Category Archives: Uncategorized

Saying Hello!

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We have finally discovered the joy of Skype.   We are able to talk and see cousins and now friends.  I realized a couple of weeks ago that we could Skype with our military friends who deserted moved to a foreign land (okay…it was a different time zone).  So, after a week, they were able to get theirs up and running.  Even though our webcam is ancient and our microphone keeps turning down, I think the kids enjoyed their first Skyping session with their friends.

I’m so excited we can stay connected with them and others that we love!  And it’s free!  Best deal yet!!!

Granted the kids spent most of the time making silly faces at the computer screen and didn’t look at the camera much…it was still fun to visit!

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“Write it on Your Walls…”

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We just finished studying the character quality of gentleness or kindness.  To re-emphasize and as a constant reminder, I worked with the kids to get Ephesians 4:32 up on the walls…we all need this verse up to remind us of our attitudes and words!
Here’s how we did it:


I started out and purchased one canvas 10X20.  However, because the words were a little big I had to get a second one.  The canvases cost about $7 each…except that the second was on sale when I went so I got it for around $5.  I cut the letters out on our Cricut and then ran them through the Xyron sticker maker machine.  I used a “repositionable” cartridge so we wouldn’t get sticky residue on the canvas.  Zoe helped me cut the letters and stick them on.  Then we painted a base coat of lime green on the canvases.

We then put their hand prints on the canvases.  I did two sets on each canvas.

After the paint was dry (really and truly, I wanted to see what it looked like so I didn’t wait until they were dry), we peeled the letters off.

Here’s the end result:

And the close up:

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”
There was some bleed through on the words but I think it works great.  This is at the end of the hall so we can all see it several times a day.  Mark wanted to hang it down in the hall so the kids would smack into it every time they walked by…just so they would be aware and remember what it said.  Since I didn’t want our child protective services calling about bruises on the kids foreheads, we went with this.
Now, I’ve got to come up with other ones for them to do…I’ve got some more printed canvases coming up for your viewing pleasure but first, (well last), is the girls’ names on their door.  Courtesy of Uppercase Living of course!
You can’t tell but Zoe requested the metallic shimmery pink.  Since there were only two names, I obliged.  Uppercase Living is having a great summer sale right now.  Buy one expression get one free…including the MyDesign expressions (like the one above).  Sale ends July 12th, so find a consultant and get to buying ya’ll!  Email me if you need the name of a great consultant (or two)!

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Happy Birthday to Josiah, Take Two!

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Since my mom’s still in a lot of pain with her leg and she seemed quite worried about trying to get the boys their birthday gifts over the next couple of months, I volunteered to shop for her.  She reluctantly agreed (she loves to buy presents for others and loves even more to see them opened), so off Mark and I went to get Josiah’s gifts from Ge & Granddaddy.
The next day, they were wrapped and he opened them.  This post is for Ge & Granddaddy…(we had already talked about what Josiah would like for his birthday and those items were the ones purchased).
See the super real smile on this kid’s face?!?
Pay no attention to the 9 month pregnant over tired lady in the background…this was pre-shower.  Josiah got some great outdoor play toys.
And a wheelbarrow!  Which he loved!
And the latest Thomas DVD, Hero of the Rails!
Big brothers and sister helped get the toys free to test out.
And later in the morning we found this in the hallway…he had to examine the DVD case.
Thank you, Ge & Granddaddy!  The presents were well received!  I know he’ll give you a great big hug next time he can visit with you.

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Bryant Update 38 Weeks

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We’re literally climbing the walls waiting on Bryant!

Okay, maybe not really…but I just thought this would be a fun picture to start out this post.

I guess, as my work part winds down, I am getting a bit ready to meet our newest guy.  Still trying not to jump ahead where we’re all just twiddling our thumbs waiting.  However, if he decides to wait until my actual due date or beyond, we should be good as the kids (and me) have surprise visitors arriving that week for a brief visit!

I went to the doctor today and am at a grand total of 1 cm dilated!  Doesn’t mean much really.  Dr. J saw my tummy as well as nurse D and they both wanted to know if I was itching.  I pointed to once spot on my belly and explained that those red marks were not PUPPS but actually a burn from boiling water that I spilled on my shirt.  They laughed.  It wasn’t funny at the time, rest assured.  Anyway, apparently the rest of the my belly looks rather PUPP(ish) because Dr. J was checking to make sure my arms were not covered in the fun and itchy pregnancy rash.  However, somebody has been praying because the rash may look bad on my tummy (I can’t tell because I can’t see it) but it’s not bothering me.  I’ll have an occasional itch if material rubs up against my belly or if I wear a belly band all day (a band that’s a little tighter on the belly to help keep us low carrying gals from showing off our overly stretched marked bellies).  But, it’s never horrible…not like with Josiah.  I’m thanking God every day that I don’t have to spend the whole day scratching my belly!  Dr. J reiterated that if it gets worse he’ll have to induce.  I know that, but for now, we’re good.  I can sleep.  I don’t need any drugs or herbs to help.  Anyway, Dr. J and D were both surprised that it’s not bothering me and that I’m not having to take anything for it.

I’ve noticed a bit of a change with Mr. Bryant in that, well, this is embarrassing but I’m going to be honest…I have to go to the bathroom like ten times in an hour!  And he’s resting comfortably low.  I wasn’t going to say that he “dropped,” (moved down into birthing position) because I didn’t want to get my hopes up.  So, I waited for the professional’s opinion!  Dr. J (the professional) said that last week he couldn’t feel Bryant’s head…but he could this time!  Woohoo!  I told him that was good because it felt like he was sitting in my lap.  Dr. J laughed and said that women like me scare him.  I think that’s because I’m not moaning begging to let this little one out and complaining…nothing, again to complain about.  I’m uncomfortable, but I’ve been through this before so it’s not really that bad.  I know it’ll pass soon enough and I’ll hold my little one in my arms and get to sleep comfortably again (every two to three hours but at least it will be comfortable).

Dr. J still contends that when labor does start, it shouldn’t take long because my body’s done this so many times.  I think that’s funny because he’s told me that the past few times and those have been the longest labors…but they were also induced ones.  Keep praying that this will be different…and that I can go into labor on my own!  I’m still willing to wait a few more weeks for this little man to come…

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Happy Birthday Mark!

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For a few months it will now appear that Mark is only a year younger than me!  We celebrated his 31st birthday this past weekend!  And while I’m getting bigger by the milosecond and several people have commented with “Any day now, huh?”  I believe we still made the day special!

Opening gifts on a surprisingly not humid day!  We loved the weather this past weekend.

Mark got a nice Apollo commemorative patch from his mom.  It’s beautiful and I think he was definitely surprised and in awe!

He requested a Snickers Cake (my recipe from a hodge podge of recipes).  Ceili Rain saw chocolate and was thrilled (what can I say…she’s my kid).

Singing “Happy Birthday!”
Waiting, ever so patiently for the cake.  I did not put 31 candles on the cake for fear that the awesome chocolate frosting would be covered in wax.  However, I did do a 3 and 1 digit to represent 31 candles!
Yes, I know the candles were a bit off center.  Just sing praises that I actually made a from scratch cake and remembered the candles!

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Labor Day Essentials #3

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In preparing for the hospital….I always make sure the kids have some special treat bags.  We like for our kids to be the first ones to meet the new baby, so that means they are usually at the hospital most of labor day (since I’ve been induced with all our babies so far…yes, we’re still hoping to break that tradition).  So, ahead of time we always make up some labor bags for each child.  In them, we include a few snacks, small “quiet” toys, and games and of course, crayons and coloring books.  And we also include sibling shirts to be put on before they come in to meet their new sibling.

Typically, I’ll draw or design something in a publishing program and then print it out on transfers and have the kids wear them.  But, if you know anything about printable transfers, they don’t last.  So, this year, we invested in some shirts that they can wear until they outgrow the size.

So, on labor day, the girls will be sporting nifty tees with this on the front:

And their name and age order on the back like this:

And the boys will be dressed in this:

With their age order and name on the back like this:

Do I need to explain that I used a spin off of our blog banner which represents the boys as bees and the ladybugs as the girls?  Yes, I know I need to update our blog button and banner with Bryant…but I just wanted to be sure everyone noticed that.

And yes, Bryant has a onesie he’ll be tricked out in with this:

on the front and this:

on the back.

I’ve been thoroughly impressed with the quality of the shirts as well as the price.  They were a little more than regular because I did a design on the front and back.  We’ll see how they hold up after the first wash and drive thru McDonald’s meal!  I got Zoe, Ace, and Liam’s shirts from K2Teamworks.  They were super fast on printing and shipping but they didn’t carry toddler size shirts nor onesies (not that I saw anyway)…so I had to go to Inktastic to get a shirt that wouldn’t swallow Ceili Rain whole and a onesie for Bryant.  And these shirts cost a little bit more than the ones at K2Teamworks. 

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How Does Your Garden Grow…Results

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What we have here is our first tomato!  Which Zoe promptly washed and ate.  Raw.  This kid will eat tomatoes like candy.  She loves them.  And these tomatoes are Sweet 100’s (I think) and they are definitely sweet.  After this one we have been getting a ton of little red tomatoes and now the big red ones are coming in.

Sadly, our squash only produced about three or four pieces before Mark accidentally broke off a large stalk and then the 100 plus temperatures took the rest of it.

However, Mark has planted a sweet banana pepper, two potatoes from our Science “experiment,”  and an herb plant for me.  And, honestly, I have not been out to check how they’re doing.  It’s hot people!  And I’m well past noticeably pregnant!  For now, the gardening is being left to Zoe and Mark.  I think they’re doing a fine job by the evidence of what is coming in every few days.

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Happy 3rd Birthday Josiah!

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So Josiah turned 3 this week.  He was excited about it…well, no he wasn’t, um, maybe he was.  I don’t know for sure.  He kind of wavered back and forth in his excitement throughout the day.  Anytime any of us said, “Happy Birthday!” he’d frown or grunt or hide his face.  Finally, after a second phone call (that did not include singing, “Happy Birthday”) he relented and smiled while hiding his face.  He insisted all day that we not sing “The Birthday Song” to him and then while at my ultrasound appointment, he starts singing at the top of his lungs, “Happy birfday to you!  Happy birfday to you!” 

Upon his request, we did not invite anyone to his party.  He would have wanted Jack and “Waura” (Laura) there but a nine hour drive to attend a two hour birthday party just didn’t seem feasible right now.  So, since he is only three and it is his birthday, we didn’t push it.  We did, however, party “where a kid can be a kid.”  And, although it was quite noisy, we had a very good time.

This is Josiah’s favorite “game” to play at Chuck E. Cheese’s.  He’ll do it over and over and over until we tell him he has to share it with other kids who are waiting to play.  We even ate right beside it.  Unfortunately, it was out of order.  Have no fear…there was a Barney (yuk) train to ride close by and he spent many a token on that thing (and even shared with Ceili Rain).

Very serious about opening presents…
I found a Thomas laptop at consignment for under $7.  He was intrigued to say the least.
So were his siblings.
Grandmere and Papa came through with a beautiful book that has all the original Thomas stories (and artwork) from the Rev. Awdry.  I was pumped!  Josiah was pretty excited too.  He slept with it and looked at it all morning the next day.
Opening Uncle B and Aunt B and fam’s gift!
We love books!
His cake request was, “A Thomas cake with twacks.  And Purcy (Percy) and James.”  So, I went to ebay and found an edible image with all of his requests.
Unfortunately, the edible image was not super quality or the icing was not wet enough and it did not stick all the way to the icing.  So, when we put the foil on top to transport it, the foil stuck the edible image and James’s head got mushed up.  At least Thomas was still intact.
I know it doesn’t look like it, but he did give him a high five without apprehension!  He was excited about seeing Chuck E.
*The Smile:  Yep, he’s still at that funky smile stage.  I think it’s cute that he looks like a little chipmunk when he fake smiles.  Not that he wasn’t happy in those pictures…just very, very focused.
Happy Birthday to my littlest (so far) man!  We are so thrilled that God gave us Josiah.  He continues to be a joy each and every day.

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Bryant Update almost 37 weeks

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Bryant continues to grow great.  I had an ultrasound done this week and he is around 6 lbs 12 oz.  Gaining about a 1/2 pound a week puts him right at 8 1/2 pounds which is average for me (and just fine…any smaller and I’d be afraid I’d drop him).  We’re now at a waiting stage.  Dr. J gave me the approval to use a couple of herbal supplements to prep my body for before, during, and after labor. 

I also have noticed a little bit of itchiness on my belly and a few red spots that won’t go away.  It’s not at a point where I’m scratching all the time but it’s enough that I want to try and head it off before it gets worse, so after doing some research I asked Dr. J about trying a couple of herbal supplements to help with that.  He trusted my judgment and research and said I could try them.  However, if this is hormonal related, then the supplements probably won’t work (as they are work with liver issues…which is another possible PUPPS cause). 

I’m actually just now starting to get uncomfortable but mostly when I have a contraction.  Dr. J couldn’t believe I didn’t have anything to complain about.  I just laughed.  It is what it is and the only way to change that is to deliver the baby and the baby needs to “cook” for a little longer.  No reason to complain about something that can’t be changed right now.  So, we wait and pray.  I’ve got enough to do to keep me busy and get ready for Mr. Bryant’s arrival!

So, we’re in the ultrasound and Liam hops up on the chair beside me.  He looked concerned and said, “I just want you to be alright mommy.”  I reassured him that nothing that was taking place to hurt me and that we were just going to check on Bryant.  He seemed reassured and started laughing at the u/s goo.  He then spent the whole time leaning over my head so he could get a better view of Bryant.  He was so sweet hugging my head and staring at the screen. 

As we took Josiah to his “party” for his birthday, Liam asked me if I had more jelly for my belly. 

I told him no and asked if he wanted a jelly belly.

“No,”  he said “Not until I’m grown up big and have a baby in my belly.”

I believe that escalated into stating that aliens don’t have babies but I’m not sure where that came from.

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My First Lapbook

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A long time ago, I came across a website called Lapbook Lessons.  It was so long ago, I can’t remember where I found the link.  Anyway, they had a cute free lapbook for big brothers and I decided to try out our first lapbook on Liam (and Josiah…but that meant I did most of his book).  It was a success.

For those that don’t know, lapbooks or folder books or whatever you have to call them because someone copyrighted lapbooks, are books put together using file folders.  We made a double one which meant we used two folders.  We included all sorts of pockets, wheels, and other different forms of information regarding what it means to have a new baby in the house.  Liam loved it.  He also enjoys showing everyone the information.

So, for now, I do believe we’ll be continuing with lapbooks…although they are a bit time consuming, so they won’t be a constant part of our homeschool days!

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