Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Beauty


I came across this beautiful little number. It sums up how I feel about my life each and every day. What a wonderful gift this beautiful Earth is to us. Everyday I am surrounded in constant beauty, whether it be my sweet children, handsome husband or this incredible Earth. I am so very thankful for life. 


Creation

“In the beginning (but not really the beginning—only a moment in the span of existence that is always), I learned of a plan of my Heavenly Father for me and my spirit brothers and sisters. Himself exalted and perfected and holy, our beloved Father wanted us to have a chance to follow his path. His firstborn, our elder Brother, Jesus, would organize a world where we could live and grow and learn to love and truly care. It would be a difficult experience in a world of imperfect men and irrevocable law, and we must choose if we would follow him.
“And so, … I said, ‘Yes.’ And I waited for my turn.
“[Jesus] set about making a world for me and you, the Father’s children. And one day I left a place I cannot remember now to come here, to begin the union of my life with the earth.
“In the hazy brightness that is childhood, there was the first recognition of beauty—the smell of eucalyptus, the first encounters with sea and sun and sand, and fog—wet droplets on my face, a bee, flowers, and cypress trees bent strangely by the wind.
“And as I grew, so the world became more marvelous; and deep inside began the warm, sweet pain that is earth-love.
“[Jesus] made light that falls soft and silvery at night and makes shadow patterns in the wind—light, golden-blue, and gentle in the days of spring sun—and light that spreads its colors first faintly red to orange to golden, to dispel the blue-black that is night—sunrise. And I have eyes to see.
“And he made wind to rustle softly through a thousand leaves, glistening silver-slippery water to sing and stumble on its way to the sea, and birds to fill the morning air with soft flute-tones. And I have ears to hear.
“He made hands to touch in the bright warmth that is ‘How are you?’ or ‘I will help’ or ‘I begin to love you’; and eyes to speak, to see beyond the words, to understand, to discover.
“He gave me a heart that sees and hears and feels the earth he made, and deep within me earth-love swells to overflowing. He gave me tears of joy to shed.
“You have these things, too. They are gifts—blessings beyond our ability to receive.
“And someday when I have seen [Jesus] again and my Father has welcomed me back, I hope, with my mate, to be able to begin the direction of a world like this. And our children will turn in the cold sweetness of morning light to heavens of their earth with eyes that glisten with tears born of earth-love to say, ‘Thank you, Father’”- Ann Busath

Monday, September 10, 2012

Summer 2012

What a fun summer it was!! It flew by and now hopefully as we head into fall the temperature will go down and we'll be able to play outside more! Here's a few pictures from our summer.
Jack loves the trampoline!
 Finn loved his first basketball season!

Abby learned how to mow the yard!

Jack learned his new super corny smile!

Abby started second grade!

Mac started Tae Kwon Do!

Jack loves all things to do with a straw!

Abby rides her bike to school!!

Jack...he's just the sweetest!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Crystal Beach Texas

After two long years we finally made it back to the beach! It's only about an hour and a half away, and we wonder why we don't go more often! This time we decided to take a ferry to a little island off Galveston, and I'm glad we did! The kids loved it and the ferry ride was only ten minutes each way.

As soon as the kids saw the beach they were so excited to get out and get wet! The weather was perfect, a little overcast with nice big clouds!










Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Utah 2012

Uncle Spud was getting married, so off to Utah we went. Mapquest says it's a 24 hour drive, we managed to make the first trip up only last 26 hours. That includes us stopping for dinner, playing at a wonderful park and  driving straight through the night, then stopping for breakfast and finally making it to Orem! The kids surprised me and did amazingly well!

We stayed at Grandma Bonnie's childhood home. It's so cozy and has a perfect backyard for the kiddos. They especially loved jumping on the trampoline in the 85 degree weather and sleeping on the tramp at night! (We loved the beautiful Utah weather!!)

It was off to Manti Utah for the wedding, and it was so beautiful! After that we headed to their wedding reception at a lavender farm, it was complete with a pond with paddle boats, climbing wall, play sets, volleyball...you name it..it was there!! So much fun! 

The next day we went to Temple Square. What a treat! It's so peaceful and beautiful there! We were able to meet up with a couple of our Houston friends there and the kids were so happy to see their buddies! 

We ate at Cafe Rio, and In n Out... as always it was delish and something to look forward to! 

Then it was off to head home. We made that trip back in 27 hours...not too bad! The last two hours were torture for Jack. Poor thing...he sat in his carseat the whole way, he earns a gold star for that trip! Mac of course never made a peep the whole 53 hours, Abby was an amazing helper and such a good traveler, and Finn was.. Finn...super needy, cranky, and loud, but overall he did pretty good. The poor thing just wanted to get out and play! 














Even though we did have a blast being with and seeing our family, we might take a few years off until our next looooong roadtrip!!

Monday, July 9, 2012

Home Videos

The other night I pulled out the rusty old video camera. It's been great watching old videos of our younger lives. It's sad though, I have several tapes of Abby and Mac, and I can't find one with a baby Finn in it!! It just goes to show that Finn really did rock this family! Two children seemed so easy...now with four I am lucky to get a picture of them on their birthdays! I feel bad that I'm not that Mom, the one always taking pictures of the kiddos. Thank goodness for technology, I am able to take pictures and video of the kids on my phone and ipod!

This is my vow to get better about filming the kids and taking more pictures. (that's funny because our little point and shoot camera is no where to be found!!)  Now if I could only get my hands on a beautiful SLR camera life would be good!! 

She's growing up!

Lately, Abby has been acting more and more like a pre-teen girl! She asks to me paint her nails. She asks if it's okay if she goes up to her room and listens to music. She brushes her hair..a lot...all day long. She is trying really super hard to do the splits. And she watches pre-teen t.v. shows like iCarly and Zoey 101.

This all came out of no-where!!! It's been fun to watch it all unfold though. But it does hurt my heart because it does mean she's getting older.

**Literally while writing this Abby walked into the room, I hid the screen from her (because she wouldn't want me to write this for everyone to read...of course!!) and asked her to leave (so I could continue writing about her) and she said "Why?? Are you doing something LAME??" haha...her sentences make me laugh..she's trying to be all cool, haha.

Yup, she's a growing up!

Monday, June 25, 2012

M.I.A

Dear Nintendo DS, Mom's Ipod, and our family Camera,

Where have you gone? I would like to think that this house is clean and organized enough to be able to find all these beloved missing items, but I guess not.

We miss you. Please come out from your hiding spots. You won.

Love,
The Wischmeier's


On another note...

Abby is done with swimming and baseball! Yay to having our weekends back!! Abby was picked to be on the all-star baseball team and she did amazing as always! So proud of her and all her baseball accomplishments. She did so well on swim team too! She managed to shave another 10 seconds off her breaststroke and another second off her freestyle. She's such a competitor! When she's swimming I just watch her in awe...she understands hardwork and the pay off!! Way to go Abby! 


Mac loves swimming as well. After having one session of private swim lessons he is so much more comfortable in the water. He is such an easy little man. I say little man because soon he'll be 5!! I feel like I never have much to say about Mac, he is just so chill and easy going that that's about it! 




Finn is potty training and he is doing so so so good! After just one week, he'll run to the bathroom on his own and go all by himself! He still has issues with #2, but we'll keep on working on that. So proud of him! He is still obnoxious, very loud and demanding, but at the same time he's sweet and loving. He drives me nuts for sure, but also melts my heart. Is it too soon to diagnosis bi-polar disorder? (kidding) He starts playing baseball this weekend and he will love it, I know because he's been waiting to play for the last year! 



 Jack is too much. Too much cuteness and manly-ness all bundled up in one chubby little man. He is so happy and content. He loves to sort things, like dumping boxes of stuff out and putting it all back together. He loves playing outside, and the mosquito's love him just as much.