binky

Boys tired out after the excitement

Lots of help blowing out candles

Binky in a tree

The big boy ready to release his pal

Benaiah had a "Bye-bye binky" party this last Thursday. Mary, Josiah, Anna and Esther joined us to bid farewell to a fond friend. Kristina had given me the idea, and Benaiah's binky was starting to look like it needed to join the other binkies in the sky. So, that's just what we did.

We tied his binky to several helium balloons and watched it float away. Unfortunately, the wind caught the balloons and the binky now resides in a nearby tree, instead of a home in the sky! But he thinks it is gone now. If you see a crow flying around with something in his beak that looks like a yellow binky, wonder no more!

After bidding farewell, we came inside for the only reason he would let go of his bink, a "Cars" cake. Mary gave me some good ideas and it was really fun to make.

Benaiah is now, officially a big boy!

Tribute to Benaiah

Benaiah loves his play dough. He likes to make roads for his cars and loves destroying whatever I might make him, all the while saying pitifully, "Oh no! Oh no!"

We're working on potty training. He likes to look at toy magazines on the pot!

Cowboy Ben

Cool Ben

All dressed up for church

Christmas time

Silly Ben

What's that on your face, Noelle?

Benaiah is a wonderful big brother!

Benaiah also turned two years old on Valentines Day. He had his cousins, aunt and uncle and grandma here for his party. He's really a big boy, a big helper and great fun!

Tribute to Noelle

Our sweet little angel

The proud big brother

Noelle at Christmas

Here, Noelle is eating some of her first rice cereal and bananas. Yum!

Noelle and Esther Mae are close cousins. Esther was born in February and Noelle was born in November. In this pic. they are 4 months and 1 month old.

Noelle is such a joy. In fact, I have often thought that if we could choose her middle name again, I would choose "joy." She thrives on any eye-to-eye contact and conversation she receives and loves to smile and laugh. Her name actually means "Christmas." I pray she will always proclaim Jesus' birth!

Becky Leaves

A few weeks ago, Becky left us for her new home. I miss her so much already. You can tell "Aunt" Becky is one of Benaiah's favorites!

I'm Back!

Well, after nearly one year, I am going to attempt to make a new post. (Now that probably no one checks my blog anymore!)
We have settled into a new normalcy of life since Noelle has been added to our Bird nest. Having two children is twice as wonderful, but certainly twice as intense!
This past week, we have been having some warmer temperatures and some actual sunshine. (You can tell we live in SE Alaska, since Benaiah runs around the house and says, "Sunshine, sunshine," whenever a sunbeam comes through our window.) We have been able to get outside and do some work around our house. I've been setting up a flower bed and doing some landscaping and Eric started on cutting down all the alders around our house, where we will develop a lawn and place for the kids to play. I feel set free, being able to work outside again!