We've reached a new level of life here.  The kind of level that can only be attained through two two year old twins- oh yeah, and then throw a few more in and we're at that level.  The kind of level that prevents you from doing blogs, painting toe nails, and well, doing laundry and dishes and eating warm food.  I'm so used to this level that I don't survey what has happened in a day anymore.  When I just had Lucy I would give Nate the low down on the day and tell him the play by play.  First she had a blow out, then I gave her a bath, then she threw 2 peas on the floor and splashed some water in the sink, then I had to  clean up her spill.  With where we're at now, I don't even try.  One day I did a run down in my mind and all I could do was laugh.  It was something like 6 broken ornaments, 4 milk spills, 2 blowouts, 1 overflowing toilet flood, 2 broken glasses, 1 bandaid, and a partridge in a pair tree.  Did I mention, my mind's gone a little loopy (:  All this said, to someone who just walks into our house it could be a little shocking, but to me it's just life.  And so now, we're just doing life and (attempting) to get ready for Christmas.  I can't think of a better time to do a long laborious catch-up blog post (loopy).

Some common things said when I'm out and about, "I don't know how you do it,"  "how old are you"?, and "you have your hands full."  I've already written about the whole, "how old are you?" bit.  But I've truly been amazed at how the Lord has provided in this whole process, from bed rest to now.  I don't know how I do it, because I truly don't think I do it.  I'm going off grace fumes here.  I remember back to when I was on bed rest, and even earlier than that when I found out I was pregnant with twins.  Whenever I would let my mind go I would start worrying and doubting how I would be able to do it.  I would start thinking through all the details and seeing any hint of impossibility.   But, when the Lord reminds me to just take a day at a time things go so much better.  Sometimes I even need to break it down to 10 minutes at a time.  Especially if it's those 10 minutes before dad gets home. This whole process really has been a lesson to focus on now and not worry of what is to come.  I mean, here I am now, with 5 little ones and a groupie of toddlers and well, things are going alright.  In fact, better and crazier than I could have imagined if ever I saw our family stats on paper.  I mean, Molly and Henry are awesome.  And Ada, what a gift she is.  A tender, motherly, soul.  And Lucy and Will, kindergarten and 2nd grade already- geeze!  So, "a day at a time" truly is a gem of wisdom if taken seriously.

I also need to protect my heart against coveting.  Seeing other moms who can just leave at the drop of a hat, folks who clean their house and 10 minutes later still have a clean house, and watching families who have older kids and can play Monopoly without toddler hands can lead me down a road of discontentedness.  When I start going down this road it's a slippery slope, so I really try to discipline my mind not to go there.  It gives me great hope to know that the Lord wants what's best for me.  Knowing this I can totally rest in our circumstances and know that all the chaos, messes, mismatched socks, marker mishaps, toddler rearranging (they take after me) and basement floods are actually for my best.   I am being shaped.  I have already seen the fruit of this and am thankful that I'm loved enough to be pursued in loving discipline.  These two things may seem like Christian cliches, "take a day at a time" and "knowing the Lord wants what is best for me".  But both of these truths have been close to my heart and foundational to my life as a mother and wife.   When taken seriously, these two "cliches" are life changing.

So, there's a little on how I do it- all grace.  I know that the Lord is gracious, that he is good and that he loves me.   I won't go into my schedule, how I deal with socks, meal planning, chores and all that jazz.  Though these things are good, you can have the best "systems", but if the mindset is wrong it doesn't matter, life will still be a mess.  And now I think I'm out of time.  I hear build your own oatmeal being served out on the dining room table by daddy dearest and I should join.  Here is a little hint- build your own anything instantly makes a meal tasty to children- build your own pasta, oatmeal, rice bowl, taco, anything, they'll eat it.  Lucy does not like oatmeal, but when it's build your own oatmeal she's cheering.  On that, gotta go, Merry Christmas!

Summer in pictures

We've had a great summer. And as I load some of the pictures I realize how much we've done.  It was overwhelming to think about highlighting each event, though most are worthy of such attention.  In attempt to get 'er done, I stuck with pictures, some edited, some not, some words, some wordless.   In a nutshell summer was fun , and kind of what you would expect with 3 toddlers.  We're in the thick of it right now I tell ya.  I really don't know what each day will bring, but the Lord provides.  Like how Nate and I had a night away last night- and how we're sitting at a coffee shop together (thus why I'm actually doing a blog).  Day by day.  Celebrating another summer of completion and looking forward to fall which will bring all kinds of change- for one, homeschooling Lucy, can't wait for that!

 Cousins up for chicken fun (poor chickens).  However, now 2 of our 3 chickens are laying (little) eggs.

Good friends from St. Louis pay a visit.

 Happy Birthday Lucy

 Happy birthday Nate!

 Reunion with friends at Ashley's wedding

 9 miles hike in Leavenworth

 Chuckee Cheese

 Lunch with Mel and Chris with the best sandwiches (ranked top 10 in the country), Paseo, in Seattle.

 Another wedding...

 scary

 hard core camping (in our backyard)

they like each other

seven

The cousins

Hold on Annabelle!

Lucy wanted to go bowling for her 7th birthday, yes, 7!  Oh Happy day darling!

vacation time

Nate's been on vacation and we've had lots more time to play as a family! We had an amazing day of walking, lolligaging and taking a few pictures along the way.

Lucy's new summer hair do!

they're all looking somewhat in the right direction

And time for drinks and snacks. Wish I had more time to arrange these kidlets, cause I like the idea, maybe another time- but let's be realistic here, probably not.