Pass the Pickles, please!

My love for crunchy dill pickles is well known. Today during lunch I espied a big, juicy one. I remarked to the kids, "That pickle has my name aaalll over it", to which Emmy replied, "Can I see!? Where are the letters?"

By way of an update, we are finally having summer here and it.is.hot. The heat didn't bother me last year because the blood loss from my miscarriage made me cold, but this year I've had to resort to tying a kitchen towel with ice cubes in it around my neck more than once.

Josh is as busy as a guy could be. He gets up at 4 every morning to get some reading in before heading out to work around 6. He likes to gets the weeding done before the heat gets unbearable. After the cleanings are done for the day, he heads out to mow a yard or two before dinner. He's one tired guy at the end of the day and frequently falls asleep with the kids after family worship.

Joshy (recently 7) just wrapped up his first Math book and is excited to begin book 2. I hope it will be more of a challenge for him, though repetition does have its benefits. Reading has become one of his favorite subjects now that he's able to do it with more ease. He is especially enjoying the Little House series. He's growing by leaps - wearing size 9/10 jeans, and he loves to tag along on yard jobs with Josh. He's literally learning to be a diligent and cheerful worker from the ground up. It so good to see him come home covered in dirt from head to toe, grinning from ear to ear about the wage he's just earned. He's growing in character in other ways as well. I praise God for softening and changing his heart.

Emmy(5)is still the writing, drawing, card-making, read, read, reading girl. She also loves the Little House series so she and Joshy have worked out a system for taking turns with the books. She wants to learn how to sew next. We'll have to learn together. I played at sewing by hand as a girl, but I wouldn't consider myself sufficiently educated in that area. She has plans for a patchwork quilt for one of her babies. She and Addie are both hoping for kittens if we ever move out to the hills. She would dearly like to have a white one.

Addie(3)is getting to be such a big girl. She has the potty thing down cold now (Thank you, Lord!) so we are moving on to bigger and better things. She has loved to sign since she was around 18 months so we're working on learning the alphabet together. Watching the 'Signing Time' videos has already given her a good start with phrases and names. She is wild, loud, and silly like I was (am?). Also? Very bossy. She gets that from Daddy. ;)

Walter(2) (aka Walnut or Boots) is talking up a storm now. He's been listening to us sing all along and suddenly, I'll hear him singing using the right words! It's quite adorable. For the past few days he's been in Mommy boot camp to work on being more cheerful. I don't know who it's been more effective for, me or him. Either way, there are more smiles all around. :) He's still my tough nut. This morning we got up early and went to the park while it was still cool. He marched over to the tallest slide, climbed up the steps and flew down without a moment's hesitation. As far as I can recall, it was his first time down a slide. The last time we went to a park he was too young. I often say that he will be the one to make me old, but perhaps it's just the opposite.

Elisabeth is just over 2 months old now and she is the easiest, happiest, little chunk of joy. It's a good thing I didn't have her before all of the others. I would certainly have a very inflated view of my mothering abilities indeed. She is about ready to bust out of her 0-3 month clothes, and she can roll from her back to her side without any trouble. She is a conversational little girl with a soft, coo-y girlie voice. If only my cameras weren't out of commission!

As for me, I am happy and looking forward to Summer's adventures. Maybe we'll go camping this year. It could be fun, right?