8 years and 44 days old

It was too cold to do T's 8 year pics in December but today was gorgeous (and my session this afternoon was sick) so we headed out to one of his favorite spots for some pictures. Here are a few of the many shots we took.

I love that he is growing up but glad he isn't growing up too fast.

Man, I love this ornery smile.

 Seriously, how stinkin' cute is he?

And just for fun, I had him wear the same thing C wore in his 8 year pics for a couple of shots :)

 

Wordless Wednesday: I've been shot.

 

If you are a stickler for rules, ignore these words on this "Wordless Wednesday" post ;o) I am preparing to go on a mission trip in June with my church to Cambodia. In order to do this, I had several shots that needed updating...and several that just needed getting. So, the kids got to go with me to get shots today. Princess P was holding my hand, Captain C was taking pictures, and Terrific T was hiding in the corner, just praying for it to be over quickly. Round one is complete and I think the worst pain so far was removing the bandaids when we got home.

Just noticed this other pic he took. I'm not sure what I'm doing but thought it was funny.

Project time: Bulletin board

I am over my Clay Aiken syndrome and on to new things today. Thanks for "seeing" me, guys!

So, to get out of my funky mc funkness, I decided to attempt to be crafty. Check this out....

A few years ago, I made this wall hanging for Princess P's room. I cut up a comforter that my awesome sister dug out of the trash when she was working at Pier One Kids for me to match a twin comforter that she had already found for P there earlier. It was their floor sample and was stained up on one end, so I cut off that part of the comforter, serged around it (yep, I have a very neglected serger hiding upstairs...and you thought you knew me?), made this wood frame and stapled it all on there. Loved it. But...she didn't end up with a twin bed and never used the comforter at all so now this doesn't match her room. So...I had a plan. Oh yeah. Here is the scoop...feel free to oooohhh and aaaahhhh (aka. leave a comment!!!!) to tell me how awesomely crafty I am :)

So, first things first...they had to enjoy the awesome ballerinas one last time.

Now on to business. Pull out the staples leaving just the frame. Did I mention that I made the frame? 'Cause I did with this totally cool tool that my Dad told us about. We love it! OK, back to the frame. Here is it all stripped down:

Then I stapled on batting and material for the new board. Actually, my hand started cramping up during this so Big Daddy stepped up to the plate and stapled for me. They should (or maybe do?) make easier to use staple guns for girls!

The kids ran out to play in the snow at this point. That has absolutely zero to do with this post, but this is a cute picture and it's my blog and I can post cute pics of my kiddos if I want to :)

Oh and this one of our A/C was just cool!

 OK focus, Les.

Next was the ribbon. I totally miscalculated on ribbon. According to a site I read, I needed to multiply the length x height and that was how much ribbon to buy. This is a huge frame,so I was going to need 65 feet of ribbon. Hobby Lobby doesn't carry that much of any one ribbon but are so sweet to order anything you need. So I picked up a LOT of ribbon (this thing is huge!)...turns out I only needed 15 feet. Oops. So I am going to have to schlup back to HL and return the 10 extra spools. Ugh. Good news...that makes this project WAY cheaper! After we got all of those on, I sewed each "X" through the material so the pictures won't slip down.

Voila:

Isn't it cute? But wait...that's not all. Big Daddy's Grandmother gave Princess P a bunch of awesome old jewelry recently. She loves it, but really won't wear the clip on earrings in the batch because she has her ears pierced. They are so special to us though because they are from her so we decided to include them in this project. This way she will be able to enjoy looking at them every day :)

It's hard to see from this shot but we hot glued different earrings at each "X". Love the personal touch and happy that I managed to only hot glue one of them to my finger...ouch!

It turned out so cute! Crazy busy, but she likes it. Here it is with a few pictures on it. I'm sure it will be filled with fun things soon.

Don't forget to oohhh and aahhh...don't make me pull Clay A back out ;)

random

Do you ever feel invisible? Like, you can say something and people ignore it but then someone else says the same thing and things get changed?

No?

Me either then.

And on a different note...check out this deal today to get a $20 Amazon GC for $10. I have bought several of their deals in the past and they are legit. Love a deal...stacking that with my swagbucks and waiting for the perfect time to use it :o) Don't make me feel invisible and ignore this great deal. lol

Recipes :)

I was asked for both the bread recipe from earlier today and the crabbies from NYE and am going to post them both now, while I am thinking about it :)

For the bread, I used a recipe for Raisin Bread and left out the raisins because C doesn't like them. I make a 1/2 pound loaf in the bread maker:

8.5oz water, 90-100* (1 c + 1 Tbsp)

2 2/3 C flour (I use 1/2 white and 1/2 wheat)

2 Tbsp dry milk

1 1/2 Tbsp sugar

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

2 Tbsp butter

2 tsp active dry yeast

3/4 cup raisins and 1/2 cup chopped nuts (we skip both of these)

1 - Add liquid to pan

2 -Add dry ingredients, except yeast to pan. Level it all out and divide the butter to put in the corners.

3 - Here is where I sprinkled in more cinnamon and sugar so it would be stronger...I made this Monday and the cinnamon was pretty faint.

4 - Make a well in the middle of dry ingredients and put the yeast in the well.

5 - If adding nuts/raisins - add during the kneeding.

Ours runs for 3 hours and 10 minutes so I set it to be ready when we are waking up. It is so good hot with butter. We ate the whole loaf for breakfast!

And crabbies. We do love us some crabbies! This recipe is in a book my mom made for us girls full of old family recipes. I just scanned in the page instead of typing it up (in hindsight, I should have done that for the bread too - lol). We just have to mention crabbies and my dad is heading to the store for ingredients! Oh and all three of my picky eaters LOVE these. There are never any left on the plate.

These were our New Year's Eve batch. I painted that plate when we were in AL - it has all of our names under the crabbies :)

T.G.I.F. + G.I.G.

The kids all three woke up in great moods today. Praise the Lord! It helps to wake up to the best smell in the entire world....fresh baked bread. Thank goodness for bread makers with timers so I could put it all in there last night and have it ready 9 hours later. Today was cinnamon and sugar bread:

While I was cutting the bread, T asks me what G.I.G. stands for. Hmmm...that's a new one. I don't know. He said it is for "God Is Good!" Yes, He sure is!! When we were in AL, we went to church with my sisters and their pastor does this with the congregation:

Pastor: God is good....

People: All the time!

Pastor: All the time...

People: God is good!

I heard T and P playing "pastor and crowd" while they were eating. "Now it's my turn to be the pastor and start it." So cute!

Now they are in their debating why a guy would stick a feather in his hat and call it macaroni. Makes no sense to C but perfect sense to P, who says it was probably a yellow feather with a black stripe. duh.

So...Thank Goodness It's Friday...I'm ready for an amazing weekend! Are you? God. Is. Good.

Good morning

I love when I wake up and the kids tell me all they have already done. Breakfast is done. Showers are done. They are dressed and teaching each other school. They were so diligent in getting things knocked off their list and sweetly let their tired mom sleep in.

That didn't happen today. Today, I woke up to Terrific T in bed with me trying to think of ways to get on America's Funniest Home Videos. I grunted "no" a few times as he rattled crazy ideas off but I decide it was time to get up when he mentioned throwing WonderMutt out the window and being super glued to her so he "accidentally" flew out too.

Sleeping in is a great thing as a mom...but not always smart ;)

1/10/11 - first snow

Can you see the pure bliss on their faces?

Can you taste those first falling snowflakes on your tongue?

 

Or are you busy wondering why none of the kids have on matching gloves?

 

Can you feel the tension in the air as the snow ball fight is about to begin?

Or are you still distracted by the pink and black mismatched gloves?

  

Can you feel the brotherly love?

Are you ready to do it all over again tomorrow?

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.

Dr. Seuss

Not exactly loaves and fishes, but...

Monday, Captain C and I were trying out a new recipe for rolls. When I was looking at the Duggar's site for the character chart below, I found they had some recipes there too and we decided to try these:

DUGGAR HOMEMADE ROLLS

1/2 c. shortening

1/2 c. sugar

1 t. salt

2 pkg. yeast

2 c. flour

Combine first 5 ingr. in large bowl & cut with pastry cutter.

2 eggs beat in 2 c. measuring cup, fill cup to 2 cup mark

with hot water. Pour over dry mixture.

Slowly add:

3 c. flour Cover. Let Rise 20 min. in warm oven. Pour onto floured surface. Knead. Flatten with hands into large pizza shape. Cut with pizza cutter into16 slices. Roll up from wide end to point. Place in greased pans leaving space for rolls to double in size. (can shape like crescent or lay on side where swirl shows.) Cover. Let rise in warm oven at least 20 min. Remove from oven. Preheat oven. Preheat oven to 375. Bake 20-30 min. depending on how dark you prefer. Immediately brush with 1 stick (1/2 c.) melted butter.

Yields 16 Rolls in 2-9”x13” pans

I saw that it takes 2 c flour and knew we were waiting on an order of whole wheat flour to get in so just had a little bit of white flour left in the cabinet. Looking at it, I asked C if maybe we should make 1/2 a recipe because we barely had any flour left. He really wanted all 16 rolls so there would be leftovers (that's my boy!) so I started measuring it out, thinking if I had to, I could run next door and take advantage of my sweet, sweet neighbors once again. I was relieved when there were 2 cups and a little bit left in their. Phew! We keep going, add the rest of the ingredients and get to the line that says, "slowly add 3 c. flour". Well, shoot! I thoughtless said, "God, please bless this flour" and dumped the whole thing into a measuring cup. Wouldn't you know it, we had exactly THREE CUPS of flour "hiding" in the bottom of that Tupperware canister. Unreal! But oops...I kept reading and it now says, "Pour onto floured surface". Dang, I had just dumped it all out. Oh wait...there is JUST ENOUGH left in the bottom of the canister for us to roll it out.

Who says God doesn't care about the little things?

Well, I'm still here.

I wanted to type this up yesterday so I wouldn't forget it, but kinda still wanted to forget it so didn't. Today, I had some time without the kids (thank you Grandma and Grandpa!) and was able to tell the story to my sisters so I think I can actually type it up without crying now. Ready for a crazy story? Here goes....

Terrific T talks a lot about God talking to him. I always tell him that as long as God is telling him Godly things, than to keep listening. We have talked before about how God won't tell you anything that doesn't line up with what he knows from the Bible. Monday, he told me again how God is always talking to him. He said that since he was baptized, that God talks to him all the time, even telling him things like "You need to go to the bathroom so you don't wet your pants.". Ok, now I am thinking that he might be confusing his own thoughts with God's voice, but again, who am I to tell an 8 year old that he isn't hearing from God. We talked more about making sure that things line up with scripture (on an 8 year old level) and went on with our day.

Fast forward to Tuesday night. I went up to kiss the kids goodnight and Terrific T was a little bit teary. Not all out crying or anything but I could tell he was upset. I asked him what was wrong and he said, "God told me I am going to die tonight." SCREECH....put the brakes on, buddy. Not on my watch you're not!! I spent a long time praying with him and we talked about how God isn't a God of fear and loves him and on and on, praying and praying. When I am done, he asks "So, what are you going to do with my body in the morning?" Ugh - he wasn't even really upset anymore, just kinda matter of fact. We talked and prayed more and I told him to not worry. If God decided that Tuesday night was when he wanted to take him to heaven to be with Him, then he would be so happy there and not to worry about things here. Not exactly the "good night, sleep tight" speech I'm used to giving.

Needless to say Big Daddy and I did some serious praying and I slept about a wink all night long as I prayed, listened for T to roll over (his bed is right above ours) and we even snuck into his room to check on him. Now, I didn't logically think he was going to die that night. Really. But....what if? What if God really was talking to him? What if....? I am embarrassed to say that I have never spent an entire night praying over my kids before like I did that night. Morning comes and Big Daddy went upstairs and came back to tell me that all was well. Phew! Terrific T comes down about 8:30 and climbs in bed with me and after laying there for a minute says, "Well, I'm still here." We then talked about that God never lies. Never. So, since (thankfully) he IS still here, it was a lie he heard last night so it wasn't God. Now, how do I teach him to discern between his thoughts, the devil's schemes, and God's still small voice? I guess it all goes back to that God will not tell you anything that goes against the Bible. But that doesn't help explain that night. If Got had taken him home that night, that wouldn't have gone against the Bible. Which leaves me confused on how to explain it. Yes, in hindsight, we could see that it was a lie so not from God. But what about in that moment?

He was a little shocked when I told him I was praying for him all night. He asked if I believed that it would really happen too? I told him that I didn't think (hope) it would happen...but I took it as a good reminder from God to pray for him and C and P. As I was laying awake all night, a song we had sung in church Sunday kept running through my head, but instead of singing "All I am is Yours" I was singing "All I have is Yours". Terrific T, and C and P, are our kids, but they are God's kids too and I know He loves them even more than we do.

OK, I was wrong, I couldn't type that up without crying. UGH. So glad to have that night behind us and SO glad Terrific T is still here!

Wordless Wednesday: Stick 'em up!

3 and out....and ok with that

When I was in AL, my sister and I started watching 17 and Counting. Honestly, it was kinda like a train wreck...we just couldn't turn away. It just doesn't make sense to me to have that many kids. I don't see how you can give them each the attention they need...but then we kept watching. There is one episode where the family is in NYC. I would be a nervous wreck taking my 3 kids to someplace that busy...keeping tight holds on their hands. But Mommy and Daddy Duggar are leisurely strolling along holding hands with each other. The older siblings had all the responsibility for the younger rugrats. We watched episode after episode together before I left and the parents are always SO calm. Can you imagine having 17 (19) kids and not yelling at them or stressing out at least sometimes. Wow. My sister sent a link today from their site that lists character qualities that they teach the kids. I think this explains why the older kids are so willing to help out their parents and their siblings. They truly do put Jesus first, Others next and Yourself last and have J.O.Y. because of it.

Now it is too late for us to have a gaggle of kids (praise God, we went 3 and out!), but that doesn't mean that I can't teach these three little treasures a thing or two about living Godly lives. I printed off the Character Qualities chart off the Duggar's site and Terrific T and I  "laminated" it (packing tape with a duct tape border). Then I read it with the kids. We read quickly over all 49 traits and then spent a little more time on the first one. There is a verse listed for each and a short definition so we will add on one a day or week. Captain C read us the verse and we talked about it. Then I got out a big glass jar and told them each time I catch them showing one of the traits listed, they could put a Lego in the jar. When it is full, I'll take them to the children's museum to celebrate. (I already bought cheap tickets for it from living social a few months ago and was planning to use sometime this month anyway...shhhhh!)

There is one lone Lego in there so far...praying we fill this baby up and become more like Christ in the process.

We make a great team.

Big Daddy and I have the perfect relationship. I hear ladies complaining all the time about how little their spouse does around the house and I'm almost embarrassed at how much my hubby does. Most Saturday's he can be found knee deep in laundry. I know he partly does this out of necessity...the guys wants some clean clothes to wear. But mostly, I think he just does it because he loves me and knows I hate it. He also does the dishes and helps around the house more than he probably should.

I am not a total slopjar though....I have cooked at home every night this year (no comment) and if we get anything electronic, he hands it right over. We had the same TV for years...with the same digital converter box for the past year, and he still can't get it to turn on without my help. But that isn't a problem anymore. No, we didn't get cable...don't get crazy here. We did get a new TV though....movin' on up ;) The guy at Best Buy didn't seem to think it was a "big screen" but compared to the 26" (I think it was that deep too) that we have enjoyed for the past many years, this is huge to us. We received an awesome gift of surround sound for Christmas too...which he also slid my way to hook up.

So this weekend, while Big Daddy was de-wrinkling our jeans, I was hooking this bad boy up. And it *almost* works even! Well, the TV and the surround sound both work fine, just not together....yet...need one more cord. Now for the dilemma....we had to rearrange the whole living room to make this work (and the playroom since we moved the old TV, playstation and entertainment center up there). Big Daddy made this white table years ago and it is normally behind the couch, but we needed something to hold the new TV for now. I found a new one I like but don't want to spend the money right now, so thinking of using this for a while.....unless it looks stupid. So tell me, does it look stupid? The one I like is shorter so I hate to move the pictures on the wall behind it since they will work with the new stand. Hmmm...might have to just bite the bullet and order the stand I like. Thanks for helping me sort all that out. You rock!

Another day. Another owie.

Or could be titled...."Anyone have a spare bubble?"

Princess P gets hurt. A lot. And there is no distinguishing between her "really hurt" cry and "hurt feelings" cry. She is a weeeeeeeee bit dramatic. So today, when I heard her coming in from the garage crying, I started to ignore it but it sounded different so I jumped up. Big Daddy was following her in and said, "She really is hurt!" because she comes in crying most days over something minor. Even Terrific T later said, "I knew she was hurt when Daddy came right over." It definitely could have been a LOT worse, we know that, but in her little world, it was devastating. She was playing with Big Daddy's old bb gun (that doesn't work...it was his from when he was little) and got her finger somehow stuck somewhere on it. I took this picture tonight, about 4 hours later and it is still swollen. The scar on her pointer finger right next to this new owie was from a few months back when she was cutting wood with the boys and cut her finger instead of the limb. Do you think this is why God gave us so many fingers? Maybe He knew we would bang a few of them up and need some spares. Or maybe it was just so we can type faster. Hmm. Anyway, I figured this was as good as anything for my photo for today.

Princess P's battle wounds.

Oh and Nicolle, I'll post the Crabbie recipe for you tomorrow. It is yummy!!

1-1-11

I love the new year. I love the clean plate we are given. I love the fresh start. I love the possibilities that are wide open to us. But it is a lot of pressure too. As of January 1st at 12:01am, everything is perfect. We haven't eaten the wrong thing, yelled at the kids, missed a quiet time, or screwed up too badly....yet. Unfortunately, we are human and WILL screw up just about as soon as we wake up ;o) Fortunately, God is still God and God is still Good even when we do. So on this New Year's Day, I did make some resolutions...not that I expect to perfectly complete them, but it is good to have a goal or two, don't you think?

For the past two years, I have had a photo blog that I have loved. In 2009, it was called "Yes, I was there too"....and I took a picture each week with ME in it so the kids would know that they did, in fact, have a mother. I printed that year up into a book and I am so happy I did it. In 2010, I changed it up a little (got tired of looking at myself) and tried to include a note in each picture for my "Notes from 2010". I started off well and fizzled out the last few months but I will still print it up and treasure it. This year, I think I will combine both my blogs in my effort to simplify things. I am also going to be checking out this site for ideas for daily photos. I don't even pretend that I am going to do a photo a day...but since photography is such a big part of my life, I do want to keep shooting for fun so will try to do a few photo posts each week and post them here, in addition to my everyday ramblings.

Looking forward to seeing what 2011 has in store for our family and friends. Happy New Year!

1-1-11: Make a photo illustrating a fresh start, a new beginning, or the first step to a goal.

New Year's Eve

Princess P got herself all dolled up for a wedding yesterday. Our sweet neighbor gave her a bunch of her old dresses and costumes and she loves them. She was all prepared to marry Terrific T who apparently got cold feet and backed out on her. She made the best of her hard work dressing up and had a tea party with her babies instead. I came in her room and found this....so, of course, had to take pics. Looks like a perfect New Year's Eve tea party. Oh and thanks to Aunt SJ and Uncle W for the tattoo kit for Christmas. P is one classy princess!!

We are fairly boring and like to spend New Year's Eve at home...we aren't party people and would rather just be with our family. So last night we rented a Redbox movie and had crabbies and sparkling grape juice with the kids. They loved it and were in bed at 10:45....we watched the ball drop in NYC at 11 and went to sleep ourselves. Big Daddy and Captain C got up earlier, but little T, P and myself all slept until 10 this morning. It was lovely! Here are a few pics from last night, watching Dick Clark and having some snacks.

 Sneaking the last crabbie while the others watch tv ;)

Happy New Year!!