You Don't See That Every Day

 Fourteen years ago today I was pregnant with our first child. The day is still pretty vivid in my memory when I go back and recall it. It was Monday, the first day back to work after the weekend at my in-laws for Thanksgiving. I woke up feeling .. off. And then started to have a lot of pain in my lower back. As the workday progressed, the pain spread to my front. I had no idea what was going on. Baby wasn't due until Dec. 21st. But I decided to drive home early - it was a 45 minute drive that lasted forever. I am sure God had his hand on the car as I drove, because those contractions (which I still didn't know that they were!) were pretty intense by then.  look at that little cherub I called my husband when I got home, wanting him home! And his boss assured him it was probably false labor. heehee After my water broke we both realized it was time!  Not since before we were married has my husband driven that fast on the freeway! Baby boy came into the wor...

We've had quite a week smashed into 3 days. Along with a new hand for myself.  Every mom needs an extra hand right? Mine just happens to be made out of carrot.  'Handy' when the kids get hungry. We , er, G. finished painting the hallway and ceilings. The kids helped. Although they really wanted to slide down instead. In between painting, and chores, and school, my oldest daughter got her crafty side going. She has been begging for sewing lessons for quite awhile now. I finally unearthed my machine, and had it sitting in her bedroom. On her own, she grabbed it, some thread, some material, and sat down to create. She made a skirt, without a pattern, and a sort-of shirt. I had to show her a few tricks initially; and there were a few mishaps with threading and bobbins and such,  but I think she actually learned something while having fun sewing. Here is how the hall and upstairs looked when I left the house Wednesday morning. Same as it had the day before,...

I love having a pickup - the thought crossed my mind more than a few times this morning. I hurried up the girls and we headed out to my dad's farm one more time before the rains come. We had some potatoes and carrots to dig! My dad wasn't so sure I should drive our pickup down to the field; he even offered me the tractor! I don't think Dad has ever let me drive that tractor. I politely declined, knowing my 4-wheel drive could handle it. I did stay on the dirt road, per his instructions. And we experienced some awesome fishtails and 'squizzling' with the back tires. If I knew my dad and husband wouldn't have minded, I would have tried spinning some donuts out in the field. We got nice and muddy - on the tires, and our jeans. Digging potatoes and carrots in the near-winter is not a neat and easy job like it can be in the summer. But the end results are delicious. In other grand news - our Boy is having a birthday this week. I have been searching and researchin...

It has been a year since we got this pup. And this is what she looked like back then. And here she is now. We've learned a lot about puppies, and how much they chew and dig and stink and jump. But she is such a great running companion now, and she keeps our other mutt in shape.

A few weeks ago a facebook friend shared the following website with us. And once I looked through the Inspiration Gallery , I was hooked! I love these little nests and how you can personalize them. A mother's ring, or charm bracelet are something that everyone has, (or could have) but these - I have never seen such a cute idea! The above photo is the one I had made for my mother in-law. She doesn't read this blog, that I know of!, and so won't see her Christmas gift too early. One color represents our kids, the pink represents the colors of G's brother who has girls, and the other brown is for the other brother's children. I'm wondering how I could fit 21 on there for my parents! ;) One more cool thing about this gift - the story behind why the crafter is making and selling these. They are raising money to adopt! And since orphans have been so dear to my heart for many years, I couldn't resist helping out someone who wants to bring a child home a...

A day of giving thanks for all we have. I am thankful to have children old enough to really help. The girls helped make brownies and pie yesterday. All the kids took orders well and got the house cleaned and food prepped for the feasting today.   And then a neighbor brought by more sugary goodness. Aren't these the cutest treats? We are so blessed to have a number of terrific neighbors! And like every other holiday, there was home improvement work to be done. Yesterday G and the Boy tore up the stairway, to fix the running boards that go along the side of the stairs. The top photo is looking down the top stair into the garage.     Here we have the end of the day work - the side running boards are in, and the stairs are back in place. A few more items on the to-do list (texturing and painting) and then the carpet comes in!!    For the first time, the family signed up to run a Thanksgiving Day 5k. This was the sunset we walked out the door to. ...

The second day of this vacation - the kids did not sleep in again! What is the deal?! Oh, yeah, the 2 year old doesn't tell time yet. We spent the morning in the library. What a wonderful building. If I could I would have a room in my house filled with books on shelves. Kind of like that room in the Beauty and the Beast movie. I am so thankful my kids love to read. Going to the library is a joyous occasion for them. Having a limit to how many books they can have - not so happy. But we've had too many "I don't know where it is!" moments to let them have as many as they can. This week we've decided to have them do a report on one of the books they read. Keeping their minds going you know. The Boy got to choose from any of Steinbeck's works. He chose Of Mice and Men. I have to admit I never read the book. I saw the movie back in college. And my dear friends who went with me to see it - Ann and G - did not tell me how it ended - and boy was that a surprise I...

The first day of Thanksgiving break around here. Nobody slept in. My body wanted to, but the children did not. The howling wind outside might have had something to do with the wake up time. So I had the older girls make bread today. From scratch. By themselves. With minimum input from the Top Chef (me). And the Boy made cookies today. I don't know if he has ever made them by himself before. I hope so. But, either way they turned out delicious. And our mouths and tummies were happy. We also got in touch with our Irish roots this morning, and had some jigging going on in the front room. We like to listen to Drop Kick Murphys, or Flogging Molly; I'll try and get that home movie up soon .... G and I spent the afternoon without children! We went out on a pseudo-date - to our son's school conferences! So we had time in the car to talk uninterrupted. We had time in between meeting with teachers; and we had time together on the long drive home. Long - because it is rai...

 Last week I had a bunch of blog posts .. did I spoil ya?  Yeah, we got back into a school schedule this week and the time flew away from me. Plus I took out a quilt that has been sitting next to my bed for a long time, taunting me every time I walk into my room, and I started to actually quilt again! Oh, it is nice to sit and watch Cosby Show reruns, or family home videos, and rock that needle back and forth through the quilt layers. I also started running regularly again. I have finally gotten rid of the nasty cold my sweet kids shared with me, and I can talk without coughing. So since we signed up for a 5k on Thanksgiving morning, I am having the kids run with me every other day. Some have made it up to 2 miles. Some haven't gotten past the first mile. Thursday morning is going to be fun! SO, last Saturday, as in a week ago - my girl had a swim meet.  I finally got the photos uploaded from the meet and the short walk out onto the beach.     ...

58 years ago my parents looked like this.  Today is their anniversary, and I am hoping that in 2 more years we can throw a huge party to celebrate 60 years! They have shown us a lot about being married - about serving each other; about enjoying the little things; about living within your means; about staying committed. I look forward to getting to this anniversary with my own sweetie. Happy Anniversary, Dad and Mom!

So the last day of our non-school week, on Friday, also didn't go quite as imagined. And it was a still a good day. The girls made cookies, while I hung curtain rods in the Boy's room. We still didn't get a sewing lesson in, but cooking works too. We might just get a lesson in plumbing this week(end) also. The main bath has a leak that is getting worse, and will need fixing. Why does it seems that when it rains it pours? I feel like everything is breaking down around here... one thing at a time. Yesterday was a first for us. Our swim Girl had her first unattached swim meet with USA Swimming. Which means, she swam in a meet without a team. And she did well, making a PR for herself in at least one race. The day included a trip to the coast to watch the meet and a yummy treat afterwards - lunch at Mo's, one of our favorite places. It also included an early morning for us. Which, on a Saturday, translates into cognitive dysfunction.  The Boy left a window open on the pi...

We had plans for today. Big grand plans. Plans that would blow my girlies socks off. But if you have been a reader here for any length of time you'll know 'my' plans are usually not the plans God has for my day. Sometimes, but not always. I was planning to spend the afternoon teaching the older girls how to sew. Just the basics, maybe start with the simple pillowcase. I had visions of a crackling fire, a sleeping 2 year old, and attentive admiring daughters. Instead, we got dirt, mud, and corn. And a 2 year old who hasn't taken a nap in 2 days. Early bedtimes!! We did make it to the library this morning as planned. And it's a good thing we are doing a non-school week, because those books have taken all of their attention the rest of the day (except for the dirt, mud, and corn part). So we got a call from the Farmer up the road (aka my parents). We talked about the weather, the health of the family, the flour I had waiting for me from my aunt. Somehow Mom mention...

The third day of non-school for us (because I didn't blog about Monday. I might have to remedy that.) But for today - we had a new adventure to conquer. Tea Time. Back when I was new to this mom-thing, my sweet mother-in-law took me out to tea at a real, bona-fide tea house. We got to choose our own tea cups, and the tea that went in it; we could have chosen our own special hats to wear also (but that kind of creeped me out) and we had delicious little finger sandwiches. For years that memory, and the one from the next time we went, have stuck with me. Unfortunately our town has not had a tea house, tea parlor, tea shop of any sort for quite a few years. And we have been left yearning for a special place such as the One that Once Was. I love tea time. I'm not British by any means (Hurrah for Poland and Germany) but I love tea and all the accoutrements that come with it. If I had a kitchen hutch or display case, I would be filling it with tea cups. So somehow (hmmmm, I wonde...

We are doing some non-traditional school this week in our non-traditional school. We're taking a break from the books, the math, history and science. Sort of.  The changing of the clocks around here can really mess us some little ones. And me. Our tummies are hungry at the "wrong' time; we're sleepy, or not, at the "wrong"time. So since we've been hitting the books pretty hard for 9 weeks, I thought it was time to take a little breather. Not stop 'schooling' completely - although the girls think we have. They even expressed amazement when I said there was nothing on their schedule. I wrote out some suggestions on what I want us all to do this week - things like sewing lessons, cooking lessons, art, photography; things that we don't normally do in a school week. Today's 'lesson' was in photography. I had each girl look around and take a snapshot of something that symbolized each family member for them. After uploading to th...

Do you ever get a song stuck in your head?! Of course! I have had a T swift song looping through my brain for the past week. Argh! Yesterday my sister in law posted the following video on facebook. I love it! Now this is a tune I want to hear and sing a lot! What do you think? http://youtu.be/W7q1bHK8te0

I know, I am slow on getting these out. But I am sure I can find a reason... I'll blame it on the computer again. trying to figure out this new machine has been vexing. So the girls went trick-or-treating this year. It was Little K's very first time. I wasn't sure how she would do, if she would get scared at all, or freeze up and say nothing. No worries though. After plenty of coaching from older sisters, Little K ran right up to the first door and said Trick or Treat" quite loudly. And a Thank you without prompting even. That made me smile. And after that there was no stopping her or her sisters. Little K kept asking for "another house!" How could I refuse the little princess? Well I did eventually and we headed home after about an hour of walking. The next girl in line made herself in to a cowgirl. No boots that fit her this year, but that didn't deter her. She had a lot of fun anyway. The princess Bride thoroughly enjoyed the dress...