Sweet Little Tonto

My younger boys are barely a year apart in age.  You'd think they'd be the best of friends; and yet, while they love one another, you couldn't ask for two more different personalities.  Seth is a serious soul, a scientist, an avid reader and writer.  He cleans and organizes and slicks his hair up before we go anywhere.  Bubbie is his complete opposite.  The sweetest, friendliest little slob of a boy you'll ever meet.  He loves guns and hunting and cowboys and soldiers.  He can take a shower without even getting wet and hasn't ever bothered to look in a mirror other than to apply war paint.  They both spend as much time as possible outdoors, in the same backyard, but rarely together.  Seth plays with the animals and collects specimens and checks on the trees and flowers.  Bub fights Nazis and shoots squirrels and practices his aim.  It's just the way God made them, and though I want them to be close, I still try to nurture their own unique abilities and interests.

Seth

Bubbie (Jared)

...And then comes along a little sister.  It's hilarious how they fight for her attention.  "Summer, be MY girl today."  Even though I always give the "we're all Stringers; we're all best friends" lecture, I can't help but smile.  Seth usually takes her for a walk in the woods or gets her on his bunk to read a story, but Bubbie always dresses her up.  AND SHE LOVES IT.  Today, he had The Lone Ranger on his mind, so he dressed her up as Tonto.

I heard her several times saying, "I love you, Kemo Sabe!"  And Bub would say, "Girl, you're not supposed to say that.  Tonto doesn't tell the Lone Ranger that he loves him!  But I love you too."  Such sweet memories.

Here's her "mean" look:

I so miss the days when Caleb and Madelyn dressed up and played together, and I'm enjoying every second of these precious times!

Baby Stringer

This baby is big news around here!    Is it a boy or girl?  (right now boys outnumber 4:3)  Where will we put him//her?  Will we build on a room?  (No, we can't afford it.  By the time we can afford it, we won't need it.)  Will we buy a new van?  (No, can't afford that either LOL.)  And, alas, WHAT SHALL WE NAME THIS CHILD?

I've thoroughly enjoyed all the hilarious discussions with the kids and all their suggestions.  My usual response is, "Well, I wouldn't want to steal that name from you.  You might want to name your child that one day!"  (That's pretty safe; won't offend the kiddos!)

Here are just a few of the hundreds of suggestions I've received:

Summer:  "Rosie Daisy"  "Maria" (she loves The Sound of Music)

Jared:  "Tim Horton"  (LOL, he's my coffee drinker)

Seth:  Elrod, Samwise

Madelyn:  Betty, Doris, Betsy, Johnny, Kathy, June (can you tell my girl loves old movies?)

KK:  "Let's name him Lucas and call him 'Sod Buster' for a nickname"  (LOL, we love The Rifleman)

As you can see.... looks like I am on my own here.  If you have suggestions, I'm open!!

Right now, Jason and the girls and I are on our way to the doctor's office for the ultrasound. If Baby Stringer cooperates, we should know in a little while whether we're going to have another little sissy or another little bubba. 

Here's a pic Sis took of our little toothless Rosebud. 

And my 2 girls...love them!

My Morning View

I've always been very affectionate with all my kids. Lots of hugs and kisses around here!  But none of mine has been as "clingy" and loving as my Summer Rose. That girl loves me if no one else does!  She tells me (on my worst days!) how beautiful I look. She stops so often in the middle of the chaos and just looks lovingly at me and says, "You're the best!"  

And so, even though I've not had a decent potty break in 5 years, it's hard to get mad. I got up at 4:30 this morning in hopes of a little alone time, just me, my Bible, The Lord, and the Tassimo....and, alas, here comes the pitter patter of little feet...so much for the solitude!  She sleeps in her own bed, but it's like we have a built-in blue tooth connection. Every time I move a few feet, her alarm goes off. 

BUT I'M NOT COMPLAINING! At least my girl sees her mommy read her Bible, and how boring and unadventurous my life would be without so many wonderful, blessed interruptions. 

Thank you, Lord!

All "Snowed" Up

Summer's beloved "Doodle" (see www.snoedel.com) was in need of some TLC. She has begged me all week to please "snow Doodle up" ("sew"), and I finally got it done last night. Sadly, I used brown thread to match.

One happy girl:



One repaired Doodle:



Here's a picture of an as-yet unloved Snoedel for comparison:


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Big brothers are the best!

You'll never know how happy this little girl was to go hunting with her KK.

They didn't have any luck, but she was so excited when they got back. We were already at the table eating supper and she rushed in and told us all about it in the sweetest and most precious way! I wouldn't trade anything for these moments, and for having a 15 yr old son who loves to spend time with his baby sister.


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Poor Pepper!

Poor Pepper got to be the "bad guy" for today's adventures.  Bless that dog!

Stringer Hospital

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A Little Girl and Her Camera Roll

You can tell a lot about a person by scrolling her iPod camera roll.  

The girl loves Band-Aids.  I laughed out loud when I found this pic.  I had no clue she had taken it at Wal-Mart

She loves her "Seb"

She calls wrapping her wet hair up in a towel her "Smurf hat"

Smile, Baby!

This is not a horror movie.  It's her rainbow night light, a Mobi Tyke Light

Spooky!

"Mama, take a picture of me singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

  

The girl loves her Poppie

And she loves eyes

Her baby rabbit

She also loves feet

More feet

  

She loves her friends

Um, she has brothers.

Can you guess?
(It's Raggedy Ann's eye LOL)

I love how my "baby" is growing and developing her own unique personality.  I miss her being a baby, but I feel so privileged to be allowed to watch firsthand the amazing transformation of all my children from little infants into young people.  I love being a mother!

Sing a Happy Song!

With all the rain we've had lately in our neck of the woods, several mushroom gardens have sprung up all over our yard.  Tuesday, I was cooking supper and heard a loud scream and ran out the door to find Summer Rose sobbing in the front yard, with Seth standing there with that "innocent" look on his face, holding a mushroom.  

 ...or should I say, holding a Smurf house.  Whenever Summer and I walk in the yard, every time we find a mushroom, I'll say, "Shhhhhhh!  Listen carefully," and we'll lean down and I'll quietly sing, "La la la la la la, sing a happy song.  La la la la la la, sing the whole day long."  She just loves that, and I guess has taken it a little more seriously than I thought.  She was truly heartbroken that Seth had carelessly destroyed a Smurf village!

I just love little girls!  And though I am working on making her less of a "cry baby", I love it that she can still get so upset over something so cute.

Birthdays and Water Balloon Fights

Here are a few pics of our summer fun.  Our little Rosebud turned 4 years old!  Such a big girl, and getting sweeter every day (really!  finally, thank the Lord!).  Also, a water balloon fight at my sister's on the Fourth of July.

Everyone waiting in line while my mother and sister fill up more balloons

Of course, Jason was always FIRST in line

Here he is reaching through, into the bathroom window waiting on balloons

And here he is, right after my mother returned a  few prank favors from over the past  18 years LOL (she threw a cup of water at him)

 

We all had a great time!