Family Creations

This is a Lego robot that Daniel created.
Of course, God created this precious six week old baby! We are amazed every morning at how much bigger and fatter he is!
Isaac and Daniel created this Lincoln Log fort.
Joy created this Lego schoolhouse. She is quite the engineer and works alone. :) Kelsey smocked this. One day it will be a dress.

Kendal and her friend, Elizabeth Rush, exchanged beads in the mail and this is the bracelet Kendal made with hers. She wanted Elizabeth to be able to see it. The internet and digital cameras make it so easy to stay in touch. We are blessed to have both!
This is a dress that Kendal made by herself, without a pattern, with material that the Bacon family was discarding. She has worn it to church with a spring sweater over top. She's planning to make a few more changes, like adding a zipper. This is the back view (above).
This is a view of the top front (above). There are beads along the top edge.
This is a full view of the front.

It's too hot outside for us. It's been 100 degrees here for the last five days! The children have been swimming twice. But now that Daddy is back to work we'll have to stay home. It's too hot outside for Noah to wait for us by the pool. So, everyone is being productive inside. Kelsey made more spit cloths today for Noah. My denim skirt is still in progress. We're hoping Kendal will finish smocking Cousin Lisa's baby girl's dress soon.

Family of Ten photos and birth announcement

This was taken on Mother's Day before church. We are blessed indeed!

This was taken earlier in the week.

We sent this birth announcement out by email. We're so thankful for a godly name for our son!

Bob returned to work this week and the children and I have been "on our own." Noah definitely was easier to care for while Bob was on vacation. Suddenly he needs to be up more at night and requires more during the day as well. I must have forgotten how time consuming an infant is. I find myself being surprised that it can take hours to get from my bedroom where I've been feeding him to the kitchen where I need to direct the activities of the other seven children.

Monday was a rough start for us all. Today we left the kitchen in a mess after lunch and literally ran out the door to fit in a trip to the park. Sometimes we just have to make a good day of it whether it seems practical or not. Thankfully we had beautiful weather.

Kendal and Kelsey have nearly finished their school year with a few subjects yet to be completed. They've already picked strawberries a couple of times. And we're looking forward to swimming together again this summer. Anna, Daniel and Isaac will continue with their phonics and math through the summer. It only takes them a short period of time. So there will still be plenty of playtime for them.

Kendal surprised me with a rosebush for Mother's Day. She had heard me admiring the ones in the median strips and around all the stores. They are hot pink Knockout roses. Supposedly they require no maintenance. And I wanted one of my own. So on the way to pick up our milk on Saturday she purchased one with her own money and she and Bob planted it in the flowerbed in secret. What a great surprise! When it gets full of blooms I'll post a photo.

We've taken loads of pictures of the baby. It's hard to decide which ones to share. We love them all.

Noah weighs eight pounds now. So he's gained half a pound in two weeks. We are so thankful for his health. We're praying the spasms of his diaphram will stop very soon so that he will not have reflux and hiccups so often. He's a very happy baby except when that happens.

It's been very tempting to complain about how hard it is to run a house with eight children. I have not been at my best this week. But with continual news of tornadoes, floods and earthquakes killing thousands, I am reminded to keep it all in perspective and be grateful for how good our life really is!

Thankful Mommy

Baby News

The big day is finally close! Tomorrow morning we'll be going to the hospital for an induction. The children will be at home under Grandma Butler's care. If all goes as expected we'll be holding our new little boy or girl by lunchtime, or certainly dinner. Please pray for a safe delivery. We'll add photos and details as soon as possible. Maybe we'll be home by bedtime-at least that is our ideal plan.

Thank you for your love and prayers,
The Butler Family

A Week Day in the Life of Our Family

For the last week, I (Marcella) have been able to take a walk in the morning and some in the evening too. We're trying to encourage the baby to come and help me get back in shape for delivery. Anna and Daniel have caught on to my patterns and try to finish their work in time to go with Mary and me.

Joy spends alot of time looking at books, making up stories, or repeating the ones she knows. She also uses Daniel and Anna's old workbooks and pretends to do "schoolwork." Clearly at four, she is ready to have some assignments of her own. This summer we'll let her start some phonics.

After chores, breakfast, devotions and clean-up everyone starts their schoolwork. Kendal (9th grade) and Kelsey (6th grade) work in the dining room. We have generous breaks for lunch, projects, and many unexpected events. Throughout the day they help with the younger children too. They are truly learning how to multi-task and stay focused in a busy environment. We're very proud of how much they are learning!
Isaac works in his room alone usually. We've found that he can get too easily distracted, especially by cute little Mary. Isaac's progress in school is slow and steady. He is our most improved student and he works hard for every well-done task. His handwriting is beautiful! We are thankful for his diligence and the freedom to teach him at his own pace.

After lunch we put Joy (4) and Mary (2) down for a nap. They're usually much happier during the evening hours if they sleep for an hour or two. These days, I try to get a little rest myself too.

Naptime cooperation depends upon what season we our family is in. When the youngest child is still in a crib- all is quiet. But once he or she is old enough to move into a boy or girl room the challenges start. I have to stand guard near the door to be sure everyone is in their beds! If I'm faithful the tired ones will give in and have a peaceful nap. Joy and Mary have just begun to share naptime. We've been here before and we know that peristence pays. "Do not grow weary in well doing, for in due season you shall reap [some quiet time again :) ]" -my rendition of Galatians 6:9.

By lunchtime, the boys have finished their schoolwork and chores. After they help clean up they go outside to play cowboys or soldiers. They especially enjoy visits over the (shorter) side fence with our neighbor, Mr. Mills, or just play with his dogs. Isaac and Daniel have a box full of toy rifles, pistols, holsters and caps in the shed. In colder weather they wear Bob's VMI (grey) and US Army (blue) uniforms and hats. They've learned how to use hammer and saw with left-over wood. They are handy with the rake and shovel too. We just have to keep an eye on where they dig and what they hammer or saw!

This is new: a human-drawn chariot. It was formerly a bike trailer/stroller. Every child in our family enjoyed a few trips around the yard this week. Our yard isn't large, and there aren't many outdoor toys, but that does not keep the children from inventing all sorts of entertainment! In the springtime, the younger children are anxious for Kendal and Kelsey to finish their schoolwork so they can come outside to help them with a new invention or project. Stay tuned for more photos of their campsites, medical tents for wounded soldiers, favorite birds, wildflowers, and hopefully a newborn sibling very soon!!!