Ten-o'clock, and all is...

well...it's not looking like THIS:

Hubby is the ONLY one asleep. There are three munchkins in various stages of having their PJ's off, playing together in Speedy's room. We still haven't found the right balance of nap/quiet time and bedtime. I'm not quite ready to sacrifice my quiet hour in the afternoon in exchange for an early bedtime, I guess. And bedtime is so sporadic around here, anyway, ranging from 8:30-10:00 (or later if there's a game or something.)

We found another caterpillar on the driveway Sunday--it looks similar to our Luna Moth from last year, (actually, I just looked at the old pictures, and it's not the same--cool, maybe we'll get to see a different kind this year!) and has already made a cocoon...so now we just have to wait till MAY. :)

As we were pulling out of the garage today, Princess asked, "How long are God's arms?"

My deeply theologically correct response: "As long as He needs them to be." It seemed to satisfy her for the time being.

I don't know where they come up with this! Maybe because we talk about God healing our owies; and Speedy did NOT want to go to the doctor with me today to have his leg checked out. "No, I want GOD to heal it!" (And maybe thinking about God touching them to heal it? Hence, how LONG would His arms have to be to do that?)

Oh, and I had to do my glucose-tolerance test today, so I had prepped Speedy that I had to drink a special drink and then wiat awhile and get some blood taken. Well, you know the nurse asks you to go to the bathroom in a cup every time. So you know Speedy asked me if that was my special drink...

My Princess is 5!

I'm a couple days late, and can't spend a whole lot of time here (In the last 10 minutes, I've had to rescue a marker and a piece of chalk from Honey's mouth.) (and a roll of scotch tape.)

Here's my firstborn--5 years ago. It doesn't seem like that long ago that Hubby and were anxious to see what our little baby would look like, and whether it was a boy or girl. Looking back, we were so naive! :) It's hard to recall what life was like before Princess arrived. We must have had SO much time on our hands!

It's amazing how quickly the joy, responsibility and concern of being a parent descend on you, as you hold this amazing little bundle God used you to create, and wonder how in the world you are going to know what to do when you're sent home from the hospital, with just you and your husband in charge of this tiny being.

Princess was born in a small town hospital, where they couldn't give epidurals, and could count on one hand the number of babies born there in a month. Hers was the only name so far that we were settled on before we went to the hospital, and she was named immediately (unlike our other two!)

And here's our little lady on her birthday--so grown up, yet still wanting to be snuggled, tickled, and wrestled, and the center of attention. To our delight (and dismay, at times) she knows EXACTLY what she wants and how she wants it done. She has a neat gift for nurturing and loves to sing songs from Sunday School and Children's Choir.
I pray that she continues to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, and will serve Him wholeheartedly as she gets older. It will be neat to see other talents and gifts emerging.

Happy Birthday Princess! I love you!

Weekly Shenanigans...

...or 'Why Moms Have Gray Hair' (if they haven't pulled it all out already...)

A picnic outside, enjoying the nice weather...until Honey started stealing all the good stuff from everyone else's plate...and Speedy started being pokey and going on and on about getting some string cheese after he finished (an HOUR later)...and Princess started complaining about it being too hot...
Bedtime, at least has been going okay after moving Honey to the big bed. (Remember, she kept crawling out?) Big sis helps her go to sleep, and I think they both love it. :) Naptime, on the other hand, is a struggle. ONCE, Honey was tired enough to lie right down and take her nap. Another time, I had to lie with her 40 min. till the wiggle-worm fell asleep. Yet another time, I got frustrated after so long and put her back in the crib. I heard her saying 'uh-oh' again and again; and when I checked her a little later, she was asleep on her belly on top of the changing table (that's what she climbs out of the crib onto.) What a rascal. Not to mention the TWICE in the past couple weeks she's poo'd in the tub, while her sibs were also in there. That adds a bit too much excitement to the bedtime routine.
Here's the best face-time I can get. :) Speedy wanted to take my picture at the football game. I said, "Can you see my face in the window?" He said, "yup."
Fall decor on the mantle--it's been a fun spot to decorate in this house. I have a variety of candles and candleholders, some fake leaves and bittersweet, some beads. I love fall. :)
My tree candleholders surrounded with acorns we've picked up the last several years. Not real colorful, but kind of fun.

On the side, I've scrapped a couple pages, decorated a journal, finished an Andrew Murray book, and tweaked our school a bit. It's still a work in progress.

A Bunch of Tidbits

I just had to take a picture of Honey having a snack at the 'big' table, I just feel like all of a sudden my baby is gone, and there's this little girl who's getting so big, and doing big things! It's so fun, when they start saying more words, getting more personality (even though hers seems to be pretty determined and strong-willed!), and communicating with actions! After the crib climbing incident(s) we moved her to the full-size bed in the girls room; tonight Princess moved back from the top bunk in Speedy's room to the full-size bed, and used her motherly ways to help Honey fall asleep without mom or dad. Aww. On the down side, Princess is starting to treat her kind of like a doll, carrying her around, etc.

Here's the big girl with Daddy on a pony ride at a PAT event. She cried when it was time to get off.
Princess cried when Daddy tried to put her on the pony. Screamed and kicked, to be more exact. She went back and forth all afternoon and evening about the pony ride--wanted to do it this year; then didn't want to wear pants because then she'd HAVE to ride the pony; wore her cowgirl boots so she could ride the pony; etc. etc. Something about getting up close to animals just scares her, I guess. Though she didn't mind feeding the smaller animals, through the fence.
Speedy was WAY more interested in feeding the animals than riding, but he did eventually hop on. I missed the photo op, so here he is cheesing for me.
Yummy--here's a new apple recipe I tried tonight. There seem to be as many different ways to make a kolache as there are to spell a kolacky--these are more like cookies (well, circle pies, according to Hubby); whereas the ones I grew up with were more like a fruity roll. Hubby even approved of these without glaze frosting, which says a lot!
The recipe called for apple pie filling, but I have so many apples, I peeled and chopped about 2-1/2 cups and made my own pie filling, with some water, cornstarch, sugar, and cinnamon. (just threw some in and boiled it for a while.) It's really a pretty simple recipe; but next time I think I'll let my butter soften a little longer before cutting it into my softened cream cheese and bending my pastry thingy all out of whack.

We also attempted apple fritters on Saturday, I think it was. Hubby had been craving apple fritters ever since we brought home the boxes of apples. I found out his scrumptious experience with fritters dated back to 5th grade when they made some at school. :) Needless to say, ours did not measure up!

Here's a shot of our apple print placemats (I just can't resist doing them again this year, it's such a FALL thing to do!) Some purple flowers from the backyard that the kiddos brought in for me; and some random artwork--glue and a tub of misc fuzzies, eyeballs, sticks, string, foam thingys. Hey, it got me a few minutes of quiet!

And if you've persevered this far in reading this long post, here's a funny from Princess today: "Mommy, do you have your leg up because your brains are hurting?"

It took me a minute to ponder, then I replied, "Yes, my VEINS are hurting." (Varicose veins--horrible this 4th time around!)

A Mini-Tutorial

I'm still relatively new to all this techie and blogging stuff, but thought I'd try to pass on a tip to those who have some blogs that they regularly read. Usually at the bottom of the blog is a link that says Posts (Atom) or some such thing. If you click this, it will let you add it to your feed reader in your favorites section on your computer. Then you can quickly see when a new post is added. It has saved me a lot of clicking around! There are also feed readers called Blog Lines and Feed Burner (?) among others that you can set up (I haven't). These can be accessed from any computer, not just your own. Clear as mud?

Yeah!

I have off and on been trying to experiment with changing my blog background, but was not tech-savvy enough to do it. Today, I found a site (thanks, h.t.!) that's FREE, cute, and EASY! I mean, super-easy! Click the teal box in the upper-left of my blog to check it out, or go to the cutest blog on the block. But there are tons to look through, so I don't want to be responsible for you spending too much time on-line! Enjoy!

Wait a second...

I think Honey just climbed out of her crib! None of my kids has ever even tried that, that I know of. (the only other suspects are asleep.) I guess she's been paying attention when big sis helps get her out in the morning. But...now what? How do we keep her in her crib to go to sleep?? She still has to cry herself to sleep.

I think she's teething--it's been a very fussy week for Honey, with several nights of unusual wakefulness.

100 Things About Me

In honor of my 100th post (wow!) I'm following suit of other bloggers and trying to come up with 100 (semi)interesting things about me:

1. I'm a sinner saved by grace.



2. I'm a blessed mom of 3, soon to be 4.



3. I have a wonderful, Christian, patient, kind husband who is also my friend.



4. I don't have a cell phone.



5. I don't have cable.



6. I love chocolate chip cookies.



7. Well, pretty much anything chocolate, especially dark or semi-sweet.



8. Favorite foods include: ice cream



9. Pizza



10. Italian dishes



11. Mexican dishes



12. A good old cheeseburger and fries.



13. I don't like bananas.



14. Or applesauce.



15. I love fall.



16. I enjoy being outdoors.



17. I like foot rubs.



18. And back rubs.



19. My least favorite chores: ironing



20. Dusting



21. I like organizing things.



22. I love flowers. Just about any kind.



23. I like taking walks,



24. Going for bike rides,



25. Getting dirt under my fingernails.



26. Hobbies: scrapbooking



27. A little bit of sewing, I would love to do more!



28. Cooking



29. Reading



30. Playing outside



31. Gardening



32. Playing with the kids



33. I'm hooked on Parents As Teachers



34. and MOPs



35. I tend to favor the color purple.



36. I am low-maintenance in the hair and make-up dept.



37. My ears are pierced 3 times.



38. My nose and belly button are not.



39. Good thing, because I no longer have a belly button after 4 pregnancies.



40. I'm a little addicted to garage sales.



41. I get frustrated shopping for clothes.



42. I don't drink.



43. I don't smoke.



44. I have 2 dogs.



45. I have a non-functioning inground pool.



46. I journal.



47. I blog. (duh!)



48. I facebook.



49. I don't have an iPod.



50. I have 2 younger sisters.



51. And a younger brother.



52. I have 16 nieces and nephews.



53. And one more on the way!



54. I have more ideas than time to do them.



55. I drive a mini-van.



56. A teal one.



57. I have had chicken pox.



58. And pinkeye.



59. And ACL surgery.



60. I'm a college grad.



61. I can't stand things between my toes (like toe rings, [shiver])



62. I do a little stamping.



63. And card-making.



64. And piano-playing (just a little)



65. I have driven a combine.



66. And a 4-wheeler.



67. I have seen a cow give birth.



68. I have gone car-hooding in the snow.



69. I have been rapelling.



70. I've seen the mountains.



71. And the oceans.



72. But not Alaska



73. Or Hawaii. (sigh)



74. I've never been overseas.



75. I can speak un poco Espanol.



76. I used to know some sign language.



77. I like football season (goes along with the fall, see #15)



78. I root for the 'Cats.



79. My parents are both still living and married.



80. So are both sets of my grandparents.



81. Trying new things is mostly out of my comfort zone.



82. Except in the kitchen, I seem to be more adventurous.



83. I am a home-body.



84. I've had some gray hairs since college.



85. I haven't dyed them...yet.



86. I have never bungee jumped.



87. But before I got OLD, I enjoyed roller coasters.



88. So far, I haven't really minded the labor and delivery part of having babies.



89. But the last 16 weeks of pregnancy I could do without!



90. I enjoy doing crosswords, cryptoquote, sudoku, and other word and number games.



91. Scrabble is one of the top pastimes in our household.



92. I was recently awarded the 'I have a new favorite pie' distinction.



93. I have always been a little scared of horses.



94. I can still fit in some clothes I wore in high school...



95. But not some from a couple years ago (?)



96. I wouldn't mind being a little more stylish and glamorous.



97. I am so tired of automated telemarketer phone calls.



98. I don't like humidity at all.



99. I wish I had more hours in the day.



100. I can't believe I got to 100!

:)

Topsy-Turvy

My life isn't, though some days are. For example, like today, when I am late to the doctor because Speedy wants to wear Princess's flip-flops. (We try not to allow the cross-dressing in public.) And then two kids are complaining of tummies hurting in the van, one is fussing, and I'm stuck behind slow, I mean leisurely drivers...when Princess tells me she's going to spit up. I give her my 'trash cup' and thankfully it holds. Whew.

Another example: coming out of Dillon's with a slew of groceries, and it is POURING rain. I mean, the bagger is wearing a raincoat to help me to my van! Honey started crying, but the other two thought it was a fun adventure.

Anyway, my point was going to be a verse that struck me from my daily devotional this week. It's funny how sometimes I see verses that I never recall reading before:

"...Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my
unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,"
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10

I was comforted by that--even when things seem topsy-turvy, God still loves me and is there, hasn't given up on me.

And lastly, more encouragement in a quote on a friend's blog:

"Start by doing what is necessary;
then do what is possible;
and suddenly you're doing the impossible."
--St. Francis of Assissi

There are some days when even doing what's necessary seems to be beyond what I can accomplish, much less anything else. It's nice to think that if I just keep plugging away, God can bless my meager efforts into something more.

Applesauce

Well, I'm still working on using up all those apples. We have had lot of apple crisp the last week! My latest venture was trying another batch of applesauce, doesn't it look pretty in the jars? I think that's the biggest draw of canning for me--everything looks so neat in the jars. And we don't have much freezer space. Anyway,

Earlier this summer I made the more 'traditional' applesauce: quarter apples without peeling or coring into a big pot, and cook till tender. Put them a little at a time into a cone-shaped sieve (i.e. smusher) and mush it around with a wooden thing. (sorry for the blurry picture, I found it on ebay.)

Add sugar, put in containers, and freeze. This method was fine, just messy with the sieve, and all the apple discard working its way around and needing cleaned up. I also ended up with enough leftover juice for two batches of apple jelly.

This week's method: (mostly from here) Peel, core, cut apples into water with ascorbic acid (i.e. Fruit Fresh) to keep from browning. Cook apples, till tender, then throw them in the blender and in about 5 minutes all the applesauce is mushed! Fill jars, process in boiling-water canner. I guess it just depends which end of the process you want to spend all your time: Method 1--quick start, mushing takes forever. Method 2--cutting the apples takes forever (they were too small to use my 'spinner' (apple peeler/corer/slicer), but the blender part is SO fast!

I think I prefer the fast blending at the end. But not enough to make 77 quarts of applesauce, like one blogger I read. Seventy-seven. I was pleased with my 3 and a half quarts! :)

And my house had the most scrumptious smell...until the funnel cake episode.

My House Smells Like the State Fair

If you're not associated with MOPs, this year's theme is 'Adventures in Mothering.' Like a carnival or circus. So I won a door prize this morning with some carnival snacks, including Funnel Cake mix. I am always craving funnel cake, but don't want to shell out the bucks for it, so I made some for after lunch. It WAS yummy, but...there's a fine line between 'done cooking' and 'setting off the fire alarm.'

Speedy drug the covers off my bed into the closet again, and is taking his nap under hubby's hanging clothes again. I'm still not sure what draws him to the closet.

Reading time

I actually had opportunity to catch up on some reading this week! (i.e., I went to bed at a decent hour and read in bed!) I just finished 'Preacher's Kids' by Grace Nies Fletcher, in which she relates what it was like growing up in a preacher's family at the turn of the century. She has a very warm way of writing, and it was neat to see how tightly knit their family was. Although, she and her brother did each come to a point where they tested their parents' faith and had to make it their own. A note from one of the dad's sermons on prayer stuck out to me: "What is prayer?...when what we want and what God wants are one and the same. Then only do we reach up to touch the hand of God, our Father." Simple, yet profound.

I also started reading 'Knowing God' by J.I.Packer. It's pretty deep, but will give a lot to think about. I think it will be looking at God's character and attributes. The author talks about knowing God more, not for the sake of knowledge itself; but as the writer of Ps 119's goal is, so ours should be: "He wanted to understand God's truth in order that his heart might respond to it and his life be conformed to it." Christian life in a nutshell! Stay tuned for more from 'Knowing God.'

And now for a few random smatterings that I was hoping to get done last night--but the internet was being a PAIN!

I have several moss rose plants that have just flourished this year--they are like small bushes, really! The picture doesn't do justice to the pretty red color that these are. And I have NEVER had marigolds that looked like this! Huge plants, huge blossoms, SO MANY blossoms! Hubby is glad to see that the cow manure he filled in the flower bed is making its mark. I guess I'm a believer in the difference fertilizer can make, too!
Yesterday Speedy was sent to lie down in our room. We went to get him for school and couldn't find him. We finally followed the blanket trail to the back of the closet under Hubby's hanging clothes. Speedy is quite drawn to the closet during nap time for some reason.
Everyone had their sunset pics from the KSU game this weekend on facebook; so here's mine:
And, our 3 little tailgaters were tired, but had a pretty good time at the game. Speedy couldn't stop talking about Willie the Wildcat. :)

School Update

I shared some of my frustrations with our 'school' at home a couple posts ago. Here are some of the things I've tried this week: dropped the sight words & booklets for Princess from Hubbard's Cupboard, and added some FREE worksheets from here to help work on writing her numbers and letters correctly. (J is still always facing the wrong way!) I've also done some of the simplest worksheets and coloring pages for Speedy, as well as picked up some color/shape/theme stuff from Brightly Beaming. Still doesn't all tie together as nicely as I'd like, but the kids are having more fun, and really, no matter what we do that we call 'school' for the day, they are excited when Daddy comes home at the end of the day to tell him about it. :)

Family quality time mowing the lawn: Honey with Daddy:
Speedy wearing the...I don't even know what they're called, but they block the sound!
And Speedy mowing while Princess runs around. She took the other two pics with her Kidizoom camera. I need to investigate if we can improve the pixel quality. Anybody out there have one and have advice??

An Apple a Day

...Won't get me very far in using up all these yummy apples we picked at my parents' place over the weekend! We have about four boxes of galas and one box of jonathans. My mom told Hubby that jonathans are good pie apples, and his mouth has been watering ever since. He cracks me up!
Honey is not sure about reaching in to grab an apple...
Princess and Speedy are looking for 'good ones.' They lasted about 10 minutes picking, and then were off to explore other things. Can't blame them, I thought it was pretty warm out and the mosquitos were swarming me. (but not Hubby. not fair.)
Today was a gorgeous, cool, rainy, fallish day, and the kids helped me 'spin' (use the corer/peeler/slicer) apples for a batch of pie or crisp filling. I of course, didn't feel like six quarts was much to show for our work, but Hubby was thrilled to see it when he got home after practice.
I'm glad I can impress him--this year I've done more canning/freezing than I have ever attempted on my own before. (I used to get roped into helping some growing up, but I don't remember being as willing as my kiddos are!) I've gotten a lot of good info from family, this blog, and this blog, and the county extension website.