~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!

~Well Said~

I am a Little House fan... I love to have children play with real things not just plastic beeping toys... I want work to be seen as enjoyable...

I read a post today that was really cool! I hadn't ever thought of letting my kids cut out cookies instead of play dough...duh! I can either clean up colored goop from everywhere and wonder how I am going to get the baking done... or I can enlist my eager little helpers and teach them there is joy in work...

You have to stop over HERE and read this blog post!

~New Quote~

A friend recently shared this quote...


"God never intended us to simply be the objects of his love. We are also called to be instruments of that love in the lives of others." Paul David Tripp


It has really made me think this week. Just thought I'd pass it on! (Thanks Kelsey!)

~One at a Time~

I did really well with gaining (or not gaining) weight with Kiersten. I have not done well with loosing the small amount of weight I did gain. I have been so snacky! I have finally been able to cut out the before bed snack, the mid afternoon snack, and the nobody is looking snack. It took a little longer to get into the work it off mode. There is always a sacrifice involved. I have been getting up at 5:30 this past week to walk in the morning before Gregg leaves for work. That is two hours earlier than my "normal" awake time. Once I'm up, I'm good to go but getting up takes a lot of determination. So, I walked five out of seven days last week. One pound is gone. I don't really have a number goal... just a feel better, fit into my clothes goal:-) That is a hard one too because I have skinny clothes, the next size, and the next size all in my closet! Please tell me I'm not the only one!

Heading to bed.... 5:30 comes early!

~Blogversary GIveaway & Last Question~

Well, there are 32 comments so far. That means if you make all six comments your chance of winning is fairly good!

The last question is about animals... what is your favorite animal...and your least favorite animal? You don't have to have them...you don't even need to have seen one!

My least favorite is very easy! Snakes. Nuf said. I don't even want to talk about them.

My most favorite is very hard. I enjoy animals. They are fascinating to watch at the zoo and much more fun to study with the boys than chemistry:-) From my own experience I know fish are neat, dogs are fun and chickens are curious. We have also had a gerbil, a hamster and cats. I think dolphins and Manatees are amazing, but so are monkeys and bees! See, this is tough! If I really had to choose one... I'd say penguins (monkeys are a close second).

Ok, finish up answering the questions... I'll give you til Monday night. I'll draw a name on Tuesday!

~Blogversary & Giveaway Question 5~

I'm so glad you are all playing along ;-) I think it is rather interesting that no one mentioned anything about the giveaway being a surprise (I am working on it!) you are all game for anything! BTW, I am really enjoying your answers!!!

Speaking of surprises... that will be my next question! Do you love them or hate them!?!?!? And what was a very memorable surprise you did or had done to you?!?!?!

I must say that I LOVE surprises! The problem is that I am really nosy... well, curious may be a better word. I often ruin surprises because I tend to ask a lot of questions:-) My poor husband has tried many times to surprise me... and I always trip over some clues. Sigh...

I think one of the best surprises done to me was by my maid of honor...my bridal shower was a complete surprise! I couldn't figure out what was going on! I was so busy planning the wedding and her bridal shower that I didn't have a clue!

I was able to really surprise Gregg once too. I got a sizable bonus one year (when I was working before kids!) and bought him a day at the race track...some type of racing school. He was really surprised!

And because I don't like to post without a photo... the coolest surprise EVER was giving birth to a baby girl! LOL! You know I had to throw that in here:-)

I'm looking forward to your answers!!!

~Blogversary Giveaway Question 3~

I just started a new crochet project. It is a basket weave blanket. It is an easy pattern to follow and it is going to be so nice and thick! This blanket sure does use a lot of yarn! I think I will be making a second one over the winter because this one is a gift;-)

Question 3... You must choose fabric or yarn or neither. If you choose fabric tell me what colors you normally buy and what you like to make. If you choose yarn tell me what type of yarn, type of hook (plastic or metal) and what you make with it. If you choose neither, I want to know if you prefer to buy store bought or homemade. OK!?!??!?!

I like fabric in off tones (not brights or pastels)... quilts, baby girl
dresses :-), pj pants for me and my boys, skirts, table runners

I like to crochet... I only like cotton yarn, I haven't found a difference between metal and plastic hooks, I have made several dishcloths and blankets... I haven't tried anything with shape yet.

I love all things homemade!

Have a great Memorial Weekend!

~Blogversary Giveaway Question 2~

We have been having summer weather here! I enjoy sitting (yes sitting!) out back in the shade watching the boys play while I crochet. Eric and Nathan have spent some time blowing bubbles. They all love riding different trikes and bikes. I have spent some time in the garden too!

While I enjoy being home, I am certainly anxious to travel... someday:-) The place I most want to visit is Turkey. The boys and I studied Turkey last year in school and I was just amazed at the country. Wonderful history is there...many traditions are still done today... unique nature... many places are still in there "ancient" form... and they can grow wonderful food along the water. Some people still live in dirt houses but they also have cable TV! I could go on and on about Turkey:-)

I'd also like to see China (mostly because Gregg is there so often), Egypt or Mexico, a safari, a tropical rain forest, and Greece. I'd love to go just about anywhere! Landscape, animals, and all the nature stuff fascinate me!

So, here is question 2... Where would you love to travel????

~Blogversary & a Giveaway~

May 2010 is my 2 year Blogversary :-) I've really been trying to get something together, but we are in the home stretch of school and I feel a bit of rush, rush, rush happening. I see the end is near... but wanted to get something started. So, we are going to do things different than last year!

I am going to ask a question three days this week and three days next week. If you answer the question it in the comments, you will automatically be entered in the giveaway. So, the more questions you answer, the better your chance to win! Got it!?!?!?

Your prize is a surprise... to you and me! Haha! I'm sure I'll come up with something in the next two weeks! I promise!

Ok, so here is the first question.

Do you prefer coffee or tea... and do you prefer it hot or cold?

My answer is... I prefer iced coffee. I do like all four variations (depending on the weather of course!). If I am cold I'd go for hot decaf coffee with lots of cream and sugar as a treat but I try to stick with hot herbal tea because it is much better for me.

Your turn!

~15 Years~

Tomorrow, May 20, is my 15th Wedding Anniversary. We got married on a beautiful spring day surrounded by friends and family. I was trying really hard to come up with a way to celebrate. Most everything wasn't going to work... here is the short list...Plan A - Wake up in a tropical paradise ~ enjoy sun, sand, and lots of yummy food ~ talk without interruption ~ or don't talk ~ walk hand in hand and experience the wonder of creation with camera and cool drink ~ Enjoy every bite of a fine dinner knowing I don't have to clean up ~ Watch a beautiful sun set ~ fall asleep anticipating another 15 years of love.

Not happening. While the frequent flier miles were available, we were not.

Plan B - Wake up in a cozy little cottage by a creek and a bike trail ~ pack a picnic lunch ~ go exploring ~ cook over a campfire ~ snuggle under the stars ~ fall asleep wondering what the next 15 will bring.

Not happening. The weather has been cool around here and a bit rainy but it may have worked. Keeping in mind we have six children (one of them stuck like glue to my hip) it wasn't practical.

Plan C - Wake up well rested in the comfort of home ~ enjoy a just the two of us breakfast ~ send my love off to work with a promise of meeting for a lunch date ~ take a short nap and freshen up in the afternoon to be awake and ready to celebrate some more ~ Serve a nice dinner with nothing spilled, no fighting and no interruptions ~ take a nice long family walk ~ tuck all the kids into bed on time and enjoy conversation ~ climb into bed wondering if I'll get to sleep all night! This certainly sounds possible:-) But there are a few flaws even in this.

My GUESS on reality - Wake up on our special day (for the 3rd time) late ~ hope my love found his breakfast burrito I prepared the night before and threw in the fridge ~ Cancel the lunch date because kids are sick ~ Miss the nap (because of said sick kids) ~ Hurriedly eat supper that is cooked but not burned knowing the dishes will wait for me ~ take my weekly trip to the grocery store ~ get kids to bed late ~ fold the remainder of the laundry ~ crash into bed wondering when I started feeling like a grumpy old woman and not a lovely young bride.

I'll have to let you know how it goes!

Ten Year Anniversary

~It's My Birthday~

It's my "birthday" today! It really was on Sunday (yes, Valentine's Day) but we celebrated today. Gregg had a half day because of his recent trip (I still need to tell you about that!!!) so we had some extra fun time!Here I am all dressed up and ready to go! Gregg brought this jacket home from Hong Kong! I love it!

The boys gave me this clear tea pot with tea flowers! I can't wait to try it! Gregg got me a quilt hanger for my quilt! Yay!

Gregg said he would take us out to eat...I could choose anywhere!!! I did an internet search for a place to go. I didn't feel like the "normal" places. I found a place in town (yes, the big city... on street parking) I really wanted to try. It was a cafe and creperie. There were many good reviews. It was a little place so we got there around 4 to beat the dinner crowd.The smoothies were delicious!I had a Veggie Santa Fe Crepe
Aaron had a Club Crepe. The other boys had Cheese Steak Crepes. We all LOVED them! Very, very yummy!


We split some dessert crepes. We enjoyed the nutella the most. This one was season fruit.

We did a little shopping and then headed home for some Birthday Cake!!! The boys mentioned earlier in the day that they wanted me to make my own cake. Mine taste better than the ones Dad buys :-) Gregg stopped at a bakery on his way home from work and got a Raspberry Creme/Chocolate cake. Delicious!Gregg also picked up some flowers for me! I love all the colors!
What a wonderful birthday! How old am I...35.

~New Year ... New Goals~

Luke 2:52

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature,

and in favor with God and man.

I often use this verse to pray for my children. It helps me to think of a greater variety of requests and then that normally leads to trying to help them in those areas. I decided this year I would list my goals according to this verse...making sure my priorities are right!

Increasing in Wisdom

~What would I like to learn!??!?! There are so many things to enjoy! I spent a lot of time in 2009 learning more about sewing and learning to crochet. This year I'd like to learn a lot more about gardening. I have a book I'll be going through! I would also like to get a little more involved in our local government. Yikes, I know. Big thing with all these little people. Not yet sure how that will work but I'll be looking for opportunies! One last area would be doing better with budgeting.

Increasing in Stature

~I see stature as my health. More excersise, more eating right...yep, the normal stuff! More specifically I'd like to do more with beans and rice (I'll be working through a cookbook for this one)...so that my family loves to eat them! I'm also looking forward to real popcorn (thanks to my men for buying that for me for Christmas!) and real tea (thanks for the money gift Dad E!) I made so many changes this past year with grinding my own grain, yogurt, granola, and pressure cooking that I need to just get better at those things instead of adding something new. The only other maybe would be making our own icecream!!!

Increasing in favor with God

~I would have to say my Quieting a Noisey Soul study in 2009 was excellent! This year I plan on going through Proverbs every month...yes, every month! I think there is so much in there and while I have read through Proverbs here and there, I think the repetition will be great! Any ideas of study books I could use? I also hope to read 4 books to challenge my walk with God. I've already got my first two! Four books in one year doesn't sound like a lot... but I have to keep these goals attainable and also leave room for other things to jump in! I'll also be memorizing. Our church is doing 1 one another verse each month, I learn one verse each week with the boys for school and I'd like to learn one passage for myself. I am not sure what that will be yet.

Increasing in favor with Man

~I am excited about the idea of this! The one another verses we will be learning in church will be put into action at home. More of our family visiting the elderly. More of me reaching out to new people at church. More of me talking to strangers at the park, grocery store, library etc. More people into our home. The only catch with this would be fighting my desire for people to like me... that is not the idea here. I want them to see Christ living in me. The hardest part will be at home... I desire to be a more pleasant mom at home.

I'll be sure to share specifially about these things in the next few weeks!

Happy New Year!

~These are a few of my favorite things...Sunrise/Sunset~

This was the view from my front door at 7 this morning...

~Sunrise~

Isn't it beautiful!!! I don't normally see the sunrise...just the sunset:0) I thought it looked like snow...sure enough 5 to 9 inches by tomorrow night! The boys are super excited. Our first of four Christmas parties was canceled...good thing I didn't make all the cookies for the cookie swap!

I am not running out of favorite things...just running out of time! Enjoying our last day of school today!!! Yipee!!! I still have some Christmas Crafting to do...and some wrapping!

~These are a few of my favorite things.... Silhouettes~

My first memory of a Silhouette is from my childhood friend's house. Her mom had two pillows on the couch. One with each of the children's silhouettes on them. I loved those! (Jessica, do you remember those???)

Several years later, my mom made scherenschnitte gifts and I really liked them.

A few years ago I made these pillows for my mom.

This year I decided to make myself some magnets!

I started off with profile pictures...

I cut and colored them with my digital scrapbooking program...

And glued them to wood circles that Gregg painted black :-)

Now I just need to put them on the fridge! I love how you can tell who is who just by looking at their silhouettes! Just in case I forgot, I put their name and year on it!

~These are a few of my favorite things...Sun Spots~

~Sun Spots~

I love how the sun comes shining in... especially on these cold winter days! It looks like I'm not the only one that enjoys these sunny warm spots :-)

~These are a few of my favorite things...a pretty table~

A Pretty Table

We are eating in the dining room tonight! We are even using the good dishes! No one is coming over... it's just us. No special occasion... just an every day Thursday. Nowhere to rush off to... just staying home. One of the best kind of nights:-)

~These are a few of my favorite things... a bowl of soup~

A bowl of soup

Yumm! I could eat a cup or bowl of soup every day! I love how warm it makes me and I also enjoy the smell! My favorite soup is Hoss's (a restaurant in our area) clam chowder! I plan on trying lots of recipes this winter to try to make chowder just like theirs! My second favorite is always a big bowl of chili with cheese and corn chips!

~These are a few of my favorite things... the smell of freshly bathed babies~

I love that yummy baby smell!

~These are a few of my favorite things...Homemade Ornaments~

My tree is full of homemade ornaments!

(sorry the photo looks really bad!)

I was in an ornament exchange for several years and received about a dozen ornaments each year! I haven't been involved for awhile but still like to make one or two new ones each year. I can't always tell you who made the ornament, but I know who made a lot of them!

~These are a few of my favorite things...Snow~

Snow - It snowed today!

This is probably very surprising to those of you that know me well! I don't like being cold, I don't care for winter at all...but I do like to watch it snow (from inside the house!). I like the beautiful white clean look the snow brings. I like the crunchy sound of boots walking through snow. I like watching our dogs tunnel through the snow with their noses:-) I like the little red cheeks and noses that my little men bring inside with them. I like fixing hot cocoa to warm everyone up!