~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!

~Party Time~

I am waking up slowly this morning and enjoying a big cup of this...

While I do that, I'll tell you about last weekend!

I love scrapbooking... my new love is digital scrapbooking... so, I was so excited last Saturday to host a House_Party party! I had signed up for a few that I didn't get but when the Shutter_fly party was posted I was really excited... and I won!!! I was able to share a free 8x8 book with 14 friends!gifts for my friends

I got my book in the mail yesterday!!!! I made one of Kiersten's first year.

I was so disappointed when I realized I did not take one photo during the party! A few people were not able to come but I did have six here that day... three aunts and three friends from church.

Here are some photos beforehand of the yummy treats. I also had beef veggie stew!Well, I have strict orders to sew today... I am doing something fun for my boys for their early Christmas gift! Happy Saturday!

~A Night Out~

I spent the evening with the ladies at church chatting, eating and building scarecrows!

It is good to get out sometimes!

This is Freddy... we threw him into a trash bag and drove across town to deposit him in a rocking chair on someone's doorstep =0) Hehehe!

Doesn't he look happy at his new home!?!?!?!
Here is my guy, Charlie... btw, my team won:-) He will be placed on my back patio tomorrow!
This poor guy didn't get a name before he was taken away to his new home. Let's call him... Sam. Someone on that team must have grabbed my camera 'cause I didn't take this picture =0)
Have you ever built a scarecrow? I was surprised at how many ladies never did!

~Apples~

I had planned on cleaning up during nap time today... then this basket of apples called me...
I cored and cut them then I mixed them in cinnamon sugar and dough...
And baked them for over an hour...
Apple cake is one of my favorites! Mmmm!

~A Daily Walk~

Now that the weather is cooler I don't even step foot outside. That is terrible! I am such a wimp when it comes to being cold. I know that I feel better getting some fresh air... even if it is cold. I always kick the boys out after lunch and I normally get some chores done inside but this week I've been going out after lunch for a short walk. The sun was beautiful today and it felt so good! Now I'm off to play catch up!

Kiersten enjoys the walk too! Before walk...

After walk