My biggest little helper

This girlie is my third arm most days. She has been my waitress in bed and my house informant this week. She is all determination and I love her to pieces for it.

Can you tell I miss my kiddos???

Noah doing "Funny Face"

Mr. Mustache

Eli insisted I photograph him with his milkshake mustache. Perhaps this is only cute to me...I think this little man's smile is just one more thing to be thankful for, don't you?

Thanksgiving

As I mentioned in a previous post, an evil cold virus has taken hold upon my lungs and sinuses adn has rendered me useless for these past several days. Graeme had taken vacation the whole week, and I had all my plans laid out. I even had an afternoon alone at Panera to blog in the plan. None of my plans happened. My 6 year old first grader didn't learn about the first Thanksgiving (I'm a bad homeschool Mom), we did abbreviated school at best. The house was a mess and is now in greater shambles. I have cooked for no one. I changed our Thanksgiving plans due to this illness, and here I sit, at 5 o'clock on Turkey day, holed up in my bedroom with a humidifier and a hack that can be heard all the way to Cinncinatti. Sometimes the Lord changes our plans, doesn't he?

I had noble goals for the week, doable, not overboard. We had R&R planned for both of us, a special craft to do with the big kids, a little pre-Thanksgiving Christmas shopping. I've realized this week how unimportant and insignificant "my plans" are. None of those things were done. We are all still alive. The children are happy and thriving. Graeme may be a little tired of being Mr. Mom, but he isn't complaining - he's so wonderful. I have a long list before me of un-done things, but in the short term, it really doesn't matter much to anyone but me.

I've spent a lot of time in bed the last few days. Because I have such a dry cough, talking makes it worse, so I've had to be near mute this week....it's been very hard to not speak! I have made up twenty-eleven or so blog posts up in my head because I just have pent up words. :)

From the sickbed, I caught up on the news, which I really don't follow too closely, but hey, I was bored. I read about bombings and shootings in India. I don't normally look at pictures from such events because (my own personal soapbox) I don't like all the gorey pictures. I think people need dignity and we don't need to see such things, but that' my own soapbox. Anyway, in my boredom, I strayed from my soapbox and looked at some pictures of the events. What struck me the most was the dirty conditions in India. The poor hurt people were being transported to a hospital on what looked to me like a filthy Home Depot flatbed cart. You know, the cart we put pieces of wood on? Wounded people with open wounds on a cart so dirty we wouldn't even think of using it to haul our 2X4's. There was also a picture of a crowded hospital room. It looked so primitive and to me, not the least sanitary.

We are such spoiled people aren't we? We complain about not being able to afford our fancy coffees and huge SUV's. There are headlines plastered across the news (believe me, I've read them from my sick-room :)), about how American's don't have enough money for Christmas this year, blah, blah, blah. I complain about not getting anything accomplished this week and missing the normal Thanksgiving festivities. Shame on me, I am so blessed. I can walk into a store and buy the medicine I need (not to mention, we can get free meds with coupons and rebates!). I have clean water to drink when I'm sick and to humidify my room. I have cough drops and Campbell's Chicken noodle soup, although, I think I'm going to explode from excessive sodium intake if I have any more Campbells.

Think about it, even in our discouraging moments, isn't our God good to us, and aren't we extremely blessed?

Ps 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Turkey Funny

The Bug Has Got Me

Graeme took off this whole week. We had the entire week spelled out of things we were going to do, who was going to do what, etc. I was looking forward to getting a few things done. I haven't looked at the lists. It seems I have caught a nasty cold-bug which has me hacking until my muscles hurt. All my big plans out the window.

I am thankful that Graeme is home though. It would be hard to do much of anything feeling this sick. And, I suppose you could say I'm getting some R&R. Isn't that a funny thing, Moms have to get sick to get R&R!

Another thing I am most thankful for is my hubs. He is so good with the kids and he doesn't complain that his plans were messed up and that he has to clean up pee-pee. He took the kids to his fav. store, Radio Shack and came home and made them a cardboard house for their animals complete with a light with a switch. They were so excited, and I thought him rather brave to take all three kids with him alone to a small electronics boutique. It was reported that Noah did dent some packaging on one of the items in the store.

He also things I deserve diamonds and a raise after being Mr. Mom for a day. :) It's nice to be appreciated, but I would like to get back on the job soon.

Potty Fest 2008

I have been on a little bloggy break because my littlest man is potty training. We started last Tuesday, and he seemed to start to get the hang of it on Sunday. I was so thankful for some progress. It was all week with nothing...but accidents.

Potty training is not my maternal forte. I dread it like childbirth. But, like childbirth, its a necessary progression, and its good to get started. Childbirth is only the beginning. There are weeks of sleep deprivation, physical weakness and pain, etc. But birth is good, because it is the beginning. So is potty training. It's only the beginning of rushing to the potty and numerous accidents and frustration, but its good to take the first step and get started.

Bravo, little potty boy, potty on!


Isn't he a cute little thumb-sucking, potty training, care bear holdin' boy? His "geen ganket" (green blanket) is his favorite, and it has accompanied him all week to the potty...it even was partially submerged in the potty....oh the joys....

Super Savings Saturday: Giant PA

I had a very fun time this week at Giant!

GiantPa has a great promotion for their gas stations. Basically, you get 1 gas points for every dollar you spend (before coupons..teehee!). 100 points = $.10/per gallon off gas. Almost every week there are also deals where if you buy 8 of a group of items you get an additional $.20 off per gallon. There is no limit to the number of $.20 deals you do each week. This week I did 2 of the $.20/off deals three times each!

Here's what I spent on all the goodies pictured above:

Total before coupons: $157.17

Total savings: $83.96

Total OOP (out of pocket cost to me): $74.33

BUT, it gets better! This trip I earned $1.30/per gallon off of my gas. Now my big huge minivan tank takes 25 gallons of gas. That's an additional savings of $32.50! So, you could say I spent $41.83 on all those groceries. I love a good shopping week!!!

CVS was fun this week too, but I don't have pictures to post. Let's just say I got a LOT of cheap batteries, just in time for all the battery sucking Christmas toys! :)

Check out this video...

http://www.ignitermedia.com/products/iv/singles/18/meCHURCH

Too funny!

Some great places to visit and more...

Here are a few places that I have been visiting and enjoying as of late:

No, No, Nanette - Nan is a friend IRL, is hilariously funny and loves the Lord. You will be inspired and encouraged by reading her Mommy thoughts. I'm so glad she started a blog!

Queen of My Trailer - This blog proves that great home decor can be done on a tight budget. Scroll through posts of how this home improvement homeschooling mama turned her terrible trailer into a beautiful oasis...on a shoestring. I love the title of the blog!

The Pioneer Woman has a fabulous artery stopping recipe for Twice Baked Potatoes. They are soooo good!!! I loved them so much I ate one cold from the refrigerator!

This DVD is an awesome homeschooling tool for the up and coming reader. There are actually three Meet the Sightwords DVD's and they are great! The DVD's are wholesome and the kids love them. Even Noah says, "the, the, the". They don't have a great story line, but they are cute and the kids learn the words. Hey, anything to make the learning process easier and more fun! Thanks Suzanne for telling me about these dvds!

Craigs List - I have found so many great deals on here. Its more effort than shopping at the store but its so worth it for the savings!

Blindspots

The thought occured to me the other day...blind spots are just as they sound. Blind. Spots. Things we cannot see. It is true that others can see our blind spots and we cannot. It is also true that we can see others' blindspots and they can't see them.

I find it easy to notice faults in others, but I was thinking that just because I see or perceive a fault in someone doesn't mean that they are even aware of it. Likewise, and here's where it gets scary, others see my faults and I have no idea about what those faults are.

It would be wise for me to use more grace and less criticism.

For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38b

Mr. Mischief in Action

I saved up a collection of glimpses into the life of our own resident mischief maker. Little did I know when Sophia was a baby and playing with Baby Magic, what I was in for in just four short years. Noah never ceases to surprise with his feats and antics. Here are the highlights...

He got the first bath and got dried and into his jammies. Then he saw Eli in the tub and wanted to get back in and Mr. Impulsive just climbed right in...

And on yet another occasion. Notice how he is holding onto his pants after realizing that something was awry with his situation. Too funny. He sees fun, wants to be a part of it and totally forgets the obstacles in between himself and said fun.

Sophia got a drink and Noah wanted one to, thankyouverymuch, so he helped himself. Apparently, the pitcher was left within his grasp...

Thankfully, it was empty.

Another Noah pose...who said the high chair is only for sitting? Is it a baby or a monkey...I can't tell...

And my favorite moment of late. the bana incident. Because Noah is part monkey, he loves his banas. He will eat three in a row without hesitation. Apparently, one morning he was hungry, and I didn't come quickly enough to give him his banas, so he helped himself. How, you ask? The bananas are situated on the back of the kitchen counter. Noah is tall and his arms are long so that he can reach about 1/3 of the way back on the counters....but not to the back of the counters. He did what any logical climbing child would do, and "made it happen". He did this by pushing the metal (and very dirty I might add) trash can over to the counter top, a distance of 10 feet or so, climbed on top of the trash and up onto the countertop. When I came into the room I saw him on the counter and bana peels on the floor, as well as napkins, because I suppose neatness is important to him.

There's always excitement at our house.

Camera Hijacking

Am I the only one with a hijacked camera? Practically every time I download pictures (which isn't very often), there are a slew of "hijacker" pictures. You know, one of the kids gets the camera and goes to town. What did we do before digital!?
There are usually lots of floor shots, and chopped off head shots, but occasionally, they surprise me with their creative shots. Here are a few. I'm not sure who the photographer was, so I cannot give proper credit to that person because, as it were, the camera was hijacked.


One of the beloved 4th grade Science textbooks. We don't use it for school, they just love it...can we say weird homeschoolers?


Sophia. I think I can safely attribute this one to Elijah...or Noah, he has gotten hold of the camera once or twice too. However, I don't think he could take one this good.

The sun shining in on the entertainment center...

I like to call this one, "spring blossoms"...

Okay, enough silliness, time to get back to real life....

Daddy-O Turns Three-ty three

Graeme had a birthday on October 27th! We celebrated with dinner, cake, and a few practical presents. The big kids each made their own cards...without me helping them...that was nice. I love that they are getting old enough to do things without me!

Here's our Darling Daddy sitting at the table with his little olive plants about him.

This year I delegated the cake decorating responsibilites to my determined young lady (the string of fall birthdays in our family wears my cake decorating finger joints out). She begs to do the decorating and I am obliging her early with hopes of her learning early so that she can do most or all of the birthday cakes at our house!

This is her first solo masterpiece, although she did her birthday cake this year as well. She calls her creation, "Daddy in the rain with an umbrella and a heart, because he loves me".

Her Daddy does love her. So much so, that he has on numerous occasions stayed up all night with her as she repeatedly lost the contents of her stomach...what a man! He plays dollhouse with her and picks flowers with her. He tells her "care bear stories" before bed and does devotions with her and Elijah.

What a Daddy we have. He memorizes oodles of scripture passages, and recites them methodically and perfectly. I don't know how he does that. Actually, I do, it's practice, practice, and practice. Meditation and more meditation. It amazes me and puts me to shame.

He plays "doggie catcher" and horsey with the kids and tucks the big kids into bed each night. He does dishes and takes out trash. He stays up late to listen to me talk about my day, even when he is uber tired and has to get up early..and I am not saying anything important but rambling about my day. He prays with me, prays for me, and loves our home and being with the kiddos.

I am sooo thankful for my man and his attitude of sacrifice for the good of our family. I love that he loves children and that he is the reason we are having another one. He gave me "the speech" right after we brought Sophia home from the hospital. The speech was something like, "we're going to have 4 or 5 kids". I told him he would have to use a surrogate womb. He won. :) Here we are with his #4 on the way.

I love that I know that Graeme desires to put Christ first in all things and that even though he is human, I can trust God and know that my hubsville is doing the same. I love my man and the longer we are married the more I know that we are MFEO (made for each other).

I love you darling!

Ps. The boys were especially fond of the chocolate icing...

Applesauce

Last week I promised the kids we would go to the Farmers Market and orchard on Friday. I woke up tired on Friday, but they remembered, so after school we were off to the Market and Orchard. The kids rode the ancient kiddie rides at the Farmer's Market and we got 8 baskets of apples at the orchard. I had no intent to do applesauce that day,but Sophia was convinced and excited to do applesauce.

The last time we did applesauce she single-handedly milled almost all of it. I was so amazed at the time because she was only four that I must have praised her up and down and now she loves doing applesauce and has been begging for months to do it together. Its amazing what praise can do. I'm wondering where else I need to use more of it in my mothering!?

I didn't want to let all that excitement go to waste so Friday afternoon we started our applesauce and we got it all done on Friday and canned and frozen on Saturday. I was so glad we did it right away.

Here's the beginnings of the applesauce...

Rub-a-dub, getting a bath in the sink...

My enthusiastic worker with an enthusiastic eater in the backround...

Lots of containers were needed to hold all the applesauce we made this year...

Eli getting in on the action...

Daddy the innovator finding a better way to get the job done, and getting to use his toy in the process.

Elijah definitely wanted to be a part of the tool action...

The finished product.

We did 7 1/2 half bushel baskets of apples and ended up with 64 quarts of sauce. It was a fun family evening. Who knew making applesauce could be so much fun?

Thomas we LOVE you!

We have enjoyed Thomas the Tank engine videos for quite some time now. However, neither Sophia nor Elijah were true Thomas fans. They watched the dvds, but the hysteria for Thomas was not there. So much so, that I sold most of our train track and stuff at our yard sale this spring. I sold too soon. My little boy has become a Thomas fanatic. His first word for train was, "Tomish". He lurves Tomish with a passion. I am soooo thankful that my mile a minute never stops moving boy likes to sit still and watch Thomas for 20 minutes or more at a time.

A few weeks ago, Noah was tired and cranky, so I put a "Tomish" on for him because I could tell he was tired. I think he woke up early that day. I went out of the room and came back to find the fan of the number one engine out cold on the family room floor. It was too cute.

Why is my sleeping boy so irresistable? Now that he's down to the one nap, he is really tired at nap time and every day, if I hold him long enough he will fall asleep on me. It is so sweet. Its one of my most relaxing moments of the day, rocking my almost two year old and watching him such his thumb and hold onto his "geen gankey" (green blanket) for dear life. I liken it to nursing a newborn. Its so peaceful and sweet.

I'm so thankful to have these special moments to cherish with my "baby". He grew up so much faster than the others and I love having one last "baby moment" with him.

What I did today

As I mentioned afore, food is paramount for me these days. So, its no wonder that I have been doing a lot of cooking and baking for the sole reason that I am always hungry. I am dreading the scale at the Dr.'s office this month. Guess when my appointment is? Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving! And to top it off, I think I have the precise, detail oriented Doctor in our practice who ALWAYS mentions how much weight I am gaining. He's very nice and I really like him, he's just precise, that's all. I just don't want to know! :)

Today I...

Baked Lemon Blueberry Scones from a mix my SIL gave me.

Mixed up a batch of Raisin Bran muffins for the fridge. The recipe is nice because you mix up the batter and can keep it in the fridge for a week or two without it spoiling and just bake as needed.

Baked Zucchinni bread for my hubs. Another big reason I did the bake-a-thon today was because myhubsville was discreetly and not discreetly reminding me that I didn't have any baked goods in the freezer for him. *Note to the single and newly married* Don't get your husband hooked on your baked goods or you'll never be able to get out of baking. Actually, I really don't mind baking for him, especially when he washes the dishes.

Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies for me! I need chocolate these days.

Cooked up a double recipe (one for dinner, two small pans for the freezer) of the Pioneer Womans Chicken Spaghetti. I had cooked chicken in the freezer so that made this and easy meal. I'm not a huge fan of the canned soup casserole, but this is a good recipe so long as you don't skip or skimp on the cayenne pepper...or cheese.

I had extra chicken so I made some of my Grammy's Chicken Pot Pie. Yumm-o. That will be dinner tomorrow with extra for the freezer.

I love a good cook/bake-a-thon!

My Sweetie turned four...

Elijah turned four last month and I never posted more than one picture...ooops. We had a extended family party for he and Grace at my sisters, but on his actual birthday, we celebrated at home. Here are a few pictures from October 16th, the birthday of my big, dark, brawny little man.


While he was napping, Sophia and I got ready for "the party". Here are the bright eyed boys after their nap. They were very happy that Jell-o was on the menu.

Eli with something in his mouth.

What was my little man's birthday request? "I want those things where you blow them and they go out". He was very happy to find "blowers" on the table....it doesn't take much to please.

Elijah and his Birthday Bread. I got this castle bundt cake pan for my birthday...the kids love it.

Opening a present or two. Look at that shiny hair. I love my boys hair. It is just like Graemes! Straight, soft, and silky.

Opening my favorite birthday present...

A booster seat! Yay, no more car seat buckles. Elijah can now lawfully ride in a booster seat. I am soooo happy to only buckle one buckle instead of three!!!!!!!!!! I live for the day they turn four!

Elijah is our sweet little pleaser. He is most likely to tell you he loves you for no reason or to want to cuddle up on the sofa. He is least likely to be spontaneous. He is one track minded, greatly dislikes abrupt change. He is the routine keeper, the truck lover, the wild animal impersonator, hunter, "fighting man" (soldier) of the house. He can eat faster than anyone except me in this house. He is the first to tell me he loves my cooking and to eat it all and beg for more (I love that). He is the least likely to get into mischief but the most likely to cry in exasperation. He was our quiet baby turned noisy four year old. He is a boy's boy, there's nothing pansy about him. He's boy and boy and boy. He brings laughter, crumbs, dirt, rocks, lots of sticks, tears, eczema and unbelievable joy into our home each and every day.

I love you my big four year old boy!!!!

What about Bob?

We have a new addition to the family. Meet "Bob". That was what the kids wanted to name him.

Geranimo...in he goes...


Admiring the new pet

In all his fishy glory...

Bob NEVER goes hungry. I hear that if you overfeed fish they die...that wouldn't be such a bad thing. :) I'm so bad. I don't mind having a fish, but its just one more mouth to feed. :) However, Sophia takes every opportunity to feed Bob three square meals a day.

It's been a week and Bob is still alive...that is an accomplishment considering Noah got after him a couple of times. Now he safely resides on the back of the kitchen countertop. :)