6people12times...November...

Our neighbor took this picture of our family. We decided we would meet at this location one Sunday after church and he would take pictures of our family and I would take pictures of his.

What you don't know when you look at this picture is...
Will had picked his nose as we were driving there and had a nose bleed (yep, if you zoom in close enough you can still see it)...
the kids were actually out of the van for approximately 10-15 minutes total...
he took about 10 pictures of our family...
in 7 of them Will was throwing a temper tantrum which caused his nose to "rebleed"...
this is the only picture where Josh and Will are actually looking in the direction of the camera...
we took the boys straight to Coldstone Creamery for lunch (yes they only sell ice cream) and called it a successful family photo shoot!

If you would like to see pictures from the previous months...please visit the following link...6peopletimes12

Multitude Monday #1628 - #1629...

Giving thanks for...

1628...this message (please take 30 minutes, click on this link and listen)...Wonderful Counselor

1629...that "out of chaos life is being found...in you"

video: if you received this post via email...please visit www.ouradventurewithboys.com to view the video

Beautiful Chaos...

video: if you received this post via email please visit www.ouradventurewithboys.com to view the video

Multitude Monday #1602 - #1627...

Leaves of thanks from our Gratitude Wall...



the sun, moon and stars...Micaiah
my Pilgrim hat...Eli
my Pilgrim helper...Mommy



seeing Mom Mom...Joshua
only 4 boys...Daddy
life...Micaiah
Eli and his "homework"...Mommy
footballs, baseballs and basketballs...Micaiah
that Aunt Susan, Tucker, Taylor and Max are coming to visit...Eli
a smokin' wife...Daddy
watching the boys pack over 200 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child and thinking of the lives that may change from this simple gift...Mommy
meeting a family (mom, dad and child) that made 400 shoeboxes to bless 400 children from around the world...such inspiration...Mommy
family...Micaiah
watching him play...Daddy





seeing funny pictures of Uncle Sam...Joshua
that Aunt Meg came to visit...Daddy, Mommy, Micaiah, Joshua, Eli and Will
his little hands turning the pages of a book...Mommy and Daddy
playing outside with friends...Eli
music...Micaiah
a playdate with Eyasu...Joshua



hearing the boys laugh...Mommy
watching Will dance...Joshua
the way Eli sleeps on his big stuffed dog "Tanny"...Daddy
worship in the kitchen with Josh and Will...Mommy
the train table...Will

my first family photo shoot...Mommy

Photos from the Week...

the boys figured out how to share the disc swing...

Will figured out that he really likes donuts but he shouldn't play peek a boo after eating one...

and sometimes naptime doesn't come soon enough...this is Will almost every day around 12...

Multitude Monday #1576 - #1601...

For the past few years we have made a "Gratitude Wall" in the house during the month of November...
when I was pulling things out of the attic a few weeks ago, I found our leaves from last year and couldn't help reflect on the how important it is to record His blessings...
today's list of thanks comes from our leaves on our family wall...



falling leaves...Mommy
great friends...Daddy
God...Eli and Micaiah
school...Josh and Micaiah
Jesus...Micaiah and Eli
Grandma...Joshua
preschool...Eli
his note waiting for me on my pillow after a long difficult day...Mommy
"The Earth is Yours" by Gungor...Mommy, Daddy, Micaiah, Joshua, Eli and Will (please take a moment to listen the song below by clicking on the play button)


Eli's hugs and kisses before work...Daddy
playing fort with friends...Joshua
seeing a falling star...Mommy
Mommy...Micaiah, Eli, Daddy
lunch with Ian...Eli
how he pulls up to the piano, turns it on and moves his little fingers playing across the keys...Mommy and Daddy



playing with Cassie...Joshua
sunshine...Mommy
"that Mommy is so beautiful"...Eli (oh, yeah he got dessert that night!)
talking with the boys about the seasons and how creation speaks His name (Rom 1:20) and hearing them "get it"...Mommy
the beautiful sunset...Eli
hearing the chant "Let's go Mace boys!"...Mommy
soccer balls...Micaiah, Joshua and Eli
hearing Will belly laugh...Mommy
that Poppy is so fun...Micaiah and Eli
sunshine, tea and good conversation with a friend and mentor...Mommy
his delight in the caterpillar...Mommy

Happy Birthday Grandma...

Here are the things we love about Grandma...

"She's loving." ~ Micaiah

"She takes care of us when Mommy and Daddy aren't here. She is so happy when we come to visit." ~ Joshua

"She likes to do puzzles with me. She is so beautiful." ~ Eli

She likes to walk with me. ~ Will


Happy Birthday Grandma...We love you and pray you enjoy your special day!

The Train...

is one of Will's favorite things right now and Eli is still pretty fascinated by them so we took the Light Rail to meet Daddy for lunch on Monday.

Eli yelling for the train...

Will taking in the sights...

Eli too...

Almost the entire time we were riding the train Will was saying "Choo Choo, Choo Choo" as you can see in the picture below...

It was definitely the best $3.20 that I've spent in a long time!

Multitude Monday #1547 - #1575...

"It is good to praise the LORD
and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night..."
Psalm 92:1-2

my endless list of thanks continues...
1547...rest
1548...an afternoon walk with a friend
1549...Eli giving me "princess kisses" before bed
1550...watching him build and build and build with Legos
1551...warm tea
1552...driving through a canopy of yellow trees
1553...the beautiful solitary red maple standing out at the pond
1554...an answered prayer
1555...the way he runs to me when I pick him up from preschool
1556...a reminder to go to Him
1557...sweet playtime at the library with Will
1558...the first CD of James ...He is sovereign, oh so sovereign.
1559...sunshine shining bright
1560...watching him learn to use a fork
1561...waking to breakfast, balloons and cake to begin my birthday celebration
1562...this message from them
1563...prayer covering
1564...lunch with my sweet husband...that took the day off and planned special things along the way
1565...a new camera and his encouraging words that wrap it
1566...Excedrin for a migraine
1567...a night out with Wes



1568...a wonderful surprise dinner with my husband and some very special friends
1569...words that speak life
1570...for my mom and Erin that took care of our boys for a night so we could enjoy a night out...Thank You!
1571...soccer

1572...a crazy opportunity
1573...a hike and dinner with close friends



1574...pyramids





1575...boys falling into bed exhausted after a long, fun-filled day

Happy Birthday Mommy!

This is Wes. I'm hijacking Jenna's blog today for a special birthday post. When someone in our family has a birthday we typically tell them why we love them, and today is no exception. So without further ado, here are the reasons we love Mommy (in no particular order)!

Eli: She says I'm the best helper and the sweetest boy.

Micaiah: She takes us to school and fixes our food.

Will: She still lets me have a bottle.

Joshua: She's cute and she's cuddly.

Wes: We were absolutely made for each other. The longer that we are married, the more I respect you, admire you and desire to be by your side. Although we live in a beautiful whirlwind 364 1/2 days out of the year, I can't imagine it any other way. Happy birthday today. I hope you enjoy your "day off".

6people12times...October...

My brother in law took this photo after our annual Halloween Parade...the bulge in my left cheek is Snickers with almonds (mmm...so, so good).

If you would like to see pictures from the previous months...please visit the following link...6people12times

Multitude Monday #1515 - #1546 ...

Giving Thanks for His everyday gifts...

1515...time to clean
1516...laughing with friends about things from long ago
1517...that the Lord protected Wes from the nasty water meter hole
1518...belly laughing with the boys as Wes sings his newly written hit song "I Need You Housechurch" (all about falling in the water meter hole)
1519...a run with both boys...wow, a workout!
1520...the smell of a clean room
1521...time to sit and journal
1522...a day without an outburst from him
1523...his attitude with tutoring and therapy
1524..an enjoyable dinner out together as a family
1525...everyone ready for school before 8:15
1526...a rainy day that slows
1527...encouragement from moms who have been here
1528...the gift of "time"
1529...a leaf walk with Will
1530...pressing into the Lord after loosing my temper...He forgives and reminds me there is a better way
1531...going through Josh's baby book with him during a rough afternoon
1532...The David Crowder Band live
1533...snuggling with Micaiah as we listen
1534...hearing them sing "No One Like You"...seeing his eyes light up and remembering this video
1535...hearing Micaiah sing "Oh Praise Him" with everyone at 11:30 at night and praying that this moment stays ingrained in his heart for years to come
1536...waking up to large snowflakes falling from the sky
1537...the need for nebulizers slowly decreasing
1538...an afternoon movie with the cousins
1539...photo strips of piles of kids
1540...laughing so hard I was crying with my cousin, husband, and brother and sister in law over old letters from my Dad
1541...listening to her voice during worship
1542...friends gathering
1543...watching cousins walk hand in hand
1544...cousins gathering for our neighborhood Halloween Parade









1545...kids all around the table (13 in fact)
1546...my loving husband...beautiful inside and out

Today...

"Uh Oh!"

Another thing of note today...

These days Eli naps about 2-3 times per week. He still has a rest time in his room for at least an hour and a half...where he can play quietly or look at books.
This afternoon, I was called upstairs to the bathroom by Eli and happened upon the following scenario...
Eli standing at the potty waiting to be wiped (or so I thought). I wiped his bottom and told him to get dressed, wash his hands and go back to his room for rest and he stood there stone cold and pointed down to his pants with his little finger.
"Eli, pull up your pants and go back for rest."
He just points to his pants again...
"Eli are your pants wet?"
Again he just points...
At this point, I bend down to try and help him and realize that he has a swim diaper around his ankles and it is filled with pee.
"Eli, where did you get a swim diaper?"
"From the closet."
"And you wanted to see what it was like to pee in a diaper?"
"uh, huh."
"Well, what did you think?"
No answer...
"I think we need to clarify the rules for rest time."