Merry Christmas to you and yours

Since there's a nice stack of mostly ready Christmas cards sitting on my counter here . . oops, here's some virtual Christmas Wishes from us to you!

Sledding Mountain

The other day EH and I were discussing the need to find a good sledding hill. H having overheard us offered a serious four year old's suggestion. "How about Mount Everest?"

Mary is back

Last year I posted about a book that I love to read this time of the year by Francine Rivers. Well I'm at it again and this time I didn't have to cross my fingers and hope that it wasn't checked out at the library, I have my very own copy. Thank you mom. xoxo

When the shepherds arrive to catch a glimpse of their savior, it is so simply powerful tears stream down my face. A short bit later in the book, still the night of Jesus' birth, the author has Mary waking and standing at the opening of the cave and pondering all that has happened. She prays "Lord Most High, Creator of all people, you who dwell in heaven so far above us, you who are holy, I love you. . . . I adore you. There is no other like you in all the universe." Then after she returns to sleep "Outside, God's sentinels stood guard against the one who would destroy the child. Finding no way to enter into the humble sanctum, Satan turned away in a cold blast of fury. 'I will find another way to kill the one who threatens my domain!' . . . Dark laughter echoed in the night while Mary and Joseph slept. Only Jesus awakened and heard."

That gives me the chills - "Jesus . . heard". I know this book is one author's way of interpreting what the actual events could have been like but what if he did comprehend his mission even as an infant. He was/is God.

Bonnet

Here's a belated post to display a fun project I did. I purchased the bonnet pattern from Angry Chicken and just love it! I ended up making two, one for each of my sweet nieces.

E's creative side

He woke up early from his nap and decided to explore the drawers of the desk we thought he couldn't open







After the magic eraser. I love these things!

Frog and Toad

H experienced his first visit to the theater. Frog and Toad was the play and it was very well performed. Auntie P arranged everything with her homeschool group and we got to bring her two oldest along with us while she watched Little E and her youngest. I assumed that Frog and Toad would be wearing some type of frogish face or feet so I was slightly put off when they didn't. It wasn't until I was absorbed into the show that I realized it didn't even a matter. The actors were so good at becoming their parts with mannerisms and voices alone.

There was one intense part where Frog is telling Toad a scary story. I had my eyes on my youngest two kids. They were faring pretty well until in a split second H launched himself out of his chair and into my lap. In another scene some teasing critters pull open the bottom flap on Toad's '20's style swim suit revealing brown froggy skin. My H was mortified that someone would even consider doing that to someone and couldn't figure out why they wanted to see Toads bottom. So many questions and endless discussion on the topic ensued. Thankfully he seems to be over it now.

The day of the play also happened to be the day that we received large amounts of snow. So after about a total of 5 hours of snail pace travel through the snow and passing a dozen or so cars in the ditch or smashed up I was so grateful to be home safe and sound. The kids did great in the car amusing themselves with books, songs, radio theater, and the alphabet game.

It came!

My Deceptively Delicious was delivered from Amazon this last week. It is an awesome cookbook about getting your kids to eat good food - it's everywhere in blog land. Pictures accompany most every recipe which is so appealing to my visual self!

I have already tried out two of the recipes - a cookbook record for me! We tried banana french toast (since E won't eat bananas unless they are chips), YUM! Next up was the pumpkin oatmeal. A thumbs up by E and I but H was big NO while EH just couldn't process eating something like pumpkin pie for breakfast. If you're a fan of pumpkin pie and the time of the day you eat it isn't a problem this is for you! It's warm spices, thick and smooth tasting.


We made our first batch of Christmas cookies this week. In honor of my Mennonite German heritage (and because they are very kid friendly) we made peppernuts. They look like tiny pillows of bread covered (excessively by two eager helpers) with red and green sugar sprinkles. I'm excited by the ingredients substitutions I was able to make with little to no taste variation. In place of the shortening I used coconut oil and in place of the sugar I used Xylitol. I'm going to try this on a few other recipes and see how it goes. I revel in desserts so being able to eat something that I don't have to feel too guilty about is fabulous. Yes there was still white flour in the recipes, which I try to avoid, but some things just don't work with whole wheat flour. We've begun to use some white bean flour in recipes that call for flour but I still need to do some experimentation with it. It seems like a great alternative and also a good source of protein.

My "other" work

I don't think I've ever written about my work - probably because most of you know that it lurks behind the scenes of my daytime life. By night I transform into Super Transcriber! The "super" part may be a bit of an exaggeration but at least my son thinks I type like lightening.

Prior to giving birth to children I worked as an administrative assistant at a college. My office was the Center for Distance Education. I loved that office - still do. When the opportunity came along for me to pick up some work hours transcribing their courses from home I jumped on it. I have spent hours absorbing Old Testament Archaeology, Psychology, and oh yes who could forget . . . Math for the Liberal Arts, Algebra and Precalculus! I just finished Precalculus and I think we'll have to sand out the finger nail marks I left on the desk. Just ask any math teacher that I've ever had the privilege of tormenting, they will walk far far in the opposite direction of me. I am happy to announce that I will soon be starting a new, lighter course - Christian Theology. I say that sarcastically but I really am looking forward to it, anything that's not math!

Life's big questions

This week H asked some BIG questions.

1st question: "So mom when we want chicken, the farmer just kills a chicken and we eat it?" I don't think I have ever had this conversation with him before so I'm not sure where it came from, at least HE seeeeeemed to be okay with it.

2nd question: "How do babies come out?" No kidding! Yikes . . . I told him we have a great book that we're going to read in February about babies. I seriously needed to buy some time. I don't think that the book goes into quite that much detail but here's to hoping he's forgotten by then.

Advent books

Hey girls (and the men in my life who read this: EH and Dad-I love you!),
I just came across this contest at Two Square Meals where you can win an advent book just for commenting. Your chances are great so go comment and see if you can win. Let me know if you win!

Also I found this place that will be having an Advent Carnival starting tomorrow. I would like to do something like advent in our home but I'm unfamiliar with what to do so I'm hoping to get some ideas at At A Hen's Place. I picked up an Advent candle set on clearance last year and I've got that set up. Now, I just have to figure out how to "do" it.

Another book that I want to share with you is this one. The ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel. I need to give it a fresh read but if I remember right there were some neat ideas in it.

Congressional Proclamation

There shall be "a day of public Thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God . ."
- 1789 Congressional Proclamation

Thanksgiving books for Preschoolers

We are enjoying "Off to Plymouth Rock" by Dandi Daley Mackall this Thanksgiving season. It respectfully tells the basic story of the pilgrims with playful pictures and a fun rhythm. The included CD has the author reading the book and engaging kids in some sing-along, clap along games.
My mom gave us "Thanksgiving, A Time to Remember" by Barbara Rainey. It is a wealth of good reading. The large print can be read to smaller children - probably broken up into chapters, and the smaller print provides deeper historical and other details. There is a journal section where I think I'll make it an annual tradition to start recording the items listed on our thankful garland/tree here.

Thanksgiving Garland

For the past few weeks H has been listing off the things he's thankful for. We've hung them from our thankful garland in the front entry way. What a blessing to have a reminder of all that is good in our comings and our goings.

That is . . . when I'm not chasing E to put his hat and mittens on for the 10th time, or giving H another reminder that "we're leeeeaaaaving!", or repacking the diaper bag that E loves to fling everywhere, or trying to find a mate for a favorite shoe. Admittedly, it's a little easier to notice when I'm carrying in a sleeping 4 year old and a toddler to tuck into bed. Ahhhhh...quiet!

Here's a list of the things H is thankful for:
. leaf piles
. pepperoni pizza (nitrate free of course)
. Little E (Wow!)
. Toast
. Star wars music

Lakewater Studio

Check out the paintings in this Etsy shop! I've actually shared meal or two (or many) with this talented artist. She kind of has to because we're related but she's super nice and talented and after 11 years I've given up trying to be like her and just really really admire her.

Big church

After dropping E off in the church nursery tonight, H very much wanted to go to "big church" with me. I said sure since he rarely asks. He and I found our way into some seats. (EH was working a job with his dad so it was just the two of us.)

Right off H noticed the guy ahead of us had his hand uplifted in worship. H did the same, then grinning and nodding he pointed to the gentleman and then to his own uplifted hand.

After worship the paster told a little joke and dear H laughed along with everyone, though a little louder and longer than those around us.

After falling off his chair a couple of times I decided it was time to check him into his Sunday school class. He readily agreed and on the way down the isle he high-fived a but slightly surprised lady who might have just been giving him a little wave.

I also need to add that last Tuesday when we were getting ready to go to AWANA he shared the following comment in a last ditch effort to stay home instead. "Mom did you know I already know everything there is to know in the Bible?"

And in the car today he noticed the POW flags. A long time ago when he asked what they were I told him that they were a reminder to us to pray for our soldiers and their families. That may not be their actual purpose but it seemed like a good answer and another way to instill "pray at all times without ceasing" into our daily life. Today he prayed a lengthly prayer for our soldiers, most of which I couldn't hear because he whisper prays, but it was very sincere. As he prayed his night night prayers tonight, without prompting he prayed for my big toe which I smashed a couple of weeks ago and it is still giving me grief.

Thank you Lord that his heart is tender towards You, even if he already knows all there is to know!

I won!

Yep I did! Bloggy Giveaways by Rocks in my Dryer is always GIVING AWAY lots of great stuff and I got to get in on the action. I won a calendar for my purse. I'm a month view kinda girl and I need roooooom to write. Those two features usually don't go hand in hand in something that you can tuck in your purse. This calendar has fold out pages so that I can actually do just that.

Anyway, one of my favorite end of the year activities is to curl up on the couch with a good show, and some tea, and fill in all the birthdays, anniversaries, etc on a fresh calendar. I'm salivating at the thought! This year I'm even going to try to color code things and put birthdays in purple, and appointments in red, etc, etc. Go ahead and laugh. I know that there are those out there who "get it". Probably some of the people who read The Lazy Organizer. I really enjoy her blog and not even because it was the first blog that I won a contest on. (I won a subscription to an organizing magazine!!) I'm still considering posting her organizational bags that she sells on my blog.

Okay, enough for now. You'd think I was getting paid to write reviews (I'm not).

Sorting clothes and . . .

I just tackled the piles of outgrown and seasonal clothes that have been looming higher and higher around E's room (notice I don't refer to him as little E as much any more, he's just not so little :( ). Anyway I found myself absently labeling the bin "BOY 18-24 mo". Well, after pondering the solid streak of boy blood born grandchildren in my family, writing "boy" just comes naturally. But do you see the flip side? I'm AM labeling it. It just goes to show that the hope for a girl still lives. I don't think that it has to be said that I love my boys!

Along that line of conversation, may I announce . . . another baby is in the works! Ha! You thought it was me didn't you? Today the news is on behalf of my beloved brother and his wife in ID. BK5 is now just over 3 months in the "cooker". A huge hug goes out to them as we are all thrilled. M is not feeling well so please keep her in your prayers.

Clean hands

Since I dreamt I blogged about this last night (weird!) I figured I'd better do it. A girlfriend pulled this Burt's Bees hand sanitizer out of her purse to share and at first I declined because I don't like hand cleaner gels (I'm too picky about things like hormone mimicing parabens!). BUT, upon closer inspection I love it! Now it's in my purse too.

UPDATE: Give credit where credit is due! Thank you MT! :)

O Master

Photo by EH

O Master, let me walk with Thee
In lowly paths of service free
Tell me Thy secret, help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care
Teach me Thy patience, still with Thee
In closer, dearer company
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong
In truth that triumphs over wrong

O Master let me walk with Thee
In closer, dearer company

O Master let me walk with Thee
Let me walk with Thee
In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future's broadening way
In peace that only Thou canst give
With Thee, O Master, let me live

-Washington Gladden, 1879

I can't get enough of Amy Grant's "Rock of Ages" or "Legacy".

First snow

Our first snow! In honor of these first flakes we served hot cocoa for breakfast. Yum!

The flurries lasted about as long as the hot cocoa did. Short and sweet!

I spoke too soon . . . the flurries are back!

Away

We went away . . . and oh did it feel GOOD! Two whole nights and two whole days of freedom. Thank you Auntie P and Uncle A for absorbing our boys into your family for the weekend so we could do this.

Our first night away we ate at a restaurant that catered to serving hors d'oeuvres (YUM!). Then we went down by the river and the train depot so EH could have some fun shooting pictures. We fought off the biting chill with hot chocolate then enjoyed an impromptu private concert by a brass ensemble as they rehearsed in the depot. It was one of those moments that will forever be imbedded in my memory as a favorite.

The B&B&B (the third B being bread as they send their guests home with a loaf of fresh baked bread) was pretty sweet. Its focus was on its historical round barn and the outdoor oven where they bake their bread.








Our room, the quilted bird, was so "me" as I love to decorate with distressed birds and quilting is a favorite past time.

We took the "long way" home and spent our second night/day in a quiet (A.K.A. no children around) home. EH worked to finish up the electrical work in our basement and I tackled a couple organizational tasks.

By the time we picked up the boys I was sooo ready to smooch their cheeks and tuck them into their own beds.

Candy free-for-all

Oh yah . . . my mouth is stuffed with some tasty treat. Don't you love me for posting this oh so lovely post Trick-R-Treat, freeze my tush off and have flat wind blown hair picture of myself.



We went as the royal family. EH and H were knights, E was our family jester (quite appropriate!) and I the maiden. How do I happen to have just the right dress hanging in my closet? A sweet friend from high school had a renaissance themed wedding and I, being a part of the wedding party, got to dress the part. Lots of fun except that my dearly beloved happened to be home with pneumonia at the time.

Little E is officially crazy for suckers and H has this weird way of sniffing each piece of candy and declaring it good or bad. He opted to trade in some candy for tickets (from dear old me) to go ride the little carosel up at the grocery store. The extra candy has already been sent to work with EH so that I don't have to fight the urge to consume it all. I'm still going to see if I can get E to wear his costume for 30 seconds so I can get a picture of him up here.

Jane Austin

Check out my Jane Austin quiz link on the sidebar. Elinor is of course from Sense and Sensibility. The movie has fond memories for me as it came out when I was in college. I remember my roommates and I going to a late showing and we had the entire theater to ourselves. Good girly times!

Free tunes

I'm a fan of Sarah Groves. Love, love, love her music! Just thought I'd let you all know that iTunes chose a song off of her newest CD to offer for free this week. Follow this link if you're interested in downloading "When the Saints". This link will take you to her Myspace web page with lots of information.

Challenge to myself

I'm 32 years old (if I recall correctly). I challenge myself to decide who I'm going to vote for in the next presidential election without checking out the bumper stickers on my dad's truck. Can I do it? We'll see . . .

I feel like a giggle

I don't claim to really be a die hard watcher of any TV show lately. BUT, I just sat down for a rare opportunity to flip channels (boys are in bed and EH is gone for the evening) and I could just giggle (really, I know that sounds ridiculous but it's true!) I just found out that one of my all time favorite TVs shows of the last 10 years is showing re-runs. Sue Thomas FB Eye! I love sign language and I like trying to catch signs that I know, the main character is deaf. Plus the characters are all wholesome and adorable. I think I'll have to set the VCR to record them for me (or more likely ask EH to do it - my electronic hero!) Anyway, just wanted to share my joy!

War Paint

Trusting your brother with face paint . . .










I call it . . . war paint!

My favorite pirate

Arrrrr! Make way for Blue Face Scar Face.

Praying for Aunt J

I have been meaning to blog about this for sometime but I wasn't sure where to start. In some ways this all happened so suddenly that it took some time to absorb it. Now so much has happened I'm not sure where to start.

EH's Aunt Judi has been battling cancer. Sometime in the last couple of months an opportunity arose for her to be the recipiant of some cutting edge medical treatments. EH's mom was a perfect match (Praise God!) for the stem cell transplant so things were set in motion for "Ga" to go to Texas. She has been there now (to donate stem cells and now to care for Judi) for almost two months and will be with Judi off and on for the next couple of months. After a couple more weeks at the hospital, both will stay at a hotel near the hospital so they can monitor her progress. Here is a link to Aunti Judi's blog where she is keeping us posted.

Aunt Judi

Please pray for both Ga and Aunt Judi as they are away from family for extended periods of time and especially for Judi's health.

Referral Lost

Many of you know that my brother and his wife in ID were waiting for the "go ahead" to go pick up their adoptive girls from Liberia. Recently they found out that both referrals were lost.

The parents of the 4 year old twin girls had changed their minds about putting them up for adoption after they had heard some "unfavorable" things about adoption. The parents of the 14 year old girl revealed that they are not dead (as they had led all to believe) and want their daughter back.

I believe S & M are trusting that God will care for those girls who were becoming a part of their hearts and will lead them to some other children for them to share their love with. Please keep them in your prayers as they learn about new children and how God would lead them.

Homeschool Update

Here we are at week six in our curriculum. So much for a daily school time. It has become more like twice a week school time. I'm picking and choosing things from our curriculum, careful not to leave out any play acting with stuffed animals, phonics finger plays, or painting projects (H's favorite). I'm not making him memorize the verses in our ABC devotional since he's already memorizing for AWANA. With Sunday school, AWANA, Bible story and craft time during my church MOM's get together and our own school time, I think he has enough structure and lessons. One of my favorite "school" type books to read with H is this one.


It has a little sampling of so many great things to teach kids . . . days of the week, months of the year, telling time, and SO much more. All in a light-hearted Richard Scarry way.






My goals for September were to make homemade pretzels, teach about dental hygiene and go to an apple orchard (see previous post).

H loved (and I survived) the trip to the pediatric dentist. While H got to enjoy wearing sunglasses and go for a ride in the dental chair I got another lecture from modern medicine. I didn't want them take an X-ray of his teeth or use flouride. I guess I don't have huge issues with X-rays but he's only FOUR years old! And I've already expressed my views about flouride. So apparently we are not welcome back unless I agree to have them take X-rays. For those of you who know me, I'm not an aggressive sort of person, I'm really quite passive, so I'm not sure how I ended up with an ultimatum from the dentist. Apparently we'll be taking the "highway" rather than their way.

October school goals:
* Play lots of make believe and dress up using this book:
* Find ways to impress All Saints Day upon H's heart rather than Halloween. We'll be dressing up for the big night, I just want him to know the flip side. I love the book "Redeeming Halloween" that Focus on the Family promotes. It's full of fun alternative ideas.

Acorn Caps

Have you ever seen acorn caps like these before? All fuzzy 'round the edges like that? This was apparently a novelty to our neck of the woods cause my mom was so delighted by them that she collected some to show-and-tell about.

Apple Orchard

A couple of weeks ago the boys and I joined our neighbor and her boys for a journey to the best apple orchard/petting farm I could have imagined. The boys dove into huge bins of corn kernels to bury each other and do "corn" angels.


We had a tractor wagon ride through the corn field where we got to pick dried ears of corn and gourds, we pet baby goats, chicks, and fed the cows.


And what would a trip to the orchard be without a hike through the apple trees, honeycrisp here we come!

Love ya' Handsome

11 years of wedded bliss, 15 year together . . . . xoxox

Knights and their gear

Because every home
where brave knights
reside needs a place
to store their swords.

Architect

H is learning all about how houses are built from a movie I picked up at the library. The movie begins with how houses start with architects designing them and drawing up the blue prints. I mentioned that Uncle S is an architect and that he knows how to design parks. PARKS!! His eyes were as big as soccer balls and he quickly added being a park architect to his list of what he wants to be when he grows up. I'll see if I can get my hands on a picture of a park that Uncle S has designed.

Chasin' a Train

My boys (all three of them) love trains. The bigger the better. Just over a week ago EH and H (and their buddies - one for papa and one for H) chased a double head steam engine excursion on its trip just south of the boarder - built in 1930 and 1943 respectively. It was a day of racing to beat the train to its destination and then hurry up to wait for it to come 'round the bend. The gleam in their eyes lasted for days after their all day adventure. I'll let EH post his favorite pictures here. I'm sure there were over a few hundred taken. Great work EH!

At Last

Today marks the promise of love everlasting for newly wed Mr. & Mrs. K. R. You were both radiant!

Today also marks my first dance with my own everlasting love. It only took 15 years to get him on the dance floor. Now we're waiting for our call from Dancing with the Stars. The dance was well worth the wait.

Results of sewing inspiration

So all those sewing blogs that I've been finding have left me longing to do some crafting of my own. During nap time last week I thought I'd try to sneak in a quick project. I saw this idea in one of Martha Steward's BABY magazines long time ago. (It's actually to prevent pinched fingers when babies are learning to pull themselves up on things.) It's not hugely amazing but very pretty practical. It's for those soon to be gone days when the house windows are wide open and the wind catches the doors and slams them shut shaking a person to the core.
Here's my old solution, so lovely.






Here's the finished product.