Right Thar's a Bar!

So, actually, I have quite a few things to post about. Time and little ones in need of direction dictate that I pick the most interesting thing and limit myself to that for now.

Yesterday, on the way home from a day in town and celebrations for Abraham and Miriam's birthday, we were driving along the curvy roads towards the retreat center. I was listening to the second Harry Potter audiobook (and the reader is just THAT GOOD) while trying to ignore children bickering over presents and the occasional baby whimper.

All of the sudden, I felt the van swerve and heard Ethan say, "Look! Look! Look!"

And right there in the field next to us, not more than twenty feet away, was a black bear.

Finally! We've been waiting for so long to see one! The children have been fascinated by the mangled birdfeeder here at the retreat center, desperately hoping to get to see a bear. And here we were, 3.4 miles from the entrance to the center.

I scrambled for the camera (and by "scrambled," I mean I shouted desperately, "ETHAN! WHERE'S THE CAMERA?? WHERE'S THE CAMERA?? WHERE'S THE CAMERA?? FIND THE CAMERA!!!!!!") and then tried to take some pictures. Unfortunately, someone's desperate shouting made the bear move farther away, but we did get a few pics. The interesting thing was that there were 5-10 deer not far from the bear, just munching away and looking around. They didn't move until I was yelling about the camera. Apparently Crazy White Female Spazzing Out is scarier than Natural Predator.

The children all saw the bear. And this MADE THE DAY for Abraham and Miriam. Turning five was a hit!

Guess Who's Five Today

Can this truly be? Two more five-year olds? I must confess, it does bring a bit of relief to be able to say we have six 5 and under and not six 4 and under.

Oh. But that also means two more to be starting reading this year (because they will not wait), and two more to drop naps for good (most likely), and two more to be counted in with the bigs and not the littles.

Dear me. Can I be this old?

I've posted about their birth before, but they continue along their same paths since birth: Abraham is calm and laidback and loves his food, and Miriam is fast and busy and knows what everyone should be doing all the time.

And we love them. Happy birthday, guys! I'm so glad you're in our family, and you're FIVE!

Now Posting to Blogger

Just a note to let you know I've switched from www.homeschoolblogger.com/deovolente to this address with blogger. I couldn't figure out all the switches homeschoolblogger made when they went to wordpress, and I don't have the time to figure it out. As it is, I spent most of the time I should have been sleeping last night working on this blog. So we'll see.

What else we have been up to:



Gideon nursing as always, this time on his sister's elbow:




I am carrying two babies in this wrap. Gideon is hidden behind Salem, but he's the one nursing on my finger. Because he's ALWAYS. NURSING. What is it with boys?

Rocks and Hair Things and Salamanders

That's a list of the recent things found in pockets around here. The rocks and hair things ended up on top of the dryer, and the salamander ... well, Miriam found him in Eden's pocket, and I'm not sure whether he was washed and dried or if he dehydrated naturally. But I directed that he be thrown ceremonially into the woods and not left in the pocket. I can only take so much.

These last days have been full of amphibians, rain, and mud-speckled shower floors. We have only five more days until we close on the house (Lord willing!) and we are READY.

Uhhhhh...

So I haven't been on my blog for a while (slow connection here) and when I DID log on ... I saw that lots had changed. I'm totally new to this system and have no clue what I'm doing. I'll try to start posting again (since I finally have my password working), and if I can't figure it out I'll switch to blogger or something. Once I figure THAT out. But we're all still here, having fun and anxiously awaiting our closing date -- June 4. Hurrah!

Real Quick...

I know, I know. I really need to post pictures and really need to ... post. Period. It's been a flurry of a week. We arrived here in Highland County Monday night. It's about an hour from Staunton, which is its only vice. We are in an absolutely beautiful part of the country. The colors are vivid, the animals are pastoral (how fitting!), the weather is cool and delightful.

  

Ethan's ordination and installation service was Saturday, and today was his first full day "on the job." He gave the benediction (a privilege reserved for the ordained)! My family (parents, brothers, my sister in college and the married sister with her family) attended, as well as many friends from our last church and many new friends from our new church. My family spent the night here with us and headed back home (only 2 hours away!) today.

   

And except for the couple that intermittently stays here to keep the place running and document the flora, we have the entire retreat center to ourselves.

  

Oddly enough, this worries people. I have had so many people marvel at and pity us for "having" to stay here until we close on the house. Are you kidding me? I can't imagine a more perfect place! The children and dog have acres and acres to run on and scream on and I don't have to shush anyone. And the deacon who stays here and his wife have been very gracious with the children and include them in their daily workings, showing them new plants and birds' nests and how to hammer.

   

The only hardship (which is, in a warped way, part of what makes it so endearing) is that you better not be distracted when you're shopping at the closest Walmart (an hour away in Staunton). Because if you are, you will groan when you get almost "home" and realize you forgot to buy butter. And then when you stop at the local grocery store (a mere 20 minutes from the center), you will gasp at the $3.25 price tag on butter. Who spends $3.25 for a pound of butter?

   

Let's pretend that's a rhetorical question.

  

And we've been spoiled. My girls all sat with one of the ladies at church tonight. Edee even fell asleep on her lap. We've been given sweatshirts, food, disposable dinnerware, and plenty of love.

   

And I will find the camera bag and I will upload the pictures and I will post them. This week.

  

Unless I don't. But I'll try!

  

 

The Right Reverend Allison

Just a quick update: my husband passed his ordination exams with flying colors, if I do say so myself (and I do, because he's not the kind that will...). It was exciting to hear each "SUSTAINED" as the thirty-some presbyters voted unanimously to sustain his ordination.
  
This has been a long time coming, from his kindergarten teacher's inkling that he should be a preacher to seminary papers whose due dates always conflicted with those of our children to his brief pastoring of a struggling Montana congregation to yesterday's oral exams on the floor of presbytery.
  
My mother watched the children while we celebrated: a fine dinner at Carabbas (courtesy of a gift certificate given from some kind friends a while back) and an unchildrened walk around the health food store.
   
Congratulations, handsome. I love being in love with my pastor!