At Home At Lake Mac

Birth Day!

2012-01-23T14:47:00.000-08:00

This young man is 8 years old today! I can't believe how the time has flown. I can't believe he still has such big, blue eyes! And today it hit me that he really isn't a little boy any longer, he is a young man. Happy Birthday Preston, I love you very much.

My list of 12 books I want to read this year

2012-01-04T14:49:00.000-08:00

1. Middlemarch by George Eliot
2. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
3. The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
4. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
5. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
6. The Code of the Woosters by PG Wodehouse
7. 1984 by George Orwell
8. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
9. The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
10. The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
11. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
12. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque

Alternates:
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré

The selections are taken from this list. I've already read most of the most commonly known books on this list and to be honest there are some I have no desire to read. When I took a college English class we spent a lot of time reading John Updike and I found him very depressing. Needless to say the class was taught by a middle aged divorced man, who happened to love Updike. He thought my views on marriage were projected through rose-colored glasses even though I had 25 years of marriage under my belt. So I'll avoid Updike thank you very much!

Books I read in 2011

2012-01-03T14:47:00.000-08:00

I told my husband that my goal for 2011 was to read 52 books. Then I told him that my goal for 2012 was to take 365 naps. He gave me that "you've got to be kidding" look. Ah well, it seemed like a good idea.
Here are the books I read in 2011. A rather eclectic list I admit, but I tend to read in sporadic bursts of interests. My goal this year is to spend more time on quality, rather than quantity.

. 52. Health for Godly Generations- Renee DeGroot

51. Gods and Kings- Lynn Austin

50. Remembering Christmas- Dan Walsh

49. The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook- Neal Barnard

48. A Skillet, A Spatula and a Dream- Barbara Breton

47. Mrs. Miracle- Debbie Macomber

46. Trading Christmas- Debbie Macomber

45. For the Children's Sake- Susan Schaeffer McCauley

44. Untangling Christmas- Karen Ehman and LeAnn Rice

43. O Little Town- Don Reid

42. Christmas At Herringtons- Melody Carlson

41. Someone Like Me- Dee Taft

40. The Oak Leaves- Maureen Lang

39. Cornstalked-Patricia Bremmer

38. The Scarlet Thread- Francine Rivers

37. While We're Far Apart- Lynn Austin

36. The Christmas Wedding- James Patterson

35. The Urban Homestead- Coyne and Knutzen

34. Ready, Set, Read!- Barbara Curtis

33. Dancing With Max- Emily Colson

32. Thereby Hangs a Tale- Jeffrey Archer

31. Stars Collide- Janice Thompson

30. Of Thee I Zing- Laura Ingraham

29. Reinventing Leona- Lynne Gentry

28. Books Children Love- Elizabeth Wilson

27. The Ministry of Motherhood- Sally Clarkson

26. The Help- Kathryn Stockett

25. Her Daughter's Dream- Francine Rivers

24. Night Road- Kristin Hannah

23. Sixteen Brides- Stephanie Grace Whitson

22. The Twelfth Imam- Joel Rosenberg

21. Artisan Breads in Five Minutes a Day

20. Her Mother's Hope- Francine Rivers

19. The Memory Keeper's Daughter- Kim Edwards

18. Blink- Ted Dekker

17. Jacob's List- Stephanie Grace Whitson

16. Real Estate Finance

15. Known and Unknown- Donald Rumsfeld

14. On Mystic Lake- Kristin Hannah

13. Gardenias For Breakfast- Robin Jones Gunn

12. One Second After- William Forstchner

11. Patriots- James Wesley, Rawles

10. One Thousand Gifts- Ann Voskamp

9. Simple Government- Mike Huckabee

8. The Gifted- Teri Blackstock

7, The High School Reunion Diet; How to lose twenty years in 30 days- David Colbert M.D

6. Knit the Season- Kate Jacobs

5. Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas- James Patterson

4. The Bride Collector- Ted Dekker

3. Knit Two- Kate Jacobs

2. Magic Hour- Kristin Hannah

1.Fatally Flaky- Diane Mott Davidson

I found this list of 100 novels that everyone should read. I've read quite a few of them but am making a list of 12 that I want to read this year. If I read more, all the better! I'll try to get my prospective list posted this week.

2012 is knocking on my door...

2011-12-29T22:27:00.000-08:00

Christmas has come and gone, and I didn't blog much this month. I think it's because I was busy living and by night time I was too tired to put my thoughts into writing. It's also the month of short days and I struggle with depression when we have little sunlight. In fact I find myself dreaming that I'm looking for sunlight.
Alex has been off his anti-seizure meds for nearly three weeks and we have seen no sign of seizures or tics or anything similar. What we have seen is a much better use of speech...and he talks all the time, literally ALL THE TIME! My ears are tired. We are also noticing that his attention spans are getting longer. Sadly, he still struggles with the anger and impulsiveness. I guess I can't expect everything to go away.
We had a wonderful Christmas with kids and grandkids. A couple were missing from our nest, but we've learned to appreciate what we get.
I am one book away from meeting my reading goal for the year. I am halfway through the last book, so I think I'm going to make it.
I didn't do so well with my crafting goals, but I'm just going to keep working on them. I don't want to finish my life with a lot of unfinished projects lying about.
I have also been spending quite a bit of time working on researching family history. It's fascinating but very time consuming. My grandmother already had done much of the work, I'm just trying to go a bit farther back with the aid of my trusty computer.
I know I've been scarce around here, but that just means I'm busy, and busy is good.
Happy New Year,
Kris

Christmas preparations are underway....

2011-12-08T10:29:00.000-08:00

This picture made me laugh. I remember when I used to spend hours getting Christmas cards ready. The last few years I haven't even sent out cards. It just didn't seem like a high priority. And thanks to email and Facebook, I am able to keep up with friends and family on a more regular basis. I wonder if the next generation will read books and wonder what a Christmas card is.

Deer

2011-12-04T13:31:00.000-08:00

In my family it's my sister who is the "great white hunter". I can spot a bargain aisles away, but hunting wildlife has never really tripped my trigger. My sister on the other hand enjoys it very much, whether it's with a rifle or a black powder gun. I benefit by getting jerky, so the end product is pleasing to me. (smile)
Here is a picture of the deer she bagged last month.

This is the type of deer I am likely to get. At least I wouldn't have to field dress mine!

Untangling Christmas

2011-12-01T10:07:00.000-08:00

I just got this book and am anxious to read it. You can find more details at Untangling Christmas

I also watched a neat vido over at Women Living Well on how to make a Christmas binder. I think this is a great idea and hope to get one organized this week.

I think if I am organized I am less stressed and I can enjoy the holiday season more. I'm also thinking that this will help me to focus more on Christ's birth and not all the busyness. I hope this helps someone else too.

Kris

Oh Christmas Tree

2011-12-01T02:59:00.000-08:00

This is the kind of Christmas tree my husband would like!

This would be fun to do for a party. don't you think?

Another thing I like about these ideas is that they are healthy. My husband is not fond of sweets and always complains that when we go places on the holidays that everything to eat is too sweet. So it's nice to find some festive ideas that are not sweet heavy.

Thankfulness

2011-11-30T14:59:00.000-08:00

Today is the last day of November. Before we head into the busy holiday season I wanted to take a moment to reflect on Thankgiving. At our home we had a busy thanksgiving. My husbands 91 year old grandmother passed away last week. So after spending a good couple of days with my parents and sister's family at our home, we headed back to our hometown to attend Grandma Em's funeral. It was a busy time mixed with the blessing of stomach flu for half the family. But through it all I noticed one particular thing. My mother in law was very happy. Happier than I have seen her in a long time. At first I thought it was because her dialysis must be working better so she was feeling better. But on the drive home it hit me. She was happy because for the first time in 10 years she had all of her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren under one roof.
And because I got to see all of my children and grandchildren at one time...I got it. I really got why that made her so happy.
I am blessed to have 5 wonderful children and 3 wonderful little granddaughters. And to top it off, I have the best husband I could imagine having. He's not perfect...but he's perfect for me. :) So I end the month feeling very rich in blessings and thanking God for all that He's done for me and given me.

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.

Once upon a time...1964

2011-11-21T22:01:00.000-08:00

Apparently I won a baby contest when I was little. My mom and I are the second from the right. I love this picture because it looks so much like my granddaughter. Did you notice all the women are wearing dresses? They look so nice. My mom was quite pregnant, but I think she looks pretty good.

The days I wish I had my camera on....

2011-11-18T14:43:00.000-08:00

This morning as Alex was slowly finishing his breakfast and Preston was brushing his teeth we heard a scream. Preston came in to show us that he had lost another tooth. When he went back down the hall Alex gave me his version of the story.

Alex: "Preston was brushing his teeth and goes AAAHHHH! And then his tooth came out...and it was bleeding."

We call that narration folks. And it was sequential!! I am one happy momma!

Don't Look!

2011-11-09T19:27:00.000-08:00

"NO! I don't want my picture taken..."

"Okay, fine...but I don't like it!"

Apparently he didn't want to show off his new glasses.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T17:13:00.000-07:00

Recipe: Pepper Jack Chicken

2011-10-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

I got this recipe off of a blog several years ago. I was sharing it with my daughter today and though someone else might like it too.

Recipe Name: Pepper Jack Chicken by Kelli Winn - Copy
Categories: Casseroles, Main Dish, Mexican, Poultry
Serves:
Ingredients:
1 1/2 to 2 pounds chicken breasts, cut into chunks
1 pkg frozen multicolored sweet pepper strips
1/2 cups chunky salsa
1/4 tsp chili powder
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cups milk
1/2 to 3/4 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
Instructions:
Place the first 4 ingredients in a slow cooker.
In a small sauce pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and salt and cook until bubbly. Remove from heat and gradually stir in the milk until smooth. Return to heat and cook, stirring until mixture is thickened and smooth. Stir in the cheese until melted.
Pour this sauce over the other ingredients in the slow cooker; stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.
Serve with hot cooked rice.
Serves 6
This recipe exported by PDACookbook Plus - www.wakefieldsoft.com

2011-10-28T21:33:00.001-07:00

Angry Birds

2011-10-12T07:41:00.000-07:00

I found more amazing cakes. All you have to do is search Google Images and you can find just about anything. I have a 7 year old who loves Angry Birds. I may have to try my hand at making him a cake for his birthday, but I know they won't hold a candle to these cakes. Hat's off to the designers.

I love all of these cakes! But wait...

How about some cupcakes? Or....

CAKE POPS! WOWSERS!!

So much talent for something that will be gone in two bites!

He's Still Working On Me!

2011-10-11T07:10:00.000-07:00

Do you remember that song? Did the Gaithers sing it?

He's still working on me,
To make me what I ought to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars,
The sun and the Earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be,
He's still working on me.

http://youtu.be/AGjrqV-EOfg

Anyway, I feel like I've been having some open heart surgery the last few weeks. It's painful but needed. I'm so glad that I'm under the care of the Great Physician.

Sandburs

2011-10-10T20:07:00.000-07:00

Sandburs are the curse of the Sandhills. I guess it's a price we have to pay for living in such a beautiful place. But I have to say that when God talks about the thorns in the ground being a curse, I can certainly relate to it. I have people who don't live in this part of the country ask me what they are. So to set the record straight, I'll give a little pictorial.

This is what they look like, they are little globes with needle sharp points all around. And when they stick to you they must have little prongs that hold tight. It's not uncommon to pull out a sandbur and find little slivers in your finger for weeks. Sometimes they swell up and get infected. These suckers just plain hurt. This is one tiny little bur...

This is what they look like in early summer when they're green. This is when they need pulled out. I've heard that each tiny sandbur can hold over 1,000 seeds. They are pretty at this stage....

Here are some more. They are prolific and grow tall and in patches. Even if you mow them down they will continue to creep low on the ground and then shed their harvest to reseed for another year. I've also heard they can lie dormant in the ground for years.

Here are some that were drying and ready to drop their burs. Our old house had tons of these things. The first few years we lived there, the kids and I would go out every morning and pull them out of the ground. We could pull for an hour every morning. The work did finally pay off and the grass took root enough that the sandburs were nearly eliminated by the time we sold our house.

Shaun The Sheep

2011-10-10T19:28:00.000-07:00

Shaun has become a celebrity in our house. Shaun, Wallace and Grommit and Phineas an Ferb...I know, we're a weird family. I saw thisShaun cake and thought it was cute.

Yes, we all love Shaun.

Carrots

2011-10-03T09:44:00.000-07:00

These are a few of the carrots I picked from the garden. I left most of them. My neigbor tells me if I wait until after a hard frost that the carrots will be sweeter. He's a pro at gardening so I'm taking his advice. The funny thing is that all night I dreamed I was picking carrots. I kept picking and picking and yet my little patch was still full. Weird, I know.

22 More Books

2011-09-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

I set a goal to read one book a week this year. Some weeks I read a couple, and sometimes several weeks go by without reading a single book. I used to always find time to read, but lately I seem to busy to find the time. Or the boys get to bed and I just drop into a fatigue haze. So here we are...three months left in the year and I still need to read 22 books. Usually the fall months are a good time for me to read because it's cool and I'm not working outside so much. But this year I have a long to do list for the house and a list of unfinished craft and sewing projects as well. I've made the commitment not to start anything new until I finish my list. So will I get those 22 books read? We shall see.

I do have my Nook loaded and ready to go...just in case the reading bug hits me.

By the way, I just read Of Thee I Zing by Laura Ingraham. I loved this book. Although she is a high powered career woman, I think we could sit down and have some good conversations together.

My Only Gems

2011-09-30T10:34:00.000-07:00

“She came tonight as I sat alone, the girl I used to be…
And she gazed at me with her earnest eye and questioned reproachfully;

Have you forgotten the many plans and hopes that I had for you?
The career, the splendid fame, and all the wonderful things to do?
Where is the mansion of stately height with all of its gardens rare?
The silken robes that I dreamed for you and the jewels in your hair?

And as she spoke, I was very sad for I wanted her please with me…
This slender girl from the shadowy past the girl that I used to be
So gently rising, I took her hand, and guided her up the stair
Where peacefully sleeping, my babies lay innocent, sweet, and fair.

And I told her that these are my only gems, and precious they are to me;
That silken robe is my motherhood of costly simplicity.
And my mansion of stately height is love, and the only career I know
Is serving each day in these sheltered walls for the dear ones who come and go.

And as I spoke to my shadowy guest, she smiled through her tears at me.
And I saw that the woman that I am now, pleased the girl I used to be.

- Author Unknown
Quoted in Womanly Dominion by Mark Chanski

Smile

2011-09-25T23:11:00.000-07:00

He had to get a hernia fixed. At first he was just goofy, but the closer he got he started to get pretty nervous. This is the before picture, while he was hamming it up.

This is after. He was very crabby. Apparently anasthesia makes him grumpy. This was Thursday, today he is feeling much better. I can see it's going to be hard to keep him from being too active while he heals.

Pantry Door

2011-09-25T22:43:00.000-07:00

My brother and his wife have a cool pantry off their kitchen. When I saw this picture I immediately thought of them. Isn't this a cute idea? (of course you would have to keep your pantry orderly eh?)

Some Alphabet Fun

2011-09-24T22:36:00.000-07:00

It's Here, my favorite season of the year!

2011-09-23T22:36:00.000-07:00

Here are a few things I like about Autumn:

Cooler Nights
Sunny Days
Trees starting to turn
The sound of marching bands practicing
My Autumn Joy Sedum turning a dark rusty pink
Cleaning up the garden and putting it to bed for the season

I love it when Spring comes around, but there is something so inviting about Autumn. I intend to enjoy it!

The Oldest Grandgirl

2011-09-13T20:55:00.000-07:00

Looks like someone is having some fun at the beach.

Molly and Emily

2011-09-10T08:58:00.000-07:00

A Bit of England

2011-09-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

When we lived in England, many eons ago, I fel in love with this pottery. It's called Carlton Walking Ware. I used to see it in the shops and I thought it was cute, whimsical. But I never bought any. Why? I don't know, I guess I was busy making sure my kid had clothes and food. And I thought there would be time for fun stuff later. Well, now is later, and wowsers this stuff is pricey! And I really don't have a place to display it anyway. So I'm displaying it on my blog. Enjoy a bit of whimsey.

Cute cookie jar, look at the detail on the socks

Egg cups, all different

What a fun cuppa this would be!

See the details?

They make me smile!

I hope they made you smile too!

Garden pics

2011-09-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

Watermelon grown on a trellis and held in a sling until ripe

Boys and Beans

I have to tell you a funny story. I have geen beans growing on towers and for some reason I didn't have any beans growing down low. My husband said he bet the dog was eating them. I just rolled my eyes at that suggestion. Sure enough one day I was sitting out there and saw the dog reach in, pull out a bean and eat it. We have the weirdest dog...

First Day of School 2011

2011-09-08T08:57:00.000-07:00

Here they are, anxiously waiting to leave. I actually had to bribe them to sit still for pictures.

Preston, age 7, second grade

Alex, age 6, Kindergarten

Come on mom, let's go already!!

I've been very busy this summer, and I haven't had time to keep things caught up. I had posted that we were going to homeschool. And we had planned too, but I found that although I love homeshooling and I think it's wonderful, I was suffering from some pretty severe stress related health issues. And the closer we got to starting school the worse I felt. Then we found out that Alex would no longer be eligible for speech and OT if we homeschooled and paying for it privately was out of the question...so I called the schools and got the boys enrolled. They seem to be very happy and I'm happy that they're happy. I do miss them, but I'm working on trying to relax a bit. I have a very long to do list of projects here at home, starting with deep cleaning each room. I feel good about their schools and teachers and I remind myself that I don't have to feel guilty if I can't do it all.

Finishing up the harvest

2011-09-06T22:51:00.000-07:00

The garden is just about finished. There are still a few tomatoes out there. And I have to pull carrots and potatoes, but most everything else is done growing and has been harvested. I have almost of my empty canning jars filled. Hopefully we are prepared for winter.

Summertime!

2011-08-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

Sometime it's too hot to do anything except sit in a swing and read a book. Sometimes little boys join you.

They're getting taller, but not as tall as the green beans!

Here they are standing in front of the arch we made for the cucumbers. I have broccoli and cauliflower growing underneath the arch.

A New Granddaughter

2011-07-20T22:33:00.000-07:00

Here is Miss Emily Diane, born on July 1st. She was in a bit of hurry to get here and arrived about 4 weeks early. But she is doing fine and is home and getting fat and happy!

While Emily and her mommy were in the hospital, I was fortunate enough to get to go help take care of this little firecracker! She is so excited about being a big sister and loves her new baby so much.

Happy Belated Birthday to my FAVORITE SISTER!!

2011-07-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

Here she is, the birthday girl...I'm guessing she was around 10?

Here is her senior picture. She had much more patience for hairstyling and makeup than I ever did. Funny since she's the tomboy.

Here she is with her hubby and daughter, nearly 3 years ago. They added a precious little boy to their family two years ago, but I couldn't find a picture on my computer of all of them. I'm sure it's buried in an email somewhere.

Anyway, Shawna, I haven't had time to get on my computer to post this, but I'm sure you had a wonderful birthday, right? If nothing else you can tak solace in the fact that you will always remain younger than me. Sometimes it stinks to be the oldest...

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

I was just looking at this picture and realized how much my son looks like my father. Many people can credit their fathers for teaching them alot of things, like driving, or playing baseball, etc. But my dad taught me how to dig into the Word of God and find out what it really meant. He told me to write down the words I heard in church that I didn't understand and then after we got home he would explain them to me. Thanks Dad for taking the time to teach me things with eternal value!

My new herb bed

2011-06-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

Hubby built this for me last month. The idea was to have a dedicated place for herbs so they didn't take over my flowers.

As you can see the other side is the kids sand box. Someday when they outgrow playing in the sand I may plant flowers in it. Or I may leave it for my grandkids to play in. We shall see. (smile)

My new quilt

2011-06-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

I found this quilt at a garage sale last week. It has a tiny bit of wear on the binding and a little stain on the backing, but it is beautiful condition. The colors in the vintage fabrics are still bright and it's just gorgeous. But...I can't find anyone who seems to know the pattern. I'm hoping that someone might read this and recognize it.
I had planned on putting this on the bed in the guest room, but it's so pretty, I may hang it up for awhile. What would you do with it?

Too Cool!

2011-06-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

You can buy it here. I'm pretty sure I won't be, but I can still appreciate it, right? ;>)

Make Do Fort

2011-06-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my Flag Day Baby!

2011-06-14T11:54:00.000-07:00

This is Ian. When he was a little boy he thought they put all the flags up just for his birthday. Come to think of it, he probably still does.

Ian is my social bug. He seems to come alive when he's with his friends. And like his sisters he lives too far away. I don't get to see him very often. But he seems happy and is enjoying his job so I guess that's what a mom wants for their kids.

This seems to be the way most of his pictures are when I take them. (sigh)

Happy Birthday Ian, I love you!

Sandy Beach

2011-06-13T13:56:00.000-07:00

This is for my kids, so they can see how full Lake Mac is. I took these pictures at Sandy Beach.

West ramp

You can see how much of the bank has washed away.

East Ramp

This doesn't bode well...

2011-06-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

We spotted vultures at a gas station. Kind of reminded me of those old Bugs Bunny cartoons.

Thoughts of Grattitude

2011-06-13T13:45:00.000-07:00

#30. sunshine that makes my plants smile
#29. cool breezes that soothe me
#28. the sound of children playing hide and seek
#27. Dove dark chocolate slowly melting on my tongue
#26. a puppy who nudges you for attention

Tranquilizers and a Strait Jacket

2011-06-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

That is indeed what I need. Alex has been extremely agitated and manic lately. It's all fine if we let him have his own way. But if we do something heinous like make him come in from the heat to cool off, or sit down to eat supper...well then he comes unglued. Lately when he wakes up he is already angry and ready to dig in his heels. This morning it took me nearly an hour to help him calm down enough so that he could eat. Then when I told him he had to get dressed before he could outside we started all over again. This has been going on since just before school got out. I can tell that he's miserable. And I wonder if he's having headaches. But right now we're just kind of in a survival mode. We are just making it through one day at a time.

What I really need is some down time. Some time to relax. The problem is that usually by the time I start to relax my down time is over. So now my body has decided to just stay on permanent guard duty. And I'm exhausted. Totally exhausted but unable to relax and rest.

So I need tranquiliers...for me, and a strait jacket for Alex so I know he won't be running away as soon as I close my eyes.

Happy 24th Birthday to my Baby Girl!

2011-05-27T07:50:00.000-07:00

And she will be pleased to know that I haven't had time to load baby pictures of her. (smile) Don't you love her hat?

Dancing with her Uncle Heath

Sharing a special moment with her groom

I can't believe she's turning 24. She has been a joy to have for a daughter and I'm so excited to get to see her on her birthday! That doesn't happen much when your little birds leave the nest.

Happy Birthday Kaitlyn, I love you!

Happy Birthday to my hubby!

2011-05-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

Yeah, he might just hate me for posting these. But they're fun because I can see my kids in them.

Yeah, fine, don't look at the camera!

A very rare goofy side of him. And my kids don't ever remembering seeing him without a flat top.

Re-enlisting in 1986

Getting his ears stretched

Happy Birthday Honey!

Thoughts of Gratitude

2011-05-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

#25. Little boys who like to pretend
#24. Packages in the mail
#23. a call of a good dr's report
#22. My Bridge radio
#21. watching a friend grow in their faith

Cool Tools

2011-05-19T11:43:00.000-07:00

I am not a fan of expensive catalogs that offer tools that you use for one thing and that's it. One I don't have the money for one use items, and second I don't have a lot of kitchen space so I have to be careful with what I buy. Having said that I still think it's fun to see what's out there. The picture above are cutters for homemade pop-tarts. I can just imagine how tasty these would be if they were made with my sister's homemade strawberry jam. (which by the way is good enough it should get it's very own post.) You can find them here.

I also saw these

And these. I'm sure my boys would think these were the greatest. I also think they look like an awful lot of work for something that would be eaten in a few bites.

While I was looking online I found this Kitchen Aid Mixer. Isn't this the most beautiful color of mixer you've ever seen? This things is gorgeous. Sadly the price tag is pretty too...pretty high. Oh well, I can enjoy beauty from afar.

Just A Swingin

2011-05-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

Everyday when Alex got home from school he would run out and swing for at least half an hour, much longer sometimes. This seems to be the way that he copes with stress. When he gets upset he goes out and swings. I don't know what he will do when he gets too old to swing when he's upset, but hopefully we'll have found him some new coping mechanism by then.

My husband left me...

2011-05-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

It's cold, rainy day. I took these pictures during a break in the rain, now it's raining heavier again. Not exactly how my boys wanted to spend the day.

So one decided to go fishing...in the hallway.

And the other is playing tent in the basement. With all the lights off and a flashlight. I know the dog's eyes look freaky, but I was impressed that my camera took such a good picture in the complete darkness.

Anyway, as I said , my husband left me. But it's only for a few days...he'll be back. Or at least I think he'll be back. (smile) Hubby left at 5:30 this morning. At 6:30 my son woke me up to tell me that the dog had pooped on the living room carpet. Not really the way I wanted to start my day. Not really the way the boys wanted to start the first day of their summer vacation either. Oh well, the rain is good for the lawn. Hopefully we will get warm weather soon so we can get our tomato plants out in the garden.

Never let your guard down!

2011-05-16T08:11:00.001-07:00

While I thought my littlest guy was in the bathroom quietly taking care of business...I find that he was really painting his toenails. His daddy will be so proud. (sigh)

May 13,2011

2011-05-14T20:29:00.000-07:00

With my parents

Yesterday I graduated from our local community college, with honors I might add. This meant alot to me. When I was in high school I tried very hard to make the honor roll and never did. To graduate with a GPA of 3.77 means a lot to me, because it meant that I worked hard. Although I will say that out of all of the classes that I took none of them were as hard as the classes in high school. The papers I wrote? My high school English teachers would have thrown them back at me and told me to rewrite them.
But the real reason I wanted to graduate is that it means I finished something that I started. I don't want to be a quitter. I don't want to leave that kind of legacy for my kids. So, it took me awhile, but I finished.

Now, if I can just my parents to buy me a new car. (smile)

May 14, 1981

2011-05-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

Thirty years ago today:

Wow, I was young! And skinny!

Once upon a time....

2011-05-09T08:20:00.000-07:00

This girl...

and this boy...

decided they kind of liked each other and started to date. This is from their junior prom.

And Senior Prom

(wow, I loved those shoes...wish I still had them.)

Here is high school graduation....

and a wedding...

(it was a very busy month)

Then the boy left for basic training in the Air Force, came back a man and the true adventure began.That was 30 years ago. He is still my best friend and I can't imagine going through life without him. We have five children, 2 and almost 3 grandchildren, and have gone through multiple trials. I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anybody but him. God has kept us leaning on Him and each other. Life hasn't always been easy, but it's been good. If I could pass one thing on to my children it is to stick through the hard times, because you don't get diamonds without lots of pressure.

We've decided to shoot for another 30 years. We'll still be under 80...that seems do-able.

Happy Anniversary to my dear husband, who deserves better than me but stuck with me anyway.

Mothers...

2011-05-08T02:03:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time I was born...and I had a mommy. Hard to believe isn't it? My mother was young and I'm sure she had no idea what she was getting herself into when she got married. But you know what? She persevered. She never quit. And I know that she went through some tough times....I remember some of them. By the time she was 30 she not only had three children, but she had lost one daughter shortly after birth and had lost both of her parents.
I was thinking the other day about what I had learned from my mother. I did learn so much, but the two things that stick with me the most are to Trust God Always...and Don't Give Up. And really in the whole scheme of life, I guess there really isn't much more we have to know.

Final tonight

2011-05-03T12:58:00.000-07:00

I've been busy studying for my final in Real Estate Finance tonight. That along with a zillion other things we moms do. I'd like to be able to find some time for some fun reading and crafting too, but it won't be for awhile. Next I have a very thick manual to learn so I can sit for the state real estate exam. Fun, huh?

The little guy has surgery once again next week. So if you think of us some prayers would be appreciated. The last surgery was very traumatic and still fresh in his mind. He freaks out when we even drive by our dr's office and tomorrow he has a pre-op physical. I'm thinking ice cream cones may be in order if we survive.

Thoughts of Grattitude

2011-04-27T17:54:00.000-07:00

#25. music to cheer me up
#24. stimulating discussion
#23. getting a 92 on a tough test
#22. watching the pup play in the yard
#21. hugs from our Molly

The Hardest Five Years Of My Life

2011-04-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

Five years ago we had taken in our grandsons on what we had assumed would be a temporary basis. They were both healthy, although we suspected Alex was behind in his development. I thought he was just a slow learner.
It was the end of April and we were preparing to go home to help my inlaws celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. On Wednesday Alex made some strange head dropping movements. I had never seen anything like it and it raised some red flags. I took him right in to the doctor, but of course he didn't do it again, so the doctor looked him over and sent us home.
On Saturday as we were preparing to celebrate with my husband's family Alex did those strange movements again, several times. For the first time my husband was able to see them too. It concerned us, but he stopped. He grew very tired so I took him back to the house and he slept for hours. Later that evening he did it again and we decided to take him to the hospital. We were away from home, seeing a doctor we had never seen before...and Alex seemed fine. The doctor listened to us, believed us, even considered sending us to Children's Hospital in Omaha, but in the end decided to send us home. He cautioned us if we saw it again to videotape it and get to our doctor right away.
We went home on Sunday and within hours of going home Alex started the strange movements again. This time we got it on video and headed to the emergency room. The PA on duty was immediately concerned. She kept us overnight for observations and then arranged for us to get to Children's Hospital as soon as we could get there.
By the time we got to Children's we were positive that Alex was having seizures and they were increasing. He was having them for several minutes, several times an hour. He was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms...and the prognosis was not encouraging. They told us that the seizures can cause brain damage and Alex could end up severely retarded and in some cases death occurs. I'm sure that for awhile our hearts just stopped. We were stunned that a healthy child could be so sick in such a short time. They told us that our best chance to stop the seizures was something called ACTH, a type of steroid, that would have to be injected twice a day. Alex would have to stay in the hospital for the week for tests.
For the next 6 weeks we made weekly trips to Omaha. We spent our 25th anniversary in the hospital. (incidentally, not quite the trip to England we had always planned) The shots made Alex miserable. He quit laughing, then he quit smiling. His body swelled up and his skin was tight. I was afraid to pick him up because it hurt him. But the seizures stopped. Praise God...they started to slow down and then they stopped. The end of July we were able to quit giving him the shots. It was about another month when we heard him laugh again. Breck and I cried. We had hope for our little boy.
When Alex first got sick I called our daughter. I was certain that this was God's way of bringing her home, back into the lives of her little boys. I could picture her turning her heart to God. But instead, she was like Pharoah, and hardened her heart. She had all sorts of reasons why she couldn't come. Looking back, I should have known then that she would never want her boys again, but I was in denial about that. My other children say that everyone but me knew. I guess I had more hope than they did.
Alex started to develop more normally but he was very behind. About the time he was finally starting to crawl, the seizures started back up. And this time they were a different kind. Apparently this is not uncommon. We tried several different meds but it wasn't until six months later and a combination of meds that they finally stopped. We spent a week in St Paul, Minnesota at the Epilepsy Center. They gave us lots of good ideas on helping him. They also cautioned us that if his seizures ever started up again, we may not be able to stop them next time.
It has been five years of hard work, and many tears shed for this little boy. He has to work twice as hard as his brother just to learn basic skills. He is still behind but is slowly catching up. Two years ago he could barely speak, now he knows his alphabet and the sounds of the letters and he's putting words into sentences. He can't ride things with pedals, but he can ride a scooter almost as well as his brother. In the past years we've had added diagnoses from doctors. Alex has intractable epilepsy, a mild form of cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, ADHD, developmentally delayed and is considered to be on the autism spectrum although not diagnosed with autism.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of Alex's story. We have been through many trials with this young man, but we have seen many prayers answered and we consider him a miracle considering what he's been through. Our family, friends and church have been the support that we needed to get through the dark days. In those first weeks after the diagnosis, we could feel God calming us in such a real way that I will never be able to explain it. But He was there for us when we needed Him most. It's been a tough five years, and we know there is still a rough road ahead. We continue to trust God to keep him promises and remind ourselves that God has a plan for Alex...we just don't know what it is yet.

one month after taking the shots

Alex's first birthday, just before we quit the shots

2011- a big handsome boy

Thoughts of Gratitude

2011-04-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

#20. God is in the details
#19. kids who come home for Easter
#18. sidewalk chalk letters from a little one who struggles to write
#17. Glorious sunshine
#16. sprouts peeking out of the ground

Some Days Are Harder Than Others

2011-04-21T20:51:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I found out that my oldest daughter was ending her marriage. This is her second marriage and she's only 27 years old. I am sad, but not surprised. I have enjoyed having her husband in our family. He was witty and thoughtful, and I will miss him.
But most of all I am sad that my daughter is looking for happiness in all the wrong places. She has a God sized hole in her heart and she is looking for man sized solutions. And now I have a granddaughter who is missing her daddy and her entire life is disrupted and I don't know how long it will be before she sees normality. And that doesn't just make me sad...it makes me heartbroken.

Milestones

2011-04-13T06:42:00.000-07:00

48...that's how many years I've walked on this earth. Somedays it feels like forever, and other days I feel like I'm still twenty. Then I take a look in the mirror and get a harsh reality check.
Seriously though, in our family we've never really made birthdays a big deal. And it's a good thing I have low expectations because this year my hubby is out of town. I have an exciting day of cleaning, laundry and an appointment for Alex's OT evaluation. Big stuff I tell you! BUT...I am happy to be healthy and strong. Seriously, not everyone could keep up with my boys, and I'm thankful for the good health that God has given me. I'm thankful for a husband who has put up with me for many, many moons. And I'm thankful that I have a birthday. Yes, getting older is hard sometimes. I don't want gray hair and wrinkles...but if I wasn't getting older than I would be dead. It just kind of keeps things in perspective, don't you think?

Thoughts of Gratitude

2011-04-12T22:41:00.000-07:00

15. quiet nights and electric light
14. friends who will babysit
13. little boys who run back to give me one last hug
12. green...green grass, green plants, green leaves
11. words of scripture that give me hope

Thoughts of Grattitude

2011-04-04T10:20:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling weary lately. Not just tired, but old and worn out. And with the weariness comes anger and frustration. I need to focus on my Saviour more. I need to focus on thanksgiving for what He's done for me and what he's given me.

#10. a song that reminds me of blessings
#9. a note from a friend to encourage me to keep running the race
#8. finding good books in the Goodwill store
#7. a hug from my boy before he leaves for school
#6. a husband who loves me even when I'm grumpy

The BBC's Two Hundred Book List

2011-04-04T07:33:00.000-07:00

This is a list compiled by readers and posted on the BBC webpage of the top two hundred most read books. I've put an X by the ones I've read.

X 1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien

X 2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman

4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams

5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling

X 6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

X 7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne

8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell

X 9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis

X 10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë

11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller

X 12. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë

13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks

X 14. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier

15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger

X 16. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame

X 17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens

X 18. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott

19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres

20. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy

X 21. Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell

22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling

23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling

24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling

X 25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien

X 26. Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy

27. Middlemarch, George Eliot

28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving

X 29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck

X 30. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll

31. The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson

32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez

33. The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett

34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens

X 35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl

X 36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson

X 37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute

X 38. Persuasion, Jane Austen

39. Dune, Frank Herbert

X 40. Emma, Jane Austen

X 41. Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery

42. Watership Down, Richard Adams

X 43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald

X 44. The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas

45. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh

46. Animal Farm, George Orwell

X 47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

48. Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy

49. Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian

50. The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher

X 51. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett

52. Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck

53. The Stand, Stephen King

X 54. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy

55. A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth

56. The BFG, Roald Dahl

57. Swallows And Amazons, Arthur Ransome

X 58. Black Beauty, Anna Sewell

59. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer

60. Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky

61. Noughts And Crosses, Malorie Blackman

62. Memoirs Of A Geisha, Arthur Golden

63. A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens

X 64. The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough

65. Mort, Terry Pratchett

66. The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton

67. The Magus, John Fowles

68. Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

69. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett

70. Lord Of The Flies, William Golding

71. Perfume, Patrick Süskind

72. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell

73. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett

74. Matilda, Roald Dahl

75. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding

76. The Secret History, Donna Tartt

77. The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins

78. Ulysses, James Joyce

79. Bleak House, Charles Dickens

80. Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson

81. The Twits, Roald Dahl

82. I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith

X 83. Holes, Louis Sachar

84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake

85. The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy

86. Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson

87. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley

88. Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons

89. Magician, Raymond E Feist

90. On The Road, Jack Kerouac

X 91. The Godfather, Mario Puzo

92. The Clan Of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel

93. The Colour Of Magic, Terry Pratchett

94. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

95. Katherine, Anya Seton

X 96. Kane And Abel, Jeffrey Archer

97. Love In The Time Of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez

98. Girls In Love, Jacqueline Wilson

99. The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot

100. Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie

101. Three Men In A Boat, Jerome K. Jerome

102. Small Gods, Terry Pratchett

103. The Beach, Alex Garland

104. Dracula, Bram Stoker

105. Point Blanc, Anthony Horowitz

106. The Pickwick Papers, Charles Dickens

107. Stormbreaker, Anthony Horowitz

108. The Wasp Factory, Iain Banks

109. The Day Of The Jackal, Frederick Forsyth

110. The Illustrated Mum, Jacqueline Wilson

111. Jude The Obscure, Thomas Hardy

112. The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾, Sue Townsend

113. The Cruel Sea, Nicholas Monsarrat

114. Les Misérables, Victor Hugo

115. The Mayor Of Casterbridge, Thomas Hardy

116. The Dare Game, Jacqueline Wilson

117. Bad Girls, Jacqueline Wilson

118. The Picture Of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde

X 119. Shogun, James Clavell

X 120. The Day Of The Triffids, John Wyndham

121. Lola Rose, Jacqueline Wilson

X 122. Vanity Fair, William Makepeace Thackeray

123. The Forsyte Saga, John Galsworthy

124. House Of Leaves, Mark Z. Danielewski

X 125. The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver

126. Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett

127. Angus, Thongs And Full-Frontal Snogging, Louise Rennison

X 128. The Hound Of The Baskervilles, Arthur Conan Doyle

129. Possession, A. S. Byatt

130. The Master And Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov

131. The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood

132. Danny The Champion Of The World, Roald Dahl

X 133. East Of Eden, John Steinbeck

134. George's Marvellous Medicine, Roald Dahl

135. Wyrd Sisters, Terry Pratchett

X 136. The Color Purple, Alice Walker

137. Hogfather, Terry Pratchett

138. The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan

139. Girls In Tears, Jacqueline Wilson

140. Sleepovers, Jacqueline Wilson

X 141. All Quiet On The Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque

142. Behind The Scenes At The Museum, Kate Atkinson

143. High Fidelity, Nick Hornby

144. It, Stephen King

145. James And The Giant Peach, Roald Dahl

146. The Green Mile, Stephen King

147. Papillon, Henri Charriere

148. Men At Arms, Terry Pratchett

149. Master And Commander, Patrick O'Brian

150. Skeleton Key, Anthony Horowitz

151. Soul Music, Terry Pratchett

152. Thief Of Time, Terry Pratchett

153. The Fifth Elephant, Terry Pratchett

154. Atonement, Ian McEwan

155. Secrets, Jacqueline Wilson

156. The Silver Sword, Ian Serraillier

157. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Ken Kesey

158. Heart Of Darkness, Joseph Conrad

X 159. Kim, Rudyard Kipling

160. Cross Stitch, Diana Gabaldon

X 161. Moby Dick, Herman Melville

162. River God, Wilbur Smith

163. Sunset Song, Lewis Grassic Gibbon

164. The Shipping News, Annie Proulx

165. The World According To Garp, John Irving

166. Lorna Doone, R. D. Blackmore

167. Girls Out Late, Jacqueline Wilson

X 168. The Far Pavilions, M. M. Kaye

169. The Witches, Roald Dahl

X 170. Charlotte's Web, E. B. White

171. Frankenstein, Mary Shelley

172. They Used To Play On Grass, Terry Venables and Gordon Williams

173. The Old Man And The Sea, Ernest Hemingway

174. The Name Of The Rose, Umberto Eco

175. Sophie's World, Jostein Gaarder

176. Dustbin Baby, Jacqueline Wilson

177. Fantastic Mr Fox, Roald Dahl

178. Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov

X 179. Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, Richard Bach

180. The Little Prince, Antoine De Saint-Exupery

181. The Suitcase Kid, Jacqueline Wilson

182. Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens

183. The Power Of One, Bryce Courtenay

184. Silas Marner, George Eliot

185. American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis

186. The Diary Of A Nobody, George and Weedon Grossmith

187. Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh

188. Goosebumps, R. L. Stine

X 189. Heidi, Johanna Spyri

190. Sons And Lovers, D. H. LawrenceLife of Lawrence

191. The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera

192. Man And Boy, Tony Parsons

193. The Truth, Terry Pratchett

X 194. The War Of The Worlds, H. G. Wells

195. The Horse Whisperer, Nicholas Evans

196. A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry

197. Witches Abroad, Terry Pratchett

198. The Once And Future King, T. H. White

X 199. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle

X 200. Flowers In The Attic, Virginia Andrews

I see there are many books that I haven't read that maybe I should put on my reading list. But I have to say there are several books on the list that I have read and do not recommend. When I have some free time I think I'll compile my own list of recommended books. I am pretty sure it will be very different.

Thoughts of Grattitude

2011-03-25T15:24:00.000-07:00

5. Anticipating a quiet evening home with my family
4. Sunshine peeking out from the clouds
3. Hearing the voice of my granddaughter on the telephone
2. 100% on a spelling test when he's been trying so hard
1. Warm coffee in my favorite new mug

After reading Ann Voskamps book, I felt challenged to write down the gifts in that God has given me. I need to practice more thanksgiving in my life.

And now for this brief announcement!

2011-03-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

I know that I've been absent for awhile, but it's because I've been busy living a real life in the real world. While I'm away and busy I have a zillion thoughts swirling around in my head. There have been many worries and concerns on my heart for the past few weeks. But there has also been good news. The best being that not only are we going to have another grandbaby this summer, but we now know that it's going to be another girl. Our cup runneth over!

Another food article

2011-03-07T07:59:00.000-08:00

Remember when I posted on the effects of food additives? Well, here is another post that is interesting reading. I am constantly reminded that the healthiest food to eat is the food that is as close to the way it was harvested as possible. Just a thought for a Monday.

A plug for Maple Valley Farms

2011-03-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time I stumbled upon a blog by a gal called HomemakerAng. We had quite a bit in common so I enjoyed visiting her blog. Then a couple of years ago this gal and her husband jumped off into the deep end. They sold their lovely home, bought an Amish farm and moved in with the intentions of living grid free. I was stunned when she mentioned a garage sale where they sold all of their electrical appliances. I mean, I could live without tv, but my mixer. I applauded them for their pioneering spirit but prayed they made it through. ( I grew up without many modern amenities...I wasn't sure they knew what they were getting into)
Anyway to make a long and interesting story short, they are doing marvelously. They have even made up a smaller cabin where people can come and stay and get a taste of their lifestyle.
I would have gladly written about Ang and her family for no reason but now she's giving away a set of Tatler reusable canning lids. I've been wanting to try these. Think, reusable...I could save quite a bit of money in canning lids each year. So, although I would love to win this set...I would love more to have everyone go visit Ang and see for yourself how this modern family is thriving on their off-grid farm. Who knows, you may be inspired to try it yourself!
Here is the link: MAPLE VALLEY FARMS

A Touch of Winter

2011-02-18T09:46:00.000-08:00

This picture was on Ann Voskamp's site, so I'm assuming she took it in Canada. But it could just as well be Nebraska or any other plains state. It reminded me of home.

A week ago we had that much snow, but this week we had weather in the 50's and 60's so the snow is gone. Every bit of it. We had several days of sunshine and it was like medicine to the soul. The boys have spent many hours after school playing in the backyard. I'm treasuring this time because I have a feeling that soon we will be engulfed in snow once again.

I've been thinking lately...I need a team.

2011-02-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

I don't seem to have much time to do much these days except for keeping up with the housework and the boys. For those of you who think I must be lazy...I challenge you to come keep up with our Alex. He's like a little tazmanian devil on speed. I can never let my guard down. I walk out of a room and he instantly gets into something that he shouldn't. So...I don't get to sit down and read while he quietly plays at my feet. I can't make bread while he sits at the table and colors. You see Alex rarely sits. Even when he's watching tv he's in constant motion. I do all of my tasks with one eye and one ear on what Alex is doing. If I go to the bathroom he climbs on the kitchen counter to get into the cabinets. If I talk on the phone and forget to watch him I may find a toilet full of rolls of toilet paper. I had been putting him in his room when I needed a few minutes of privacy, but last week he got mad and threw a boot through his window. That was expensive. So...I spend most of my time chasing Alex.
At school Alex has a team. There are several teachers and aides that work with him. He is showing great progress and I was very encouraged after parent teacher conferences. But he is still very busy and has to be monitored at all times or he gets into things he shouldn't. I was feeling a bit low when I thought about it because he is doing better at school then at home. But then I realized that they get to take turns herding Alex. No one person has to watch him all the time. They can turn their backs without worry. They can take a break. That's when it hit me...
I NEED A TEAM!!

Funny Things Kids Say

2011-02-04T08:02:00.000-08:00

Preston as he gets in the van after school: "Mom today we had gluten free apples."
Me: "Honey, I think all apples are gluten-free."
Preston: "No Mom, it means we didn't have to pay anything for them."

(smile)

Food Dyes and Additives

2011-02-01T08:04:00.000-08:00

About 15 years ago I noticed that often if we went out to eat that I would react badly that night. For instance, if we went out to supper many times by midnight my hands would be swollen and tight, I would be extremely thirsty and sometimes my heart would even pound all night. ( a particular time where I unknowingly ate something cooked in whiskey comes to mind) So I have been aware of how food additives can affect us for quite some time. I try to avoid processed foods. Last Friday night we went to a company party with my husbands coworkers. By 10 o'clock I knew I was in trouble. My hands were swollen, I was incredibly thirsty. Even though I drank plenty of water hoping to flush it out I woke up Saturday with one of those headaches where you feel like your head is about to explode. I suspect it was nitrates or salts in the meats or potatoes that were served.
In the last couple of years we have learned that Alex is allergic to food dyes. Once we learned this and have been careful about what he eats his behavior has improved immensely. We have been able to take him off his ADHD meds and he does just great...unless someone feeds him things with food dyes. And there is the rub...it happens quite a bit. Last month he had red m&m's in sunday school. We spent the afternoon stopping him from hitting his head on the wall, throwing toys, kicking anyone who got close to him. Yesterday he had those little goldfish crackers in sunday school and we had a similar day. A friend gave him Altoids that are made with red dye #40 and he acted like he'd had speed. Food dyes are everywhere and in foods that don't even need added color. You have to read every label...I mean every label. The other day I picked up something that was white and it had dye in it. What??? Gum is another thing we have to be careful with.

I have found some vitamins that are colored with carrot and beet juice. And I recently discovered one kind of fruit roll ups that don't have food coloring. I'm glad to see some manufacturers are trying dye free items. I hope they sell well so more are produced. Until then I'm going to have to continue to read labels.

Here are a few links about this increasing problem:
http://www.cspinet.org/new/200806022.html

http://chefwendellfowler.blogspot.com/2009/08/food-coloring-aggressive-bully-behavior.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/adhd/AN01721

http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2010/09/got-petroleum.html

Winter Blues

2011-01-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

I have always struggled with the winter blues...some people call it seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. January and February are usually the hardest months for me because they're cold, windy and dreary. We usually have lots of days of sunshine but when the storm clouds roll in it can get dark and depressing. It took me quite a few years to figure this out. When we bought a house with huge windows on the south and I could get more sunshine I knew for sure that this was an issue with me. I felt so much better in that house. When we sold our house and were house shopping in town the need for good southern exposure was as important as any other requirement. I spend most of my time in my home, it needs to feed my body and spirit.
My sewing room on the other hand is in the basement in a room with no windows. I tend to feel claustrophobic in there and get depressed if I spend too much time down there. Someday we plan on moving the boys to the bedrooms downstairs. When we do I am planning on moving my sewing room upstairs where I can work in the sunshine.
Meanwhile we've had a few dark and dreary days. Some extra stressors have come up and I'm fighting the darkness that wants to grab hold of me. I'm tired, teary and angry all at once. And I'm not proud of myself at all. I just want to crawl into bed and stay there until spring.
So I'm taking my vitamins, drinking a bit of orange sunshine, turning on peppy music and I may even force myself to get over to the rec center and walk off some of the blues. What I really need is a fun night out chatting with friends, but that is hard to do around here because people don't seem to have time for friends. I'm determined not to give in...what do you do to fight the blues?

Preston is 7

2011-01-31T07:46:00.000-08:00

Age 2

Age 6

Age 7

Keeping it Real

2011-01-25T08:11:00.000-08:00

I would love to sit down and write a nice post about Preston's birthday and post some pictures but it's going to have to wait. My to do list is growing exponentially and my bathroom is in serious need of cleaning.
So I will be back, hopefully sooner than later, and hopefully with a sense that my chores are done and I can write a bit without feeling as I'm neglecting my job.
Happy Tuesday!
Kris

Book Recommendation

2011-01-24T14:41:00.000-08:00

My librarian suggested that I read James Patterson's book, Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. What a good read. It was incredibly sad, and yet sweet.

I suggested to the librarian that she read Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. She was having a hard time getting into it when I talked to her. I'm anxious to see if she's finished it yet.

Thimbleberries Club

2011-01-20T14:44:00.000-08:00

We have a very nice little fabric store here in town called The Silver Thimble. Every month they have Thimbleberries club and do a block each month. I had wanted to join for quite awhile and last year I actually remembered it before the first one started in January. My motivation for joining was that if I had to do a block each month I would actually get a quilt finished instead of another UFO project. It was a great idea, and it worked in principle. But then we got to November and the border. The thought of making 196 sawtooth blocks was a bit overwhelming to me and I lost momentum. So I have beautiful blocks made, I just need to get them assembled and finished up. (But then again, that is another story for another day, and I found a secret weapon that I'll tell you about later)
Tonight is the first Thimblerries meeting for 2011. I got my first month's pattern and the fabric. We have an entire month to finish it, which is good since I'm still working on all my other projects. This year's pattern is called Border Blast and I'm working in the Northern Lights colors.

You can get a better look at them here at the Thimbleberries website.

A side benefit from joining this club is that I have met a lot of really neat women who are all willing to share the skills and knowledge they've picked up. I know that this is a place I can go with my questions. And to be honest it's just plain fun!

Works for me Wednesday

2011-01-19T10:39:00.000-08:00

This is a replica of my mp3 player. I actually have 3 different kinds but this is my favorite one. This little baby allows me to read books wherever I am, thanks to something called Nebraska Library Overdrive. This is such a great program. All I do is go to their website, enter my library's name and then my library card number. I choose a book I want to listen to and then download it to my mp3 player. All free of charge! If you live in Nebraska check it out and see if your library participates.
The one thing I really like about this is that I am able to listen to books while I'm sewing or driving or even folding clothes.
It definitely "works for me".

One more class

2011-01-18T10:39:00.000-08:00

Tonight is the start of my last class I need to take the realtor's exam. I was hoping for something fun...the only class they offered was Real Estate Finance. Bummer, eh?
Well, I got my book and I'm actually getting excited about this. Although as a realtor I won't be making loans, the bankers do that, I will be able to offer my clients helpful information that could prepare them more for the buying process.
I am excited about getting this much closer to my goal.

Nothing to write about...

2011-01-17T21:58:00.000-08:00

Life has been slow here the past few days, and after last week that's a good thing! Both boys have missed school due to some kind of fever/stomach bug. So I've been entertaining them and reading books while they watch the same movies over and over. It's been a nice respite for all of us.

But...I do have to say that January seems to be be taking it's sweet time to end this year.

A not so pretty week

2011-01-12T17:38:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning we woke to a couple of inches of snow. It wasn't much snow and the roads weren't bad so we left for oue daughter's home. About 70 minutes into our drive the traffic on the interstate came to a complete halt. It was very scary to come through a mist of blowing snow to see trucks and cars all screeching to a stop. We could see about 100 yards up that there was an accident. So we all sat and waited. And waited. Finally hubby got out and talked to some people who had walked up to the accident. There were 10 semi trucks and 5 smaller vehicles tangled up and blocking the entire east bound lane of the interstate. The amazing thing is that no one was injured. We continued to wait for someone to come move the trucks so traffic could get going again. At this time we'd let the boys out and we'd all run around the van and stretch our legs. After four hours we saw the first tow truck come. People were getting tired of waiting, some people were running out of gas...so a few SUV's decided to cross the median and turn around. After a few people did that, one man took his snow shovel and dug a path across so that he could cross in his car. Then a few more cars went. We had been hesitant about trying it because we were afraid that if we got stuck we'd be in a worse predicament than we were already in. But we followed the cars and went back west until the next town. The traffic was backed up for miles. There were also quite a few more accidents, one looked pretty bad but I never heard of any injuries.
We finally got to our daughter's house at 6:00 pm. What usually takes us 3 hours took 9 and we were all pretty tired and cranky by the time we got there. Amazingly the boys were very good the whole time we were sitting there. I know they were getting hungry but they didn't complain. Alex had a meltdown during the last hour of the drive, but I couldn't blame him...I was tired of sitting too.
Then Monday came. We had to be in Omaha by 11:00 to see the neurologist. We got up to find several more inches of snow had fallen in the night. We got out of town and the roads had been cleared but were pretty slippery. It took us longer to get there than usual but only about half an hour. The clinic called us as were driving there and said they were closing early, could we come on Tuesday instead. To say that I was annoyed would be putting it mildly. But we were in town, we had another appointment in the afternoon and probably would get home really late so we decided we'd spend the night and see the neurologist on Tuesday rather than make another trip. About an hour later they called back and said they had decided to close on Tuesday too so could we come on Wednesday. This is where I got a little owly. We live 5 hours away. When we make these trips my husband has to take time off of work and it's costly to drive that far. We have to include meals out and sometimes hotel rooms. And here there were asking me stay another day? To top it off we were in a store that was open and busy. The mall parking lot was full. The roads had been cleared and it was barely snowing! I was ticked. I really wanted to yell at this girl...but of course she was just the lowly office girl it wouldn't do any good. She hadn't made the decision.
You would think that would have been enough bad news for the day wouldn't you? But no, of course not. We thought Alex's incisions were healing really well, but they weren't. Apparently the sutures that are supposed to stay deep to help the muscles graft in are trying to come out. We aren't supposed to be able to see them, but we can. So, we're going to give them some more time to see if they'll stick. The dr said Alex's body could be rejecting them because they're foreign tissue. We have to wait a few weeks and see how they look. Either they'll stick, or they muscles will graft and he'll have to remove the stitches...or we'll have to do surgery again. We'll know more in 3-6 weeks.
We came home, or we started to...after 3 hours on the road it started getting really rough and slick so we decided to spend the night in Kearney. That turned out to be a good decision because hubby's parents and two of his sisters were there for a class they're taking. So we got to spend some time with them.
Yesterday we came home and had much better roads. We got home and the front door was frozen shut. As hubby tried to get the door open the door handle busted. Meanwhile Preston who had been feeling car sick started to vomit. Thankfully he made it outside the van.

This morning I woke up and prayed and decided that life is all about attitude. I was going to focus on the good and not let all this get me down. Yes, we're broke, but we're healthy. Yes we sat on the road for 4 hours but we were safe and alive. Yes, Alex may need more surgery but....okay, hard to find a positive about that one. But I wanted to try not to dwell on the negatives...

Then hubby's pickup wouldn't start in the cold....no problem...we'll cope.

Then I washed clothes and my washer broke.

Really Lord? This week? Today? I know...perspective and attitude...counting my blessings...or at least trying to.
I think I'll just go to bed and stay there until February or so...

Back to Omaha

2011-01-08T19:22:00.000-08:00

The little man has a follow up appointment with the surgeon in Omaha on Monday. We were fortunate to get an appointment with the neurologist on the same day, thus saving ourselves another trip. When you drive 5 hours one way, that is a big deal. Anyway, Alex's eye looks great and I'm anxious to see if the dr feels the same way.
The best part of going east is that I get to see my kids in Hastings on the way. We'll spend the night there tomorrow night and enjoy some quality time. I'm sure hugging that grandbaby will be on the agenda.
There is a storm coming in, so I'm praying for good weather, dry roads and safe travel.
And if I'm really lucky I can talk hubby into stopping at the bakery that has the really yummy cookies before we leave town. (smile)

My Word for 2011

2011-01-04T15:26:00.000-08:00

I feel like the last 6 years I have been in survival mode. Some years were better than others, but still, I have been putting my gears in four wheel drive and slogging through the mud, slipping and sliding all the way.

I have decided that I need to be more deliberate in the way that I live my life. If I don't like the way that it's headed than I need to figure out how to change it. Now I know all things can't be changed...some things have totally upturned our lives and we had no choice about it all. But I think my attitude makes a big difference in how I let these things affect me.

Now to my word: THRIVE

When I think of thrive I think of success, of growth, of positive attributes. I want to thrive in my relationships, in my personal life and mostly in my spiritual life. I want people to look at me and say, "wow, Jesus really shines through her!" Now that's what I call thriving.

2010-12-31T22:35:00.001-08:00

2010- where did you go?

2010-12-31T12:40:00.000-08:00

Today is the last day of the year. I barely remember last January...

oh yeah it was that earthquake in Haiti...what a terrible time. Well, it still is terrible there. My heart aches for all those children who lost their parents, for parents who lost their children.

February- I was working on patience. And cleaning poop out of the carpets...daily.

March- I discovered the audio books at the library's website

April- I got older, again.

May- Spent a lot of time praying for family members in the hospital.

June- Saw the neurologist and for the first time in over four year there was no sign of seizures!

July- I spent most of the month outside in the yard/garden or watching the boys at the pool.

August- Boys to school, at least part-time

September- I got to go the state fair for the first time ever!

October- I made and finished a Halloween quilt!! YEAH, on the finished part

November- Kids were all home. It was great, just went by too fast,

December- Surgery for the little guy and a recuperation that overwhelmed Christmas. Actually I don't feel like Christmas even happened. No kids Christmas program with cookies and fellowship, no caroling, no having a fun night at church decorating...ah...well apparently I am the only one misses these thing.

I discovered Pandora,
and watching Netflix instant play,
I took a real estate class and loved it,
I read more books,
I joined a quilt club that requires me to finish a block each month,
I put many miles on my carpet cleaner,
I stepped down as MOPS coordinator,
I participated in some online swaps,
I had one of the best gardens ever,
I discovered I have anger and depression issues,
I am struggling to forgive, it's very hard,
I am lonely,
I miss my old church, or the church it used to be...
I am looking for my niche in this world and not finding much success,
I am seeking guidance and help from my God...
I am learning to lean on HIM.

2011 is just around the corner...I am working on some goals. I'll share them later.

The books I've read this year

2010-12-31T12:36:00.000-08:00

I put a star by my favorites:

A Perfect Christmas

*A Cedar Cove Christmas

Pinheads and Patriots

Angels at Christmas

Silver Bells

Gold of Kings

*Unlocked

A Time to Dance

Between Sisters

Divine

Keepsake Crimes

Angel Falls

Distant Shores

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

The Omnivore's Dilemma

Comfort and Joy

The PennyPinchers Club

The RAVE Diet

He's Not Autistic But...

Special Needs Kids Eat Right

Respectable Sins

Firefly Lane

*Winter Garden

**Lessons at Blackberry Inn

A Promise to Believe In

Shopaholic Ties the Knot

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

30 Days to a More Generous Life

Sleeping Arrangements

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Waiting For Morning

Twenties Girl

Can You Keep a Secret?

Remember Me?

The Undomestic Goddess

Fast Women

The Lost Symbol

Welcome to the World Baby Girl

One Month To Live

Overcoming ADHD

I Can't Wait To Get To Heaven

The Friday Night Knitting Club

Children With Autism

Comfort Food

Speaking of chocolate...

2010-12-31T10:07:00.000-08:00

This goes back to the days in England again. My very favorite candy bar was called a Cabana bar. It was like an Almond Joy bar but it had bits of cherries mixed in with the coconut, a thin layer of caramel and then the chocolate. I've always thought I should try to recreate that sometime.

A trip down memory lane

2010-12-30T09:59:00.000-08:00

Many, many moons ago hubby and I lived in England. We were there for 3 1/2 years and loved it. In fact we had always planned on going back for our 25th anniversary, but of course that didn't work out.
Anyway, one of the things I loved while in England was their chocolate. I grew up on Hershey's chocolate bars so the candy we got in England was glorious! I especially love the Cadbury's Quality Street candies. After being gone for many years I wondered if the chocolate was really that different or if my memory was just playing tricks on me. My second daughter has a best friend who currently lives in England and when she came home she brought me a box of Quality Street.

On the side of the box it tells you what each little candy is. Yeah, nothing icky like the boxes of chocolate you buy here.

Don't they look like little gems. I think they would look gorgeous in a glass bowl, but I doubt they would last too long at my house. I have been rationing them out, and yes I'm sharing. :)

Are they as good as I remembered? Oh yes, they really are. Their chocolate is unlike anything I've had here in the states. And the toffee? Mmmm...so good.

Thank you Kelsey! I owe you one.

My Mom Heart Matters

2010-12-28T07:52:00.000-08:00

Sally Clarkson is doing a series of conferences titled My Mom Heart Matters! They will be in Colorado, California, Texas and North Carolina. At this time I don't see how I can go...our time and money are all invested in medical issues at this time. But if I enter the drawing and win I can give it to a friend! And since I have many friends whom I would like to encourage in their Mommy paths of life I'm hoping to win.

I met Sally one year at a homeschool conference in Denver. She and her husband took the time to talk to me and encourage me...and they didn't even know me. Many things that I read in Sally's books have come back to me and encouraged me as we took the little boys in and began to raise them.

Sally says, "This year, I will be recasting a vision for the Biblical and significant call of mothers in this strategic time of history. God’s design was to use mothers strategically in each generation to bring about civilization, moral strength, beauty and spirituality in each generation. God wants to use you to change the world for His glory, right from your own home. But you cannot do it alone! We want to provide support, friendship, fellowship and strength for you to complete your task."

If you are interested in going you can check out her website to find out more information and register. Mom Heart Matters If you are unable to go, find one of her books and read it. I promise it will encourage you no matter where you are on the Mommy path.

15 Authors I Love

2010-12-27T07:23:00.000-08:00

This is simple, name 15 authors you love or who have impacted your life. Don't think too hard. Here is my list:

1. Louisa May Alcott
2. Laura Ingalls Wilder
3. Bess Streeter Aldrich
4. Sally Clarkson
5. Mary Pride
6. Elizabeth Elliot
7. Frank Perretti
8. Randy Alcorn
9. C.S. Lewis
10. Tom Clancy
11. Francine Rivers
12. Karen Andreola
13. Debbie Macomber
14. Fannie Flagg
15. Karen Kingsbury

A trying week...

2010-12-26T05:05:00.000-08:00

This was the week of the little man's surgery. They removed part of the muscle from his leg...cut the muscle above both eyes and reattached the drafted muscle. He has stitches on his leg and over both eyes. He's not supposed to be using that leg until Tuesday...hmm, that's been impossible. We also have to put this ge like stuff in his eyes 4 times a day and cover his eyes with plastic guards at night so he doesn't pull the stitches out. Needless to say, having to watch him like a hawk and keep him from hurting himself has me a nervous wreck. But I don't want to have to put him through this again, so yes, I'm being a bit paranoid about not letting him touch those stitches. Not the best Christmas for the little guy, but he seems to be doing good. Too good perhaps. I think if he hurt a bit more he'd quit trying to run...and jump...and give me a heart attack!

Tuesday night after surgery

Wednesday morning after surgery. He looked pretty good. I think they are more red and swollen now than they were then.

Eggnog Punch

2010-12-25T19:16:00.000-08:00

This is a favorite recipe with my family and it's super easy to make. It has 3 ingredients.
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
1 quart eggnog
2 liter bottle Sprite

Mix the ice cream and eggnog until nice and creamy, add the sprite.

Delicious!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T19:04:00.000-08:00

When I was a little girl my mother taught Good News Club at our school. This was a song we used to sing:

"Merry Christmas everyone

Do you know God’s loving Son?
Who was born in Bethlehem
Shepherds came to worship Him.
Come let us worship,
Come let us worship,
Come let us worship,
God’s Son, the King of Kings.
Wise men guided by the star
As they traveled from afar
Came to see the Baby small
Let us worship one and all"

Adoption Reflections

2010-12-22T19:43:00.000-08:00

Today is the day. One year ago today we were in court and became the legal parents of our two little guys. Of course in our hearts they were "ours" long before that.
Today I had plenty of time to think on the long drive home. It seems like I meet more and more grandparents who are raising their grandkids. We decided to adopt for several reasons, but mainly because our daughter and her ex-husband asked us to make it permanent. It was hard...it's still hard. I know this has been hard on our daughter, and yet in a strange way I think it's made it easier to move on with her life.

Would we do it again? If the circumstances were the same yes we would.

Do we have regrets? You bet. Once these little guys came to live with us our lives took a total different direction from where we were headed. There are still times I mourn lost dreams...but the past is the past, better to leave it behind.

Today we celebrate the one year anniversary of parenthood- The Sequel.

I'm busy, busy, dreadfully busy...

2010-12-18T19:57:00.001-08:00

Can anyone identify what movie that comes from?

Right now it's the theme song for my days. I've been busy sewing Christmas quilts...time is short and I'm running behind...so posting has been last on my to do list! :)

Cranberry Eggnog Muffins

2010-12-04T15:03:00.000-08:00

I found this recipe over at the HomeBased Mom. This is probably one of the best muffins I've ever eaten. While baking the whole house smelled like Christmas.

Even if these are a couple of days old you can pop them in the microwave and for about 10 seconds and they taste like they're just out of the oven.

2¼ C flour

1 Tbsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

1 C plus 2 tbsp. granulated sugar, divided

2 large eggs

¾ C eggnog

5 1/3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

1 tsp. almond extract

1½ C coarsely chopped cranberries

1 C white chocolate chips

Streusel Topping:

½ C sugar

½ C all-purpose flour

½ tsp. ground cinnamon

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, slightly softened

½ C chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400° F. Line 14-16 muffin cups with paper liners.
In a bowl, add together the flour, baking powder and salt and stir to combine. In a large bowl, add together 1 cup of sugar, eggs, eggnog, melted butter and almond extract. Stir until well combined. Add in the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Do not over mix.

Chop the cranberries. I used my mini food processor and just pulsed a few times. Toss the chopped cranberries with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, and fold into the batter along with the white chocolate chips. Fill the prepared muffin lines 2/3 full.

Streusel topping:
Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon and butter. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or a fork until a coarse, crumbly mixture forms. Add nuts if using. Sprinkle the mixture on top of the muffin batter.

Bake for about 18-22 minutes, or a until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

Thanksgiving In A Pan

2010-11-30T13:45:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving in a Pan

Categories: Casseroles, Main Dish, Poultry

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

1 pkg stuffing mix

2 1/2 cups cooked turkey

2 c frozen cut green beans

1 12 oz jar turkey gravy

pepper

Instructions:
Prepare stuffing mix according to directions. Transfer to a 11x7x2 inch baking dish. Top with turkey, beans, gravy and pepper. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until heated throughout.

This recipe exported by PDACookbook Plus - http://www.wakefieldsoft.com/

Note: I use an 8 x 8 pan and make this and freeze it. It's great when I need a casserole to take to someone.

I'm thinking I may use this with leftovers since hubby will be gone this week.

Thanksgiving Review

2010-11-30T13:03:00.000-08:00

It was nice to have all of my kids and grandgirls home for a holiday. When everyone left it got awfully quiet. I told hubby it's a good thing that we still have two boys at home or the silence would be deafening.

Here are some pics from our time together:

Miss Lexie enjoying the swing

The boys enjoying an early Christmas gift

Kenny and Lexie

The entire crew

All my kids and grandkids

Kenny, Lexie and Grace

Molly, Jared and Kaitlyn

The grandgirls who by this time were fed up with cameras

Me with the girls!

After our Thanksgiving feast our older kids gave us an early anniversary present.They had planned a 3 day getaway to Boulder, Colorado for us. They booked the room, bought us tickets to a dinner theater and DD2 is coming to watch the boys for us. They had even talked to hubby's boss about him getting the time off. We were so surprised and excited at the thought of getting away alone for a bit. Now we just have to wait the three months until we can go!

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T04:11:00.000-08:00