joy

in my parents bedroom::

How great is that? I love it! {and hope to inherit it someday . . . Lord, may it be true of us as well.}

flashback friday

my silly girls {well, half of them anyway} 5 years ago this week::

ok, ok, I admit it :: Anna does look quite a bit like Lydia

thankful thursday

This week I'm especially thankful for my house. Seemingly overnight it got super chilly here and more blustery than I ever remember. The high today is supposed to only be 41, I think, and the other night the wind was blowing at 62 mph. Really now, it was in the 70's just the other day . . . what a crazy place we live!

Anyhow, I was really amazed that we didn't have more damage with all the winds the past few days. Quite a few branches are strewn in our yard, but that was the extent of it. Driving yesterday morning I saw a child's bicycle on top of the roof of a house a couple blocks from us. The kids bus was late because there was a big part of a tree blocking the road and the bus couldn't get through. Our friends needed to "rescue" their trampoline from the neighbor's tree at midnight.

So, that brings me to my wonderful house :: it has kept me safe and {mostly} warm -- I'm pretty much always a tad on the chilly side about 8 months out of the year! I have had basically no desire to open the door and even step foot outside. Our heat works and we didn't lose power {like so many people did -- even in our neighborhood}. Praise God for a sturdy, heated home! I am thankful.

conversations with a 9-year-old

Mom: "Morning sweetie. Are you going to take a bath?"

9-year-old: "Yup, it's picture re-take day, so I should."

Mom: "But, honey, you love your pictures. You aren't getting re-takes."

9-year-old: "I know, but we might have to re-take our class picture and I don't want to ruin it for everyone by not looking nice. That would be a bummer."

Stoll baby answers {really late in coming}

Ok, so maybe you've already forgotten about this post, but at least one of you hasn't {Hi, Margaret!} and reminded me that I never posted the answers to which Stoll baby was which. So, here goes::

The very top baby is Sara {that one was given}, then 6 pictures follow -- one of each of our kids, and they are::

Joe
Jacob {my hands holding him}
Anna {Kirby's hands}
Sara {my friend Allison's hands -- she was there when Sara was born}
Lydia {my mom's hands}
Rebekah {Kirby's hands -- and a bit of Jacob's shirt collar}

The hand part was tough, I'll give you that. I was surprised at how well people did naming the babies though. Anyway, congrats to Margaret, Robin and Mary. They were brave enough to guess AND they got all the babies correct . . . although they each got a few hands wrong.

Thanks for playing!

multitude monday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started a while back, right here.

"One Thousand Gifts":

898. my grandma's laughter
899. fall colors
900. a family hike on Barn Bluff


901. no more cord for Sara {it fell off on day 12 -- after a few days of tremendous stink!}
902. introducing Sara to more friends
903. an extra-long weekend
904. Saturday afternoon nap . . . cuddled up with an adorable 2-week-old
905. unexpected generosity and blessings galore
906. successfully finding "shoes" that stay on Sara's feet and keep them toasty warm {thanks to Peapods!}
907. 4 generations of {Fletcher/Carlson/Stoll} women

908. fresh, clean {flannel} sheets
909. dinner at my parents910. this guy {and his new shirt}911. my new bracelet {with names and birthstones of all 6 kiddos}
912. middle-of-the-night thunderstorm {I love a good thunderstorm, and we really needed the rain}
913. non-maternity pants that button {under "normal" circumstances they're a bit big . . . but let's not think about that, ok?}

Alrighty, that's it's for now. Tune in next Monday for the next installment.

Sweet baby

Another fabulous Sara said it well when she said sang:

Nothing in this world is quite as sweet
as a tiny baby fast asleep.
I could watch you 'til the end of time,
especially when the baby is mine.

{Sara Groves}

flashback friday

we're out and about today as a family
doing something very similar to what we're doing in these pictures
almost exactly 2 years ago today

october 2008::

thankful thursday

Today I'm thankful for the 2-day break from school for our 4 biggest kiddos. Tomorrow we plan to take advantage of the glorious weather and take a little day trip to do some hiking and see some leaves and just be together. {Kirb has these 2 days off . . . I'm not brave enough to do something like that with all 6 of them by myself at this point}

it has come to this::

I just finished a wonderful {REALLY thick} book late last night and haven't started the next book in my stack yet. This morning I was taking a shower {surprising, I'm sure . . . but I DO take one now and again} and was in no hurry to get out. There is a chill in the air and the warm water felt great! So as I was standing there, I read my shampoo bottle {yup, this is the exciting stuff of life!}. I found it much more amusing than most shampoos I've read and thought you might also appreciate it.

Above the really stupid warnings that I'm sure are legally required or some such thing {like::"for external use only"} was a heading that read::"You probably already know this, but . . . " And on my conditioner under "Directions" it read::"After shampooing, apply conditioner generously to your hair and scalp. Leave for 2-3 minutes while pondering the meaning of life (or whatever you usually ponder about). Rinse thoroughly and comb through while wet. For best results (and who doesn't want those?), use with our Nourishing Shampoo."

Now, wouldn't you agree that's the most entertaining shampoo/conditioner bottle you've ever read? Well, it made me smile anyway!

Sara's cord stinks. It's not quite ready to fall off yet {hopefully soon!} but it's stinky and gross. I'm hoping it won't be around much longer . . . but that would also mean she's not "freshly born" so much anymore and that makes me sad. I'll try to enjoy the littleness while it's still here. Smelly or not!Joe asked me yesterday::"So mom, when you eat does your food make into poop or milk?" Poor little guy was obviously confused about the whole business.

I really hope I'm not getting sick. I woke up with a really stuffy nose, which caused me to breathe through my mouth most of the night, which meant I also woke up with a sore-ish throat. I'm not sure if the stuffy nose came from the cooler weather and the fact that we turned our furnace on for the first time last night {poor Sara had super chilly hands and we had compassion on her!} or if I really am coming down with something . . . I really hope it's the former!

And for no reason other than the fact that I find it completely adorable, I leave you with this::

multitude monday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started a while back, right here.

"One Thousand Gifts":

882. the sweet sounds of a newborn nursing {all that sucking and swallowing}
883. this fabulous smile {and the girl behind it}::884. the sharing of sorrow and the celebration of a life
885. a few hours of sleep all in a row
886. Jacob's desire to bring a friend to church with him {and the friends desire to take him up on it}
887. the continuation of the glorious weather
888. seeing friends at Homecoming at BU
889. the wonderful friendship between my 11-year-old son and a 80-something theologian -- they laugh together, bet on Vikings games {Jacob still owes him $10} and even call each other on the phone
890. naps
891. a short week
892. looking forward to some good family time on our long weekend
893. out-of-this-world "birthday cake" brought over by a super-talented-in-the-kitchen friend!
894. snuggling my sweet, sweet babe
895. price adjustments at Target
896. helpful, loving siblings
897. Sara's first {and second} time at church

Alrighty, that's it's for now. Tune in next Monday for the next installment.

If you happened to miss Flashback Friday {which was a day late in coming} make sure to check it out below this post. It's an extra fun one! If you get to the bottom of this post and there isn't another one below it, just click on the "Eight is Enough" title at the very top of the blog and then it should be there {right below this post}. Give it a shot and test your Stoll baby IQ. Have fun!

flashback friday {a day late}

The verdict is in . . .

. . . she's a Stoll baby!
{no doubt about it!}
Sara Evelyn::5 days old

Here are newborn pictures of all 6 of our kiddos. Do you think you can tell who's who?
I'm their mom, and I think it's pretty tough.
Maybe, if you get all 6 right, they'll be a prize in it for you. {bonus points if you also know whose hands are in each picture -- well, you know, the pictures that have hands in them, that is!}
Give it a shot! C'mon, just try::

Which Stoll sibling do you think Sara looks most like?

thankful thursday

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

Psalm 139.13

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
you works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139.14

All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139.16

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29.11

Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.

James 1.17

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.

Psalm 8.2a

I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9.1-2

We love because he first loved us.

I John 4.19

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

Psalm 127.3

May the Lord bless you and protect you.

May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.

Numbers 6.24-26

So very thankful today for our newest, precious gift.
Sara Evelyn Stoll.
She is fabulous and we love her so much!
Praise God!

multitude monday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started a while back, right here.

"One Thousand Gifts":

865. Sara Evelyn
866. newborn squeaks and grunts
867. excited big siblings
868. no more carrying a big belly around with me
869. all the stuff you forget {even when you've done it 5 times before} and get to be reminded of
870. teeny tiny ears
871. tiny little hands
872. wrinkly baby feet
873. surviving the whole ordeal and having it behind us {I was not sure I would make it for a while there -- way worse than the other 5 births all put together. But she's worth every bit of it!}
874. a fun family night on Friday night, not even knowing it was our last night as a family of 7
875. amazing weather for October in Minnesota
876. wonderful nurses
877. my parents and their willingness to deal with the 5 while we are away from home
878. heading home
879. learning to be a family of 8
880. tiny little diapers
881. the miracle of birth {thank you God!}

Alrighty, that's it's for now. Tune in next Monday for the next installment.

introducing

our newest addition:: sara evelyn

10.9.10

4:11 in the afternoon

8 pounds 13 ounces

21 inches tall

welcomed with lots of love!

flashback friday

check out that cheeky kiddo

thankful thursday

Today I'm extra thankful for this guy::

38 years ago today he was born in pretty rough shape. He had a collapsed lung and the doctors weren't sure he was going to make it. I'm SO very thankful he did!

Happy birthday Kirbs! We love you so much and are thankful for you each and every day!

The kids pooled their money to get their dad a Target gift card. They counted out their ones and quarters and a few dollars worth of dimes to the very patient checker at Target and got him a $15 gift card -- after much debate about which specific gift card they should choose . . . the one that said "happy bday", the one with presents on it, the one that allows you to play a game of thumb war? There are so many to choose from, and when there is more than one Stoll kiddo invested in the decision, it can cause much angst! And now, since they gave it to Kirb there is much discussion on what he should spend it on {although they assured him that he should get whatever he wants!} Rebekah suggested he could just go to the checkout isle and load up on candy. Joe is convinced that he should use it to buy the Joker cave {Joe's poor Joker is currently homeless and this makes Joe very sad nearly every single day!} There was also discussion of purchasing a movie for our family with the money. Ah, the choices are so hard, I hope Kirb can handle the stress of the decision.

This will be another exiting year for our family, I'm sure, with the newest member arriving soon and all the excitement that will add to our house and our family. I distinctly remember helping Kirb to celebrate his 20th birthday {that was a big deal . . . he was no longer a teenager!}. I even remember the gift I got him. {I'm quite sure it's still in this house somewhere}. I can't believe that was nearly 20 years ago already; the time sure does fly! I've enjoyed each and every celebration! Happy birthday to my very favorite non-teenager of all time!

multitude monday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started a while back, right here.

"One Thousand Gifts":

848. beautiful fall colors {my favorite!}
849. having the most wonderful, thoughtful {and cutest} friends ever!
850. one week closer . . .
851. a super fun {SURPRISE} mom-to-be shower with #849
852. a successful and painless baby "turning"
853. a wonderful night of sleep now that the baby is where it belongs and I am WAY more comfortable
854. dinner at my parents
855. wind blowing colorful leaves to the ground
856. kids jumping in a leaf pile
857. a lunch date with my husband
858. family
859. a fabulous OB
860. baby car seat all ready to go!
861. college football on a sunny Saturday afternoon
862. a father-son "date night" that they both enjoyed a bunch
863. great sleeping weather
864. furnace and AC both OFF for a while


Alrighty, that's it's for now. Tune in next Monday for the next installment. {and maybe, just maybe, some baby news!}

flashback friday

august 2008