Maple Syrup

Over our spring break, we had a chance to take a field trip to learn about maple syrup making.  It was Jillian's spring break, and so she was able to attend with us.  It nearly brought me to tears watching her "labeling" everything she saw with sign, and so freely exploring this new place.  My heart was overflowing!  She was totally connected to the speaker, asked questions via sign, and commented on so much all with her sign language.  In the beginning, we could have never, never done anything like this.  Her anxiety would have gotten the best of her or she would have preferred to pick grass and not get involved with the group.  NOW...she is just so so interested, able to communicate, and best of all........HAPPY!  Fear doesn't so easily overcome her and I was over the moon to get to have this day with her!

Anna Mei carried this yoke like a champ.  We had just talked about being unequally yoked in marriage as she comes up with the hardest questions during Bible time so it was so neat to have this physical representation of those verses.

Mini Molly was a champ.  It was cold outside, but we learned so much!

The girls each got a chance to drill into the tree to collect sap.

They loved all the hands on activities.

We ended our time eating ice cream with maple syrup on top, but I didn't get one picture.  I think I was finally warm being back inside that I didn't even have any feeling left in my hands to find my camera.  It was a great day of memories with my girls despite the frigid temps!  Spring break in the Midwest can be COLD. 

Serving With My Babies

Our youth group serves a free meal downtown a few times a year, and it is my favorite place to take my babies to serve.  It is a tangible way for them to understand that others don't have all that we do..abundant food, shelter, the love of the Lord are so lacking to so many in this world.

They feel so good that they can be a part of "working for the Lord", as my Anna Mei always calls it, to serve the poor.

It is always crazy having four littles in tow while trying to accomplish work, but it is so very worth it as they get to experience the Lord for themselves as they meet people and serve them.  It is so refreshing too that children have no barriers to just sitting right down to talk with someone regardless of how different they might look.  This time there were also many children at the meal, and to watch my babies sharing their toys and playing on the floor alongside those precious babes who came to get their bellies full when they otherwise might have been empty was so beautiful.  What a blessing being able to serve with this crazy crew during this meal has been to me!  I pray these times have a lasting impact on my little ones.

Playing in the Leaves

I didn't post these yet, and, because I will want to look back and remember 8, 6, and 4, these deserve some space.

Love, love these babies!

City Park Fun

After donuts, we headed to a city park.  The park has some vintage carnival rides which, for less than 75 cents a ride, where the greatest thing ever for our little girls!

They loved them!

You would think we were on the tallest, fastest roller coaster in the world.

It was pure, simple fun!

Ellie Grace enjoyed strolling in the stroller with Daddy throughout the park while the girls rode, and I didn't get one picture of that sweet thing.

The end of summer is so near which always makes me sad.  Oh that summer could last forever somehow!

Saturday

In the summer, we live in the water around here.  Our nonverbal, seven year old treasure is at peace in the water.  Thankfully, our entire family enjoys it so much too.  This summer our beloved beach announced it would be closed this year because they had drained it last fall, and we just didn't receive enough precipitation to get the water level back up where it needed to be.  This was devastating news until we found another beach 30 minutes in another direction.  We LOVE, LOVE this beach, and will likely keep coming here even when Palo reopens.  It has never been crowded, and has a beautiful backdrop surrounding it.  Truly our days spent on these shores have been some of the most memorable to the summer.  Last Saturday, the house was falling down around us as it was in need of a good cleaning, but we packed up and headed to the beach anyway.  We spent a wonderful five hours swimming, relaxing, and just enjoying our time.  Oh that these summer days could last forever...

 This babe is swimming all over in the deepest of water with a life jacket on.

 Smiles abound whenever we even mention the beach!

 Our special babe is truly talented in that she can store water in her cupped hands, and then squirt it when you least expect it.  She has impeccable aim, and amazes those around her with her ability to shoot.

 This littlest babe has turned into quite the beach bum too.

 She doesn't even leave the water to eat her lunch.  As I watch her full of smiles, I can't help, but marvel at God's goodness to relocate us to this area with five..yes FIVE..beautiful beaches within driving distance.  This baby needs her some beach time, and she gets here.

 Digging for hours is a JOY!

 Baby toes in the sand.

 More digging for these two brings smiles their faces.

Counting the days until we are here again!

The County Fair

I wasn't sure this day would ever come, but I finally feel that I can manage these three beauties in places like the county fair when I am flying solo.  Because of this, I headed there last Saturday with the three littlest girls, the wagon, and a packed lunch.  It was in the lower nineties most of the day so it was hot, but the girls did so well, and we had a great time!

 There was a barn with lots of farm animals.  This is great for Molly as I am working hard to try to build her vocabulary.  She saw many, many creatures to connect to her words.  These experiences are so language building for her if only she could hear better in these crowded environments.

 Darling!

 There was a huge sandbox made with bales of hay in the corner of the barn.

 The girls played for an hour.

 It was HOT, and this little one consumed nearly 32 oz of lemon shake up all by herself.  She is her momma's girl.

 It was a large cotton candy for this one. :)

 Most of the day was free, and the girls enjoyed every minute!

 This is the first time that Anna Mei wanted to go on rides.  Everyone enjoyed them!

 Bumper boats were a hit with Jilly.

 I think Molly may be a mad, crazy driver.

 Anna Mei stayed near the side away from the bumping.

My littlest baby was on the front of the train and got to pull the string to ring the bell.  I am not sure she heard it as she kept searching for what pulling the string was doing, but she was all smiles!  It was a beautiful day.  I enjoy these babes so much.

Mall of America Trip

 Molly Kate had an appointment at Shriner's in the Twin Cities, and it was so fun to make a vacation of it with our entire family.  We hit the MOA the first night as we stayed a few minutes away.  I got a groupon for a diner type restaurant so we got to enjoy chili dogs, burgers, fries, and shakes to kick off our trip.  Anna Mei loves, loves vacations.  She was one happy girl to be on our trip.

 This girl ate like a champ in this crazy, over stimulating environment.  I used our manual chopper to puree a foot long chili dog and she ate it all!  This manual food chopper has greatly improved our quality of life as now Jillian can eat at a restaurant without packing her food from home.

 Notice the toddler harness on this one.  She is CRAZY!  She needed a harness so bad as she just never stops going, but she loved our trip.

 The girls love legos so the lego store was a great stop.  Jilly flings them like she does everything.

The littlest posed by the lego friend.

 We spent the next day at the aquarium at the MOA.  The girls absolutely loved it and we are so grateful for all the perks available to Shriner's patients in this area as the tickets were a great bargain.

 This girl is a lover of water so her aquarium experience was over the top!  She was thrilled with all the sights.

 The touch tanks were enjoyed by everyone.

Just look at this face!  She was truly happy to be here.

 I think Molly would have jumped in.

 The stingray tank was an absolute favorite!

 Jillian spent a good part of the day revisiting the stingray tank.  It was so peaceful in the dark area there watching the movement of these amazing creatures.  She would watch and watch and watch with a smile the whole time.

There were some toddler activities at the mall we enjoyed as not everyone wanted to just take up residence at the stingray tank like Jillian did.  We had a wonderful trip and Molly's appointment was awesome!  She showed herself to be truly amazing with her little hands and no surgery or treatment is recommended right now.  She uses them so well that anything we could do to alter them would put her at a disadvantage so we go back in a year. :)