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K has taken to drawing pictures of her brother.
CJ's coloring. The scanning scanned the pic from the other side of the page! Looks kinda neat.
W's new favorite character is Elmo. K drew a pic for him.
This one is hard to see; it's a boat in water.
I've had a few WOW gifts in the last few years. What's a WOW gift? Every time you use, wear, or see this gift, you say, "WOW, what a great gift." or "WOW, how thoughtful." or "WOW, I am so thankful for this gift."
Most of my WOW gifts have been "just because" gifts too. I love those. Gifts for no reason, just because they love me. I don't have a WOW gift on my life this year. I don't even have a list! Oh well, I guess that just means I'm content and well-taken care of. I mean I know there are things that I need or want but nothing that I'm dreaming of or that I desperately need. (Except for maybe an undergarment or two! but that'll come)
What's your WOW gift?
Expectations set us up for disappointment.
I expected him home at 5PM so when work held him up until close to 7PM I was disappointed and angry.
I expected the mess to be cleaned up so when I had to do it myself I was frustrated.
I expected that the baby would sleep all afternoon and then I could get a nap; when she didn't I was disappointed and grumpy.
I expected that the cheque would arrive today. It didn't. I was disappointed.
So, does that mean we shouldn't have expectations? I don't know. I don't think there is anyway not to have expectations. Should we lower our expectations? But then we are setting ourselves and others up to be less than their / our best. So we have high expectations. How do we prevent our disappointment and anger and frustration?
sigh
The last couple of days the girls have pulled out the Lincoln Logs and the Math-U-See blocks. Combining the two they have made some neat creations - including jungle-gyms and horse pens. I've included some pictures of some of what they created.
Christy, at ShakeTheSalt, has started a new meme at her site. I plan to participate.
This week I have been making a point to drink coffee for me. I used to only make coffee if someone was here to enjoy a cup or two with me. Lately, I have brewed some for me, when no one else is around. DH bought flavored coffee that he does not like, just for me. I wasn't drinking it! Why? Because I'm not special enough to make special coffee, just for me.
WRONG!!!
I am changing that. I am learning that I am special enough to do special things for. Have you learned that yet?
Now, I need to up my non-diuretic beverages to make up for the loss of fluids due to drinking the coffee. So, being good to me, this week, I will try to drink more water! And maybe something else too. Have to think on it for the next "A Moment For Me" post!
Copy and pasted from my old blog.
Here is the bread recipe that I use. It's so simple and really quite fast. I've had non-bakers use this recipe and do very well at it. Their families raved!
Our Bread Recipe
2 Tbsp yeast
1/2 cup water
1 tsp sugar
Combine and set aside. This will bubble up and create a foamy mixture.
2 1/2 cups hot tap water
6 Tbsp oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
4 cups flour
Mix this together. Add yeast mixture. Mix well. When smooth, add
2 eggs
Then add
2 cups flour (more like 4 cups to make it the right consistency)
Knead 8 - 10 minutes. Rise in bowl for 20 minutes. Punch down. Allow to rise for another 20 minutes in the bowl. Make loaves or buns. Let rise for 30 minutes. Bake at 350F for about 25 minutes (for loaves). This makes three loaves in my house - tall and yummy loaves.
I was stretching it to four loaves but the loaves ended up small and not very good for sandwiches or toast.
A dear internet friend of mine has started a new project. The Reusable Bag is a wonderful idea encouraging us to use less plastic and more cloth and other reusable products. I have decided to join my friend in her challenges and try to get enough bags for my family to use cloth bags and boxes instead of the grocery store plastic bags. Go on over and check out the site. It is still very new, but very friendly.
W loves to hold his "baby sissa" but is forever "poting" her. The other kids hold her a lot too. K is best about sitting still and letting R sleep. Of course, R sleeps best if someone is holding her and we don't mind. We have lots of laps around here.
W is still the only boy; well, him and Daddy. And he sure has taken to Daddy. Everything he puts on (clothing) is just like Daddy's, even if it's not! LOL.
I love how much she sleeps. I know it will probably change as it has many times already since she came to our family, but she just sleeps, wherever and whenever. Mostly catnaps because someone will "pote" her or shout at her. Poor kid. She'll be a tough one for sure.
This cake was made by a lady from our church for the baby shower! Thanks so much, S!!! Yummy carrot cake with lots of raisins!! We got to take the extra home with us and it didn't last all that long!
I am not a big fan of the newer praise and worship songs. I find that they lack substance and power. I much prefer the old hymns. They are full of emotion and fluff, but there are a few that I do love. Here's one of them. This song is powerful. The lyrics and the music. I love to sing the notes of this song! I love to listen to others singing this song.
Click on the meme button at the top for more great music!
This was awarded to my by Tammy, at Pink Stinx. (Sorry it has taken me so very long to get this up! I hope I can find 6 to give it to!)
Here are the rules for this one:
1. Mention the blog that gave it to you and comment on their blog to let them know you’ve posted your award.
2. Publish these rules.
3. Share 6 values that are important to you and 6 things you do not support.
4. Grant the prize to 6 people.
Six values that are important to me:
Six things I do not support:
I'm thankful for my health. I have my health when so many don't.
I have been complaining a little about not being able to do the things I have been used to doing. For the most part, it's normal everyday things, like dishes and laundry. It's hard. I'm behind and I want to just go gungho and catch up but if I do that I won't get better as quickly. I know I'm just recovering from having a baby and that my body was meant to have babies but it is still recovering from some major changes in a relatively short time frame. I need the six weeks they suggest to get better. And after six babies I am just getting that. And so as hard as it is, I am taking the six weeks. Only 2 left now. I can't believe my baby is almost a month old already.
Because of the health I have been blessed with, I can continue to bear the children God gives us. And we love children. I can't wait to be pregnant again! LOL. I mean, yeah, give me time to get back to a good place again, but despite all my complaints when pregnant and this time afterward, I wouldn't change anything. I want to bless this world with good citizens trained in the ways of God.
I have good health; I want to keep it that way. It seems like a vicious circle. If you don't keep up your health, you don't want to really either. But the opposite is also true. I can't wait to start walking again. My children and I walk everywhere and we haven't been able to in the last couple of months. I want to walk to get the mail and go to the library and grab the odd grocery item we need. I want to exercise and do my belly dancing video!
With my good health I can care for my family. I can educate them and train them. I can tackle the finances and sort the mail. I can do the laundry and wash the dishes. So many things I have taken for granted that now, I want to do so badly, at the same level I was doing them before. To those who persevere through constant illness and disease, to do the things we take for granted, I commend you! You are an inspiration. Thank you.
For more thankful posts visit Grace Alone.
My little man loves these. They are Mega Bloks Mini System blocks. I didn't realize that there were different sizes. They have Mega, Mini and Micro! And Lego has the equivalent, because there are some Lego brand blocks in this bunch that work with the Mega Bloks Mini System blocks. Did you know that??
Anyway, these blocks were given to us by a friend who's friend or family member was moving and didn't want them any more. We feel blessed, because these things keep both W and M busy for hours!!
In the past I had fought against getting these blocks because I figured we could just work with Lego (the little ones, not meant for those under 5 or something). Well, I will no longer fight. If you wanna buy a gift for my toddlers - grab up some of these!
Motrin, you may be very surprised at the can of worms you opened with your "anti-babywearing" ad campaign! And the power of Twitter. I can't wait to see the YouTube video (I'll link to it once it's created!) that is created from all we moms had to say! And, boy, did we have a lot to say!!
Read another blog post about this here and here and there are lots more!
We were well showered again. We just sat around and chatted and ate and opened presents. They ooohhed and aahhed over our little baby and the older kids ran (they were supposed to be walking) in the hallways of the senior's home!! It was a nice relaxing afternoon.
Here's what my baby got:
One thing we did at the shower was to have the guests say or write their advice to us as parents, from their experience. Here's what they said:
""""May your new girl grow to be:
"""Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6"""
"""Have fun with your kids. It's more important than housework.""" """ Apply the board of education to the seat of learning . . . regularly.""" """If the children need to be disciplined and the baby is nursing - put the baby down."""
"""Our Advice: As we were having children, life never got harder or more stressful than when we had 4 under 4. After that, life got simpler and easier with each new child. So . . . our advice . . . have lots more!!!"""
These are just a few of the many words of wisdom and blessing we received!
She was well showered with gifts. I'm a little overwhelmed! We are so blessed by these people!
Baby Rayna has another shower, put on by J's work, on Wednesday. These parties are so wonderful because we never expected either of them! We understand that this is our 6th baby and by now we should have everything, but we move around a lot and don't take a lot with us. Hopefully we are settled for a while. Anyway, we believe that every baby is special and had planned to have a "welcome to this world" party for Rayna when I felt up to hosting it. She's been welcomed and enjoyed by her community! And it's not all about the presents, that's not why we have a party, but rather to enjoy one each others company and celebrate together another of God's blessings!
I want to get a digital camera. I am clueless! Help! Can you suggest one? A good, basic one? I am looking to spend no more than $150. Is that unreasonable?? Any help you can give would be great!
There are those people who you know will go out of their way to do whatever it is that you need. I want to be one of those people; I want to be someone who cares about friends and neighbors enough to do for them, as I would want them to do for me, when I'm in need.
The other day I received a call from a fellow church member asking if I would watch their young daughter while both parents were busy. Now, being that I just had a baby not quite two weeks ago, I was surprised he asked but I was willing and able. Their daughter and my three play together very well, even though their daughter is a bit older than my crew. I knew I would hardly see the children the whole evening.
Three hours in to her stay, her mother called to say she would be there shortly to pick her up (a little later than we'd discussed, but it wasn't an issue in any way). Well, the 15 minutes went by, no mom. 30 minutes. 45 minutes! I wasn't worried as I know this friend can get caught up visiting or get sidetracked easily. The children were playing well and I was just going with it.
The phone rings. I assumed it is my friend calling to apologize and tell me why she was so late.
"Hi. I rolled my truck!" I had to have her repeat it a number of times. She was so shaken and her words were unclear that I didn't understand her. But then I got it! I offered to call 911. She denied. I said I would send my hubby. He was on his way out before I was done on the phone. She said she was fine but wasn't sure she could get out of the truck.
The rest of the evening dragged as I didn't really received any updates at first. I didn't want to worry the children so I just said she was running late and that they should color quietly until she arrived. Still nothing. We are going on an hour now that she is "running late" and her daughter asked why and where is she. So I told her and she handled it very well! My girls were more upset. They continued to color and actually made pictures for our friend. Finally my hubby brought her home from the hospital and not long after her husband arrived to take her and their daughter home. She only had bumps and bruises, big bruises! And she was still shaking a little.
They thanked us as they left and I said to them, "No worries at all. She's a good kid. And I know, you would do the same, if it were us." They agreed that they would.
There are those people who you KNOW will go above and beyond the call of duty. There are those people who would never leave you stranded. They are the people who put others ahead of themselves every time! These are the givers in the world. This family is this kind of "people" and they are raising three more givers! And I thank God for this family often!
My new favorite "adult" beverage.
Because of our new new baby and nursing her, I pour about half a bottle into a cup and sip at it over a couple of hours. This forces me to enjoy it instead of gulp it, like I normally do with food or beverages that I love! I savor it.
Click here for reviews on this product.
Well, I chose two versions. The first isn't the original but the message is there. The second is so relaxing.
So I'm counting my blessings:
When I look back over this list, I see that I am most thankful for the people in our life, not things. Hmmm.
These books, given to the children by my parents, have made up the bulk of our reading this week!
One book for every letter of the alphabet (except x, y, z are all in one) that tells a little story about a little person collecting items in a box that start with the corresponding letter. My 3 yo loves these books and wants them read over and over and over again. She especially likes to read about the letters that are in her name.
A similar set, the numbers 1-10, are equally a hit with all the children. They love to read the one that corresponds to their age. Each book includes actions that the children can do - clapping, stomping, jumping, etc. Again, my 3 year old is the biggest fan of these books.
This is a cute rhyming book answering the question of what takes up Mrs. Claus' time while Santa is away.
Watch for reviews of this book coming in early December at Sensational Divas Review.
Rayna AdelineI am thankful for the safe arrival of my newest little princess! You can find her birth story here.
For more Thankful Thursday visit Grace Alone.
Click here for the complete list.
#8. This morning I transferred $10 to savings. The first of three times I'd like to do this.
#20 is complete. We made curtains from heavy blankets. The finished project looks great!
#36 is done. We have a curtain around the tub so that the water stays off the floor. All that's left to do is trim the curtains because they are too long and lay on the bottom of the tub.
#47 is done. R's birth story is written and posted!
For day 4 of 1001, I'm doing pretty good to have these things completed/started. I have updated the original post as well.
Click here to see a list of our curriculum.
This morning K read the first 7 books of box 1 of the BOB books to Grandpa and Grandma.
K worked on a page in the first Draw Write Now book on Friday.
We played Bug-opoly while the little ones were sleeping last week and we read the facts on the backs of the cards. I learned a lot!
We have pen pal letters and thank you notes to write. The girls were given some dolls from a grandma in our area and need to write a thank to her.
We started and finished a lapbook on the Beatitudes. Now we need to go back and learn more about them. The lapbook unit just barely scanned over them.
In this past week, we had a new baby so things are kinda up in the area. We are doing what we can when we can! Still waiting on ASCI Math 1 for CJ.
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