Christmas Photo Shoot 2008

We, and by we I mean I, decided to take our Christmas card picture last night.

Can I tell you all something?

I live with a bunch of goofballs. For example, as we were walking into the store Friday, I noticed Ben's baseball hat was on crooked. I took it off of his head to fix it and his harmonica fell out....out from under his hat. He had on jeans...with pockets....but his hat seemed a much more logical location to store it.

Anyway, we did finally get a good picture, but it took several takes! I didn't include the good one because it will be on our card.

We're singing....we're reading a book and we're sssiiinnngggiiinnnggg!!

I can't believe I'm posting this, so I am going to do this quick, before I change my mind!

Thanksgiving 2008 - Pass the Turkey, Please

Gobble, Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving!

I pray that you will all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with your family and friends this year. We are going to go to my parents house tomorrow and then to Eric's parents on Sunday for lunch. We always look forward to the day with family. In the busy-ness of our lives, we don't get to spend a whole lot of time together.

Ben had a feast at school today. His class dressed up as Indians. I thought he was a pretty cute one. :)

On Monday, I did make it through the trip to the deer processing plant. I actually had fun...and they let me use a knife...a sharp one! ha!

I was going to post some pictures, but decided against it.

Your Welcome.

Here is the group picture that we took at the end. These kids did a great job and never complained one time about the job that they were doing. I have really grown to love these kids.
Here we are sportin' our new hats that the plant gave us!

By the way, I will not be posting Turkey Trot pictures this year... I'M SLEEPING IN!!

Fun Times With Friends

We love spending time with friends. The Lord has blessed us with some great ones. One of the things that brings us together is the fact that our kids are all around the same ages. They all seem to get along pretty well, too. Another bonus is that we all go to church together and because of that, we are pretty much family.

Last night, we were able to get together with some friends to play hand & foot. (Gretchen and I beat up on the guys pretty badly! heehee)
While we played cards, the kids played a game called "Bible Baseball" and Clay said something that was so cute. He's in 4th grade and is just one of the cutest kids. It was his turn to answer the question and he said, "Oh man, I just can't put my tongue on it!" It was so funny! He meant to say that it was right on the tip on his tongue and he got it mixed up with I can't put my finger on it! Cute, cute, cute!

Anyway, I decided that I have been a little lax on picture taking lately, so I took the camera along with me.

Here are a few snapshots from the night:

This is a silly one...a perfect fit for this crew. We were missing a couple of boys from another family that couldn't join us. We almost went over a kidnapped them for the evening! We missed having them all there with us.

Ethan and Clay, playing some football!!

Clint was begging me not to take his picture... I won though.

Wyatt and Ben are in the same class at school. They love their teacher and she thinks they are pretty okay. She is a Christian, but can't really teach anything to the kids about it in the public school, so she lets these two goofballs teach the kids a new song every week from church. There's nothing in the rulebook about that!

Well, that is pretty much how our Saturday went. I hope you all had a good one, too!

Ok, I'm finally gonna break out the Christmas music

It's a cold day in Indiana. Actually, it has been a cold WEEK here. Have I mentioned that I don't much care for the cold?

Well, I don't.

Anyway, we have decided to break out the Christmas music and DVD's today. Our kids have been begging for awhile now, so we have finally given in to them. One of the things we did this year to save some money was to get rid of our big cable package and go to the very, very basic. I don't really watch it much, so it hasn't bothered me at all. So, I am sure that because of the lack of stuff to watch on TV, I will be hearing these Christmas DVD's over and over this season!

As far as Christmas music goes, I have been listening to our Cantata that the choir is doing for a month or so now. It never hurts to listen to that as much as possible! Ethan has a speaking part in it this year also, so he has been listening, too. I am anxious to listen to some of my favorites that I dug out today...

Up in the attic, down on my knees, lifetimes of boxes, timeless to me...
(sing along now)
Letters and photographs, yellowed with years....

Not to mention Sleigh Ride and The Chipmunk Song, Away in a Manger, Silent Night, What Child is This, there are so many that I love. What about you?

In other news, Ben did get his cast off on Wednesday. His foot is still not totally healed, so he has to wear his new boots all the time for the next three weeks.

Oh, and he can't run or jump for three weeks either....yeah, that won't be hard to handle! He's a six year old little boy! I almost wish that they would have put another cast on! That would have been easier. :)

On Monday, I get to go to the deer processing plant with the high school kids from Ethan's school.

This could be interesting.

I make it a point to not look at the meat in the grocery store a whole lot, so I think I am in for a interesting morning.

How do I get myself into these predicaments? Maybe I will post a video or some pictures next week.... :)Kidding.

Just because I'm going to be grossed out doesn't mean you all have to be, too...I guess.

I will leave you with this...

I'm singing, I'm in the store and I'm ssssiiinnngggiiinnggg.....:)

A Day In My Life

I have seen several people do this on their blog, so I decided to bore you with the mundaneness (is that a word) of a day in my life...in this season.



Do enjoy. :)



I will start with saying that we typically start our day at 7am. Some days it's 7:20~ those would be considered the "others" days in my blog heading, "Some days are better than others." Sometimes I wake up before everyone else~ those days would be the "better" days in my heading. :) They are few and far between! Like I also say in my heading... every day is a blessing. I truly do believe that.

This morning I:
Feed the kids breakfast
Cassidy came in the door
Loaded my three kids in the van that had a light dusting of snow. Snow...I'll save that for another day.
Picked up 3 boys
Dropped off 2 of the boys and my 2 youngest at school
Took the other boy and my oldest to school at our church

GOT COFFEE :)

Eric brought the baby to me at the church
Worked 4 hours at the school in our church
Gleaned some bits of wisdom from our pastor for about thirty minutes
Came home so that Eric could get back to work after his lunch break.
Cassidy and Olivia were sleeping
Washed dishes
Did 2 loads of laundry
Got the kids up and went to pick up my kids from school.
Cassidy went home
Cleaned out the pantry
Did 2 more loads of laundry. Olivia spit up on Ethan ten minutes after the LAST load went in. Perfect.
Made brownies for Bible study tonight
Made supper (tacos)
Olivia went home
Did dishes
Apparently, we have installed new cabinets in the bathroom.
Actually, they have always been there, but you wouldn't know by the way that I smacked my head on them when I stood up from picking something up off of the floor.
Take Ibuprofen
Cut out Bo.x Top.s.
~~~Now I am writing on my blog and...
going to Bible study
Next I will ...
do my quiet time (I spent most of my day looking for my book! Found it!)
have some down time
Finally...

bedtime :)


So, there you go. That was my Monday. It is Monday, right? ;)

This Boot Was Made For Walkin'

Whoever came up with the clever boot that fits over a cast so that someone can walk and not have to use crutches must not have had a six year old little boy in mind when developing the idea. I can safely say this after a month of watching Ben get around in this thing.

It took him approximately one half of a day to figure out that yes, you can indeed run in a cast and boot... and I don't mean a slow jog. I'm talking full-out, first grade, little boy running!

Here is Ben's cast now, almost four weeks after being put on...(notice the chunks of blue cast that are missing)
This was four weeks ago... look at those sweet, little, clean toes.

Oh and the boot. This poor thing has been through it! Can you see where my husband had to sew it together? One month of wear and tear.

One. month.

We go back to the doctor on Wednesday. I am really hoping that the cast will be gone after that. I have to go find a good pair of hard-soled hiking boots to take with us. Doctor's orders.

Any suggestions?

Do You See the Smoke? Yep, I've Been Thinkin'

This was going to be a Wordless Wednesday post because I have been a little short on words lately. Those of you who are around me daily probably don't believe that, but it's true. Unfortunately, I don't even have a picture that is worthy of a Wordless Wednesday. I have allowed myself to be way too busy and now I am paying the price. My creativity is shot, my humor is shot.

I have done lots of thinking. I read a blog this afternoon and it really got me thinking about whether or not I am allowing God to use me to my fullest potential. Does the Holy Spirit have TOTAL control of me? Am I fulfilling my purpose in this life?

I have a small frame on a shelf above my kitchen sink. In it is this:

In case you can't read it, this is what it says: I am here, at this moment, by Divine design, on temporary assignment, to accomplish God's sovereign purpose, by God's redemptive/sustaining grace, for God's eternal glory.

(To Glorify God by Dr. Nell Collins)

It's just consumed my thoughts lately. What's your take on this statement? You can just think on it or you can leave me a comment about it, whatever you prefer! :)

I decided that since I had the camera out, I would show you what is on the other shelves above my sink.

So fun!

Here are two of my favorite pictures of my boys. Ben is in the Tig.ger frame and Ethan in the Po.oh frame. I think Ben was 6 weeks old and Ethan was 2 in these pictures. I love my boys!

On this shelf is a picture of us with some of our best friends. I have been blessed with some of the best "best friends" in my life that a girl could ask for. They all hold a very special place in my heart.

This one is Sarah at 6 weeks old. This girl would not wake up for these pictures! At the time, I was not too happy, but now I love it. It is one of the most precious pictures of her that I have. I love you, my girly-girl! (Actually, girly-girl is pushing it a little. She ripped a huge hole in a brand new pair of capri's this summer while climbing a tree!)
Finally, is the picture of me with Cassidy at her first birthday party. Even though this is about 65 lbs. ago, it will always be one of my favorite pictures with her. This shelf is actually not above my sink, but it's close. Don't mind the baggie behind the picture. Those are just our Box.Tops.

Oh yeah, we're one of those families that saves labels, box.tops and plastic bags for school. Every cent helps! :)
I am so thankful for all of you, my bloggy friends. This extension of my life means a lot to me, which is why it bothers me when I don't make the time to post. I will try to do better with it. Thanks for hanging in there with me!

(This is where my fancy little signature goes, but it's gone AWOL)

It's a couch day

It is one of those Saturdays that I love to enjoy every once in awhile. Usually, I am a lady on the go.

Go, go, go.

Today I am not....and that's just the way I want it. It's cool, cloudy and misty. A day that usually makes me feel all blah. But today, I love it. Later, I may venture out to one of my favorite little stores that we have here in town. They are having a sale and I think I may try to do some Christmas shopping, but we'll see. It's just a good couch day.

Eric and I went to the airport last night to pick up my parents and our friends that went on the trip to Israel. I am looking forward to hearing all about their trip. From what I have heard already, it was something that they will remember for the rest of their lives. The pictures that I have already seen are amazing. I would love to go along next time. :)

My schedule should get back to normal, whatever that is! I am so thankful to have my friend, Michelle, back to take over the schoolroom. I have a much deeper respect for her after doing her job for two weeks. She makes it look so easy.
It's not that easy.
Actually, I really don't think I'm going to let her leave again....ever. Not even in the summer! :) Oh, I'm only kidding. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

But... I.am.spent.

Which is why this gloomy, dreary day was so welcome. I needed a couch day today.

As I was finally checking blogs that I l-o-v-e, I found this little challenge. Thanks Alana! She found it over at Leah's blog and I wanted to join in. I would encourage you to join in, too. I will have my list of what I am thankful for this November over on my sidebar. I will do the best I can to update it every day.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:1

Randomness

We have had a whirlwind week around here! I love what I'm doing and it's been fun!
Yesterday we had a program at Ben and Sarah's school for Honor Roll. They both were on the A Honor Roll this nine weeks.

Last night was our bowling night with the church league. I started off pretty bad, but by the third game, I had improved greatly. The highlight of the night though, was this little visitor---

That's my baby girl. Isn't she the cutest little elephant you have ever seen? I just love kissing on those cheeks!

Last, our two youngest got their school pictures back this week. I cannot believe how much Sarah has grown up. She has changed and lost her baby look. She is turning into a young lady---which makes me a little sad and nervous all at once! She's finally got long hair! Bless her heart, she's waited 8 long years for that hair!

Ben has changed some, too. He is looking older and not so much like my baby boy. He is still the cuddler though and I will keep it that way for as long as he will allow it! ;)

Our friends and family that are in Israel right now are having a great time. After chatting with my pastor, I am thinking that Eric and I need to start saving our pennies. This is a trip that we would love to make the next time they go. They have seen where Jesus was baptized, Pastor preached in the synagogue where Jesus healed the man with the withered hand, they saw the cliff where they tried to throw Jesus off and have taken a ride on The Sea of Galilee. The hotel that they are at right now is 23 seconds from the shore. Amazing! They have done much more and I can't wait to experience that for myself.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

The Chocolate Lovin' Winners!

Thank you to everyone who participated in my Bloggy Carnival Giveaway. I have picked my winners using the Random Integer Generator. I love that thing!


Here are your random numbers:



102 - Jinxy & Me
72 - Just Another SAHM
38 - Reflections in the Window




Timestamp: 2008-11-01 14:33:21 UTC

Congratulations ladies!! I will be contacting you so that I can get some much needed info from you!