I know, I know

Okay, so it's been over a week since a lost posted - but life is CRAZY people! There has been so much going on, and I have a lot to talk about, but meanwhile, let me leave you with this little tidbit from my middle child.

"Well, I was gonna get a book to read. But Noah broke my flashlight when he threw it at my head. Oh, well."

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Today is my Daddy's 59th birthday. We started the morning in traditional Pfiester fashion with muffins and a candle for breakfast (we had lemon poppyseed and they were super yum).

Later we had a delicious turtle ice cream cake. It's been a good day.

Visit

Today my Mom and Dad are flying in for a visit - I am so excited! Of course, the kids are even more excited than I am. Then, early next week, Heidi and Andy and all of their kiddos are coming to visit as well. We have a lot of really fun stuff planned - the only thing that would make this even better would be if my other two sisters cold make it as well! The will be so missed!

Meanwhile we plan on having hot dogs and s'mores down by the creek, a High Tea tea party at Queen Bee's, a birthday party at the movie Despicable Me, and then rounding everything off with individual family pictures. It is going to be a lot of fun!

Update on Zackary. He is doing incredibly well - especially considering he just had brain surgery. There are moments where he is incredibly agitated and isn't quite himself, but those moments are getting farther apart and shorter in duration. There are still some other issues going on as well, but he can walk, talk, eat and knows who he is - and that's a miracle!

Thank you!

Thank you so much for all of your prayers! The surgery couldn't have gone better. It is truly another miracle. Everyone is shocked and thankful. Very thankful.

They were able to cut off two of the five feeders that supply the aneurysm. After the surgery he was able to move his arms and legs, talk, eat and do everything that a little boy should do. It is truly amazing.

Thank you for your phone calls and prayers. I'm sorry for not getting back with you, but we just arrived home. It's been a very long, but very good day.

Please pray

This is Zackary. He is one of Nathanael's best friends. We love him very much.

Zackary is a miracle. He wasn't supposed to live past his 8th birthday. Two weeks ago he turned 10 years old.

You see, Zackary has a brain aneurysm. The reason that I am asking you to pray is because he is having extensive surgery tomorrow morning. As with all surgeries - especially brain surgeries - there are risks. Our prayer is that the surgeon will be precise and successful.

Last, but not least

Here's our girl. She's the one in the lime green/yellow shirt. My sister, Heidi, is concerned about their brains shaking, but really - if you do it right - you burrow your head into the wool and you're head is fine (on a side note, Noah has always done things his own way!). Carlye demonstrates this nicely, but you have to watch what happens to her at the end when she thinks the ride is over. It didn't hurt her, so it is now hilarious! She's even laughing!

Noah's turn!

Every time I watch him compete I crack up! Carlye and Nathanael tuck their heads tight against the sheep and hold on for dear life. But Noah, he tries to watch where he's going! It's a wonder his bed didn't bounce off!

Mustin' Bustin'

Otherwise known as Mutton Bustin'

It's that time again. The one time yearly that we take small children and encourage them to jump on the backs of stressed out sheep and hold for as long as they possibly can.

My children are awesome at it!

Carlye has been the reigning champion for the last 2 years. This morning at breakfast Noah told her, "Carlye, you are going down."

Out of about 30 kiddos, my children made the final 5. Nathanael dethroned his sister and came in 1st, Carlye came in 2nd, and Noah came in 4th - officially. But on our video, he came in third.

Here is the first of 4 installments for those of you who missed the excitement (sorry about the video quality, I taped it on my phone!):



Nathanael is the little boy in the blue shirt and jeans riding sideways on the sheep at the left of the screen that looks like it's running towards the camera. He then crashes in the middle - that's his Uncle Michael helping him up.

I survived!

I like to think of myself as a clean person. I sweep and mop and wash my dishes after every meal and vacuum my baseboards. However, I have a corner in my bedroom that I believe almost every one has in their house has somewhere.

And I cleaned it today.

You know the one that I'm talking about - the corner where the stuff goes that you just don't have time for right then but will eventually, and it's not trash but it doesn't really have a place yet and you'll make it one just as soon as you have a chance. This corner is also a very convenient place to keep the laundry basket(s) full of clothes until you have a chance to fold them. And school papers. Books that you want to read or just finished reading. And the odd pair of flip flops. We also keep tennis balls and bows and arrows there.

Ya. I'm talking about THAT corner.

It was intimidating. And time consuming. And a little bit scary. But I did it.

And I survived.

My reward is that I KNOW, in a few days, when my family comes to visit, their stay will be 100 times better - all because there isn't any laundry and other unknown objects lying in the corner of my bedroom anymore.

I'm thinking we can all huddle together in the corner and read a book. Or maybe watch a movie. We could even play a board game. And none of this would be an option if that corner hadn't been cleaned.

It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it.

The Lake

A picture is worth a 1,000 words. We had a great time visiting with Carl's mom's side of the family. It rained - a LOT - but we still managed to sneak in some time on the water. The kids had a great time!

All of the cousins:


On the boat:



Carlye limboing for Cassie's birthday party:


More boat pictures:

Happy 4th of July

Nearly every year at the lake (unless there's a burn ban) the guys set off fireworks with the kids. Happy 4th of July! Thank you to everyone who has done their part to preserve our independence and freedom over the years and still today. We are forever grateful.

Happy Birthday, Dutchie!

We love you and hope to see you soon!

Impromptu Birthday

I have never felt like such a bad mom before in my entire life.

My beautiful not-so-baby boy had completely misunderstood what I meant when I told him that we were going to watch Karate Kid on Saturday for his birthday.

He thought that it was his friend birthday party.

When he found out that it was just with his family he was devastated. All week, unbeknownst to me, he was telling everyone about his birthday party. And was incredibly excited. When he fell into a puddle of tears at the news I was crushed. I couldn't believe that I had done this to my son. I truly thought that he understood that it was going to be later. None of our friends could make it, and Zackary was preparing for his own birthday. In an effort to salvage some semblance of a party, (and after I sobbed uncontrollably into Carl's shoulder) we threw together a last minute shindig with his cousins. Nathanael grabbed a pinata from the store, and picked a cheesecake sampler for his birthday cake. We still plan on having a real birthday party after my family arrives with all of his friends, but until then this seemed to suffice.