Dodio Is Six!

Out of all our blessings this one has brought so many side spliting laughes, worry beyond what I would have imagined, helfulness which any momma would gloat over, Tight hugs, Passion over everything, dedication unlike any six year old should be allowed to have. We have a hard time being as wise as is necessary to sheherd this little fella well, but We have been richly rewarded even in the times of failure! We Love you Tons, Kace-man! You were our second blessing and now you hold such an irreplacable position in our home and family! You have made me laugh unlike anyone else with your silly statements and worry over you more that I thought possible. It will be a miracle when we make it to your high school graduation and both of us are still sane and have all our hair! :D I love you sweet, I am thankful for everything about you and all the things you teach me daily about being a mom! I know I can grow in this area and I know you are willing to help me! Thanks for being my little fella! Never loose your passion for life, I have never seen anyone who lived so completely in the moment! Momma and Daddy Love you!

New Goals In Reading

It wouldn't be the beginning of the school year if I was starting on a new reading list that is what I want to read this year. Obviously this isn't all I will read, I tend to read about 5 books at a time and though it is tempting to track that, I am not going to even attempt it. So these are the planned ones, but who knows what might interupt me?! I usually tend to make about 1/3 of my list and change up my list a ton! But this year I have a theme....Mostly Christian themed classic fiction and also christian classic inspired (like pilgrims progress). So here's the new goal, we shall see in a year how I do!

Larissa's bookshelf: new-reading-goals




More of Larissa's books »

Bad or Good

I always wonder when bad things happen; How can this ever look or be Good?! I am incredulous! How can these horrible things ever really look good or profitable to me? How can death be good? How can cancer be good? How can broken relationships be good? How can suffering ever be good? How can affliction ever be good? How can failure ever be success? I am certain you have many things you could add to this list. But for me I am still learning how bad becomes good! Isn't that funny?! While understanding the root of the gospel is how super bad becomes purely good I have difficultly seeing that in the smaller moments of my life! But I am learning!

33 years and Counting!

Even as a teenager...

With the kiddos...

Just hanging out....

Playing outside...

Meeting a new addition...

Enjoying His favorite hobby...

Holding his babies...

Even going to weddings....

Or sightseeing with the inlaws.....

and even when indulging my fancies.....

He's ALWAYS smiling! I love his dimples and His laugh, the resonance of his voice and the childlike excitement he holds for life! I am glad that God saw fit to give me a big and burly teddy bear! Don't be fooled by the fierce exterior...he's the nice one....as if you couldn't tell by the smile! Happy 33rd Birthday, Sweetie! I am glad you are my hubby and you have such a sweet temper! I suppose anyone grumpy wouldn't be as willing to put up with me, eh?! :D

Why Coshepherding is So Hard

It's hard to get at my kids hearts almost ALL the time. They would much rather I address their behavior and they don't want to apologize for their motives just the actions. I find my children avoid the truth just as much as kids who never heard. In fact sometimes I think my kids go to extra lengths to avoid the truth, in church my kid will play super hero/villains with their fingers to avoid listening to the sermon. My kid would rather scream at the top of his/her lungs when they are hurt emotionally or physically instead of actually speaking to someone about the truth. My kid would rather ignore me and even go so far as to cover their ears to avoid hearing my words as I speak to them. All these realities I find SOO tough to deal with because my desires for them are so different than their desires for themselves.

What?!

Guess who is 3 months Old Today?!! Can you believe it?

I sure can't! Whenever they tell you to enjoy it while it lasts,

because it goes by fast...don't roll your eyes...its actually true!!

Down Memory Lane

Dodio and a snowman, winter 2006-07.

Pie Pie fall 2009.

Dodio, enjoying a slush in cali, summer 2010.

G-man, bath time because of cereal bar blunder, spring 2008.

Uno with his six shooters, 2006

Dodio and Uno fall 2006.

Three amigos, fall 2008.

Dodio and Pie Pie Winter 2008-09.

G-man spring 2008.

My sisters and I with out grandma, our fathers mother at our fathers memorial, summer 2010.

Silas and momma at the botanical gardens in KCMO, 2007 summer.

Prob one of our first family photos august 2004.

Daddy and Pie D, summer 2008.

Daddy and Uno, summer 04.

Kansas City, 2007.

Spring 2003.

Lulu fall 2011.

I don't know about you, but sometimes I enjoy looking through some of our old photos and seeing how different our children are today and yet their personalities are essentially the same! Uno has always been willful and funny, sensative and loving--Dodio has always marched to the beat of a drum only he hears, active and tenatious with a workers heart--G-man is simply enjoyed living, sweet and tender, a joy to watch living his life, always with a hug even at the MOST inopportune times, gentle and reflective--Pie Pie...bossy and snuggly, always happy and laughing in the morning, commanding and independent, resourceful and nurturing. All these different Personalities all together in one curayzee family. Now we have our newest addition and we know a little about her, Lulu loves to be with others, sweet and anxious, smiley and busy, we are waiting to see what else we will learn about her.

Crazy Crew: Sleeping Beauty, School Boys, and other Craziness!

Crazy Family memories..... First day of second grade.....first day of kindergarten ( and he only got into trouble once everyday this week).....loving eyes of our newborn....sleeping beauty....always thinking my sweets are the sweetest! Love these nutty kiddos! Although they do make me even crazier!

Reading Challenge

I have set a goal for myself of 30 books this year. These aren't all the books I read, but the ones that I really sink my teeth into! Join and have some fun seeing if you can make your goal!

2011 Reading Challenge

Larissa has


read 13 books toward her goal of 30 books.

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13 of 30 (43%)

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We're Back Update

Almost 3 Months.

Driving Down The Road!

In case you were wondering what being in our car is like......

Daddy and Lulu

Drinking: Anything I can get, we have been a thristy crew lately!

Recovering: From Hurricane Irene, we lost poweer for three days and the kids school was postponed for almost a week, church was cancelled and many things happened....welcome back to the east coast!

Linking: Civil War Events 2011....the 150 anniversary of the beginning of the war between the states.
Thinking: I can't believe I am a mom to five chillens.....I mean really....the girl who thought she wasnt gonna marry? Seriously weirds me out!!

Listening: My kids talking, which I admit is an almost constant occurance, but lately they have been more prone to argueing with one another...kinda sad, but also at times strangely funny what they actually fight about! I would love to say I never laugh at my kids, but honestly I laugh at them ALL the time!

Wishing: I could take a nice long trip to see some historic places with my hubs. I would love to spend a weekend strolling the streets of fredericksburg, visiting the house visited by both lincoln and washington and washington's childhood home ferry farm. I also would like to go for a long day south of richmond va to the national museum of the civil war soldier and the virginia state holocaust museum which is near our church. So many wishes...so little time.

Reading: Here's a link to my currently reading page on Goodreads, Join if you haven't already and track your own reading progress, its fun and also a good way to share recommends.

Crazy Doug Fact: Numero Unos favorite color is blue and brown, Dodio's fave is green, G-man's is red, Pie-Pie's is purple, Lulu is a pink girl (because I say so), my fave is yellow and Will's is dark brown or khaki green.