Here are the icing tasters for my amazing (husband made) angel food cake with European-style chocolate icing. It was a rich, delicious birthday cake. There is only a bit left....you know how that goes the day after the birthday. I had a relaxing day. Big J watched the kids for a while in the morning so I could go to a coffee shop and read a book and then my neighbor across the street watched the middle two kids and fed them lunch while S napped and then played quietly on the carpet (no one to fight over baby toys with.) It was a blessing of a day through and through. I thank God for the life he has given me and for all that He has blessed me with.

Putting things in boxes....not presents, although that would be nice, but people and teeth. C can actually fit (almost) in this mini toy suitcase. She seems to think it's funny.

E lost her first tooth by having one pulled a couple of weeks ago. She somehow developed an infection in the root of one of her molars and they had to pull it. Here she is right afterward with the tooth in her little purple treasure box (and guaze in her mouth.) Daddy said she was a Trooper! She IS a pretty tough gal....I still hope we don't have to pull anymore teeth. E has decided to keep her tooth for the time being and may give it to the 'tooth fairy' later.

Look who is officially seven now! What a beautiful smile....until her siblings do something she doesn't agree with. Oh well...This 2nd picture is so typical of each one of the kids.

Check out this energetic 7 year old! She's a riot!

This is the hugest cauliflower I've ever seen! Big Daddy bought it and the humble broccoli next to it at the farmer's market. We almost ate all of it before it spoiled (and would have if we had made our awesome tasting veggy curry with it). J is smiling, but it sure was heavy to hold.

These are two of the pumpkins that we grew in our compost pile. Vines spread everywhere and we got 2 orange pumpkins and about 10 white ones. We will soon be carving this orange one into a number 7 for E! Today is cousin P's b-day and it is amazing to think she and E are such big girls now! We went to the pumpkin patch last Friday with Aunt Odo and we found another orange pumpkin that called out to me...he wants a face! The pumpkin already has a little 'nose' protruding from it. I'll have to get a good picture to show you. Last night was the first night we turned on the heat....just to keep the house at 62 over night. We have been holding out. Soon the heat with have to be on ALL the time. I miss summer already. And the kids with soon resort to indoor acrobatics....HELP!

This is the house's old foundation and you can see the rollers on the i-beams that the house moved along. They used a mini-loader to pull the house with a chain along these i-beams and would occasionally whack a roller with a mallet to keep it going the right direction. We could listen for the 'clanks' to know when they were moving the house. They actually put the house up on three sets of wheels to move it forward (after it passed the orange house) and then put it back on i-beams to get it over it's foundation. Even though I am a structural engineer's daughter this is the first time (I remember) seeing this kind of construction process. I bet cousin T wishes he were here to see all the work going on around here. Maybe I'll have more pictures to show you later as they continue the work.

This is what has been happening directly across the street from our house. The NNN is relocating this old house in the empty lot next to the orange house you see and will then renovate it just like they renovated our house. What a cool thing to see! As of now this house is sitting on blocks above it's new foundation and Monday they will lower it down onto it's new spot. Three lots south of us there has been a Habitat for Humanity house going up as well. Our block is really changing and we are so excited to see it happen and be a part of the change for good in our neighborhood.

This big baby boy went in for his second round of shots today and did better than last time...he still cried. His poor little face turned red. He weighed 18 lbs 10 oz and was 26 inches long, all at just 5 months! He can roll over from tummy to back and from back to tummy if he wants to, but mostly is content to lay or sit and watch all that is going on around him. He is just beginning to show signs of wanting Mama when she hands him over to someone else to hold. He looks at her with big eyes that say, "What's going on, Mom?" He is a delight and so peaceful!

This is a big preschooler! This picture was taken on the morning of J's first day to go to school. He really likes to play there and so far I don't think we will have any tears out of him. Daddy has been taking him in the carriage just like he used to take E. Of course C is having a hard time being the only one at home that doesn't get to ride off to school (besides baby brother), but has had a nice time playing with our little friend, Es. Watching Es has gone fairly smoothly so far and we will see her next week again.

Aren't these kids cute! E loved her first day of first grade at the magnet school she attends....she started August 12th. She now rides the bus and so far likes that too. She has music, art, computer, spanish, and gym at least once or twice a week and once a month gets to go to the planetarium that is in her school...so cool! Her teacher is a first year teacher and very enthusiastic. I am looking forward to E reading better as this will help with speedier homework, but for now she is doing fine. E will also start Ballet I this Saturday and hopeful audition for the Nutcracker this year. (everyone gets in) Lil' J starts preschool next Monday and is excited to play there. I will also start watching a friend's two year old girl, Es, on Mondays and Wednesdays a good part of the day...this should be fun for C. Blessings for you all as school starts!

Here we are all dressed up to go on a date for our 10th wedding anniversary....we took S along and it was nice to have just one kid in tow. Someday soon I know they will be grown and I try to cherish these moments with little ones. S is on my lap now and he is blowing quite a few saliva bubbles to make sure that I notice him. Ten years! We have packed a lot into these years....finishing undergrad at K-State, living in Ethiopia for a school year, nannying, cleaning houses, going to more school at KU, being house-parents for 4 high-school girls while starting an Orthodox boarding school (that no longer exists), going to seminary at St. Vlad's in NY for 3 years, and now getting a PhD at ND (3 years to go 'til we're done). Not to mention that we have had 4 kids in the last 6 and a half years. I get tired just reading all that we have done. I am sure that God has been with us every step of the way and I am sure that He has some wonderful plans for our future. I hope it includes some rest...

Went to KS and came back! And we had a great time seeing so many wonderful family members and friends. I am realizing that I am not a great writer on these blogs, yet that shouldn't be a surprise as I am really a 'doer'. Can't wait to have a moment to show you some better pics and give a short update as to what is going on. Quickly, E will be in a dance and art camp the first week of August and then starts her new school August 14th (i think). J will begin preschool in the end of August as well and maybe the house will slow down a bit for Mommy. C has a cold this week and seems a bit skinnier; not bad though. S has the cough part, but seems to be growing fine. We are trying to play outside in the water to cool off....we just aren't used to the 90s up here in the north. The garden has LOTS of weeds and Daddeo is still reading, reading, reading. We had a great visit from Mommom and said goodbye a couple of days ago and then had some friends, the RBs, stop in on their way to their new home in Waterloo the next day. They have four kids and lots of energy and we had a great time with them all slumbering over.

What a treat to see them! Things are still churning around here.

Big J caught a red fish when we were in Florida a couple of weeks ago and boy was it tasty!
We measured S next to the fish and the fish was longer, but S was definitely heavier. He just had his first round of shots today (poor baby) and weighed 15lbs 5oz and was 24 inches long. He just turned 3 months last Monday. All is fine with our growing family! (The fish wa 24 and 1/2 inches).


This is a sweet family picture of Daddeo and all the great-grandkids with Nonnie and Grandpa. Wish he was still alive to see them all!

Since most of you didn't get to be here for this wonderful event, here it is! See S go through his initiation into being a Christian. God grant him many years! This blessed occasion was on June 1, 2008 at St. Elizabeth's Orthodox Church in Chesterton, IN. Since then we got to visit family in FL and I will tell you more about that on the next blog.

At E's graduation from kindergarten at ECDC-ND she was given a certificate and her lead teacher read to her this: "Dear E, You once told your teachers, 'I am small but I can do big things!' You did so many big things in kindergarten--you drew and wrote sentences, read and painted a very big mural for the Hesburgh Library! We think you will continue to do big things in our world. Love, your Kindergarten Teachers." The children all recited some poems by Langston Hughes and we had a picnic outside with a special cake to celebrate. I have some great pictures of the model buildings of the ND campus that the kids created themselves. This is E and C standing in front of the library (where Daddy's small closet office is) on which E herself painted the picture of Jesus. Some friends helped to paint the disciples. What a masterpiece. We are sad to say goodbye to ECDC for E, but little J will get to go there for preschool next year.

S is sitting on daddy's blanket and wearing his old overalls. Isn't he cute?

You don't really know what you miss out on when you are this fast asleep.

I wish it was this warm out right now...for barefeet. I looked out the window and saw frost on top of all the cars on the street. Yuck! It's supposed to warm up to 60 degrees today. We'll see. Pray for us. E is finally well. C has thrown up on an off (feeling good inbetween) since Sunday night (today is Wednesday) and actually threw-up in her bed last night without us knowing...so smelled pretty gross when daddy went to bed and had to clean her up. J has stayed well so far, but has been having accidents in his bed at night.....two last night.....can you say LAUNDRY! S has a little cough from drainage from little cold, but seems okay. So, pray for us.....

Guess who?

It's our beautiful pink tulip C! She's quite an ornery almost 2 year old! But sure is cute. She has finally become jealous of the new baby S and we have to guard him well. So far no casualties.....just some pinches and smooshes and a few hits. She loves him, but I'm not sure how much she likes him just yet. At least we can play outside most of the time now-a-days. That's a great distraction.

"No, no, no! I don't want to be an engineer! I just wanna lay around, sleep, eat and poop....everybody poops! Just gimee a break!"

"Hey! I'LL be an engineer and build structures out of dinosaur bones....and a few giraffes."

Look at these cute socks.....little S is our fighting Irishman. I love this picture of C. She had the cutest curls the day I took this picture. Too bad you can't see them that well. You'll just have to come visit and see for yourself. We'll even feed you breakfast.

First bath pictures! Isn't he cute? He loved every minute of it and never cried a peep. I guess he likes the warm water.....maybe he remembers it.

We had S's naming ceromony today and you can see the great family picture we captured! In the Orthodox church we have special prayers we pray on the eighth day to 'name' our child, just like Jesus was named on the eighth day after being circumcised. (Luke 2:21) (We skipped the circumcism part and S is thankful for that). Glory to God for all things! Especially for precious babies!

My ballerina is growing up! E has really enjoyed her ballet classes this year and all her activities in kindergarten. We are happy to know she was accepted to go to a local, public magnet school for excellerated academics next fall (we had to go through an application and testing process). So this mommy won't be homeschooling next year.....I was ready to if the need be! E has such a love for babies and being a little mommy and she has been a great helper so far with baby S. She is also quite the author and will write small pictures books almost everyday at school about such things as: her teddy bears, 'Mommy and me', princesses, and dancing. She is such a delight to us.

Oma and Opa have held S. We are really enjoying them and they are lots of help with the kids.

C gets to spend alone time with them every evening after the big kids have gone to bed (she takes a great nap during the day). C is talking like a little lady and they so love watching her play just like I do.

They are already buddies! I love to see how well these kids are taking the new addition to our family. S was visited by the midwife today (me too) and we are doing great! He weighed in at a whoppin' 9lbs 9oz, so he has been eating really well. (he was born 9lbs 7oz...then was 9lbs 1oz the next day...so he is gaining well). Yippee!

We had a big healthy boy on March 23, 2008 at 10:49am! He was 9 lbs 7oz and 21 inches! Whew! He was born in the water at home after an 8 hour labor in which I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies and took a short walk up the street around 8am. It was so nice to be at home and to be able to sleep in my own bed. He is eating well.....actually lots and lots; and sleeping well at night. He has his days and nights right. We praise God for this new person in our house.....if you don't know his name just email us and we'll let you know. Thank God!

King J and Queen C were having a marvelous day in the castle of Snow and Ice. Princess E must have been outing riding her unicorn as she is not in the picture. King J is planning on fighting the dragon tomorrow and we'll let you know the outcome soon. When Princess E comes home from her adventures she will plan a spectacular ball and you all will be invited. Cheers!

This is what we do in the winter when we are bored and can't play outside. J develops a blue tongue and E seems to have caught what Mommy has....I am not sure when she's due. Call and ask her.

It was great to see some good friends on our Christmas trip! You can see that my belly is growing from baby #4 and my hair is getting longer. I can't wait until spring when the weather is better for being outside in the sunshine and when Baby is here! I'm getting the winter blues and pregnancy grumpies. Big J's sister is getting married in Florida next weekend and we are going. I am hoping the weather is nice and that the kids behave well for us. This is probably the last trip we take for a long while. (So you all should come visit us!)

SO here is one of those pretty crowns that E got put on before Christmas. She now has two, plus 5 other white fillings...all done in 2 visits because was so calm and easy to work on for the dentist and assistants! We are hoping to avoid this for all the rest of the children as they would not take it near as well as this big girl. She is tough! We are getting little bits of snow here and settling back into a good routine after the holidays. The baby is growing fine and Big J is just starting up his semester of classes. More later....