B 4 U Ask...

More Pics From Last Weekend

2011-09-23T15:22:00.002-04:00

Jim, Christiana and Josiah at

the football game.

Jonathan

Matthew, Kyle and me

Kids playing in the yard at Granma's

Jonathan and Micah

Joshua

Kaitlyn

Matthew

ERHS class of '91 being silly

My best friend since elementary school

Wordless Wednesday - Fun in the Leaves

2011-09-21T13:27:00.002-04:00

Tuesday's Tip - Removing Stains (from Your Kids)

2011-09-20T13:58:00.003-04:00

Ok, today's tip may sound a little weird but it works.

You ever had your kids get into an art kit with markers or some bright colored lipstick that stains? Well, the same product that removes those stains from your walls will remove them from your kids as well. Just use a Magic Eraser! Permanent marker, lipstick, pen, etc. It will remove the stains from their hands and arms and legs (hehe) or anywhere else they may have written or smeared stuff on themselves. Trust me, out of desperation once I tried it and I've used it ever since.

So don't freak out when you're fixing to head out the door only to find that your little one got into a marker set while you had your back turned. Just clean them up and go :)

What a Fun Weekend

2011-09-19T13:57:00.002-04:00

We went to NC this weekend for my 20 year high school reunion. It was such a fun weekend. Friday night we headed to my old high school for a home football game. Our class had a tailgate party in the parking lot an hour before the game and we were able to meet each others children. It was so neat to be back at my high school. Our team won 38 to 7 :)

Saturday we just hung out at my Granma's house. The kids had fun exploring in the woods around her place and climbing trees, playing in the dirt and raking up a small pile of leaves to play in. My sister stopped by for a visit along with her family and a friend. That night Jim and I headed to my reunion while the kids hung out with their Pawpaw playing Apples to Apples and Bingo with lots of laughter thrown in. For me, it was so much fun seeing old friends again. Words can't express how much I love my classmates.

We headed home Sunday morning so we could arrive at church to participate in our churchwide Luau. We have some Samoan families in our church that shared their food and traditional dance with us. It was a fun afternoon.

So, as you can see, it was a very busy but fun weekend for us. Now it's back to unpacking, doing laundry and getting the house back in order.

I'm sure as I finish getting all our pictures from this weekend together I will be sharing them with you, so there's more pics to come. Hope you all had a fun weekend. Be blessed.

This is a picture of Kyle taking a nap out

at Granma's in the bed that was

built for my Dad when he was a baby.

Another pic of the bed while Kyle is sleeping.

Wordless Wednesday - They Grow Up So Fast

2011-09-14T09:08:00.001-04:00

Saturday's Trip

2011-09-13T09:21:00.005-04:00

We like to take spontaneous trips by looking online to see what's going on during any given day. This weekend we found this place. It was the 32nd annual Fall Festival at Fall Creek Falls State Park in Pikeville. It was a beautiful day and the weather was perfect for it. After the festival we drove towards Crossville on the way home and saw around 15 elk (sorry no pictures of the elk). We stopped by a cute BBQ restaurant for dinner then headed home. Here are some pictures from our Saturday adventure.

Trying to get Joshua to smile

while waiting in line for our lunch.

Group shot of the kids (minus Kyle who was

in the Ergo) while waiting in line for lunch.

Found an empty picnic table!

Very busy place.

Lunch time!

Some of the crafts there.

A neat fountain.

Sorghum molasses demonstration.

Checking out some more of the crafts.

Christiana and Kaitlyn

Kyle and Josiah (best buds).

Cute place where we had dinner.

Front of the restaurant.

They had delicious fried pickles!

Taking orders before placing our order.

Gumballs for dessert. Happy little guy :)

Weekend Plans

2011-09-09T15:09:00.002-04:00

Last week at this time my family was fighting with a 24-hour stomach bug. Not fun at all. I'm so thankful today that we are all healthy and well. It's times like those that make us appreciate what we normally take for granted, everyday health.

This is the first weekend in a while that we have no plans and everyone is well. Not sure if we'll make it a weekend to relax, since we have no obligations, or if we'll go do something together as a family just because we want to.

What are your plans this weekend? Do you have something you have to do or is it a relaxing "do what I want" weekend for you too? Whatever it may be here's wishing you a blessed one.

For Real Thursdays

2011-09-08T15:17:00.002-04:00

Having a little of what you might call "writer's block" today. Loving today's weather and inspired to get things accomplished. So that's what I'm doing today, getting things accomplished. So sorry there's not much of a post today. I do have lots on my mind. Will be sharing what I'm thinking another time. In the mean time, have a great day and be blessed.

Wordless Wednesday - (Fall) The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2011-09-07T11:55:00.001-04:00

I Love When the Stores Put Out Fall Decor!

Tuesday's Tip Response

2011-09-06T14:34:00.002-04:00

Last week I posted a tip that got rid of fruit flies and had a few responses of people who were going as stir crazy as I was with those little bugs. I'm curious now as to how many of you have had the chance to try it and if your kitchen is as bug free as mine? Did you find that it worked for you and is your kitchen more pleasurable to be in now? Let me know, I love feedback. Thanks and be blessed.

A Delicious Change

2011-09-01T12:38:00.003-04:00

Last Friday night instead of having our usual pizza we had Hobo stove meals. By Hobo stove meals I mean meat and veggies wrapped in aluminum foil and cooked over heat (our kids learned this by making hobo stoves out of cans in Royal Rangers). Instead of making hobo stoves we just used our grill. I have to say, these meals were delicious.

This is how we made ours:

Place hamburger, onions, carrots, potatoes,

mushrooms (we also added cheese) and

seasonings on aluminum foil.

Wrap aluminum foil so there are no

holes or places for air to escape. You

want the steam to stay inside, it

keeps the food moist.

Folded neatly

Place on grill and cook for 15 minutes.

Be careful when you open, there will be hot steam.

Finished product. You can eat it

straight from the foil or...

transfer to a plate. Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday - Locks of Love

2011-08-31T12:47:00.000-04:00

Tuesday's Tip - Getting Rid of Fruit Flies

2011-08-30T09:36:00.003-04:00

I am so excited about today's tip, and of course, it contains one of my favorite household ingredients - vinegar! So, here it is.

Ever go stir crazy because of those little fruit flies (some call them gnats) that love to hang around your bananas or any other fruit you have lying around? Well, I have found a remedy, and it works great! Take a small bowl and put a small amount of apple cider vinegar in the bottom (it has to be the apple cider vinegar, the white vinegar will not work) then add a couple of drops liquid dish soap (brand does not matter). The fruit flies are attracted to the vinegar and the dish soap changes the surface tension so that they can't fly out. This does kill the flies, they drown in the liquid. If you wish not to kill them, then use a tall glass and still only use a small amount of vinegar and no soap so that flies go down into the glass, then once you have a few in the glass cover it and take it outside to let them escape. I personally prefer to kill them so they don't come back, but you do whatever you like.

This works great! I am so excited that I do not have these pesky little things flying around my fruit, trash can and kitchen sink anymore. Put more than one bowl out in various spots that tend to attract them and catch even more faster than just putting out one. I have a picture below of a bowl that I set out by my sink. It was there less than 12 hours and look how many fruit flies I caught. I have since cleaned it out and done it again, as well as place another one around my kitchen and I'm having great success. Hope you will be pleased as well. Let me know how this works for you.

Yep, those are fruit flies in the bottom.

I placed a piece of paper under the bowl

just so you could see them better.

Climbing Wall

2011-08-29T15:40:00.004-04:00

Last night after evening service our church had our End of the Summer Cookout. Some of the things at this cookout were inflatables, a climbing wall and volleyball tournament. It's always a lot of fun and good fellowship.

Well, this year I decided I was going to climb that wall. Last time I had been pregnant and was unable to climb. So, I decided I was definitely going to attempt it, and I did. I made it all the way to the top and hit the button that sounded the alarm that I had finished. Wow, what a sense of accomplishment! I felt so rejuvenated (after my legs and arms stopped shaking, that is). I felt like I could do anything and I felt so young :) It was so much fun! Made me wonder why I don't do more things like that more often.

Everyone got in on it. Even my husband Jim tried it and made it with flying colors. Josiah and Kaitlyn both hung out at the wall the whole time and each went up about 13-15 times. Christiana made it up, her first time climbing a wall t0o. Micah made it up after his 6th try (way to get over your fear of heights. I'm so proud of you!). Jonathan made it half way up and Matthew as well, so glad they tried it. Even Joshua got to try. Little guy thought he was suppose to hold the rope with one hand. Had he realized just to let go and hang on to the wall he probably would have scaled it all the way to the top, he has no fear.

I was unable to get pictures of everyone because we took a lot of video instead, but here are just of few of the pictures we did take.

Me beginning my climb.

Joshua, with some help to get started.

Micah climbing.

Jonathan climbing.

Fun at the Park

2011-08-26T15:41:00.002-04:00

For Real Thursdays - Modern Technology, Worth It?

2011-08-25T17:59:00.004-04:00

Sometimes I wonder if we're really better off with all this technology. I mean, really, did we stress so much before as we do now? The computer doesn't load pages fast enough, our phones don't have range when we need it most, shut downs happen at the most inopportune times.

The reason I mention this is because yesterday when I went to sync my phone with my computer in order to load a picture that I wanted for my Wordless Wednesday post, my phone decided for no apparent reason to go into recovery mode. Now we could have easily restored my phone but I didn't want to lose all the information (like calendar reminders, contacts and said photo) and have to restore back to before all my new information was added. My precious husband worked for over two hours trying to recover my phone without having to restore it, all the while our computers were not loading pages and freezing up on us throughout the whole process making a stressful situation even more stressful. He finally ended up having to restore my phone because nothing we tried worked. Fortunately, (I believe because I was praying very hard) all my contacts, calendar info and said photo were still there. But really, it made me wonder how much easier things were before all these modern "conveniences" came about. Don't get me wrong, I love my phone and computer, I just wish they always worked when you needed them.

How about you? What do you think? Were things easier and less stressful before it all or do you think it's all worth it?

Tuesday's Tip - A Little Bit of Down Time

2011-08-23T16:06:00.002-04:00

Now that school is starting back up and things are a little more hectic than they were before, make sure you are getting a little down time in each day. With homeschooling many kids of various ages, I do have my kids take a little time each day to themselves, usually while the little ones are napping. It also gives me a while to rest and take care of things I need to do, like take a nap myself sometimes. It helps me to have a better attitude as well.

My tip for today is to make sure you stop for just a few moments each day. It helps so much in making your day run smoothly.

Maggie Moo's

2011-08-22T18:42:00.002-04:00

Each time one of our kids has a birthday we (Mom and/or Dad) take them out for ice cream. Last year it was Baskin Robbins, this year it's Maggie Moo's. This past weekend I took the girls out for their birthday ice cream. Now those of you who keep up with my posts know that the girl's birthdays were in January. So why am I just now taking them out for their birthday? Because we were doing a churchwide fast in January and time has completely slipped away and we are just now getting around to taking them out for their birthday ice cream. I suppose it's better late than never. The girls didn't mind.

Do you have a special place you take your kids for their birthday? Does the whole family join or do you take the birthday kid out alone? I love input, so share your special celebrations. Maybe you'll inspire someone else to do the same :)

Maggie Moo's!

Yummy!

Mmmm Mmmm Good!

For Real Thursdays - Time Flies

2011-08-18T16:03:00.006-04:00

Took the kids out today for a picnic at the park. It's a beautiful day here in TN and where it may be hot in the sun, the cool breeze makes the shade a perfect place to be. I cannot believe that this summer is already practically over. Seems like just last week we finished school and summer break began. Now the temperatures are beginning to SLOWLY drop and today my husband texted me a picture of some colors changing on some trees he passed while driving to his jobs. Amazing how times flies. I always have so many things planned in my head of what we will do each summer. Then before you know it, summer is over and it's time for school again.

I must admit that I do LOVE the fact that we homeschool and all those trips to the park and hiking, etc. can still be part of our plans, besides I enjoy those activities more in the fall anyway :)

It does truly seem that time is traveling faster than I can keep up with. Kyle is now 7 months old and it seems like just a couple of months ago we had Christmas. Before I know it Christmas will be here again, unbelievable.

I guess what I need to remember to do is to make the most of every day. Not to take things for granted and to remember that life is not all about me. If life is going to continue to fly by, I will just have to make it one great ride.

Wordless Wednesday - Pawpaw's Chair

2011-08-17T16:47:00.001-04:00

Everybody LOVES Pawpaw's comfy recliner.

Tuesday's Tip - Packing

2011-08-16T10:58:00.003-04:00

Since we've headed to NC three times this summer, I decided to try different packing methods each time to see what worked best. The first time I packed normally, the second time I packed each persons clothes in separate individual, labeled (Walmart) bags, the last time I packed a number of individuals clothes for a day in a (Walmart) bag and labeled them.

I think I liked the last method best. Our second trip in which we put everyone's clothes in separate labeled bags left us with what felt like a hundred bags all over the place. Our last trip we placed all the boys pants for one day in a bag together and their shirts in another bag, etc. This left us with less bags everywhere and the same accomplishment of being organized.

I do have to admit that this idea was not my own. I borrowed it from the Duggar's and it works. So the next time you're heading out on a trip try it and see what you think.

When Do You Go Back to School?

2011-08-15T16:13:00.002-04:00

I noticed a lot of people are starting school around here today. We are not starting until next week. But I was wondering when you all are starting your kids back to school if you homeschool? I also noticed that lots of people take pictures of their kids their first day back to school. I try to do this every year as well. How many of you take pictures of your kids on their first day back each year?

Just wondering...

Wordless Wednesday - Pigs in a Blanket

2011-08-10T14:44:00.001-04:00

Tuesday's Tip - Scrubbing your Bathtub

2011-08-09T09:02:00.004-04:00

Ever had soap scum in your bathtub that eventually makes you wonder if your bathtub is an almond color or white? Well, I recently decided to do a good scrubbing of our tub and found something that worked that I hadn't thought of before. I tried a magic eraser (I have the extra power one that says it's 50% stronger). It was much easier than the Comet I was using and took less elbow grease than the Comet. Don't know why I hadn't thought of it before. I mean, even the back of the box mentions that a good use for it around the home is tubs. I suppose I always thought I needed to save them for marks on my walls (which are not showing up as much now that Joshua is getting older *yay*).

So pull out those magic erasers and use them on other tough spots around your house. They really work well.

Oh, and by the way, my tub is white (now).

Tuesday

2011-08-09T09:02:00.000-04:00

Manic Monday

2011-08-08T14:39:00.003-04:00

I know that my posts have been hit and miss lately and for those of you who read my blogs regularly, I apologize. We are now back from NC (after three trips in about a four week span) and settling in here at home again trying to get back to our regular routine. Along with trying to get caught up on laundry we are also trying to get our house in order for visitors. Kyle has had an ear infection and is cutting teeth so he has required a little more one on one time from me lately.

Last week we did some rearranging in our dining room and upstairs that left the house looking worse before it will look better and now we are working like crazy to try and make the house presentable before our visitors come later this week. Not only that, but it's time to get ready for a new school year so we are switching out books and preparing for school. By the end of each day I feel like my head is spinning with all the thoughts of things that need to be done, yet there doesn't seem to be enough hours in my day to complete them all.

I know that through Christ all things are possible and that everything that needs to be accomplished will be accomplished right on time.

In Loving Memory

2011-08-01T19:30:00.001-04:00

Orene Stout

6/21/27 - 7/31/11

Wordless Wednesday - He's Growing Up Too Fast

2011-07-27T13:39:00.003-04:00

Tuesday's Tip - Take Pictures

2011-07-26T14:47:00.003-04:00

We take pictures of loved ones at holidays and visits, but I don't usually remember to take pictures of the places we visit. For instance, my Grandma's house. I lived there for seven years and then across the street until I moved on to college and then married. I never really thought about taking pictures of her house or the yard or landscape. Now that my Grandmother will never be able to return home and the thought of what will happen to the house once she's gone makes me stop and think, "Do I have any pictures of Grandma's house?" The landscaping has changed quite a bit since I was a kid and I have no pictures of it then, only memories. So this last visit we took to Grandma's I made sure I took a picture of her house and some of the landscape; the swing set and the maple tree that all the grandkids like to climb.

I'm not exactly sure what will happen to Grandma's house, but at least I have pictures of it now. My tip for today would be to remember to take pictures of your loved one's (and even your own) homes and homesteads so you will always have them.

Back From NC

2011-07-25T13:29:00.003-04:00

Thanks to everyone who prayed for us as we traveled to NC to visit my Grandma. She is resting well at Hospice House and is getting wonderful care. The facility and staff there are top rate and we couldn't be more pleased.

We were able to visit with my Dad and sisters together Sunday for lunch. It's always great to get together and so much fun. And of course every time family gets together there are pictures to be taken. Here are just a few of the pictures we took before we headed back to TN.

Carrie, Me, Daddy and Donna

All the grandkids

Pawpaw, Mawmaw Connie and all the grandkids

Tuesday's Tip - Question for You

2011-07-19T13:20:00.002-04:00

The other day someone thanked me for the tip about using vinegar to rid clothes of sour smells, and it made we wonder. I was wondering how many of you have used a tip from here and how it worked for you. Do you enjoy "Tuesday's Tips" or not?

Just curious and looking for feedback. So tell me what you think. I look forward to hearing from you. Blessings.

It's Friday!

2011-07-15T16:08:00.004-04:00

Christiana and Kyle

Here's wishing you a fun, restful weekend. Be blessed.

For Real Thursdays - Diligence

2011-07-14T13:03:00.003-04:00

I found it interesting that another blog I keep up with spoke on diligence today because that is exactly what I was planning on blogging about today. It must be something others are dealing with besides me. However, I'm looking more at my own diligence instead of my children's. I like what this blogger said, "If you want your children to be more diligent, pray to be more diligent."

I look around my house and I am overwhelmed with where to start in reorganizing my home. I know that if I had stayed more diligent with my children doing their tasks well, then we probably wouldn't be at this place. I understand that some spring cleaning and rearranging are necessary from time to time, but if we had stayed on top of our daily tasks this job wouldn't be so big. Too many times I assume the kids have completed their chores and completed them well, so I don't check up on them. Most of the time, I am busy taking care of another smaller child or working on another task to check up on their completed task. Now I see where my lack of diligence in following up has led to a lack of diligence in my children.

So where do I go from here? I start today in being more diligent. I pray that God will help me to be more diligent and I work on positively reinforcing diligence in my children as well. After all, every day is a new day and why not start the day off right? If I find that I begin to slack off, then I'll just start over again the next day. Not going to beat myself up over this one, just going to do better.

How about you? Have you found that your children's lack of diligence starts with you?

Wordless Wednesday - Learning to Mow

2011-07-13T13:46:00.001-04:00

Matthew is 5!

2011-07-12T15:31:00.005-04:00

Today is Matthew's 5th birthday. He's such a big boy and will be starting school in the Fall (our sixth child to homeschool). He is such a joy and just as sweet and adorable as he is cute. I love that he still likes to cuddle, especially in the morning when the others are still sleeping. He plays well with others but also likes to play quietly on his own. I love this little guy so much. And like all the others, I'm so proud of him and feel privileged to be his Mom.

Happy Birthday, Matthew! I love you!

Awesome Weekend!

2011-07-11T10:44:00.003-04:00

We spent the weekend with some friends of ours at a family cabin. The cabin has no electricity and only one bathroom with a toilet and sink as the only running water. There's a pond out back and four-wheeling trails all around. We spent our days fishing, swimming, four-wheeling, and relaxing. At night we'd get the fire burning and roast hotdogs and make smores, as well as go hunting for frogs. The kids got the opportunity to touch a snake, pick up frogs, take fish off of hooks and more. It was not only a fun trip but so educational as well. Nature up close and personal, just the way I like it. It was such a blast and we are still talking about all the fun we had.

I'd like to send out a special thanks to our friends the Ross' and Mr. Sam and Mrs. Maida for such a great time and for all their hospitality. What a blessing you were to our family.

The cabin

Fishing

Joshua and Kyle relaxing inside.

Christiana's first fish.

Black snake

Swimming

Four-wheeling

Learning card tricks

Getting a good fire going

Trip home

Wordless Wednesday - Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

2011-07-06T14:49:00.003-04:00

Tuesday's Tip - Sour Towels

2011-07-05T12:46:00.003-04:00

Do you have towels that smell clean when you wash them but as soon as they get wet smell soured and unwashed? I mean there's nothing worse than picking up a "clean" towel to dry off with after a shower only to realize it smells bad as soon as you begin to dry yourself with it. Or grab a "clean" dishcloth to wipe down a counter only to make the counter smell soured.

Well, don't throw them away and buy new ones, here's what you need to do. If they are white, then wash them in hot water with bleach and that should do the trick. If they are colored then wash them in warm water and add 1/2 a cup of vinegar to the wash along with the detergent. The vinegar will kill the enzymes that are making the towels smell bad. You may need to do this more than once, but I found that it worked after one load.

Try it. It really works.

For Real Thursdays - Housing Decisions

2011-06-30T11:40:00.002-04:00

We moved into a smaller house than our family needs for a reason; to stay motivated enough to eventually build a log home debt free. It also was cheaper than most places around so we figured we could save more money to build by renting this cheaper, smaller house. Now don't get me wrong, we did not move into a fixer upper or anything of that sort. We were totally blessed to find a nice home at a great price. The problem we are having right now is that we are busting out of the seams of this small house.

So what do we do? Our options are stay and downsize BIG time, or find something that may be bigger and more accommodating for our family but also cost more. I mean we did pick this place for a reason. The issue is that people's moods aren't at their best when the house seems out of order and there's no room to get around without stepping over or moving something. Some things I can easily get rid of, others are necessary to hang on to. So I wonder, even after downsizing are we going to have the room we need to keep our home a peaceful place that our family enjoys living in?

When we first moved in we had no living room furniture, no dining room furniture and only mattresses on the floor in the boys rooms. Since moving here we have gained all this furniture that we need, but now the house seems so much smaller. We are also starting our family business and needing a place to work (ex. packing boxes for shipping, having a quiet place to make phone calls and work with orders).

So what do we do. We really don't want to end up buying something that is going to put us in a 30 year mortgage. We really do want to build debt free. And right now, we have the BEST landlords ever.

Any suggestions?

Happy Baby

2011-06-29T14:36:00.002-04:00

Kyle is such a happy baby. He is always laughing and smiling. He can cheer anyone up with his contagious grin. He's very easy going and such a joy to have around. I just love him so much :)

Downsizing

2011-06-28T15:31:00.002-04:00

I don't know about you but I am at that place where I just want to downsize all the "stuff" I have. Over years we tend to accumulate lots of stuff and in a family our size there is LOTS of STUFF. We are busting out of the seams in this house. So I am SO ready to just clean out everything. I feel like walking around the house with trash bags in hand and downsizing. There are plenty of people out there who might be able to make use of all the stuff I don't use anymore. So it's either going for our youth yard sale, trash or to someone I know needs it.

Anyone else going through this?

I'm Back

2011-06-27T13:27:00.002-04:00

In case some of you were wondering why I didn't get many posts out last week, I was out of town visiting family in NC. I wanted to visit my Grandma in the hospital and see how she was doing. I'd like to thank everyone for their prayers. She is finally home and her health is much improved. They were able to give her some blood on Tuesday which helped to increase her platelets which in turn greatly improved her overall condition.

I was able to see my Mom, Dad, sisters, some of my aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews as well. I hope to go back soon when we can all go together (Jim, Josiah and Christiana were unable to make this visit) and possibly spend more time there.

It's good to be home. Now to catch up on laundry and get my house back in order :) I pray that all of you and your families are well. Blessings.

Micah

2011-06-21T09:46:00.002-04:00

Friday was Micah's birthday and I missed posting about it because we were out celebrating.

Micah is such a sweet boy. He is very caring for his siblings and such a compassionate person. He loves his bow and arrow and loves building things with his Legos. He is growing into such a wonderful young man and I am so proud of him. My life has truly been enriched because of him.

For Real Thursdays - Please Pray for My Grandma

2011-06-16T17:15:00.003-04:00

Please pray for my Grandma Stout. She has always been more like a mother to me than a grandmother. She is in the hospital in NC and I'm planning on visiting her next week. Pray that her health improves so that she can go home soon. And please pray that we have a safe trip there and back. Thank you.

Wordless Wednesday - Nap Time

2011-06-15T14:28:00.001-04:00

I love naps, and my naptime cuddle bugs.

Fruit Smothies

2011-06-13T13:23:00.003-04:00

Now that it's hot outside, my kids love those popsicles that come as liquid in plastic tubes. I don't mind getting those every once in a while but it's not something I like to do all the time because of all the sugar that is in them.

What I do like to make for my kids that are cold and refreshing are fruit smoothies. They are so simple and my kids love them and every time they hear the blender they come running.

All I use is a banana (sometimes I omit), some orange juice, pineapple and some of it's juice (you can use canned if you don't have fresh), frozen fruit of choice and ice. Blend together and adjust to your liking. Healthy, cold, and refreshing. And if you have those popsicle molds you could freeze these for a delicious frozen treat for later (ours never make it to the freezer). Enjoy!

Joshua really enjoys his smoothies.

Matthew does too :)

Wasp Control

2011-06-10T14:35:00.002-04:00

Now that we are having hot days of summer we are also having bugs. Lots of bugs; wasps, bees, mosquitoes, flies, gnats, etc. So my brave boys decided to protect us from a wasp the other day. They dressed themselves in "armor" and set out with weapons in hand.

My tough, brave boys.

Least to say, they were successful in killing the threatening wasp. We are now safe here at home thanks to my knights in cotton armor :)

Jonathan wondering what all the fuss is about.

For Real Thursdays - Looking for Encouragement

2011-06-09T13:40:00.004-04:00

I am not a perfect mother or wife by a long shot. I don't always have the right attitude toward my husband and my children. That's why I look for ways to find Christian encouragement and keep my mind on the right track. That's where Above Rubies comes in handy.

I love Above Rubies! Their magazines give me so much encouragement. If you haven't found them on Facebook yet, you can type in Above Rubies and "Like" their page and receive words of encouragement on a daily level instead of having to wait for their magazine to come.

Here are a few examples of some of their quotes that have spoken to me. By the way, Nancy is the author of Above Rubies and Michelle heads up the Canadian branch of Above Rubies. May you find daily encouragement on your walk as a mother and wife as well.

"Showing respect can be difficult, especially when someone's actions do not seem worthy! When I am in this spot, I remind myself that my good behaviour did not bring about my salvation. If that was the case, I would fail! Yet, I am still saved by the grace of God! Surely I can show respect then, regardless of the worthiness of the actions! After all, it is the person I am respecting, not the behaviour!" Love Michelle

"The best chapter of life is the childhood chapter. The adult chapter can typically last at least 5 times longer! Savor every second that you have to watch your child move through this extra-special time! Childhood is the shortest season-LOVE every second of it!" Love Michelle

"Are there any "battles" going on in your home? I hope so! I hope you are battling all the lies of the enemy that are trying to defeat you and tell you that you are anything less than amazing and incredible! You must battle these attacks with truth! And the truth is that you are hand-picked and especially equipped by the hand of God Himself! He empowers you to win the battle and walk in truth!" Love Michelle

"People laugh at me because I see children as the answer to so many issues! Struggling with pride? Raise a child! Feeling unloved or lonely? Raise a child! Feeling like you want to do more for God? Raise a child! Struggling with finding a real sense of purpose? Raise a child! Need motivation to take better care of yourself? Raise a child! Battling selfishness? Raise a child! I could go on & on!" Love Michelle

"Sometimes a change of perspective is all you need! When Solana (1) spread toilet paper and feminine products all over the bathroom floor, my first thought was, "What a MESS!" but then as she looked up at me, I realized she likely thought it was more like ART, not mess! Ah, I love her and her art!" Love Michelle

"Are you going through a difficulty in your life? Does everything seem on top of you? Don't despair. The psalmist confessed, "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me." Don't dwell on the problem you face. Look to the Lord and trust Him and you He will revive and refresh you in the midst of your trouble. The problem may stay, but God will help and refresh you in the midst of the problem." NANCY

"YOUR WORK AS A MOTHER IS SACRED! 1 Chronicles 9:28-32 tells us about the work of the priests. Some were appointed to look after utensils, others to mix the spices and others to bake in the pans! Hey, I thought these were priests doing holy work! Yes, they were doing holy work, but it was practical! All the menial tasks you do in the home are holy too, especially as you do them as unto the Lord." NANCY

"As a wife, it can be so tempting at times to "judge" my husband! "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." Rom 12:3. If the measure of faith a person has was given by the hand of God, who am I to judge? Father, please forgive me." Love Michelle

Wordless Wednesday - We Have a Van!

2011-06-08T11:15:00.002-04:00

Tuesday's Tip - Successful Charcoal Grilling

2011-06-07T10:27:00.000-04:00

If you're like us you probably own a gas grill because charcoal grilling is much too difficult. We love the flavor from a charcoal grill, but the frustration of trying to get the charcoal hot enough without using a whole container of lighter fluid and then still being unsuccessful was enough to make us switch to gas.

Well, we have learned the secret of getting great coals every time. Go to Walmart ($9.97) or Home Depot ($14.99) or such and purchase a Charcoal Chimney Starter like the one below. Follow the instructions and viola! Hot coals that allow you to cook perfect every time. All you need is newspaper, charcoal (a little lighter fluid on top of the charcoal helps) and matches.

Here's wishing you great success in charcoal grilling!

Tuesday's Tip - Sunburn Relief

2011-06-02T15:13:00.005-04:00

I've never tried this but I've heard it works. To find relief from a sunburn, spray vinegar on your burn and leave it on overnight. You may smell like pickles, but the next morning no more burning. Your burn will turn to a tan and no peeling.

If you try this before we get the chance, let me know how it works for you.

Pictures From Our Memorial Day

2011-06-02T14:41:00.004-04:00

Since we got to Melton Hill Damn so early,

we were the first ones in the water.

Mid-morning after people began showing up.

Had a wonderful cook-out

(thanks to my hubby, Jim).

Relaxing around the picnic table

while the food is cooking.

Then home for some R & R

A little reading.

Game time

A game for a crowd.

I made some ice cream while the kids

went out and played in the sprinklers.

Quick supper of leftover hamburgers and hotdogs,

everyone taking baths, then finish the evening

with a yummy bowl of homemade Rocky Road :)

Wordless Wednesday - Cupcake

2011-06-01T13:21:00.002-04:00

He sure loved that cupcake, or at least the icing.

Tuesday's Tip - Don't Forget the Sunscreen

2011-05-31T13:07:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, we went to Melton Hill Dam for a picnic and swimming. We wanted to make sure we were there early enough to get a good picnic spot so we left our house around 8:00 a.m. We knew we needed to head to the store for ice and sunscreen but thought we'd go ahead and set up at our picnic spot first, then Jim would make a quick run to the store.

So we got everyone there (took two trips, remember we only have one vehicle) got everything set up and then Jim headed to the store. We decided, before Jim left, that the kids could go ahead and head down to the water and get in if they wanted. Then we would just get the sunscreen on them when he got back.

Well, it didn't quite work out that way. When he got back some got sunscreen and others didn't, or at least not until it was too late.

So the moral of the story is, don't forget to get sunscreen BEFORE you head out to go swimming.

Oh, and P.S. That aloe sunburn relief gel is a great thing to have on hand too ;)

Summer

2011-05-27T14:27:00.003-04:00

It's that time of year again. If you haven't already, it's time to charge up those power riders, inflate bike tires, inflate balls, check swing sets, get the pool ready, air out the tent, locate all camping equipment, etc. School is out and summer break is here.

I love the smell of summer. Campfires, chlorine, suntan lotion, fresh cut grass, popcorn and fresh air (when we watch movies outside), food on the grill, bug spray or citronella, fresh dirt from the garden, fresh veggies on the table, etc.

I can't wait to go to the zoo, go hiking, go out for picnics, go camping, swimming, visit museums, visit family, see fireworks, etc.

What kinds of things do you look forward to during the summer?

Here's hoping you and your family have a wonderfully blessed summer.

Also, don't forget to take time this weekend and remember our veterans and everything they did that allows us to enjoy peaceful summers (and falls and winters and springs). Have a great weekend everyone.

Kaitlyn being a good buddy and

making sure Joshua doesn't ride

out into the road.

Joshua loves riding this little

power wheels four wheeler.

For Real Thursday's- Car Shopping

2011-05-26T13:55:00.002-04:00

For those of you who have been reading my posts for a while you may remember the one about when our Suburban broke down on the way to the Birthing Center http://b4uask.blogspot.com/2011/01/oh-what-night.html. Well, since that time we have only had one vehicle and it only seats five. My husband and I have had to take turns going to church on Sunday mornings with four kids taking turns each week as well. Every Sunday night Jim goes to church since he helps with Royal Rangers and takes the kids in Royal Rangers and Missionettes, and I go every Wednesday night (with kids, of course). We're always home on the weekends because we can't go anywhere together as a family and that's just the way it is for now.

It's not easy finding a 12-15 passenger van in our price range. We do not want to finance anything so this really limits what we can get as well. It hasn't been easy, but we're making the most of it. I just look at it as each day that goes by is one day closer to the day we will have another van.

If you'd like to join us in prayer, that would be great. We want to make sure we don't settle nor do we buy something that is just going to break down soon after and cost lots to repair. I know that my God owns cattle on a thousand hills and nothing is impossible for Him. I also know that good things come to those who wait. So, I have faith that we will get just the right vehicle just in time.

Poor Lizard

2011-05-25T14:30:00.003-04:00

One day last week I found a lizard on my kitchen counter. Kinda freaked me out a little at first since it was hiding under a piece of paper and the only thing I could see was its face. I wasn't sure if it was a snake or what. Anyway, we tried to catch it but it ended up escaping us and scurrying under my stove.

Well, last Thursday while at the doctor's office with Kyle for his 4 month check-up, I started getting texts about the capture of this lizard. Poor lizard didn't know what he was in for. Instead of capturing and letting him go, my kids decided to play with it for a while (FYI - it was their father who encouraged it, lol). Here are a few pictures of their "play time."

Matthew with lizard biting finger

(obviously it doesn't hurt).

Micah's turn.

Christiana's turn.

Kaitlyn wearing it as an earring.

Josiah trying it out too.

Just so you know the lizard was released outside and is fine. I think he learned his lesson and figure we won't see him again in this house EVER. Poor thing, I couldn't help but laugh at my kids but did feel a little sorry for the lizard. Maybe he'll tell his friends and they won't come in my house as well :)

Tuesday's Tip - Saving Toilet Paper

2011-05-24T10:38:00.002-04:00

Having a large family, you tend to go through lots of toilet paper. So after reading how another large family makes their toilet paper last longer I had to add it as one of my Tuesday's Tips.

New roll of toilet paper.

Smash roll down so it is no longer round.

Place on holder.

Since the roll is no longer round it will not roll as well, therefore dispensing less toilet paper. We all know that with little kids in the house they tend to just pull the toilet paper and let it roll out way more than they need. This keeps that from happening. You actually save toilet paper and have a lot less overflows due to too much paper in the toilet.

A very inexpensive way to save toilet paper. That's my Tuesday's Tip :)

Snake

2011-05-23T13:35:00.003-04:00

This morning when Josiah went to put some mail in the mailbox this is what he found in the road just down from our box.

You can see Josiah's shadow.

BTW it is still alive.

We're not sure what kind of snake it was (Josiah said it had about four lumps in it so it had just eaten something). It had a rounded head so it's not venomous, and it appears to be a grayish white color with black diamond shapes along its body. He didn't see the tail but figure that it's not a rattlesnake since its head was rounded and not diamond shaped.

Anyone know what kind of snake this is? (Sorry no closer images available)

Weekends

2011-05-20T09:27:00.002-04:00

Well the weekend is here again and hopefully you won't be so busy that you need a weekend after your weekend. I know we have plans; one kid getting ready to spend the night with a friend tonight, graduation celebration with friends tomorrow, then church on Sunday.

Here's hoping you all can get some rest this weekend. Have a great weekend and be blessed.

Kyle

"Sleeping like a baby"

For Real Thursday's - Marriage Tune-Ups

2011-05-19T17:14:00.002-04:00

Every marriage is a work in progress. Every married person at some point or other has thought "Ok, I give up. I'm done." Keeping your marriage in check is one of the things that will help you stick in there when the going gets tough. Maintaining your marriage is just as important (actually more important) as maintaining your vehicle. If you want it to run smoothly you need to get a tune up every now and then. Marriage is too disposable these days. It's much easier to give up than to stay in there and fight. But to be a champion you have to stick with it and not give up. Besides those who give up without a fight miss the joys of the victory.

Tonight, my husband and I are going to a marriage class that's being taught by some friends of ours. I am really looking forward to taking this class and I believe it will be lots of fun. Our marriage has had it's share of bumps and bruises along the way, but I'm glad to admit that we stuck in there and pulled through.

Marriage gets sweeter and sweeter as you go. So make it a priority to have tune-ups along the way. It really is fun and well worth it.

What kind of things do you do to "tune-up" your marriage?

Wordless Wednesday - I Think He Likes It

2011-05-18T00:08:00.005-04:00

His first time in this bouncer at church.

Tuesday's Tip - Let Them Explore

2011-05-17T14:19:00.002-04:00

Yep, it's that time of year again when all the creepy, crawly creatures come out of hiding. My kids like to pick them up and bring them inside to show me. I don't mind, in fact I encourage them to explore what's around them. Although I'm not too thrilled when the cute little frog they find jumps out of their hand in my house, I do enjoy watching the race that follows.

So whether you're one of those parents that's a little skiddish about such things or not, just be open to allowing your kids to show you their finds and let them explore. After all, it's all a part of the learning process.

Matthew with his latest find.

Earthworms! :)

Picture Perfect?

2011-05-16T15:02:00.004-04:00

With the modern technology of cell phones and games and cameras on your cell phone I find all kinds of pictures from my phone these days. Since Joshua has learned his way around my iPhone so well he now takes pictures when he can get a hold of it or when I'm letting him play games on it. These are just a few of the pictures I find when I download the pictures from my phone. Keep in mind that I usually have about 1o copies of slightly different versions of the same shot.

Do you find this happening with your phones, or am I the only one?

Finger shot

Another finger shot

It's so obvious who's taking this

picture (like I had any doubts).

My Sweet Baby Boy

2011-05-12T15:44:00.000-04:00

What are they doing to my baby? Oh well, he doesn't seem to mind ;)

Boys Will Be Boys

2011-05-11T13:03:00.002-04:00

Went outside today to take sandwich orders for lunch and found the boys playing "Spy" games. They often like to play "military" or "spy" and can play for hours, making up each move and strategy as they go. I love it when they play outside like this, it's the way boys are suppose to play (at least I think so).

Anyway, I snapped a few pictures while I was out there and thought I'd share them with you.

Coming down the hill behind our house.

Shooting at the enemy

Moving on to higher ground

Up the hill

Taking cover as a helicopter flies overhead

Up the on hill

Everybody to the house!

Moving into position

Discussing their next move

Tuesday's Tip - Good Advice

2011-05-10T13:24:00.002-04:00

My tip for today is, if what you're doing is not working then be willing to try something new. Proverbs 19:20 says "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise." Proverb 12:15 says, "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice."

I read some information yesterday that I wanted to pass on in case you may need it. It speaks of how to handle temper tantrums while on vacation (or at home). Although this was a secular article (I only say this because I usually only read Christian articles/authors) I thought it was helpful. Hope you find it helpful as well.

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/10-tips-for-handling-tantrums-on-vacation.htm

Mother's Day

2011-05-09T14:36:00.004-04:00

Yesterday my day started with breakfast in bed and my precious children giving me a basket of goodies such as a candle, lotion, body spray etc. (all my favorites which they picked out themselves). But even more precious than the gifts, the card and a relaxing day, is the reason I get to be celebrated.

I LOVE being "Mom" to my eight precious blessings. To think that God has decided to grace my life with them is amazing. I feel privileged to be their Mom and am filled with such gratitude when I think of them. Yes, Mother's Day is a day to celebrate our Mothers, but I also celebrate the privilege of getting to be a Mother.

My Mother's Day balloon

Picture Christiana took of me this Mother's Day

I Just Love My Kids

2011-05-06T13:16:00.002-04:00

I just love this picture of Kaitlyn. She had taken him for me because he was crying and I couldn't get to him right away. I thought it was so cute so I took a picture.

I love my kids soooo much.

Have a great weekend everyone.

For Real Thursdays - Challenging Children

2011-05-05T14:25:00.004-04:00

This is my precious, sweet, cuddly Joshua. He is also my most strong willed and challenging child. You literally can't take your eyes off of him for 5 seconds or he's in to something he is not suppose to be in to, or climbing on something he's not suppose to climb on. He always tests his boundaries and always tries to get away with something. He knows where all the hiding places are and how to reach them, so nothing is safe. He loves to talk loud and lets himself be heard when things don't go his way. But, oh, how I love this precious child.

I think so many times when we face challenges like this, that instead of always looking at the challenge and getting frustrated because of the way they are we should look at ourselves and the way we are. Maybe sometimes God is using these opportunities to refine us. He's making us a better person through the challenges we face with children like these.

I don't blame Joshua for his behavior, I also don't accept his temper tantrums or misbehaving as acceptable behavior. I deal with the issues at hand, but I pay close attention to how I deal with them.

My Bible tells me that love is patient, kind, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres and NEVER fails. It also tells me that I should have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. And that since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

So I take these words as a challenge for me to keep in mind as I raise our children. It's easy to get angry and discipline harshly, because it's what my flesh feels like doing. It takes a lot more self control to discipline in love. But I can guarantee you that the outcome will be so much more worth it in the end. Besides, if I think about it, isn't God patient with me? My strong will may not be as obvious as my two year old's but how many times has God gently and loving taught me the same lesson again and again when I stubbornly do the opposite of what He tells me?

So love those challenging kids of yours. No one said parenting was easy, but if you do it God's way it's soooo rewarding, for both you and your child.

Wordless Wednesday- Mud Prints

2011-05-04T12:31:00.001-04:00

This is what happens when you let your children stay outside puddle hoppin' too long...

Tuesday's Tip - Soft Butter

2011-05-03T12:49:00.004-04:00

This is something I learned from a friend when I lived in Vermont.

Do you like butter but hate how it doesn't spread very easily on nice warm bread. You don't want to use margarine because of the hydrogenated oil but like that it's spreadable. Well here's how you fix this problem.

Buy one of those cheap butter dishes at Walmart for about a dollar, I think you may be able to find them at the Dollar Tree also. Instead of using it like a traditional butter dish with the flat part on the bottom and the cover on top turn it upside down so now the flat part works as a lid. Place butter in dish and leave on counter, do not refrigerate. Now you have soft butter. As long as you use butter regularly you shouldn't have any issues with leaving it out.

I do this all the time with our butter and love having it ready to spread whenever I need it.

Butter dish with lid off

Butter dish with lid on

Puddle Hoppin'

2011-05-02T16:11:00.002-04:00

After the huge storms we had pass through our area last week there were a few yard puddles remaining. Of course on Joshua's first chance outdoors he found the puddles. I hesitated at first and almost told him no, then thought "Why not. What kid doesn't love puddle hoppin'?" So, he went for it and had a blast. I'm glad I said yes :)

Wordless Wednesday - Playing Together Nicely

2011-04-26T23:36:00.001-04:00

Tuesday's Tip - Cooling Pies (What Not to Do)

2011-04-26T23:16:00.002-04:00

Saturday I made my first coconut cream pie. I had never made one before and was quite nervous about this one since we were having company over on Easter and they would try this pie. I had the hardest time with the meringue. You see, my electric mixer broke and I had to make it by hand (this was a long process). When I finally finished with it I was so proud of how it looked.

My beautiful coconut cream pie.

So I cooled it slightly on top of the stove and then moved it to the island counter to finish cooling. Well this was a bad idea. You see, I have a two year old that likes to get up on the counter and stand. Needless to say, he stood up there to get a snack from the cabinet and stepped right in my pie.

Pie after Joshua stepped in it.

Fortunately, it was covered with aluminum foil and his foot didn't actually go in the pie itself. So I straightened it up as well as I could and put it in the fridge. Our friends loved coconut cream pie and didn't mind that it was a little mangled. Good thing too, because it tasted great. Next time I'll be more careful.

Moral of the story, or shall I say, Tuesday's Tip would be, don't cool your pie on the counter in front of the snack cabinet when you have a two year old who likes to stand there :)

Our Easter

2011-04-25T14:57:00.005-04:00

This Easter was sooo much fun. We invited family and some new friends over and it was a blast. Church and the message were great and time at home afterwards led all the way into the wee hours. The best Easter ever.

I have a very bad habit of getting so wrapped up in enjoying myself that I forget to take pictures. So unfortunately, I didn't get any of our new friends nor of us preparing, eating or fellowshipping. But here are a few of what I did get. Hope you all had a blessed Resurrection Sunday.

Our goofy Easter picture.

The kids colored eggs.

Coloring eggs the night before.

Coloring eggs

Christiana Easter morning

with her chocolate ichthus.

Table full of Easter baskets Sunday morning.

Everyone enjoying their Easter

baskets Sunday morning

Egg Hunt!!!

Fruits of his labor :)

Uncle Mike pushing the kids

on our swing.

Happy Easter

2011-04-22T10:44:00.003-04:00

It's not about bunnies and hiding eggs. It's not about family and big meals. It's not even about His death. It's about His resurrection. We serve a living God that loves us so much He sent His Son (a part of Himself in human form) so that we may spend eternity with Him. A place created for Him and His angels. He wants to share it with us! It's perfection, it's majesty and we get to spend eternity there. Who could ask for anything more?

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, then I ask you now to accept Him. You don't have to be perfect or have your life all straightened out first. He created you, He knows you and He loves you. All you have to do is admit you're a sinner, believe that Jesus died for you and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

If you've fallen from your Christian walk then just pick yourself up and rededicate your life to Him. He wants to help you through those things that you feel you can't do on your own. You were never meant to do it alone. Make Him Lord of your life again.

May each and everyone of you feel loved this Easter. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." Jn. 15:13

"He is not here, but is risen!" Luke 24:6

For Real Thursdays - Bible Reading

2011-04-21T01:36:00.004-04:00

I have a confession to make. I am 38 years old and have never completely read through the Bible. I mean, I have read all of the Bible here and there throughout my 29 years as a Christian, I have just never read completely through the Bible like with a reading plan. Not because I haven't wanted to, it just seems like every time I start I end up distracted and studying something I came across instead. Then I never get back on track with finishing my reading plan.

My Grandma reads her Bible every night and has read through the Bible numerous times, same is true with my Dad. My Grandma reads straight through from Genesis to Revelation. I jump around too much to keep up with what I've read and what I haven't. The bad thing is that I've even gone to Bible College and still can't claim to have read through the whole Bible.

Anyway, with all that said, I am now trying to read through the Bible in it's entirety. No missing anything, so I can know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I have read it all. I am using the one year plan on my iPhone. It mixes things up a little. It allows me to read some of the Old Testament along with a little bit of a Proverb and some New Testament each day. It checks off a box next to the assignment each time I've read something (I really like that). I can keep up with what I'm reading and what I haven't read.

Can't say I've stayed on track daily but it's really easy to get back on track. I just start where I left off and keep going. If I can't do all of a daily reading one day, I just double up the next day.

I'm really looking forward to one day being able to say that I have read ALL of the Bible. It's just one of those goals I've never reached. Hopefully one day, like my Grandma, I can say that I have read through the Bible too many times to count.

Wordless Wednesday - Chalkboard Artwork

2011-04-20T11:57:00.002-04:00

Some of Kaitlyn's (our 11 yo) random artwork :)

Tuesday's Tip - Snack Bowls

2011-04-19T14:15:00.003-04:00

About two weeks ago we got the kids a special treat for dessert. I stopped by Walmart and picked up individual dessert bowls in the form of these Betty Crocker Warm Delights Minis. Two bowls per container.

They are little individual cakes that only take 30 seconds in the microwave to heat and then we added a scoop of vanilla ice cream and had a special treat. After everyone was finished we stacked the bowls to throw away, but as I looked at them I realized they were the perfect size for snack bowls.

So I threw them on the top shelf of my dishwasher and they came out perfectly clean. I now serve things like Goldfish crackers, grapes, granola, yogurt, etc. in them. I'm so glad I kept them.

Snack bowl next to a regular cereal bowl.

Recycling these bowls, it's my Tuesday's Tip.

Not Me Monday - Driving, Dress-Up and Angry Birds

2011-04-18T14:03:00.003-04:00

We are really responsible parents. We would NEVER allow our two year old child to drive.

We would NOT allow our older children to play with our baby like a doll and dress him in all kinds of outfits...

Kyle dressed in a Royal Ranger outfit.

Josiah used a pair of Kyle's pants

to pretend he had a beard.

And we would NOT allow Joshua to play "Angry Birds" before naptime because that would be unconstructive play time.

No we would NEVER allow our kids to do such things ;)

Dogwood Trees

2011-04-15T12:38:00.003-04:00

Dogwood trees are my favorite flowering tree. I've loved them ever since I was a child growing up in NC. We had one that grew behind my grandmother's house and I always knew spring had arrived when it bloomed. When we lived in Vermont for 5 years I missed the dogwoods so much. I'm so glad to be back down south where the dogwoods are again.

My kids know that dogwoods are my favorite and they recently found a dogwood tree up by our garden area. So now I keep getting sweet gifts of dogwood flowers. They're brought to me from sweet kids with big smiles.

I display them in a pottery dish on our dining room table. Hope you enjoy them too.

For Real Thursdays

2011-04-14T12:37:00.005-04:00

Many people who know our family think we have a "perfect" family. My kids have been told that they have a "perfect" family and they don't usually know how to respond. First of all, there's no such thing as a "perfect" family. We are blessed because we are together and there are plenty of brothers and sisters to play with and we all like each other and get along (for the most part).

I know how people feel. I grew up in a divorced home, and always looked at everyone else who still had Mom's and Dad's living together in a happy home as having a "perfect" family. So I understand the comments when people look at us and say these things. They are compliments to me because I work so hard to try and give my children the home environment I always desired as a child. However, a happy, healthy home environment doesn't just happen naturally. It takes hard work, but I am willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make this happen.

What kind of sacrifices??? Well, we live on one income. I don't have a job outside home where I get compensated for my hard work with a salary. I don't receive praise from an employer when I do things well. I don't wear fancy clothes or drive fancy cars. I have the tough job of disciplining my children because I love them and some days that's all I get accomplished. I wear spit up, nose mucus, leftover food and mud from outside on my clothes most of the time and don't change because I know that the moment I do they will soon be soiled as well. My house is not always neat and orderly because it is very much LIVED in. I don't get much adult conversation. Nor do I get much ME time.

I have come to learn that having children who are obedient and well behaved takes HARD work. That I have to become selfless as a mother and wife and put the welfare of others before my own. That I have to use lots of patience and self-control to keep from tying my kids down and locking them in their rooms some days. That prayer time is required. That repeating myself is a daily task. And that reading books about how to save money and be a better wife and mother are daily reading assignments.

All that aside, I have to admit that I LOVE being home. I don't mind wearing hand-me-downs and doing things the "hard way" to save money (ex. making bread, laundry detergent, gardening, etc). I love educating my children at home (even on the tough days). I'm thankful to God for using my children to refine me. No, it's not easy, but the sloppy kisses, the sweet little hugs and the small voices that say "I love you, Mommy" make it all worthwhile.

So thanks for the compliments. I do consider myself blessed. But keep in mind, that my family is just as "perfect" as yours.

Wordless Wednesday - He's Such a Happy Baby

2011-04-13T11:25:00.000-04:00

Picnic At Home

2011-04-12T14:36:00.002-04:00

Last week when the weather was warm and the days were beautiful, we had a picnic. I know that most of the time when people think of picnics they picture going to a park or something, but we had one at home. Since we are down to one vehicle and my husband had it for work we just set up outside in our yard. It was a gorgeous day for a picnic and I'm so glad we took advantage of it.

So next time you want to have a picnic, don't feel like you have to pack everything up and go out somewhere. Just go out your front (or back) door and enjoy one close to home. The clean-up is sooo much easier :)

Sitting in the front yard

Micah, Kaitlyn, Josiah and Christiana

Josiah, Christiana and Matthew

Kaitlyn and Micah

Jonathan

Of course, Joshua was more interested with

playing in the dirt under our front porch.

Coming Soon - For Real Thursdays

2011-04-07T23:55:00.003-04:00

So I've been thinking lately and feel lead to start a "For Real Thursdays" post on (of course) Thursdays. My husband says I only post the good stuff and sometimes give the impression that our family is perfect (when in fact we are not). In these posts, I will share with you the not so picture perfect truths of the trials and difficulties we face in our family and how God leads us to deal with them.

I think that too many times we all manage to put on pretty faces and leave impressions that we have it all together when in fact we don't. Tommy Nelson said in his Song of Solomon teaching that if we could all be real at church about our marriages and work together to minister, support and encourage each other, we could have revival going on in our churches.

I think it's important to be real and show others that we are not perfect, nor do we have perfect families. We just take one day at a time and with God's grace teach our children to the best of our God given ability. I think it's important to lift each other up and encourage each other and share with others how we deal with conflict in our homes. How can we do this if we're not honest about what God has taught us and shown us through trial and error in our own homes?

So, I'm dedicating Thursdays to being real with the ups and downs we go through in our home. May you be encouraged in your families to seek God in all things as well.

Wordless Wednesday - I Want to Play

2011-04-06T09:22:00.000-04:00

Josiah and Matthew playing checkers

at Cracker Barrel while Joshua watches.

Joshua watching and learning

Josiah trying to keep Joshua's

hands off his side of the board.

Joshua decided that he

would help Matthew instead.

(Matthew didn't mind)

Tuesday's Tip - Simple Swing

2011-04-05T16:53:00.004-04:00

The weather is getting better and we are now seeing warmer days. So what is something new you can give your kids do to outside? Well, we added a simple swing to a large tree and the kids want nothing more than to be outside swinging now. It doesn't take much and brings hours of joyful outside play.

Just find a random thick board

and drill a hole in the middle.

A nice sturdy branch and good strong rope.

And "Ta Da." A rope swing.

And yes, the other day,

I even got in on the fun :)

Wordless Wednesday - I

2011-04-05T14:24:00.000-04:00

Recipe

2011-04-04T11:29:00.002-04:00

After posting about Josiah's birthday pie, I got a few requests for the recipe. So here it is, enjoy!

Cherry Almond Mousse Pie

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk, divided
1 square (1 oz) unsweetened chocolate
1/2 tsp almond extract, divided
1 pastry shell (9 inches), baked
1 jar (10 oz) maraschino cherries, drained
1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup cold water
1 pkg. (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup whipping cream, whipped
1/2 cup chopped toasted almonds
Chocolate curls, optional

In a saucepan over low heat, cook and stir 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk and chocolate until the chocolate is melted and mixture is thickened, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in 1/4 tsp. extract. Pour into pastry shell; set aside. Reserve eight whole cherries for garnish. Chop the remaining cherries; set aside. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until light. Gradually beat in water and remaining milk. Add pudding mix and remaining extract; mix well. Fold in whipped cream. Stir in chopped cherries and almonds. Pour over the pie. Chill 4 hours or until set. Garnish with whole cherries and chocolate curls if desired. Yield: 8-10 servings

Cake or...?

2011-04-01T14:30:00.004-04:00

When your kids are little you always make them cake for their birthdays. I've found that now my kids are getting older they request other things. For instance in the past I've made ice cream cakes, cheesecakes, and now these.

Josiah's request this year

Cherry Almond Mousse Pie

Very yummy!

Tastes like a chocolate covered cherry.

Had to make two so there would be enough

for everyone and have leftovers for later.

We always had cake when I was growing up. So of course, being a traditional kind of person, I assumed that's the way it would be for my kids. However, that is not the case.

I have to admit that I like the variety. It's good to think outside the box.

How about you? Is it always cake or do you change it up?

He's Such a Poser

2011-03-31T14:40:00.002-04:00

We always take pictures of the birthday kid with their gift and the sibling that gave it to them. This year, Josiah's personality really showed up in the pictures. He's such a poser...

Christiana and Josiah

Kaitlyn and Josiah

Micah and Josiah

Josiah and Jim.

Gee, I wonder where Josiah gets it from???

Wordless Wednesday - Ready for Work

2011-03-30T13:50:00.002-04:00

Joshua dressed himself to

go to work with Daddy.

Over his pajama's, he's wearing one of Daddy's

shirts and some of his big brother's shoes.

He's On Facebook Now

2011-03-29T12:57:00.002-04:00

Now that Josiah is 13 he's allowed to have a FB page. I'm so proud of him for waiting until he's 13 (because those are the rules) to even want to open a FB account. We actually asked him when he was 12 1/2 if he wanted a page (just to find out what he would say) and he told us he wanted to wait until he turned 13 because those were the rules. Now that really showed us his character. I'm so proud of his desire to do what's right.

Of course there are rules set up for him, because we all know how FB can become addictive and can be a distraction from other more important tasks. He's learning :)

Josiah so happy to have a FB page.

Day one on my computer checking FB.

All of the sudden, he looks so grown up.

Josiah

2011-03-28T19:24:00.002-04:00

Well, it's official, I am the mother of two teenagers. Josiah turned 13 on Saturday. I can't believe it, it just doesn't seem possible. He has filled our lives with laughter and joy and enriched these last 13 years of my life. He is so handsome and I am proud of of the young man he is becoming.

Josiah I am so proud to be your Mom. God has blessed me by giving you to me as a son. I pray that you will continue to seek God in all that you do and remember that He is the answer to everything you will ever endure. Allow His word to be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path and you can't go wrong. I love you.

Yay!

2011-03-25T13:47:00.003-04:00

Yay! Joshua made it through the night last night without getting out of his bed. He stayed in his bed and fell asleep by himself. I am so happy and pray that this continues.

You see, for the last week or so the girls have been putting Joshua in bed with them because he wouldn't go to sleep in his bed (he likes to cuddle). So instead of fighting with him to keep him in his bed, they just cuddled with him in their bed. I wasn't sure how we were going to break this habit and get him back in his bed, until the bed set was given to us. I am so thankful for this little gift that has made a world of difference. It's amazing how such a little thing can change everything.

This makes me stop and think about how something I have that I may not be using can make a difference to someone else. What do you have that you can pass on?

Still Trying...

2011-03-24T17:38:00.003-04:00

So, we are still trying to encourage Joshua to sleep in his bed through the night. Thanks to a dear friend, we are getting closers to accomplishing this task. My friend's son outgrew this bedding set so she passed it on to us. I only wish I would have had the camera to take a picture of his face when he saw his bed fixed up like this. I will keep you posted on how it works. In the meantime, thank you my dear friend, you know who you are :)

Wordless Wednesday - It's a Bird, It's a Plane...

2011-03-23T14:37:00.002-04:00

Big brothers are great.

SUPER MATTHEW!!

Up, up and away

Tuesday's Tip - Magic Eraser

2011-03-22T16:37:00.003-04:00

One thing I have recently learned is that Comet seems to clean the same things that the magic eraser cleans (for example - permanent marker from walls, stoves and washing machines, crayon marks on walls, etc.). Now I haven't tried it on everything that the magic easer works on but so far so good. One thing I've also noticed is that they both have the same texture. When the magic eraser begins to break down it feels like wet Comet in your hand, the same chalky residue. Makes me wonder how much they have in common.

So instead of purchasing magic erasers, use Comet and a wet cloth. It's soooo much cheaper and lasts much longer :)

Cuddle Buddies

2011-03-18T12:52:00.002-04:00

These are my naptime cuddle buddies when I get to take a nap. We've learned that Joshua will go to sleep for nap if he lays with me and of course Kyle takes a nap with me also. This is a typical naptime for me these days. I do love cuddling with my little guys :)