Deja the Band Geek living vicariously through her children...
There, I've said it, I'm a Band Geek.  I played the oboe from 5th grade straight through college.  I loved playing my oboe.  Practicing...not so much.  But in the early years, I had to practice to learn what I was doing.  (And often heard the following comment from my father, "Keep it up and you'll send the Canadian Geese the wrong way" LOL)

In our homeschool, 2 years of Band is a requirement for graduation.  I love making the rules!  I think reading music is a life skill and the ability to make music with an instrument is priceless.  I'm glad my non-musical husband supports and encourages music in our home.

We have a little homeschool band, taught by a homeschool mom, Miss Lois. This year, Miss Lois has THREE Armstrongs in her band and lessons started on Wednesday.  And Miss Lois, bless her heart, offered to come to my house to teach the kids.  What an incredible blessing!  I don't have to pack up my crew of 6 and find something to do with the little boys during lessons.  Well, I DO have to keep them occupied, but it's much easier at home, and so much easier with a newborn.  Thank you Lois!

Emma has been playing French Horn for 2 years and this week, took on Double Horn (I didn't know such an animal existed).  Essentially, Emma can still read her music, but with this new instrument - which to the untrained eye looks just like a regular old single horn - she has to learn all new fingerings.  So in some ways, she's a beginner again.  I think her brain hurt after her lesson ;-)

Erik seemed somewhat reluctant about the whole music thing.  He really wants to play guitar and is going along with this 2 years requirement so he can move on to guitar.  But I think he's going to like saxaphone.  We were able to borrow an alto sax from my boss and it's silver, so it's really cool!  Erik was surprised at how heavy the sax was.

Ellie is the sweetest flute player on the face of the planet!  A friend from church, who happens to also be one of the girls' ballet teachers, loaned Ellie her flute.  We're on a trial basis with Ellie to make sure her mouth muscles can play the flute...it could be just the thing to strengthen those loosey goosey muscles of hers!

Love this picture of Emma and Egan!  I don't know who took it!

(Emma just informed me that Doug took the photo)

 Ellie continues to grow into a beautiful young lady. 

She just turned 11 on Sunday! 

Where does the time go?!

Yesterday morning, I went outside to check on the boys.  Erik had been working on basketball drills for quite a while and I had no idea what the little boys were up to. 

Then I noticed how they were dressed...pure coincidence!  That's where the similarities end...in the picture, Everson is holding his 468th lizard, and Elisha is holding stick #5842. 

And Erik...he had just put down his basketball.

When you pray for rain for months and months...and God sends the rain by the bucketful...
over 5" at our house Saturday morning...
Two little boys enjoyed the rain and the mud...

 Elisha is standing in a hole that the boys dug last year sometime.  Often, they fill it with water and play in the mud.  This time, God provided the water.  They were told by Emma that it was cold rain, so they opted for winter coats over their shorts and bare feet.  All Ellie could say was, "Oh great, now I'm going to have to wash those coats!"

 Doug caught Everson army crawling in the mud....These two boys are SO DIFFERENT from their big brother, Erik!

3 Days Old
(Note that my talents lie in areas other than photography...)

Egan has finer features than most of the other kids...we're thinking he's going to be a bit more like Everson.  But ask me again in a week and I might pick a different sibling.  Maybe we'll have a poll on the blog and you can tell us who he looks like...

                                                              Egan Wilson Armstrong
                                                                         20 inches
                                                                         8lb 13oz

This is what happens when a 14 and 12 year old are tired and bored late at night...post-it flags and tissue hats procured during a kitchen drawer cleaning expedition...be afraid for me.  I will say this, I cherish the relationship these two have with eachother.  They are very close.  I pray it stays that way.

Showing signs that he will no longer be our baby...

 This past week, Emma was conducting a science experiment and wearing safety goggles.  Ever her shadow, Elisha decided he needed to do science experiments too.  He donned his "Doctor Neal" glasses and got right to work on the kitchen floor setting up his own experiments like Emma.  He even took a map and called it his instructions.  Don't ask where Doctor Neal comes from, none of us has the slightest clue.

Doug was cutting the boys hair last week before he went out of town for work.  As soon as Doug zipped up the center of Elisha's head, Elisha started screaming, "I want a mohawk!"  Playfully, Doug went along and left this off-center mohawk.  Elisha was very very proud of his new 'do and loves how it gets all 'fiky' in the pool when it's wet.  I think I surprised Doug by not completely flipping out...we talked about it and he said, "Elisha really wanted it."  We indulged our baby as he'll not be the baby much longer.  Doug works out of town several days at a time in a new oilfield job...I've left the mohawk until he comes home this week.  In addition to a loving on a new baby being born (we have a scheduled induction for Thursday), Doug will also be cutting some hair!

Is modern youth ministry multiplying or dividing the church?

This video trailer helps sum up the journey we've been on with starting our church 2 years ago. You may find it controversial. I'm okay with that.

Divided Trailer from NCFIC on Vimeo.

Getting ready for baby...
This past week I really shifted into baby prep mode.  Somehow realizing that 40 weeks was getting close woke me out of my stupor and made me get into gear to be ready and not caught off-guard when little E makes his entrance.

This week I:
~Cleaned my room
~Emptied the crib...still standing in my room from Elisha's days...filled to the rim with outgrown clothing from 5 kids.  We sorted and put away clothing and donated a few bags.
~Unpacked onesies, baby hats, receiving blankets and burp cloths and set them up for use
~Double and tripled dinners each night to have things ready in the freezer.  We have pizza goulash, sloppy joes, mashed potatoes, spaghetti, beef and turkey curry, rice ready to go.
~Baked breakfast cookies and homemade nutrigrain-type bars for the freezer.
~Ordered some necessary-but-hard-to-find-locally-nursing-mom items.
~Made a list of items to grill and bake this week to add to the freezer stash...pancakes, chocolate chip banana bread, cinnamon rolls, cinnamon swirl bread, english muffins, pita pockets, mini hamburgers and marinated ck breasts.
~Bought flip flops that are 2 sizes larger than my usual size to accomodate my severely swollen feet.
~Convinced a friend that she could have a baby shower for me whenever she wanted and that I'd do my best not to have my baby before her party ;-)  She moved the party up a few days and it'll be next week...I'll be at 39+ weeks.

All this while carting a ballerina back and forth to summer classes, a basketball player and his friends to practice (I have to be out with the ballerina anyway, so I take the boys and someone brings Erik home), homeschooling full throttle (so we can take off when the baby comes), and making sure I get a nap each and every day.

Hi!!!!
  Emma and Ellie here.  We hijacked Mommy's Blog(We got permission, and the usual eye roll).
  Today we were playing elves.  We usually don't play dress-up, but being that Emma is currently OBSESSED with the Lord of The Rings we decided to break out the dress-up clothes.
  Emma was a 15 year old elf named Larxlyn of Elvendore, who was in love with the imaginary prince Memulas.  Ellie was 13 year old Islelyn of Mirkwood, a happy-go-lucky daughter of the Lord Isholder. Elisha played the part of Islelyn's pet wolf, Kazack. After going to an elf festival, being attacked by Dwarves, running through the woods (that looked just like the driveway) and going to a old elf war fort for refuge we went to the palace, A.K.A. the house, for the royal ball. The royal cook Mommy fed us leftover pizza and lime water. VERY tasty =).
    We then went outside for a photo shoot, we do that often. Look and enjoy the fruits of our labor=).

                                                           Kazack, Wolf of Mirkwood

                                                                Islelyn of Mirkwood

                                                               Larxlyn of Elvendore

                                                                    Happy 4th!!!!!!!

      P.S. Erik and Everson would have played but Everson was shocked by the startling lack of action (oh brother) and Erik wanted nothing to do with our "crazy" games (as usual).
             We leave now because Ellie has to clean her dressup clothes and Emma wants a nap.=)

Everson is keeping us on our toes...

Sunday morning came especially early for me.  I had worked until 2 am and wanted to sleep in until at least 9 to be ready to leave for church by 10.  Doug woke at 7:30 saying, "I wouldn't be waking you if it wasn't important.  Everson is showing all the symptoms of appendicitis."

Well now, didn't that wake me right up!  So did the cup of hot coffee.

Everson was lying on the couch, pale, with a fever, complaining about how much his tummy hurt.  I asked all the regular diagnostic questions, thinking in the back of my mind..."I really don't want to mess with the Emergency Room today"

So I call the pediatrician.  Our regular doctor is not on call, so a partner calls back a little after 8.  We go through the regular diagnostic questions, even having Everson get up and try to walk around.  "It hurts every time I take a step with my right foot, " he says with a moan.

The doctor says, "Well it could be a stomach bug, or constipation, or appendicitis.  I wouldn't wait for the Urgent Care to open at noon, I'd take him to the ER now."  Thank you doctor, that's just what I wanted to hear...

So at Doug's urging, I hop in the shower, grab a travel mug of coffee and a bagel, and leave some final before church directions and head off to the hospital with Everson.  Only Doug and I know that we're going to the hospital...everyone under the age of 15 thinks we're going to the doctor's office.

Everson moans at every bump in the road.  As I turn a block earlier than the doctors office, Everson wonders why we're taking a different way.  I explain that we're actually going to the hospital.

Everson moans with every step to the ER...I'm 7.5 months pregant and NOT picking up my 7 year old and carrying him across the parking lot.  Mean mom.

We get into the ER and he is evaluated rather soon.  Xray, blood work and 2 or 3 painful exams all before noon.  A CT scan is ordered to confirm diagnosis.  By 1:30, the surgeon comes down for a consult, cancels the CT scan, and by 3pm, Everson is wheeled into an operating room for the removal of his inflamed appendix.

About 40 minutes later, the surgeon appears to tell Doug and I that all went well and that Everson would be spending the night in the children's hospital.  We see our very very drugged and groggy boy and laugh as we follow his bed to the children's ward for admission.

Our pastor and his 7 year old son come by to visit Everson, who barely could talk, due to a sore throat and post op drugs.

I come home and pick up the 4 healthy kiddos and homemade cards and return to the hospital for a quick visit.  All kids are appropriately grossed out by Everson's 2 inch scar on his abdomen and the iv in his hand.

I leave the hospital with the kiddos and put the younger ones in bed and regroup from my Saturday night and all day Sunday of not being home.  Doug is much better at the hospital overnight than I am, anyway ;-)

By the morning, the report is that overnight there was a low grade fever and not much fluid intake.  And no eating.  The surgeon will not release Everson from the hospital until he is eating and drinking (and preferably passing some solid waste).  As of dinnertime today, Everson has found an appetite (48 hours after his last meal) and his thirst.    The solid waste thing...not a chance of incurring any additional pain for this 7 year old!  So we wait.  Another night in the hospital and a pleading mommy tomorrow morning, who thinks all would be much better to have the kid at home ;-)

We'll keep you posted.  I can't guarantee a phone call to give you the update...it's been crazy juggling kids and parents and Doug's work schedule (he took today off, but is going back to work tomorrow).  Just assume that we'll call if things turn south and that no call is a good thing ;-)

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! 

We love you Daddy.  We're so thankful for you and all the things you do for us..

.and all the silly things you do with us.  We love you for the hard things you do,

to make a home for us and to take care of our needs.       

The 5 (soon to be 6 E's)

Thank you Daddy, for living this for us: 

"And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children." (Isaiah 54:13)

This prophetic verse has its primary fulfillment still in the future. Nevertheless, it states a basic principle which is always valid, and which is especially relevant on Father's Day. The greatest honor that children can bestow on a father is a solid Christian character of their own, but that must first be his own gift to them. Before sons and daughters can experience real peace of soul, they must first be taught of the Lord themselves, and the heavenly Father has delegated this responsibility first of all to human fathers.

The classic example is Abraham, "the father of all them that believe" (Romans 4:11). God's testimony concerning Abraham was this: "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment" (Genesis 18:19). This is the first reference in Scripture to the training of children and it is significant that it stresses paternal instruction in the things of God. Furthermore, the instruction should be diligent and continual: "When thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" (Deuteronomy 6:7).

The classic New Testament teaching on child training has the same message: "Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).

Not wrath, but peace, as our text suggests. Great shall be the peace of our children when they know the Lord and keep His ways. Great, also, is the joy of a godly father when he can see the blessing of the Lord on his children, and then on his grandchildren. "Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers" (Proverbs 17:6).

"Days of Praise", Institute for Creation Research

Peter and the Wolf 2011

Emma was Grandfather last year, and this year, she is playing the part of Peter.  She's very humbled to play this part...and very nervous.  Ellie is a Hunter.  She's double cast, so she's only in one of the two shows.  I snuck up there this afternoon during the dress rehearsal and tried to get video on my digital camera...the quality is not the best, but at least you get to see a bit of the girls in action.  In the Hunter scene, Ellie is I think the 4th hunter on the stage...she's not in a white leotard, b/c of the double cast situation.  She's wearing a white hat - I followed her with the camera.  .  Enjoy.

After dropping Emma off at a friend's house for a ballet/basketball switcharoo carpool, we took the boys to basketball practice and then went to Unidad Park with the younger 3.  Everyone but Elisha has been able to do something fun in the past week and he was begging for the playground.  Since it was 9am and cool and shady, we went for 40 minutes.  Ellie was, of course, a great playmate for Elisha.  Everson roamed around looking for something fun to do when he discovered the monkey bars...and discovered that he could go all across them...with ease!  He then ran around the playground looking for more monkey bars to conquer.  I told him we'd try to find some more at different playgrounds ;-)

 Climbing on top of the monkey bars was fun, too...getting down was tricker than he thought, though.

Elisha for some reason LOVES these yellow swings...and his swing pusher.

After the playground, we swung by Target for $2.69/gallon milk, and some new markers and posters from the dollar section.  2 gallons of milk and 3 $1 goodies ended up costing me about $4 cash.  We came home to fresh bread that was just finishing up in the oven...why don't I use the time bake feature more often?!

We came home and the younger 3 set to furiously coloring their new Cars and Toy Story posters, while I cleaned the pool filter and pulled weeds and dying plants from the garden...the chickens now love me!

I didn't sleep well last night, so I need a nap before work.  This afternoon will consist of  lunch, ballet run, pool for the boys, ballet run, laundry folding, dusting, vacuuming, dishes, dinner of pasta w/meat sauce and steamed veggies.  The littles will watch some fun movie before bed, and the older 2 are DYING to watch "The City of Ember" from Netflix now that Erik has finally finished the book!

So glad tomorrow is produce!  Erik and I get to team up to take out the back seat of the van and unload the produce while Emma is at ballet...should be an interesting morning.  Taking dinner to 2 families from church that had babies on Tuesday...they won't mind to both be getting the same thing ;-)  Meatloaf and roasted potatoes and zucchini.

I've given birth...
to a conference...
Homeschool Conference in San Angelo

Update:  I didn't really look at the pictures closely, until a neighbor brought the actual paper.  If you look at the pic of the children, Elisha is in the top left corner with the blue shirt/green stripes.  He is VERY proud of having his picture in the paper!

Deja's Children Say,"You Rock"

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Prov 31:26,28

Early in marriage I(Doug) had an interesting discussion with my wife. She had asked me about the direction our family was heading. At first I had winced anticipating the discussion to follow. But actually it was a good question then and it's a question we all need to keep asking ourselves and our Lord.

We had just had our first child, I was working, and Deja was immersing herself in motherhood. We were living in a new city, became members at a church, and we had some good friends. But Deja wanted to know what our purpose(s) were and what was next. This certainly didn't start as a fun conversation and I'll admit I was a little defensive. My answer though, thank the Lord, came straight from heaven. In fact it is still a guiding principal in our marriage today.

I answered,"We are just a family that lives in Albany, we have a church home, friends, I go to work, we have a daughter, and you are providing the atmosphere for our family to thrive." It seemed that all of her concerns vanished immediately and she was encouraged greatly. I had simply told the truth that Deja makes our home.

When our homes are filled with love and our words are filled with kindness we do thrive. The tongue does have the power of life and death. A godly woman speaks with wisdom and truth and kindness. Her hearers are receptive. Her children and her husband will praise her. In our house they say,"You rock!"

Happy Mothers Day Deja,
All your children

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Prov 25:11

WILDFIRES... 
We have had wildfires off and on for the past week.  The first was caused by a lightning strike in the overnight hours.  The fire was probably 15 miles from us and we could see the trail of smoke, but it didn't affect us.

THEN this past Thursday night another fire flared up.  Much closer.  By friday morning, there were ashes on our lawn and cars.  The air was suffocating.  Erik had to wear a mask and use his inhaler off and on.  Friends had to evacuate their homesteads and horses.  Then the winds shifted and took the smoke and fire northeast of us.  At it's closest, the fire line was probably 5-8 miles from our house.  One of those times we're glad to live in the city rather than the country.

This fire is still raging.  At last count, it had destroyed over 140,000 acres.  Folks we know are still evacuating.  Volunteer Fire Departments are working round the clock with various other agencies helping.  Texas Forest Service say it's only 10% contained...and no signs of advancing against this beast.  A 20% chance of rain is in our forecast later this week...but around these parts, that's as good as no rain.

You can go to our local newspaper for updated information and even cool maps to show where the fire has been and is headed...San Angelo Standard Times

"Mommy is a drumpyhead"

Yesterday morning, I served pancakes and juice for breakfast.  Elisha was not pleased with the red cup that I had selected to be his for the day.

We went back and forth for a few minutes on the cup...note that he had already had a drink from said cup 30 minutes earlier with no complaints.

I told Elisha that the red cup was his, or he was going back to a sippy cup.

He chose to throw the red cup in the sink.

I chose to swat the backside and send him to his bed to think about what happened.

After a bit, I went to visit Elisha, pouting in his bed.  "Sorry Mommy.  Tan I have a different tup?"

"No Elisha, you need to use the red cup today."

Tantrum continued, so I leave the room. 

Several minutes later, Elisha shows up in the dining room, issues an apology then walks to the kitchen, opens the pencil drawer, shuts it, then comes to stand next to me at the dining room table.

With his chin just above the table, and furious scribbling going on (on a small piece of sandpaper!), I hear these words, "Mommy is a drumpyhead.  Mommy is a drumpyhead."

I think he was trying to write it 100 times.

Robust laughter from all older children...and the dad who had just stopped in for another cup of coffee.

Swatted backside and 15 minutes in room later...

"Mommy, tan I have a sippytup?"

It's been the cause of much laughter these past 24 hours.

91 degrees

IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING....OR WORRYING

My pregnancy is progressing just fine. I've had those 'advanced maternal age' bloodtests. Ultrasounds. All come back "unremarkable". That means: so far, so good. No sign of any of the things that can trouble a later in life pregnancy. Blood pressure is fine. All systems go. I'm feeling fine. Actually, better than any previous pregnancy. So far. I'm predicting a rerun of "The Great Swollen Legs and Feet of 2007"...the year Elisha was born. Some may think this pregnancy is one of those "Oooops" that happen and people talk about. Somehow, being over 40 and having 5 children already seems to indicate to our culture that we should "be done". Never do we consider a pregnancy an ooops, something we could have or should have prevented. We are beyond thrilled that God chose to bless us with another baby. Frankly (and without details), my body was starting to show some signs of this season of life coming to an end...but we managed to sneak in another blessing before that door closes.