Blackberries!

Posted by Gabrielle

We recently discovered a large blackberry patch on our street! Yum!

Everyone fed Benaiah...

and this was the result.

Elliot's fancy maneuvers to reach the berries.

Elliot, Jedidiah and Arianne

The Great Corn-Husking

Posted by Gabrielle

Recently, one of our sweet neighbors gave us two buckets of fresh-picked, un-husked corn, and we had a great time shucking it on the front porch. Thank you so much, Wards!

Timothy, Benaiah, Arianne, Tobias and Elliot starting in on the first bucket.

Tobias examining the corn. I was appointed the official worm remover. Whenever Jedidiah or Tobias found a worm on an ear, I would hear "Gabrielle, here." and find myself staring at a fat green or brown worm. Hmm...maybe it's time to teach them to be men.

Benaiah enjoyed his first corn-husking!

'Buddy' was happily ensconced on the bench with an ear of corn when I came back after a while to take more pictures. Doesn't look too worked up about it, though.

All five boys, and the beginning of the great corn-husk fight.

Jedidiah being chased by Elliot with a handful of corn husks.

Jedidiah and Timothy

Some wonderful young men I know had to clean up not only the porch, but...

the yard and driveway too!

And our finished product: two bowls of corn!

The Blessing and the Curse

Posted by Gabriellle

Deuteronomy 11:26-29

"See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today: and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.

Mount Gerizim

It shall come about, when the Lord your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, that you shall place the blessing on Mount Gerizim and

Mount Ebal
the curse on Mount Ebal."

We've been studying in Deuteronomy lately about the blessings and cursings that God promised Israel before leading them into the Promised land; the blessings if they did obey, and the curses if they did not. He commanded half the tribe to stand on mount Ebal and half on mount Gerizim as a visual reminder for the people of His promise.

So now that we are thinking about visual reminders, I had a visual reminder this spring of the blessing and curses: my zinnias and my sweet peas. ;) As a gardening note, something got my sweet peas and they slowly turned brown and withered up. So next year, I will do more research on them before planting them again!

So, barring the fact that it was no fault of my sweet peas, I found this a good reminder of the results of our obedience and disobedience to God's laws.

Benaiah in his Sunday Best

Posted by Gabrielle

I snapped a bunch of cute photos of Benaiah Sunday morning before most of the family headed off to church.

I don't know what the deal was with his wearing his blanket as a toga.

Our irresistibly cute little man!

Umm...Benaiah, you look a bit big to be riding on that dump truck!

Day Trip at Falls Lake

Posted by Gabrielle

Wednesday morning we headed out to Falls Lake, a half hour drive, to swim and have a picnic lunch. It was a great time!

This was Benaiah's first time in the water(baths don't count!) and he loved it!

Yes, that's all the Hellwigs, minus me, Mommy and Benaiah, in the water!

Another view. The distant horizon, lined with trees was such a beautiful sight.

Benaiah ready to go in again.

Heading to the water with Elliot.

Arianne and Christianna adoring cute Benaiah in the water!

Just like Arianne, he loves the water!

Playing with 'Ana' and having a great time!

More playing with 'Ana'

Toby was a little hesitant to go in at first, but never regretted trying it! I didn't think he would! ;)

Jedidiah...

and Jedidiah again! Classic poses!

For Elliot on down, this was their first time swimming! We all enjoyed the morning and are looking forward to doing this more this summer!

More pictures to come once we get film developed!

"The Rose in My Garden"

Posted by Gabrielle

If you've ever read the cute story called "The Rose in My Garden" by Anita Lobel, you'll recognize these opening lines:

This is the Rose in my Garden.

This is the bee that sleeps on the rose in my garden.
(Never mind, it's a zinnia!)

Father-Daughter Time at the Mall

Posted by Gabrielle

Last Saturday, Daddy took us three girls out to the mall where we had a great time eating lunch, walking around and talking. A lady there was even kind enough to take a picture!

Christianna, Daddy, Arianne, and your blogger!

Our Latest Turtle Discovery

Posted by Gabrielle

Several days ago, Elliot discovered, or maybe uncovered, a turtle in his garden. Here are the pictures!

Elliot, Jedidiah, Tobias and Arianne waiting for the turtle to emerge.

We brought the turtle in to show Mommy and let him crawl around on the floor, for a price!

And that was: mopping the floor afterwards! Because, who wants terrapin tracks across their kitchen floor?!

Cute fellow(in his own way!)

Arianne holding the turtle

Me holding the turtle

On the driveway. When we were done with him, we returned him to his natural habitat: the garden!

Toby examining the turtle

Here is my attempt at a more photographic shot of our little friend.

It's Summer!

Posted by Gabrielle

Well, not officially summer, but it sure feels like it!

Benaiah is enjoying his first whole slice of watermelon!

Mid-bite

There's nothing like watermelon on a hot day, so Benaiah says!

Benaiah's Opinion of Memorial Day

Posted by Gabrielle

Does he like it?