Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Summer by the numbers: 11 weeks, 77 days, 101 hours, 6750 miles...280 square feet

Last summer it was announced that a choir my older children participate in would be singing in Washington DC, and my wheels began turning.  Maybe we could go for a week or two and see some sights??  

Monday, August 30, 2010











We continue along, much like the little engine that could. I think I can, I think I can. Some days we do, some days we don't. We try though- and doing it together makes all the chugging along worth it.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Catching up, again.

This is a brief summary of us, not necessarily in the right order.


We hunted Easter Eggs!


Lane, Holly and Noah came for a visit. We went to an arboretum. Micah slept the whole time.







Kisses for the gila monster


Human sundial- it even kind of worked.


Adam is playing baseball. Sliding into home base is his specialty, whether it's needed or not.






We went to the Grand Canyon.






That is Micah in there- he slept the whole time





Jake loves his Poppa. Regularly, he brings me the phone and says "Poppa? Poppa?" and we call so Dad can listen to his "talking"



We watched general Conference :)


Micah is well-loved and so cute.













Monday, January 4, 2010

proper motivation

My kids have been doing their laundry from start to finish for awhile now. Every time it's laundry day (like, uh, everyday?) there are questions about how much detergent to put in, how the turn the dryer on, which setting to use, how many clothes can fit in, where the dryer sheets are etc etc etc... it's been months now that we're doing this and still, the questions consistently come.

So, we are invited by a friend to go shooting in the desert. Within an hour I watch as Adam and Jonathan locate the correct ammo, load a magazine, put the magazine in the gun, chamber a bullet, turn the safety off, adjust the sight and shoot away. AN HOUR. They still don't where to put the fabric softener in the washer after MONTHS.

It's all about proper motivation, I guess.



Saturday, January 2, 2010

Ahem...

It has been a long time since I posted anything. I've thought about it many times, but finding the time to execute said thoughts has been a little elusive. Lately though, I've been feeling the need to write again building up inside me- kind of like the feeling you get when you know your ears need to be cleaned out- and then one day you just find the q-tips and do it! Here I am. Here goes.

We now have five children. Micah Ray Fisk was born on September 27, 2009. The three of you who actually read this blog already know that, but just so he feels important many years hence when my children realize that this truly is the only record I kept of our lives together (consistent journal writing is a goal every year, but again, execution is a little elusive) I want to make sure he knows he was important enough to merit an official mention.

These kids are the sun around which their dad and I orbit- pulled constantly toward them by the most tender of feelings that could only have God in heaven as their source. Family life is simply amazing. Outside of the quest to know my Heavenly Father and his Son, there is nothing that has transformed me like being a wife and mother- and actually, for me, those two things are intertwined as to be almost one. As I see the effects of my fault and weaknesses play out in their innocent lives I can't help but want to change- and the only way to change is through Christ. So daily, we meet as I try to root out all the impatient, controlling, lazy, unkind, resenting parts of me. Sometimes I find Him, sometimes He finds me. I am so grateful to live in a family.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

overheard, Jonathan edition

Jonathan, picking strawberries at my MIL's house: "I think I like it a lot better when someone else picks the strawberries and we just eat them."

Jonathan, coming in from the backyard: "Rachel, were you calling my name?"
Rachel: "No Johnny, it must've been the Holy Ghost."
Jonathan: "Couldn't have been him, it was a mean voice."

After helping Rachel clean up her room: "Mom, I think I know what missionaries do when they're little. They learn the Gospel a lot and learn how to help people a lot too. Then they can be a missionary when they grow up!"

Sunday, March 15, 2009

a few photos and updates



MOST IMPORTANTLY: The first watermelons of spring have arrived!!! This is truly exciting, as watermelon has the ability to single-handedly sustain me through the dastardly heat of Arizona summers. Really, the heat is criminal; it makes me downright cranky. We'll eat 3-4 of these heaven-sent melons a week until they are all gone and the cool returns.



We continue to homeschool and it has been one of the best experiences ever for our family. Someday I'll write a whole post about it, because I can't do it justice here.



One of the kids favorite things about homeschool is making their own lunches. They all get aprons on and come up with something to eat, and as far as they can, make it themselves. This day, they made quesadillas, washed and cut fruit, and even managed to get some veggies on the plate too. I was impressed.



Jakie can crawl and LOVES it. He squeals with joy each time I set him down and he moves himself. It is darn cute.



He is so much fun to watch and play with.



Seriously, he could not be any cuter.



After much wiggling and Dad and some pliers, Jonathan has lost 2 teeth.



Not to be outdone, Adam lost a tooth as well. Well, it was yanked out by the same Dad with the same pliers. I don't know if that counts as "losing" it but the toothfairy was convinced and left $$ all the same.



Adam and Jonathan have this thing they do. They both start acting silly, making faces,



silly noises,



and before you know it, they have dissolved into laughter that just keeps going



and going



and going. They are so funny. They can keep each other laughing forever.



And Jakie just stares, wondering what in the world is going on.



Someday Johnny might not be happy that I have this picture. But, I can't help it. He sleeps with a stuffed Batman, a chicken and a duck. I love this age of innocence and discovery. We were talking about a friend who is getting baptized this next weekend and I said "Isn't that amazing guys? Parker will have all his sins washed away when he is baptized." Jonathan looked at me and wistfully said "I can't wait until I get baptized Mom." Family is the best thing EVER.