~Christmas Blessings~

I am so thankful that Christmas weekend wasn't nearly as crazy as last weekend (#84)! I was actually done wrapping early... thanks to my mom who took 3 boys for the afternoon on Tuesday (#85):-)... and the food preparations for this weekend involved cooking a turkey... which Gregg always does (#86)!

Friday was a busy but quiet day at home. We didn't plan well enough to attend a Christmas Eve service (our church does not have one) but we spent some time together as a family and got the kids to bed at a good time. Gregg and I finished getting everything ready and were in bed earlier than I expected. (#87)

We enjoyed a leisure Christmas morning opening gifts and eating cinnamon rolls (#88). We headed to my parents around noon and enjoyed several hours there with them and my brother's family.

We enjoyed some snow on Sunday but not nearly as much as we thought we were going to get. (#89)

I decided to give the boys the whole week off of school (#90) so they are enjoying extra free time and I'm trying to get a lot of stuff done that I just can't get to on normal school days. I did fit in a game of Go Fish (#91), a book read to Nathan (#92), building block towers with Kiersten (#93) and some scrap booking! (#94) I spent most of the day cleaning my room... we had so many gifts stashed in there that it hadn't been cleaned up for awhile. Clean wash was piled here and there and boys Sunday School papers were everywhere! I'm so glad to get that cleaned up! (#95)

A few other things I was thankful for this week...

96. Being able to make a Christmas dress for my sweetie
97. My Doll Baby loving her doll baby
98. Brown paper packages tied up with string
99. My spunky little girl wanting to color
100. Five very thankful boys (they are a pleasure to give gifts to!)

101. Boys who try to fly kites in December

102. Belly laughing

~Merry Christmas~

Merry Christmas!The Night Before Christmas
by Tom O McVicker
Nov 19, 2009

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the land
the birth of our Savior was truly at hand.

The shepherds were watching their sheep that night,
when a star shone above, brilliant and bright.

The angel appeared with good tidings of job.
A Savior is born. A new baby boy.

The babe was to be wrapped in swaddling clothes,
in a manger in Bethlehem. So the story goes.

They came with haste and found the manger in a lowly inn.
A heavenly host sand, "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men."

The event of the ages had just taken place.
God's dealings with man would be by His grace.

Because of what happened in that little inn,
the Gift of God is forgiveness of sin.

He promises to us a brand new start,
if we're willing to give Him our sinful heart.

Because of Christmas, life everlasting is free.
And He did it all for you, and for me.

The Christ Child grew and became a man.
He died and arose according to plan.

The work of salvation was finished... it's done.
Jesus alone is the saving one.

He knew you by name, even back then.
Will you come to Him? If not now, when?

~Christmas Weekend #1~

Another week gone! I spent last week preparing, preparing and preparing! I had a meal to make, cookies to bake, and gifts to wrap!

We enjoyed a Christmas celebration with Gregg's family Friday night. I served lasagna and garlic bread. My sister in laws brought salad and an eclair dessert. My in laws brought shrimp! YUM! I love that family tradition! The kids exchanged their favorite snacks and the adults exchanged $5 gifts. We always have fun doing that! I received reusable shopping bags and chocolate! I gave a bamboo cutting board. It was normally $25 marked down to $5! I gave the boys the day off school so I really had everything in order and cleanup was even quick!

Saturday I went to my mom's family's Christmas celebration. I went by myself! We ate (of course!) and did a big cookie swap! It was good to be able to visit without worrying about what my kids were doing.... it was also good to get home and be greeted by freshly bathed children in a clean house!

Sunday was our normal day of church but add in a fellowship/bridal shower. One of our young ladies attending college is getting married New Years Eve. We wanted to have some sort of party for her but time was against us. I think it worked really well and we surprised her! It is so fun to be a part of a wedding... especially one that the couple desires to serve the Lord! I got to collect money for the gift card, decorate and set up the food table... fun jobs!

It is hard to believe a week from now Christmas will be over! Our celebrations continue though for another week!

I was too busy to do much counting this week, but here is my list...

66. A great make ahead meal so the party day was calmer

67. The smell of simmering sauce

68. A big stack of steamy whole wheat pancakes

69. Eager children who gobble them up

70. Without syrup!

71. Family gatherings

72. Big tables

73. A chance to use my favorite dishes
74. Extended family

75. Chatting with Aunts, Uncle and Cousins

76. Laughing

77. Piles of cookies (over 20 kinds!)

78. Arriving home to hugs and kisses

79. A chance to miss and be missed

80. The smell of freshly bathed baby hair

81. Young love

82. Leftover wedding decorations donated

83. That make my bridal shower decorating a cinch


This week should be much calmer! Yay! Happy Monday! Happy Counting!

~Busy Times~

This week certainly flew by!

We enjoyed a family trip to an indoor train display last Friday. I don't even remember what we did on Saturday! Monday night and Tuesday night were nice quiet evenings at home. Gregg had a meeting one night so I tried to keep the boys busy with games. We played Connect Four and then we got out the Widgets. The rest of the week was normal with school, church and grocery shopping.

I tried all week to get to some extra projects but that just wasn't happening. Gregg had another day off this Friday and I took off to do my Christmas shopping. I did a lot online but still had to hit the stores. I found everything I needed in 5 hours:-) I didn't think that was too bad. I even got to enjoy a Chic-fil-a sandwich! Shh, don't tell the boys, but I also enjoyed a yummy peppermint milkshake;-)

I managed to start wrapping some gifts Friday night too! Saturday I felt like I was running a marathon! I was trying to get a lot done on top of all the normal stuff! My Christmas letters were written, printed, enveloped and stamped! Yay! I was also able (with Jordan's help) to give one of the dogs a haircut.

Sunday afternoon was spent working on Kiersten's Christmas dress... almost done with that too! It was a very profitable weekend!!!

I tried to spend more time being thankful all week rather than just one given day to write my list. This is fun...I'm going to keep counting!


45. Family fun days

46. Canned food in exchange for tickets

47. Every member of the family enjoying the activity

48. Christmas Cards sent to 16 missionaries all over the world

49. 82 Christmas Letters stamped and sealed for the mailbox
50. Tiny fingers wanting to play


51. Big brothers who let little brothers win

52. Young minds that learn to reason
53. Successful shopping trips

54. A yummy chicken sandwich

55. With pepper jack cheese

56. A husband that entertains and feeds the kids

57. And loves it

58. While he actually gets project done!

59. A "new" dryer

60. Before our old one bites the dust

61. Challenges from scripture

62. Time to sew tiny seems and little hems

63. Christmas programs

64. Popcorn

65. "Early" bedtimes on Sunday night to start the week off right

If you don't hear from me this week, don't worry. I'm hosting Gregg's family's Christmas Friday night... attending my mom's family's Christmas on Saturday... and setting up for a fellowship at Church on Sunday!

~First Racing Banquet~

Aaron won the championship for his class this year at our race track. He was honored with a trophy at a banquet last night. It is a really nice glass one too!

There were about 30 race tracks represented. These are racers of all ages. You have to be present to receive this trophy and you also have to be dressed appropriately. The boys had to wear a tie and the men a suit coat. They said these are champions, and they should look like champions! I love it!

We have a banquet in January that our whole family will be going to. It is just for the members of our track. Never thought I'd be doing this!

~Boy Stuff~

We saw a sign for a Grand Opening of a Mobile station Oil/Lube/Car wash kind of thing not far from our house. They advertised that the Mobile 1 Nascar would be there. My boys were more than a little interested!

They became even more interested when we saw the truck and trailer that pulls the Nascar on our way home Friday night at a local hotel!

So, Saturday Gregg and all the boys headed over for an 11 o'clock opening. They enjoyed hot dogs, the best cupcakes (so they tell me) and cotton candy. They called and said I didn't need to make them lunch.

They even got to see the car drive out of the trailer. It was very loud! Some of them even tried out a simulator.
They enjoyed their time out...
and I was totally surprised that they were gone 3 whole hours! I guess it's a boy thing!

~Am I Asking Why or Why Not~

I enjoyed counting my blessings last week, but... I sorta forgot... actually, I think I didn't want to think thankfully this week. Did that make sense? What a week. I certainly felt like I had a lot to complain about. I was struggling with a "why me" attitude. The house is a mess, the basement stinks like rats (dead and alive), the basement has a small stream flowing through it from the rain, school that takes hours longer than necessary, laundry piled in baskets... that finally gets folded... and then knocked over... grrr! Not enough time to pay bills and do thinks I don't want to do much less do the things I do want to do. Sadly, I could go on...

But, something I read in my devotions really hit me over the head (I am in the book of Job) and then I read this blog post. I saw that I should have been asking "why not me"... why should I have everything happen perfectly all the time... am I special? I have friends and family to pull me back up and help me along... why not me... I claim to have God's grace which is sufficient... why not me!

I'm going to continue counting...

23. Sweet little outfits that cost 85 cents
24. Objects to occupy little people when there is much to be done

25. Yummy treats for Thanksgiving breakfast
26. Parents that have us over for Thanksgiving breakfast treats

27. Aunts, Uncles and cousins that share photos of their adventures since our last gathering

28. A long drive between breakfast and dinner that lets us get hungry

29. Having both family close enough to share the Thanks-filled day

30. A Sister-in-law that joyfully opens her home to family

31. Hot steamy plates of dinner
32. A Brother-in-law that keeps a fire going

33. A glider placed next to the fire for a tired little girl and her tired mama to enjoy a mid day snooze

34. A husband that cleans and cooks our turkey after a long day of festivity

35. While entertaining the boys with all the gizzards

36. Attic treasures brought down to keep busy hands out of trouble

37. Rats that have come and gone... lets leave it at that... no photos please!

38. Brave boys who protect their mom from above mentioned rats

39. Rats that are an abnormal part of our home (some live with them or search for food with them *shiver*)

40. Blog posts that hit me right where I'm at

41. Grace - not only the strength to do something, but the will to do it

42. A change in perspective

43. My love is home tomorrow

44. Starting our weekend early

Happy weekend!

~Coming to a Mega Store Near You~

Gregg found one of these while out shopping...I think I'll take one! How about you?!??!

~HappyThanksgiving~

~Counting Blessings - Naming them One by One~

I've been following Ann's journey to One Thousand Gifts... contentment, thankfulness, gratefulness, and joy all found in the small things in life. I thought this week ~Thanksgiving~ would be the perfect time for me to get started on my own journey of counting!


My two big boys headed to church today to help with a clean up project. They were happy to exchange some school work for some physical labor. I was happy for a morning with no school! I am hoping the men they were working along side were happy for some young helpers!

My three younger guys were happy to help prepare potatoes for Thanksgiving, clean the kitchen floor, and clean up the little toy kitchen that we brought into the real kitchen for Kiersten to play with while I'm cooking. They also helped their dad by sweeping off the driveway.

It was a great day of getting stuff done! Let the counting begin...

1. Two big boys willing to get dirty... learning to serve with gladness

2. Older men that take the time to teach

3. A Pastor who willingly give boys a ride because we only have one car right now

4. Good audio books to listen to while we work
5. Candles that mask the smells of a dirty kitchen while we clean


6. Potatoes peelers

7. Little ones that can use them
8. A double batch of Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes to lighten the load later in the week

9. Sweet little baby legs10. Boys helping mothers and serving little sisters

11. Younger older brothers washing sister's toys instead of playing with their own

12. Little ones learning to clean

13. Camera's to capture priceless memories

14. Boys who love taking pictures

15. Cool "mohawk" birds to take pictures of
16. Floors that are dirty but not made of dirt

17. Enough brushes and rags for all to help wash

18. Cell phones that ring My Love's ring tone mid day to check in on the family

19. Blog posts that make me think about the ordinary and extraordinary

20. Chopping apples with giggly boys

21. The smell of baking apples to welcome home my hardworking boys

22. Boys that say "smells good mom"... they noticed ;-)

~Sewing Bricks~

We got the boys an early Christmas gift! It needed a "dust cover" and when Gregg and I were talking about it we decided it should be a "cool" dust cover. I found some stone and brick fabric at the store! I took photos with my camera phone and send them home. They boys all chose brick. I spent most of my free time this weekend making it.

Here it is with 6 doors you can open up! Now we just need to add some lights!


This is the view inside...

And the view from the top...

All this machinery runs on one erector set motor. The boys have really enjoyed watching it work. Lots of gears and pulleys! Even the younger boys have learned that if you hook up to a smaller gear it goes faster!

~Input Needed~

Well, I wanted to make another one of these quilts.... I dug through some scraps and got a backing fabric that I thought was "perfect." The only trouble is... My Love didn't think it looked right... my color choices were off. He is normally a very good judge of style and I am not. BUT I was going for a scrappy look... and I don't think he is a scrappy kinda guy.

So, will you, my blog friends, kindly tell me if I am totally of my rocker. You won't hurt my feelings I'd truly like to know your honest opinion...I painstakingly matched up all my seems so I will be bummed if it turns out to be a dog blanket. I will be more bummed because I have another quilt top with the exact same fabrics that is almost done. I thought one would hang one up on the wall and I'd put one on the back of the couch. I have enough extra to make some pillow covers too. *sigh* I'd be more bummed if everyone that came over went away wondering... "what was she thinking with those blankets!"

Thanks a bunch! (oh, and you should be able to click on it to enlarge it!)

I'm also wondering if it does look a bit tacky, would it help if I tea dyed it?

~Miscellaneous Fun~

What a beautiful Saturday! Ours was just packed full of miscellaneous activities. We haven't had a day like this for awhile and it was a good one!

Gregg and 4 boys took off early to go to a swap meet. Kiersten and I enjoyed some breakfast and puttered around til Nathan got up. I wanted to have fun with him today so as soon as he was ready we headed outside. I told him I made a man out of straw and his name was Charlie. Well, Nathan peeked out the door and came back all giggles and frantically tried putting his shoes on so he could make a new friend!We ended up putting him out by the mailbox so that everyone else could see him.
Nathan and Charlie got along real well ;-)
Next we headed down the road for a "Christmas" yard sale. I found this cute little stand that was totally in need of a black paint job.The boys got home with some quarter midget parts, tires and a pit cart. They were very happy with their purchases!
One of the boys found Charlie's hair and we all had some fun playing around with a new hair do.
I spent a bunch of time sewing... hopefully I'll be sharing more this week! I also spent a good amount of time outside.

Doesn't it look so much better black!

I made Chicken Etti for supper and some Funny Cake for breakfast, washed a bunch of clothes, ran to the fabric store, and did a little cleaning. Lots of little stuff! Now, it is onto a new week!