Oma and Ali's Butterfly Adventure (Ali's camera)

Mom's Shop Link

Here's the Link:

Jillhoutz.etsy.com

Mom's Shop

Take a look at the shop I am creating on Etsy. It is starting with one item, but it will grow to include all of my work that is for sale, and any thing that Em might want to sell. Fairy Sasha is my icon, isn't she so cute!
If you see any product in my shop that you want to have, let me know and I will pull it for you. Watch as it grows.

MacKenzie's ticker

Check out MacKenzie's ticker on the birthday list.

We are so excited for a new little Smith!

Happy Birthday Angie!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGIE/TIA!!!

It was cool to hear all about your plans to celebrate. I hope that this is a great day for you and that this year to come is the best one yet.
Sasha wishes you happy birthday also. and if MacKenzie could she would too. did you know that we are having another girl? MacKenzie Jo Smith, due September 29th. you still have the corner market on boys.
Hugs and Kisses on your big day.
Love Shawn

Newborn Blog

Hello family! To celebrate my birthday my wonderful husband has given me exactly what I requested: a domain! Yay! You will now find my personal blog at:

www.angiewashington.com

So cool! I am so excited! There are some fun features. You can sign up to receive my posts in your email inbox. You can browse around on the different pages (the tabs under the banner picture link to those different pages). It’s altogether just a ton of fun.

Other fun stuff we are doing to celebrate my second Sweet Sixteen are… A friend, Denise, is taking just me out to lunch today. We will be dining as a family before church something quick and easy. Then on Saturday after the kids go to bed some missionary friends are coming over for Chinese food and card games. That will be a good time.

Hope you are all well.
Love,
Angie

Father's Day Poem

Dad you are the best.
You warm me like a nest.

I love you alot.
We are like a knot.

Because we're tied together.
And I feel much better.

Thank you for loving me.
You're making me feel free.

Artwork and accompanying poem by: Raimy Olivia Washington (age 10)



Artwork by Timothy Aaron Washington (age 8)

Happy Father's Day!

First I would like to wish all our father's a happy fathers day. Each of you enhance our family just by being a part of it. Especially the father head, Dad, this post is for you and all that you do.

Dad, I was thinking about you the other day only to more deeply recognize how wonderful you are. You truly are a man of many talents, who isn't afraid to jump in and get his hands dirty to get the job done, who knows what it takes to keep a household in working order and how to keep his family happy.

Some say that the heart of the home is the kitchen, where all gather to gab and feast, I say there is an alternate location for home's heart (at least our home) - the garage. It is the marrow of the house's regeneration, the go-to place for each family member's problems, it is full of surprises but one truth seems constant - "Dad probably has one."

Aside from the garage you are the glue that keeps our family together and the lighthouse for each member to be guided by.

I appreciate your role in my life.

Thank you, Dad. I love you!

Sea Turtles by: Raimy

The Sea Turtle
On Thursday I wrote a little thing about “Sea Turtles”. This is what I wrote:

“The Sea Turtle”
The Sea Turtle is a very good swimmer and they live in Seas. When they lay eggs they can lay about 50-100 eggs at a time. When the baby sea turtles are born they go straight to the sea. But some times they get eaten by birds. When the babies get to the sea they eat jellyfish and swim really well.

And I liked learning it. It was so much fun. And this is how I imagined the Sea Turtles.

Ali's Eye - from her Fisher Price camera.

grab shots

These are a few photos of recent activities. Some were shot during our trip to Omaha over the Mother's Day weekend.

Red Handed

The other day we went to get the most recent shots off of the camera and low and behold Tyler was caught red handed. Here is the slide show of evidence that my little electro-man was digging in my desk drawer. I call the slide show "Tyler Uncut". The images are not edited and not one was left out.

What does the future hold for our Tyler?

Sweet Spring

It is 67º and very muggy which makes it feel even warmer. Allison has set up house out on the porch. First she played bubbles, then asked for socks because her feet were cold, then asked for a blanket and pillow, then a snack and drink which you see on the ground, then her book. She has been out there for a few hours with short breaks to help me with laundry. I can hear her read. Sometimes she is just quiet and thinking, then comes a question from outside to in. I answer then she's quiet again. She also has a child-size rocker out there which she switches to and rocks and rocks. It's her own little haven, like a tree house might function. She is also watching people in the pool even though it is cool and cloudy. It just opened yesterday and you know how kids can be about that.

Ode to the Citation

This will be somewhat of a before and after posting. First I will start with before, that is before Friday when I got a new car, or before Tuesday when my citation crapped out, or before I met Terry.

First, I want to forward a HUGE thank you to Grandma and Grandpa for their faith in me and their generous graduation anticipation gift - their beloved citation. College became much easier as I had more freedom not having to rely on borrowing Mom and Dad's car (which I was grateful for too). I felt the freedom deep in my soul and was glad to be able to tote my toddler around with me. The compressor for the AC was broken and the radio only had AM, but I didn't care. Before I got this car I was very dependent on others which can be hard on them and slightly depressing. Grandma and Grandpa gave me the citation, but what they really gave me was independence. THANK YOU!

I started pounding on the miles to this pour citation. It came to me with roughly 60,000 miles on it. Today it has over 93,000 miles. For a car almost as old as I am (it's a 1981), it's last 1/3 of it miles were probably the hardest, crammed into a quick three years. It took me everywhere, even on road trips (but not lately).

I had had the car too long before I took it in for an oil change, but now I wonder if it was just right. It may have left the car thirsty too long, but the Jiffy Lube near school was quick to handle it's lube deficiencies, especially the knowledgeable sales leader Terry! A couple return visits and the rest is history. I won't go into more details but to say I owe the citation for bringing us together.

The last several months require constant care, luckily I had the best caregiver in town, Terry. Between he and his buddies, they kept the citation alive probably longer than it wanted to. Most recently a new alternator, battery and radiator. Plus a few cosmetic improvements including oil for the loud squeaky doors, staples for the droopy headliner, and tape for the suspended headlight.

Although that all might shed a poor light on the car, I really loved the car. Besides the obvious convenience of having a vehicle at hand, I thought it was a REALLY comfortable car to drive. Allison agreed, calling it "soft" inside. As to the outside she had a different opinion I think due to the encroaching rust covering mainly her door. To this she would often straight up tell me, "Mom, your car is ugly." To this I would reply, it may be ugly, but I'd rather have this than nothing. Luckily when it died this past week Terry stepped in and made sure my fears did not come true.

(Enter BMW)

This is a beautiful car. We were looking in a lower price range, much lower. But when we saw this, we both fell in love with it and could hardly talk sense to each other, didn't even try. Terry said he always wanted a BMW and I had never even fathomed it. But I did love the leather interior and the exterior style was beautiful. The black rims were a big selling point too. Terry likes that the car sits an inch lower than factory. It really hugs the road. It has power windows, locks, trunk, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, moon roof, cruise control, AC! and AM/FM radio, tape deck, six-disc changer option. It is absolutely dreamy inside and out. Allison looks like a princess in a limo behind me in the seat. When we test drove it she asked, "Mom, are we going to buy that pretty car." Sure enough we did. It is a crazy replacement for the citation in that it's not just a step up, it's a whole flight of stairs up. Interestingly enough, the previous owner's name and address was in the glove box, it came from Lincoln, NE.

Well, that's my new ride. THANK YOU, Terry!!!!! I of course have to fight him to drive it, but if he wants to drive it, I get to drive the truck so not a bad trade off.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

In Bolivia there are two trees that will always be seen growing together. They depend upon each other for survival. In fact, it is impossible for them to grow separate.

This is the image I have when I think of the marriage of my parents: two strong trees intertwined and growing strong depending upon one another. After 34 years they are still strong. After about a half a dozen transplants they are still flourishing. After so many creatures have found refuge in their branches they are none worse for the wear. They have weathered storms. Little birds have nested in their care, and then left them alone. Their roots of love go deep so as to be a steady constant and example to others who see them.

Thank you Mom and Dad for being a strong example of constancy and love to us your family. I pray that you have only blessings for the many more years to come. Happy Anniversary!!!

Because I said so

"Because I said so,” was actually something I never heard my mother say. She and my father had an agreement that if they could reply with a ‘yes’ then they would do so. They would explain their decisions as clearly and thoroughly as they could. As the oldest of five children we grew up knowing that our parents believed that we could achieve anything that we set our hearts to. I am a grateful product of such faith and encouragement.

This Mother’s Day I would like to honor my mom by listing some of her frequent sayings. She is often the voice in my head and the voice that my children hear as well.

“Be wise and be safe.” Was said each time we left the house, usually too rapidly, into the big world.

“That would be a great question for daddy tonight.” Whenever we had a question about the way the world worked she would take the opportunity to help us connect with Daddy. Before he prayed over us we would have our inquietudes calmed and usually our imaginations fueled by our daddy the master engineer.

“I am happy if you are having a fun time.” So many times I thought my mom had such a boring job taking care of the foster babies that came to stay with us. Over the years more than 100 children’s lives were touched by her loving hands. I would beg her to come ride the roller coaster, swim in the pool or play Nintendo. It wasn’t until I was grown that I found out she suffered from severe motion sickness. So it really was more fun for her to know we were having a good time and she was part of facilitating that.

Mom you were and continue to be a wonderful mom. I love you!

Allison Graduates Preschool!

Mother's Day Weekend

This Sunday marks two important events in our family. The first being the celebration of motherhood, an honor bestowed on each sister and the matron of our nucleus. We are also celebrating the wedding anniversary of "Oma" and "Opa". More to come about our dear parents. For now I wanted to post this poem so that this weekend we may meditate on the influence that our own mothers have had on us and the impact that being a mother has had on us as well.

“Reflections on Motherhood”

a poem by

Laura Kavan

As a day honoring Mothers fast approaches,

I, as a mother, am thinking and thinking.

This whole celebration is quite out of order.

So little of the credit belongs to me

Who just happens to be a mother.

As I sit and write, great humility fills my soul.

To think that so much honor and praise

Can go with the most wonderful thing in the world

The honor of being a mother.

A feat I could never win alone

Yet on this day, the honor is mine.

But the trophy is so great, I guess I’ll just accept

Then try in this small way

To make you all, who I love so dear

Understand just how much you mean to me.

For without you, a mother I would never be.

Mother and Gram and Gramp or whatever you’re so fondly called

Your part in my fame is supreme

For without your love and teaching and help along the way

A wife and mother I could never be.

Les, ‘Daddy’, ‘Dear’, ‘Honey’ or whatever else I may call you

My love for you must tell you all the things in my heart

Because feelings so deep, words cannot express

But your contribution to my great day

Is ever increasing as each year passes

Til now, you must share this honor with me

For apart from you, this wonderful person, a mother I could never be.

And to you dear children –

Joyce, Jerry, Jill and Kristy

I’m so proud to be your mother

Tis honor enough to share the happiness you produce

Without a special date to honor someone so humble as your mother.

Now as my thoughts begin to ebb.

I must praise and honor you, dear God

For this wonderful way of life

And ask you to help me be, a Mother

As understanding as Thee.

Happy Birthday DaRonn!

My wonderful husband is 33 years old today. To honor him here is a list of 33 of the multiplied many things that I think are just great about my man.

1. He loves God
2. He is passionate
3. He is not afraid of being who he is
4. He strives for excellence
5. He is a good bowler
6. He makes funny jokes
7. He plays with our kids
8. He is always trying to become better
9. He is man of integrity
10. He tells the truth
11. He is a man of action
12. He is a hard worker
13. He is a visionary
14. He is good at starting stuff
15. He hopes for the best
16. He prays
17. He studies the word of God
18. He seeks advice
19. He makes good decisions
20. He is a good judge of character
21. He abhors mediocrity
22. He is a picky eater
23. He has his sights set on the world
24. He enables others to reach their full potential
25. He is a considerate and loving husband
26. He reads lots of books
27. He is good at technical stuff
28. He travels
29. He is a friend
30. He helps people
31. He is kind to children
32. He loves his sons and daughters
33. He loves me

pug mill

Shown here is a mound of clay just reclaimed using our pug mill. Pieces of spent clay, trimmings, and damaged pots are reclaimed into a large plastic garage can. Water is added to the can to allow the dry clay to reconstitute and soften. The pug mill shown in the background is a large mixer. The wet clay and dry clay and even powdered clay is added into a hopper in proper proportions. There an auger with paddles, mixes and blends the clay into a more consistent substance. Along with mixing the clay, it is transported into a chamber where it is eventually pushed out a hole at the end of the barrel. This extrudes and compresses the clay into the square logs as shown in the picture. The clay comes out the end in a continuous stream like a Play Dough Fun Factory or toothpaste out from a tube. Someone then cuts it into uniform lengths using a wire like a cheese cutter. That created the stack of logs of clay shown in the photo. These then will be bagged four logs to a bag. Each bag will weigh about 50 pounds. The mound of clay shown is about 700 lbs. We do this about once a month. This clay is not ready to use just yet. It must sit for a few weeks to "season". The bacteria and other organics in the clay work to create the plasticity needed to be formed or thrown. This clay is softer and easier to work with than prepackaged clay.

Tomorrow Ronn, Jill, Kent and few interested others from the studio will travel about 70 miles north of Wichita to the little town of Marion, Kansas. There, we will visit Flint Hills Clay Works. This is a place that works with tons of clay. They send orders all over the country of clay dug out of the ground of the Flint Hills of Kansas. A future blog will talk about what we saw there.