The Golden Nugget

I call the subtitle of this post "The Golden Nugget" because of where we are in the child raising journey. When we moved to Wisconsin and I started a blog we had four children under 10. We were done moving and had every intention of settling in for the long haul- seeing our children go to high school and even college here, adding on to our home and improving on it as we are able. At that time (all of 2 1/2 years ago), high school years seemed very far away indeed. It struck me the other day though that the "Golden Nugget" is really half way gone. In another 2 1/2 years, my oldest starts high school. Gasp! And Gasp again! This truly takes my breath away. I have 2 1/2 years with him so close to me, with all of us waking to read and talk before breakfast and the beginning of our school day together. (Oldest plans to attend high school so he will no longer be in our home school at that time). After the shock, I am thanking God for the reality that has stared me in the face. Because now, today, I am so much more thankful than ever for the closeness that we share and loving that I am seeing this now and not on the eve of his leaving. They are growing up --so-o-o- fast. We are watching videos as we (attempt) to transfer them onto DVD that are bringing the reality of how fast they change home to me too. Hug your babies, your toddlers, elementary school and middle school students! They are so precious.

Science Fair 2010

Yesterday was an amazing day. We have spent the last month preparing for the science fair. Here are the projects that the kids entered....


Jonah made an electrostatic charge detector and used it to solve the problem of static electricity shocking us when we pet and play with our cats. He found that increasing humidity or using hand lotion helps alot to decrease shock. He won first place in his age category!


Isaiah did a series of plant experiments on corn and bean plants. He learned a ton about plant growth and why plants are green. He did a great job on his presentation.

Ella's Egg Experiment involved pickling an egg, learning how an egg is laid and how to tell the difference between a raw egg and hard boiled egg. She must have charmed the judge because she also one first place.

We came home to two messages on the answering machine from Ron telling us that he had passed the toughest part of his dissertation process. We have been praying for him and encouraging him since last spring and were ecstatic to receive this news. Here's the kids reaction...

Christmas Greetings 2009

Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.
(Martin Luther, From Heaven Above, stanza 13)

Merry Christmas! We continue to give thanks this year for work, good health, family, friends and children who are growing, playing and learning.

Aaron is 3 and loves trains, tractors, laughter and games of chase. It seems there is always plenty of laughter and chasing around here to entertain him.

Ella is a little mother to Aaron and queen of questions. God has blessed her with a cheerful, inquisitive personality. She's learning to read and enjoys writing and drawing. Did I mention she loves to ask questions?

Isaiah is our sensitive people pleaser. He became a reader this year and still loves legos and making new friends. He stays busy with basketball and baseball.

Jonah continues his journey as a budding scientist. His current passion is electronics. He built a small radio this week out of stuff we had around the house and actually got it to work...We're thinking of renaming him MacGyver. He loves playdates with his best friend and wrestling with - or should I say defending himself from - the cat, Butterscotch. I have to get that on video sometime.

Ron had positive feedback today from 3 of the 5 readers of the proposal for his dissertation. After six months of rewrites, this is very good news to us. He's very close to defending it and writing up the final paper. It's been a long road and we are all cheering him on to the finish line.

Lisa learned to stain, varnish and paint this year as we added to and improved on the house. We were blessed with very few mosquitos this summer, so it was a great year to work outside. The hours did get long though, so it's been nice to trade brush and paint for sweaters and schoolbooks. We had our first, much anticipated, snow a few weeks ago and all the kids have been sledding and skiing in our winter wonderland. I've tried skiing a few times as well and love the excercise, though I'm not so fond of the falling down!

We are especially thankful this Christmas season for playing in the snow, trips to the library, cookies, occasional moments of quiet, family, friends and the birth of a loving Savior.

May His Joy be yours this Christmas,
Ron, Lisa, Jonah, Isaiah, Ella and Aaron

Happy 3rd Birthday Aaron!

We celebrated Aaron's 3rd birthday while in Minnesota, a special celebration with grandparents and godmother Beth. Aaron is celebrating being three by letting us know what he's thinking (yeah verbal development!) and copying everything he sees his siblings do.

In the Dining room

Here's the first meal in the dining room after moving the table in. We're loving our new floors (lots of sock sliding going on here) and figuring out how to make our new room home. Decorating ideas are welcome!

Kitchen

It's been a busy week. We came home from MN on Friday. In the nine days since then, we've installed 16 new windows, stained and varnished them and painted the kitching ceiling and walls. Here's Aaron "helping" me make pancakes last week.

gun vs guy

My boys spent some birthday money on a Vulcan EBF-25 nerf gun. They called this set up "Gun verses Guy". Doesn't look like he has much of a chance does it. :)