Friday Update

I am so enjoying the fragrant lilacs in our yard.

Yesterday was a great day!

Hazel spent the morning with Gramma Kris and I went

thrifting with Maria! We found some good buys. Children's books at

one store were 10 cents each! I got some kindergarten readiness books for

Will, picked up a football book for Merit and got some other fun books

for all three of these kids.

Also, I bought an apron for Natasha and one for a blog give away!

Last night I spent the evening out at the Allreds taking their kids pictures.

It was wonderful and visiting with Katie was really good for the soul.

Please be praying for Maddie. She has a big heart

surgery coming up this next week, it is her fontan surgery which

she is scheduled to have Tuesday morning.

If you want to learn more about Maddie and how to pray for their family, her mom's blog

address is:

allredbabygirl.blogspot.com

Maddie and her big brothers

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Our baseball kid!! Merit Henry

Merit on the run!!

My little gardener

Willem is always picking flowers for me.

Sweet boy

Willem

Warm evenings outside feel so good.

Hazel wearing a buddies hat, cheering on the Red Sox

Cave B

Gorgeous, relaxing... a little slice of heaven!

Pictured above:

the Cliffehouse we stayed in

It was beautiful.

The inside was spacious and relaxing.

yurts

We got there Friday afternoon and I was soooo excited.

I don't think this was as much Vance's "cup of tea"

as it was mine, but we both enjoyed our night away.

The restaurant there is delicious. Gourmet for sure,

had we been there with the kids I have NO idea what

they would have eaten.

I would love to go back in a year or so.

The kids did great with Jessica and Vance and

 I came back feeling refreshed.

Viewer Discretion Advised

We LOVE watching Merit play baseball!

Merit is ready for the catch at first base and the runner was OUT!

The Red Sox!!

We have ourselves a sweet little dandelion picker.

These two love to be at baseball AND they enjoy the snacks!!

Okay, so I posted a fun baseball album on facebook. Many

of you know how facebook works, everyone you are friends with can view pictures and comments you post.

A couple of my facebook friends are sweet parents that I just met through baseball! I wanted

to share pictures of the team with them.

Somehow in the middle of my baseball album was a picture of an awkward, nude couple.

I have to put it here.... the embarassment has already happened AND my

sisters thought it was hilarious. Along with Kristen. Making those three laugh might have been worth my dumb mistake.

ohhhhhh If people didn't think I was crazy before they do now.

One day I was googling awkward photos and sharing them with my sis in law Cary, my sisters and

a couple friends... this one got saved in my pic files!

Vance and I get to experience Cave B this weekend!!

Google Cave B, Quincy, WA. It is beautiful!!!

Can't wait to go with my awesome husband.

Jansen Update

When life gives you lemons

Make lemonade. :)

Hazel is checking too see if our carrots are coming up yet.

These boys have have been such good buddies lately!!

In fact, that is what Willem often calls Merit... "buddy."

My next two weeks are very busy! But lots of fun stuff!

The Taste of Home Cooking Show tonight!

I am excited to go with a bunch of girlfriends.

Baseball games and practices, the book fair at Merit's school, an overnight get away, Willem needs

 to get his immunizations for kindergarten (we register him this week!), a couple of photo

shoots... it is busy, but fun!

Bargains, Beauty and Mother's Day

A Mother's Day cupcake cake - yummy!!

This fun little set my friend Russ designed and sells.

He sent me some in December and I am having fun with them.

cute girl with The Chicken Sisters book

Check out the clay pots with strawberries. I went

to Home Depot Wednesday and noticed they were on clearance.

Regular $18 they were on sale for $5.50 because the Garden

Center needed to make room for Mom's Day baskets.

I bought three and was so excited!

I got home and broke two. Clash them together and they are going to break!

Then the neighbor's goat was running loose and came over and broke the third one!

My clay strawberry bargain pots ended up not making out very well.

SO, the next day I went back. The price had been reduced to $2.50 each!! SO, I bought three

more. Those are doing well. :)

They look really cute.

This week was filled with bargains.

$2.99 Goodwill Chair!

a fun basket from a dear friend, thanks Maria!!

My sis Natasha sells Close to My Heart. There stuff is soo cute!

I spent about an hour making cards today.

My laundry pile was waste high, but making cards sounded so fun.

Now... onto the laundry.

Mother's Day

I am sooo thankful I am a mom to these three wonderful children!

Life is exciting, meaningful and full!

My boys made me the sweetest gifts at school!!

I need to photograph them and share.

I am very grateful for the mother my mom was.

Her sweet influence, kindness, patience and laughter blessed us

so much! I am so thankful to God for the mom he gave me.

This is a month of birthdays!! We have so many family members

with birthdays this month. Today is my mother in law, Adie's Bday. I am

working on a book for her... I have been having fun looking up different quotes

and scripture for the book and have included a lot of pictures.

Just a couple of days ago my Grandma Dorothy turned 91!

 My sis Natasha's birthday is tomorrow!

Smiling sweet boys!

Kitchen sink bath

Merit and Vance playing catch

Grateful

I found myself sobbing at my computer last night. Vance and I had been watching the news and the capture and death of Osama bin Laden was huge. I guess it felt like a relief. ?  hmmm I don't know if relief is the right word. I do believe that there had to be a certain amount of emotional closure for many. Especially for those who lost loved ones on 9-11. I know I am also very reflective and thankful because of our military. The United States Military deserves our thanks and honor. I am thankful for the brave men and women who fight for this country, for us. And I am thankful for their families.
I have had several periods of time in my life when I am just not very comfortable. Not comfortable because of mourning, not comfortable because of certain surroundings, growing up there were times when I was uncomfortable and nervous... looking back there is a lot of good that can come out of not being too comfortable. Those are the times when my prayers last hours or days. It seems then I am in a constant conversation with God. Those are the times when I soak up the loved ones around me. When I TREASURE time with my husband and children and know there are many unknowns and that time is fleeting. During times of feeling lost, it seems I am always blessed with people who are just encouraging, wonderful, prayerful and kind.
Also after we experience the bad, we are that much more grateful for the good. Bitter Sweet.
This past weekend was emotional. Saturday was my mom's birthday. I thought of her ALL day. The weather was beautiful, we worked and played in the yard. Sunday we got some yucky news in the morning. I'll protect my family member who wouldn't like me airing all the laundry on the blog. Then we went on a little road trip, brought our boat to Wilbur. I had never been to Wilbur, WA. I can mark that off my list. :0) It was a cute town and we ate at a diner that took forever! But had big juicy burgers. (Merit's favorite food at a restaurant!) Hazel was SO loud and made friends with everyone. Willem was in hysterics over the way Hazel was acting. Vance and Merit just shook their heads. I found myself delighted to be there with two NOISY kids and one well behaved one. :)  And a patient husband, at least he was trying hard to be.
Making memories...
Then the Osama bin Laden news...
Today I am very proud to be an American.

This morning before school I asked Merit to bring up a pile of clean clothes from the laundry room. A big pile. That sweet boy folded every article in that pile. Without being asked. And the smile on his face, well that was enough to make the next few days bright.

These children are huge blessings.

Vance planted some of the garden yesterday.

We are excited.

I am so grateful.