Keep On Going

Belleholm is always under construction. I have my own demolition team. Things usually start on accident, and then the clean-up team (me) takes months to remedy the situation...

 

 

 Bedtime is a joyous occasion.

We struggle with anxiety around here. Debilitating, overwhelming anxiety.

We have been trying to overcome it with different techniques. Our most recent attempt to squelch the worry monster was to make a worry box. We wrote out our anxieties on papers and put them in a box for God to take care of. It is working. The trick is to give our worries to God and let them go.

It doesn't help when Daniel pulls them out again, but it did make us laugh when he tried eating them.

 I hide in the bathroom a lot. It is the only place I can eat without being interrupted. Mostly, I sneak chocolate and stand in the shower and cry. That happens on good days.

 

On bad days, I pour a bowl of sugar cereal and lock the door.

Esther has sugar cereal radar.

 

And she can pick locks.

 

It's a lethal combination.

I'm a smidge of a germaphobe. Matthew loves to tease me about it. He warns the children whenever we go anywhere that I will bathe them in Lysol if they touch anything.

In fact, when we went to BJ's just two days ago, he told Nathan that I was going to spray his face with Lysol when we got home if he kept licking the cart.

Soooo, at least everyone understands.

(As a side note: I AM CURRENTLY THE ONE WHO HAS TO TAKE CARE OF THESE CHILDREN 24/7 DURING ALL SICKNESSES.)

 

Anyway, we were reading in Joseph's health book the other day...

Joseph says, "HEY Mom! That mom is as crazy as you!"

Yep.

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone.

More superhero surprises.

Esther's hair is so white because of situations like this.
I bathe her in bleach.
Just kidding.
 

"Happy 3 something"
hahahahahah
Matt just turned 32.
Sarah calls him Schmoo. I don't know why.

This is our front porch. It is quiet out here.

Joseph: "So far, in my life, I've got a list in my mind of girls I'm in love with. One is Esther. One is Sarah. One is mom..."
Thomas: "...And one is CHIPS!"
Joseph: "The girl I love forever is definitely chips...or at least she should like chips..."

Esther is picking up loose change that people left at the Blessed Mother's feet.
Daniel HATES.All.The.Things.
Nathan is...somewhere...

They are making chocolate chip cookies during the meltdown hour.
Sarah: "I can't believe mom is letting us cook a double batch!!!"
Joseph: "It's only because she wants us to do the math, Sarah."

Fun Fun Fun

One of Joseph's greatest strengths is his honesty.

Incriminating Honesty.

Here is a page from the religion book he"finished" recently.

He came to me early one morning, flailing the book in the air, claiming: "It's done! This poop book is DONE!"

"WOW!", I exclaimed. "Let me see!"

As I scanned through the 15 chapters he finished in about 20 minutes, the truth ran me over like a Mack truck. He hadn't read anything. He went through and guessed at the answers...maybe without even reading the questions.

"Joseph, did you read the chapters?"

"No. But some of my guesses COULD BE right."

Just wow.

This little guy still doesn't sleep. Ever. But I am learning to soak in these moments because they really won't last forever. He is close to 10 months old now and I cannot believe how quickly these days are passing.

Tommy's reading skills have improved so greatly this year. He still keeps us guessing and in hysterics when he tries to sound out words, gets lazy and makes up an entirely new word. He has practically created his own language...and it has become part of our everyday speech here at Belleholm.

He is ALWAYS ready to read a book to a sibling. He is kind and caring and sensitive.

The superheroes have become a part of our family. They are found in various positions throughout the house all day long. They are usually to blame for things missing or broken...especially improperly done schoolwork or messy handwriting.

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

I take a boatload of pictures of him sleeping because it rarely ever happens.

You're Welcome.

This is part of our yard. This picture makes me giggle. Our yard and this space has become such an integral part of who we are. The kids even refer to Matt as the Farmer. We never run out of things to do and the children feel free to run run run and explore and dig/chop/build to their hearts' content.

It is a small piece of heaven and I don't know that I will ever be able to live anywhere but the country.

 

 

Lots of family time and parties happen in the spring and summer. It has been a busy time of travel. So much joy. So much laughter. Although we are happy here, the distance takes a toll and we miss everyone very much. It is always nice to see people after such an incredibly long winter...

This picture is packed with Schwalm Strength.
All because of you, Grandma!

My dad is desperately in love with my mom. After all these years, he sends me pictures of her with captions like: "Isn't she the prettiest?"

To have a love like that is so precious and inspiring.

Crawling brings about new obstacles

This picture says a lot about my daily life.
Look carefully now.

Teething

Sad

Happy