Author Archives: Abbie

On the Hunt…for a Tree

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New Year’s Eve seems to be the appropriate time to post pictures from our annual Tree Hunt.  It was extremely cold this time!  We didn’t go right after Thanksgiving because we knew our friends were coming in town and a large tree in the living room would be hard to navigate around when we’re also stepping over 10 children.  So, we waited until the first weekend in December to head out.  We quickly found our tree at a decent price and while Mark worked on getting it, I took the kids over for their annual hot chocolate and popcorn.

Then we loaded on the trailer for our annual hayride (the kids voted to do it even though we were all soooo cold), and headed home. 

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Secret Hiding Places and Mama’s Helper

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Ceili Rain has found a spot in the kitchen to stash her valuables (sibling’s water bottles, their blankets, her giraffe, and such).  When she had snack time, this same spot was where she chose to eat it.

Ceili Rain enjoyed helping me with their Christmas dresses (one day I’ll get a picture of them in the dresses).  In fact, whenever I’m sewing, she’s usually right there helping me.  She’s sat in my lap as I’ve sewn since she was about four months old. 

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Silent Night

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Sleeping arrangements while our friends were here, included Ceili Rain in our room squeezed between the night stand and our glider.  Bryant slept in a playpen in our room.  Kristina’s two little ones slept in Zoe’s room and the rest of the kids slept downstairs.  It worked out really well and they all seemed to enjoy it. 

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Bryant Update 4 and 5 months

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Yes, I’m well aware that I completely forgot to give a four month update, so for all those waiting patiently, here’s his stats from November 23rd.

Weight:  15 lbs.  (75%)
Height:  26 1/2 inches (greater than 97%)
Head:  17 3/4 inches (90%)

He continues to be the “wonder” boy of our kids and trying to do things early.  He’s not sitting up yet, but he is crawling!  He started around Christmas day.  He’s been getting stronger and stronger in his legs and trying to push himself forward.  Finally, around Christmas day, he became more deliberate in propelling himself forward and by the next day, he was pushing/commando/hopping forward!  And here’s the video to prove it!


Bryant Crawling-Five Months Pt. 1 from justabunchofcharacters on Vimeo.


Bryant Crawling-5 months pt 2 from justabunchofcharacters on Vimeo.

He’s a very happy baby and his favorite past time is watching his brothers and sisters.  He thinks they are all equally goofy.  He also loves to reach for us when we walk by.  I’ll post next week about his eating!

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Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Pictures

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When last we left off, we had just finished up Thanksgiving.  The week after, our friends came to visit (I believe I posted some of those pictures here.).    Their last night here was a prep night for our activities the next day.  Zoe had a Public Speaking activity to attend at a local assisted living facility.   We also had a Christmas party to go to. 

Zoe didn’t just have an activity, she was “Curly Sue” in a Community presentation on the real meaning of Christmas.  They took parts of the Charlie Brown Christmas special and added in scripture and poems.  So, Zoe needed curly hair.  And while we were rolling her hair, Laura wanted her hair rolled too.  And so did Ceili Rain.  I still can’t believe she sat still long enough for me to put curlers in her hair and she slept in them…but it helps that the two girls she looks up to the most did the same things!

And this is what two of the girls looked like in the morning.  Zoe’s hair was so cute and I can’t believe I didn’t get a picture.  I have a friend who did take pictures of their presentation, so, one day, I’ll get them from her and post them on here! 

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Getting Ready

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My two week posting binge is ended.  So sad.  I must confess that I was planning on posting yesterday but someone had a birthday and we just had to celebrate. 

That would be Zoe and she is now eight years old!  I can’t believe that eight years ago, I was holding my first born and a daughter to boot.  We celebrated in style with a Hershey’s Cookie Exchange Party.   I’ll give all the details later in the week.  Needless to say, I spent all of Sunday night into Monday night in the kitchen.  I really enjoyed it because Zoe was in there with me. 

We also traveled this weekend to visit my family and celebrate Christmas with them.  It was a blast!  And I plan on getting those pictures up soon. 

Bryant enjoyed his first “baby food” meal today.  He was super cute about it but very serious.  Those pictures are coming soon (because who doesn’t enjoy seeing a baby covered in mush).

And then today, Ceili Rain woke with a fever and has been feverish all day.  She’s been a little congested but mostly just clingy (possessively so…she’s only wanted Bryant around me and fusses and pushes her other siblings when she can).  No pictures of puny kids as of now.

We’re finishing up school before we take a few days off so posting may continue to be sporadic.  We shall see.

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Happy Thanksgiving 2010

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Yep, I know.  It’s almost Christmas.  I know.  I’m a month behind.  But this was worth sharing, for the first time ever, we actually had guests for our at home Thanksgiving celebration!  Mark had to be on call this past Thanksgiving so we actually had to stay at home!  I can’t believe it either 🙂  Mark’s parents were able to come and help us celebrate so we pulled out all the stops.  Place card settings, beautiful folded napkins (by Zoe), fine china, and our nice tablecloth.  Not to mention our first ever whole turkey roasted, sweet potato casserole, cream corn, green beans, homemade dressing, and the cranberry jelly from a can (yuck on that one).  And for dessert, apple cake and pumpkin pies.

We all enjoyed it and I think our guests did too!

Mark was the turkey man.  I bought it (on sale for a great price) and found the recipe, and he dug out the gizzards and such, and cooked it!  We’re a great team.  He also got to carve it.

Stop taking the picture already and give me some food.  Peeaaasss!

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Review: Where the Jewels Are

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A story about princesses, who can go wrong with this?!  Zoe has always been fascinated with princess stories.  It could be because we’ve always told her she was our princess and that when she asked Jesus to come into her heart that she would be a child of the King of Kings and would be His princess.

So, when the opportunity came up to review Where the Jewels Are and because we all love to read, I jumped at the chance to read and review it.  The tale is about a princess who is seeking a precious jewel. She has a faithful and loving Father who seeks out the best for her.

I thought the tale was very well written and quick to the point.  The book is very short and easy to read. 

After I finished the book, I passed it on to Zoe who read it rather quickly (she’s a fast reader) and exclaimed that it was great and she would love to read more of these!  Ace also enjoyed the book and gave two thumbs up and is interested in more (particularly boy ones, go figure).

The book is short enough that an early reader could get through it with little problems.  It’s also well priced.  At $5.99 plus shipping, you can be brought into a whismical tale of a little girl and the love her father bestows on her all the while teaching her to love and be content with what she has on hand.

  For details on how to purchase this gem (pun intended) visit Diana Symons website.

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