Tidbits

Tidbits: tid·bits, noun

1.) Random moments of life preserved in pictures in an attempt to blog at least once a week.

So these aren't pictures from the past week but from the past month but still wanted to share them.

{The fireplace is their favorite place to color}

{Gracie helping me sew her doll blanket}

{Two cuties super stoked to sleep in the same bed. It only lasted about

 five minutes until Eli wanted back in his bed}

{Gracies first successful log tower}

{Grace has been really into fairies lately so I tried my hand

 at making her a one with a wooden ball and wooden spool}

{As Eli would say "I'm Fyling," meaning styling :)}

{He crawled up on my lap, said "I love you", kissed my cheek,

 and fell asleep. I'm one lucky Mama}

Kingwood Center

    Last week we went to Kingwood Center with my parents and nieces. It's a favorite spring/summer activity of ours. There are usually flowers everywhere you turn but it's still early. We always start by feeding the ducks then make make our rounds on the rest of the grounds.

{See that water? I fell in that when I was little. Lets just hope it was cleaner then. :)}

{You may not see it but behind the peacock are two peahens.}

{My wild child running through the woods.}

{Lexi, Grace, Addy}

{Never can get everyone looking.}

{Checking out some kind of red moss}

Finally Back

    Back to blogging and back to the outdoors. These last few months

 have been very LONG and eventful to say the least. I feel good about coming back to 

blogging and having a creative outlet again. In recent months we have had Thanksgiving, 

Christmas, all four have had birthdays, and many little events in between. Oh and we moved! For now, though here is how our evening went.

{We are so lucky to have this right behind our house}

{We are, also, in walking distance of a reservoir} 

{Throwing rocks} 

{Running down hills} 

{Building a mini snowman in 62 degree weather. Say what?} 

{I didn't want popsicle dribbles to clean up} 

Unconventional Parenting

    I have received many judgments for the way I parent my children. I have been told I go over board when I restrict my kids diets. I was told cloth diapering is gross. I have been called irresponsible for not vaccinating my kids. People seem to think I judge them for formula feeding their babies when I breastfed mine. I have been thought as neglectful for not rushing my kids to a doctor when when they are sick. When in the end I do all these things because I feel what is the best for my own children.

{Some things you will find in our "medicine" cabinet}

     As parents we shouldn't just follow the norm. When we read the label on the back of the cereal box and we have no idea what aspartame is, we need to research it and figure out if we really want our kids eating it. When we hear about the side effects of the MMR vaccine we need to use our own judgement to decide to vaccinate or not to vaccinate, but not before conducting a thorough study. When a child has a slight fever and it doesn't seem right to take them out of bed, drive to the doctor office, expose their already weakened immune system to yet more germs, we need to use our instincts. As parents we need to question everything!

{Eliot sick with The Measles}

    Most people I know don't agree with me on these things and that is perfectly fine!  We have separate opinions and I respect that but what is NOT ok is when someone tries to argue with me on something I firmly stand my ground on calling me a bad parent. Especially when they haven't even done any research on the topic at hand. I did not choose to not vaccinate my kids on a whim. I never felt right about it to begin with but that wasn't enough me. I prayed many weeks over this before God gave me an answer. I answer to God above all others. So, if he is giving me direction how can I go wrong? ; ) I may be an unconventional parent but in some area or another, aren't we all?

{Eli sporting his cloth diapers}

Funny Story Time:

    Grace and Eli have a little cold (don't worry that is not the funny part!) so I have been giving them extra elderberry syrup for their immune systems and lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus oil for their other cold symptoms. Yesterday as the kids are roll playing they are sick, Grace was pretending to give Eli elderberry syrup and rubbing oils on his feet instead of pretending she is doctor giving him cold syrup and Advils. Yup, we're a little unconventional over here.

Autumn's Bounty

Fall brings so many goodies to us here in Ohio.

{Reading outside with a light autumn breeze}

  

{All our streets lamp posts get dressed up for fall}

{Eating our snacks on the front steps}

{Just to name a few}

Siblings

    Like all siblings, there will always be times when Grace and Eli don't get along and won't want to talk to or see each other. On those days I hope they will try to remember when they laughed, shared, played with one another. The days when they rode their bikes, did crafts, and sang together. When they are older I hope they will look back and remember the plays they put together for their family, the cookies they made for their elderly neighbors, the gifts they secretly made for their parents. I hope Eli is grateful for an older sister who looks after him like mine did for me. A sister that comforts him when he is hurt and knows when to tell him to suck it up (little siblings need that sometime.) I hope they will always be able to overcome what ever they go through together. I want them to know no matter how big the fight or how long it last, their relationship with one another is unique and irreplaceable.

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift

 to you,as you are to them. - Desmond Tutu

To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time. - Clara Ortega

My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys(Children)." -Harmon Killebrew

You can kid the world. But not your sister. -Charolette Gray

Siblings are the people we practice on,

 the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and 

kindness and caring, quite often the hard way. - Pamela Dugdale

There's no other love like the love for a brother. There's no 

other love like the love from a brother. -Astrid Alauda

After a girl is grown, her little brothers - now her 

protectors - seem like big brothers. -Astrid Alauda

Lord help the mister that comes between me and my sister... - Irving Berlin

Tidbits

Tidbits: tid·bits, noun

1.) Random moments of life preserved in pictures in an attempt to blog at least once a week.

{Sleepovers With Cousin Lexi}

{Sunset Walks}

{Double Yolked Eggs}

{Busted}

{Playing Waiter/ Waitress}

{Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal with 

Cinnamon Raisin Bread}