Feb. 20, 2008 - Wordless Wednesday
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Feb. 12, 2008 - Wordless Wednesday
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Feb. 8, 2008 - What My Children Are Looking For In A Spouse!
Things I Want in my Husband or Wife.
B. (age 11)
He must be Christian.
He must like Hunting.
He must want kids.
He must be interesting.
He must never have had a girlfriend.
He must like to climb trees.
He must hate lima beans.
He must have dyslexia. (B. has dyslexia and I thought it was great that she saw this as a positive thing!)
He must have saved his kiss for me.
He must love me.
C. (age 6)
He must trust in Jesus.
He must be the best husband anyone has ever had.
He must go to church with me.
He must be just like my brother Nathan.
I have to love him.
He needs to like Ponies just like me.
He should be just like my Daddy too.
And when I'm inside the hospital having a baby, he will need to make lots of money.
N. (age 4)
She needs to wear a crown and a new dress.
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Feb. 7, 2008 - Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!!
We just got the most delicious box of oranges straight from Florida! Whoever thought to include bibs must have either had children or is a genius! They were put to good use! YUM!!!!
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Feb. 6, 2008 - Wordless Wednesday
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Feb. 5, 2008 - 4 year olds!
We were just leaving the doctor's office and the nurse gives N. (age 4) a sticker with a police car on it.
She says to him, "Do you want to be a police officer when you grow up?"
N. says, "No..."
Nurse, "What do you want to be?"
N., "A Daddy like ours,”
Nurse, "How will you make money?"
N. looks thoughtful for a few minutes and finally says, "I only need $70."
Nurse,"$70?"
Nathan, "Yes, for a train and a cookie." 
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Jan. 23, 2008 - Can I share what a blessing my 11 year old is to me?
This morning around 5:30am, N. (age 4) starting coughing really hard. So hard, that it woke B. (age 11) up. I slept on oblivious! Travis had already left for work. B. was concerned that he would wake the baby and me up. So she got out of bed and checked on him. She had him sit up and then asked if he felt sick. When he said no, she told him to lie back down and go to sleep. The 2 year old had woken up also. 
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Jan. 10, 2008 - Baby R is six months old today!!! Lots of Pictures!!!
You would think after 5 children that I wouldn't be surprised that the time goes by so quickly. I can't believe our sweet girl is six months already! She's such a joy!
Here's her sweet smile!
It's hard to get a picture of her without her fingers in her mouth. hee, hee!
I love these next two because Brother is telling her how much fun it is to play ball!!
Her concentrating look!!
It's so tiring being six months old! Naptime!! Where did her neck go?
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Jan. 8, 2008 - Training Children to be Diligent in their Chores (How I've failed and how I'm fixing it)
Travis and I set down and wrote out family goals for 2008. One of the big issues is our children don't complete their jobs thoroughly unless I am right there on top of them.
Our oldest is 11 and should be more independent. She tidies her room every day. Every day I go in there and tell her what she missed. She's frustrated. I'm frustrated. I've allowed her to become lazy. I've become lazy by failing to check her room daily.
So two days ago, I wrote a seemingly ridiculously detailed list that is very specific to the areas she seems to "miss". After cleaning her room with the new list, she said to me, "Thank you Mommy! Now I understand what you want me to do."
UGH!!! All this time I've been getting upset at her and she just needed to see it on paper. I thought her attitude was poor, but I was exasperating her with my unclear expectations. I was checking her work some days and other days I was overlooking the mess. So the standards for her room changed daily.
It took her less than 10 minutes the first day and about 5 minutes the second day. Her room wasn’t out of control to begin with, as we had recently done a deep clean and organize.
Today she told me how much more she enjoys being in her room since it looks nicer. I am checking her room daily now. She’s doing a great job. She’s developing good habits.
My plan is to add an "extra" daily job each day. (Like cleaning out a drawer or windexing a bedroom window...) She checks the boxes as she goes. I'm going to make lists like this for all the areas she's responsible for daily maintenance on and will likely do this for the other children also.
Here’s her list…
Before you start, examine your heart. Do you have a cheerful obedient attitude? I hope you do!! If you’re struggling, stop and pray. Ask God to help you to have the right heart attitude. God always answers our prayers!!
Stand in your door way. You are going to start to your immediate right and move your way around the room until you reach the door again.
Things to remember:
Put dirty clothes in a pile in the hallway.
Put trash into your garbage can.
Put toys in the hallway outside of the toy room.
Put anything else that doesn’t belong in your room in a pile in the hallway.
Steps to Daily Bedroom Pick-Up and Tidy
Behind the door
Put away
Throw away
Under closet door
Put away
Throw away
Under and on top of the stool
Put away
Throw away
Floor of Closet
Put away
Throw away
Under Light (The only items that should be here are your two tape players, my sewing kit, and your garbage can.)
Put away
Throw away
Clear off Bed
Put away
Throw away
Make bed
All sheets, blankets, pillows off bed
Put on sheet
Is the sheet even on both sides?
Is the sheet pulled up about 10 inches from the top of your bed?
Is the sheet even at the bottom of your bed?
Is your sheet smooth?
Put on blanket
Is it even on both sides?
Is it pulled up about 10 inches from the top of your bed?
Is the blanket even at the bottom of your bed?
Is your blanket smooth?
Put on Comforter
Is it even on both sides?
Is it pulled up about 10 inches from the top of your bed?
Is the comforter even at the bottom of your bed?
Is your comforter smooth?
Put your pillows neatly on the top of your bed.
Is there anything hanging below your comforter on the right?
Is there anything hanging below your comforter on the left?
Is there anything hanging below your comforter on the bottom?
Is there anything sticking out of the right side of your bed?
Is there anything sticking out of the left side of your bed?
Is there anything sticking out of the bottom of your bed?
Tidy and clean your shelves (Remove anything that doesn’t belong on each shelf)
Top Shelf
Put away
Throw away
Tidy
2nd shelf down
Put away
Throw away
Tidy
3rd shelf down
Put away
Throw away
Tidy
4th shelf down
Put away
Throw away
Tidy
5th shelf down
Put away
Throw away
Tidy
Area between beds
Put away
Throw away
Doll House
Put away
Throw away
Tidy
Wicker Table
Top
Put away
Throw away
Tidy
Bottom Shelf
Put away
Throw away
Tidy
Under Table
Put away
Throw away
Tidy
Is there anything on it besides pillows?
Put away
Throw away
Pull chair out from wall
Put away
Throw away
Dirty Clothes
Put dirty clothes in hamper
Are they IN the hamper and not on the floor?
Empty Garbage
Is your can completely empty?
Is there anything on the floor near the kitchen garbage can?
Is the garbage can top completely closed?
Put garbage can back beside your bed.
Everything else in Hall
Put away toys into the toy room.
Put away anything else that needs to be put away.
Go back and look at your room. Make sure you got everything.
Door
Under Closet Door
Under Stool
Under Light
Bed
Shelf
Top Shelf
2nd Shelf Down
3rd Shelf Down
4th Shelf down
Between Beds
Doll House
Table
Top
Shelf
Under
Chair
Top
Under
Is your room “company drop-by clean”?
Did you do you best work?
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Dec. 26, 2007 - Christmas Photos!!
We had a blessed celebration of Christ’s birth this year. We hope yours was same. If you fall into the category of long distance family or friends, know you were in our hearts and were missed greatly.
Our church put together a very last minute children’s Christmas performance a few weeks ago. The children were all animals in the manager. There weren’t any practices at all. So when we left to the show, none of the children knew which animal they would be. C. practiced several animals so she’d be prepared. Here’s her lion…
On Christmas morning the girls were the only ones who woke up early. Re Daddy’s “suggestion”, they mercifully let us all sleep in. J At 8am, we woke up the sleeping boys. It took N. several minutes to realize it was Christmas. Ha!
S. LOVES buttons. Here he is with his favorite new toy. Now Daddy hopes he will leave the REAL cell phone and remotes alone.
The next day, we took the children downtown to see the city light display.
Here is Baby R. all bundled up and waiting in the van for someone to buckle her in.
C. enjoyed the lights with her new twin baby dolls.
Daddy stealing a kiss from Baby R…
B. looking at the lights from our horse carriage ride…
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Dec. 26, 2007 - A Reminder To Myself About What Is Really Important
This spoke so loudly to me today that I wanted to post it here as a reminder to myself. Some thoughts about mothering from my friend Chautona…
I'd love to remind you of something that I think of often.
You have NOTHING better to do than rear your children. (This includes educate so once rearing is in place education is a good second choice)
This isn't true if you need to be alone with the Lord or if your husband needs your attention but since most of a mother's waking hours are alone with her children, this is almost always true.
Your checkbook balance will wait, but your child's attitude will just grow.
Your dinner can be served late but your child's heart will harden.
Your message board post about how you're doing with your child rearing is worthless unless you actually are rearing your child.
You have nothing better to do. Not sewing, photography, knitting, cooking, cleaning, scrapping, writing, reading, soaping, or any other "ing".
So what if the cake falls? Let the soap fail and toss it out. The dress can be for a younger daughter, niece, grand daughter... etc.
You have nothing better to do.
Nothing.
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Dec. 9, 2007 - Things I Like About Mom and Dad (letters from our daughter)
B. (11 years old) gave her Daddy and I these letters today, "just because".
Things I like about Dad
- He’s funny.
- He’s trust worthy.
- He’s kind.
- He loves me.
- He makes me laugh.
- He’s handsome.
- He’s a Godly man.
- He’s truthful.
- He’s a fisherman.
- He’s wise.
- He’s a hunter and he’s my Dad.
Things I like about Mom
- She’s nice.
- She’s pretty.
- She’s a good cook, usually. (hahahahahaha silly honest child!)
- She’s fun to be with.
- She makes lots of babies and siblings.
- She’s a good shopper.
- She’s a good teacher.
- She’s a good buddy traveler. (She’s talking about some out of town trips we’ve taken together.)
- But most of all, she is my best friend and my mom.
- P.S. She makes good bread.
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Dec. 9, 2007 - Not Luck but Faith, Mom!
One of 
So she had a $7 budget, not a lot for 6 gifts. She went to Wal-Mart with her Daddy last night to shop. When she got home, she showed me what she had bought. I was impressed with her frugalness. She did a great job working with her budget.
For N., she bought a blue ball out of one of those machines in the
Thanks for the reminder, sweetheart. You’re so right. It was faith and not luck.
Luke 18:17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
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Dec. 6, 2007 - Bible Lesson Funny!
B. just turned in her Bible worksheet for the day. One of the questions said , "What happened to the wife of the righteous man (Lot)?" B. answered, "She became a pillar of salt. I think the deer liked that." 
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Dec. 4, 2007 - C's First Spelling Test
C. is in the first grade. We got started late schooling this year, due to Baby R’s birth, a local move, and being blessed with company. So this is her first spelling test. She got a 100% and was so proud of herself. I told her I’d share it here.
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Dec. 2, 2007 - Christmas Tree Trimming
The tree farm close to our house has gone out of business, so this is the first year we haven't gone to an actual Christmas tree farm. DH decided driving 6 hours round trip with five children to get a tree did not sound like fun. LOL I agreed!! So we packed everyone up and drove five minutes to the local grocery store. It wasn't quite the same but the children didn't seem to mind. 
The trees were all bundled up, so we weren't sure how to choose. So we stopped and prayed for God to choose the perfect tree for us. He did!!!
As soon as we got home, the Christmas music was turned on, potato bread was put in the oven, water was heated for Snowman Soup and the decorating began.
By no clever planning on my part, the potato bread came out of the oven right as the last ornament went on the tree.
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Dec. 2, 2007 - Snowman Soup
My dear friend, Faith, blessed us with a gift of Snowman Soup. It's been such a hit that we've saved the can and refilled it several times ourselves. This is the BEST hot cocoa you will ever taste!
Here's the can it came in. You can see it's well used with lots of little cocoa covered finger prints. 
B. warming herself with Snowman Soup!
4 cups dry milk (I use Nido ~ I really think this is key!)
1 cup unsweetened cocoa (Special dark or Dutch processed is good)
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
mini chocolate chips (to taste)
add hot water, mini Marshmallows, and stir with peppermint stick (Wal-Mart carries these at Christmas time in boxes--perfect stirring stick)
Enjoy!!!
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Dec. 1, 2007 - Homemade Bread!!
This was my first attempt at yeast bread. I made two loaves of garlic cheese bread to go with a pasta bake. It turned our really good!! One entire loaf was gone before it even had a chance to cool. There's nothing quite like warm bread and butter. YUM!!!
C. was my assistant baker tonight. Her favorite part was punching the dough!
