Quotes: This is not funny.

When Lucy was a baby we always said, "She is going to have a lot to say when she learns how to talk."  We were right.  It is great to learn what is going on in her sweet little head.

We were talking about a pretty serious topic today at lunch and Lucy said the following in all seriousness and completely unrelated:

"And if you get lost the police will come."

The kids all started laughing (and I tried to hide my laughter.)  She replied,

"You guys,  this is not funny."

Little Lucy Ruth

Today we celebrate 3 years of Lucy's life.  I love her so much.  One of my regular highlights is when I get her out of bed and she buries her head into my shoulder with a hug. She is a sweet girl and lots of fun.  This year has seen her learn so much about obedience, kindness and gentleness.  She loves to play with her sister, especially dolls and dress up.  Christmas brought two princess outfits and she was thrilled.  She loves riding the rhino or the quad with Matt or Molly.  Three will be a large mile marker for her as it will mean the surrender of her binkies and a move into the big bed with Molly.  She is excited about the second and as you can see from the picture below, not real excited about the first.

We love you Lucy Ruth and are so thankful for who God is making you to be.  May he continue to bless you this coming year.

Girls

Our house has been so boy oriented for so long.  The girls are coming into their own as a part of our family and it is fun to watch.  Amanda sent me this picture this morning with the following note.

The girls are playing outside. Lucy is barefoot so Molly's carrying her everywhere.
Funny.
Amanda

I love my girls.

Just like her mom

The question I get whenever we have a new baby is, "Who do you think he/she looks like?"  I don't really like this question.  I always feel like the answer is, "He looks like himself."  Then once in a while we'll come across a picture of Amanda or me or Tricia or Joe or Gregg and say, "That's just what Ben/Caleb/Nathan look like."

Last night we found this picture.

Look like anyone else you know?

I told Lucy this morning that I thought she looked like her mommy.  I told her that someday she'll grow up to be just as pretty as her mommy is.

First Day of School 2012

When mom is also teacher, it complicates things sometimes, especially when mom is recovering from a cesarean section.  It also simplifies certain things as well.  Getting all of the kids ready to start at the neighborhood school I think would have been pretty difficult over the last few weeks.  Today was the first day of school for us though.  Amanda started off slowly with just jumping into math today.  I will begin history on Thursday.  We'll see how things go.  

This year we added Molly, our fourth pupil to the Gammons home school.  She is very excited.  I asked her at lunch how it went and if she like it.  She said she loved it.  She said she has her own math book.

We look forward to another grace-filled year of educating our kids at home.  Amanda is amazing in her patience, strength and skill.  The class is full of great students.  You can see the class roster below.

Ben, almost 10-years-old, grade 5

Caleb, 8-years-old, grade 3

Matthew, almost 7-years-old, grade 1

Molly, 5-years-old, kindergarten

Lucy, 2-years-old

Nathan John, 3-weeks-old, diaper school

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9 ESV)

Popcorn Party

The boys went to Gregg's house last night for a vids (video games) party.  So the girls decided they'd have a movie night and watch Lady and the Tramp.  And what's a movie night without popcorn?  Once the baby comes and starts sleeping well, Lucy will move into Molly's bed full-time.  There are to be many more nights like this.

Summer Sports Co-op

For the last three summers the kids have enjoyed a home school summer sports co-op. Every Thursday night we get together with a bunch of other families and play baseball and soccer. It's not very serious, but the kids have fun. Here are some shots from last night.

Quotes: My not helping

Yesterday Amanda went to the grocery store and left the kids home alone.  Shube was right next door so don't freak.  Amanda said the kids could do whatever they wanted, they just needed to clean up the kitchen from breakfast and get dressed.  Sitting her highchair, Lucy replied,

"My not helping. My a baby."

Evidence

I wrote about Caleb and Lucy in the water.  I think this video demonstrates what I was referencing fairly well.  Enjoy!

Vacation '12: Alpena

After the U.P. we drove over the bridge and headed to my mom's in Alpena.  My mom has the place for sale, so this might be have been the last time that we were there as a family.  Tricia's family was there for the first part.  We lit off fireworks, swam, played in the sand, swam some more and generally had a great time.

One of the highlights of our swimming everyday was watching Lucy learn to go underwater.  This consisted of her throwing herself in the water, looking to us like she was drowning and then eventually emerging.  He has no fear.  At first this was scary.  But eventually, we got used to it.

Caleb didn't though.  He was the rescue crew.  Whenever he was near her, he would pull her out.  Caleb loves Lucy and is by far the best at watching over her.  He's going to be great with the new baby too.

We also took a glass-bottom boat tour of some of the shipwrecks in Thunder Bay.  This was a fun way to spend some time out on the water.  The boys are really interested in the shipwrecks so they thought it was great.

Thanks for having us, Mom!  It was another great time in Alpena.

Quotes: Lucy

We stopped in Sault Ste. Marie at Joni's dad's place for the night on our trip.  It was a great and free stopping point in the U.P.  When we were setting up the PUP and getting ready for bed, we heard Lucy say, "Boys, my comin' in yo' bed."  She's something else!

Momma's Little Helper

Daddy and his girl

Lucy has become such a sweetheart.  Whenever I come home, she is one of the first to run, grab my neck and give me a huge hug.  She loves to hug her daddy, but refuses to give me even the smallest kiss.  Girl's got opinion, okay!  I always love how my relationship with each individual kid grows and changes as they get older.  Right now, Lucy is definitely Daddy's girl.

Christmas '11

What happened to us this past Christmas.  I just looked back in the blog and I guess I just didn't post much.  So here's a few pics and comments.

Santa (Shube's builder) came to our house for Christmas. Lucy talked about how scared she was of him for weeks. "Santa.  SCAWEE!"

Ben decided it would be a good idea to make this face in most of his Christmas pictures.  A good time was had with the Nagel family this year at Christmas.

Fourth graders at our church get help in lighting the advent candles at Christmas time.  Ben did the midnight Christmas Eve service.  It seemed like a good idea at the time.  He did great, but by the end he was pretty tired.

Our little Lucy Ruth turned 2 after this Christmas as well.  We are thankful for all of God's Christmas blessings.  

This is gonna be scary!

Sometimes Amanda sends me snap shots from moments throughout her days.  I got these today from their adventures in the car wash. 

Lucy wasn't real excited.

When I was home for lunch, Lucy said to me.  "Car got bath . . . SCAWEY!"

Little Lucy Ruth

Lucy Ruth turns 2 years old today.  Like a fine wine she has improved with age.  She is talking a mile a minute and loves to be able to communicate her many ideas.  She is so sweet and makes our life even more of an adventure.  She is Mommy's helper ("no Daddy's helper").  She loves to be outside and doesn't have a lot of sit still in her.  We pray that God will continue to lead her along the straight path as she seeks his kingdom.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LULU!

Lucy Update

Lucy and the mule deer

Check out the mule deer.  Lucy loved it.  She wanted to get a little too close.

My Girls

I posted about what I have been thinking about the boys and their futures last week.  Last night we were reading our latest read aloud "Caddie Woodlawn" by Carol R. Brink.  It is the story of a pioneer girl in Wisconsin.  She is allowed, mostly by her father, to run and play and romp with her brothers.  Her mother would like her to be more of a "lady."  As she gets a little older she begins to struggle with the tension of who she is and who she wants to be and who others want her to be.

In the passage we read last night, she gets in big trouble with her mother because she and her brothers play a practical joke on their cousin from Boston.  She is sent to her room without any supper.  After everyone else is asleep, her father comes up to her room and sits on her bed.  He puts her warm hand in his cool hand and says to her the following.

It’s a strange thing, but somehow we expect more of girls than of boys. It is the sisters and wives and mothers, you know, Caddie, who keep the world sweet and beautiful. What a rough world it would be if there were only men and boys in it, doing things in their rough way! A woman’s task is to teach them gentleness and courtesy and love and kindness. It’s a big task, too, Caddie—harder than cutting trees or building mills or damming rivers. It takes nerve and courage and patience, but good women have those things. They have them just as much as the men who build bridges and carve roads through the wilderness. A woman’s work is something fine and noble to grow up to, and it is just as important as a man’s. But no man could ever do it so well.  I don’t want  you to be the silly, affected person with fine clothes and manners whom folks sometimes call a lady.  No, that is not what I want for you, my little girl.  I want you to be a woman with a wise and understanding heart, healthy in body and honest in mind.

I love this quote.  The spirit of it is what I want for my girls.  I want them to do the work that God has for them in a strong way like their mother and their grandmothers and their great-grandmothers before them.

Somebody's got some new jeggings