A Few of My Favorite Things 2010

~1~ my Pack and their willingness to work with their hands
~2~ a mom who encourages my love of all things simple
~3~ antique sewing baskets full of little treasures (given to me by a lovely mother of my <3)
~4~ working with my hands
~5~ learning to sew
~6~ looking at the beautiful gift baskets and knowing that they were 100% handmade!
~7~ seeing our garbage can Christmas morning (after presents were opened) and seeing not one single piece of wrapping paper!
~8~ spending time with my little nieces and nephews and loving them so much it hurts
~9~ my children, who seem to enjoy my love for all things simple
~10~ My Pack! they are 5 of the most amazingly wonderful kids I have ever had the privelage of knowing!
~11~ my gift from my mom! "Country Wisdom and Know-how, everything you need to know to live off the land" I LOVE THIS BOOK!!
~12~ corn-filled bedwarmers :)
~13~ gardening... the day after Christmas I woke up with a smile on my face... now time to plan my garden for spring!
~14~ Christmas shopping at Goodwill :) and finding the most wonderful gifts for my girls there!
~15~ having 5 children, it makes even a seemingly small amount of gifts (for each child) look like an abundance when multiplied by 5 ;)
~16~ seeing Beans and Mouth's eyes light up when they see 2 huge jars of pickles under the tree with THEIR names on them!!
~17~ making Handsome Hubby's dream come true this year! a 4-wheeler with a plow! (used, pretty old, but runs great!)

I'm sure I will think of more during the next few days, I will try to remember to jot them down.

Awwwwww, time to relax and breath :)

Why is it that after Christmas is over, the presents have been unwrapped, the food has been eaten (and lots and lots of leftovers seperated and frozen in managable amounts), the baking is done, my projects are completed (some made the deadline, some did not), the parties are over, the ornaments have been lovingly wrapped in newspaper and put back in the boxes to await for next year, the house has been de-Christmas-ed, that I feel like I can finally breath again? Other than the obvious reason of me being allergic to the tree and I can actually breath again ;) I feel like this year was alot less stressful,(after I got over the fact that I was not going to knock myself out looking for that "perfect" gift for each of my Pack, there is no such thing, I have come to the realization). The tree came down today, the decorations all put away, my cozy livingroom back to normal. I can look out my livingroom window again. I can breath.

... Hey Dad ...

" Hey Dad.
Remember when I was like, five,
and I believed everything you told me?"

"yeah"

"Well Dad,
I grew up".


(overheard yesterday when Beans was talking to Handsome Hubby)

Fifteen

I cannot believe she is 15. I feel old. very very old.

Mono for Christmas

Poor Beans has mono again I am thinking :( So sleepy and exhausted all the time. So pale. Headache that doesn't stop. Sore throat is gone but still has a low grade fever. What a miserable time to have this flair up again. So thankful she has been working hard in school so far this year! A couple weeks off of school isn't going to hurt her any, and trying to get her to get her work done (and done well) is pretty much impossible at this point. So she gets a few weeks off of school, will be sleeping thru the holidays... and I informed her that she won't be snoboarding till we get her checked out to make sure her spleen isn't enlarged... not a happy girl right now.

But on the bright side! She turns 15 next week and is so excited to take her test and hopefully get her learners' permit!!! If she can stay awake thru the test...

Oh! thought of another bright side! She will get out of helping shovel out the driveway tomorrow after we get 12-16 inches of snow!! That is definitely a bright side I think :)

Now I better get back to my to do list.... but today seems more like a "curl up with a good book" kind of day.

What do you think? Clean clean clean, bake bake bake, sew sew sew? Or read read read?

To Do List

Everyone has a to do list this time of year. All the things we MUST get done. And we have DEADLINES!!! And only a certain amount of time to get it all done :P
I am one very blessed mom, I have 5 AMAZING helpers! They are so great about stepping in and helping me get everything done before it needs to :)
Little Brother is wonderful at making sure the woodstove keeps on keeping us warm all day long. Beans is great with grabbing a recipe card and digging into baking the goodies on our list. Blue Eyes keeps the laundry chugging away and Mouth makes sure the chores get done everyday :) Baby Sister is great about giving me a hug and she loves helping me get the hand projects done for the Christmas gifts getting made for all the grandmas this year.

My List:

*Finish all gifts for the Grandmothers
*make bags for neices and nephews and the BP
*finish Beans' Bday gift!! (YIKES! Only 6 days to get that done!)
*bake: cherry choco star cookies
choc covered cracker thingys
kiss buttons
lemon meltaways
and about 10 other cookies, goodies, candies to make

*sew the Packs' Christmas gifts
*plan the menu and cook/bake for the Youth Christmas Party (saturday!!)
*drill the 2 youngest of the Pack on their program lines
*plan the menu for Christmas Dinner
*take the Packs 2010 portraits (this week!)
*deep clean the bathrooom, kitchen and porch b4 Saturday
*clean my bedroom and go thru my clothes
*plan the menu and bake/cook for D's work party
*Christmas Cards.... sorry people, scratching that one off my list this year :P maybe every other year will suffice?
*clean oven (still smokes from Saturdays bubbling carmel mess)
*Clean bathrooms at church b4 Sunday (!!! Yikes!!!! almost forgot about that one!)


And thats this weeks list and its already Wednesday.... better go. I have A LOT to do!!!

What does your to-do list look like at this time of the year??

A Mommy's Wish List

Ok, a mom's wish list is so much different than a child's or a single woman's wish list.
I don't have "a new Barbie doll", or a "DS Game" or some new fangled electronic device on my wish list. I don't have high end designer jeans I wouldn't know which ones are in style anyway, actually, I don't even know the high end designer jean's brand names... or a fancy shmancy purse, do they call them "bags" now?, on my wish list. No posh jewelry or glossy boots on a mommy's wish list, (secretly I would LOVE a pair of glossy high heeled black knee high boots! But I don't know where I would wear them or what I would wear them with. I would need a whole new wardrobe! hmmm... sign me up for the boots! ;)
Nope a Mommy's Wish List goes kinda like this...

* socks, size 9. something so different that my girls will not want to steal them
* a stand mixer. I am tired of handmixing all these Christmas cookies!!
* a bag of assorted zippers, bias tape, ect. for sewing projects
* TIME!!! to get everything done in a day that I need to
* a master bathroom!! or at least another bathroom in this house! 1 bathroom is just not enough anymore :P
* a maid for a day
* an anniversary getaway (3 months later)

ok, the master bathroom would be for ME!! but really, everything else on that list has something to do with the rest of the family. Remember when you were a child? Or single (I wouldn't know what that feels like, but I've heard about it!)? It seems everything on their lists are all about "ME MYSELF and I". Somewhere along the line it becomes something for the kitchen (to make food prep easier for when I make meals for them), something for the house, something for the whole family to enjoy.
I guess that's what being a mom is all about. I love my life and wouldn't want to change it for anything.

But I still dream of those glossy-black-high-heeled-knee-high boots with that fancy wardrobe and sparkly jewelry and that designer bag that has a some sort of new fangled electronic device tucked inside it :) A girl can dream right?!!!!

Pretty Little Stones

Don't look at the dirty hands please! Baby Sister is a dirt magnet.

November 15th, 2010

See the pretty little stone in Baby Sister's tummy? It was a very scary event that brought that not so little object to be in there....

We were doing school one day, right around the lunch hour, so some of the Pack were already done with school, Mouth was making lunch for everyone. Beans and I were in the schoolroom when Baby Sister came rushing down the stairs. She was very red in the face and turning blue around her lips and her eyes were screaming at me for help but not a sound was coming out of her wide open mouth. I thought maybe she had fallen and gotten the wind knocked out of her so I told her to settle down and put her head between her legs. Beans was watching all of this and told me," Mom, I think she's choking on something." (always my calm level-headed girl). So I turned Baby Sister and did the heimlich on her. it pushed enough air up to turn whatever was in her throat so she could get breath again! Then she started hyperventilating and acted like she was going to throw up. I didn't know what she had choked on. I didn't know if it was still lodged in her throat. She was sobbing and saying it felt like it was stuck "right here" and pointing to her throat. So I grabbed my keys, threw her in the van and drove the few blocks to the clinic (not the clinic we usually go to but I didn't feel comfortable driving the 15 miles to that clinic with a little girl who could stop breathing at any moment).

~ Note to all you moms out there, there is a very good reason to get up and get dressed for the day when you wake up in the morning. and um maybe put a bra on?!?! gotta love those baggy winter sweatshirts! needless to say I did not look pretty :P ~

We got there and they got her right in to see Dr. Wonderful. He sent her right to xray so we could see what she swallowed (she kept telling us it was a marble and showing us how big she thought it was, but we don't HAVE marbles that big!?! SO I really wasn't sure what we were going to find). Thankfully it had moved down into her stomach, not her lungs.

The first two xrays were the ones taken the day she swallowed it. They were deceiving. Dr. Wonderful thought she could pass it just fine and sent us home. After he gave her instructions that she had the job of "digging for treasure". SHE got that fun job, NOT her mommy dearest that she had just scared 5 yrs of life out of . If no treasures were found in 4 days he wanted to see her again and take another picture to see what was going on.

Well, no treasure. Lots of digging, but nothing to show for it. I was thinking this will cure her of ever putting anything in her mouth again. I was right, she barely eats anything now :P

So back into the clinic we went. Another picture was taken. She brought along a "twin" to the marble that she swallowed which ended up not being a marble but a decorative glass stone that I bought for making super cute magnets for my kitchen boards. She had been playing with the extras that I never used. That picture showed a better picture of the size of the object that we were dealing with. Scary!

Well, as of right now, no treasure has been found. Dr Wonderful has gotten in touch with a couple specialists. They both said to give it till after Christmas. If she still has it in her tummy then it looks like it will be surgery to get it out. The surgeons have a difference of opinion on how to get it out. One says to go back down thru the throat and get it out that way. The other says that could cause damage to her throat muscles, vocal chords, ect. and that they should go in and surgically remove it. Right now I am leaning more towards the surgery. I would not want to take the chance of damaging her throat in any way.

She is feeling good right now. She has had a few episodes when she gets stomach cramps and feels like she has to throw up but it passes quickly and she goes on with her day. Her appetite is pretty much nothing right now but she hasn't been losing any weight that I can tell. She still loves her sweets so we bribe her. :)

Never a dull moment with my Brat Pack. Keeps life interesting. right?

"It Was An Accident! ?"

So, Thanksgiving morning is on us, we are getting the pies finished up, the smashed potatoes smashed and seasoned, the salad made,

*didn't turn out, make ANOTHER ONE!!*

pack up the truck, glance at the Pack to make sure they are half way presentable

NOPE!!

* Baby Sister go change your shirt! *whine whine stomp stomp*

* no, not that one * "MooooooMMMMMM" whine whine stomp stomp stomp*

* NO not that one... something NICE * more whining and stomping*

* let Beans or Mouth help pick something out for you * stomp stomp and arguing can be heard by all three coming from their closet*

* QUIT WHINING! OR I WILL PICK OUT YOUR CLOTHES AND MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE A 3 YR OLD!!! *silence from the closet*

~Sidenote~ whining was from Baby Sister. NOT me

Have Beans, Blue Eyes and Mouth bring out the baskets of food.

Find out that the stupid trucks "cargo area" actually has no "area" to speak of. Can't even fit a laundry basket of food in the "cargo area".

The "I told you we should take the van" conversation (argument) takes place between Handsome Hubby and me (the always submissive, perfect wife ;).

* that stupid cargo area causes many arguments between us, but it is always when we are in the middle of something important, like making that super duper grocery run once a month or on our way to a family function with a truck full of food or we bought a large item at the store. It usually goes something like this...
"are you sure it will fit in the truck?" I ask.
he rolls his eyes and gives me a dirty look, "OF COURSE IT WILL FIT IN THE TRUCK" he answers me. just a tad annoyed with me because he thinks (knows) another "I told you we should take the van" conversation is about to take place.
we get out to the truck. open the back door of the truck, see all five heads of The Pack in their seats and the little bitty bit of space between the backseat and the back door.
"which kids do we leave here or sell?" I smugly ask him
(because I know when to keep my mouth shut and bask in the glory of being right... NOT)
so we take said big item out of the box and all its packaging and distribute all pieces from the box onto the laps of The Pack to hold all the way home. Or grocery bags get set on laps for the Pack to hold all the way home.
Its a silent drive home usually.*

Sorry! Rabbit trail!! Back to Thanksgiving morning... the basket won't fit in the truck cargo area.....

Someone will have to hold the basket on their lap I tell them.

*Leave them to argue about who gets that loverly privilege.

I send the 2 youngest of the Pack out to their seats while I am throwing on a sweater and trying to find my purse.

Oops, forgot to look in the mirror this morning.

run a brush thru my hair and over my teeth.

Handsome Hubby is waiting by the door for me, tells me the deck is icy, be careful ( I fell on the ice the week before, it hurt ). He helps me down the icy steps, then walks to the truck to check out the nonexistent cargo area. Opens the back door of the truck and sees the 2 youngest hanging over the seat in front of them (all he sees is their rears in the air), and overhears Baby Sister say, " we are gonna be in TROOUUUBLE."

"What are you doing!?!" he growls

Little Brother turns around and says very quickly, "It was an accident!" but the evidence is on his face.

Whip cream.

smeared.

all. around. his. mouth.

my banana cream pies
were smashed.

Handsome Hubby gets upset (banana cream is his favorite)

I
LAUGH

till I cry. (I can be the cool parent sometimes too ya know!)

*rewind*

Mouth had brought the pies out and set them on the middle seat while she went in to get her bag. Little Brother didn't realize said pies were on the seat that collapses when he hits the button for the seat to collapse so he can get out of the truck (kinda wordy. I know :P ) he forgot his hat and gloves and decides to run into the house quick to get them.

* Hits Button*

Pies disappear

Beans and Blue Eyes gasp

Mouth comes upon the scene. Eyes are huge

They snap the seat back into upright position and find toothpicks sticking out of the seat back (I put toothpicks in the pies to keep the plastic wrap from destroying my pretty whip cream decorating).

There is whip cream on the seat, oozing out of the plastic wrap on all sides. Little Brother decides to get rid of all evidence.


Eat. The. Whip Cream.

Handsome Hubby enters the scene.

"It was an accident!" is heard

Laugh till I cry.

Its these moments that make life fun :)

We salvaged the pies (its not like someone sat on them or anything ;)

Drove to my parents and had a great day with family :)

The End

Closet Chaos

No, not my closet, you see I don't even have a closet, I have a pile of sweatshirts on the floor of my room, a rod in the storage room to hang a few skirts and Handsome Hubby's plether of button down shirts. Nope, its not my closet chaos I speak of (blog of?), its my daughter's closet, and I really should not complain, all 4 girls share one closet, its not a huge closet, its not a tiny closet, (they shouldn't complain, at least they HAVE a closet!) but this closet is jam packed! Who needs 15 jackets? Or how about 30 skirts?? And the number of puffy vests, in all different colors to match that one shirt that goes with "my favorite jeans!" And boots, oh my for the boots these girls own... brown ~ at least 8 pairs, black (but these I call "hooker heels" and they aren't allowed to wear them anywhere, which begs the question, "why do we still have them in the house??" they only add to the closet chaos. sorry, rambling!), pirate boots, jammie boots (? cuz they look really really cute with jammie pants, why would you need boots that look really cute with jammies?? Do you wear these boots to bed?!? rambling again) dress shoes, a zillion flip flops, btw, I HATE flip flops! They encourage dirty feet in my house, in my car, everywhere. all under the guise of "shoes". Flip flops are not shoes. they don't cover your feet, they don't protect your feet, they don't support your skeletal system ( I don't think that's the clinical phrase, but you know what I mean). Not to mention the tennis shoes, all colors under the rainbow to go with different outfits. And the actual snow boots, not to be confused with the fashionable boots, of course they have them too. Jeans, pants, shorts, sweatshirts, blouses (sorry, I call them blouses, my girls have no clue what blouses are, they call them "dress shirts" informal dress shirts?) Of course they all have dresses too... lots and lots of dresses and cute little sweaters that go with that certain little dress, and matching heels finish up the look. And the scarves, pretty scarves in all different colors. And bags and purses and backpacks (plural. "Mom, the white with orange flowers messenger bag does NOT go with my pink puffy vest! *rolling of the eyes*).
**Now, for the sake of full disclosure, we (they) buy these clothes at GW, or they are given them, usually for babysitting 3 adorable little boys that have a mom with amazing clothes ;) and when they shop at GW its on Tuesdays, Tag Sale Tuesdays, when they buy items for $1.50... so don't think I encourage mindless spending of hard earned money on a $50 pair of boots or a $40 pair of jeans. We don't do that kind of thing.
I think it may be time to take control of the closet chaos... but its so much easier to shut the door and leave it for another day, say.... when they move out???

This is just me, dreaming again ;)

I am falling in love with old farmhouses... the wide planked floors, the beat up baseboards, every nick and ding must have a story behind it. I dream of living in one someday. On an actual farm where I can have an acre garden and barns and a chicken coop and barn cats and a stream that Little Brother can go fishing in. I think we have become a people that don't appreciate the history of the places around us. We want new everything, new cars, new houses, new EVERYTHING!! I have fallen in love with old everything... old cars, old houses, old clothes, old linens, old buttons, old appliances, old furniture ( I have to tell you, it is built so much better than this newer junk they sell! ) The details in older homes is amazing. The woodwork is beautiful, and its real wood! The plaster walls have such character, the doors are solid wood, the wood floors are real wood and every dent and scrape gives it even more character. Leaded glass windows, farm sinks, basement root cellars, drafty windows (no mold problems there!!), and the creaks and groans that these beautiful stately old farmhouses make let you know that it has been around for allot longer than I have been! I grew up in an old stately Victorian style home, the woodwork is amazing, the rooms enormous, the floors beautiful ( even if my dad doesn't agree ;), the high ceilings were meant to keep it cooler in the summer (and it is), the old windows (only a few left) are drafty. The wide open grand staircase is beautiful in detail and craftsmanship, (even tho no one sees it anymore cuz the main entrance that we use would have been considered the kitchen or servants entrance). It has been slowly modernized over the years, some new windows, a full basement put under it, some sheetrock in places, but it still has good bones! I love the doors, and the floors, and the plaster walls and the woodwork, ah, the woodwork...
someday... someday I will have my dream house, not a Victorian for me, but an old farmhouse, that still has good bones.
I guess I will always be a dreamer, but such good dreams I have

Manic Mondays....

Some days I find myself just rambling about nothing, dreaming of something big happening in my life... win the lottery (problem with that one is I would first have to PLAY the lottery in order to WIN the lottery ;), lose weight, have an amazing body, get my hair done, have money to buy clothes that actually fit me, a closet full of shoes, ( I really do love shoes, you would never know it to see my humble collection of 4 pairs of shoes ) get a mani and pedi on a REGULAR basis! ( I have had it done ONCE in my life, a bday present from my favorite auntie :), space and time to work on my sewing and crafts, the money to travel and take a vacation with Handsome Hubby and the Pack... just dreaming again. You know me, I love to dream :)

I dream of being witty and charming and having friends to call up and get together with "just because". I think I may actually be a pretty boring person. I don't have amazing things happen in my life. I have never had any life altering moment occur. You know, one of those "ah ha" moments that you hear about? Yeah, um never had anything like that happen to me.

Just another manic Monday! But you've had those kind of days too! Right?

I want to be like her...

Saying "Good Bye" is such a difficult thing to do. When we know our loved one is going to be in Jesus' arms soon, we know that it is not a time to be sad but to be joyful that they are without pain, that they will once again be totally lucid and not confused, but I can be selfish and not want him to go. Right? I can still grieve and my heart can be breaking for the strong woman he is leaving behind. Seeing her sitting by his bed, with her head lying on the pillow next to his head, seeing her lips moving and tears flowing down her cheeks, knowing she is praying for a swift and painless passing for her beloved husband, thinking that THAT is the woman I want to be like. Trying to imagine the feeling of going home alone, thinking of the preperations that she will be making in the days ahead, not being able to imagine being able to do any of that, yet knowing she will, she doesn't have a choice. So I can be selfish and not want it to happen, not now, not ever. But I know it will, thats part of life. God's plan for all of us. For everything there is a season. That's just the way it is. So I will carry that picture in my heart forever. Of this amazingly strong godly woman sitting by her beloved husband, tears flowing down her cheeks, and seeing her lips moving in prayer. She is my Grandmother. I love her. I want to be like her.

Told you so!

Ok, I told you to give me a couple days and I would have snapped out of it ~ and I did :) This week is much better! I have been keeping myself busy with my garden (STILL!!). Canned 7 qts of pickles today, stopped at the local apple orchard and scored a box of #2 Honeycrisps for 1/4 of the price of #1's!!! Just 3 more boxes to get and I can get my apple butter started and I am thinking about some apple jelly too. I have big plans for next yrs garden... like 4x's the size if I have my way! I want to grow alot of squash, onions, garlic, potatoes, carrots, peppers and fennel :) and rasberry and blackberry bushes, and I want to start an herb garden so I can have fresh herbs all summer and then dry and package it for the winter. I would really really love an apple tree, ( or 10! ) really wish we had planted them when I wanted to when we first moved here 12 yrs ago :P
Have plans for yummy meaty mostaccioli for supper tonight with lettuce salads and garlic toast. Tomorrow nights supper will be beef stew (with fresh garden veggies from MY GARDEN!) and crusty bread of some sort.
I am starting to get Christmas presents turned out already! :) Not for the BP but for family members :)
I love Little Brother! He mowed the lawn today, split wood and is, at this moment, building himself a fort out of wood that he has scrounged around and found :) and did his schoolwork and house chores too! Sometimes I look at my Pack and am amazed by them :)
As you can see all I needed was a few days! I should know better than to blog when having the Sept blues!! Things are looking up and I am looking UP :) Getting my strength and wisdom from HIM ~ that's what I needed to do :)

September Blues

I really should be upbeat and happy, really I should be... but I am finding myself "down in the dumps" more and more :P I hate feeling like this. There is really no reason for me to feel like this. And yet I can't seem to dig myself out of this. I think it would be really nice to have a life. Ya know, a FUN life. Like, going here, going there, doing this, doing that, meeting up with friends (what friends?? that is part of the "down in the dumps feeling" I think), actually having a LIFE! It would be nice I think. But I think you first need to have $ to be able to run here and there, so that isn't going to happen anytime soon :P
I love my Pack, but they seem to be growing up and I don't know what to DO with them! Does that make any sense? Beans is signed up for her drivers' ed class. Baby Sister taught herself how to do front walk-overs last week, in my livingroom, of course. So now you can guess how much more time we spend dodging flying legs every time we turn around!
My garden is STILL producing veggies ~ and I am STILL processing pickles, and freezing carrots, and dealing with zuchinni, melons and tomatoes.
School is in full swing here. Its been more of a challenge for me to keep up with all five of the Pack this year. By the end of the day I feel as if my head is spinning and is so full of useless information from grades 3 to 9 that I just want to crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head! I'm sure it will even out and I will get back in the groove.
Maybe I should look for a full time job.... cuz that would answer everything.... ya right. Lets add sleep deprivation to my list of headache triggers. Argh... Can you tell my feet are really itching to wander again? My eyes would love to see new sights. Immerse myself in a new place, new people, new foods, new smells....
Next month is our 15th anniversary. I had big plans for it. Get away from the Pack, spend a weekend in some remote cabin, just Handsome Hubby and I. Now I'm thinking we'll be lucky if we go out to eat for supper. I haven't been able to find anything affordable. Well, its hard to find anything affordable when affordable means "as close to free as possible". Maybe there will be a good football game on that weekend....
Things will brighten up for me soon (give me about 3 days and I'm sure I will be feeling much better ;). Hopefully next week will bring sunny days, and a more sunny disposition for me!!

Hello Again...

Hello My name is Shanan, it has been 2 months since my last blog entry (YIKES!!). I am a horrible blogger and I am very sorry.

whew, now that I got that off my chest I will update everyone on whats been going on at my beautiful little piece of paradise~

We spent a week out at my parents lake cabin. Had SO much fun and the week started out with a BANG!! Literally :P Handsome Hubby was taking all of the Pack out on the wet jets and he decided to get the second one going, it wouldn't start so he figured he would jumpstart it ( he and my dad had done this many times b4 without problems). Well, he didn't realize that there was a leak somewhere and that the gas tank had actually leaked every drop of its contents into the engine compartment, where the battery is located. All 19 gallons of gas was sitting in there. Beans had grabbed the cables for him and handed them to him, they hooked up the first cable and as HH was hooking up the second cable Beans took a step back. Well, it sparked and flames shot up out of the wet jet and HH's hair lit on fire. Beans very calmly told him, "Dad, your hair is on fire." he dove into the water and Beans started splashing water on the wet jet to try to get the fire out. It kept restarting, so she yelled for a fire extinguisher and Little Brother jumped into the pantoon (which was sitting by the dock) and grabbed the extinguisher out of there. (hmm, I didn't even know they HAD an extinguisher in there). He handed it to Beans, she handed it off to HH and he put the fire out. Well, HH staggered up onto the shore and started shivering and shaking. My uncle, who just happens to be an EMT, was staying at the cabins with us and he advised HH that he needed to get to the hospital. Well of course HH denied it, said he was alright, and that he didn't need to go in. he whole time he was putting up an argument we were moving him towards the van, we finally convinved him we should have them check his eyes and lungs to be on the safe side and got him loaded up in the van, wrapped in Little Brother's quilt. So thankful we convinced him!! We got about 3 miles down the road and he started shaking really bad and stuttering. He was starting to feel the pain and we needed to get him somewhere where they could get it under control for him! All said and done we found he had 1st and 2nd degree burns over his face, shoulder and neck. They cleaned him up, drugged him up and sent him home. I was praying that he wouldn't have any pain the next day (pretty impossible with 2nd degree burns I had heard) and guess what?? He woke up the next morning with absolutely NO PAIN!! He took the day off of work, shaved his head bald and spent the day relaxing :) He is still sensitive to sunlight on his face, he has decided he likes the shaved head, and I think all of the Pack now has a healthy fear of fire. We ended up having a wonderful rest of the week at the cabin with my uncle and his 3 wonderfully amazing kids.

Me and my Pack have been kept very busy canning and freezing. pickles, salsa and zuchinni from the garden :) I have also started getting my Christmas sewing in order! I have decided to make jammies for all the Pack and all of my nieces and nephews! I will post pics as I get them done.

School starts on Tuesday for us and I am so not ready for it!! I am not ready to say goodbye to summer, we have enjoyed this summer so much! So many days swimming at the river, spending weekends at the cabin, taking naps on the deck, ice cream runs... BUT I am looking forward to picking apples at the orchard, making apple butter and apple crisp and apple pie! Getting to spend a weekend with HH for our anniversary! (15 yrs! can you imagine!?!?) The crunch of leaves underfoot. The smell of autumn! Deer hunting with HH, hoping to get a doe permit this yr, last year I had to sit and watch 2 doe walk within 5 feet of my stand! The smell of the woodstove burning.... ok, there are alot of things I love about autumn too, the only bad thing about autumn is that it means winter is right around the corner :P

Well, thats about all I have time for today! I had better get back to canning pickles!

So Much Accomplished!

Well I have a whole lot of stuff that needs to get accomplished today! We are throwing a 70th bday party for HH's mom tomorrow so its "all hands on deck"! Of course with my Pack it gets done so quickly so I really have no reason to stress about it :)

Here is my to-do list for the day:

trim all weeds (around trees and driveway) ~ Little Brother X
scrub bathtub ~ Blue Eyes X
Peel 10 lbs potatoes ~ Baby Sister X
deep clean all bedrooms (dust, organize, ect) Everyone! X
put away craft stuff ~ Me X
roast the pork ~ Me X
bake banana bread ~ Mouth
iron ~ Beans
put away all gaming systems ~ Little Brother X
wash windows ~ Blue Eyes X
clean out fridge ~ Me X
make more laundry soap ~ Mouth
bake cupcakes ~ Baby Sister
finish laundry ~ everyone
clean around shed ~ Little Brother X
scrub out cooler for drinks ~ Mouth
put window air conditioner in ~ Me
put the front panel back on washing machine ~ Me
clean and disinfect litter box ~ Blue Eyes
make a bday banner ~ me
drop off Baby Sister at Little Friend's house ~ X
pick up a few groceries
make potatoe salad ~ Me
make Sarah Beans ~ Beans


that isn't including all their usual chores! its looking pretty good though :) We should still be able to relax this afternoon and the older 3 girls have their heart set on going to see Eclipse, I don't think that will be a problem :)

Oh, for the 4th we always spend the day with friends ~ I am thinking about making the rainbow cupcakes, but making them red, white and blue :) sound like a good idea??? I need to pick up some red, white and blue sprinkels for on top maybe? hmm, maybe add that to my list....

So Busy??

I just have something I have been thinking about lately, so I guess this is my way of getting it off my chest ;)

When talking to other moms I have heard them say they never have time for anything, because the kids are so much work. Ask them out for coffee? Nope, they can't, because they are so busy. Ask them if they want to come over for coffee and cookies, the kids can come with! Nope, they are so busy. Want to meet at the beach and take the kids swimming? oh, um, yeah, I can't because I am so busy.

I have a simple question. What are you so busy doing??? Why is it so hard to keep your house clean, melas on the table and laundry done? What is so hard about being a wife and mother? I am not saying we have the easiest job in the world! Seriously, when I had 5 kids under the age of 6, I was busy, I was tired, just getting all of them in their carseats to go anywhere was a chore of its own! But after Baby Sister was out of diapers, and walking on her own, I felt like I had freedom!

If your children are over the age of 4 there is no reason why you are still tying their shoes, cleaning up their messes, wiping their bottoms, buttoning their pants! They can have chores of their own, they CAN get them done, they can be ready to go when they are instructed to be ready. If they can't its not their fault, its because mommy has never made them!

I look at my Brat Pack and sometimes I really am amazed by them. They do their own laundry, mow the lawn (push mow an acre, ALL HILL!), get their chores done everyday, they all love to help in the kitchen, and have turned into some pretty great cooks and bakers. They keep their rooms clean (somewhat ;). My oldest girls help another family twice a week cleaning and doing laundry and watching their 4 children. And that does not include Beans' regular babysitting job and Blue Eyes and Mouth have been kept very busy babysitting this summer. And somehow we still find the time to go swimming everyday, I try to take one of the Pack out once a week for some mom and me time, make meals for others, oh! and we enjoy every weekend at the cabin with family. And you will find us at the library many afternoons during any given week, and many days are spent at the park playing with friends. I still find time to coupon and plan my meals so I am not spending a huge amount of money to feed this family of 7 ( with a few more thrown in on any given day).

I am not writing this to "toot my own horn". I am just trying to show other moms who have gotten to the place where their families are WORK, that it does NOT have to be that way! I love my kids, love my Handsome Hubby, love being able to spend time with them and not always finding myself spinning my wheels feeling as if as fast as I am getting things done they are undoing it! Don't blame your husband and kids when you can't find the time to enjoy time with others. You made your life like it is. You have no one to blame but yourself.

So, as you are letting life pass you by because you are so busy, we will be spending the day at the beach making memories, or maybe having a picnic lunch at the park with friends.

Of course you can feel free to drop in anytime, we always have fresh cookies or bars and it only takes a few minutes and I can have a pot of coffee brewed and we can sit and chat while the kids run and play. My house may not be perfect, but the door is always open and you will always be welcomed here.

Beautiful Sunshiney Days

I love weeks like we have had! Sunshine EVERY day! The Pack has been swimming every day this week, I went and bought clothesline for my poles so I have been hanging laundry outside :) the garden is looking good, already have been picking tomatoes for my salads, we are having family over on Saturday for Mom's 70th Bday party. The Pack has been hard at work mowing our little paradise. An acre of mowing wears them out but then they get to go swimming again :)

Little Brother broke out in a rash on Monday, on his face! Poor kid, itches so badly! I have told him he can no longer go out to the forts at the cabin, the weeds are up to his face and he must have gotten into something. It looks horrible :P Baby Sister is the only one that hasn't broken out in a rash yet, I guess we will have to see if she lucks out and has clear skin all summer or not...

So far Beans and Mouth have broken out from poison oak or something, I think that's what Little Brother has on him too. Blue Eyes, we have found out is allergic to the Equate brand of spray on sun screen. That was a painful experience let me tell ya :'( And I am allergic to Deep Woods Off bugspray. Oh and Beans is also allergic to bodywash (another painful experience!), and so am I.

Handsome Hubby has been working 13 hrs a day. So the Brat Pack hasn't seen him all week, they are missing him immensley. I was feeling sorry for myself when HH came home late last night and told me he is planning on working the whole weekend too, then my very good friend reminded me today, " ITS WORK!!! Be thankful he will work when the work is there!!" thank you Friend! I needed that reminder :) I am very thankful for my Handsome Hubby!

We have had friends over all week, the BP has been loving it, I am just thankful we have had an amazing week of sunshine and warm weather! They have been spending their afternoons swimming at our little paradise across the street :)

I will be posting a pic of my Pack soon, they have changed so much in the last couple months!!

Gotta go! I am making supper for the family that the girls are helping out this summer. Then spending the evening at the park with my Pack and some friends :) Have I said I LOVE this weather?!?!?! Sunshine and warmth :) Swimming and parks. Friends and outdoor cooking.
Swimsuits and beach towels on the line. Reading books on the deck with a tall glass of ice cold water. Hearing my Pack laughing and screaming from their favorite swimming hole. Yep, I so love this weather!!!!

Another Off Day

Argh, just another Monday, why does it seems like some day I just wake up crabby, for
no reason really, just feel very off. I really can't blame it on one day, I have been "off" for over a week now, and I hate it! I guess I need an attitude adjustment. If my girls were acting like I have been acting for the last seven days I would want to lock them in a room! Yikes, maybe I had better check my heart :P

We had a great weekend with family at the cabin ~ the BP had so much fun with their great aunts and uncles! But I was definantly ready to come home last night, my own house, my own kitchen, my own bed. Where I can be crabby and annoyed and not have to put on a smiley face ;) JK, I really did enjoy the weekend with family, but it is always nice to be home again.

Blue Eyes and Mouth spent the morning cleaning for a woman who has been put on full time bedrest for the duration of her pregnancy. So thankful for my girls and their servants hearts! So thankful I never had to be put on bedrest! wow, she is in my prayers, she has a long summer left ahead of her.

I have weeded half of my garden, I really should be out there weeding, not in here blogging... tis is te first garden we have ever had. I haven't decided yet if its something that I will do again. I do like havig tomoatoes at my fingertips when I want one for a salad. I guess I will have to see how good of a crop I am able to harvest before I make any decisions about next year.

Three of the BP will be going to camp next week, only Blue Eyes and Baby Sister will be home, the following week I will only have my youngest 2 of the BP home with me... I love that they can go to camp, but it sure does make for a long couple weeks for me at home! yep, its still lonely and quiet even when I still have 2 at home with me. And they really don't know what to do with themselves when over half of them are missing!

Nothing much else to blog about,told you I am feeling off!!!! Well, hopefully next time i am back on here I wil be back to myself!!!

Sleeping with a stranger

Lol! That title doesn't sound very good!! Haha :) Let me explain...

Last night I walked into the bathroom and a stranger looked back at me~ Handsome Hubby had shaved face! He hasn't shaved his face in quiet a few years, and the last time he did he left his mustache. Last night I walked in and saw my 16 yr old boyfriend! He seriously looks so young! And I haven't seen his face since he lost 50 lbs ~ wow!! I have one hot hubby! It was funny seeing the BP's reaction! Baby Sister backed away with her hands up, trying to get away from this strange man in the house! Mouth and Beans said, "Why did you do that?!?! I DON"T LIKE IT!" My reaction?? "Wow!! I'm looking at the guy I fell in love with 16 yrs ago!!" I gotta say tho, it did feel like waking up with a stranger this morning! I have a feeling this stranger will be gone in a week~ I am going to enjoy looking at his handsome face while I can, remembering how it was when we were young, dumb and totally in love, with that "new" kind of love that you feel when you are 15 and it totally encompasses everything you do and feel. I miss that feeling... life gets in the way sometimes I guess. kids, bills, house, the everyday everything..... sometimes I need this reminder of how it started. And when Handsome Hubby shaves his face I am once again reminded of how it started out. 2 young kids. totally in love....

Growing Up

Another year older and another year wiser? Well, the first phrase is true, the jury is still out on the second ;) My mom and I celebrate our birthdays on the same day. I was the best Birthday present she EVER received! ;) The older I get the more I enjoy sharing our birthdays. When I was a kid, I felt kinda gyped, I had to SHARE my birthday! My brothers got to have their own birthdays, they got all the attention on their special day. I had to share my special day. And it had to have a been a bummer for my mom sometimes too, especially when she couldn't just "skim over" her birthday. It was my birthday too, so she had to at least acknowledge the day. I don't know if she ever felt that way, I'm just thinking about I may have felt, this year I would have been totally fine with a low-key birthday. It could have come and gone with a card from the BP and Handsome Hubby and I would have been fine with that. In fact, that's kinda' what I wanted! "If I don't acknowledge it then it never happened, I am NOT another year older" type of wishful thinking I think. But I was very glad mom pushed for us to celebrate together with the whole family, I spent the afternoon being charmed by my youngest nephew :) How can you have bad birthday when you have an adorable little guy laughing and smiling and cuddling??? :)

It kinda feels weird, the calender says I'm a year older, but sometimes I still feel like that 16 yr old girl in love. I don't feel any older today than I did 5 yrs ago. I figure I am as young as I feel, as young as I act (? lol :). So I must be.. what? about 18? ;)

Things the BP have said lately:

Little Brother ~ "you only have about half a tank left mom." he was talking about my coffee pot ;) I guess they think of it as the gasoline that keeps me going?

Beans ~ "You bounce that ball one more time and I WILL POP IT!!!" to Baby Sister who was bouncing a beach ball in the house. Baby Sister's response? Grin and bounce it off of Beans' head and RUN!!! Then I sat and giggled as Beans took off after Baby Sister :)

Little Brother ~ as we were working on getting the posts in the ground for the deck out at the lake cabin. Beans asks Handsome Hubby, " Is this how you would usually do it?" ( we were putting a deck on for my parents, and my dad just wanted it done) Handsome Hubby answers, "nope". than Little Brother pipes up, " I would hire a professional". I cracked up! Handsome Hubby has been a self-employed contractor for 8 yrs!!! He IS a professional!!


Things I have actually said:

Hey Brooke! Are you jumping off the roof??
Yep!! *big grin*
Well, make sure you're only jumping where the snow is deep enough.

What are you kids doing??
well, I want a turn!!!
(they were mattress surfing down the basement steps)

can you move it? does this hurt? its not broken. go play.


all the pieces are the same size.
your piece is not smaller.
She did NOT get a bigger piece.
you're going to sit and argue with me about this?
fine, now your piece is smaller. (after I took a bite out of it)

(to Handsome Hubby as we are driving up the road to our house)
It looks like someone was sledding down the garage roof...
man, I bet that would be FUN!!!

If you roll your eyes at me one more time you are going to be
grounded to your room. FOREVER!!!!

Are you the parent? What in the world possessed you to cut
off all your sisters hair?!?! Do you want me to cut off all your hair?
I don't care if you were only going to trim it. Obviously you did more
than trim it, you cut off at least 8 inches! Do you want to be grounded
for the rest of your life? ( believe it or not, this was to Beans, just a couple
months ago )
Go to your room, I don't even want to see your face I'm so mad at you right now.

Peace

Have you ever got to the point that you know you should probably be stressed out? When you mailed that house payment on Sunday with the assumption that a paycheck would be in the bank on Monday, then the paycheck isn't there on Monday? And you don't have any money in the bank to cover that house payment?

Yeah, I really should be totally stressing out right now. But I'm not. I feel at total peace. Trusting and believing and knowing that God will provide. I have to admit, sometimes I get that stomach turning feeling. Then I stop and pray and give it to Him. It really is wonderful to have a Heavenly Father to lean on. I don't know what I would do without Him.

Nothing to say

yep, you read it right, I really have nothing to say. *gasp*! for those of you who know me, you know that that doesn't happen very often! So I guess I'll just jot down whatever comes to mind... I know, that can be dangerous!

*~ Ok, lately I have been wishing for more babies > Handsome Hubby thinks I'm crazy! I go thru my moments when I wish I hadn't gotten my "tubes tied". I really am happy with my Brat Pack. And I love being able to go places and do things without the whole tribe following me around like little ducklings. But there are days that I think, "I wonder what it would be like if we hadn't decided to stop having kids?" well, for one, we would probably have at least 12 children by now. can you imagine? 30 yrs old and 12 kids??? 2. we would be packed into our little house like sardines in a can. I know, God would have provided. But I imagine we would still be packed into our tiny little house.... 3. I doubt we would have been able to travel with Handsome Hubby like we have for the last 3 years. and I wouldn't trade that for anything!

Then I have to remind myself ~ I really am enjoying the BP getting older! Handsome Hubby and I are finally able to do things just the 2 of us. We are looking forward to being young and haveing an empty nest. We never had any time, just the 2 of us, when we first got married, Beans was born 2 months after we were married. We dream of being able to travel and enjoy things without worrying about the cost of things. That sounds awful doesn't it? Let me explain...

When you go to an amusement park, or stay at a hotel, or even just go out to McDonalds... think how much $ that would cost for a family of 7. With 2 teenagers! Its not cheap! Very rarely are we able to squish into one hotel room (without lying to the front desk). It costs over $30 to go thru McDonalds. We have never been to an amusement park because it would cost over $100 and thats NOT including food or extras. Don't get me wrong, we have been able to do alot of things with our BP. I always pack lunches and we bring our own water bottles that we fill at drinking fountains and gas stations. Even if its a trip to town that I know is going to run over a meal time, I pack a lunch and water bottles! Sometimes you can find 1/2 price coupons, or you can find places that kids eat free or places that kids get in free on certain dates. We love places like that!
~ yikes, all of that, just because I have been wishing for more babies?! ~

*~ I LOVE SUMMER! Yep, I have been thinking about that alot lately :) I am thinking that we are crazy for living up here in the winter. I never realize how much the sun and weather affect me until it finally gets nice out and I see the sunshine for 7 days (in a row!!), I start feeling this cloud of gloom lifting from my shoulders, I find myself smiling more and more. I start looking at things positively. The house is cleaner( because I feel like cleaning it!), and smells fresher with the windows open. Its easier to keep up on the laundry ( you can fit alot more shorts and tank tops into one load than jeans and sweatshirts!). I don't hear the furnace kickin' in and makin sucha racket, especially now, since it went kapoot 2 weeks ago. (*sidenote* for those of you who don't know me, I am very noise sensitive. I can't sleep with the furnace running, its loud!, I can't fall asleep when the fridge runs, I have to have every light off in the house to fall asleep. We don't have any night lights in the house. I know, I'm weird.) Yep, I'm a summer girl :) My dream would be to live down south where its summer all year long :)

*~ I find encouragment in the littlest things lately. Mrs Pastor called yesterday wondering if we would like anything put on the updated prayer list. My answer, "WORK!" you see, Handsome Hubby works construction, and as we all know, construction is not a good business to be in right now. He is a site superintendant. For commercial building, hotels to be exact. But with the economy the way it is, people just aren't building hotels, and banks aren't lending for poeple to build hotels. So work has been a hard thing to come by. And if you have been following my blog for very long, you know that I have struggled with being here. I would love to be back on the road. I have a nomad's heart. My perfect life would be travelling from one job to the next. 12 months in any given location, then moving on. Ok, anyway, back to Mrs Pastor calling... I updated her on where we are sitting for work right now. We are still praying for a hotel to come up, but we have finally given it ALL to Him. I would love to be on the road, but am content being here, that's where God has us right now, and I will be HERE, totally here. Her answer? " Now that you are content with being here, He'll answer your prayer. You had to give him everything and be content with where He has you at this moment." So I am still going to be praying for the "impossible" ( the world would look at the possibility of a hotel as impossible), that a hotel will come up for Handsome Hubby soon, and I will be content to be here. Right where God wants me.

*~ Handsome Hubby has been working construction for exactly 3 days and I LOVE IT!! God has provided in the most amazing ways, and I am so thankful for a Heavenly Father who loves and cares for His own. Handsome Hubby is not building hotels (which is what he loves to do), but he is working hard and has a purpose to get up and get going every morning! After having him home all winter, (and the last month and a half he's been working nights, so our days have been messed up), it is nice to have him working days again. All day, Monday - Friday. It feels like life is getting back to normal. Well at least until next week when I start working! Then it will be another big adjustment for all of us!

hmmm, I guess I had more to say than I thought... For for those of you who know me, know that this is truly who I am :) Always something to say.

Better Mood :)

I am happy to report, I am in a much better mood this morning! Had a long talk with my Lord last night, got some things right with Him, asked Him for some help in a few areas. Yep, went to sleep so nice last night. Got up right away this morning, got right back into His Word, talked with Him some more, asked Him for help with an attitude adjustment, and here I am. In A Much Better Mood :) I am so thankful for a Heavenly Father that is there for me in everything in my life!!!

Last night I was looking for a verse to memorize as I fell asleep. On the front of the church bulletin is the verse, Matthew 5:24. Boy did that kick me in the pants :/ Then I was convicted of my attitude towards "said friend" in yesterdays post... so guess what? yep, "said friend" will be receiving a little apology note from me this week. Not to say that our friendship can ever go back to what I thought it was to begin with. But I do need to get rid of this weight around my neck, I need to ask for forgivness and throw away this bitterness. God has used "said friend" in my life to show me that I was putting too much value on an earthly friendship, I must go to HIM with everything, unload on Him, my first thought when I find myself lonely, or frustrated must be to run to Him, not the phone to call said friend. My second instinct should be to go my Handsome Hubby, not a "said friend". I am praying for the right words to express myself in my apology. Heaven knows I don't want to dig myself into a deeper hole!!!

I considered deleting yesterdays post in its entirety. But decided against it. It's who I am, my struggles, my feelings, my sinful attitude. I can use it as a reminder of what I need to work on. And I hope it can help someone else maybe who is going thru similar feelings and situations. So it stays. In all its ugly glory :/ And I will go back and read it someday and be glad that I posted it, if for no other reason, to remind me of what I DON'T want to go back to.

~ Never Blog When In A Bad Mood ~

Aren't you proud of me? Twice in one week for me is a huge deal ;) Anyway, I probably shouldn't be blogging, its never a good thing to blog when you're in a really bad mood. I shouldn't say "really bad", its not that bad, just feel kinda' off. You know what I mean? And I really have no reason to feel "off" either. Just one of those days I guess? And I know that that is just a really dumb excuse to be crabby. We are supposed to have the joy of the Lord everyday, all day, no matter what. So having "one of those days" is really not a good excuse. I don't think there really is ever a good excuse to be crabby. ~ Wow, what a crazy run on paragraph was that?!? I really am not as crazy as I sound! ~

Nothing much going on here. I am excited to start working in a couple weeks. It's only temp work. Census work. And I know some people are all discusted about the whole census thing and think that the goverment is just throwing money out the window. And I have to say, I kinda' agree, but on the flip side, if they are going to pay someone to do this work, I will gladly work! Beggers can't be choosers, and right now I haven't had any responses to the dozens and dozens of applications I have filled out! So having said that, "Bring on the census work!!!" And I am kinda excited about being outside and getting alot of walking in. And getting paid to do it!

We spent yesterday at the cabin getting posts in the ground so we can build a deck on it tomorrow. The BP has grand plans of spending lots and lots of time at the cabin with grandpa and grandma this summer. And to be quiet honest I do too!!! I can't wait to spend weekends out there with the whole family! :) I hope mom and dad don't get sick of us! Oh,~ mom, (cuz I know you read this ;) I will make sure and bring plenty of food and snacks and drinks for the BP and for us! I have been stocking up on crackers, snacks, bottled water and juices, and plenty of fixings for cookies and bars, ect :) ~

Have you ever had a friend in your life, someone you always viewed as a close friend, but then you hear things from others, people whom you didn't realize even really knew said friend? They ask you things, make comments about said friend, nothing bad, just things that you would think that, being such close friends and all, that you would have prior knowledge of? Then you feel like a total idiot because you have no clue what these people are talking about? Then you feel like a total idiot because you realize that you really weren't close friends to begin with? Then you start to wonder how patheic you really were? You think back to all the things that you did for said friend, how you were always there to listen to her vent and unload on you? How you were always there when she needed something? How you where there to watch her kids at the last minute whenever she called? You think back to all the times you tried to call her because you just needed someone to talk to, but she wouldn't answer her phone? You remember how you had opened your home to her and her family and yet you hadn't stepped foot in her home for 2 years? How pathetic is that? At some point you realize that friends are over-rated. I guess it just takes some of us more time to figure that out :P Then you feel like an IDIOT!! Word to the wise, don't put too much feeling into friendships that aren't real.

~ wow, see why I should never blog when I'm in a bad mood?!?
I'm off, hoping tomorrow will find me in a much better mood! I'm sure Handsome Hubby and the BP are hoping so too ;)

Too Long

Wow, ok, I know I said I was going to try to be better about posting... I guess I have just shown that I cannot be trusted to follow thru :P To be quiet honest, there has been many nights that I have thought about what I SHOULD be blogging about, what I COULD be blogging about. But that's as far as it has gotten. Just a thought in my mind, never made it to my fingertips on the keyboard.

Anyway, here we go. An update from the Anderson's!

We now have an 8 yr old in the house! Baby Sister turned 8 last month! She is such a joy to have in our lives. Our own little tornado that twirls and cartwheels and spins thru our lives! Last week she came upstairs wearing Little Brother's clothes and shoes with her hair tucked up into one of his caps! I had to do a double-take! She has been wearing his clothes all week now and everytime she comes in I have to make sure it isn't Little Brother that I am talking to. I remember those days. When I thought all my brothers and boy cousins had it so much better than I did and I wanted to be just like them. Yep, I dressed in boy clothes and would tuck my hair into a cap and ride their bikes and try to be all tough just like them. But then I got over it! I realized that being the only girl was a pretty cool thing. Baby Sister will never be the only girl, but she'll realize that being a girl is a pretty cool thing, and she'll want to wear her pink dresses and shoes again. Come on, boys just can't accessorize like girls! And Baby Sister loves to accessorize ;)

Little Brother turns 10 tomorrow ~ I can't believe all my babies are getting so big so fast! I don't even know what I am going to get him for his bday yet. You see, I have a hard time getting my BP something just to "get them something" . I would rather wait and give them something that they could use, or something that means something to them. I guess that's my excuse for not getting him anything yet.

One blessing that I want to tell you all about ~ last night Beans and I went to the library for a "meet the author" thing. The author was giving pointers on how to publish a book. The nuts and bolts of writing an all the depressing facts of getting your book published. Like the fact that out of every book of hers that is sold she only makes .60 !!! That is CRAZY!!! That's all of her time and effort and her WORDS on that paper and she only gets .60!!! Of course, the top 10 authors make more than that, but honestly, who dreams of being as great as Stephen King, Jodi Piccoult? They are in a class all of their own. Well, it was great info for Beans as she has been playing around with a novel for the last year but has never really gotten around to formatting it. So now maybe she can get working on it this summer and hopefully finish it :) And I found out that I can do a Vanity Publishing of my short stories. I don't want to sell my stories, just get them published in a book form for the BP when they get older. And have stories to tell my grandchildren. And they would actually see pics and read the words and they could pass those stories down to their children. What an amazing family heirloom I could create.

Well, anyway, onto the blessing.... we walked into the library and our favorite librarian exclaimed, "You homeschool!!!" uh, yes, we homeschool... well, here they had gotten a whole 8th grade curriculem given to them!! And I know the company that it was from. And its the entire 8th grade curriculem... math, science, geography, language arts, health, and bible!!! What a blessing that is!!! Now Beans wants to do school all summer too. She has finished the 8th grade with the curriculem that we have always used, but she wants to do this curriculem too :) I love her!

We had evangelistic meetings at church last Sunday-Wednesday night. It was great. So many decisions made. I made a few decisions of my own, and am working on them daily. We have also started to get more involved at church again. We held back for so long, praying that we would be moving on soon. But that is not what God has put in our lives at this point. It looks like we will be staying put for the time being, maybe God has been anting us to put our roots down and get involved again. We're not sure what He has planned for our future but right now we are here so we will BE here. We are still praying that something will come thru for Handsome Hubby. That he will be able to get back to doing the work that he loves. But right now I am so thankful for man who is not too proud to work wherever he can so he can provide for his family. We know that nothing is impossible for God, and so we are still praying for that phonecall telling us that a hotel has come thru and that he will be breaking ground. IF that is God's Will for us right now. So until then....

The weather is finally nice up here! Sunshine and warmth!! Baby Sister and Little Brother already are sporting some color on their cheeks and their hair is already getting blonder! I love summer :) Can't wait till we can go swimming everyday!! The BP are getting excited for camp in July. Baby Sister has one more yr at home with me,next year Beans is old enough to be a Jr Counsleor and THEN Baby Sister can go. I am just not ready to send her someplace new, with people that are new, in a bed that is new. And she sleepwalks... terrifys me that she could wander out of her cabin and no one would be listening for her!! So next year she can go when Beans is sleeping in her cabin and Beans is amazing with Baby Sister, she has awlays been the one to wake up when Baby Sister starts her wandering.

Well, we are off to the park or the afternoon :) I promised the BP a day at the park and we love going before the PS kids get out!!

Wordless Wednesday

Double Trouble

Whew! What a week! (ok, 2 weeks)

Ok, I haven't been on, and I feel like I am totally failing on my goal to blog at least 4 days a week... aw well, all you can do is move forward!

A funny story that I HAVE to write down so I will remember it for always.

A few days ago, ok, maybe it was more than a few days ago, I think it was actually last week sometime, well, it would have had to be the beginning of the week because we were gone from Tuesday till Friday ( more about that later ;) anyway, " a few days ago"... I was sitting in the livingroom with Beans, watching some TV, Handsome Hubby had gotten up to check on the woodstove.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see something scamper across my floor! It ran from the schoolroom door and scampered towards the basement steps. Then I lost sight of it. * sidenote-I can't STAND mice, those stupid little things can make me scream and jump on the nearest elevated surface! -"EEKK!!!!" the word explodes out of my mouth as my feet are instantly pulled off the floor and onto the couch, and I gather my blanket and flip it onto the couch, out of harms way, because we ALL know that mice can cause ALOT of harm! ... I look at Beans, "DID YOU SEE THAT?!?!" ~Beans exclaims, "WHAT was THAT?!?!" Icontemplate my next move, what am I to do?! I can NOT look like a total and complete wimp to my oldest daughter, I can NOT let a little creature get the best of me and have me cowering on the couch! So. ~I very slowly put my feet back on the floor, very slowly stand up, and VERY slowly creep over to the end of the couch, I peek around the corner of the couch to see if anything was moving by the basement steps, ( by the way, all the lights are off, there is only one lamp on in the livingroom and the glow from the tv somewhat illuminates the room, but really, only sends deep shadows, so I can be more creeped out ). Then all of a sudden I see this little ball of fur scamper full speed into the porch, so I SCREAM and jump around like a woman posessed!!! There goes the idea of me trying to show Beans that I am not a total wimp, and that I am NOT scared of the harmless little creature. Then I realize that Handsome Hubby and Beans are not frantically looking for the nasty litle creature that puts such fear in my heart, they are not trying to protect me from said creature, nope, I look at them and see that they are doubled over with laughter, really, they are laughing so hard they have tears running down their cheeks. "I DON'T SEE WHAT IS SO FUNNY!" I yell at them.

Then I notice that Handsome Hubby is holding this little ball of fur in his one hand, what I thought was a little ball of fur, and a fishing reel in the other hand... as all the details filtered thru my terrified mind, I see that, IF I had been paying attention I would have noticed Beans trying to smoother her giggles as I am urgently asking her "DID YOU SEE THAT?!"and pulling my feet onto the couch, and it occured to me that with all my screaming, Handsome Hubby didn't come running to protect his precious wife, as something must have been drastically WRONG for her to be screaming like that! hmmm, then I think to earlier in the evening when...

as I was finishing up Alexis' shawl, tucking in all the tails and trimming them, Handsome Hubby was gathering the loose strands of yarn (what would become the "ball of fur" ) and kinda just twirling them around in his hand, throwing them up in the air, catching them, twirling them some more... I didn't think anything of it, and continued to work on what I was doing with Alexis' shawl. Then he wandered downstairs and was rummaging around in the storeroom, he came back empty handed ( so I thought ), but had a smirk on his face. He called Beans into the porch, then she (nonchalantly) wandered into the schoolroom, paused, turned around and came back and sat down on the other couch... yep, it all became clear to me. He had gone downstairs and took apart one of his fishing poles, he coerced our oldest daughter to help him out with his evil plan and she gladly complied, no, she gladly became his accomplice, his accomplce to help him carry out this evil plan that he had been cooking up for 3 hrs!!! Both of them need to be punished. It will happen, when they least expect it... BBAAAMM!! I will have my vengence!!
* cue the creepy music and evil laughter* Someday, when they least expect it, I WILL get back at them!!

~ OK , I hope you got a laugh out of that, now I ca look back at it and I cannot keep the laughter bottled up, but don't tell THEM that~ I am still waiting for the perfect time to carryout my vengence.

On to other things, we were able to get away for 4 days and head up to Duluth with the Brat Pack!! That was the one thing all of them had asked for for Christmas. As they didn't get any gifts under the tree, we had decided that we would DO something with them for their Christmas gift. I got ahold of one of our friends, (she works at a hotel) and asked her if we could get a FF discount, so we texted back and forth for a couple days, getting all the details ironed out and reservations made. Then Beans ( she figured it out when I was texting said friend) anyways, Beans helped me get the BP's bag packed, the swim bag packed, and the truck loaded up the night before. Then in the morning she helped me pack up a lunch and snacks for the week. We told the other kids that we were headng to St Cloud for the day, as we got closer to St Cloud, we couldn't keep it quiet any longer and told all of the kids where we were REALLY going, after the cheering and excitement wore off a little bit, we realized that Baby Sister was quietly crying in the back. When asked what was wrong, she answered, "I don't have my Monkey!!!!" :'( Of course, Beans, being the AMAZING big sister that she is, had thought ahead and had smuggled Monkey out of Baby Sister's bed and into the back of the truck while Baby Sister was in the bathroom :) Disaster averted! I LOVE MY BEANS!!! We enjoyed our 4 days away. Hiked Gooseberry Falls ( if you haven't seen the North Shore in the winter, you don't know what you are missing! ), drove along the North Shore, stopped and picniked on some rocks along the shores of Lake Superior. The BP spent the evenings playing in the hotel pool. Handsome Hubby and I enjoyed quiet nights sitting on the couch, gazing at the beautiful lake and talking till 2 in the morning.
It is always great to get away for a few days, especially during the long MN winter, but it is also nice when you get back home and the kids can spread out more. After 7 people crammed in 1 hotel room, we tend to appreciate our little house even more.

So that is some of what we have been up to in the last couple weeks, I need to finish getting my cinnamon rolls prepped for breakfast tomorrow, and get my baking dishes washed so Blue Eyes doesn't get upset with me in the morning, which she would if she saw her clean kitchen destroyed and a mountain of dishes waiting for her.

A Good Day

Do you ever wake up in the morning and think, "this is going to be a GOOD day!" ? Thats what I woke up thinking. Even with a massive headache and an awful night of tossing and turning, I still woke up excited to face the day :)

Things that made it better :

my 9 yr old asked me if he could do 3 extra pages in every subject today

( he is determined to be done in 3 weeks :)

the snow is melting

hubby has an interview ( and yes, we giggle every time we think about who it is with... Walmart, Handsome Hubby can't stand Walmart! But it would be work ~ so we're not going to knock it.)

the BP is hard at work

quick chores are done for the morning, and my house is spotless!

Beans is babysitting this morning

I have a yummy cup of coffee sittng next to me

even my room is clean

only 2 loads of laundry to be washed

I found so many good deals yesterday at GW ~ Belle is stylin today :)

it always makes the week so much better when I start off the week with good

coffee (or a tea latte ), good deals, and time relaxing with my mom at a coffee shop :)

I think last weeks get-a-way helped clear my head, now I am ready to finish off the school year with a bang!

Fresh Friday

ok, I know I said I was going to start this last week, but to be honest, I didn't make any thing "fresh" last Friday, and I couldn't think of what to blog about. But that has changed this week!!

This is the first ever Fresh Friday for me, but many more in store! An old stand-by at the Anderson's house, but always a winner!!

Homemade Pizza!

pizza crust:

1 cup warm water

2 tsp yeast

1 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp oil

2 1/2 cups bread flour

you can let rise if you want, but I usually am making these

as a last minute meal and don't take the time for it to rise.

spread it on a greased pizza pan, (I like using a stone)

I sprinkle corn meal on my greased pan b4 spreading the

dough.

Spread pizza sauce over dough.

I use Hunt's Spaghetti sauce for the pizza sauce

because that's what my mom always used, and I happen

to like the taste.

Now this is where it gets fun...

sometimes I will grate some fresh parmesan over it at

this point. sprinkle some pizza blend shredded cheese over

then you can add your favorite toppings...

Handsome Hubby likes italian sausage and onions

Brother Alan likes plain pepperoni

Beans likes sausage and pepperoni, no onions!

Blue Eyes and Joseph love sausage, mushrooms and black olives

Brooker's choice is canadian bacon and pineapple

Belle loves sausage, green pepper and onion

My favorite toppings are gr pepper, red pepper, onion, black

olives and mushrooms. with a few sausage thrown in ;)

Sprinkle with a handfull of shredded cheese and bake at

425 for 20 minutes

enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday

Decided at the last minute to make the girls prayer shawls for their bdays... their MARCH birthdays.... Alexis' is March 1st!! And I just started it tonight!!! hmmm, I think I have some long nights ahead of me!! 5 nights to be exact. 5 nights to complete Alexis' prayer shawl... 5 nights till I have another teenager in the house... 5 nights till my blue eyed baby is a teenager...
Oh boy, I'll think I'll quit now. I just had this overwhelming sadness come over me :( how is it that I am old enough to have 2 teenagers already?!?!

Not Me......

.... Monday

Ok, I saw this on some other blogs and thought I would give it a try. So here it goes...

I did not wait until 7 o'clock tonight to start thinking about supper, not me!! I am always on the ball and have supper on the table by 6 o'clock, and I always make sure every meal has all 5 food groups... yeah right ;)

I have not spent the last 3 hours working on a crochetting project and when my DDs asked me what I am making, I did not have to honestly tell them that I actually have no clue what I am making. Not me!! That would be a silly waste of time an effort!! And I am not silly or wasteful...

I did not spend 3 hours on the computer this morning. I did not spend that 3 hours on the computer reading people's blogs that I don't even know. And I DID NOT spend that 3 hours on the computer while Handsome Hubby did the dishes and washed all the floors and did 2 loads of laundry. NOT ME!!!!

I did not reorganize the fridge today. I did not make sure that all the labels were facing forward. I did not organize all the soda in straight rows of like flavors. I did not put them in alphabetical order. NOT ME!! only crazy people do that and I am so NOT crazy ;)

I did not walk thru JoAnn's yesterday and seriously contemplate 2 new stacks of scrapbooking paper. Not me, I would never do that, not with my 3 foot tall stack of paper in my scraproom!


Ok, what do you think? Does this look like it could be a fun? I will have to keep a notebook for all the "not me" moments, so I can make sure to write them down as the week progresses.... It is fun to look back and see all these moments and to be able to be totally honest about the imperfections of me, and all under the guise of ," NOT ME!!!" :D

Miss Crabby Pants

Arrgghh, do you ever have those days? Days when you are just so crabby? And you know your crabby. And you don't want to be crabby. But you still find yourself yelling at the kids, and snipping at the handsome hubby? And you really want to be happy! And there is absolutely NO reason to be crabby. But yet you still are crabby :P

Well, that has been me today! Just crabby crabby crabby! Yep, the horns and pointy tail crabby. The "watch out!!! Mom is CRRRAAABBBYYY!!!" crabby.

We went out for pizza with Handsome Hubby's family, went shopping, didn't buy much of anything, but still I GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE. Handsome Hubby wants me to finally get an electric stand mixer, ( yes, all the holiday baking, well, all the baking in general we do, its ALL mixed by hand!!) and tonight we shopped around to see what my options are... but thru all of that, I was crabby!

I hate being crabby. The Brat Pack hates it when I'm crabby. And Handsome Hubby hates it when I'm crabby. But does any of that change the fact that I am majorly crabby? Nope. Still Miss Crabby Pants.... Praying that tomorrow is better, I'm sure my whole family is praying that tomorrow is better!!! :P

I let you know tomorrow ;)

Friendships

Just something that I have to say...

If you are wondering why I know longer pick up the phone and call, why I don't jump at the chance to get together with you. Well, I guess I have felt like I am always the one to call, always the one to push for us to get together, always the one making the efftort. I am tired of feeling crushed when you bail on our plans once again.

I am done making the effort, I am done picking up the phone. I am not mad, I consider you my friends and always will. I cannot be the one putting in all the effort for our friendship anymore. You see, when you cancel at the last minute, I feel so stupid for even thinking that it mattered. I feel that our friendship obviously does not mean the same to you. I am tired of feeling like the pathetic woman who puts time and effort into a friendship that is one-sided.

So, if you want ever want to chat, or get together for coffee, or just hang-out, you can call me, you can make the effort for once. If I don't answer your call, leave me a messege I'll get back with you sooner or later.

Friendships meant alot to me at one time, but I have realized how little they mean in my life now. I have found that my husband is the only friend that I need, I don't need another woman to unload on, or vent to, or to understand me. My husband has become that person for me, maybe he wasn't before because I didn't let him be. Sure we still have our times when we are annoyed with each other, but having to deal with it in my time, my own mind, my own heart, that has helped my relationship with my handsome hubby. I have found that having that friend to unload on,vent to, complain with, well, that never helped me see the problem was in my heart, my attitude, myself. Most of the time what it did was strengthen my self-pride!!

If you have a friend that is calling you, would like to get together for coffee with you, don't ignore her! If your friendship means anything at all to you, YOU need to pick up that phone, YOU need to call her! Or there may come a time, when you look back, and remember how great of a friendship you once had, and you say to yourself, "hmm, she hasn't called in awhile, I wonder whats going on with her..." I hope, if you decide to pick up that phone to call her, I hope it isn't too late. I hope you haven't slammed the door on the friendship you once had. Just a little something to think about...

Wordless Wednesday

the surprise haircut, at least it was a surprise to her parents.... I was not happy with her and Beans!!

Taking This Blogging Thing Seriously?

I have come up with (stolen from other blogs) some ideas to liven up my blog a little bit... I was thinking if I would plan a theme for each day, then maybe I will be more likely to blog everyday, or at least almost everyday ;) so here's what I was thinking...
Wordless Wednesdays
Not Me Mondays ( stole this idea ;)
Fresh Fridays ( was thinking this would be the day I post a new recipe or a favorite recipe)

the rest of the week I will just post my musings, funny stories from the BP or just whatever else comes to mind :)

What do you think? Does it sound like I might actually have decided to take this blogging thing seriously? We'll see how long my attention span is ;)

Sleepless

Another long night... I knew it was going to be bad when I fell asleep at 11:30 and handsome hubby came to bed at 1:00. Of course I woke up and could not get back to sleep. I was really hoping for a full night of sleep, needless to say, that hour and a half was the only sleep I got. And to make matters worse, when handsome hubby finally came to bed and I woke up, I let my frustration out on him. "why couldn't you have come to bed at the same time as me?!? then we would both fallen asleep, and I would (maybe) have stayed asleep all night!" grrrrrrr....

To be quiet honest, it really doesn't matter if we go to bed at the same time or not, I am still waking up 1-2 hrs later and then I'm up for the rest of the night/morning. So I really had no reason to snip at him, it wouldn't have mattered if he had come to bed at 11. I still would have been up at 1. arrrgghhh.

And you would think that with all the hours of time that I have on my hands when I can't sleep, that I would be able to accomplish something! But no, I don't seem to get anything accomplished as I am trying to be quiet and not wake up the BP :P

I think my hand is feeling well enough now, I am going to have start spending my sleepless nights working on Christmas gifts for next year. Then at least I can say that I am doing something with all those wasted hours.

AND this morning I had to apologize to my handsome hubby, and really apologize, not the "I'm sorry, but its really all your fault!" apology but an honest to goodness, "I'm sorry for crabbing at you last night." apology. Amen, end of apology, no excuses, no blaming. Just "I'm sorry".

So I am pumped full of caffeine, on my 4th cup of coffee for the day, and I made it hair-raising strong coffee for today! I know I'm going to pay for it tonight, but I need it to function today :P and b4 everyone gives me the advice that maybe my coffee consumption is the reason for my sleeplessness, I will explain that I went totally off of all caffeine, coffee,soda, chocolate, migrain meds, for weeks and I still wasn't sleeping, the only difference was that I had horrible headaches that I wasn't treating and I was crabby, like all the time crabby, like "look out, mom is REALLY REALLY crabby" crabby, like clear a room crabby, like horns and a spiked tail crabby... I would rather have my coffee and meds for my headache thank you very much!

Well, one good thing about all this time on my hands, I have been checking out other blogs and have decided that I am going to do some fun things to liven up my blog a little. Stay tuned for some fun stuff coming soon :)

I Love...

the smell of coffee

fresh baked bread

the food channel

Alexis' Blue eyes

wood-burning stoves

yummy smelling soaps

a clean kitchen

trying out a new recipe

watching Belle bake monster cookies

Bean's boots

sleeping thru an entire night (hasn't happened in months)

the smell of rain

Joseph's drawings

lilacs

making lists

reading

photography

slippers from my mom

travelling

sightseeing

swimming

the ocean

homemade soups

drinking water from our house( you don't appreciate your own drinking water till you are on the road and water from any other place makes the kids sick for weeks until their bodies get used to it)

rasberry jam

my mom's homemade apple butter

orange blossom honey

Brooke's sassiness

packing up the van and driving away

cuddling with Snowball

taste of home mags

hoodie sweatshirts

receiving emails that are actually emails and not forwards

texting to my hubby in a room full of people

Dennis' smile