Heebie-Jeebies

I don't think I could handle a bug crawling on my nose.



These two boys are just fascinated by bugs! About 5 or 6 times a day, they come to the door to let me "see" what they caught! (I don't let them bring anything into the house!) Today's catches were a slug, a dragonfly, worms, and potato bugs. And they were only outside in the yard for about 2 hours, since it has been warm out.

Maynard

At this point in his life, if I had to list Maynard's Top Five list of things he loves, they would be (in no particular order):

Food. Actually, this is probably always going to be #1.

Sticks.

Rocks.

His wiener. (Is it this way for all boys?)

Anything in the Animal Kingdom, especially BUGS.

Today, he found this:



He was fascinated for quite some time, until he announced that he wanted to feed it to our turtle, John Denver.

Boys!

Knock, Knock...

Is this thing on?

I haven't blogged in quite some time. I have been spending most of my time with the kids and Randy, now that he is has a job locally. I have enjoyed having him home, and the boys enjoy having another person to express how hungry they are!

I swear those two eat more than anyone I know! And they are never "FULL"!

The boys are both getting big, and now that it is warm, they both spend a majority of their time outside. Willard is all about reptiles and amphibians. He was very sad when Slim died. He probably had a lung infection. He goes looking for garter snakes at any opportunity. Maynard has learned how to ride his bike without training wheels, but he always pedals for a little while, throws his bike down, and looks at bugs.

We enjoyed our trip to Minnesota for Memorial Day weekend. Along with a wedding and Willard's 7th Birthday over the weekend, there was a big potluck on Monday with hoards of children!

Here is a Caterpillar that the kids were looking at during the potluck:

Stepping into the Ring.

*no bloggers were hurt in the making of this post...

I am looking forward to this new year. There are going to be so many changes...many trials...possibly more than there were this past year.

And I am as ready as I can be.

I won't bore you with the details...you probably wouldn't believe me anyhow.

See, I journeyed into 2009 with an open mind...I was turning 30 after all, and I had looked forward to it. It started like any other year of course.

Little did we know-THIS would be our toughest year.


To say 2009 "started off with a bang" is an understatement.


Looking back, we did have many great days and moments. However, with all the trials, it seemed as though we had been airborne for quite a while.


We waited for things to settle down.


But, even after landing, we understood that the trials ahead weren't going to be easy.


From narrow escapes...


...to facing things head-on. (Even if we were a bit intimidated.)


We didn't stop trying...but we eventually got forced out of the ring.

Of all of the things we have learned from this past year, this one seems to rise to the top:

Be thankful to God for what you do have...regardless of the circumstances.

Happy New Year!

*Please forgive the shoddy pictures...they were captured from a video from when the author (yes, that really is me flying through the air) was 18, young, and possibly mentally incapacitated. However...IT WAS A RUSH!