Silly kids and keeping busy

We have so many pictures of this funny girl sleeping in such funny positions and places. In the picture above, she has her baby-doll tucked under her shirt... that's how we found her sleeping a few nights ago. Guess we've got too many pregnant friends! Below you can see evidence that she did, indeed, fall asleep while hanging half-way off her bed a few days later. How would she fall asleep like that? Her feet are dangling a few inches off the floor and she's just fast asleep. Seems like it'd be more comfy to just put your head on your pillow and lay flat, but you're right, I haven't tried sleeping this way!

The kids entertain themselves all day every day, although Annie is delighted if I offer to do a craft with them and both kids are thrilled if I read to them or play a game with them. But I'm pretty busy these days.
Here's what I found them doing not long ago. Annie often rides in this backpack when Nate or I are carrying her, but this time, she had gotten in it herself and Will was trying to carry her on his little back. It didn't quite work out - both because I found them rigging this up and because Annie is too heavy for Will to carry like this. Oh well, it was a good try. Who needs toys when there are real, every-day, useful items around to make use of?
So I have finally returned from too many days away from my blog. My mother will be after me sometime soon if I don't hurry up and post some pictures of the grand kids and fill her in on life at our house. In one month we'll be at her house, and we're all looking forward to that! I am realizing that with only 4 weeks left, I have TONS to do! I am working on all the hidden places - the closets and cupboards and storage areas - to clean and sort and figure out what's coming with us and what we can pass on to others - while leaving the house feeling like we can still live here. It has been really fun to be able to give to people who need and want our things. I am blessed to be able to fill other people's needs in such an immediate way - and I pray often that I will be able to be generous with our things as God would want me to be. I find it hard to know how much to 'provide' for our own family (esp. the kids) with toys and clothes and things, and how much to let go, knowing that God will always provide for us. I pray for a generous, considerate, and attentive heart. So far the kids have been incredibly generous and understanding as they watch friends and strangers walk away with their treasures. I am thankful.

I have also been quilting. quilting to no end, it seems. A group of us women has been making quilts for the past few months. We just gave one we made to our friend who will be returning 'home' to have a baby in less than two weeks! Here she is with the quilt for her baby:


Annie's quilt still sits mostly finished... I've got to get working on that. There are SO many things to do right now that sometimes I just wander around wondering what to work on next.

Some fun things we've done recently:

1. Crafts telling the creation story from Genesis 1.
2. The kids and I attended a concert together today.
3. Will is learning to ride a 2-wheel bike... sort of (but he's REALLY excited about it!)
4. Nate finished yet another university course toward his MA. (GO NATE!)
5. Nate took Annie on a date (hike up to the top of the mountain), while I took Will on a 'date' to a birthday party.
6. God gave us RAIN! - more on this in my next post hopefully!
7. The kids and I had a 'play date' with another neighboring mom and kindergartner, which was enjoyed by all of us.
8. I am LOVING being back to normal-sized laundry loads as Annie no longer wets her pants all day long! Yippee! It's been a VERY long potty-training season with her!
9. I made iron-on-Dora shirts with the kids
10. We've made numerous trips to the library to stock up on books - it's especially nice since our own things are finding their way to other people's homes.

Well, that's it for now. We are certainly staying occupied!

P.S. Thanks for all the kind notes about my music. I really don't deserve credit for the songs... they are songs that God has given to me and helped me to write over the years, and I feel that I am meant to share them so that they can be a blessing to you and others. But thank you for letting me know that you appreciated them... I am encouraged to continue writing when I hear that people appreciate my efforts- smile. Thank you.