Who Says Adding Machine Tape Ain't Fun...

It's been super busy and crazy around here as of late. I'm feeling like I haven't stopped running in two weeks. Plus these crazy allergies and sinus thingies have plagued the kids, but I think we're all on the mend. Saturday, we went up to Wartburg to celebrate my neice Lauren's big #1! Didn't get to stay for cake, as Lillie was not feeling too well and we had to leave early, but Jack stayed behind with his Mimi and Papa so he got plenty of pettin' I'm sure. Here's some pics to prove that it doesn't take a whole lot of bells and whistles to entertain kids...just adding machine tape. When the kids were done with the room it looked like a frat house on a Saturday morning, no kidding.

The inevitable meltdown... Literally a minute later... I assure you he's not bi-polar...at least not officially. The girl of the hour... Love the face!This one's not bad either. Chloe gettin' in on the action... All together now!

This is my first foray into homemade wrap jobs. As in, didn't feel like running to the store to get a gift bag...I thought it turned out much neater and personalized this way. All this stuff came from my ever growing scrap pile of crafting paraphernalia.

Close up of Clothespin doll...

The cake I didn't get to eat...shoot! Jackson, obviously admiring his superior upper body build in the windows of a store front...Me and my baby...They say we look alike...I don't see it, other than the fact that I can't get her hair to do anything either ;)

Have a blessed day!

When My Journey Takes A Detour...

"I've lost my job." Those four words changed...everything, or at least it seemed. I remember it was before Christmas, 17 months ago that I heard those words...yet, by God's grace he had prepared me for them even though I didn't see it at the time. I thought I would panic, but I didn't...I was oddly calm...somehow I knew things would work out. But, how scary the unknown is to us. It's human nature, I suppose to always seek for an explanation to things we don't understand, to read the last page of the book to find out how it turns out. Was I always confident in God's promises to me that HE'D take care of us and that HE had control? I'd be lying to say that...there were times of panic, times of despair, lots of tears, lots of questioning "why".

Now, a new chapter is being written in the life of my little family. A new unknown one, full of it's own set of trials. After 15 months of unemployment, 15 months of wondering when we would see the light at the end of the tunnel, that time has come. And, strangely, though I am excited and so thankful that God has led us to where we now stand, today I am a bit sad. Not sure why, exactly. It's such an odd thing to be sad about...an end to the valley. Maybe I hate to see this chapter end because I have learned so much about God, how he works, how much he loves and how he provides. Maybe I'm sad because I'm afraid I'll forget all the times he came through for us, made something out of nothing, used special people to help us through. Maybe because I'll miss the fervency of my prayers, as tribulation often draws us closer. No reason, of course that I can't still learn from God and feel his love and be drawn close to him now, just that this particular leg of the journey was so...miraculous, I guess.

I look back over my life and I can see very clearly how God has been right there, like the master chess player, arranging the pieces, working even when I had no knowledge of who HE was. And this morning it is with grateful tears rolling down my face that I must praise HIM, for He means everything to me and I count myself the most blessed person in this world.

Some Great Articles I Read This Morning...

I am on the brink of starting up school again and have been searching for inspiration and affirmation. I've found that even though I know homeschooling is God's will for my family that it helps to go back over my reasons and my direction and hopes and dreams for my little home school. Read some great article and blog posts that I'll link to...
True Christian Motherhood
Ten Habits of a Happy Homeschool
What About Socialization? Loved this one. I get this question more than any from well-meaning, but completely ignorant people (and I don't mean ignorant to be insulting, here, just that people don't do their research before they try to debate a subject they know little about except what they got from a negative article in the media or stereotypes.)
Mother of Ten Gives Homeschool Advice I always feel more encouraged by mother's of large broods that homeschool and are still alive and intelligent! Gives me hope!

Have a Blessed Day!

Fun In The Sun...

Okay, so I have become aware that laziness has set in. It's hot and humid and the days are long and filled with chores and I'm sleepy and just want to nap all day! Not good if you're trying to run a household. Jody is also off from school for 2 weeks, so it's very hard to stay on top of things here. Nothing much has been going on, but I'm ready to change that. I've had my taste of idleness and I don't like it much right now...so, I have determined to fill me and my children's day with constructive activities. May even start school up full force next week as I can see that we've all had enough of a break.

Yesterday we had lots of fun. For some unknown reason, Jody actually let the kids go out and play in the sprinkler. I don't have a problem with them playing in the sprinkler, but I hate to clean up after they've played in it! But, being as in I didn't catch them, I just let it go. I'm glad I did. Some fun is just worth the clean up! I'm also pleased to announce that Lillie's phobia of the sprinkler seems to be completely gone.

Check the purse...she is always carrying one around the house. Did a really great art activity later on in the evening on our newly cleaned, pressure washed back porch which had become a place where things go when they are no longer needed but you're too lazy to take them off somewhere. I also pressure washed the back and front of the house as well as the massive front deck. But enough about that...I got sidetracked. Ice Painting...yes, you must needs try this with your children. It makes , once the ice melts a little, the most beautiful watercolor paintings and it's cheap. Fill ice trays with water. Drop in food coloring, go nuts with the colors. Stick popsicle stick in em and freeze. Take out in 4-5 hours or so and have a blast with your kids...I encourage you to join in with them and make your own masterpiece, it helps your kids to get excited about it too. When you're done, pop em back in the freezer for next time.

Lillie saw me making the paint and bugged me all day to go out and use it, I am so happy to oblige my kids on stuff like this.
This is Jackson confused that I won't let him eat the paint...If it looks like a popsicle it is a popsicle logic, you know.
My photography professor during my brief stint in community college would have had a cow over this picture. She had no tolerance for people who didn't check the composition of a picture (for example, a click happy photo junkie who shot a self portrait in front of a pole and it looked like I had a bad accident at an Olympic javelin competition.) This picture would have surely sent her to her grave, but I think it's kinda funny. A little more shadow and Jack would've had a fro that would've made James Brown run home cryin' to his momma!

Man, I have no lick of artistic talent, but I can still call it art, right? Dad, I'm not complaining cause I got the music genes, but couldn't you have given me some of the artsy gene as well?Now really, this one is super, I think and I was very proud. I'll call it "Mountain in the Sunset" for lack of a better title.

What has Chloe been up to? Curling Ernie's hair...
Eating no bake cookies without using her hands...

And...pudding pops... Man I used to love those Jello pudding pops, do they even still make them?

The others didn't like them too much...I think it was because the pudding was vanilla and not chocolate. But I had a box of instant vanilla, and didn't feel like messing up a sauce pan to make homemade chocolate pudding...see the laziness rearing it's head again? Check out my cooking blog for this recipe and another great summer treat for the kiddos.

Hope you're summer is going great and I look forward to posting more fun activities as time progresses. Have a blessed day!

Happy Father's Day!

Blessed indeed is the man that hears many gentle voices call him Father.

Lydia M. Child

Well, I normally send my dad a hilarious Hoops and YO YO card from Hallmark.com each Father's Day. They used to have a ton of free e-cards, but I guess that's not good business if everyone uses the free (like me) and never actually buys anything. So, imagine my horror when I logged on yesterday to send my annual funny card to my dear ole' dad and found they started charging for almost every single card...very few freebies anymore, at least in the Father's Day section. 99 cents a card!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, I know, I'm tight...I prefer the term "really really frugal" however. Isn't my dad worth 99 cents???? Well, shoot yeah, you bet he is...I don't have the kinda money to buy a present whose value is equal to my dad...

So, Dad, in lieu of cheap, funny card this year, I decided to just post some pictures...since we're both picture junkies I figure you'll appreciate this ...

Thought I'd throw this one in since I have alot to thank YOUR dad for.

Happy Father's Day , Dad...from the one's who know first hand that you're the bestest!

Zoo Time...Again

We purchased a membership to a zoo last year and plan on getting the full benefit of it. Friday, I took the kiddos and my dad to the zoo and we had a blast. However...I had to walk through the zoo SHOELESS because I forgot my back up flip flops. I was taking the brake off Chloe's stroller with my toe and the straps broke clean off...irrepairable. Well, the thought of hiking ALL the way back to the car , packing three kids , and driving no telling how far to find a store to buy another cheap pair of flip flops was certainly unappealing. So, after much debate, dad just told me to go without. It was...interesting. I don't even want to think what breed of bacteria plastered it's way on my foot. But it was fun. These pictures are courtesy of dad, as I am soooooooooo jealous of how good a picture his little next to nothing camera takes. Finished up with a nice picnic lunch followed by the inevitable meltdown...

Now, here's a pic that will mess with your head...it appears that the zoo had a two headed zebra...

DA BEAR!This camel had a thing for Chloe...Seriously...Obviously the camel's affection isn't mutual. Geesh, Chloe, let the guy down easy...don't look so disgusted...Most everything amazed the kids, even though they've seen it before...but Chloe was more amazed than any of them, having to be taken out of the stroller and held up so she could sit with her mouth open whispering "WOAH"

I love this Gorilla. He was here last time and I could have watched him all day. Last time he was out so far, he was hard to see. This time he was sitting with his back to the glass acting like we weren't there. Playing with us by shyly sneaking peeks at us.

Lillie made the comment that the gorilla "Looked just like my daddy". I got down on that one. Jody's broad and all, but, a gorilla...well....no comment.
Have a blessed day!