L+A and boys

Family Night- Medieval

2012-01-28T15:11:00.000-05:00

Oh Noah...we'll try again another day...he actually hit it once and it didn't pop the balloon-almost worse than not hitting it at all for a kiddo that age ;) Note to self...don't chuckle so long behind movie footage that I run out of air... surprised I didn't faint =)

Good Manners for a Little Warrior (Kelly Chapman)

Planted a sweet potato start sprouted in a cup

The boys favorite part of the night-board game tournament with Senate

Pizza on the menu because that's what they had in the book we read =)

The boys did most of decorating-they made an armory affixed with most of my clear tape sacrificed

Little Will is 10 months and climbing up any stair case he can find-eeek

little funnies I find on my computer...

2012-01-26T11:38:00.001-05:00

gel nails...

2012-01-24T14:57:00.000-05:00

I never thought I would see the day...that I had to actually trim my nails back because they got too long for one or that I would be posting anything about nails at all. I like things that work better...and at home gel nails (Gelish-Harmony brand specifically) is one of those things. While everyone and their dog have already blogged, tweeted and facebooked about it, I thought it was still worth the news flash to other moms out there that maybe haven't heard. The initial set up is about as much as two manicures at a salon...so it's the same cost as the traditional polish at home after you get a light-but it looks way better. Main differences...you only do this about once a month, maybe twice. Seriously. We're talking 12ish times a year and you don't think about it the rest of the time. If you're lucky enough to be out on a date with your sweetie and look down at the menu, you won't think "sheeesh, should have done my nails quick before we left" instead, it's like "yeeesh, my nails have grown out a lot...when was the last time I did that gel stuff...hmmmmm...two weeks ago". They stay shinny and you have to redo them because it looks bad from growth at the top of the nail...but this stuff stays on... seriously, I beat on them hard day in and day out. They have to go under the light to cure, but when you're done, the nails are totally dry, like go wash dishes right afterward dry. That's about all I have to say about it...once you get into the swing of it, it's really fun to pamper a sister or friend with a salon grade nail polish too. =) I put a how to movie along the side panel if your interested-it's got all the tips that I would write out here if someone asked how to do it. Be sure to remove any gel nails as shown so you don't peel your nails into layers. Here's a picture of nails about two weeks after application; looking a little rough on top...but I just put cuticle oil on them and go on with my day-you have a great day! =)

Though Christian likes to hold a cup like mommy...he doesn't share my interest in nails-neither does Luke. ;)

Thoreau for the day...

2012-01-23T11:56:00.001-05:00

How could youths better learn to live than by at once trying the experiment of living?...If I wished a boy to know something about the arts and sciences, for instance, I would not pursue the common course, which is merely to send him into the neighborhood of some professor, where anything is professed and practiced but the art of life;-to survey the world through telescope or a microscope, and never with his natural eye; to study chemistry, and not learn how his bread is made, or mechanics, and not learn how it is earned; to discover new satellites to Neptune, and not detect the motes in his eyes, or to what vagabond he is a satellite himself; or to be devoured by the monsters that swarm all around him, while contemplating the monsters in a drop of vinegar.

and if Henry has you captivated...it goes on

which would have advanced the most at the end of a month-the boy who had made his own jackknife from the ore which he had dug and smelted, reading as much as would be necessary for this-or the boy who had attended the lectures on metallurgy at the Institute in the meanwhile, and had received a Rodgers penknife from his father? Which would be most likely to cut his fingers?...To my astonishment I was informed on leaving college that I had studied navigation!-why, if I had taken one turn down the harbor I should have known more about it.

And because the picture of Thoreau is rather dry-I'll add a video :) Our current backyard fun:

Five minute Sunday...catch up

2012-01-22T14:42:00.000-05:00

I missed it and loved the word of the week...so I'm cheating by two days

Prompt: Vivid

time 2:34

When I think of vivid I always think of colors. Like red or crazy strong orange. Colors that jump out at you and demand to be seen. But it's not pleasant to be in a bright orange and red room all the time...at least I don't think so. Memories can be vivid...and can be in my mind for a time and then go back to the place they live in my brain. It's okay that they don't stay vivid to me all the time. Whether they are so happy that they make me almost laugh out loud or so sad that I can feel my chest tighten...It's nice that they can rest away somewhere most of the time. Vivid is strong because it stands out, and it doesn't stand out if it's always there-I think that's what I'm trying to say. I like a room with nice muted colored walls so that maybe a picture or two will stand out, and be changed from time to time as we change as a person. Thank goodness we don't stay the same forever. I hope that the most vivid memories my children keep of me will be good ones and that they will rest over a mostly soothing back drop of normal day life that was predictable for the most part. Heaven's knows we can all slip into drama queen mode-everything must be vivid all the time mode rather easily...

Time

Party in a cup...Kombucha how to

2012-01-19T14:58:00.001-05:00

I've mentioned before that I'm a kombucha drinker...but I've never ventured so far as to post a tutorial-until now. I've finally gotten into a rhythm of making the stuff that yields a pretty mellow store boughten taste that even my kids seem to enjoy, so I've gained enough confidence to post my methods. The other day Noah said "this is like a party in a cup...does this have alcohol in it...?" Where he got the phrase and how he knows how to detect the taste of alcohol are largely unknown-moving on. ;)

I'll try to keep this simple-I've streamlined it down to a pretty fast set of steps. I make up the brew about every two weeks-it's takes about 10 minutes attended 20-30 if you count tea brewing time which is unattended. I'm not going to post all of the "supposed" benefits of this beverage-for me it's a balancer. I drink it if I eat a heavier meal like grilled cheese or pizza and it seems to help me feel better if my tummy hurts. It also resets your taste for sweet food. After drinking this stuff on and off, I tend to crave a more rounded fermented flavor in food...so a flat cookie sitting out has less (I didn't say no) appeal than in the past. Sugary drinks like fruit juice seem ridiculously sweet after drinking this vinegary flavor and are also easy to pass on. If your curiosity is peaked, I suggest trying a good store boughten brand like GT's or Synergy if you ever see it in the refrigerator section at a store to see if you like it. Beware trying a random homemade brew and judging whether you like it, because the longer it sits the more vinegary it gets...so you may have a negative first impression on a too far gone brew.

So on with the how to-you will need:

*A kombucha culture which is yeast and good bacteria all meshed together-it looks like a big scallop or oyster I think (do not fear the culture or you'll never get through this) =)

*A big glass jar or two that are approximately 2 L-I use pickle jars, they must be glass not plastic

*sugar-I don't use anything special or expensive, the culture just eats it anyway

*caffeinated tea-I like black and use a mango infused version right now that I'm loving (MUST be caffeinated)

*glass jars with lids to put your brew in once it's finished fermenting-ones that say "kombucha" are nice if you've saved them-it looks a little more classy. =)

So if you've got brew that is done and you're not starting out for the first time:
Put the cultures in a bowl with a little kombucha tea poured over the top, put a towel over the bowl in case there are gnats around. You'll need to bottle the tea you've made and let it sit out at room temp for a few days with lids on tight. This helps mellow out the flavor and makes it a bit fizzy which most people like. Then put it in the fridge until you're ready to enjoy. Try to drink it within a week or two...it slowly gets more tangy, even in the fridge the culture keeps eating up the sugars. Rinse out your brew jars well and put 10 tea bags and 1 cup of sugar in each jar (or just one jar if you are brewing less at a time). Okay jump down to the next picture.

the tea and sugar waiting for boiling water

boil water in a tea kettle or sauce pan and dump over sugar and tea just until it's covered and gently stir just to blend. Let sit for 10 plus minutes and then take the tea bags out carefully squeezing out extra tea before throwing them away. Make sure all the sugar is dissolved (it normally is with no extra stirring). I leave the metal spoon in the jar the whole time so it stays free of germs.

pretty cultures aren't they...? I've got extra- every time I make tea there's a new culture that forms on top if you should ever need one. ;) You'll want to hide this project from your relatives most likely...heeeheee

Fill the jar 2/3 full of filtered water added to your sugary tea. The tea will be room temp from the water you added, put in your culture and the little bit of tea that covered it in the bowl. Now that you know how much room the culture displaced, add more water until it's close to the top but not in the narrowing neck area or it's easy to slosh on the cloth you'll put on top. Cover with a tea towel, cheese cloth, or coffee filter and secure with string or rubber band. Rinse the sides of your jar if any tea got on it and hide away in a cabinet or out of the way location. It's important to secure the towel well and to rinse the sides because gnats love fermenting anything and this stuff lets of a siren signal for them. I put an alert on my phone for a week out to check it. It's normally done in a week or two with a good sized culture. Don't keep adding all the cultures you can produce to the tea in hopes it will brew faster though...it's like putting a bunch of starving animals in a cage with a little bit of food. It's not going to be a good result, it will go vinegary too fast and not have a chance to produce the good amino acids etc that make this drink special. Also, in the past, I've left tea in the jar at the bottom to make sure my tea didn't get contaminated (called continuous brew method)....I never do that now. It's got tons of culture in the tea at the bottom of the jar and it's the same as adding two or three cultures at once, rinse the jar well and start fresh each time for a lighter more mellow tasting tea.

This is what it looks like while brewing, I put mine in the cabinet above the refrigerator because it's a mostly consistent temp up there even in the winter. Some people use a heating pad...I've never been quite so industrious. After a week, you can check your brew by tasting how tangy it is with a spoon or by sticking a straw in it and putting your finger over the top to hold the liquid in it. Once it's the amount of tang you like bottle as described above. You can add crazy stuff to your second bottles that go in the refrigerator for a secondary brew like fruit, ginger and even things like lavender. Let it sit out at room temp a few days as stated before then put in the refrigerator and enjoy a new taste sensation. I love mango added, which is why I tried black mango tea. Have fun with it!

I have to add here that it's possible to get sick from drinking kombucha that is brewed incorrectly. But it's really hard to brew it wrong and not know it. If your tea isn't tangy, if it doesn't smell like vinegar at all, it's not done brewing or something is wrong with your culture. Don't drink it-wait another week and check again, if it's still not any tangier, start over. I save a culture in the refrigerator in case a batch would go bad and I would need to dump and start again.

Rain boots...

2012-01-17T15:58:00.000-05:00

So...if you know a lot about rubber boots, you may think these are pretty neato...if you don't like utilitarian looking foot ware you my be wondering why anyone would, by choice, wear these. =) I'm not trying to look like I'm still in college, really, I just noticed how convenient the boys Christmas boots were for the mud this season brings and kept thinking how nice it would be to have a pair of waterproof somethings to trudge around in. Well, here they are. They have a riding boot cut which is trim, but this comes with some added difficulty getting them off. I have to sit down and really tug while wiggling my toes to remove them. I don't like it when rubber boots are flopping all over the place though, so I'll deal. I like the fact that these are not super shiny and have no pattern-it may make them all the more utilitarian, but it's more me than bright colors or stripes...

Back from AZ

2012-01-16T10:48:00.000-05:00

Well...it's not illegal for the top to be down with a tot in tow...So I'm posting the rental-please pardon my daydreaming song at the end. ;)

We flew out to AZ with Willem for three days on business. A nice break...though the plane rides are always a trial of mental strength with an infant. Everything is going well, you've read through all the board books, eaten all the snacks and played pat-a-cake four times...look out the window and realize your still on the runway waiting for your turn to be de-iced...really

The cactus clan...I went hiking and brushed my leg against one of these things and it left a welt like a bee sting...who knew.

In honor of my grandfather who loved oysters on the half shell at Christmas. I took down half a dozen of these ocean wonders right off the shell down the hatch. I think I'm going to put that on the never thought I would list. They were good with green onion, garlic and tomato.

Willem disturbing the peace at the pool

love those chairs in the water, wish we could have stayed longer

Good to be home

Ick...

2012-01-07T18:30:00.001-05:00

New & improved...cough...I'm so disturbed I must comment on the state of my favorite baby lotion. First off, this stuff at $8 isn't cheap and if you like the smell, is more like perfume for baby than lotion...so imagine my horror at cracking open a new bottle and smelling a horrendous chemically smell and bitter after notes (which is weird, because this stuff was natural before that was the cool thing to do like eight years ago). They were ahead of the curve, they started with chap stick and then went big. Too big I guess because they've totally lost sight of what made their products amazing. The beeswax smell is unique and distinct...they should have stuck with it. I was so bugged by this that I called the number on the back of the bottle to tell them what a travesty this new ingredient list is...I don't normally do that. It wasn't so I would get my money back-I already returned it and got their normal smelling milk and honey lotion, I just wanted them to know. Since it's Saturday and I didn't get through, I just had to vent on the blog.

While I was still lamenting the loss of a sentimental baby memory wrapped up in a fragrance...these verses came to mind. Honestly, being honest with ourselves is one of the hardest things we'll ever have to do...when people meet us and find out we serve the living God, do they smell a genuine fragrance of that or...something else...our "new improved" version.

I don't mean to take these verses out of context, they are beautiful:

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 2 Cor 2:14&15

Never thought I would 3...

2012-01-05T15:53:00.001-05:00

My day started out normal...changed diapers, fed the babies...but then

My day got really girly. The boys practiced archery in the back yard and I hit the MAC counter to see what I could learn from someone who spends more time with makeup than I normally do (a new years resolution "never thought I would" moment). The only thing I really liked enough to buy was the lip gloss, which is pretty much the same color as my skin. =) The foundation was the right color but as Luke put it so perfectly "looks good from 10 feet away." Adrian also summed up the look with his two cents "mom, you look wicked" when I walked in the door. After asking him why he softened it a bit and said "not wicked, just really different." =) Must have been the red hues in the eye shadow. I normally can't go wrong with Adrian's very in tune opinions.

Some critiques after having this done. Why do they always leave such a matte finish on clients? I told the girl I wanted my skin to look "real" when finished. It might be nice for pictures because it keeps shine at bay, and covers flaws well, but matte looks pretty chalky in real life. also, the girl didn't blend the foundation past my jaw bone...my neck looks a slight lighter shade...not ideal I'm afraid. Other than that, we laughed the whole time and it was a lot of fun. I told her I was there to learn and she made me do every step on the right side of my face which was cool...and took longer. =)

Noah "holding" water. He said it was the only time I would see him holding solid water-must not have gone over those three states yet...

I don't know what that is...asperin maybe...
the molecule set is another thrift store find =)

About those resolutions...

2012-01-04T10:49:00.002-05:00

Resolution #1: Potty training Christian has officially begun

Last year I made a resolution of sorts to swim at least once a week; I thought that was pretty manageable. As it turns out, I think I got in about two swims a week on average-not because I was organized or doing a really good job staying motivated...I just liked it. =) So, I thought I would post the few things that have kept me super happy during a lap swim in hopes of spreading some swimming joy to anyone who may be considering it.

#1: 100% polyester suite;
reason: the others with spandex added start to get loose and stretched out after a few months.

#2: Aqua sphere goggles;
reason: These dip lower right under the eye-less severe red lines. The plastic is super soft compared to others I've trial and error-ed on. I use Kayenne currently.

#3: H2O shuffle/Waterfi;
reason: I wished for 18 months that I could listen to music while swimming because looking at the lap guide line on the pool floor isn't all that stimulating. I finally caved and got one with gift money and am so happy I did. This thing works flawlessly, and the earphones pictured don't leak, it's loud enough and I can listen to podcasts...they sell waterproof cases for players too, from what I've read they don't always work so it's a risk.

#4: Don't forget your cute swim cap

reason: saves your hair from harsh chlorine and on the practical side, keeps it out of your face if it's long.

#5: Jojoba or olive oil in the winter is a huge deal for me.

reason: Maybe I just have sensitive skin, but slathering on oil BEFORE swimming keeps me from getting really dry and itchy on my arms and back after swimming.

#6: Water bottle

reason: who knew that while being submersed in water head to toe you would need a drink. Well you will and the chlorine water isn't recommended. =)

#7: flip flops

reason: they're not necessary, but it's nice to have them when walking on those tile floors.

I've tried chlorine removal shampoos-didn't think it was that different from regular shampoo and didn't repurchase when it ran out.

I resist all urges to purchase lap swimming equipment like pull buoys or kick boards and use the stuff available at the pool.

I've never tried flippers or hand paddles- they're for building endurance in certain muscle groups but I think if I consciously swim faster in sprints it's the same thing.

That's all I can think of...

Lullaby

2012-01-02T12:40:00.002-05:00

Finally posting a slideshow of our vacation pictures. The music is a song written for my dad shortly after his pancreatic cancer was diagnosed and before knowing it was a neural endocrine tumor that put him at low risk for further cancer growth. Still rejoicing over the amazing gift of his recovery. =)

Lyrics:

I woke up in a meadow
With a pure light all around
and the air was sighing to the ground
and then my chin lifted
to a pure and holy sound
perfect chords were healing up and down

Chorus:
fly little one, fly home
fly little one, back where you belong
fly little one, back into my arms
and we'll dance the night away underneath the stars

A mountain in the distance was bigger than the world
first I walked than ran to meet my Lord
a step into the back yard, a wade in the stream
dizzy feeling twirling on the swing.

Chorus

A pulsing throbbing movement
to a place, to a throne
and I'll never feel quite so alone
and then my whole self drifted
in the way I knew so well
into life I plunged, I fell

Chorus

Christmas season in pictures...

2012-01-01T13:21:00.001-05:00

Enter a little boys world- a bit of white snow in the background, the boys piled it up trying to keep it from melting =)

caught the shot

ya, that's right, mama's got bragging rights on that hit ;)

Adrian's got form-making daddy proud

A sweet 2nd cousin...takes the crown off her doll and dons it herself =)

grandma handing out little Christmas dresses

Ki falls asleep chewing on jerky...does it get any better..? =)

la la LA-life is good for a little boy on a hill with a dog

driving remote cars on ice over the pond

checking out the lego set at our house

Nesting doll obsession

Will's thrift store wooden pig ;)

wooden bath table that Luke and the boys made...how sweet is that?

Christmas Eve shot

Quality home moviage

2011-12-31T10:34:00.003-05:00

First movie is classic Christmas morning...that is classic for us, boys running around outside with no coats on before the crack of dawn...proof of the hour is how raspy my voice sounds-come on, I just crawled out of my nest...

Okay...next Christmas at the farm can't get much more exciting than this year...we had a visitor. After opening gifts a bat flew through the main room and the next hour was spent trying to get it back outside-to the complete delight of all the children since they got to stay up late. The last video doesn't give enough credit to Rich as he grabs the bat, he's literally hanging off the catwalk many feet above the bottom floor to reach it. =)

Homeschool in movies...

2011-12-29T09:33:00.000-05:00

This time of year my homeschool plans start unraveling...the workbooks are slowly getting done, but my other grand plans for the year kind of get lost in the Christmas travel and gift wrap. But...it's okay. A new year is the perfect time to reconsider lesson plans and kind of start over for a stronger finish to the year.

Until then, the boys continue on in their self education by just being curious-which I love about kids

I never thought I would #2

2011-12-21T12:45:00.001-05:00

This is what the post is about

This is who you'll see if you google "Neti pot"

and an article if you want to know the particulars...

First off, I don't have allergies and I'm not suffering from congestion...I just had to know. When I get something like this in my head, it's over, I'm curious-probably best that I became a Christian early on in life. =)

So now you know what and sort of why...now for the how it went part. I didn't think it was that hard to do. Basically you tip your head forward so the water doesn't go down your throat and pour saline solution into one side of your nose. After sloshing around in your sinuses, the water comes out the other side. I know, weird. It felt kind of warm with a slight burn sensation...like when I used to get water in my nose at the pool as a kid. Then it just felt warm. Afterward you have to blow your nose in a tissue to get any extra water out of you nose...this is understated in the directions, I felt like I had to keep blowing my nose every now and again for 10 minutes or so after. Long and short, not that hard to use if you can relax and if I ever have a really stuffy nose or a sinus headache, I'll pull this thing out again and know how to use it. =) Also, it is recommended that you use filtered or bottled water since it comes in contact with your sinus system which is absorbent tissue.

I hope you've enjoyed this recount of my neti pot experience. ;)

The Seven steps

2011-12-16T11:07:00.000-05:00

I find these 7 steps of grieving very insightful, not only if you ever go through a life changing painful time but also if you know someone who is-

- shock, denial
- pain, guilt
-anger, bargaining
- depression, reflection, loneliness
- upward turn
- reconstruction and working through
- acceptance, hope

I think maybe an individual flies through the steps in random mixed order right after something happens and then slowly works through them again in better order once you get through the shock phase. I didn't grieve my dad's illness very long because of the positive outcome-I still find them very helpful to keep in mind for supporting others and understanding one's own emotions a little better.

I know I'm out of the emotional cloud I've been floating around in because:

-I'm mad about little things again...like a melted green crayon in the dryer...with my new jeans

-I don't feel bad for laughing

-I'm breathing-really breathing

-I want to go places again and see people

-I'm noticing that the house needs cleaned...hmmm

-I'm drinking less tea and coffee...not that it's a bad thing to drink them ;)

-I'm not tearing up every time I hear a song on the radio

One other thing to mention, someone asked me at church how I was doing (more than a week ago before the good news)-my eyes started misting over-I'm not a "show your emotions in public" kind of girl so I just kind of turned away a little and did something else stating "I'm fine if I don't talk about it." I've kind of felt bad ever since but it's not a big enough deal to fix it or say sorry to the person. At least I can explain it here so I don't forget what I learned from it. First, if you reach out to someone and they kind of turn the other way verbally or actually turn around like I did, don't feel bad. I think I felt the most emotion when I knew people really cared about our family-so the person probably feels your concern but just isn't able to talk at the moment. Don't take offense to pretty much anything a hurting person says...they didn't mean it that way-I'm 99% sure.

I'm off to check the status of the dryer...which is full of old green clothes to make sure the crayon fiasco is really over...I'm not sure the guy who wrote "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" ever cleaned crayon out from under his nails after cleaning out a dryer drum...;)

Andria

Bloggy Christmas card 2011

2011-12-15T15:03:00.002-05:00

Daddy

2011-12-12T10:01:00.002-05:00

Sigh.....

I just keep taking really deep breaths and I didn't even know I haven't been breathing deeply for a week. Our lives were arrested...and now so swiftly set free. My emotions are having a hard time keeping up.

Several days ago, before dad's lab work came back, I was driving home by myself and had a melt down. I felt very called to pray for mercy, to call on God, to say please in complete faith...but instead of being humble...I felt frustrated. "Why do I need to ask God...why...you already know and have a plan-where does my little prayer fit into all that?" I would like to say the thoughts were gentle and pleading...but all my stress seemed to funnel and pinpoint on this one thought-my spirit was not right.

And then, a picture of one of my children came to my mind...a glass of water poised above his head.... "say please..." I said with eye brows a little raised...

Then I really melted down. I still don't know how it all works on the timeline, I don't know how God uses prayers from yesterday to make cancer slow down weeks ago-But His hand is on all and He says that our prayers matter.

And now I think our family feels like the men who come back from war in one piece...

If you would say two more prayers for our family:

First a prayer of thanks that God hears every prayer-no matter what he wills, He hears them

And second that our family would be able to accept the good news of dad's remission with joy, humility and purpose

Post surgery news...

2011-12-06T21:54:00.001-05:00

Saw dad this afternoon. He was his usual self even with post surgery discomfort; he had us all laughing with his one liners influenced by pain meds. Apparently his cell phone was missing shortly after surgery and mom claims that stressed him out way more than cancer ever did... ;) You can just imagine our family all crammed into a hospital room...the nurses just keep bringing chairs and extra furniture items to the room-labeling our gathering "a party". =) It would have been a way better party for dad if he could have eaten anything...he kept asking for french fries when anyone new came to see him...if you know my dad, he wouldn't have really wanted french fries, but I think he would have eaten anything smuggled in passed the nurse.

The particulars: the mass was approximately 3 cm in size but the surgeon was very encouraged by how contained everything looked when he went in to remove it. The cancer doesn't appear to be as aggressive as typical pancreatic cancer at this point and didn't look like it had spread to surrounding tissue yet. They removed 1/3 of his pancreas and some lymph nodes surrounding it. We won't know for several days if there is cancer present in other parts of his lymphatic system. In short-things couldn't have looked any better today.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS!

Extremes...

2011-12-05T20:55:00.001-05:00

I feel very warm sitting in a coffee shop, a mellow Christmas song playing in the background; I feel warmer than I probably am though because I just came in out of a cold rain and 37 degree night. It takes cold to feel heat. My dad will have surgery in the morning to remove a mass from his pancreas. I think many of you reading may have already heard and are praying for him, thank you. I have felt a warmth and safety through this past week because of how my dad has handled everything thus far. I'm sure he's thought all the normal things and felt all the dark emotions that come with cancer, but he has shown me what the love of a father really is. The only time I've seen him show fear is when he thinks of his responsibility to others. He wants to be here for mom, for his church, for his family, for Mia who has only had a dad for a year, for his colleagues. For that, I thank him. On Sunday the verse "Jesus wept" was read and I have a new layer over that verse now. God wants to be here for us. He wants to come through. It's like dad knowing he could be here, could care for us and continue to love us how we need to be-it may be impossible-we may be separated-such a desperate feeling.

Daddy, I know you'll give it everything you've got tomorrow and in the months to follow. Thank you for showing me the loving father part of God that weeps at being separated from his children.

Please pray that dad will continue to feel a spirit of encouragement
Please pray that he will glorify God
Please pray that we as his family have wisdom to support him as he has need in the right way
Please pray for the power of healing for however many years God wills dad

and I will take you home...

2011-11-27T17:18:00.001-05:00

and call you my squishy...

Christian helps himself...again

2011-11-23T16:58:00.001-05:00

The milk was gone so he improvised...with whipping cream...heavy whipping cream

It makes me shudder

The "I never thought I would" list...

2011-11-22T14:26:00.001-05:00

I love the idea of a bucket list or a list of goals you want to accomplish before you run out of time...but I don't like the mentality that once it's on the list it must to be crossed off or you've failed... SO, I've decided to have a "never thought I would list" instead that lives only in my mind and not on paper. If I have the chance and opportunity to do something I've always wanted to...then, and only then, does it make the list.

A firing range date night is the first thing to be added

I truly never thought I would...

my bro Kurt said "oh, like in the movies where the couple goes to a range"...I would just like to put in here that I've never seen a movie like that and was really petrified of doing this-not knowing what to expect at all.

Far from being more comfortable with firearms, I think they are way more intimidating after being on the range and think all guns should be under lock and key at least. Luke was very proud though, and that made it totally worth it.

Luke was very consistent...I was more random, but Luke says not to be trifled with. ;)

Sometimes...

2011-11-22T10:08:00.001-05:00

when I look at the boys...I can just imagine them older; you know what I mean...? ;)

drawing and a few quotables...

2011-11-16T09:10:00.001-05:00

Well, it looks rigged...and in the case of Luca it kind of was. I couldn't help putting his name in for his cute comment on the "pretty pretty princess" and I knew his mama wouldn't mind getting him a shake...or a drink of her own ;) But CJS was drawn first, fair and square, by the officiate Noah and will be getting a little something fun in the mail.

Also featured today...

The boys listen to a tape (yes an old cassette tape) at night-their favorite being Adventures in Odyssey-but every now and again, they dip into a drawer with a random stash of old tapes I used to listen to. Last night a tape started "Welcome to the exciting world of dolls...one of the oldest toys in history, lets learn about a few of them shall we..." to which I heard a click of the tape stopping. Then Noah in kind of a quiet I'm embarrassed for you Adrian voice "why'd you want to listen to that Adrian...?" To which Adrian mumbled "I wanted the dolphin one...pause...there's a big difference..." Heee heee

On Halloween, Noah saw our neighbor boy up in a tree in his costume and said "hey look, it's a trick-or-TREE-ter." :)

And one more...this ones for my mom...I don't even know if she reads this blog...but it's still dedicated to you. If liking puns makes me quirky...so be it. :)

I grabbed what I thought was probiotic tablets out of the refrigerator and tried to dump two out into my hand...only I grabbed the powdered probiotic bottle I use for shakes and white powder (expensive white powder) avalanched out instead. My exact thought was "biffed that" and then looked down at the label to see the words "bifido complex" I must have it... ;)

5 friday

2011-11-11T10:37:00.001-05:00

prompt: unexpected

10:37a

I like unexpected gifts...a lot. So much in fact that Luke and I trade gifts all year and usually not on specific holidays or birthdays respectively. Flowers on Valentines day are nice, but flowers for no reason at all, well...that is something quite enduring. Why is it? Is it because it's not earned and assumed? Then how much more is grace an amazing gift in light of that? What is this idea that we must work work work for God's favor or somehow have dates that we are in his good graces and other times not? God's love is unexpected and yet eternally expected all the time because it's who he is. Maybe the most unexpected part of it is how He chooses to show it. God never has been on our calendar and doesn't oblige to drop a dozen roses on the door step because he's supposed to. The love God shows is so in tune and individual that the times it shines through the brightest will leave a heart changed forever.

time

10:42a

cheap entertainment

2011-11-10T22:02:00.000-05:00

Kaitlin and Sam

2011-11-07T12:05:00.003-05:00

My little sis is engaged to Sam K! On a very shallow note, with four girls and mom in the family, planning a wedding is super fun. On a more serious note, Sam is an amazing God-centered young man that Kaitlin should be forever thankful to have found.

First picture, changing Facebook status to "engaged" =)

Can't help commenting that my shirt and Kait's arm are hiding half my leg and they are not as scary skinny as they appear in this picture...wierd

Sam rips off Twinkle Twinkle to the awe of my boys. One more very cool guy for them to look up to.

Guess that artist game...

2011-11-05T11:56:00.000-04:00

I watched the BBC version of Emma the other day and was wistful of the scene in which Emma and her friend are painting away on a beautiful day in front of her lovely estate. I wanted to paint too. So Christian and I had a little outing to Michael's. The boys watched the sketching stage for "art" class.

Now for the game

which impressionist artist is this pastel inspired from? Anyone who comments with the correct name will be entered into a drawing for a gift card to target or Starbucks. One hint I will give you is that he was French. I'll leave commenting open for a week or so before doing the drawing. =) Have fun and I hope you enjoy the beauty of culture amid everyday life...estate or not.

***Updated guessing rules: list one other ballerina work you fancy of the artist or one random fact about the artist with the guess. This should make the game slightly more challenging. ;)

homeschool field tips in pictures

2011-11-03T20:34:00.000-04:00

We went up north to see Luke's family and to celebrate Liller's birthday. While we were there we...

Visited a place that makes cheese

The cheese heads watching through the factory view window

Caught some noodle making and saw a beehive model with a small working colony

okay...this is crazy-these cousins all start with Noah at age eight and then step by year down to age one...this was right before Lilly turned two so it still counts. ;) 87654321

Visited a small farm and the kids helped mix the baby cows buckets of milk

the cow hutches

boys heading to hunt for eggs

And Noah found one

This picture I love, all the kids went up in the loft to play and hunt for kittens, this is them viewing the cow lot from the loft window

Couldn't get him off this very easily

Rain washed farm apple

A different farm but more baby cows...and more and more baby cows.

Can you say farm cats...? They were eating their lunch-I didn't see any mice.

This cow was born that morning

And if cows wheren't enough, they had a merry-go-round in the front yard. Whoooo-hoooo, all the fun I could stand. =)

homemade facepaint

2011-11-01T09:04:00.000-04:00

face wash, powdered sugar for thickness, and food coloring is all you need. Mix it up until smooth and go to work. This paint has a sparkle sheen to it from the sugar and is kind of translucent. The girls will love it, not sure how older boys would feel about it though. ;) I dumped the extra in their bath water and they had colored bubble bath. Cleans off of skin super easy. Kissing the boys goodnight, I could smell sugar, kind of like the "warm vanilla sugar" lotion that is so popular. Yum. =)

This year the boys handed out candy and got a few treats themselves while doing it. I did get poor Jude a coat after taking this picture...and he did start the day off with a shirt on.

5 Friday

2011-10-28T11:46:00.001-04:00

prompt: relevant

11:39a

The interesting thing about what's relevant is that, it's so individual. The way we were raised, our likes, our hopes all narrow down what we find important or useful information. If I read the latest news about the current election coming up, what I think is relevant will be so different from another individual. Ahhhh...but you say to yourself that we might agree on some things. That is probably true to an extent. What is it that makes us agree on what is relevant though? Is it possible to find what truly is? Some would say in our modern culture that it is not...but I venture to say that there is truth. there is real truth woven into the fabric of our universe and all things that surround that truth are relevant. That should be challenging to us all. If we can center our minds and hearts on the truth, carried along on the breath of the Spirit, we will not only think on things relevant...but we will BE relevant to others. And that will make a difference.

11:44p

On the way home...

2011-10-27T10:05:00.001-04:00

Last night I taught "Bible Buddies" for a group of little ones at our Wed night church service...I mention this so you know why I showed up at church with 5 tired kids without Luke. By the end of the evening, I had spent most of my energy reserves trying to teach a lesson on lying with vibrant participation, ie interruptions, playing Simon Says and corralling Willem, who was crawling all over the floor eating bits of paper.

When services were over I bee-lined it to the car and told Adrian to get Christian buckled. In my haste to get going, I didn't oversee if it had been done correctly and set my sites for home. Then the commotion from the back started to heat up..."Christian, sit down. I can't buckle you unless you sit. Christian, right now, sit down....please. Mom, I can't buckle him, he's too big (with his coat on) and won't sit down."

Great.

I told him to try again. He said he needed the light on...I said to just try again because I didn't want the police to see him not in his seat...

Adrian sounded more desperate with the impending doom of police upon us...since Adrian has successfully buckled Christian many times...I felt no need to intervene yet.

Adrian: "Christian...come on...do you want to be in chains Christian."

Christian: "No"

Me: "If anyone would be arrested it would be me, just buckle it Adrian."

-quiet pause-

Adrian: "I just can't do it...Christian please, now mom will go to jail Christian."

Jude: "she won't be gone that long..."

Adrian: "yes she will, like 8 years (voice starts to sound teary)."

Noah (without much emotion): "Who would take a kid's mom away...it's just ridiculous."
I thought it was nice he wanted me around...but then he added "we wouldn't be able to drive anywhere." Nice, thanks Noah for your selfish concern for me, your driver.

We did make it home safe...the boys calling out every speed limit sign and checking my gauge so we wouldn't get pulled over and them deciding which baby sitter they would stay with while daddy was at work if mom was "in chains".

great Wednesday evening fun. =)

That pager won't rest...

2011-10-24T21:40:00.001-04:00

If there was ever a picture that depicted how encroaching a pager can be...this might be it. Once Luke took his current position at work, he no longer needed his pager and gladly turned it back into the hospital...he got to keep the little rubber stamp with the number on it though and he handed that over to the kids for fun-and fun they had apparently. Pagers die hard I guess-Luke's gives one last mighty effort at being heard. =)

*Someone asked me what was all over my son in this picture...to clarify, rubber stamping of L's pager number over and over to make the lovely pattern shown. ;)

Christian helps himself...

2011-10-17T13:57:00.000-04:00

I didn't "catch" it...;)

I tell my therapist that blogging helps... the pretend therapist in my head that is. ;)

And Friday 5

2011-10-14T20:49:00.000-04:00

word prompt: Catch

8:38 pm

Catch...I don't know. It's what I hope to do when a cup of milk starts tipping...when a good picture is in front of me...what I don't want when the sniffles are going around. It seems a two sided word. I want to catch the energy of compassion other people ignite in me...but I don't want to catch the spirit of materialism which seems really a permeable sort of influence. I don't think it comes down to the bottom line of personal spending...I think it's a spirit of discontent unless you have more...which is perpetual discontent by definition. I'm not sure how I arrived here but we'll go with it for the last two minutes. =) If tomorrow you lost everything tangible that surrounds you...who would be your friend in your current circle? If suddenly you were color blind and lost all sense of self confidence...who would stand by you anyway? If you became paralyzed...who would still laugh with you and not even notice the difference? Those few people you thought of are worth more than all the wealth to be spoken of...and in the end will build you up, while possessions will slowly steal your years away.

Time

8:44 pm

Adjusting viewfinder focus

2011-10-14T18:20:00.001-04:00

So, I know this is really random, but I accidentally hit the +/- adjuster dial on my Canon and it messed up the viewfinder focus quite a bit. My first thought was that my eyesight was getting worse, second thought was that my camera was broken forever. But since the solution is so very simple and I'm sure similar for most cameras, I thought it worth posting.

The solution you may have tried would be cleaning the glass on the viewfinder (the little window you look through). If you clean it well with a cotton swab or cloth and the picture is still blurry through the window when you use autofocus...and here's the main symptom...BUT is a clear picture on the playback, you know that your viewfinder focus has been thrown off somehow. This lovely picture shows you where to adjust a Canon back to normal (well, it's supposed to anyway, my index finger is trying to point you in the right direction-I tried to get a clear image from photo booth, really I did). For other models you'll have to check out the manual. I looked through the viewfinder, half pushed the shutter with autofocus on, then turned the +/- dial until it looked clear. FIXED! Afterward, I noticed there is a little silver mark were the dial should align with a matching mark on camera...I've never noticed that before...nor have I read the entire camera manual-gasp. I know...and people pay me to take pictures sometimes. ;)

You can expect...

2011-10-12T16:11:00.002-04:00

bunches of fun when trying to get a Christmas picture with 6 boys...

Jude's pants are rolled up because a drink tipped over on our picnic blanket and soaked him and Will...why were we eating before pictures..?..becuase it took so long to get out the door, the plan of snapping "a few" pictures and then eating was out of the question. I wanted to use chalk boards as props and they ended up with colored chalk on white shirts. Adrian said he felt sick to his stomach. Will needed fed...

But L was the real star...he TOLD the boys to look grumpy and to point at random cats walking by. I think he meant well...it did keep them entertained.

We'll just say that being on the other side of the lens makes me very compassionate to the few families I take pictures of. ;)

Best wishes with your Christmas picture if you're doing one...

An

Renaissance Faire in pictures

2011-10-04T15:00:00.001-04:00

Okay...if you force me I'll go hang out at a fun fair all afternoon and call it a school field trip...if you force me ;)

the main draw...a real joust. This is not a play act, danger gone event...it's 10 points if you knock the other guy off of his horse, 5 for a broken lance and 1 for a hit on the shoulder piece...and guys fell off their horses for the morning joust (we saw the afternoon).

This picture is so huge because I wanted to make sure you could see that this guy is trying to slice an apple in half with his sword... while we watched, they missed the apple twice and hit her helmet-really hard. These people are crazy I think...

the lance pieces flying...and the hospital in the background...how apropos...

all the hooves off the ground...they were truly running the horses- so pretty

after the match...they're still friends...I think =)

guy holding his hair back ready to eat fire in heavy wind...that made it interesting

those who dared face paint

good-bye faire

homemade baby food

2011-10-03T11:59:00.003-04:00

Sometimes little Will gets better food than the Cheerios he finds on the floor...that is, when mommy is in the mood to experiment. It really is all about me when it comes to homemade baby food. =)
here is a little picture tutorial of homemade cottage cheese banana puree. It was really good with the fresh cottage cheese, but I'm sure it would be good with store boughten or ricotta cheese as well.

So first off the cottage cheese. I made a european version in which you take milk straight out of the refrigerator and add a culture of sour cream. It's about a tablespoon per quart, but it's not a perfect science-no perfectionism here. Then cover with cheese cloth and set in a warm place in your kitchen where you won't forget it. It sits around until the culture eats up the sugar and separates the solids from the whey. You've got your cheese in about two days depending on warmth and humidity. Once the milk looks kind of like cottage cheese and you see clear liquid apart from the solid, give it a light stir and put it in the oven for an hour or two at 200 degrees. I think this makes it safe to eat and keeps the firm texture of the cheese in tact. Then strain with a cheese cloth or fine wire mesh strainer; let it sit in the strainer covered with a towel for a half hour or so until it's really strained out and refrigerate like any other cottage cheese. It's ready to eat-or in our case to make a fun puree with. That didn't take long to make right...just a few days. ;) Remember, this is cheap entertainment, not a money saving time saving venture.

What it looks like two days in after a gentle stir. you can see the clear liquid apart from the cheese at this point. I put it in the oven uncovered. This consists of organic (hey, it really does taste better) 1% milk and 1 tablespoon whole milk sour cream. We have gnats in our kitchen right now, so I put this bowl inside a cast iron pot with the lid on so they wouldn't get near my project while it fermented. I figured it would get enough air when I checked it periodically and took the lid off. It did.

*A side note, this happened to work on the maiden voyage, so I don't have any scary stories to report (yet) about mold or gross smelling milk. The culture from the sour cream should be more hearty than other bacteria in competition with it and shouldn't smell bad when fermenting. If your milk smells icky and like something died...that's probably what happened...in this case the happy sour cream culture.

Jude tested the final product and said it tasted like...cottage cheese-success

I added a half a banana and a little (1/2 cup) coconut milk (a whole banana is, of course, more sweet and any kind of milk can be used to the consistency you prefer)

I then pureed with one of those hand mixer/blender things, which worked great...only I got this one from Goodwill and it started making loud noises half way through and the handle got a little warm. I kind of think it wanted to bust into flame really...the boys thought it was just hilarious. Again, remember this is cheap entertainment...really cheap.

it was really good-very creamy and light

5 Friday

2011-09-30T15:32:00.000-04:00

Prompt: On Friends

3:22p

Sometimes I wonder if I isolate myself from friends I could be more connected with. It's not that I don't love my girlfriends, I do, it's just that it seems like the days keep slipping by and I'm not the one that schedules the girls night out. Maybe I should. But then I think how fast my kids are growing, how I hate to have something on my schedule every night and how often I would miss Luke home in the evening if I always planned things and I'm peaceful about being a semi-hermit. I think that having a lot of sisters has been a buffer to feeling alone as well. It's a fun blessing of a big family. I don't know how many times I've asked one of my sisters if they're still there on the phone because we're just doing normal things without talking...but feel better with a sister on the line. I wonder if things will change and I'll get together with girl friends more later on in my life...one thing I know for sure, I will not put age limits on my friendships and I will not surround myself with people just like myself...that will not help me grow to be a better person. That should be something a friend can bring you, a real life changing word of advice or criticism all wrapped up in genuine care. Maybe that's why I'm close to my sisters too, they are the ones that call me out...

oh dear...I'm so running over

3:28p

I'm supposed to be doing other things...

2011-09-29T18:24:00.002-04:00

But somehow, I'll justify that I need a break more than pictures need done, the pizza needs checked the laundry changed over...well you've got the same stuff-you know...

source: my sister Jenny's blog

1)Residence: Hoosier state
2)Favorite fashion designers: Well...Target isn't really a designer is it...I have always liked GUESS and still do as they've changed styles from my middle school years-guess I'm loyal...hehe
3)Item of clothing you would never throw out: I have a white dress that I sewed shortly after I got married that I still love. It's not real silk, but is a raw silk looking material and has a japanese flare to it. It makes me feel special knowing I tailored it.
4)How would you define your personal style: changes with my mood but is usually organic trying to pull off classy.
5)What is your own fashion trademark: I don't know that I have one...I never wear clothes really loose around my waist though...that's more of preference though I would think-but really, even 9 months pregnant, I still steer clear of bellowy.
6)Favorite accessory: good shoes that don't kill my feet
7)Favorite color: white
8)Favorite scent: Romance by Ralph Lauren...have worn it for years...I think it's fun that it smells really different on the individual who wears it.
9)What is your facewash: I love Burt's Bees products, use Alba, but lately have been mixing up my own astringents and using different exfoliating methods for fun. Really, my face looks best if I don't get too close to the mirror to check out every imperfection though.
10) Makeup-not loyal to a brand, I do like the color pallets of Aveda though, very soothing.
11)Where do you get your hair done: Hannah...a girl with a tattoo but conservative views on life...seriously. The only stylist that can make my hair behave for 4- 6 months in-between appointments.
12) Favorite Architect: My brother-in-law Caleb...I'm not just saying it either-love his work-very modern, clean with nature flowing through each design.
13) Favorite destination: Anywhere with family around-I love to travel but like to laugh more and I need family for that. They know all those crazy stories from childhood. :)
14) Favorite discovery: Chocolate European style yogurt from Trader Joe's...if I run out...I'm in huge big trouble. I hope that wasn't a serious question...I'm really glad I found Luke too ;)
15)Favorite Hotel: I don't travel enough to be loyal to one, I prefer bed and breakfasts actually.
16) Favorite Luggage: The set my aunt gave me...I think it's Ralph Lauren...but more importantly it matches!
17) Most memorable Party: The Sat night before my wedding all the bridesmaids and some friends stayed at a family friend's house...it was a surreal time. Face masks and nail polish were found in abundance.
18) When you can’t think of something to give a friend, what do you give? Usually a candle, so very practical yet still coddling
19) Every lady has a vice: I could probably eat a half gallon of ice cream if it was chocolate or coffee...homemade sends me places.
20) Necessary extravagance: good organic decaf coffee beans and a good coffee press. A lap swim when I'm tense is a close second.
21) Favorite movies: okay, this might put me in a quirky category, but I liked the first Matrix. I've never seen the sequels, but the first had a lot of analogies to spiritual concepts- being stuck in a present state of oppression but real life really being somewhere else...choosing the truth even if it's uncomfortable and not as pleasant as the lie-I also like it's a wonderful life for the nostalgia. Phantom of the Opera for certain times can't be beat.
22) Favorite Cocktail: Anything tropical will be enjoyed-I don't like it too syrupy though
23) Handwritten Thank you note or immediate e-mail? handwritten is nice but not expected-that's why it's nice...
24) If you have personalized stationary, where did you get it from? I've purchased cards with an "A" on them before...but not the real full initial deal- Hey...I think I just made my Christmas shopping easier! =)
25) The True hallmark of modern elegance is: defer to others and believe your worth the same care.

The written word...

2011-09-28T13:07:00.001-04:00

Noah and I just finished "Old Yeller" for a read aloud book. I never know if he's really paying attention; at the end of this read, I got a little choked up at the sad ending. When I looked over at Noah, he said he didn't want to read anymore...and then just crumpled up and tried not to cry himself. The interesting thing was, I was really proud of him at that moment. Not that he was emotional...but that he had let the story into his mind so much that it was almost real to him. We've lost this ability in some resect because most of our media is spoon fed to us with the emotional response already carefully planned. I pray that he will someday be able to read the account of Jesus and enter into the story with this same level of intensity. We've got to be counter cultural in this area or literature and history will fade away into a black and white blur of meaningless jargon.

2011-09-24T08:43:00.001-04:00

The other day there was an eruption of laughter and celebration from the boys room. I was curious and headed that way-when I opened the door they were all dancing around in their PJs and Adrian seemed to be the center of attention. "What?" I asked. Adrian stopped dancing long enough to point at his pajama/underclothes drawer, it was completely empty. "I've been trying forever to beat you mom...I used it ALL before you could fill it...I beat you mom!" Adrian proclaimed slightly out of breath from his jubilant activity level.

I knew it

I knew there had be some kind of mutiny underfoot

5 Friday

2011-09-23T13:20:00.001-04:00

It's Friday again. Write for five minutes with no editing and no ahead of time pondering and let your brain enjoy the fun. =)

prompt: Growing

12:50 p

Growing to me is a lot of things. It's my kids loosing a tooth or scooting forward on the floor toward a toy they've wanted for a month but couldn't move or crawl yet to get. It's spring when things come alive again because the climate is right. It's me, becoming something better under the skillful hands of my creator. It always sounds trite to say that pain seems to come before growth, but trite or not, it's been true in my own life. Nothing else seems to get my attention. And now, I don't know what to write...because throwing open a door to your whole life down to the gritty isn't always the best idea. It's not a matter of being brave enough to share, it's not about being real, it's just that some things are so close and real to my heart that they've become special in a way- It's really hard to describe. Things have happened in my life that have stretched me and grown me so much, I'm leery to chat about them... because they are sacred ground for me...they are my moments of really believing, knowing that God is real beyond all practicality. It's like I don't want to describe it wrong and make it less than it was.

ooops...ran over...again

12:56 p

life in pictures...

2011-09-22T14:56:00.000-04:00

We're gutting the basement-I probably don't have to tell you how much my boys are loving it that L got each of them a crow bar... they've named them actually

The plan is to resurface with nothing mold can thrive on. The basement has been pretty dry all and all...but it's a basement...and while I'm not allergic to mold...it appears that I'm allergic to the thought of it being places I can't see. =)

My little niece turned one and they had a darling little party for her

one more headband for her stash

we made an airplane out of cans for school. I'll just go on record to say this was way harder and way easier than I thought, if that's possible. I had printed off a pattern I found online...nearly impossible to do- then I got out a stapler and just tried to make a object the resembled a plane and had much more success. L showed up half way through and baled me out on the tale rudder. =)

Recent goodwill treasure, I got this and a globe for the boys room decor

My grandmother Carmella

2011-09-16T16:53:00.001-04:00

This day out was the last time I saw my grandmother...and now she's gone. We could have seen her Thursday, but didn't realize how sick she was and then, in the graceful way she did everything...she slipped away with a ladylike fortitude I hope to have someday.

I'm going to miss her so much...

little Will update

2011-09-11T17:20:00.000-04:00

Will's sitting up...! Well...sort of-thump...crash. =)

he quickly forgives me for making him tripod on uneven terrain

Almost 6 months, lost most of his hair, looking like Noah and Adrian...my little marshmallow boy

5 min friday

2011-09-02T10:52:00.005-04:00

Write for five minutes with no editing or pre-thought to what you will write. Link to site where others are writing too.

Word prompt: rest

10:39 am

I think of a nap when I think of rest. It could be because I have an infant...but I think most people would think of sleep first. But doesn't that paint the wrong picture of heaven if it's labeled as eternal rest? Sleeping...forever. No. It's supposed to be alive forever. There is a big difference. So maybe it's worth sorting out what we think of heaven so our goal at the end of our earthly race isn't an eternal nap. I'm not fighting for that. I'm fighting for clarity. For purpose. For peace and love and all the desires that make me crazy the minute I open my eyes in the morning. Why do I want to be lovely, why do I want to be desired? why do I need to achieve, to create to inspire. Why can't I do it better? When will I be able to finely? When will I stop messing it all up? Then my heart will finally rest. When my purpose is fulfilled-forever being able to actually do what I set out to. To be able to stretch out my hand and achieve what was in my mind before. To feel loved. That is rest for my soul. My heart soul and mind will finally find it's place of peace, not fighting against forces I can't even see. Not working to overcome an enemy I can't always identify. A nap? No. A journey that is always just beginning and sure to work out and inspire to my very core with new and fresh and real. That's the rest I'm looking for. I may lay my head down for a nap while I'm there...but I won't worry about what comes next when I wake.

10:45 am

2011-12 school year...

2011-08-31T10:33:00.000-04:00

Has launched. Though with our homeschool boys, until the whether is horrid, they'll be hard to get indoors doing workbooks. We wade in slow; Noah is tearing apart this mower that doesn't work. The other boys provide moral support and Christian throws loose bolts down the drive shaft. It won't be running again anytime soon... nor will L be parking his truck in the garage.

Noah finally got a real deal backpack

So I checked out so many books last trip to the library...they had to dig through the return drop box for books I brought back. Did you know there is a 50 book limit...? We're still using the Sonlight curriculum mixed in with a few Our Fathers World list books. Hence pushing the checkout limit.

Density kitchen experiments (yogurt on Christian's nose is totally essential if you were wondering)

I started getting really into this too...That grape has some major density =)

acid water charge battery...I didn't feel the charge. The boys claim the wire was warm-though it could have been wishful thinking after all that wire twisting.

Go Girl Triathlon

2011-08-27T11:35:00.000-04:00

I remembered enough of the good and forgot most of the bad...so I gave it another go this year. The swim was much more doable the second time...no hyperventilating even though I drank a bit of the lake. The only downer was L and the boys couldn't come...I really missed my fan club-seriously-it's the best part.

if you are interested in this race, it's every year in August.

5 min friday...

2011-08-26T14:37:00.001-04:00

word prompt: older

2:28pm

Older was always a negative type of term when other people said it. Like "she looks older" is never taken as a compliment. But what if "she looks older" meant something totally different than what we normally think? What if in meant you looked more settled and happy? What if it meant you no longer had to wear a shirt with logos all over it to be acceptable and that you preferred dark chocolate and black coffee to the younger years version of sugar slump fixes. What if it meant you talked less and listened more because it was okay. What if "she looks older" meant that you seemed wise and that your children were growing up along side you making you seem shorter every minute that passed by. I hope someone says I look look older and means those things.

2:33pm

hmmmm that's not what I thought I was going to write...

Hugs and kisses...

2011-08-22T14:43:00.000-04:00

from the extended (and expanding =) family vacation in Hilton Head SC

more pictures once I unpack all the sand covered clothes. =)

Same beach...same swim suite... the same sun...but a bigger boy

head lights for the after dark crab hunt

whole...

2011-08-09T09:49:00.003-04:00

Write for five minutes on the following prompt. Absolutely no editing while you write or after. I've edited spelling though...=) I skipped out on the last few Fridays and really miss the chance to write. It's really good to just let your mind wonder with words. If you want to share your writing, you can link it to this blog and other participants. Here we go...

Whole…

I want to be whole. I don't usually think of it in that term though..."whole". I think I usually seek comfort instead in an attempt to feel the wholeness. I don't think I always seek the right comfort either. What would it be like to know that when I crave something...it may be because my soul needs wholeness. It needs it's creators energy seeping through. I mostly just fill in the gaps with busy things. Things like making popcorn or maybe cleaning a closet for a good feeling. It's such a scratch on the surface. I'm not even close to a whole solution to my loneliness in my heart. Sometimes I think I even crave a small problem so I have a distraction, something to work on, something to feel like I can fix it, make it right... be better... almost whole. I think the enemy of my soul doesn't care what I do-as long as I don't discover that I'll never be able to make myself truly whole just by trying. As long as I wander from one comfort, one event, the next challenge...and just keep wandering. Jesus knows that the wandering may lead us far enough away from the light that we feel a chill and wonder what on earth we are doing and sit down and cry like a child lost in a supermarket with no idea where to go. Then it's simple. You hear a familiar voice...your daddy calling from around the corner. It's the only thing in the world that your ears strain for. It is better than any comfort or distraction in the entire world. No toy on the wall, no sugary treat along the way even comes into focus as the child tears around the corner toward that voice...just hoping it will call again and be a little louder the next time. The crave for those big arms. For the car ride home. For the day with the one you love. It is wholeness. Nothing else will do.

I'm went over a minute...

Andria

anniversary gift

2011-08-08T14:52:00.003-04:00

L Christian and I have been married 9 years. I put my evolving photography skills to a little test and tried to make him a gift with a self portrait. My one rule going into the project was: I couldn't photoshop any features because I'm often tempted to do so; I wanted it to be real (which always takes longer to capture; real raw emotion and human imperfection with the edge of grace to it is what I really love in pictures). I am propelled forward in life by verses like the one in proverbs that says "she laughs at the days to come" because if your heart is really sold out to Jesus-you can square off your shoulders, look at the future full in the face with all the joy and sorrow it may hold and still laugh with a sparkle in your eye knowing the best is yet to come. L has been an amazing husband the past 9 years, but he is not responsible for filling my heart with joy-and he never will be. We enjoy the fullness of life in our creator together. That's what is written in Hebrew.

Little updates...

2011-08-01T12:15:00.000-04:00

My little bug is 4 1/2 months already and drooling like a dike broke. Love this kid.

The Wright bros landed on my counter top...thanks grandma S for the book on first flight, it seems to have made an impression. ;)

Thing 1 and 2 were over...

2011-07-26T22:00:00.000-04:00

Little "thing 1 and thing 2" came over for dinner with their parents respectively. We pretty much only got a quick mini photo shoot in on the deck while L grilled before my bro got paged and they had to split the scene. So, I guess that means they have to come again soon.

upgrading to swiss family robinson

2011-07-23T14:46:00.000-04:00

Why not go with a label that already has the word family in it? ;) Huck finn family is going to have to take a back seat to a more sophisticated association. L and the boys added another platform (railing soon to come) and it started to remind me of something...an old movie I watched once upon a time. =) After looking up pictures of the robinson tree house, it looks like we're still short one outpost building and we need a swiss flag for sure-my dad would appreciate that since his blood runs straight from the alps.

life in pictures...a rope bridge

2011-07-20T12:05:00.001-04:00

we couldn't stop with the roof... being the classic life and all =) Our rope bridge prototype

hi-fivers-made it to the tree and back

pondering why the neighbors call us the Huck Finn family

give me 20

Christian gives it a whirl

After assessing the practicality and popularity of a rope bridge, we invested in some cool looking rope

Noah testing some safety cord equipment ideas, one brave neighbor joins in the craziness

Common sense...

2011-07-16T12:51:00.004-04:00

Lead glass and crystal

Our gold fish died...I know that happens, but I was taking good care of ours and have had pretty good luck with keeping them alive for a while in the past. It made me wonder if our water filter needed changed...but then I realized I had put the fish in a lead glass container before it died because it's bowl had a crack in it. Gold fish make high amounts of ammonia in their water, and that, I believe, is what leached the lead out of the glass. Why do you care? =) Well, I thought it was an interesting new fact that lead glass and crystal are "safe" in general but acidic (OJ) or bubbly (sodas) drinks should not be stored or in contact with it for long because it can leach out the lead into your food or beverage. So there you are, a new fact for your common sense bank. =)

Have a great day =) Andria

The classic life apparently...

2011-07-14T16:50:00.004-04:00

L put a new roof on the kiddos play set today. The boys enjoyed the project to say the least. Noah is quoted as follows "when can we get back to the classic life? Cookies, building..it doesn't get better." Noah also wanted to repaint our slightly getto looking decor...but I think it boarders on art at some points and can't part with the neighbor boys expression. =)

84 degrees, partly sunny with a breeze...now that's what got us all outside.

Hit the polls...

2011-07-11T23:00:00.002-04:00

L has worked his first few shifts at the hospital as a non-resident. His new scrubs have not arrived, so he's been wearing dress clothes until they do. There are a few of the other staff that wear dress clothes instead of scrubs for work most days...and some have mentioned to L that he should keep dressing business causal. What you do think? If you had to bring your little one in with a raging fever, would you prefer a doc in scrubs or a dress shirt...or would you be too worried about your little one to care? The poll is up on the side.

And while we're on the subject...Adrian said the other day that he didn't want to eat his apple. There was a twinkle in his eye, so I was obliged to asked him why. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away...and daddy's the doctor." HA =) So great (facetious) having kids in the joke telling stage; I can't tell you how many knock knock jokes I've had to participate in lately...they don't make sense either as far as knock knock jokes go.

So about that mop...

2011-07-08T22:54:00.000-04:00

It said "universal" refill. My mop didn't oblige. The string is kind of an embarrassment, but until I find a "WayClean" mop top, I still kind of need to clean up all the spilled milk around here. ;)

The 4th in MI

2011-07-06T12:55:00.000-04:00

Before we could get out the door...Christian put these goggles and backpack on and would NOT take them off. =)

water love-just can't get enough

Noah finally wears his fedora I got him

And ever after he was heard mumbling "ice cream...ice cream..."

just how mommy likes it

Life in pictures...

2011-06-30T09:05:00.000-04:00

toy horse goes medieval...=)

Noah draws a woodpecker with the aid of a drawing book-it's smiling- yes? =)

L is at the hospital working his last residency shift ever-in his whole life ever. wooop wooop =)

I love these...

2011-06-22T21:49:00.003-04:00

All that sun in TX makes these brothers and sisters pretty happy hu? ;)

And guess who's 8...

2011-06-15T09:58:00.003-04:00

Luke's idea...not mine ;)

after mowing-Noah's birthday bash begins at the pool

got more exciting when we tied to feed 11 little boys

fun neighbor who knows Hebrew came over too-her two darlings in the background-oldest named Ashton like my sister. =)

Happy Birthday Noah

All dressed up for R3 grad dinner...

2011-06-11T09:37:00.002-04:00

Our sitter got this picture for us-bless her and her little sister for watching all five boys for the night. =)

a note...

2011-06-08T22:55:00.002-04:00

Noah writes this note to an elderly lady from church who was not feeling well-notice he goes for the fruits not veggies when choosing his recommended miracle foods =)

In other news, I was going to clean out some crumbs from Christian's car seat; to my delight or utter dismay, I know not which, they came out in a solid chunk from the crease because they had been soaked with water at some point. Thought you might enjoy the tip on efficient Cheerio crumb removal. See, now you think my car is dirty hu?-oh well ;)

guess who's 4

2011-06-05T15:00:00.000-04:00

Conner Prairie in pictures

2011-06-02T09:01:00.000-04:00

There they go-oooooooo...Noah's legs are getting longer I think =)

Jude shows tender affection to Union guy's gun...or is checking the weight ;) Noah is wondering off by his lonesome of course

talking ammo

awwwwww...

Because Kurt rocks...

2011-05-27T13:51:00.000-04:00

My brother Kurt was baptized several weeks ago...look which little boys were apparently taking it all in. =) The first warm day we had, they were out in the drive way, bright and early baptizing away in a tote...there was water, what hindered them right?

Jude...the future baptizer...Adrian's fine just filling the tub. ;)

Speaking of water-I took this rig to the post office yesterday and got stuck in a downpour. As if I didn't stand out enough hauling Jude along 91st street without being soaked to the skin. We had a date at Starbuck's before the rain, so all was not lost. We also stopped at the dollar store...the check out clerk said a lot of their patrons come on bikes...I felt so glamourous I simply had to check out the $1 sunglasses. ;)

Noah's recital

2011-05-23T20:45:00.000-04:00

While I'm sure it's more fun when Luke gets them to play things that require coordination and sports equipment-I'm determined to get them playing a few things with strings as well. ;)

showing off the reason he practices...sometimes

In which the villain takes a break

2011-05-20T21:50:00.000-04:00

Pretty good so far...

2011-05-19T13:38:00.001-04:00

"hey guys, Willem here. Life's been treating me pretty well so far. I'm two months old, so I know quite a bit about it. So far, I've got this look that seems to work wonders on my mom, seriously, you've got to try this sometime to get what you want. It's easy, just position yourself so you can look up into your mom's (or whoever's) face, make sure your cheeks look really kissable at this moment. Bat your eyes and you've got it. You can thank me later for the tips on life."

awkward...

2011-05-18T10:43:00.001-04:00

Don't say I didn't warn you with the title...=)

On the way home from our ventures in IL, we had to stop for an inevitable "potty" break. It has been a tradition in our group order, that I take all the little boys to the ladies room with me. This serves two purposes, the ladies room is cleaner (so Luke says) and we are spared any drama of them being in the public bathrooms alone if I'm solo without Luke with me. Apparently, it also provides a perfect platform for awkward conversations about the facts of life since the walls are lined with dispensers of all kinds of novelties. The perfume isn't too hard to expound on, but Noah dropped the atomic question and asked about the contraceptives this trip. Since he had a head start reading the info listed on the dispenser and who knows what kind of graffiti written as well... ignoring the question with a light answer didn't seem like an option. I tried to keep it simple "that helps a person not have a baby." I hoped that would sum it up nicely since I was a little busy trying to keep Jude from touching anything. Kids can sniff out a taboo topic like no one else. Noah kept probing. "Oh, what do they taste like?" I imagine he was thinking of his grape Tylenol at home...I should have just said "cherry" and been done with the whole thing. I continued on as best I could "there are pills you can take that do the same thing but they don't taste like anything. I don't know that much about those, I've never taken them." Jude, who had been totally uninvolved with the conversation and seemed unaware, looked up with his little three year old face beaming- and I quote "because you want a baby every time, right mom?" Hmmmmmm...."I do love my babies Jude." Noah wasn't finished. "So, you just rub this stuff on your skin?" I finally had to resort to what I usually tell them during these question answer sessions "I can only explain it so far because other mom's do the same thing and it's not appropriate for kids to talk about some things." Noah gave me a look that I'm sure I'll see often when he's 16 "I'm not going to talk to my friends about it mom." So while my child may not say an inappropriate term to yours next time they meet...he may be the child that is forever unsure if there's a lotion that wards off having a baby. Great.

Andria

Mary Ann & Denny's in pictures...

2011-05-16T08:28:00.000-04:00

Thyme olive oil cake...

2011-05-10T14:10:00.003-04:00

Since my little herb garden is up and going again, I tried this cake with fresh thyme added for fun this afternoon. It's worth the extra cost of olive oil as apposed to vegetable oil or butter. The cake has a deep golden color, is fragrant, very moist with nice crispy crust. Enjoy with coffee or tea of course. ;)

Prep:

oven: 350
butter a loaf pan (stoneware makes the edges crispy)

What you need:

Butter for greasing pan
1 cup sugar (a bit less if you don't like it really sweet)
scant 1/2 cup butter milk (can use yogurt or make buttermilk with lemon juice)

1/4 cup (approximate) juice of your choice...I used leftover sweet white wine; the recipe I used called for fresh squeezed orange juice with zest...you could use whatever you like or just all buttermilk if you prefer to make 3/4 cup liquid in all

3 large eggs
2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
fresh thyme to your liking (I used about 4 sprigs, pull the leaves off the stem)

If using oranges, you'll need to zest 2 and mix the zest into the sugar with your fingers (a spoon works but not as well). Juice the two oranges (about 1/4 cup of juice). Add buttermilk or yogurt to the juice until it measures 3/4 cup liquid all together. Pour mixture into the bowl with sugar and whisk well. Whisk in the eggs then the olive oil. Mix the dry ingredients together and then add to the wet. Add the thyme. Pour into the bread pan and bake 50-55 minutes or until a knife comes out clean from the middle.

*I had rosemary listed this morning and then realized I used thyme . =) I've seen rosemary olive oil cake recipes though and think you can use that as your herb of choice as well.

It worked!

2011-05-09T13:41:00.000-04:00

So...I was really being lame about remembering Will's Vitamin D drops. So I put some mental energy into the question, "where could you put these things so I can remember everyday?" By the coffee seemed like a decent idea. It worked like a charm! Seriously. I don't know if Willem really needs vitamin D drops since the suns been shining, but he's getting them now. =) So the other day I got to thinking...what else could I stick up there? My Bible is so at home with the coffee beans and chocolate, I think it may be it's new permanent location. =)

Sweet dreams

2011-05-04T22:06:00.000-04:00

The best things in life are free...

Easter suits...

2011-04-28T15:33:00.000-04:00

The little chaps in their fancy duds for the Easter program

Noah's sentiment...

2011-04-21T17:04:00.000-04:00

Noah said in a board tone:

"Some books you know you will like by the cover...(pause) and some books you know you won't"

I looked over and he was looking at this book I had gotten at the library-hey, it was on a reading list we're working through...for the record, I didn't force him to read it-this time. =)

Totally...

2011-04-19T17:32:00.002-04:00

"We SO totally look like dad right now"..."Yeah, I know, totally..."

Quiz time...

2011-04-18T08:56:00.001-04:00

It asks for an e-mail address before you start, but gives you your score right when you finish the quiz (you don't have to go find it in your inbox). =)

Conner Prairie...

2011-04-16T15:12:00.001-04:00

The week old heifer-so cute

3 day old lamb-even cuter

Shearing sheep day

feeling the lanolin on the wool

Staying warm inside with crafts...that I can't ever seem to get planned/organized at home ;)

Our newest pet...they named it goldie...so original I know =)

legos...

2011-04-11T15:16:00.001-04:00

The party deck is pretty fantastic...the guests seem pretty top notch too (even the guy with a crossbow seems pretty nice-Noah assured me it was a party at a house...not a war).

Full marks for guest parking and an energy efficient wind turbine as well...but did things have to go so dark and foreboding with that swastika architecture? =) Noah commented that his windmill looked like the thing on U-boats....ummmmm yes dear...yes it does. Better luck next time for your cheery party-not real supportive of the communist one currently.

Love you Noah,

mom

Thinking outside the box...

2011-04-07T15:31:00.007-04:00

My adorable niece Poppy...who is now crawling, growling if you don't acknowledge her presence fast enough, and climbing into boxes if she can find them. I love her! =)

But back to the outside the box idea...and as a preface...I hope it doesn't sound flippant or trite in any way.

What if you had a dream tonight-an angel appears and says that he has a blessing for you. A special grace-filled something that will make you convincing and genuine to others-something that will, in time, make you a willing servant of God-it will change you, it will make you think of God in a way that causes you to remember Him and know that He is in control. The angel says that it will win true friends, you will remember what is important and be able to live with more self control and ability to consider others before yourself. The angel says it will grant you true humility. The angel says you will find contentment and true joy through the gift. You want the gift right? Who wouldn't?

Pretty much nobody really wants their gift-I don't most of the time anyway (maybe because I didn't ever have that dream with the angel to introduce it ;). It usually comes in a form we don't like. It may be something you don't like in the mirror, or a life experience that turns our world upside down. A gift...? It doesn't seem like it. But are we stuck in a box?

This idea is not original...but I was challenged to consider it again after getting groceries the other day. The guy at the register was middle aged and kind of quiet. I mentioned I didn't know how to cook with polenta and he started off on a great recipe for it...he had a stutter that he tried to control when he talked fast. He was so intent on finishing the recipe before I had to leave. He could have just let it go-stayed quiet...but he just went on and didn't seem to care what he sounded like. I don't know how to describe the instant genuine trust I had in this guy, just because he was trying so hard. I instantly became very attentive and wanted him to think I wasn't noticing any of his hesitations. He could have said anything and I would have tried to make him feel heard. God knows how to do that...to break down barriers between individuals. It may be through something you don't like about yourself. Are you willing to accept it...if it makes you real to the brokenhearted in your world?

Jesus said: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."
Luke 4:18&19

Birth Announcement...

2011-04-02T10:20:00.002-04:00

Spring cleaning the pantry...

2011-03-28T11:23:00.001-04:00

So...last spring I went through my pantry and refrigerator and checked for three things: a fat content over 10 grams per serving, Trans fats and sugar content through the roof-like over 20-30 grams per serving. If the item was a culprit, I put it on the counter. When I was done I tried to make a mental note of the offenders so I would find a better choice next time I was at the store...but I never replaced my peanut butter-which at 16 grams of fat per serving was definitely part of the counter crew. I really like peanut butter, so it became an exception to the rule. I've got big news though...big. This post may only interest my sister Kaitlin...but regardless, I must share this fine product since I wish I had discovered it sooner. The name is a little annoying- Better'n Peanut Butter but I'll overlook that. ;) 2.5 grams of fat per serving and it still tastes good somehow. It's made with peanuts, so this doesn't help those with allergies, but they are defatted before being turned into butter-fine by me. I got it at Trader Joe's but Marsh and several other stores carry it too-the website has a locator by zip. Check your yogurt too-I don't always get the lowest fat choice-but the sugar in yogurt cups can be outrageous-but it's considered a healthy snack by most because of heavy marketing. The light versions have fake sugar and I don't enjoy the taste that much. Plain with honey and fresh fruit tastes way better anyway-and it's cheaper. Maybe next year I'll find a magic, healthy, great tasting, low fat dark chocolate...or not. ;)

Eat well, sit long with friends, and enjoy! =)

Will 2 weeks...

2011-03-27T16:37:00.000-04:00

My sweet little man-getting all tough on me already with his head up

And now, I might call him little turtle =)

Pictures with Willem...

2011-03-26T10:26:00.001-04:00

We're settling into a new normal around here. I was watching one of the March madness games with Luke and had a moment of enlightenment..."this is going to be my life". There are 6:1 boys in this house...anyone want to go shopping with me sometime so I can remember that I'm still a lady? =)

A baby story...

2011-03-23T18:54:00.001-04:00

March 14th 1:07 pm

I've never had a baby during the daylight hours. I've never gone a day overdue, had pre-labor or tested positive for group B strep...but that's how it went this time. The obstetrician told me I would need to be given intravenous antibiotics for 4 hours before the baby was born-there was just one problem with that protocol-I'm not usually at the hospital that long. After doing some research online, I wasn't quite as worried about complications-full term babies were pretty low risk for infections. But my gut feeling decided I wasn't ready to have the baby for a while-I didn't want to be rushed to get an IV, I didn't really want antibiotics, and I didn't want the baby to have blood work done if I wasn't there long enough; I didn't like the whole set up.

As week 37 rolled around, by body decided (against my hormone charged emotions) that I was indeed ready to have the baby and so the battle between the two began. I ended up in a triage room with contractions every five minutes but no progression passed 2 cm. I wanted to get the antibiotics done right to avoid blood work on the baby, so we had gone to the hospital even though I wasn't sure if I was in true labor yet-I thought it was the only way we could be there the full 4 hours. The nurse in triage said they had just changed the protocol for testing and as long as one round of antibiotics was in, they just watched the baby. My contractions slowed,then stopped-home I went. I would wake up having contractions about every third night after that...I would lay in bed for a while trying to gage if they were getting stronger and then I would eat a bowl of cereal wondering all the while if my baby was big enough and strong enough to handle antibiotics and exposure to group B strep-my contractions always slowed and stopped. One night I was pretty sure my contractions where getting strong enough that we should head to the hospital again around 39 weeks-I woke Luke up and he said not to worry-that he could possibly re-schedule the exam he had that morning...of course I got all stressed out and my contractions slowed and stopped. Because of the strep B, I didn't have exams done at my regular appointments, so I didn't really know what was going on. 40 weeks rolled around and still no baby. I went to my OB appointment at 9:30 am on Monday the 14th. The OB decided it was time to check for any further dilation. Turns out I was fully effaced and 4 cm or more-all the contractions had apparently been doing something. The OB looked at me like I was a ticking time bomb about ready to explode after that. She strongly advised that I get my little hospital bag and check myself in at labor and delivery as soon as possible. It was an odd emotion...I wanted to have the baby-I desperately wanted to meet our little baby...but I didn't want to go before my labor was in full progress like normal. I called Luke from the little exam room and we decided to go for it since his parents were at our house to watch the boys. After hanging up the phone, I sat back down on the crinkly doctors office paper again and waited for the OB to come back. The paper rustling, the exam sheet...it all made me really nervous to head to the hospital. What if I was just being impatient? What if the baby wasn't ready yet? I said a prayer while I waited that condensed down to "I want to have the baby so much but not if it's the wrong time. Please help me chill out." The OB came in, I told her we would like to proceed and I asked if we should head in that afternoon...she said as soon as possible and gave me the time bomb look again. I got home around 10:30 and started having contractions-not a big deal...I had been having contractions all my life it seemed like. I got my bags together. The contractions started getting worse. The exam or knowing I was going to the hospital had done something. I took a shower and wasn't hungry for the huge brunch my in-laws had made. Around 11 I was ready to head in and sat on my exercise ball while Luke loaded the car. I wouldn't sit down when we got in the truck, Luke said "you're not sitting down..." after that he looked at me like I was a time bomb too. We got to the hospital around noon and they started my IV/meds. About a half hour later the first dose of antibiotics was still slowly dripping into the saline solution. I nodded toward the slowly draining meds and told Luke they weren't going to be finished in time. He loosened the line and we drained the rest of it in the next 10 min. After it was done I felt like I was about ready to have the baby but the OB had gone to lunch. She was quick to answer the page, broke my water and started to tear down the bed and set up stirrups for low impact delivery. I looked with a frown at the stirrup on the left and at the one supposed to go up on the right and decided it was yet another thing I did NOT like...I had a contraction and Willem Ellis was born screaming for all he was worth...The OB was still holding the right stirrup...

I was known during my stay as the mom who, after delivering the baby, sat up and said "I feel so much better"...I kind of remember saying it...I definitely remember feeling it though. ;)

I'm glad Willem Ellis is here and that he's healthy. =)

Willem Ellis...

2011-03-16T16:37:00.000-04:00

It's a BOY =)

7 lbs 9 oz 20 in

March 14th

The face of a mommy ready to have her baby finally =)

youngest visitor award goes to the twins

Alesa and I sharing our pregnancies together will be a sweet memory

Can't tell for sure yet-but I think we've got another Adrian looking baby

Jude took full advantage of the hospital amenities

ready to head home

home again

due date...

2011-03-13T17:39:00.000-04:00

So...if I don't have the baby tonight...this will be my first overdue baby...and that's just not very nice for your fifth-am I right? We are really enjoying these last few days before the new baby arrives though; for that I'm very thankful and happy.

We went for a nice family walk on the trails yesterday. Luke took some pictures along the way, so you get to see a side angle prego picture that isn't blurry after all. =)

nice work honey ;)

Okay...I know this picture is way overdramatic...but the shadowing is nice. The worried expression is either me telling Christian to stop getting in the picture, me listening to the park ranger explain that our kids couldn't use their bikes and that I had to get back on the trail, or because the vines are breaking...not sure which. The picture taking got a little less adventuresome after these rules were in place. =)

Still Prego...

2011-03-12T10:52:00.000-05:00

Christian found my baby play list...at least someone is using it, because the baby is pretty comfortable apparently. I'm due tomorrow; my walking efforts have not been effective at having this kiddo early. =)

I love this...Noah writes: I felt happy when: "I got a date" It was a little less funny when I figured out it was a date with me...but so much more sweet.

Noah was in a really bad mood and I made him write ten things he was thankful for. I love #7 and the fact that #2 said "ME" and then is crossed out and replaced with "GOD" ;)

Christian is 2

2011-03-07T09:51:00.003-05:00

As much as I would have liked to meet our new little one last week, I would have missed some special things. We celebrated Christian's second birthday last night as well as L's last call shift ever Saturday. We all piled into a conference room at the hospital L was at and had Jimmy John's before the boys and I took the train back to the garage and then home to bed. No more 30 hour shifts. Officially one more week before baby is due.

A few days ago, I was trying some lounge pants on in a fitting room hoping to find a pair I liked for the hospital stay. I wasn't having much luck, and then made the fatal mistake of comparing my potential keepers with the workout pants I had worn to the store. The ones I had worn the last two weeks straight and to the store looked twice as bad...ahhhh the realities a dressing room can afford. ;) They really need to work on the lighting in those places, and where's the slimming mirror when you need it most? =) This was not one of the special moments I would have been sad to miss if you were wondering. ;)

Chocolate glaze

The boys said they didn't want to get lasagna on their shirts...

not sure how to blow out candles

high budget gifts-bubbles and a blue match box car-he loved them though =)

More of the twins...

2011-03-01T21:08:00.000-05:00

Ellie is usually very chilled out...but this picture taking thing was pushing it =)

Greyson

Ellie Lee thinks mom rocks

she'll hear "you've got your hands full" =)

Greyson checks out the nursery...

Ellie gets the cute hair accessories of course =)

A big thanks to my aunt Beth who offered to watch the boys for the afternoon so I could get a baby fix in with the twins. I came home to a clean basement and homemade granola...delightful rarity. =)

Clint and Alesa's sweeties

2011-02-25T18:16:00.000-05:00

Greyson William 6 lbs 8 oz

Ellie Lee 6 lbs 6 oz

Yes...they make me want a newborn...

life in pictures...

2011-02-23T14:14:00.001-05:00

Christian finally learned to share...

his coco wheats.

They just keep reinventing this look. That box took many hard hits and proved to be quite protective as far as helmets go. ;) My favorite part was Adrian's voice sounded kind of tin-like, such an authentic mid-evil affect.

If I don't have this baby soon, I may just set up a tent outside the hospital until they admit me...just kidding...mostly.