Tuesday, March 31, 2009

One Year Check

So H had her one year check today and she made it to 18lbs and almost reached the tenth percentile. Yeah!!! The Dr. said we still need to keep an eye on development since she still isn't up on all fours crawling but he thinks she will catch up. He says we need to remember she was born 4 weeks early and that is considered a preemie so she does have a little catching up to do. I always forget this fact. She has quite a fast army crawl though and when she can find something low enough she is trying to pull herself up in the last couple of weeks. She doesn't like the feeling as though she is going to fall which I'm sure isn't a good thing when learning how to walk. We also think we found our solution to her extreme constipation. Apple Juice....seems to do the trick better than anything else I have tried.

Here she is attempting to crawl or maybe even stand up.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Let Me Check My Ipod.....

Yep it looks like I'm free that day.

Friday, March 27, 2009

We Were Not Dissapointed

So for H's first birthday we had J's family come over and we celebrated not only H's birthday but also E's 2nd. It was a "Very Hungary Caterpillar" Party. After eating a picnic food dinner it was time for "The Cake". Now both B and L both weren't really into their cakes. B didn't want to get his hands dirty so he wouldn't touch it and L just picked at hers. J and I had high hopes that H would finally be our child who would dive right in. At first I was a little nervous but in the end she did not disappoint.
"Oooooh, Ahhhhh!!!"


"O.K. that is really enough of that singing."


"They just set a whole cake in front of me."


"They didn't say anything about the first hand so let's try the other."


"And now for a taste."


"This is a dream come true."


"Hmm so there is banana cake under the good tasting, gooey stuff on top."


E Then got to blow out her candles. She was not at all impressed with our singing and I thought she was going to start crying. She had a great attempt at blowing out her candles though.
Happy Birthday E and H!!!!

My Have You Grown

Sweet Birthday Girl

March 27, 2009 at 6:45pm

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday J!!!!!!!
The Birthday buddies again.
So J wanted me to make this cake that looked like his old RX7. I didn't want to make black frosting so figured I would make a red one. Well......it came out more of a hot pink color. It's the effort that counts right. This cake was also sprung on me the morning of his birthday. So J I hope you enjoy your bright pink cake and I hope you know that I wouldn't have made a cake like this at last minute for anybody but you. I love you...a bunch.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Surprise Birthday Trip

So J's birthday present was a surprise trip to Fort Wayne so he could hear one of his favorite preachers in person. It took much planning to keep this is a surprise. I would pack a little and then shove the suitcase back in it's usual storage space. I didn't let the kids on what we were doing exactly and they didn't know we were going to be gone overnight. We were half way there before J figured it out!!!

The kids always enjoy staying in a hotel.
H loved splashing Daddy.
The two birthday buddies.
It was a lot of fun to go away and just relax on Saturday without any plans. Sunday service was great too but I forgot to take pictures.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

I hope you don't have "Privacy"!!!

So L is really into asking what words mean lately. Today in her Samantha book she wanted to know what a hem was. She loves learning new words. Well last night I realized that I need to teach more definitions of the words L hears. Here is how the conversation went...........

L: "Mommy I went to the bathroom and had privacy." (She seemed upset and I thought she meant B had walked in on her and just had the wording wrong.)
M:"Did B walk in by accident?"
L:"No, I had privacy!!!"
M:"Why are you upset that you had privacy?"
L:"Because maybe I'm getting sick"
M:"Do you know what privacy means?" (Long Pause.) It means that you have time to yourself."
L:"Oh." (very confused look)
M:It then hits me. "Do you mean you had diarrhea?" (trying not to laugh)
L:"Yeah, That's what I meant!!!"

So I'm really wondering what L must have thought when mommy would say, "I just need some privacy." L wasn't sick. She just had that one episode of "privacy".

Recipe: Chicken Cacciatore

This recipe is great for those crazy kinds of days. It makes the house smell wonderful too!!!



3lb chicken pieces(I use drumsticks.)

4c tomatoes, chopped

1 green pepper, cut in strips

2 onions, thinly sliced(I only use 1.)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 bay leaf

1tsp. salt

1 tbs. fresh oregano or 1tsp. dried

1tbs. fresh basil or 1/2 tsp. dried

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4c white wine(optional. I don't use.)

1c mushrooms,chopped (optional)



Combine in slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours. Serve over pasta or noodles. (I love recipes where the prep time can be written on one line!!!)

Monday, March 16, 2009

Thankful:New Beginnings

So I haven't been keeping up with my "Thankful" posts. But this is a new beginning as that is a theme running through my everyday lately. I've changed many things in my schedule. Our homeschooling, house cleaning, grocery shopping, and evening schedules have all changed in the last couple of months. I'm still trying to mesh them all together but I think once it happens it is going to be great. So today I am thankful for new leading, new calling, new vision, new grace, and new beginnings.

Focused on Multigenerational Faithfulness

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gate

Unwelcome House Guest's: Where I Draw the Line on Hospitality


The Flying Squirrel

The flying squirrel is crazy.

Though he has no feathers (much less wings),

He scampers up into the tallest tree

And cries, “Toot-toot! I'm a parachute!”

And away off the highest branches he springs

Into empty air, spreading every hair,

His arms and legs spread wide to the side,

Till he lands with a thump that's almost quiet......

Admire it child but don't try it.

John Gardner (in Eric Carle's Animals, Animals)

So we have been having problems with Flying Squirrels the last couple of months. Yes we had one actually get into our house and yes I was ready to put the "For Sale" sign up. I think we have things taken care of now. As soon as we hired somebody to take care of things we haven't had a problem. I think the flying squirrels tapped our phone lines and as soon as they heard "Humane Euthanasia" they packed up camp. Oh and just so you know, Flying Squirrels are CRAZY!!!