Rachel and Ethan reading again

While the other kids were busy, these two were in the kitchen (yes, those are dirty dishes behind them) reading :) They're so smart!!!

Saturday morning

No, not all of our Saturday mornings are like this. This one (from the pictures, at least) seems so calm, quiet, and storybook-like. Usually, they're just the opposite :) But, here are some pictures of what a few of the kids did this morning. The other boys were downstairs playing a game (without fighting!!). I guess I should have gotten a picture of that, too, so I would have proof of them getting along :)

Dad helping Daniel with his math. Tom decided to strike up the studious pose when he noticed me taking pictures!!


Hmm...let's see here.


Now, that's a good thought!


Dad playing a game with Sarah and Rachel. Ethan thought he was playing too!


Must be getting serious--Dad sat up :)


Rachel reading to Ethan. First a Bible story.


Now, we'll read a library book. Rachel is learning to read (she's almost done with her 100 Lessons book)!!!


Must be a funny part about Jenny's socks :)


"I can't believe I'm actually listening to a book about a girl's socks!!"


Sarah doing what she does best--reading!
(Those are the overhead closet doors behind her, by the way. Tom hung them up later this evening.)

Painting

You might assume from the title that I'm going to post pictures of the numerous painting projects that I've been working on for the past several weeks. I would really like to do that, but I didn't get around to taking pictures yet. I have painted 3 sets of closet doors (the bi-fold type), the trim around each of the, and doors above each of them. It doesn't seem like a lot until you think about the fronts and backs of 12 doors (each closet has 2 sets of bi-fold doors--the pictures will clear it up later!) and the fronts and backs of 6 overhead doors. Plus, 2 coats of paint on everything. And, I'm now 8 1/2 months pregnant--it takes much longer to go up and down the ladder :)

Well, as I said earlier, you might assume that I was going to talk about my painting projects--which are DONE, by the way!! But, I'm not going to. Instead, I'll let you see the pictures.











So, here's the story. I ran to the store last night--super fast, was only gone for about 30-40 minutes. I came home to this mess. Problem? Tom only slept 3 hours Wednesday night and 0 hours Thursday night. He slept for about 3 hours Friday morning (work issues). Real problem? I left 5 kids home with a very sleep-deprived dad! They had a great time painting (ie wasting all my paint, smearing it all over the table, getting it on their clothes, etc). Tom told me he really didn't know what they were doing--he was too tired to really care! He did, however, clean up most of the mess. I had to deal with Ethan's clothes :) Next time? Leave sleep-deprived husband home, BUT, take all paint and markers with me!!

It's April already!

I know it's been awhile--I've been trying to get some painting projects done before Baby #8 comes screaming into this world :) We've gotten a lot done and just have a few things to finish up. My (and Tom's) bedroom is officially DONE!!! The upstairs boys' bedroom is almost done and the girls' will follow quickly after. Then, we'll have a baby and try to start on the family room and kitchen. After those rooms are finished, everything in the house will have been redone :) My dad finished painting the laundry room this afternoon--it looks really nice.

Well, here are a few pictures from Easter. (That's another thing I haven't done much of recently--take pictures. I'll try to do better.) We went to my parents house on the Saturday before Easter. They always like to have the kids hunt for eggs. Nathan tried to get out of it this year, but my dad decided to hide them extra hard. So, he went along with it for one more year. It was hard to get pictures of him, though :)

The boys were so excited to get their picture taken!


Andrew and Sarah


Cute Ethan!


Andrew, looking inside the eggs to see what he got :)


Daniel and Andrew planning something!!


Peter looking quite suspicious!!


Rachel hunting for eggs


There's the best we could do for Nathan!!


Sarah, Rachel, and Ethan in the trees


The next 3 pictures need to be viewed together. I wish I could cut and paste kids! Some look normal in one picture and then weird in the others. Just take the best from each picture and put them together in your mind :)

Mommy's Helper

I'm trying to get some things done before Baby #8 arrives. Ethan decided that he should help me tonight. Notice his headband (he found it in the girls' room)!!

A BIG BOY!!

I found a toddler bed on craigslist for Ethan this weekend. We went and picked it up today. We also were able to get a practically new mattress last week. So, for $35, Ethan has a new-for-him big boy bed!!! (In other wonderful deals...last month, I found an infant car seat/stroller combo on craigslist for $40. I went to pick it up and she gave it to me for $30!!! What a blessing!! )

Anyway, here are 2 pictures of Ethan sleeping in his new bed this afternoon.

Notice the sunshine on the wall!!!!!!!!


He has a pillow, but it's anyone's guess when or if he'll use it!

THE BIG 4-0!!!!

Well, today is the day--March 26!! Tom turned 40 today :) It's OK, he still looks normal. He still has the same amount of hair as he had yesterday--and it's still brown!! He still has all his teeth and is able to do his share of the work around the house. I haven't had to look into a nursing home for him as of yet. Since all of the above is true, I guess I'll hang onto him for a little while longer. He's actually getting sweeter as the years go by--kinda like a banana!! (Though, I've never kept a banana for a year...)

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!! (I'm glad you don't like all the mushy stuff to be written about you!)

Last week, the Teen Group at church surprised Mr. Weadock at the youth activity with a birthday party! They made him wear a hat and they gave him several nice gifts. He was truly surprised and thankful. Here are some pictures (thanks Phoebe for being the photographer).

Tom opening and reading the card--notice the hat :)




Opening his gifts!


He got several hot sauces, some cheese, dark chocolate,
and a couple of gift certificates.


The birthday cakes--good job, Abby!


Cute caterpillars :)


The Koski Family generously agreed to watch all (yes, ALL 7) of our kids last Monday night so Tom and I could go out to eat and actually talk to each other without interruptions every 5 seconds or so!! They kept the kids overnight and didn't return them until about 1:30 the next afternoon. WOW!! What a treat :) The house was so quiet. We'd be lying to say that we missed them. We love them dearly, but it was oh-so-nice to enjoy one night of peace and quiet. It was the first time we had been completely without kids in 14 years. Tom had to go to work Tuesday morning, but I was able to enjoy myself all morning in a house that was still quiet!! It was strange at first. I wasn't sure what to do, but I quickly found things to do that didn't involve cleaning :)

Thank you, Koskis--Tom was so surprised!! We both had a wonderful time and Ethan already misses you :)