Evidence Marshall has been here...

He loves the filling of Oreo's he just doesn't care for the cookie part.


I love those big eyes.



Marsh working on his "homework." He takes it very seriously.

I wanted to get a picture with Zach's taekwando uniform, he just couldn't put down the wii remote while he was doing his stance.


Zach getting ready for the next day


Of course, Marshall follows his big brother.



I went to target yesterday to get a birthday present with all the kids. A task I don't usually like to take on. All the kids, by myself, in public. It really doesn't hit me that we have a lot of kids until I get everything I needed and went to check out and suddenly they All have to go to the bathroom. Here we are 3 of them in stalls and one in the carseat people kept waiting for me to leave as they were leaving and I had to keep explaining, no go ahead I'm waiting for another child to finish. And of course it really helps with the spectacle when Marsh is wearing his basketball shorts, a nice shirt, and cowboy boots. Gotta love it.

all in a heart

This week Marshall discovered his heartbeat and it was the beginning of series of events that caused me to think about this remarkable organ we all carry inside. He is constantly running every where and going constantly. He stopped to be still for a moment and was suprised to feel a bumping in his "tummy." I explained that it's his heart, what it was, and why he could feel it. He then felt mine and discovered he had a bigger bumping than I did. I just told him its because his heart is bigger than mine.

Then as I lay down to rest for the night and be still, I can hear in my ear my own heartbeat so loud I have to try consiously to drown it out, due to the baby, needing to lay on my side, and my increased blood volumes at the moment. Sometimes it is so loud I feel like it could burst any moment not being able to handle another beat.

Yesterday I heard of a recent friend that I made over the summer who has tryed for 12years with her husband to get pregnant and finally she saw through ultrasound the beat of a little baby bump. I tried to imagine what it would be like wanting something so bad for so long an to see some glimmer of hope in one little heartbeat.

Today as I made my weekly trip to my midwife and getting weighed in the hall you could hear through the door the sound of woosh woosh woosh woosh woosh of the doplar machine listening into a heartbeat of some unknown mother's child in womb. I listened shortly after to hear my own Mia's beating strong as well. Remembering the week before when a machine traced the beats of her heart. Sometimes it was slow as she was resting but then she would move and her heartbeat would move faster.

There are so many things in this world that we try so hard to make last. Machines envy the power, strength, and durability of a heart's pulse. Flashlights can't even manage to be powered for longer that a month's time in our home, yet something so organic has the power and ability to fuel a person for a lifetime.

I am amazed at this evidence of God's power to create such a perfect organ to keep life going. Sometimes it's good to remember how lucky we really are.

I just dont want to turn into some kind of fancy pants

This is Marshall's newest phrase. Im sure he picked it up in some random cartoon, but he came up to me in all seriousness he could muster. I figure he is really worried about it since he keeps revisiting the conversation. I keep telling him that is one thing he probably won't ever have to worry about.

His brother may end up being a fancy pants. He wanted to get all dressed up because Papa just came back from Texas and brought a real belt to wear his belt buckle on. Of course he had to change into a cowboy shirt and hat.



This is Marshall after seeing his brother's wardrobe change. Mind you he was in his jammies until 2:30 in the afternoon.

Houston we have a problem

Doesn't this bird know we cant accomadate it's freakishly large eggs in our cartons?


For Ryan's birthday we went out for dinner. The kids love to coordinate their clothes. Is that common?


This is the first time I thought that two of my kids look remotely related. I always felt they look totally different from each other.

The kids were enjoying taking pictures of every one. I love the digital camera technology.







We have a batch of kittens.....again. Marshall has taken it upon himself to be the one to tame the darn things. I knew it was only a matter of time until he asked if one could come inside. I relented and said okay. He kept saying the frightened animal "come to Uncle Marshy, come on little guy"

The few, the proud, the paintballers. They had high hopes for the day, and came home with many battle wounds. They went to the army base nearby and go figure, there were army guys there. They take their job very seriously and make sure the "civillians" understand their place on the field. Ryan called me during a break. I think it was to brag that he was still playing even though he was bleeding.

New

New experience for Marshall at the dentist. He thought it was pretty cool and he got prizes. He walked around the house looking like this all day.


New year of school

Marshall is having home preschool with mom. He is all business as he has watched Zachary doing his work with mom at home before. I hope I can keep up with him.


Zachary is in 1st grade and loves his teacher, and is lucky to have friends he knows in his class.

Emma loves her teacher as well. She came home beaming on the first day. I think it will be a good year for them both.


Marshall's newly discovered "mom all by myself" time


New park discovery in Renton. This place had a sandy beachy swimming area. We'll definately check it out on a warm day next summer.




Zachary's new Jedi Robe. He went to a birthday and the birthday boys' totally awesome mom MADE robes for all the boys that "completed the training." Zach has worn it nonstop for the last week. He IS a true Jedi now. He can't hardly stand how cool it is.


Zachary's new adventures without training wheels!!!



Emma's new haircut




New eggs from the hens. One of them is laying really big ones.

Our best guess of what Mia will look like

Don't tell Ryan I posted this. Emma has gotten into wearing headbands so naturally the boys like to follow after her. Marshall thought this was pretty cool. Ryan was mortified and he told me I had to pay for therapy.

Happy Birthday Marshall!

Today is Marshall's birthday. He was named after my grandfather Marshall McEntire. My grandpa was a great man with a fun personality and great sense of humor. Our little Marshall lives up to his namesake's reputation. He is our fun loving spirit. He can really pick up on social clues and make pretty much make anyone laugh. The two things people say about Marsh is where did he get that curly hair and where did he come from? He is adventuresome, he loves to work outside with me, he thinks he is as big as Zach, and pretty much thinks he is the biggest thing around. He doesn't shy away from trying new things. His advantage to having two older siblings is that they really show him the ropes. His vocabulary is hysterical. His favorite word is "actually" It is usually followed by some random comment and a click sound out of the corner of his mouth and a raised eyebrow. He has no fear and has taught Emma its okay to ride down hills on bikes. His latest hobby is walking around with a camelback full of water and reminding me that he has to drink water so he has enough energy. I keep telling him I don't think lack of energy is a problem for you. Anytime his conversations start like this: Hey I've gotta great idea.....watch out.





He came into this world with chubby cheeks


Marshall Rockin out

Singing in the car, which is common


His favorite pastime



Riding his new bike at Christmas