It's been far too long, so I thought that I would post some recent pictures of the kids, taken at Frederick Meijer Gardens and their school picnic.

Aren't these guys too cute!  My own little love bugs!

Alex is getting so big.  He'll be 6 in July and even has a tooth loose!

I can't believe God is blessing us with another beautiful Shier to add to this picture.  We already have an embarrassment of riches!

The boys' fascination with this Michigan-shaped pool is part of what made us decide to switch our membership from John Ball Zoo to Frederick Meijer Garndens this year.

He's so handsome.  And such a loving, affectionate, active little boy.

As you can see, this climbing rock is as tall as Andy.  It almost makes my heart stop when I see him on top of it...and then to let him JUMP!?!  What is wrong with me???  But he is, after all, 100% boy.

Rachael with her friend Naomi.

Apparently, Alex was just too cute this week...cause most of the pictures are of him!  So much for the myth of the neglected middle child!  :)

I've been wanting to get back into blogging for awhile, but haven't been able to get motivated, so I figured this is a good way to start!

Monday:  All-Natural, no preservative Hot Dogs, corn on the cob, and chicken rice.

Tuesday: Taco Casserole

Wednesday: Spaghetti, green salad, garlic bread

Thursday:  Chili, Cornbread

Friday:  Dinner out (the big kids' Opera is that night)

Saturday:  perhaps a bonfire with my brother and his family at my parents

Sunday:  Stir Fry with a choice of Garlicky Hoisin sauce or Curry Coconut sauce.

I'm once again focusing on using up what I have, so I can spend precious grocery dollars building a stockpile of pastured meat in my freezer.  And my CSA share starts up in 2 weeks, so I'll be getting lots of seasonal, organic veggies!  Can't wait!

This is a fun list I saw on a blog I follow.  The instructions are simple:  Copy and paste and bold the things you have done... So here goes!

Started your own blog

Slept under the stars (not a fan of bugs)

Played in a band

Visited Hawaii

Watched a meteor shower

Given more than you can afford to charity

Been to Disneyland/world

Climbed a mountain

Held a praying mantis

Sang a solo

Bungee jumped

Visited Paris

Watched a lightning storm at sea

Taught yourself an art from scratch

Adopted a child

Had food poisoning

Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

Seen the Mona Lisa in France

Slept on an overnight train

Had a pillow fight

Hitchhiked

Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

Built a snow fort

Held a lamb

Gone skinny dipping

Been to a Broadway show in NY

Ran a Marathon (one of the things you couldn't pay me to do)

Been in three states at once

Ridden in a gondola in Venice

Seen a total eclipse

Watched a sunrise or sunset

Hit a home run

Been on a Cruise

Seen Niagra Falls in Person

Visited the birthplace of your Ancestors

Seen an Amish community

Taught yourself a new language

Had enough money to be truly satisfied

Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

Gone rock climbing

Seen Michelangelo’s David

Sung karaoke

Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

Visited Africa

Walked on a beach by moonlight

Been transported in an ambulance

Had your portrait painted

Gone deep sea fishing

Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

Kissed in the rain

Played in the mud

Been to Grace Kelley’s grave in Monaco

Gone to a drive-in theater

Been in a movie

Visited the Great Wall of China

Started a business

Taken a martial arts class

Swam in the Mediterranean Sea

Visited Russia

Served at a soup kitchen

Sold Girl Scout cookies

Gone whale watching

Gotten flowers for no reason

Donated blood, platelets or plasma

Gone sky diving

Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

Bounced a check

Saved a favorite childhood toy

Visited the Lincoln Memorial

Eaten Caviar

Pieced a quilt

Stood in Times Square

Toured the Everglades

Been fired from a job

Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

Broken a bone (fractured actually)

Been on a speeding motorcycle

Seen the Grand Canyon in person

Published a book

Visited the Vatican

Bought a brand new car

Walked in Jerusalem

Had your picture in the newspaper

Read the entire Bible

Visited the White House

Killed and prepared my own meat

Had chickenpox

Saved someone’s life (a choking child)

Sat on a jury

Met someone famous

Joined a book club

Lost a loved one

Had a baby (going on 5!)

Seen the Alamo in person

Swam in the Great Salt Lake

Been involved in a law suit

Owned a cell phone

Been stung by a bee

Thrown a baby or bridal shower.

Been to South America

Just a little bit of fun for a dreary day!