Family Life

My blog has been super boring but the Little Yellow House has not. :) We have been busy busy around here and it has been good. If I could remember/learn how to post pictures this blog would be much more interesting. The things that intimidate me are hilarious, are they not? :)

God has blessed Clay with one photography job after the other which has been a blessing. I am so proud of him and how hard he works for us. He has also been getting all kinds of great WW2 stuff from the library for him and I. We read these two comic books (I know...weird) about a man that was in a concentration camp. They were so good! And then we watched The Hiding Place and The Pianist. Both great movies about Europe at that time. The Pianist, in my girlie opinion, was a little graphic and violent. But over all an incredible story. I finished a small biography about Corrie ten Boom and Clay just finished Night. Clay LOVES the public library system, he cracks me up at how excited he gets when things come in. I am thankful for him.

Ellie is more beautiful and full of personality everyday. :) She is merging from toddler to little girl, her face and fingers are growing more thin and elegant. And her interest in toys and activities is changing. She is a sweetie!!

Athanasius is walking like a pro now, and loving it! He is different than Eleanor. Eleanor loves people and enjoys doing everything with Mommy, Athanasius will go off by himself and play all by himself perfectly content. Clay and I have to make an effort to include him at times because he is so happy by himself. So I guess God thought it would be interesting to give us two opposites. :) Athan loves going outside and playing in the sand box. He rearranges Daddy's books and my mixing bowls...they are two great kids!

And me? I am in the middle several projects...of course. :) When they will be completed I haven't the foggiest idea. But I enjoy it, and it blesses me. I made yogurt for the first time and loved it! It seems to get better and better each time. I am learning life is a process and it is okay that it has taken us four or five weeks to paint our kitchen.

As a household He is teaching us to be thankful. As I write this I can barely move my neck because it is messed up, again. I was just at the chiropractor's last week. But I know that God loves me and bearing His cross many times means suffering. And without suffering I probably wouldn't love God or try to keep His commandments. So I have had to thank God for my neck hurting and throbbing, and you know what? It doesn't hurt quite as bad when my attitude is in check. But sometimes I am having to check it minute by minute...we are weak creatures aren't we?

I have been wanting to post for awhile and this what I came up with. :) Have a restful evening!

Good Words Friday

That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; That our daughters may be as pillars sculptured in palace style...

Psalm 144
A Psalm of king David

Good Words Friday

"It would be possible to describe everything scientifically, but it would make no sense; it would be with out meaning, as if you described a Beethoven symphony as a variation of wave pressure."

-Albert Einstein

This was found in a Dan Winters photography book that we really enjoy. Clayton has learned a lot about lighting and portraiture photography from Winters style. Some of his work is a little out there, but for the most part we appreciate his simple and classy approach.

Ellie Speaks~

Ellie: "Mommy, how much longer until I will be a mommy?"

Me: "Well...I was 20 when I became a Mommy so you have about 17 more years to go." :)

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Ellie: "When I am a Mommy I am going to kill cows and horses so I can feed my kids."

We asked her if she wanted to be a farmer but she said no.

~~~~~~~~~

Ellie: "Buddy (Athanasius) when you become a man I am going to marry you, when you grow up."

I love it! The simplicity of a three year old...

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Ellie: "Mom, I drew a Beaded Mexican Dragon, do you like it?"

(youtube...the poor man's cable :)

Good Words Friday

Well, Friday is almost over but I still made it. These words are from the wise Jane Austen. I started Northanger Abbey last week and am really enjoying it. I asked Clay if we have a little girl next what he thought about the name Austen? He said , " Would people first think Austin, TX or Jane Austen ?" Good point. That name is out.


"...Compliments on good looks now passed; and, after observing how time had slipped away since they were last together, how little they had thought of meeting in Bath, and what a pleasure it was to see an old friend, they proceeded to make inquiries and give intelligence as to their families, sisters and cousins, talking both together, far more ready to give than to receive information, and each hearing very little of what the other said."


I wonder...am I a giver or a taker in conversations? Thanks Jane, since we are friends now, for bringing that to my attention. :)

Good Words Friday

"Fear God, and Keep His commandments."


My husband and I have been thinking/talking about this lately. It is so simple. On the days that I feel overwhelmed with my tasks or feel like I am lacking as a wife and mother if I remind myself that this is my focus everything else seems to line up in place. The dishes do not seem like that big of deal and playing with my kiddos is that much sweeter. And somehow, just somehow :) , when my heart and mind are focused on this great truth I spend more time with my children AND the to do list gets scratched off. God is good. Have a blessed weekend!

Mondays

Mondays are for laundry. There is something so wonderful about clean, fresh laundry and what better time than the beginning of the week? Mondays are for baking cookies for the week, and having your helper along with you. Mondays are for sweeping after a busy, in and out weekend. Mondays are for wiping off counters and sinks. Mondays are for clean and beautiful starts to the week. I really love Mondays, I know, weird. I hope you have had a blessed day and are enjoying Christ and His Goodness.

Good Words Friday

'Charity' now means simply what used to be called 'alms' -- that is, giving to the poor. Originally it had a much wider meaning. (You can see how it got the modern sense. If a man has 'charity', giving to the poor is one of the most obvious things he does, and so people came to talk as if that were the whole of charity. In the same way, 'rhyme' is the most obvious thing about poetry, and so people come to mean by 'poetry' simply rhyme and nothing more.) Charity means 'Love, in the Christian sense.' But love, in the Christian sense, does not mean an emotion. It is a state not of the feelings but of the will; that state of the will which we have naturally about ourselves, and must learn to have about other people.

- C. S. Lewis from Mere Christianity

Ellie Speaks~

Eleanor and I have a time each night right before bed, just me and her, when we simply talk. We call it..."talk time"...how appropriate. She loves it. She will ask me sometimes, "Mommy are we going to have our talk time tonight?" :) We have some fun and silly conversations but I also try to review the day with her. Like we have been struggling with nap time. So I try to encourage, teach, and prepare her for the next day. And I ask her things like the following...I never know what she is going to say.

Me -- "Eleanor what is something you are thankful for?"

Ellie -- "Ummm...my toys!"

Me -- "I am thankful for you, Daddy, Nayshe, and Jesus."

Ellie -- "I am NOT thankful for all the pretend gods, I like my God the best."

(Clayton has been reading through the psalms so she hears a lot about idols and once he explained them as pretend gods to help her understand.)



~ "Buddy, one day when you are a little bit older I am going to marry you." :)


~ "Daddy, can I marry you?"


~ "Buddy, I love you, even though you are my brother." (She cracks me up.)


~ "Can you wake up Buddy?" (I just put him to bed...she asks this everyday.)

~ "Mommy, I thought I was going to like this dinner, but actually I do not." (What a sweet way of saying...this dinner stinks! Actually Clay and I were having a hard time with it too. :) New recipe...)

Ellie

We did another Marie Madeline shoot. Isn't this outfit and purse so adorable? Ellie is so sweet and a trooper to be our little model. :0)

Lunches

For four years I have packed my husband a lunch everyday for work. And to be honest I haven't really enjoyed it all that much. I did not complain or vocalize my dislike, it was just "one of my chores" that I have to do. But this summer it hit me, making my husband's lunch is a GREAT way to show him how much I love him, to refresh him with a little bit of home while he is out in the world, and just a great way to surprise him! So I have bought things that are only for Daddy's lunch. For example, plums, cottage cheese, roasted peanuts. If I have made a batch of cookies (which we pretty much always have cookies, because I have a little helper that LOVES to help) he gets cookies, if I have pears he gets a pear, if I made popcorn the night before I save some in a baggie. And the response I have gotten from Clay is hilarious! Yesterday he called me the lunch queen...I have always wanted to achieve that status. :) He has been so blessed by this little adjustment in my attitude, and so have I! It is fun to pack his lunches now because there is an element of creativity and love that wasn't there before. I just wish I would have thought of this a little earlier, but I thank God (and my husband) for His patience with me! So happy lunch packing!

Fourth of July Visit~

We had so much fun with my family at the fourth! We are so thankful for the time with them since it doesn't happen nearly as often as we would all like. This is a little photo shoot Clay did in our upstairs, notice the fresh walls behind everyone! We did a joint birthday party for the kiddos. They are two years and 10 days apart. They are so funny!







































This is the major slip n slide at the 4th picnic! Ellie loved it, we are so thankful Joseph kept taking her down. Thank you Joseph! You really blessed a little three year old. This last picture is after the slide, tired and cold. :) Sorry it took me soooo long to get these up, maybe one day (probably not...) I will be more on top of things. Have a wonderful day!

Marriage

Clay and I celebrate four years of marriage today! I know, four whole years. It has gone by so quickly. Do you ever look at your life and think "when did all this happen?" Sometimes I think that. I sit back and think, "wow. I have a loving husband, two happy children...but I still feel like a child myself." :) I am so thankful for the husband and friend Clay is and for the life and beauty he gives me. I could get all mushy and embarrass myself, so I will stop. Know that I am a happy woman.

We celebrated by going to Panera (even though I worked there in college I really love it) Clay likes it too but thinks it is more like a snack. :) Then we ran into Target. We live in Springfield but I am amazed how little we go to the south side. Just had to check the clearance. Then off to Redeemed book store. Clay and I love it. We were so excited to go without the kids. :) It is a lot easier to look around. Then we dashed downtown because, of course, we had to end the evening with a little photography. Clay just purchased a new lens, it is a wide angle. I Love it! Maybe I can get the pictures up soon.

Miss Eleanor and Mr. Athanasius spent a very fun evening with close friends. They are an elderly couple and the kids love them. This morning when I got Ellie dressed she asked, "are we ready to go?" I explained that we are going on our date after their afternoon nap. Around 9:30 this morning she asked me if it was time for her nap yet. :) When we picked them up this evening the first thing Ellie said to me was, "Can I stay for one more minute?" :) I am so thankful for these friends! Not having family is hard, in many respects. So, a night like this does not happen for Clay and I very often. I am learning how refreshing a small break like this is and the investment it is in our marriage.

Four years ago today at this time we were in St. Augustine FLA, in a suite on the beach. It was lovely and beautiful. But I would rather be in the midwest, in this little yellow house with my three loves...and how I hope for many more years together.

What to do with the cucumbers...

Smitten Kitchen is a great blog for fun and beautiful recipes. This one looks beautiful and yummy, and you can put some of those cucumbers to use! Happy Harvesting!

Maggie's

If you haven't been to Maggie's on Commercial Street you haven't lived! For a thrift store junkie like me this is true. It looks pretty frumpy on the out side, but inside it is really great. The prices are good and cheap. Today I found several items I had been wanting...tap shoes for Miss Ellie, a white button down shirt for me, a vintage tin for my counter, a vintage embroidered table runner, and a red/white gingham table runner that I am going to use for a dish towel...all this for $5.50! Things like this make me pretty excited. If any one makes a visit let me what you think, Happy Thrifting!!

New Favorite Blog

Nourishing Days is my new favorite blog. Mainly because she gives me hope and encouragement for our new diet. Some months ago I started feeling pretty rotten, everyday. We thought I was pregnant because I was nauseated and tired, what felt like all the time. I felt like this for months, I was afraid to go anywhere by myself because at times I thought I would pass out. A couple days of Daddy staying home from work and a blessed doctor's visit, we found out I had quite a few food allergies/sensitives. I never thought my symptoms could be food allergies. As soon as I cut those foods out my symptoms went away! Don't get me wrong, I still get tired --- I have two littles to love on all day long. But it isn't the fatigue like before, that was like fluish feeling --- wanting to crawl into bed and stay there. We have learned a lot about food allergies and the causes. You may have food allergies and not know it. Additives and preservatives, stress, eating too much of the same food, and other factors are all causes. But, our bodies have the ability to heal themselves and we are hoping mine does.

Our food budget is the highest it has ever been, and me, miss cheapo is okay with that. My food prep sometimes takes a little longer. And it is tricky when people invite us over b/c I have to ask what they are preparing and I feel awkward doing so. I feel awkward because before this I thought "what is the thing with all this gluten free???" And I pray they are not thinking that. No compassion. That's the great thing about suffering, compassion and obedience are produced. I am SO thankful this happened to me. We are eating healthier than we ever have, and I have only scratched the surface --- I am much more understanding and prayerful of peoples needs --- and I feel closer to our Lord than I have in a long time. Anyhow...enough about me and my food issues :) check out this blog and look at her recipes and try one. Just do it, I get intimidated and then I do try something and think "why did it take me soooo long to try that?" :) Bon Appetit! (from Julie and Julia, good movie.)

Ellie Speaks~

So the house across the street is getting a lot of remodeling done. Ellie is looking out the window, "Mommy, they are naked!" Can you guess...two of the guys do not have their shirts on. "Mommy are they honoring themselves, they are wicked." I then proceed to explain that yes, they are honoring themselves, but sometimes people do not have someone to teach them how to honor God and obey him, like you do Ellie. We don't want a little three year old pharisee around the house. :) (We have been reading through the psalms so she hears a lot about the wicked! )


Tonight Clay were sitting on the couch and the kids were in Ellie's room, which is off of the living room. They were playing and jabbering away when we hear a "clunk" then, "a baby's cry" and then sweet Ellie, "Oh! I'm sorry Buddy! Will you forgive me?" She runs into the living room, "I hit brother on the head with a toy, but it was an accident." And then she also asked us to forgive her. :) Back into the room she goes...we were cracking up.

The other day in a store she was in the cart and we were going past this other family, the kid was flipping out. Ellie says, right there in front of them (and loudly), "What is wrong with him??" Go faster! Get away! Is all I thought. She will also tell kids kids to "Stop it" if they are throwing a fit. Fortunately, she usually whispers this under her breath in this very serious voice. She is crazy, I love taking her places. :) It is always a little bit more exciting.

When it Rains it Pours...and Then There is Sunshine!

Do you ever have one of those days? I know you do, we all do. I didn't really feel like I had those days until I became a Mommy! I didn't really feel like I had trials until I became a Mommy, what was I learning before then?? :) Well we had a day this week that was a testing of faith for us. A.) Athanasius came down with the chickenpox B.) Our car broke down and my husband had to get a ride home from work. C.) Our dentist sent me a bill for a visit from last month, which I had paid at the time. "I will not freak out, I will not freak out. God loves us, and He is good." This is what I kept telling myself, a lot. This all happened on Wednesday. When my husband called our mechanic he said he probably wouldn't even be able to LOOK at it until Monday. Clayton took his chances since he likes this guy. Thursday rolls around and the car is towed that morning, the dentist office made a mistake, Athanasius still had the chicken pox and will for a little while, but $500 later with a new starter and battery our car came home! Our mechanic found out it was our only car and fit us in, I don't how. Look at all that sunshine! And also, my husband came home with a rifle! Bizarre, I know. The fellow teacher that was going to take Clayton from work to the auto place just invited him home to hang around there (the car wasn't going to be ready for a couple hours) and they started talking about guns. Clayton has been wanting a gun for awhile but it never seems to make it on the priority list, so he was really blessed by this. It is crazy big and I'm not what I think about it. But Ellie was trying to comfort me and said she wanted a pink gun and asked if I wanted a yellow or purple gun? :) She is so sweet. Since it has mostly been an indoor week for us, which isn't the norm, Clayton took Ellie on a date to the zoo. She was so excited! I asked her to look at the giraffe for me because they are my favorite. She said, " Well, probably I will look at the monkeys, I like them more."

I hope you have a good weekend, enjoying Christ, no matter your circumstances.

Picking the Apples of Your Life

My husband wanted me to read this. It encouraged and blessed me, as I hope it will for you -- if you need it.

Three years ago...

...A little girl was born at home (with the assistance of two wonderful midwives). Two weeks early she came at 8lbs. 3 oz. --- we were thankful she was early. She had a head full of dark hair that is now blond, and beautiful blue eyes. She isn't a baby anymore but a three year old little lady. Eleanor is sweet, talkative, crazy about her little brother, Mommy's helper and Daddy's partner. When Ellie was born we didn't know ANYTHING about babies, I remember calling a friend from church about all the ways to burp a baby! Poor Ellie...I'm so thankful she is still alive! ha ha--- In these three years we have learned so much. We know how to burp a baby now, but God has mostly taught us about love, mercy, forgiveness, longsuffering, compassion, self control, creativity, prayer, faith, trust, and joy. Children are an inheritance and HAPPY are Clay and I because our quiver is getting filled. Those that put off children are missing out, not just on the fun and hilarity that kids are, but their sanctification process --- you want to learn all the stuff Paul teaches us to be with each other, the body of Christ, have kids. Have children, trust God, and enjoy the ride!

So, back to Eleanor...the other day she was telling me that a turtle is a turtle but a shark is...bigger. And today, Clay was talking about an ipod he wants to purchase and she keeps calling it a seedpod. That's my girl! What a gift God has given us, us who are young and clueless --- but us who are trying to live faithfully. We love you Ellie!!

Now...one year ago Athanasius was born! He was also born at home, with a head full of hair, three days over due weighing 8lbs. 1oz. And BOY what a blessing he has been to our home, he spiced up the personality just a little bit more. He is a boy, he loves to bang things, pull things out of my cabinets, play with big sis or take what big sis has. He looks little but he is strong and precise, he isn't clumsy. He is my cuddle bug, and loves when Daddy comes home. He has received three haircuts thus far. And Ellie everymorning, with out fail ask, "Can I get my brother." :) We love you Athanasius!! Happy Birthday to our babies and thank You God for allowing us to love and shepherd them!

Easter Part I

We are back from the dead! :) Here are some pictures from our Easter. Clay and Ellie went to church a lone because Athanasius had an ear infection and I was (still am) sick of sickness, so I wanted to nurse him back to complete health. These are pictures from when they got home from church and after lunch. I hope to post more of Ellie and Daddy in their Easter outfits and our lunch.


We did the "Resurrection eggs" activity with Ellie. It was so fun! She really enjoyed it and Clay and I had a good time getting it together and starting an Easter tradition.


Mommy is about to go and hide them...


She is about to go hunt down her eggs...really excited!





It was so fun watching her find them...and helping a little. :)


Waiting patiently for Daddy to find his place. (Each egg has something inside that goes along with the story of the crucifixion and resurrection and bible reading)


Opening an egg...this was her favorite part.


Athanasius enjoying the fun!


After we finished with the eggs we thought it would be fun to go to Dowling Park and see the geese. Well...Ellie didn't get a nap and fell asleep on the way there. We only live about five minutes from the park. :)


Athan, wide eyed and ready.


We think Ellie could have stayed right there in that spot for hours. What you don't know is that she is calling to the geese, "Come geese, come!" Over and over... :)


Athanasius doing his thing in the stroller.


Doesn't this look like a painting?


Two of my favorite people!




A very tired Eleanor, but thankful for the thing she is holding. Whenever she finds something like this I'm like, "Yeh honey, that's a seed pod." Clay makes fun of me. --- Hopefully more pictures to come!

~Spring Wreath~

This is a wreath I made today, I found all the supplies at Hobby Lobby for half off! I might add a few more sprigs in a couple places. I was going for a just picked from the garden/ shabby chick/romantic look. I like it!

Would You like to upsize this post for $.40? Umm...sure why not, right? (This is my supersize post)

Part 1:
Clay's birthday was on the fourth, after his special dinner we went to the park. It was fun, we really like parks. :) The static from the slides is worth the sacrifice.


Ellie lovingly getting Athan to look at the camera, gotta love their chemistry.






Me and Ellie ready to slide, notice the static.



The photographer is on the other side of the camera. What a great Daddy he is!

Part 2:
Friday was so beautiful! We spent hours outside. I could not bare to be inside.

She is very adamant about being strapped in. Really!



Athan doing what he does...chewing on his cup. Very creative he is.




Brother and Sister love!


She got it! Ellie's mission in life is to kiss and hug this boy. Sometimes I have to gently tell her to give him a little break.




I'm not giving the evil eye, my left eye is just weird. :)


Look Mom, no hands! --- See, now that's creative.


God gives and God takes away...Ellie looking out the window at rain yesterday. And this morning we woke up to snow on the ground and ice on the trees. But the sun will be back, right? It is Spring after all.

We are home with sickly littles, all this up and down with the weather what else is to be expected? Just colds but we didn't think our friends at church would appreciate all the nose wiping! Enjoy your day and Christ!