Family-
I’ve always wanted a big family. I love movies like “Cheaper By the Dozen” and “Yours, Mine, and Ours”. I used to enjoy John and Kate + 8, but obviously that was not something I wanted to model my family after. Just the thought of have a brood of little youngsters, and even more, young adults that are close and support each other in all things makes me excited. Sure, in a proud kind of way, being the patriarch of hundreds of Grandkids is a cool thought also.
The definition of a big family varies from person to person. I’ve always wanted eight children. To me that’s a good size family. Farming families from only a generation ago would have a dozen or more. Obviously that was to reduce labor costs at the farm, but it’s still an awesome thought. Logistically when you are blessed with more than six kids you have to start thinking about buying busses, limousines, or helicopters and it can be a daunting thought.
Then there’s faith. Without 100% faith we are just showing our pride and ignorance to reality. It’s God’s decision to bless us with kids or not and it takes faith to trust that He will provide for you. When Angela and I pray for the guidance for the future of our family we are just asking for His plan to be revealed so we know which decisions to make. So when we were praying for God’s guidance on the future of our family we had open eyes. He answered quickly.
God has blessed us for a third time and in June we will be welcoming another Shiver baby. We are so thankful for this blessing and another opportunity to help mold another soldier for the kingdom of God. Boy or girl we will be thrilled to start the process again from the beginning. Angela and I often wonder how it is possible that we can love both of kids more and more each day. We didn’t know we had that much love in us. We want to be with them always and share everything we have with them. The amaze us and make us laugh constantly and now there is another one to show even more love too. Sure, there are things that are a little bit scary about going from two kids to three kids, but that is just lack of faith.
Being outnumbered in the kids to parents ratio, having three kids under four years old, feeding three kids, and putting three kids through college (who will all be in college at the same time, mind you) are just a few things to be scared about. The cost of college + inflation multiplied by 3 is a mind blowing number (rivaling our government’s debt), but God will provide where he sees fit and we will be happy with whatever He chooses for our family.
Needless to say, we are excited to see what God is doing in and through our family. If it were up to me we would keep having kids until we can’t anymore, but the only plan that matters is God’s. We are learning to trust Him fully and with everything and it will be awesome to see what He does.
We will keep you all updated on progress, gender, and name (maybe) of the baby as we know it. Thanks for reading and caring for our family. Praise God for another life in the Shiver family!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
McCall's Pumpkin Patch 2011
For those of you who know me, even a little, you know how much I LOVE fall. There is no better season in my opinion. By about June 15th, I am sick to death of the scorching, sweaty, disgustingly high New Mexico temps. Come July, I am absolutely dying for even one night that it is cool enough to sit outside and have a meal without melting to death! So, you will know how happy it makes me when I look at the extended forecast in September and decide it is time to pull out our fall clothes. Granted, its mid-October and the temps are still reaching 80+ around 1pm, but its ok, I will take it! It is cool enough to walk with the boys in the morning (but not too cold), and it is the perfect temperature for dinner outside at night. Ah fall, I could go on, and on, and on about you!
One of our family traditions is "Fall Fest" weekend. Basically, it is a day that we hunker down, make soup, caramel corn, hot cider, etc, carve pumpkins, and watch a silly Halloween movie (and a scary one for mom and dad when the kiddos are in bed). Well, this year, Fall Fest is next weekend, but on Sunday, we started a new tradition. We were spending the day at my in-laws, and they happen to live 15 minutes from McCall's Pumpkin Patch, which is about the coolest place to go if you love fall like me! It is kinda pricey... $10 per person for kids over 2, but it was worth every penny. We went and didn't realize the extent of this thing. It is like a little fall carnival, and the boys (not to mention the adults) had a blast! Here are a few pictures from the day!
Geez & the boys
They take you on a hay ride to the 30 acre pumpkin patch. Once there you just walk the land and pick what you want. They charge $2-$10 for your pumpkin... the prices are really reasonable. We got two for $8, and it was definitely worth it just for the experience!
In addition to the pumpkin patch, they've got tons and tons of other stuff for the little kids to do. Miles V begged to go into the giant pumpkin jumping castle. So I closed my eyes to the germophobic--ness coming out in me, and we let him go. He had a ton of fun jumping around and was so proud of himself! (Insert antibacterial hand-wiping picture here :) )
They also had a petting zoo.... (However, the sign said 'Caution, animals may bite.' And the goats were five times the size of Max... so, perhaps it should have been called a 'Pet at your own risk and hold onto your small children' Zoo?)
And the hit of the trip was this cow 'train' pulled by a tractor. The boys loved it! I told Miles he should hold Max's hand on the ride, and he grabbed it and didn't let go. It was so cute seeing them sit together on that ride! (After they got off we saw a sign for the ride being for kids over 2, but when you've got a sweet big brother to hold your hand, who needs to follow the rules?!)
Now if we can just lose these 80 degree temps in the afternoon, I'll be even more happy :).
One of our family traditions is "Fall Fest" weekend. Basically, it is a day that we hunker down, make soup, caramel corn, hot cider, etc, carve pumpkins, and watch a silly Halloween movie (and a scary one for mom and dad when the kiddos are in bed). Well, this year, Fall Fest is next weekend, but on Sunday, we started a new tradition. We were spending the day at my in-laws, and they happen to live 15 minutes from McCall's Pumpkin Patch, which is about the coolest place to go if you love fall like me! It is kinda pricey... $10 per person for kids over 2, but it was worth every penny. We went and didn't realize the extent of this thing. It is like a little fall carnival, and the boys (not to mention the adults) had a blast! Here are a few pictures from the day!
Geez & the boys
They take you on a hay ride to the 30 acre pumpkin patch. Once there you just walk the land and pick what you want. They charge $2-$10 for your pumpkin... the prices are really reasonable. We got two for $8, and it was definitely worth it just for the experience!
In addition to the pumpkin patch, they've got tons and tons of other stuff for the little kids to do. Miles V begged to go into the giant pumpkin jumping castle. So I closed my eyes to the germophobic--ness coming out in me, and we let him go. He had a ton of fun jumping around and was so proud of himself! (Insert antibacterial hand-wiping picture here :) )
They also had a petting zoo.... (However, the sign said 'Caution, animals may bite.' And the goats were five times the size of Max... so, perhaps it should have been called a 'Pet at your own risk and hold onto your small children' Zoo?)
And the hit of the trip was this cow 'train' pulled by a tractor. The boys loved it! I told Miles he should hold Max's hand on the ride, and he grabbed it and didn't let go. It was so cute seeing them sit together on that ride! (After they got off we saw a sign for the ride being for kids over 2, but when you've got a sweet big brother to hold your hand, who needs to follow the rules?!)
Now if we can just lose these 80 degree temps in the afternoon, I'll be even more happy :).
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Mommy Date
One of my favorite adult authors, Karen Kingsbury, wrote a children's book entitled "Lets Go On a Mommy Date." I was so happy when we got this book from the library this summer. It is one of my new favorites, as well as Miles's. Throughout the summer I kept meaning to take Miles V on a Mommy Date. Things kept coming up, and we never got to do it. Sunday night I was really missing my one-on-one time with my oldest, so Miles and I decided to do it on Monday. We've also been wanting to take him to the movies, but weren't sure how Max would do. So I decided to combine the movies with a Mommy Date.
Let me tell you, in Miles's 2.5 years I have NEVER seen him more excited about anything before. We were running errands earlier in the day on Monday, and he lunged at me and gave me the biggest hug when I told him about the date. I told him he could pick anywhere to go for dinner, and of course, he chose McDonalds. :) The kid loves his chicken nuggets!
So he and I left around 5 for our date, and headed out to McDonalds. We shared chicken nuggets and fries, and then he got to play at the Playland for half an hour or so. He had a blast! On the way to the movies I let him get a shake, and he chose strawberry. The ride to the movies was silent as he enjoyed his shake.
We went to the cheap theater that plays older movies because I honestly didn't know how he would do sitting though a whole movie. He didn't know the difference! I told him that he could sit on my lap, and he said "Mommy, I want my own seat." So there he sat, barely able to see over the seat in front of him. I got him popcorn, and we settled in for the movie. Cars 2. About 5 minutes into it, he reached over, grinned at me, and grabbed my hand. Let me tell you, that boy will be a heart breaker someday!
Well, he did end up on my lap, he managed to eat almost half of a medium popcorn, and he absolutely LOVED the movie. He did get antsy, but out of the zillion kids there that night, he was the quietest, most attentive. I will cherish memories of that night forever. I remember my first movie; my dad took me to see Lady and the Tramp when I was about Miles's age. I hope that my little man remembers his first movie too.
And so, the Mommy Date was born. This will be a tradition for years to come with all the kids. What a joy!
Let me tell you, in Miles's 2.5 years I have NEVER seen him more excited about anything before. We were running errands earlier in the day on Monday, and he lunged at me and gave me the biggest hug when I told him about the date. I told him he could pick anywhere to go for dinner, and of course, he chose McDonalds. :) The kid loves his chicken nuggets!
So he and I left around 5 for our date, and headed out to McDonalds. We shared chicken nuggets and fries, and then he got to play at the Playland for half an hour or so. He had a blast! On the way to the movies I let him get a shake, and he chose strawberry. The ride to the movies was silent as he enjoyed his shake.
We went to the cheap theater that plays older movies because I honestly didn't know how he would do sitting though a whole movie. He didn't know the difference! I told him that he could sit on my lap, and he said "Mommy, I want my own seat." So there he sat, barely able to see over the seat in front of him. I got him popcorn, and we settled in for the movie. Cars 2. About 5 minutes into it, he reached over, grinned at me, and grabbed my hand. Let me tell you, that boy will be a heart breaker someday!
Well, he did end up on my lap, he managed to eat almost half of a medium popcorn, and he absolutely LOVED the movie. He did get antsy, but out of the zillion kids there that night, he was the quietest, most attentive. I will cherish memories of that night forever. I remember my first movie; my dad took me to see Lady and the Tramp when I was about Miles's age. I hope that my little man remembers his first movie too.
And so, the Mommy Date was born. This will be a tradition for years to come with all the kids. What a joy!
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