Father's Day Joy

Here are some fun photos of the past week...

Brotherly affection...

It seems like Asher is realizing that he has a little brother. Sometimes this means he exerts his size to his advantage...look, I'm bigger than somebody!!

Asher's creativity and coloring has really started to take off. Do you see how many of the letter "A" he drew on that yellow piece of paper? I think there are about 22!

Introducing the boys to Mary Martin's Peter Pan. They were intrigued. Ezra asked...mom, do Indians always act like that? The movie's presentation of Indians is a bit, shall we say, overly stereotypical.

Colson can move, and boy does that make him happy. My clean dishes end up on the floor. The dirty ones go in his mouth.

Father's Day afternoon. What is Father's Day without a fight between knights?

Wait...two against one! That isn't fair!

Asher is sooo delighted!

Sticks in motion...and no one got hurt!!

My brave men, Father's Day 2011

My husband, the best father to our boys!! Love you, Delton!!

Gardening and other simple pleasures...

We have a garden. Just saying that is so satisfying. We are at the point where growth is visible. The potato plants are flourishing, the tomato plants are growing wonderfully, we are eating our lettuce and spinach at meals, and our onions have flavored some meals and are now simply being allowed to grow!

When we began this experiment, I was afraid that this would be a humbling experience. We had two gardens...one small, one big, and for a while, the word garden didn't even describe them. They were simply two squares of plowed dirt. Would they remain plots empty of seed, finally giving over to weeds once more?

Slowly, slowly, a garden has emerged. Through the faithful, constant work of Delton, we now have two gardens that are planted. Hot peppers, green peppers, corn, popping corn, beans, peas, melon, basil, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers have now joined the ranks and most are pushing up through the dirt, visible and promising.

Our corn has required some patience and extra work. The first seeds never sprouted. For about a month we waited. Hardly "green thumbs", we wondered, we hoped, that the green foliage we were seeing would materialize into corn stalks. We finally gave up hoping as the grass grew, but the corn didn't. A second planting is now in the ground, with little shoots evident beside the very few stalks that did manage to survive the first planting. We have one stalk of popping corn coming up. Will it be enough to pop? We hope so!!

Our cucumber seeds also failed to sprout. Just this morning I found an unopened packet of cucumber seeds and planted two short rows. I think Delton planted some tea this morning before I was outside. I planted one row of cucumbers next to some tea plants I don't think were there yesterday..will we have minty tasting cucumbers? We'll see!

Each time we are outside, enjoying the beauty of summer, working in our yard while the boys run, we overflow with gratefulness to God. He has done marvelous things in our life!

 One of life's milestones....

 Asher in a pensive moment...

 :)

 Ezra drawing...

 He loves to draw maps.

 Asher has jumped into drawing with both feet. It took Delton and I by suprise!! He is growing and changing!

 Our small garden...

The big garden is by the road, behind Colson...when the corn comes up there will be something to see!

Outside, Inside, and All About!

We are painting our picnic table Heirloom Red. At first we gasped when we open the can, but we really like it!!

This is a "before" shot of the top of the table. I will post an "after" shot once everything is painted!

Life will never be the same!! Check out Asher's face. Colson is into everything!! The boys are very good natured about it, but in this moment, Asher had had enough!!

Did I mention that we love Colson???....

a lot!!!

Eating banana bread...and loving it!!

At Rhodes Grove for a graduation party. May he always lean upon the cross....

Ezra is growing...We are planning on homeschooling him in the fall. We attended the Harrisburg Homeschool Convention...had a great time...and are sooooo excited for what we will be teaching him this fall. Delton and I have been pouring over the curriculum catalog, staying up way too late to talk about it...and are anxious for fall to come!

Daddy's little man.

Delton preached at Spirit of Christ in Chambersburg. We went out for lunch, then right over to Rhodes Grove. We didn't change...so Delton's outfit is in the wash, covered with bright green pollen!!

Look at me, mommy! I'm walking!!

Ezra lost his first tooth while Delton and I were at the Homeschool Convention. He accidentally swallowed it, and was a bit concerned that the tooth fairy might not show up if there wasn't a tooth to be seen! Never fear...the tooth fairy came!!

Asher doesn't like monsters, even if he talks about them a lot. He was concerned about this mysterious "tooth fairy" we started talking about. He was relieved to find out that Delton was the tooth fairy, and every time we mentioned the tooth fairy reminded Delton..."Remember, daddy, YOU'RE the tooth fairy." No scary strangers coming into my bedroom, right?? (Just daddy in a purple tutu...now that is scary!! lol)

Ezra took some pictures of me. I was pleased with this one (and deleted the rest! :)

What, mom?

He never fails to make us smile!!! What a gem!!

Picture time!!

Easter pictures at church. The boys love to climb this retaining wall. Makes me so nervous!! Overprotective mom, or empowering mom of boys...sigh...it is always a struggle!!

Just a glimpse into our life. We are so blessed by all we have been given!!

Moments

Ezra, Asher and Delton went fishing this morning. Ezra caught his first fish, all by himself!

Wow!!

Colson is "cruising". This is his attempt to make it across the "great divide". He is 10 months old...just got his first two teeth!! It is hard to believe that in the next few weeks, he will be cruising even more and making my life much more exciting!

A college roommate from Long Island was coming to Hershey Chocolate World with her husband and 2 year old. I bravely (with a bit of fear and trembling!) took all three boys there by myself to meet her. It went great!! We rode the ride twice, ate cookies, let the boys play outside, and came home, all in about 7 hours. My favorite part (besides visiting with Kate, my college roommate) was the 3 hours of driving time. Sleeping boys, a quiet van, and time alone with my thoughts....I felt very refreshed when I arrived home!!

Strawberry! (He reminds me of my sister, Katie, in this picture. Any guesses why, Lengeman family?)

Colson is checking out Asher's birthday fishing rod! He was quite taken with it!!

Delton's new routine is to take a morning walk around our yard and check out how things are growing. He is kind enough to include Colson in these walks so I have a few minutes to wake up! Here, I found him in our garden (one of our gardens!) getting worms!

Birthday boy, Asher! He turned 3 on the 27th!!

Ezra enjoying the feel of freshly turned earth in our other garden. We started out only intending to have a 4x10 raised garden. Now, let's just say we are in waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy over our heads (and loving it!!). Sweet corn, anyone?

Dad is looking at our recently purchased lawn mower, but I can't take my eyes off my little guy!!

Big stuff!! Show and tell!

So...that is a snapshot of our life. I must say, life is good!!