You Know When...

You know you just had a high-need baby when....


1. Your laundry piles no longer can be contained or hidden...like King Kong they invade the city (your home) in mass destruction.


2. You walk around all day with your shirt on inside out AND backwards. You are not aware of this until your hubby on arriving home chuckles lightly and informs you.


3. Speaking of clothing...getting "dressed up" just means ACTUALLY getting dressed.


4. Coffee is no longer optional...it is required for basic survival.


5. Clutter piles have become your new favorite way to decorate.


6. You've resorted to cereal as the breakfast of champions.


7. Someone in the grocery store asks you if this is your "first" as you simultaneously bounce fussing, unsoothable baby while unsuccessfully fishing for wallet in spilling diaper bag you mumble and cough "yes."


8. You have not a clue how old your baby is.


9. Grade.4 math stumps you.


10. You fantasize about what it would be like to get sleep in 4 hr increments.


11. You feel pampered when you have time to shave your legs.


12. You thank God for this gift and lesson in humility as you come to the realization that you apparently are NOT the baby "know it all" veteran.








p.s. pix of the little, high-need, well-loved masterpiece coming up soon...that is when I can find my camera amongst the wreckage. :)

Randomness

On children ~

You know you let your 4 yr. old watch too much Veggie Tales when you hear him indignant after being kicked out of his sisters room open up the door one last time to bellow at them
"I'll have you know that I am no ordinary tomatoe!!"

On husbands ~

Hearing him talk on the phone to a customer... loving how professional, intelligent, and funny he sounds and thinking that you can't wait until you have him all to yourself later.

On homeschooling ~

Marking and explaining Algebra is no more fun or exciting than doing Algebra was.

On spring ~

Man, I need to shave my legs more often.

On exercise ~

Why, oh why does this just not get easier...and why when taking a very small break 4weeks does it feel like you have never run in your life or used your legs or lungs before, for that matter.

On chocolate ~

Must find 12 stepper for this...it is getting reeediculous.

On teenage boys ~

It matters not on how much food that you make, you CANNOT fill their bottomless stomachs with all the food prep in the world. While you eat your small salad with a large side of air, they consume every morsel of food in site plus some. And yet my abs are nowhere to be found and he has a 6 pack.
No fair.

On the movie "Amazing Grace" ~

I loved, LOVED this. Relating with how William Wilberforce delighted in the Lord, was giddy to just spend time with Him. Seeing his internal struggle with what God was calling him too.
We are to delight fully in the Lord AND we are called to action. Williams physical suffering, personal sacrifice, and persecution all for the cause to which He was called.
The triumphant ending resulting in myself consumed by the ugly cry and much partaking of chocolate.

On giving your almost 12 yr old boy his own cool multi-tip screw driver and leaving various electronics unattended ~

Don't.

On writers bloggers block ~

You end up with some weird, makes no sense contents of your head poured out for all to see, post.

sorry.

On trusting God ~

He is faithful. And I am humbly grateful.





p.s. Feel free to leave your own randomness in the comments..I would love to read them.

My Birthday Gift

Okay, so the moment you have all been waiting for, or not.



TA DA!!

I got this lovely box...can you guess what was inside?

Is she not adorable? I wanna be her.


Here's me trying.

Yes, tradesman bought me an apron for my birthday. But let me tell you, it's not just any old apron.

I mean, LOOK at this bow!!

So, I just HAD to do this!

I felt like a 1950's happy housewife... well, without the perfectly coiffed hair and starched underpanties.

But still, I was SO June Cleaver!

Then tradesman made me do this. He's bossy like that.

I just love it when tradesman gets bossy.

If he had his way, I would be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen all day.

It even looks pretty hanging on my chair. I actually feel like ironing when I look at it.

Wait.

Never mind, the feeling passed.

Good thing tradesmans daily attire does not require wrinkle free.

This apron has magic powers I tell you.

I was MAJOR glamorous when I was peeling and chopping this big pile of veggies for stew.

Just ask my children.

Oh, actually you can't.

They are all sitting perfectly on my freshly fluffed setee playing a game of scrabble while waiting for the homemade apple pie to finish baking and for me to put the finishing touches on the ice cream I made from scratch after milking Betsy this afternoon....or not.

Loving my new apron,

Let There be Light

I was totally planning on debuting my new birthday present from tradesman, but I forgot to take pictures. I, uh, meant too, but got distracted.

I know.

You are shocked.

Anywhoo, I did however, come across a funny and uplifting little video.
So I leave you with a laugh and fresh hope for a new day.




"Let there be Light!"




Finding my way out of the darkness daily,






p.s. birthday gift pictures coming soon (not that you are as excited as I am :)




(Remember to pause music in my sidebar)

Cheat Day

Because of this whole annoying diet thing, I eat no sugar at all or anything remotely yummy, except for one glorious day a week to which I affectionately refer to as "Cheat Day".


My sweet, freshly turned 7 yr. old gets SO excited about this day. She has been cursed blessed with her mamas' sweet tooth. And this is the day that all things chocolate enter our house for a brief 24 hrs.


Recently, she celebrated this day by making tradesman buy me chocolate, candy and Pillsbury cinnamon rolls to serve me in bed. She planned on starting mamas' day with a bang!

The missing cinnamon roll from the plate would be because I, ahem inhaled it.


Don't think I can't hear you snickering about the proportional accuracy of her drawing...

Counting down till my next cheat day,

p.s. down 6 pds...it was that pesky looong period that was holding things up :)

These are a Few of My (non) Favorite Things

Fruit Protein Smoothies. Oh, I know it looks purty...but don't let that fool you. Looks can be deceiving ya know.
Because of the myriad of healthy ingredients inside it tastes like...it tastes like, oh.. I have no idea what it tastes like, but its not good I tell ya, not good at all!

Eggs. Whoever coined the phrase "natures perfect food" didn't have to eat them EV. ERY. DAY!

Dumbbells. They come by their name honestly.

I know what you're thinking..."those red workout pants are really hot."

And the bane of my existence. The Treadmill.

Oh, I know, everybody WANTS a treadmill. I remember feeling that way once upon a time.

The thing is, once you have one, you are indebted to actually USE one.

Let me tell you, its not all fun and games. When the couch is only 12 ft from your hard core run, it takes some mighty feisty arguments between your head and your body where no one's really a winner to keep yourself on that said treadmill.

So after almost a month of a brutal diet and exercise regime 6 days a week I have lost a total of..wait for it... 3 pounds. 3 whole stinkin' pounds.

Oh, and that 3 pounds? It came off EXACTLY where I was hoping it would come off. I remember thinking to myself "Gee, I really hope my cup size shrinks, I mean I wouldn't want to hit a "C" or anything like that. (Sheesh)

So I guess my mid tire and I are bound to be BFFs for evermore. (Perfect)

*If you are detecting some angst in this post, that would be the low blood sugar talking. I apologize. :)

Hungry and cranky,

To Purge or Not to Purge? (that is the question)

So in an effort to avoid starting school again with my children, I officially declared this week purge and organization week!

They had to still do their reading and their math (lest you think I am completely irresponsible) but other than that they were to be my child slaves laborers.

What is it about decluttering and organizing that causes me to want to hide under my bed (lest I have to share) with a package of chocolate chips?

I mean, I LOVE to think about all the things that I will declutter and organize. I even love to make lists about it or at least think about making lists. I always seem to have these great intentions and wonderful ideas but never any follow through (dang that pesky follow through)

So Monday morning was to start with a bang. Up and at' em, making my list and checkin' it twice goin' find out who's...never mind.

Anyhow, I had big plans, lots of expectation, and more than enough to conquer. After a morning of procrastination, and baking brownies with the little ones I ended up on the couch watching the movie Pinocchio with all the kids. What?? How did that happen?

When I gathered my senses, I marched myself upstairs with boys in tow and tackled their room. It took all afternoon and into the evening and still some was left for today. But it is finished... closet, clothing, under the bed (yikes), shelves, all purged! Hallelujah!

Today was to be the girls room day. I SO could not get motivated this morning. Coffee was not doing its job, I felt sluggish and lazy.

Tradesman was home today and had errands to do, needed to work on our van and start to clean out our garage.

I really wanted to just sit around and distract him (I'm just sayin) Eventually, he was able to pull himself away from me (I let go) to get the stuff done he needed too.

I on the otherhand, said yes to the little ones when they asked if they could go outside to play in the snow and toboggan. (what was I thinking) and then spent the next 1/2 hour finding snow gear, wrestling on snow gear, zipping up snow gear and then pushing snow geared children out the door. I had started folding a load of laundry before the kids requested to go outside and did not finish folding that load of laundry till at least an hour and a half later.

After pushing snow geared children outside, it wasn't long
(89 sec.) till they came back pleading for my help in finding sleds. Ugh. I donned my boots and coat, dredged my way across our yard through the knee deep snow to the workshop. Found a blow up toboggan, blew out a lung blowing the thing up, reminded the kids NOT to close the door behind us because the handle is broken and you can't get out from the inside, watched as 4 yr. old clamored into the shop excitedly and promptly closed the door behind him.

As I stood there looking bewildered, I wondered if it was really necessary to heed tradesmans warning to not enter the garage from the workshop door entrance because a skunk had taken up residence in our rafters. That being the only working door, I was thinking how likely is it really that the skunk would be awake and spunky at this time, I mean, was I really likely to get sprayed or just a little squirted?

However, having no experience with skunk spraying when I opened the door a crack I could smell a faint, familiar disgusting odor that has been encountered on many drives through the country. I figured being trapped in the cold workshop with the kids was a better option.

Thankfully, we were released a short time later, someone was hungry and came looking for me. (figures) After taking kids over to the hill at the back of our property with the toboggan, they proceeded to try and slide down the hill. There was too much snow and a path needed to be made first. I grabbed a cardboard box and had to use the only feasible, adequate body part I could think of. Ya, that would be my derriere. So a humbling and yet entertaining "skooch" down the hill produced the desired result and a sliding path was born.

I trudged back to the house, butt and legs covered in snow, hands freezing and insides craving more coffee. I knew it would not be long till the little snow geared children would find their back to the house, needing help dissembling from their many layers, hoping for hot cocoa and a mountain of boots, mitts, scarves, hats, coats and snow would be ready for clean up.

I found my way into the kitchen after replacing my pants and tripped over the pile of clean laundry I had abandoned earlier. I could almost hear my list on the counter laughing at me.
It was that high pitched, screeching witch's cackle.

Somehow, after much delay and drama I did make it to the girls room. We made a good dent, but I will still probably need another day and a half in there. At the rate I'm going I should be done by next week or not.

What is seriously the problem??!! How come some people are so good at this?? And some of us are just NOT??!!

Keeping it real,

Thankful

I just realized it is the American Thanksgiving today. So....

Happy Thanksgiving! (to my American readers) and uh, to my Canadian readers... um, not so much.

Man, I SO want turkey and stuffing! Since that is SO not gonna happen I am going to just write a thankful list instead.


~I am thankful for tradesman. Not only does he still make my heart go pitter patter and look so very HOT in black shirts, he is my very, very best friend, my beloved, and the only one I would want to be on this crazy journey called life with.

~I am thankful for my 6 children here on earth. They fill my days with laughter, messiness, food prep, kisses, adventure, craziness, and they fill a longing so deep within me for a real family. A longing I have had since I was a little girl.

~I am thankful for our house. We no longer trip over one another. After 12 years in a condo and 5 kids born there, it feels as if our half renovated, half disaster house and property are a palace. My kitchen is big and equipped to feed a small army. (which is what I usually do everyday)

~I am thankful for my new church. It seems as if we have finally found the right fit for our family.

~I am thankful for family and friends. During this time of trial we have seen Gods love shine through for us. We have felt His arms wrap around us in the form of comments, prayers, emails, and food. People that I didn't even know well including online readers have found a special place in my heart just because of their response in this time of need.

~I am thankful that I am a person of few words.

~Never mind.

~I am thankful for my sweet babies in heaven. All 4 of them. Because of the great sorrow that is now interwoven into every fibre of my being, I have a very real and deep ache for heaven.

~I am thankful for my Saviour who has blessed me with all of this for now.

~ Sorry ~

I'm truly sorry for the timing of this post. Yes, I realize that it is August and Fathers Day was back in June.

However, a family member asked if I would post pictures of our festivities and gifts for tradesman and I... um, agreed.

Now feeling silly I will go forth and oblige. You have the option of turning back now, or forever hold your peace.

Moving on...

Here's the shirt we made him. And yes we make him wear it. We worked darn hard on it I tell you!

I asked tradesman if he was at the point in life where he could walk around wearing a shirt with the many faces of his children on it and he said he surely was... I kid you not!

The back says "Hands Down" with most of our childrens' hand prints...that baby My was not in the slightest bit co-operative with keeping her pudgy little hand open for me.

And yes, I do know that it is almost near impossible to read the word "Hand" we some how got it backwords or upside down or something anyway.

With 5 children designing and re-designing and placing and re-placing decal letters, everything just got a bit crazy and obscured! My job was to man the very hot iron and press and re-press till I thought my hands would fall off...

Tradesman loved it though and the kids were very proud of their work! Yay Walmart! ( You can purchase all needed items for this fun, labor intensive, knock your husbands socks off project there)

Now because I have girls who are relentless with the baking and the crafting we had to do some kind of special food item for daddy too.

And so I present you with our dessert burger and fries. (brownies, cupcakes and shortbread being the main ingredients) The kids got a real kick out of making this, including the boys.

We got the recipe and the templates to print and make the schnazzy little tray and such online. When the girls and I were looking at it, I thought this will be easy and it was, but the mess that was made is a whole other story!

Tradesman enjoying his first bite with my 3 yr. old looking on proudly.

Everyone got to have a little "burger" and "fries" and much fun was had by all.

~ BabyLicious! ~

Baby Myahna and I decided to have a little photo shoot. It was all about the celebration of body rolls, baby Myahnas body rolls, not mine...

Ahem.



Just look at that 4 pack! Oh my word! If only I could boast of such a wonder, oh wait... never mind.

Do you remember being able to do this? Not sure Id ever recover, and um, thinking it might not look as charming.

That's right baby, only you can pull this kind of stuff off!

Chunky, bald and drooly ~ Who knew that those words could actually describe something this delicious!

Well, as you can see its been a very long hard winter for my little one and she has practically withered away to nothing.

Enough with the paparazzi!

I am outta here!

Oh alright!

One more, just 'cause I want to be absolutely sure everyone knows that fat and roly is cute...just like my mama.

What?!!

~ A Little Cold ~

We had a day without heat last week, always fun to shake things up a bit!




We just went on our merry way throughout our day eating, carousing and such.





You know us homeschool moms, we are all about the fun.




Hey Kids, lets see what it feels like to hang out in 53 degrees Fahrenheit/12 degrees Celsius all day?! We can be like real pioneer people who have no furnace, no electricity, and no running water...okay never mind about the electricity and running water thing...that's just dumb.



Here's our little pioneer baby, she's sporting the "Rudolph look" a little.


The frigid indoor temperatures weren't phasing her a bit.


All that lovely insulating baby fat kept her quite content.

I tell ya, I looked down at my jiggly love handles with a new found appreciation and respect.
Gives a whole new meaning to pleasantly plump.


Pleasantly plump and thankful,

~A New Skill and a Gift for Little Sister~

My 8yr.old daughter received some knitting rings for Christmas. These fun new fancy gadgets make knitting a little easier. She busied herself right away making something special for her baby sister.Can you guess what it was?

Here's our little plus-sized model to show it off for you.

Yes, I said "plus sized" ...don't worry honey, I hear chunky thighs are all the rage right now.

And we can't forget chubby cheeks...thats totally the look people want.

I tell ya, you are just owning that cute, new little handmade hat.