Apple Picking Fall 2011

Since moving to Pennsylvania in 2008, we have enjoyed visiting local orchards and picking apples. The children love eating them and baking with them and it has truly become a tradition we've made since living here.

Want to go down memory lane? I've given links to all our previous apple picking posts below.

Apple Picking 2008

Apple Picking 2009

Apple Picking 2010

Springtime Update

We have been enjoying some fun springtime activities. We've been gardening. We are working on developing more flowerbeds around our house and also giving container gardening a try. Tyler has wanted to grow his own carrots for a while now, so he planted some carrot seeds. They are doing well, and we hope to be eating them in about 30 more days!

Bird watching is another one of our family's favorites. We feed finches, hummingbirds, and we have a separate wild bird feeder, and a bird bath. We are attracting all sorts of fun birds and identifying them in our field guides. Tyler is really into birds right now, especially water birds. We had a mother woodpecker make a nest in one of our trees and it was fun to listen to them and watch her feed them.

This weekend, our church had a picnic and we had a wonderful time. Some friends of ours brought a huge water slide and it was a big hit with all the kids (big and little).

So, how about you? How was spring been treating you? We have one more week to enjoy some rest time before we start three weeks of a program called Tennis for Kids, and then Vacation Bible School, and then Heath and I are headed to Ontario, Canada for a mission trip. Once we return from that, my focus will be getting things organized for the 2011-12 school year. Lauren will be a 1st grader, Kaitlyn a 3rd grader, and Tyler a 4th grader.

Happy 6th Birthday!

The baby of the family, L, is six-years-old today. This is how the boys in the family help prepare for a birthday around here. They eat all the extra icing from the pan.

This is how the sister helps prepare for a birthday. She creatively and neatly decorates the birthday cake.

Happy Birthday baby, I mean, Big Girl! We love you and are so blessed to have you in our lives. You make us smile, laugh, and you give us a reason to just spin around with silliness at random times (like when we walk down a grocery aisle)!

I also want to mention a dear friend to our family, "Miss" Linda who took L to story time at the library yesterday and out to lunch as a special birthday treat. I didn't post any pictures of their day together because I wasn't sure "Miss" Linda wanted her picture on the internet or not. When you live nearly 1,000 miles away from family, it is such a sweet blessing from the Lord when He brings people into your lives like "Miss" Linda and her husband.

New Haircut

L wanted to get her haircut. She easily got 3-4 inches cut off. She looks different, she likes it, and it makes my job of de-tangling a lot easier.

Christmas 2010

T turned 9 in August. He has enjoyed playing his first season of football, and misses playing very much. T wants to be a lot of things when he grows up. One thing he wants to do is to start his own police organization, but it's top secret and I can't share any information on our family blog.

K turned 8 in November and has been taking piano lessons since May. K wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up.

L will be 6 in March, and she loves all things that sparkle, and to accesorize her outfits. L is busy learning how to read this year and being Mommy's special helper all around the house. L wants to be a ballerina when she grows up.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

L's Bday

Yesterday we had a small family party for L's 5th birthday. Her daddy brought her home some beautiful flowers. She felt very special and loved. She got to open all the birthday packages that family sent her from Missouri. On April 10th, L is having a few little girls over to have a Princess Tea Party. So she is excited that her birthday celebrations aren't over yet.

My Baby is Five Today

There is something about a child's 5th birthday that makes a Momma sad. Five means Kindergarten is coming soon. Five means learning to read and to tie your shoes. Five means more independence and less dependence. Five means they're growing up - and growing up too fast!

Five years ago, little L woke me up in the wee hours of the morning by popping my water (I know, she probably didn't literally pop my water). THIS was not our plan. We lived eight hours from our family, and we had the c-section scheduled, and arranged for Grandma to come and take care of T and K. So, in the wee hours of the morning in our new home in Mississippi, we called our Sunday school teachers and asked if we could bring T and K over because my water had just broke!

We made it to the hospital just fine, and L was born on Wednesday, March 30th around 8:00 a.m.

I can't help but think about West Helena Baptist Church, when I think about L's birth. Because three days before her birth, we met our new church family. They were calling Heath to come and be their Student Minister. When L was only a few hours old Bro. Dusty, the Pastor, and his wife, Mrs. Mollie knocked on my hospital door to visit us. Their visit truly blessed us because we knew we wouldn't be visited by any family that day since we lived 8 hours away, and L's 2-week early arrival was a bit of a surprise. I also think about Mrs. Jimmie Ruth and how much she loved (and still loves) our little L. Mrs. Jimmie Ruth watched L a lot in the nursery at WHBC, fed her lots of gummies, and still keeps in contact through mail, e-mail, and phone calls.

The day L was born, we became a family of FIVE. We had three children ages 3 and under. When I think about what life was like five years ago, it makes me tired. But it also makes me smile.

My little five-year-old, I love you! You are a sweet, kind, loving, and helpful little girl! Thanks for all the hugs, kisses, and smiles you give me everyday! I love being your Mommy!

A Trip to the Dentist

All three little Tibbetts' went to the dentist today, and once again they all received great reports from the dentist - NO CAVITIES!!!! In this picture, the children are showing off their shiny smiles and their new toothbrushes in the van after their appointments.

Tomorrow, we are headed to the Crayola Factory with our Learning and Fun Club! I'm sure I'll take lots of pics and post them soon!

My Baby

My baby is growing up way too fast! She has loved getting out all her new (to her) fall clothes out! She wanted me to take a picture of her, so of course I did. Her Aunt Jessica has been complaining about the photo collages I post on here, so I'm trying to please her by posting some bigger pictures of the children on here. Next post will have to be a K only post! This one is a post only about L, and the one before this, was a T only post.

Is solace anywhere more comforting than in the arms of a sister.

-- Alice Walker

If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child.

-- Linda Sunshine

L Loves to Play Putt-Putt

One of L's friends had a birthday party today! His birthday is not until December, but he wanted to have an outdoor birthday party, so we celebrated early! I thought it was a fun and creative idea! The children enjoyed pizza, putt-putt golf, petting a pony, feeding some animals, and eating cake! L's favorite part was playing golf!

Physical Education

One day when I was fixing lunch I heard a lot of commotion and giggling! I walked into the living room saw the children having a "stuffed animal war." It was hilarious! They had fun, broke a sweat, and were hilarious to watch!

First Day of School!

A lot of families take pictures of their children on the first day of school. This year I told the children they could pick out whatever they wanted to wear, and also the location they'd like their picture taken. So, we headed outside with the camera and took some pictures. We often joke that these three little Tibbetts' aren't the most photogenic children, but they sure are CUTE:) T is in 2nd grade, K is in 1st grade, and L is in K/4 (4-year-old Kindergarten).

A glimpse into our school room! We do school all over the house, but it's nice to have ONE place where things can be stored and set-up.

Girl Time!

We dropped the boys off at Cub Scout Camp on Thursday afternoon. It was a hot day, so we headed to a pool! Some friends of ours gave us permission to use their pool any day we wanted to this week. So far, we've been there twice!L has stopped sucking her thumb! We are very, very excited about this around here! She sucked her thumb so much she gave herself a HUGE callous on the knuckle on her thumb. I did the same thing when I was a kid (so I've been told). I sucked my thumb until I went to Kindergarten, and I figured L would do the same thing! Well, we told her if she stopped sucking her thumb, and made the bump on her thumb go away, she would get to go to the store and pick out any color of nail polish she wanted. She has NEVER had her right thumb nail painted...EVER!!!! She was very excited! So, today I took her to a store and she picked out BLUE sparkly nail polish!!! Too cute!
The girls and I are going to K's last t-ball game of the season. Well, actually they're not hitting off a tee anymore, so K keeps correcting me and telling me she plays baseball now. After BASEBALL, we are going over to our church because they are having a Car Show. Then, around 3pm, we get to head out and drive back up to Cub Scout Camp to pick up Dad and T!!!! Can't wait to see them! I'm sure T will talk my ear off the whole ride home!

Happy Resurrection Day!

Happy Birthday L!

Yesterday was sweet little L's 4th birthday! She is a HUGE source of JOY in our family! She is sensitive to the emotions of others, but she is also bossy and demanding at times. She is funny, creative, and imaginative! She is truly a blessing and a precious gift!

Can You Guess?

Can you guess what's on L's head?

Let's just say I think she's pretty creative when it comes to dressing up! It doesn't take much to entertain her!
Leave a comment and let me know what YOU think is on L's head!

Tuesday = Baking Night

The boys go to scouts on Tuesdays, and the girls and I do some baking. We're on a muffin kick right now. One of our favorite kinds of muffins to make are orange juice muffins, and the recipe can be found at the Hillbilly Housewife website. For the icing recipe, mom substitutes orange juice for the milk. K likes to fill the muffin cups up, and L loves to stir the eggs.

Thanks Uncle Jeff!

The children had some Christmas money from an Aunt, Uncle, and some cousins. So, on Friday, we remembered to take it with us so they could spend it! L chose some silver, sparkly shoes. K chose to get her ears pierced. T chose two new Star Wars toys. Mom and Dad were saddened that their girls made such big girl choices. Why can't the children slow down a little bit with this whole growing up business??!! L has worn her shoes everyday and everywhere. The first night, she had to be reminded to take them off before she crawled into bed!

My Funny Little Girl

Today during our family prayer time, L took the time to tell God about all our "beautiful and sparkly" Christmas decorations. She went on, and on, and on. She wanted Him to know EVERYTHING!

After our family prayer time, Dad was playing with the children, and tickling them. Why do all children love to be tickled? I remember I liked it when I was little too. She was giggling hysterically, then stopped and had a priceless look on her face (according to Dad) and said, "oh I peed!"  We laughed so hard about this, and I'm sure we won't ever forget the night that Dad tickled L so much that she peed her pants (literally).

Just now L asked me for a snack. I told her "no." She said, "If you don't give me a snack, I will not play with you." 

What a mess this little one of mine is.  She is funny though. But, I just don't want her to know it!