SO…readjust your bookmarks, reset your feedreader, how ever you find and follow us, you need to change it to: http://milesclan.wordpress.com/
and join the fun there!

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12  Enable David to live a life worthy of his call, giving him the power to accomplish all the good things his faith prompts him to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way he live, and he will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Marcus, decked out in his farmer overalls, leads the way. He LOVES to go with us to do that–maybe because its one of the few times he gets out of the gated yard?

On the left you see Alex standing next to our GIANT zucchini and yellow squash plants.  Behind them are the last bits of the broccoli, the cabbage (both are doing well but starting to be infested with cabbage worms and getting eaten up–we’re looking into how to work on that) and the remains of the sweet peas.

On the right you see Will standing behind the squash plants and next to the supports for the cucumbers. In front of those are the beans.  Behind all that is the pumpkins that are doing quite well all so.  About the only thing struggling are the tomatoes.  They appear to be coming back after a combination too wet spring and being over pruned.  So far we’ve harvested lots of peas, broccoli, spinach & lettuce, and 2 jalapenos (there are lots more growing!).

As I was walking along I noticed a couple walking a dog, and the man was wearing a front carrier with another dog in it. (Think baby carrier but only with a dog).  I was rather surprised but the dog was small and had a leash so I guess they felt it got tired easily and this way the rest of them could get a longer walk in–but still thought it was odd (I wouldn’t want to wear a dog we owned).

Later on I saw another couple walking, pushing a small, three-wheeled dog stroller, with a small dog peeking out the mesh window. Really?  REALLY?!?  I thought the whole point of walking the dog was for the dog to get exercise as well. And if the dog can’t walk that far, can’t you just leave it at home?

When we were expecting Marcus, we knew we’d need a van (the car has a tiny back seat). We bought the van James’ sister and brother-in-law had (they needed to get a bigger vehicle because they were about to have twins). So we brought that home and it worked nicely for 2 years until mid-May. I took Alex to preschool one Tuesday and as I came home it started to run rough. When I went to go get Alex, it didn’t start. Nothing. Thankfully someone helped me out getting Alex home and that night James used the car to push the dead van (while I steered) to our auto repair guy/shop (which is really close).

The verdict–the van was D.E.A.D. It needed a new engine. (I don’t remember why, I’m sure once James reads this he’ll remind me! I think some rod broke or something and then our attempts to start it burned out the starter as well.)  Since the van was a ’99 Olds with LOTS of miles on it, it wasn’t worth the cost to replace the engine. Suddenly we were without a van, looking at a very busy Thursday and realizing even with the car we were stuck. We’re now a family of six!  We NEED a van!  I started looking up costs to rent a van and YIKES!  I sent out a message on our church’s e-mail chain saying we were suddenly in the market for a used van and did anyone have one we could borrow while we were looking for it. This was totally on a whim, I really didn’t expect a reply. Meanwhile, both James and I were praying about the situation and I was trying to not panic or plan everything, but see what God’s plan was. Of course, I was looking at Craigslist as well,  seeing what kind of van options were out there in our price range (which was small! and the options were small as well).

Later that evening we got a reply from someone in our church saying they might have a van we could borrow, she just needed to talk with her husband.  The next day Will got on the bus and we SQUEEZED the 2 carseats & booster seat into the back of the car and I took James to work, so I could have the car for the day. Once I got home from that & preschool drop off, I got a call from the emailer from church saying “We have a van you can borrow, and if you like it you’re welcome to buy it for $1.”  I was shocked and seriously almost started to cry. For that price, I wasn’t going to ask any more questions, I just said “SURE!”  Not only did the give us the van, they brought it to us and were able to do so during the exact time we were home that evening, just before James had to leave to take Alex to baseball and I took Will to his 1st Grade Choir Concert. (Like I said, it was a busy Thursday.) And we bought the van then! Its a ’01 Chrysler, and blue just like the last van we had and like our car (we’re not trying to keep all the blue theme, it just happens!).

We call it our Blessing Van. We are so thankful for it!  Once we got it, we had our Auto guy look it over and had a few things fixed and they said it was in great shape for the age.  Sorry for the long back story, I realized  I just had to share that and make sure its recorded for our family history, how God provided and used a couple in our church to be a blessing.

SO…last week the blower went out on the Blessing Van. The A/C still works, there just is no way to blow the cool air to the back (nor use the defrost or the heat in winter, so kind of needed and thankfully cheaper to fix then the A/C). With the heat wave we’ve had this week, I’d also like it to be fixed just for comfort.  We took it in Wednesday to get fixed but they had to special order a part so it wasn’t going to be done until Thursday. Of course we had a dentist appointment today as well as plans to meet friends at the library for a kids concert.  Since the van still works, its just warm, we decided to get it last night and have it for today and then take it back for them to fix on Friday when we have nothing planned. James wanted to run last night so he mapped out a course to get his run in, go by the shop and get it and drive it home.  This morning I got all the kids ready and loaded up in the van, went to get my keys to go and to start it and realized he’d used MY key for the auto guys to use. (The key that is still at the shop for them to use when they need to move it.)  And that key was still there because they were closed when he picked it up. And (the key part) he didn’t leave HIS key for me to use, it was still on his key chain, at work with him. *Sigh*

I have to admit I was mad.  I called the dentist (trying to stifle the anger and be pleasant to them) and canceled the appointment. They were super nice about it, which helped. (Some places don’t take cancellations well.)  Then I said to the boys “Hey, want to go on a bike ride?” We loaded up the little younger boys (I’m trying to not call them the babies or the little ones because before I know it they won’t be babies or little ones!)  in the stroller, got some water, got out the bikes and walked/rode over to the car place. (Its close but to walk you have to take back trails so its a bit more of a hike.)   Along the way we cut through a neighborhood that was having a garage sale. I manged to find a high chair/booster seat I’d wanted for David for $3!!!  And they held it for us until we came back through.  We’ve been walking through this neighborhood for the 5 years we’ve been here now (its our way to get to the local park), and its mostly older, retired people (so I was really surprised to see a baby highchair for sale there). They were all out for the sales and enjoyed seeing the boys, talking about how big they were, and meeting David.

We then went to the Auto Shop, got the key, and headed home. I had to admit the walk/ride was good exercise and the boys thought more fun then going to the dentist. And I was able to get a good deal. So it worked out well. James felt really bad but I was glad we (ok *I*)  was able to have a change in attitude about it and make it work out ok. Thus the lemon-aid out of lemons. Tonight he’ll take it back over and run back and then by tomorrow afternoon we’ll have it working again (and I may be walking back with all 4 to pick it up & pay for it. At least then we can load up all the bikes/stroller and drive home!)

* * *
Alex: Mommy, can I have the fly slapper?

Alex can be quite the silly one!

I’m REALLY enjoying seeing Alex and Will starting to play with Marcus more.  Here Alex is showing Marcus some tips on digging.

Not that Marcus needed any tips, he’s quite good at playing in the dirt on his own already.

On Saturday Will got Marcus up from his nap and put him in the swing and played with him out there for awhile.

Saturday the boys took their first bike ride with TWO kids on two wheelers and Marcus on the back of Daddy’s bike.

(It was still chilly out so he had to be bundled up. He wasn’t happy with the hat or mittens at first, but once they were on, he enjoyed the ride.0

Soon I’ll be able to join them! We have a 2 seater trailer that we’ll be able to put David and Marcus in as soon as David can sit up on his own.

• A 40 degree drop in temps from what our high was yesterday (72) to the temps this morning (30) with a strong wind that makes it feel even colder
• Snow flurries  (or frozen sleet pellet things) that have been falling all morning
• Having to find everyone’s coats/gloves and making them realize jackets will NOT work.
• Having to put the little ones IN coats
• Not being able to find my gloves
• Driving with cold hands
• Oversleeping by 20 minutes, and  somehow all morning everything seems to be taking much longer then I expected. (I left the store and couldn’t believe it was already 10:30, we’d just gone in for a few things! Where did the time go?!? And now its already almost 11:30, need to get ready to get Alex picked up. Where did my morning go? I was going to be so productive today!)
• Having to wake up a tired 1 year old to get Alex to preschool on time (I hate waking up sleeping kids, if they’re sleeping, they need it!)
• Getting Alex to preschool 15 minutes late
• Being Really, Really Tired.
• The Butler game (They’re in the Sweet 16! They’re a local,  smaller school we love to cheer for!) doesn’t even start until about 10 pm tonight. I want to watch and cheer on the team, but I so need to sleep!
• A car in a round-about slowing down to “let” a car in–not realizing they have the right of way, the cars waiting to come in must yield, you DO NOT STOP in a round-about. Drives me crazy to see or be stuck behind, they think they’re being nice to “let someone in”, but instead they’re messing up the whole system and slowing the process down.
• Going to the store to get milk, and at check out realizing one container has a hole in it…so of course I have to go A-L-L the way back to the back of the super store and get another container of milk.  I know, I should go to a smaller store that has baggers who’d offer to get me milk, but I had a gift card to that super store and wanted to just get it used up so I don’t have to go back in it ever again.

Ok, so now I’ve wasted some of that disappearing time venting, but I’m hoping that’ll help me feel better and turn the afternoon around.

I guess I could try to take a positive bent on this post…

• We had a week of above normal temperatures! We loved having the high in the 70s for so long!
• After a late night last night, Marcus slept in until 8:45 (when I had to wake him)!
• Instead of still being pregnant and not sleeping well, I have a cute 3 week old who’s waking me up 2-3 times a night…at least I can snuggle him during the other times.

Eh, that’s all I got…at least I tried!

Saturday and Tuesday the older two boys got to ride their bikes while I (and on Saturday James, Heidi and Mom) walked and pushed the younger two boys in the stroller. James helped Alex riding his two wheeler (with no training wheels) on Saturday, yesterday Alex did a great job starting each time all by himself. He’s now a proficient bike rider! This will make walks MUCH easier this year (last summer I had Will way ahead on his bike and Alex dragging behind on his Big Wheel).  I was impressed with how quickly he got it down–I guess the winter break was what he needed to get it to “stick”.

We also had lots of fun just playing out back. Marcus loves being able to go outside anytime and just wander around the back yard. (I LOVED the fenced in yard!)  He’s discovered mud and dried plants and sticks and the little slide are all great fun.

I took advantage of the warmth and good light to try to get some pictures of David for the birth announcements. (Still working on those, I hope to get them done in the next week or so.)  Marcus enjoyed stopping by and saying “Hi” to the baby during that time.

Inspired by a weekend of basketball, the boys have been outside working on their game.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end and we’re going back to winter for the next week or so, starting tomorrow. Which reminds me I need to go pick some of my daffodils to bring some of the spring indoors and remind me eventually, it’ll be here to stay!

Its kind of fitting I’m not getting his birthday post up until today– we just got his birthday gift in the mail (I was a bit late in ordering it, and too cheap to pay for faster shipping.  He knew what he was getting and he didn’t mind, he said he’d rather get it late then pay extra for shipping as well.  He got Madden 2011 (a football game) for the Wii…I anticipate him and the boys enjoying that in the upcoming weeks. Works out well its going to be cold/snowy this weekend, they can have fun playing football!)