A Feeling of Accomplishment!

I'm back from a fun-filled two 1/2 days! Holly and I had a blast scrappin' and I was able to get 18 pages done! Holly's hubby was a saint and took the kids on major outings each day and left Holly and I with a quiet house and a table full of fun! It was a blast. Here are some of the pages we did... (Cori, I hope you don't mind me sharing your wedding pages!)... some need journaling done yet.

This is my first post in quite awhile... I've been keeping up on others' blogs, but haven't had much to say on this end. Life is rolling. The kids and I spent the weekend at my parent's house. Coach had a huge tournament to run in town(he said we saw him as much as we would have if we had been at home!). It just works out that our schedule is the most free this week so we are headed out today (AGAIN!) for a couple of days. I'm excited! We're going to my friend Holly's for two days. She's at the end of her second pregnancy and all moms know how long this last month can be! She's been a scrappin' fool and I feel it my friendship duty to suffer--- and scrap with her (...Dramatic swoon...)

I've been reading The Pursuit of God by A.W. Toser. So much to digest! I'll try to comment on it soon. I can only read short amounts at a time A) because I only read right before bed and usually crash after a page or two, and B) because it's much deeper than most of the books I've read of late! (Mommy Brain...)

So take care... I hope to have pages to share upon my return!

Happy Birthday, Big Man!

 


Eight! I can hardly beleive it's been eight years since that exciting/scary morning when we went in to have our firstborn. And you were a boy! A lot of people guessed, predicted and "knew" we were having a girl. So we called you Emma in-utero (sorry). And I think in someway I played along to prepare myself that you MIGHT be a girl... 'cause truth be told I wanted you to be a boy. And when they laid your slimy wiggly little (9lb. 4oz.) body on me I was (though a little bit scared of your alien-likeness) jubilant and shocked to see that you WERE a boy.
You are a joy, my son. Daddy and I love you so much. Happy Birthday! 

Bathing Beauties!

 

Here's my favorite photo from our cousin visit... Randi and Bella enjoyed an hour-long spa experience in Great-Grandma's tub thanks to Auntie Janel's gift of glitter shower gel! 

Fort Dahl

 

Noah had a blast making a fort with his snow-brick-maker. Here it is about half way completed. Thank you, Auntie Char (the giver of the snow-brick-maker)! 

Our Little Fisherman

 


Isn't he the cutest little thing? (Doodle, not the trout) 

Scrapbook Pages... Finally!

 

Well, here are some of the latest creations (I have a stack here that I need to journal when our printer is back from it's check up).
Fannie, thank you for your challenge! It's a good goal to post once a week! I won't bore you with all of them, I promise, and some weeks there probably won't be any to share! 

A very simple page...

 
 

Scrapbook Pages

 
 

Scrapbook Pages (Cont.)

 

The boys' spring soccer seasons... (please notice the bloody rag at the bottom of Noah's page...) 

Scrapbook Pages (cont.)

 
Just a little glimpse into what I've been up to! 

A mish-mash of jabber!

Ahhh... A fresh new year before us. The first three days have been spent trying to make our home reflect the "fresh" part. I feel like a scrooge saying it, but I truly love putting the Christmas decorations away! Maybe we just have too many decorations for our space, but oh, things feel more simple with the tree down and lighted houses stored away (onto new shelves built by dear Jake... All with scrap lumber from the shed! He speaks straight to my heart when he combines free with organization!)

Today I tackled the basement. Our basement doubles as a family room and toy area. (It once doubled as the home for 12 mattresses and 42 large cans of pinto beans, but that's another owner and another blog...) My dear sweet husband renovated it the summer before we started homeschooling our eldest and the space has been more than a blessing. He built a nine foot closet for toys that has doors (the most important part) and I proceeded to organize and containerize my childrens' toys, label maker in hand. I even drew (sad) pictures of what was to go into each bin for our non-readers. It works, but once a year I head down, usually mid-Christmas break, and start sorting bins. You know the bottom of each one, where you find one thing from each of the other bins that needs to be put back. It's an anal task... But I really don't mind it, being a bit on the AR side myself. I got done with all but two bins... And tomorrow is cleaning day down there. Look out all you cricket corpses... I'm gonna get ya!

Tonight the coach brought his two biggest fans (Doodle and Noah) scouting while Bella and I stayed home to watch Cinderella and scrap. I got two pages done (I'm working on posting them, but really wish I had a scanner as the photos of the pages are not all that good.). I counted tonight and I'm up to 29 pages since I started in mid-December on a fairly regular basis, and up to 48 pages for 2005. I've done through late March/early April thus far. I'm trying a chronological approach this year. Usually I jump around to whatever suits my fancy.
Oh, please don't get me wrong... I wish I were "caught up" but I'm far from it! I started scrapbooking with our wedding. An event that seemed "do-able." One day. (OH- someday I would love to go back and redo that album! I've learned so much and cringe when I look at it now!!!) So I did that, then half of 1998. Then I pick up again with about 5 pages for 2001, maybe 20 for 2002. I got serious in 2003 and only have about 12 pages to finish for that year (111 done!). 2004 I am mostly done with... just a couple months to finish. This fall I started fresh with 2005 not wanting to let the memories fade. I think I've said before- I'd love to finish 03, 04 and 05 and then stay current... with just those few years to sneak in at some point, but it's an outlet and hobby... not a huge goal or deadline.

Man, I've jabbered forever tonight... my apologies! I've got to get to bed...

Praying for a snow day,
Molly

It's a Wonderful Life... and it's ours!

Oh, Have we been having fun at the Dahl House! We are so blessed!

Christmas was wonderful- The kids are at fun ages where everything was a hit- the gifts, the food... We played games, watched a movie and played with every toy they got. They gave us sweet gifts... and didn't get us up until 7:30! I thought that was pretty good...

The day after Christmas we hit Walmart for cheap wrapping paper (I 'bout ran out this year!) and were off to the farm to see cousins galore. All three of Jake's sisters and their families were there and the kids played together wonderfully. We opened gifts together and the next morning had cousin photos taken. It was a great visit and wonderful to see the sistas before they scatter across the nation again.
:(

Yesterday was the best day of our Christmas Vacation so far. We had a "Mystery Adventure" which soon came to be called "Family Fun" Day. We headed south without telling the kids our destination. Of course they always shoot for the moon... "I know- we're going to DisneyWorld!!!" No, not quite, but it could be JUST AS FUN!!!!

We brought them to the Children's Museum (their first time at this one) where we all played for three hours! Then we loaded them up and went out for pizza (it's been a long time, so this was a major treat). We then headed to a McD's for hot fudge sundaes and playland (Mommy escaped at this point and went to Borders for an hour). Then we scooted back downtown for a movie. It was a great day- and we all had a blast just doing fun things together. The kids said it was the best vacation we had EVER had. ( and WE DROVE THESE KIDS CROSS COUNTRY last summer?!?) :)

Today was an at home day. I worked tonight- and could tell it had been awhile- I felt like a rookie! We're laying low the next couple of days. Playing board games, watching movies together and reading books. It's a wonderful life!

Blondie

For quite awhile Noah has wanted "those blond lines that people have in their hair." I kind of thought the desire would pass, but it's been a year now and he still brought it up once in awhile. So when I was highlighting a friends hair we decided to save a bit of the "goop" and Noah now has the highlights he always dreamed of!



Seven going on seventeen? Maybe, but he is thrilled and I really think it's just a fun, "cool" thing for him right now. I don't foresee any piercings real soon! LOL

A Lasting Impression

I hope that homeschooling my children in their early grades leaves a lasting impression. I LOVE teaching them and seeing the lightbulbs of realization. I enjoy the hands-on fun stuff. So when we pulled out the clay to work with texture and form letters I was sure it would enhance Doodles memories of kindergarten.




I never imagined we would ALL remember this project for a very. long. time. ...



(OK, so the photo is flipped kind of funny, but you get the idea... )
"Can I leave my name out so Daddy can see it?"
"Sure." ---2 hours pass---
"Mommy- I made a ball out of the clay again and you can STILL see my name(on the oak Amish-made dining room table you just got a couple of years ago...)!!?!"

Oh well... It will probably fade and if not- we'll always remember kindergarten with Doodle...

Coasting Into Christmas

My parents came up this weekend and we celebrated Christmas together! We had lots of fun- the time spent was a gift in itself! We woke up Saturday morning as though it were Christmas morning and opened our presents to one another. The boys were thrilled to each recieve a football and broke them in with a snowy football game Eagles (the boys) vs. Redskins (Daddy and Grandpa). The Eagles came out on top, 18-24. Bella's favorite gift was a neat Strawberry Shortcake house, ahh the memories... and to think the dolls we once played with are now "vintage." Jake and I were both in our church's cantata Sunday morning which Mom and Dad were there for before they headed back home.

We are enjoying a quiet Christmas week. I even pulled out the scrapbooking- which those who know me best know ONLY comes out when the work is done- or at least managable.

Jake and the Bulldogs won last night!!! (a big WHOO HOO!!!) He was so excited- he said the guys did fabulous and beat a really good conference foe. I'm sad I missed it, but look forward to watching the tape- AND look forward to Saturday's game in Cameron... a "down the road" town.

So... Merry Christmas! We'll post photos soon.

We had a nice weekend at home full of holiday festivities. Friday night was our church Christmas Party, which is always fun. We had a white elephant exchange and I made out pretty well with a bottle of Victoria's Secret lotion (Though I had a day since then where I thought I smelled B.O. all day... I'm hoping it wasn't the lotion...). Jake had his first game as the official head coach, and unfortunately they lost. They got into foul trouble. Thursday's game is at home- I hope to get to at least part of it.

Saturday we baked cookies and made flavored cocoa gifts for our friends. It was a productive day. We also went to a friends house for pizza/coaches mtg. It was fun to spend time there. Sunday the kids and I decorated Christmas cookies and rested. We had Cantata practice in the evening. It went well with two dress rehearsals scheduled for this week. I am playing "Angela," a "forty-something" widow with a teenage daughter. She is saved and trying to witness to her father who is losing his business. The story has a great message and I'm excited to hear it with the music. (Jake has a solo- I love his voice!)
Today is spontaneous cleaning day. I have the wash going, but also decided to wash the kitchen floor, wipe down all the counters and do main floor windows as well. Mom and Dad are hoping to come up this weekend and it will feel good to have things fresh. (Fresh and Clean, Fresh and Clean... Two of my favorite words!)

I hesitate to even type this but (in a hushed whisper) we haven't been sick yet this winter. I figured this would be a bad year with Jake and Noah both in their first year at the elementary school... But so far (shhh...) so good... The closer we get to Christmas, the more I hope it just holds off.

Well, time to switch loads.

The New Bulldog Coach...

I've mentioned that basketball season has begun. Jake has served as the JV (10/11th grade or B team for you Minnesotans!) boys coach for... 6 years (?) now. Well, at the beginning of the season the head coach tore his Achilles and this week stepped down for the season. The obvious first person asked to fill in was Jake. He really hoped the previous coach would step in (he's very good and Jake REALLY enjoyed coaching under him) but chose not to, so my dear husband, in trying to do what is best for the boys, stepped up to do it. Not out of arrogance, not for the money or the countless extra time and duties that come with the head coach's position, but because he thought it was best for the boys. He really cares about them. He taught them as 6th graders and has coached them all over the past 2-3 years.

I know he'll do a great job. He knows and loves basketball. He played on a State Championship team in high school and had a very successful coach, who he learned from. I believe in Jake. The faith stretching I was talking of in yesterday's post comes from the small community we live in and the pessimist negative mean people who are always there to tear down. WHY DO PEOPLE DO THAT?!? He is my husband, and I take mean things WAY TOO personally!

I am going to try to look up and not out... To my God, then to my husband and not to others. Will you pray me through this season? =) I know the Lord is working on me through this!!!

Happy Birthday, Doodle!

You're six today. SIX! The morning you were born there was no snow. It was a mild winter to that point. I remember raking over the weekend, hoping it would encourage your entrance to the world, but no such luck. Grandma K came to stay with Noah, and Daddy and I headed down to the hospital. Labor started quickly after they broke my water and about four hours later, just after the doctor had checked how we were progressing I looked at Daddy and said, "Go get him again!" Before we knew it, there you were! I smiled, "Jake, it's a boy!!!" (Here's a funny little fact... We had an ultrasound done at the tech. college before you were born and both students AND instructor told us you were a girl! Then at the doctor's office I was sure I saw your "boyage" so was back to square one in feeling like I had no idea what you were going to be!)



I remember it being a beautiful sunny day, the sun pouring in the window on my face... God blessed us greatly that day! You take pride in being the "easiest baby" (to birth, anyway!) You were our smallest at 8lbs. 10oz. and longest at 22 1/2" (little worm!).

Doodle, you have never stopped bringing a smile to my face. You are just you- doing things in your own unique manner. You are my tender cuddler. You'll stop what you're doing for a hug at anytime... My precious boy... with indescribable eyes and a sweet spirit. I love you, Doodle James. Happy birthday, my love!

 

Here it is... but it isn't nearly as pretty in pictures... Can't wait to show each one of you in person! I kept the setting Jake picked out originally. Just wouldn't be right to get a new one!!! The top/left photo is the original diamond (about the width of the band). He decided not to trade it in and have it set in my mother's ring.