They Baked...We Cleaned

So, after the full weekend, James let me sleep in while working from home. 

And while he worked, and I slept, the kids (Katy and Erik) baked...and oh my... did they bake. :) 

This is what I woke up to - well almost...the cereal hadn't been dumped out yet -by Laura - and the flour wasn't out yet. 

The story: James got them started, and really,  it wasn't too messy, until Erik got into the flour, and then put a bunch of salt in the batter, alongside the chocolate sprinkles, eggs, and chocolate chips, and peanut butter. They had a blast.... :) Flour was tracked right to the downstairs. 

I have to confess, I wasn't thrilled. :( Not even a bit. :) More like, annoyed, frustrated, and wondering why I bothered to sleep in.

But my sweet man, he cleaned up almost everything for me. Happily, with laughter, and probably a "let's not do that again type of thought". :) 

And even though I probably wouldn't let them do that kind of baking alone, you know what -I'm glad he lets them try things out. :) Yes it was a mess, but he was able to work, and I was able to sleep, and maybe the kids even learned something. They'll probably laugh about it when they're older, about the crazy time they baked all by themselves, trying to cut out crumbling cookies with a cookie cutter... oh my...

James is such a  great dad, and I am so glad he lets the kids experience life...and is there to clean up the mess!

Fun & Full Weekend

We went to Lewiston on Saturday, after the morning being full from the Ladies Prayer Breakfast for me, and an outreach distribution for James. Then off to the states, where we had a good afternoon and evening, shopping with the four kids. It went pretty smooth, and in the late evening, we went out with Heather and four at home. (Henry and Hannah in China, and the boys elsewhere.) That was a lovely time, but we didn't get back to 11:30 p.m. I was so tired - not that it was that late, but just exhausted from everything - baby, and life. :) Then the next day, we ended up having some company for lunch after church - three guys and their dad - they were waiting for their sisters and mom to be finished at a retreat nearby. So they came over which was nice. The sisters and mom ended up being done early, so they joined us for a half-decent lunch :) and then did some music for us. It was kinda fun to hear some of the songs that I heard growing up again. 

             Fun to hear a bunch of instruments being played together.

After they left in the late afternoon, we decided to dash up to Sarah's to see her and her finance!! She's engaged!! (as of two nights before!) So the kids slept in the car on the two hour ride up, and we had a great couple hours with the two lovebirds, and Jonathan's parents. 

We get another wedding on the Heikoop side -hooray!!

Just before we left...had to grab a shot of them.

Then back home again...I really loved the drive up and down - it was in the farm country, and the kids slept on both ways, so James and I got a great date time in. Despite the tiredness. 

Exciting to see where God leads these two.

Her Many Faces

This little girl has an extra ounce (or pound really!) of cuteness. Even when she's naughty, she still has the cute edge to her. Okay, maybe not when she's wailing, but without the madness, she's adorable. And yes, it's not always easy to discipline her when she looks that cute -but we're trying...

Reading a library book one day. 

Riding on the zebra from Bolivia -from Auntie Anne-Marie. 

Sporting a full two pigtails now - and looks in the mirror and says "Laura".

So big...

Wearing a "bandana" around the house and loving it. 

Dear Laura - how we love you.

Springtime Swing

Katelyn was determined to push Laura on the "big kid" swing, and they did quite well together. 

Laura fully enjoyed it, and pretty much stayed on the swing without much drama. 

Love Katy's look - and Laura, almost off the swing. :) 

Getting so big. 

And Springtime is here....

Teddy in the Sun

Trying to see what I can do with that one patch of bright light in the mornings... After trying to use Katy in it, I resorted to a bit of still life, and the poor teddy bear was my model. (you'd never guess that he was a bright red stuffed thingy...oh the power of black and white.) :) 

Cooking with Oma

Mom came by for a morning a few weeks ago, to be with the kids, and thus, help me out a bit. So nice. She made pancakes with all three - a busy, but fun endeavor. The kids enjoyed it, and we all got to have Dutch pancakes for lunch. 

Dark & LIght

Was playing around with James' phone before going to sleep... (he was doing some work before bed. ) and this was what I got. :) Nothing spectacular, but it's interesting.