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!