Spring catchup – 3

Mama Anna / Mama Carolyn.  (You could call me either of those in Uganda and it would mean... me!)  My mom took this picture. :-)

Mama Anna / Mama Carolyn. (You could call me either of those in Uganda and it would mean… me!) My mom took this picture. 🙂

Anna got to go to work with Papa today... and by all accounts, it was a resounding success.

Anna got to go to work with Papa today… and by all accounts, it was a resounding success.

Being human "switches" and playing a giant "piano" during the tour at Brian's work.

Being human “switches” and playing a giant “piano” during the tour at Brian’s work.

Making deviled eggs.

Making deviled eggs.

Easter girl at lunch time.

Easter girl at lunch time.

Gran, Grandpa and Mom!

Gran, Grandpa and Mom!

Happy seventh birthday, dear daughter!

Happy seventh birthday, dear daughter!

The cupcake frosting was.... electric.

The cupcake frosting was…. electric.

Brian chose a telescope for Anna's birthday present.... it is pretty awesome.

Brian chose a telescope for Anna’s birthday present…. it is pretty awesome.

Good times.

Good times.

I love, love, love, love, love these two girls together.  They are best friends and sisters.

I love, love, love, love, love these two girls together. They are best friends and sisters.

I love this of Jordan running out into the yard!

I love this of Jordan running out into the yard!

Carolyn had such fun learning how to find eggs!

Carolyn had such fun learning how to find eggs!

Tee hee - Carrie didn't want to stop for a hug.

Tee hee – Carrie didn’t want to stop for a hug.

Jordan running around the backyard to the front:

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Spring Catchup – 2

Gluten free began on April 6th.
My mom surprised me and walked through my door April 7th.
Melissa’s baby was born on the 13th and I got to visit them on the 13th and 14th.
Mom came and stayed at our house the 16-20th.
Easter and Anna’s 7th birthday party were on the 20th!

Thank goodness the gluten free pancakes were good!  Delicious, actually!  (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/delicious-gluten-free-pancakes/)

Thank goodness the gluten free pancakes were good! Delicious, actually! (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/delicious-gluten-free-pancakes/)

This is my daughter Maggie.  She defines breakfast fashion.

This is my daughter Maggie. She defines breakfast fashion.

My sister gave birth to her fourth baby, little miss Noralie Jane!  Welcome, beautiful girl!

My sister gave birth to her fourth baby, little miss Noralie Jane! Welcome, beautiful girl!

Look at those skinny newborn feet!  I bet they are already plump!

Look at those skinny newborn feet! I bet they are already plump!

I was so happy to get to spend a little time with her!

I was so happy to get to spend a little time with her!

SAM_7243 (Large)

Homemade apple cider vinegar in the making.

Homemade apple cider vinegar in the making.

My directions said when it got scummy, to cover it loosely and put it in the corner for a few weeks.  Well, scum arrived, so it's in the corner.

My directions said when it got scummy, to cover it loosely and put it in the corner for a few weeks. Well, scum arrived, so it’s in the corner.

Might as well learn how to brew kombucha while I'm making unusual foods!  Only moderate success so far.... I'll keep you posted.

Might as well learn how to brew kombucha while I’m making unusual foods! Only moderate success so far…. I’ll keep you posted.

My mom gets a silly picture taken of her by the girls...

My mom gets a silly picture taken of her by the girls…

Carolyn, the cutie.

Carolyn, the cutie.

My mom gave my kids' hairdressing play... I didn't know Maggie's hair could be so fancy when it is so short!

My mom gave my kids’ hairdressing play… I didn’t know Maggie’s hair could be so fancy when it is so short!

Anna's hair is lovely and rich... and my Mom's hands are skilled!

Anna’s hair is lovely and rich… and my Mom’s hands are skilled!

So cute!

So cute!

Anna reads a letter she got in the mail to Mom.

Anna reads a letter she got in the mail to Mom.

I think Anna had the camera....

I think Anna had the camera….

Hey, I look skinnier in pictures than I do in the mirror!  That makes me happy!

Hey, I look skinnier in pictures than I do in the mirror! That makes me happy!

LOL - He is the man!

LOL – He is the man!

Proof Mom was here.... a picture of her taking a picture of the kids being adorable and slightly unsafe.

Proof Mom was here…. a picture of her taking a picture of the kids being adorable and slightly unsafe.

They had SO much fun!

They had SO much fun!

Sooooooo much fun!

Sooooooo much fun!

I don't know how you got back outta there, mom!  It is a sqeeeeezy seat.

I don’t know how you got back outta there, mom! It is a sqeeeeezy seat.

Doing a little bookkeeping between kids....

Doing a little bookkeeping between kids….

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Spring Catchup

My brain is in about as much disarray as my desk right now and that means it’s not pretty. I would like to write in more detail… but think I will let the pictures on my camera tell the story for me. There are a LOT of pictures, so I think this post will be in a few pieces.

Piece 1:

She brought the stool to the back door while stating repeatedly, "doubt-side, doubt-side!"

She brought the stool to the back door while stating repeatedly, “doubt-side, doubt-side!”

Isn't she just the cutest peek-a-boo giraffe you've ever seen?

Isn’t she just the cutest peek-a-boo giraffe you’ve ever seen?

Pictures of the fence for my dad!  We had a hard time deciding where to put the fence by the driveway and in relation to the coop.  I kinda wish we had made the pasture bigger and the yard smaller, but it's done now.

Pictures of the fence for my dad! We had a hard time deciding where to put the fence by the driveway and in relation to the coop. I kinda wish we had made the pasture bigger and the yard smaller, but it’s done now.

Looking along the front of the property.  We left the public right-of-way unfenced just in case the road is ever widened.

Looking along the front of the property. We left the public right-of-way unfenced just in case the road is ever widened.

Here's standing on the road looking down the fence that divides the "garden" side of the property from the house side.  THat's a pile of compost we purchased to jump start our gardens.  Haven't gotten it moved yet.

Here’s standing on the road looking down the fence that divides the “garden” side of the property from the house side. THat’s a pile of compost we purchased to jump start our gardens. Haven’t gotten it moved yet.

This is the grass-covered driveway easement on the side of the property.  If you look with a magnifying glass, you can see the big gate to the back field there on the left.

This is the grass-covered driveway easement on the side of the property. If you look with a magnifying glass, you can see the big gate to the back field there on the left.

Many parts of our property are really, really wet.  We had to make ourselves a path of some concrete edgers we had handy just so we could run a wheelbarrow across the ground. When we move the bricks again, this is what it looks like.

Many parts of our property are really, really wet. We had to make ourselves a path of some concrete edgers we had handy just so we could run a wheelbarrow across the ground. When we move the bricks again, this is what it looks like.

Because of the standing water, we decided to dig a ditch along where the blueberries are to lower the water table.  You can see Brian assembling the garden bed that we will hopefully plant stuff in asap!

Because of the standing water, we decided to dig a ditch along where the blueberries are to lower the water table. You can see Brian assembling the garden bed that we will hopefully plant stuff in asap!

Just for you dad - they got the fence really straight.

Just for you dad – they got the fence really straight.

He's a beautiful dog.  A huge, hairy, muddy, slobbery beautiful dog who is so much more bored now that his yard is fenced.

He’s a beautiful dog. A huge, hairy, muddy, slobbery beautiful dog who is so much more bored now that his yard is fenced.

Outside!

Outside!

What do you get when you live two doors down from a horse stable?

What do you get when you live two doors down from a horse stable?

Adventuring

Adventuring

A spider had caught and killed this fly with no net.  He carried it off to eat.

A spider had caught and killed this fly with no net. He carried it off to eat.

Let us out!

Let us out!

Mud hole.....

Mud hole…..

A beautiful sunny day showing the pasture in the back and the pretty flowering tree.

A beautiful sunny day showing the pasture in the back and the pretty flowering tree.

Giant, wonderful chicken coop.

Giant, wonderful chicken coop.

We decided to line up the fence with the corner of the shop.  And we decided to not close in the driveway with the fence at the top.  Maybe a mistake, since now there is grass between the fence and the driveway that I don't know what to do with.

We decided to line up the fence with the corner of the shop. And we decided to not close in the driveway with the fence at the top. Maybe a mistake, since now there is grass between the fence and the driveway that I don’t know what to do with.

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I know it’s been a long time since I’ve blogged. I have lots of great pictures and probably some stories, but am so busy chasing life that I haven’t had time to sit and write about it. Jordan has new long-term tubes in his ears, I’m figuring out his Kindergarten options for next year, AWANA for the big girls is abou to wrap up, Anna turned seven years old, my Mom spent much of last week with us, my sister had a baby girl, Carolyn gets on stools to try and open doors and Maggie can ride a two wheel bike.

More later. 😉

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Young but Not Young Anymore

You want to have your perspective improved by reading this short post about just the three most recent girls WIC is helping in Uganda. Oh, how I want to go scoop up these mamas and babies. And how it helps me with perspective about where I put my money.

Victor (14 years old) sitting by her babies.

Victor (14 years old) sitting by her babies.

IMPORTANT NOTE: My mom is in the states! She is here for six weeks before returning. Yay! The post above really puts some urgency into the women’s health ministry over there. (Women in Crisis is a separate, but complimentary ministry to the Women’s Health Clinic which my folks will be working on.) Both ministries (WIC and my parents can be supported financially through Next Generation Ministries.

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