dark rainy morning...and some peace and quiet....

Yesterday afternoon, it wasn't raining. Joseph came in from outside while I was making dinner and remarked on the beauty of the day...so I did what every good mom would do, I put down my knife and put on my sneakers. I sent out the invite to go for a walk, and got three takers....

Jonny...


Miss Char...


And Miss Cam...

We collected pretty leaves, and I talked them out of "stealing" some corn from the field...I know, the farmer won't miss two stalks, or just a few ears that we can use to decorate with, but still: it's not ours, and we can't just take it.

I also baked some cookies yesterday...

I didn't have any:), and I also miss Samuel so much every time I make cookies. He would just fill a glass with milk and enjoy those cookies like there's no tomorrow. Not that the rest of the kids don't like them, but no one enjoys the cookies like Sam.

So...yesterday was the big day, the Get-Our-Van-Day. It's all paid for (well, we still owe the BANK, but the deal has gone through with the previous owner, and all that was left for me to do was insure it, register it, pay the sales tax, and get the new license plates. ha. To the Department of Motor Vehicles we went. Now, we live in a rural county, the main city is small and friendly, and easily navigated. The DMV isn't too bad, the workers there are actually quite nice. But. We were sent our merry way because I needed Paul's driver's license and his signature on another form. No, his passport wasn't enough I.D., it was only 4 points, and they need 6 points. So...we drove to his work, he signed the form, and gave me his license. Back downtown, parallel park, feed the meter, get out of the van with four kids (the three youngest and Davian), and go back into the DMV. Well. A different clerk this time, who tells me I need the seller's signature on this form, which Paul has signed in the wrong place.

Whatever. I took the kids to Wegman's and let them pick out a slice of pizza and get soda from that neat machine that lets you choose from a zillion different flavors. (I did need avocados and bananas and kale and milk and coffee). We had fun in there, I got them their free cookie from the bakery, and we tried to make the best of it...Jon was railing about rules and regulations and the stupid state...but I asked him if maybe he thought that this was a good example of God knowing just what we need...it's easy to be thankful when the feet are up and the coffee is hot.

I felt we had run around enough, and the kids needed to be outside playing a bit. Plus, we had school to do! We sometimes do evening stuff, last night we had spelling tests.

So today, I am going to stop and get a signature from the previous owner of the van, then go to DMV for hopefully the last time for this particular purchase, and then pick up the van...the kids are so excited about it because it has power everything and heated seats and they want to see if it has a dvd player in it. It's not a new van, but it's new to us, and it IS rather fun. For the most part, ha.

But for now, it's quiet. Joseph is up, Jonathan is up, but the princesses are still sleeping. I am having that first cup of coffee, and yeah, my feet are up. I have already fed the cats and dogs and swept up the floors, and gotten out morning work for the kids.

I am hoping to sneak in a weekend in Washington, D.C. soon, to visit my Army son Sam. I miss him. A few of the older girls are planning a trip, and I am trying to get in on it with the three youngest:)

Mali's little Lydia is adorable! I love love love being Grandma!



Lydia Eleanor...such a sweetie pie.

Evelyn and Suzanne missed lots of school for Israel, and they have tons of work to make up. They have to make up gym class, which is totally ridiculous. They hiked and walked and walked and swam and hiked and trained with the Israeli Army, for goodness sake! I told them to just show their gym teachers some pictures...

Ah well. Real life things need to be done, the dryer has beeped, the library books are due, and there is so much that needs cleaning and organizing. There is school work and and and. Sitting here is such a nice reprieve:)