Whoops

This tire swing has been hanging from our tree for 17 years - one of the best, ever play things!!  The rope to hang that old tire was one of the best investments we made.  That old tire has provided hour upon hour of fun for all the kids - regardless of age - I've even seen, in the not to distant past, my 21 year old hitch a ride on the old thing!!

And the amazing thing - we've NEVER had an injury...

Until last Friday night...

When Sam took a tumble and his wrist could just not handle the whole weight of his fall...

And now the poor guy's summer is now looking vastly different than what he was thinking it was going to be...  And to make things just a bit more complicated the wrist he broke was his right one - I guess his left handed little brother will have to teach him how to get things done!!!

The blessing for me in the stressful time of injury is that my parents were in town - meeting their newest grand baby - having them here really helped me to keep calm (I don't do very well when ER visits are part of the day!!).  Thank you Mom and Dad!!!  (I knew there had to be a way to sneak a picture of baby into this post!!!)

We still love our old tire swing and I'm very sure it will see lots more days of wild and crazy fun (Sam will probably be back on it himself in a day or two!!).  Although, the mama in me wants to remind them to hang on tight when when going for a ride!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Babymoon

We have been so enjoying our babymoon!!  Time has gone so fast and now sweet baby is two weeks old!!  Hubby is going back to work tomorrow.

 I feel like I'm recovering slowly and feeling a tad frustrated over it.  Headaches and sore hips warn me when I overdo.  Hubby reminds me that I'm not getting back to "normal" as our family has changed (again) and we are finding a new normal (again) - and we don't need to be in a hurry! 
 

I'm soooo sleepy, Mama!

He just loves his new baby sister!!!

A few minutes of snuggling before bedtime

So we're not - in a hurry - that is.  I want to savor every moment.  To sit in the summer sunshine (rare as it is here :0)!!) and watch the kids play and enjoy the tiny one in my arms!!  To wrap wee one in my Moby and pull weeds in my garden with her next to my heart.  To take walks with the kids looking for treasures and having adventures while feeling Naomi's tiny breath on my neck.  To listen to the rain on the roof (and I'm sure there will be plenty here!!) and smell bread baking while I nurse sweet babe and the kids play Lego's on the floor!!  These are my hopes for the summer - to spend time soaking in the time with my family - to not feel hurried or stressed but the remember to enjoy these long, sweet days and not to wish them away in my rush to "get back to normal"!!!

Happy First Day of Summer,
Blessings,
Christine

Changes

She's here!!!  Our newest addition has finally made her appearance and changed our family forever!!!  Naomi Martha arrived a week ago today.  I had planned on posting her picture right away but somehow snuggling and healing took over and I ended up being away from the computer far longer than I anticipated!!

She is a joy and a delight and we are incredibly blessed!!  I will write more about her arrival soon but for now my life is filled with warm puddles of curled up babies, two year olds who fall apart super easily, eager visitors and pure joy!!!

Blessings,
Christine

P.S. Did you notice I changed my blog name to Joy of 9?  I have been so excited to make that change!!! :0)

Maybe...Maybe Not

In an effort to distract myself from the world of Maybe?!!!! ...maybe not

(by that I mean - the constant - or almost constant contractions that make me wonder every day if It's Time for Baby)

I decided to make up a cake recipe.

 I used some leftover homemade yogurt, blueberries, and steusel topping (well there were other things too but these items were my inspiration).

And yes - those are little feet on my counter - probably not very clean either - and there were probably little fingers in the batter when my back was turned :0)

But I could not leave my baker's helper out of this cake baking party!!!

I layered blueberries and streusel in the middle of the cake...

Ans put more sweet streusel on the top...

Put it in the oven and waited to see what would happen...

 And ta-dum!!!

 I made up a cake recipe that was a success!!!  I was advised by the hungry hordes in my house that this recipe was a definite do-again!!!

Off to find some more distractions....and eat some cake with a cup of tea :0)!!!

Blessings,
Christine

Herb Garden

We are starting to get a few more days of sunshine and dry weather and I am finding I just have to go outside - the housework just has to wait!!!

I planted a new herb garden the other day and I am so excited!!  I can't wait until these little starts are big enough for us to run outside and pick a bunch to season my breads, soups and all kinds of yummy things!!!

I planted oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley, chamomile, marjoram, chives and sage.  Mmmmm - all gonna be so good.

It's been lovely to see our shadows again after so long without having them around - for sure this shadow is going to be looking slimmer in the next couple of weeks :0)!!!

Blessings,
Christine

Spring is Springing!!

After a much colder and wetter than normal Spring things seem growing much slower than usual.  We've only had a very few days of sunshine.  I've found it hard to not complain.

This morning after waking up to clouds once again - after hearing a prediction for sunshine that didn't show, I decided to take a walk around the yard and try and find Spring.  And she was here - I just had to look!!

A little clump of violets - so sweet!!

English Daisies - hoping they will spread around my garden!!!

My faithful old Pie Cherry

a lone Welsh Poppy - another one I hope spreads around my garden!!!

I used to call them Bluebells - now I know they are Wood Hyacinths

I'm hoping for more sunshine but seeing a few cheerful blooms did lift my spirits and remind me that God's plans for the seasons continue - in spite of rain and chill!!!

Blessings,
Christine

After a Break

Well, after a much longer than intended break I'm back, I think :0)!!  With a pregnant mush brain and the chronic icky weather this last month here, I have to confess to simply having nothing to say!!!   Silly as it may be, that's really only reason for my blogging break. 

Life has been happening- birthdays, anniversaries, garden plans, children's activities have all gone on and I've enjoyed every bit - but - I just haven't felt inclined to write it down.  Maybe it's been the extra cold and rainy weather or the sweet babe growing within has sucked my brains dry - I don't know!!  But I am trying to be back and to record my days once again :0)!!!

I thought I ought to include a picture of myself (minus the tired face hahaha)

This is the main project I've been working on lately!!  It's getting quite close and the midwife says I've got to get ready NOW as she thinks the wee one will be arriving sooner than later.  So in a few short days I think it's off to the store to get those last few tiny necessities.  We're getting excited!!!

Blessings,

Christine