Karin eventually returned in 2003 which happened to be when Little Miss was born, and again she was a huge blessing.

She has returned every year since to visit not only blood relatives but also all of us (Mike’s family, siblings included), her second family.

This year she brought along her fiancé Wolfgang and his son Jonie. Wolfgang is a landscaper by profession and has the most infectious laugh. He’s the kind of guy that looks for the one unfamiliar item on a menu and orders it. Or climbs a mountain just to see the sun rise. He’s a gem. We all loved him as well as his son. I voted to be the one to take them shopping and introduce them to my favorite Taco Truck.

Yes, it was the least I could do.

While he was here on the ranch, he wove together my (picked too early by some well meaning boys) onions and hung them on the backporch, saving them from a rotting existence.

But now herein is the coolest part:

Wolfgang can play tunes on a leaf. Part whistle sounding, part kazoo. And when I say tune, I’m not saying random musical notes. He can play recognizable songs!

Now check this out:

The man made a whistle out of a walnut branch!

Here's a closer up of Z blowing his.

I had to yell for Mike so he could see how it was done.

That's Karin interpreting for Wolfgang when things got too detailed. 

Little Miss loudly blowing her whistle.

The story continues with Wolfgang catching crickets with the boys and luring fish with them. Forget those fancy lures in their tackle boxes. But that's for another day.

 Wolfgang and Karin are getting married next January, and we hope they make their honeymoon destination America. 

Auf Wiedersehen!

We'll miss you!

Well, my Dad and Stepmom drove off into the morning sunlight this morning. We had a fabulous week of hunting, thrifting, eating, watching baseball, and Swiss Family Robinson.

The weather was warm but not too hot and the evenings were cool enough for dinners on the patio. (Some breakfasts too.)

Hunting

The boys are completely fascinated by my Dad’s love of hunting. J is constantly peppering him with questions.

Mid week my kids were out pretending to hunt and my Dad decided to join them. Somehow, the hunting game turned into a how-to hunt and how-to act like the animal being hunted, let’s say a deer. So in the 35 acres we live on, the kids were stalking their Grandpa carrying play guns and shouting “bang, bang”. So then the kids would take turns being an elk, or a cougar or a deer. You get the picture. It was a hoot. Although, when my Dad was out in the orchards, out-gaming the hunters, he did look a bit too much like a stalker and at one point had me freaked out, ready to call the sheriff until I realized it was him.

A homeschooling mom friend of mine asked me if we had started school yet and I said no because with church family camp and then family here we thought it better to start the 14^th. I then proceeded to explain this hunting thing my kids were playing with their Grandpa. She assured me this would fall under animal science and I had in fact started school. Excellent. I love friends like that.

Thrifting

Jackpot! Holy Moly! 28 books - $.57 a piece!!

as well as other goodies. But the books took the cake. Most were on my ‘someday to buy’ booklist and most didn’t have the spine broken.

Baseball

Yep more up-dates to come. The boys are playing in a fall league and had their first game this past Tuesday. They lost 7-11 but gained experience playing on a field with a longer distance from pitcher to home, evening sun-in-your-eyes trying to catch a fly ball, and learning the feel of a different park.

Swiss Family Robinson

Grandpa Dean thought it a crime that the kids had not seen Swiss Family Robinson. So last night we all hunkered down for the 1960’s something flick and peach cobbler.

Now it’s back to a routine and a bit more schedule planning so we can kick our school year into high gear come Monday. It’s been a great summer and I’m not willing to say fall is here yet – but in two weeks, when Mike starts shaking the walnut trees I may just have to face reality. Until then I’ll keep working on my tan.

He was playing outside yesterday and a wasp flew down and nabbed him just above the eyebrow.

I apple cidered, lavendered and roman chamomiled to take the sting and on coming itch away. But ice wouldn't keep the swelling at bay. His eye was swollen and open when he went to bed, but when he awoke this is how he looked.

Little Miss took one look at him and covered her mouth to stifle her laugh. C's been a trooper. The Doctor said Benydr*el and ice are our best bet. We tried Benydr*el with no real luck.

Things will be quiet around here for a few weeks as we get in our last few fishing & camping trips before we start school, and piano, and acrobats, and baseball & soccer games.

Phew!

I need a vacation!

......or stroke improvement as we call it for the boys. They've really enjoyed it, although it turns out the lady I spoke to when I signed up miss informed me that the level the 2 oldest needed was during this session. It's not. The boys' instructor was nice enough to step it up and challenge them. Being the athletic little men they are, they listen well to her instruction and put it into practice.

Little Miss will pass her tiny tots class without a struggle.

She's taking the goal of swimming without floaties very seriously and will often say,    "OK, now can I please try that myself?"

Determination. Where does it come from?

I think, it has something do with three older brothers and being the only one in floaties. I  think.

You must read the amazing news about Mighty Joe Fletcher!

Only a Mighty God can be responsible

Praise Him today!

And thank you to my friends and family who don't even know the Fletcher's but having been praying and praying for Mighty Joe. We love this family dearly and now you can rejoice with us!

Please pray for our friends sweet, baby Joseph who is in the hospital .... his mama is Kendra and his Dad is Fletch, who is also our shepherding elder at church. They are keeping us updated on prayer requests on their blogs.

Thanks for praying friends....

You can keep up on specific prayer requests here.

In the midst of baseball and more baseball .....

We celebrated the last of my 3 spring babies' birthdays.

My youngest boy turned 8. This one is a ham, full of silly, goofy faces and expressions and well, you may not know, but his nickname at the ballpark is ....Cadillac.

Yup. Everything he does is big and with style. It's been that way since the  t-ball days when he would slide into every.single.base. I was his coach, I remember well. Cadillac is a great nickname especially when your the youngest smallest guy on the team - but you got style and everyone is yellin' "Go Cadillac. Drive the ball!"

For his birthday, Cadillac chose Dad's pull-apart for his birthday breakfast and it seems that  word got around.

 Grandma and Grandpa popped over for some. The hired help for the fishing marina popped over. Mike's sister, husband and son popped over.

That should tell you how good Dad's pull apart is.

I showed up, with my running shoes on because once you start you just can't stop eating, you just have to run away from it and run it off. The worst is when it sits on the table all day for everyone to 'nibble' on, but you're the only one doing the nibbling and by the end of the day everyone else wants to know what happened to the pull apart. And again it helps if you have your running shoes on so you can just run away rather than admit you're the one who ate all the pull apart.

Anyways, Little Miss decided Z needed a humungo poster sized coloring book and some pens so they could color together.

One day J & C came to me with a list. A list of stuff they wanted to get Z for his birthday from lego dot com. They seem to think he needed guys. "More guys with swords and stuff. Oh and we need some more guys too." And I was handed some cash so I could order them guys too. So here is C just as excited as Z if not more than, that he got guys with swords and stuff.

 Mike and I added to the Chronicles of Narnia collection of 'guys',  Prince Caspian and Astrius and another King Peter the Magnificent, because, his other Peter broke.

So a big Happy Birthday to our Cadillac. Baby, you do got style! 

An afternoon of Good Times with cousins!

Mike's thrifted bike is still around and getting a work out. Who knew it would get as much use as it has? I just hope it can stand up to the abuse.

On this day, Little Miss and her friend rode around playing cowboys, shooting out the back at J & Z on their bikes. Oh my, it was crazy! C made me so nervous when he'd take corners on 2 wheels and the girls would scream wildly.

Good times!

Requested breakfast: Dad's pancakes

 Requested gift: a two wheel purple scooter, 'so I can go fast like my brothers. My 3 wheel scooter doesn't go fast.'

Good times: having a friend over. They are 2 days apart in age and we are long time friends with this family.

That much fun (and a late night at the boys' ball game the night before) proved to be too much. She fell asleep on the way to dinner, with her colored pencil still in hand, a pink purse on her arm and a whistle around her neck.

\

She had no problem perking up for what was important - a bithday sundae, in her fleece jacket, over her sun dress.

 I adore this sweet girl of mine. She's more fun and love than I could ever imagine.

Happy birthday to my baby girl!

and so are our hearts. We are baby sitting my 4 week old nephew for a few days. Oh, he is a honey!

My sister dropped him off and charged me with, "teach him how to sleep.", and i'm on it!

We stayed home from church today...... I was hesitant to  expose such a  wee one to outside germs just yet.

And to teach him sleep, I need to allow him to sleep. Kinda the way things go.

Mike didn't want to be separated again for worship, so we had a sweet time of singing and reading togther at home.

And little man slept through the whole thing.

This boy is 11 today.

This boy is my first born.

This boy has a keen ear.

This boy has eagle eyes.

This boy enjoys his little sister.

This boy is his brothers’ best friend.

This boy brings joy and laughter to this mother’s heart.

This boy challenges the strength and the mind of his father.

This boy knows where his home truly lies.

This boy loves Jesus.

Happy birthday to my boy!

You held my gaze from your tiniest days.  Interested in all language, in every word spoken, you listened intently. You desired even at that tender age to understand.

You rarely complain and are willing to get the job done. We tease you about your little world, the one we find you in when you’re battling the enemy or trekking through a great wilderness in search of the lost treasure.

In your 11^th year of life, you have thus far gained knowledge and understanding that can only be a gift from the One who loves you the most, from the One who loves you completely, from the One who loves you with a perfect everlasting love.

I am so grateful to the great I Am, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the One who gave us the privilege of being your parents.

I love you,

Mom

_______________________________________________________

Yesterday J finished the return of Return of the King. So on the eve of his birthday he, Dad and I hunkered down for the final movie. I am so proud of his accomplishment. Mike got up at five (even though the movie didn’t end until 12:30 am), to make J’s requested pull apart.

Before bedtime, the other kids decorated the table and J’s chair, and laid out the presents and the pictures they made him. I was just hoping they could get to sleep, they were so excited.

Frame-able baseball photos from C & Z

A flint fire starter from Little Miss

A milestone - the privilege of owning a bb gun

A family up-date:

*With such gorgeous weather here in the Central Valley, we have spent many evenings entertaining and dining out on the patio. After Monday practices out on the grass field next to the house, a baseball mom-friend (whose husband is an assistant coach) and I have dinner prepared here for our 2 families. Another player also stays and sometimes the other assistant coach and his son. We’ve done a taco bar, feasted on lamb, a potato bar, BBQ beef sandwiches …. Not bad!

*My Mom came out last week and my sister Marcie and her man came with their 3 week old and we all got some baby love.

*That evening was spent at our friends home putting out fires BBQing and discussing the up coming Carnival for Charity.

* The following day while my Mom took the kids to piano, I had a fantastic take-out lunch with my friend, and got some more baby love. A refreshing much needed break I think for both of us. J

*And then to all of our surprise, mid-week my sister Marcie called and said she and her man were wanting to get married this (past) weekend up in Tahoe and could we all be there.  Mike managed to free me up to go, so I rented a little car with much better gas mileage than my big ‘ol whale of a suburban and jetted my self up to my parents. It was a quick trip; a one night stay. The baby and his older sister stayed at the house with us while the newly married couple got a night to themselves in South Lake. Diane (Marcie's twin) and her family were there too.

*And today? Today is restock the fridge, bake, school, belt lesson’s (acrobats), and a baseball game.  Let’s see if it all happens as planned. I am the poster child for the go-with-the-flow lifestyle. Really. Just call me flexible.

*More baseball up-dates to follow. But for all who say, “You must be busy.” I have no room to complain. Practices are at our house and all three boy’s are on the same team with there Dad coaching. It doesn’t get any better than this!

Little Miss is starting to feel better and gaining her energy back. She got hit with a high fever and a small runny nose. Seems her body effectively worked its way’s and fought off the virus. Just as the Lord intended and we are grateful.

I have a few posts in the works. For those interested readers, I have a pretty exciting baseball up-date. But first things first; it’s time to get back to the books.

things get done.

‘Go through Z’s toy’s’ has been on my to-do list for way too long. Way, way too long. It’s one of my least favorite jobs. He’s a saver, which means loads of stuff not necessarily useful, to go through. Well, not useful in my eyes. But I don’t want to be a pooper about it and stifle his creativity by throwing away his treasures.

Enter … my Mom.

My ‘gloriously energized’ Mom.

My ‘gotta mess, will tackle’ Mom.

My ‘can’t stop till it’s done’ Mom.

I am slightly ashamed to tell you, that in the midst of this massive go through of toy’s she came looking for me and well, I hid. I thought she was calling me in to help. My giggles gave me away and she new instantly why I was avoiding her, and assured me that the 3 boy’s and her had it all under control and she just needed a … whatever it was. Boy was I relieved.

Little Miss and I went to the store and by the time I got home, the boys and Grandma had their feet up, playing rummy. I danced down to the bedroom and glowed loudly with ooo’s and ahhh’s and many, many thanks.

Here's one more shout out to you Mom....

Thanks for knocking that one off my list and putting up with my little girl antic's!

Don’t they?

It’s my fault for ever saying yes. And Joe? It’s his fault too. We are responsible for the eclectic, some what expensive pallet of my 9 year old. Joe’s the cheese guy at our local grocery store. Whenever he’s at his cheese table, C is there chattin’ up cheese. “Here try this. This is 3 times your age. Made in Holland, goats and sheeps milk,”offers good ol’Joe.

“Do you have anything to go with my Italian salami?”

“Here. This is what cheddar wishes it was.”

“Mom, Joe gave me Pilota to try.” Hard, white, somewhat drier cheese

Neat. Why don’t we just strap a wedge to each of my thighs and call it done.

“Try this Mom!”

Oh. Ya. Amazing. I’ll take the whole wheel, thank you. Chateau de Bourgogne.

In reality I realize, the wheel would have put me in my grave, so I agreed to just a wedge.

Now if the C-man knows I am going to the store, our conversation goes something like this ….

“Mom can you get the Rumakass cheese? Blue label, cut in a wedge. And sourdough baguette so we can make crustini. Do you have any rosemary in the garden still? If not, will you get some fresh so we can rub it on the bread? Oh and Mom, what about some of that cheese - goats milk and sheep, it’s soft and creamy, spread able and we can drizzle honey on it. I think it's French.”

He doesn’t dare ask for the buttery Chilean honey that sells $11.99 for a 5 oz jar, the one Joe likes to drizzle on the same soft, creamy, spread able cheese. 

Monday was one of those day’s I had this cheese lovn' child with me. He brought home a few treats for all of us to try. Bread, cracker’s, cheese’s and honey were all laid out beautifully on a plate and passed around. Oh the bliss.

The next morning was the kicker. “Mom can S(4) and I have bread and Chateau de Bourgogne for breakfast with strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream?”

At least it's not fruity pebbles.

We were given the privilege of caring for this sweet child and his sister this weekend.     * Some of you have recognized that this looks a lot like a mangokid. Your right! He's a very peaceful, happy little guy. Perfect for when he's his mama's preschooler.

Mike is great help, before 7:30pm.  And can you believe it? He blames the kid. Something about the soft chair and a warm, snuggly baby.

The funny thing is, 6 other kid's and I were right there, singing our hearts out,  entertaining the baby.

Although we have had quite enough rain, it has produced some very productive days. I have packed our time with academics as well has hours of read aloud time in front of the fire. We are currently reading Little Men, which has produced bellows of laughter from the boy's. The vocabulary is a bit over Little Miss's head and she is often heard saying,"Wait. Why are you laughing? I don’t get it.” After we have taken a moment to explain the scene, she too falls over in fit of jolly, if only to join in the noise.

When there was only wind and maybe a few sprinkles to deal with, we managed some lunch time kite flying,  

Oh please don't think I am a terrible Mom. This boy just doesn't get cold. Seriously. He's one of them that tolerated the 54 degree ocean in mid January.

There was an impromptu anatomy lesson when the turkey thawed.

We enjoyed a mid January "Thanksgiving-ish" feast.

This recipe has produced more than a few successful turkey's.

Lastly,

Baseball season is just around the corner.....

 time to get in shape.

This week has been one of great joy and happy tears as the long awaited birth of a sweet baby girl has finally come.

The day's have also brought sorrow, as we say good-bye to a friend, a fun Dad, a devoted husband and a child of God. Our sorrow is only temporary, for we will see Eric again, in heaven as we worship together at the feet of Jesus. And as my young son say's, "Where Mr. Davis will rub my shoulder and say goodmorning, again. "