Joshua took us garage-saleing at a nearby town this morning. There were dozens of sales and we walked for about 2 hours before collapsing in the car with several bags of goodies and two very tired children (the boys walked and I wore Ruth in my mei tai).

We got several toys for the boys with some gift money that had been set aside for garage sales. I got this complete vintage Sesame Street camper/rv set for $1.50. I honestly bought it because I love all the pieces and it's a perfect "boy toy"... and no batteries or annoying sounds. Now I found it on eBay and it looks like the set's worth more than $25!! What to do, what to do...

First, I love the toy set. I wanted the boys to have fun with it, but they'd just break it after a while (it's plastic, after all). I don't like keeping things that aren't being used and enjoyed, but I don't know if I want to let them play with a collector's item. I don't really want to re-sell it, though... I like it too much!

What would you do??

Joshua just informed me that the box the camper was in is the original box. Oops! Guess I'll take it back out of the trash!!

When I was outside hanging laundry this morning, Yehoshua found an old pecan in the dirt. I have no idea where it came from, but he set right to work on cracking it open. He used a toy hammer on the porch's cement floor, and had the nut open in no time! I told him not to eat the nut, because I didn't know how old it was. He put it on the sidewalk for some ants to eat.

I then told him I would get him a fresh pecan to eat. I got out a pecan (in the shell) and told him he could crack it and eat it. He tried and tried to crack that new pecan, but apparently it wasn't so old and brittle like the last one was. ;)

Yehoshua begged me to open it for him, but I told him he needed to find a way to do it himself. About 15 minutes later, I walked into the living room and he said "I'm cracking it!" as I heard a crunching noise.

Using some supplies from this tool set (which was a surprise gift to the boys from Joshua's parents earlier this year!), Yehoshua had made the above contraption and was using a screw driver to tighten the screw and crack the pecan! :)

We've had so much lovely weather these days. The boys love playing outside, and I love doing laundry when it isn't rainy! I even let it hang out all night sometimes, when there's no rain predicted... is that bad?? :)

My sister Bonnie came over today and helped me with some Spring cleaning. I had been feeling a little overwhelmed because even though the daily stuff gets done pretty well, I just hadn't been able to make enough time for anything extra -- like vacuuming out the car, rescuing toys from the floor vents, or cleaning fingerprints off windows. With two of us working hard, we were able to get quite a bit done in one day! :)

I'm still recovering from two very full days of preparation and two very wonderful days of rest and celebration! :) Thursday and Friday were packed with cooking and cleaning (and all the rest of the normal stuff we do each day) in preparation for Passover.

We had a lovely Passover! We read several chapters from Exodus and ate the traditional foods (unleavened bread, bitter herbs, grape juice/wine, mortar). I actually managed to make all of the foods I had planned for our menu and the children really loved the matza ball soup, since I generally only make that at Passover. ;)

Yehoshua's unleavened chocolate birthday cake actually turned out well, as did the frosting (which I had to make without powdered sugar since I was out!). I'll try to get the recipe typed up soon... like I said, I'm still picking up things around here, catching up on laundry... :)

It's Spring!!! Finally!!! :) It seemed as though it would never stop snowing here in NW Ohio... and then it seemed as though it would never stop raining!

Finally, some good wash days. The wooden clothes rack in my living room has been stashed away for next winter, leaving some lovely empty space beside the couch. :)

I have been gleefully hanging my laundry outside. Yehoshua and Eliyahu are all-too-eager to "help", and just don't want to come inside. Ever. I even fold all my laundry out there while I take it down as they play. It's still not long enough. :)

Thankfully, both boys are old enough (2 and almost-4!) to behave nicely out there while I work. In the past, there was always one child who refused to listen about staying in our yard/nearby, so this time of "maturity" is such a blessing! Next year, Ruth will be 1 and I'll probably be chasing after her. ;)

This picture of my diapers flapping in the breeze makes me so thankful. Oh, I'm thankful for my diapers, as they were all sent to me from my Heavenly Father in various ways and through various friends... But mostly I'm thankful because that line full of diapers means I have a little one to cuddle and kiss.

I love her.

How is it that babies just get more and more fun and sweet?! :) I can never understand that part. :) Ruth is just a little doll...

Yehoshua loves taking care of "Roof". (He can't quite get the ending -th yet!) :) He is always wanting to be near her (even when she's asleep!) and talks so sweetly to her. :)

Eliyahu is turning into my do-it-yourself little guy. He doesn't ask, he does. I think I already mentioned that he basically potty trained himself. He doesn't ask to go potty... he just goes. Since he's a 2-year-old little boy, this is not always a good thing! But I'm not complaining. ;)

He can dress himself, and he loves changing his clothes several times a day. I gave up fighting this one... the clothes just go back in his drawer (unfolded) until they are actually dirty; then we wash them.

Eliyahu will try anything, and he's so independent. He was always a little more ambitious than Yehoshua, when it came to doing things for himself. But I think that since Ruth was born, Eliyahu has had more opportunities to be independent, and he takes full advantage of them! ;)

Aline asked about seeing a wedding photo that actually showed our faces. ;) Here we are at our reception. :) I can't remember who took this picture, but it's one of my favorites! :)

I thought that I'd also write a little bit about our wedding, for anyone interested. I've been meaning to write about our wedding ever since I read this post by my cousin Willa. So whether you're looking for frugal wedding ideas, or you just like reading about weddings, here you go! ;) (Read more...)

I truly think the years have gotten sweeter... and go by faster. :) Six years ago today, I was 20 and Joshua was 24, and we were just beginning our life together. I've grown and changed so much! But I wouldn't change any of it... well, besides all the times I've been selfish... or ruined dinner. ;)

We celebrated our anniversary yesterday due to the availability of our babysitter (my mom). Joshua and I had a nice outing with just baby Ruth along! You will all probably laugh about this, but we went to two second-hand stores, and then went out to lunch at Taco Bell. I love Taco Bell food... and if I'm going to eat out, it might as well be something I can't re-create at home (their chalupas!). Then we came back to our quiet house and took naps before picking up our noisy boys. ;)

Today was catch-up day. I gave both boys haircuts and baths, and did lots of odds and ends. And laundry. Joshua surprised Yehoshua with two of the things we purchased on our outing: Connect Four and Monopoly Jr. Yehoshua enjoyed learning (or starting to learn!) how to play Connect Four, and he absolutely LOVED getting to play the Monopoly game. He had so much fun, and he's learning about counting and adding while he plays! Definitely a good $2 investment. ;)

My to-do list for today was long, but tomorrow's is longer. I'm jotting down ideas for blog posts, but haven't the time (or brain function!) to compose anything worth reading right now. :)

Ruth is so sweet. I know, all moms think their babies are adorable. ;) Ruth is 6 weeks old today! She's still getting over the baby acne, and is starting to give us little smiles!

I've packed away most of her 0-3 month sleepers already, as they were getting too snug. Cloth diapers seem to slightly accelerate the growing-out-of-clothes issue, but Ruth is definitely growing... fast! :) See more pictures...

Yesterday, Joshua took the boys outside to build their first snow man. They loved it! We used old canning jar lids for the eyes, because we couldn't find any stones. We didn't have a hat, but Joshua gave the snow man some eyebrows! Joshua used red food coloring to make the mouth visible... and then they got the idea to add some teeth! ;)

They built the snow man right outside the boys' bedroom window, so they can look out at it all day. It has entertained them quite a bit!

So, it's cold and snowy here. I've been baking, but haven't taken any pictures for a few days. I'm hoping that after some sleep tonight, I'll feel more energetic tomorrow! :D

Our little Ruth turned one month old today... it's amazing how much faster the month after birth passes, compared to the month before birth. ;) I took these pictures of her little feet while she was resting on a beautiful quilt that was given to her.

Ruth continues to grow, and her little cheeks and legs and arms are so chubby! :) We're all doing well. We had colds a couple weeks ago, which lasted a number of days, so we're thankful to be well again, and ready to invite people over. :) Hospitality is something that Joshua and I both enjoy very much! :)

The weather here in Ohio has been cold, so I've been reluctant to go out (well, that plus the fact that taking three little children anywhere sounds like a real chore!) but we're planning Ruth's first outing -- a concert featuring the Westhuizen Duo. I am looking forward to it, ever since Yehoshua and I went to one of their recitals this past November. Since the concert starts at 8:15pm, Eliyahu will be home sleeping while Yehoshua, Ruth, and I venture out. I know it will be a real treat -- you can listen to some of their music here -- and I'm always excited about exposing Yehoshua to live performances, which hardly compare with a recording. :)

In other family news, Eliyahu (2) is talking more and more, which is such a fun thing to watch unfold. :) He will sit and look at books by himself, he loves playing hide-and-seek, and he wants to do everything Yehoshua does.

Yehoshua (3) is having regular "school work" now, as we are working on the Alpha Phonics course. They have some handy practice sheets in the back, which we've used to learn all of the letters and their sounds. We're just starting to put letter sounds together to make words. I'm also having Yehoshua start practicing some writing.

I'm also doing regular piano lessons with Yehoshua. Each day, we sit down for 10 minutes or so, and I work with him. We're using the Suzuki method. I had worked with him at the piano some in the past, but not regularly enough. He loves having his lessons, and now Eliyahu asks for lessons, too. I've given Eliyahu a couple of lessons, which made me realize just how much progress Yehoshua has made! :) Yehoshua watched me teach Eliyahu, adding, "Eliyahu, you have to curve your fingers!" ;)

And me? I have more blogging ideas/recipes/photos than I seem to have time to actually blog about them. ;) I know you'll forgive me for going to bed early sometimes instead of blogging. :) An updated blog but a grumpy mommy just isn't right. :)

Oh, I have also been meaning to say thank you to everyone who has been leaving recipe reviews and sweet comments here at my blog! I read and appreciate all the feedback, and am so honored and blessed by your kind words! I wish I could respond to everyone's comments but I honestly don't have enough computer time for that. I do try to get to your questions (if I forget one, just ask again!) and slowly peck away at my email inbox in spare moments. :) Thanks for your understanding and patience! You are all so sweet. :)