Monkey

Do you ever feel like something is just dragging you down? Can't really put your finger on it? And what about that high-pitched scream in your ear?

Look down, and low and behold,



you have a monkey... on your leg.

No Longer My Sanctuary

I love my room. My bed is one of my favorite things. Ever.

I sneak into my room sometimes just to get a few minutes peace.





BUT. Since we got this:






I now find this:




Cute? for sure. But no room for me!

A Few Updates

Because you were dying to know.

I'm coming out of my funk. It still feels like I'm swimming, but with rhythmic breathing.

I bought a new Bible. I've been using a King James Version for years, and was ready for something new. I purchased a NIV Study Bible upon Texas Cousin's advice. Let me tell you, it is fabulous!

Our Pastor has told us on many occasions that the Bible has everything you could want in a story. Mystery, murder, sex, romance. He spoke on sibling rivalry last Sunday, and why we should be very careful about not showing favoritism with our children. ie: Isaac loved Esau, Rebecca loved Jacob. Esau married a Hittite woman because his mother hated them. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, Joseph was Jacob's favorite.. on and on. BUT, I read something on Sunday that I have never read before: "Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to lie with her". WOW. Even then men were demanding. (Genesis 29:21)

Ryan and I have had some time together, I had a four day weekend due to two "ice days", got the laundry and housekeeping under control...even unpacked a few boxes!

Work is busy, and I'm trying to cut back my hours to a more manageable amount. We are getting a new sitter next week, hopefully both of those things will work out.

We named the puppies!

Meet "Max"

and "Ruby".

And the newest member:

This little butterball! He is just the cutest thing! One brown eye, one blue...maybe we should name him "Lee". hmm?

First Real Snow

The first real snow of the season prompted Ryan to get Jackson out on his first 4-wheeler ride. (he was very careful!)







Elizabeth and William bundled up faster than well, fast, jumped on barely letting Ryan stop.

One quick spin, and Jackson was kicked off so they could go faster. He was cold and missed me anyway.

*the snow didn't stay long...it's 40+ degrees outside and looks like spring. way to good to be true!

Where Do They Get This Stuff?

Isabelle and I putting away her clothes this morning:


"Your polly pocket does not go in the pantie pile"

"She's broken anyway. duh" insert: head bob and hip wiggle.

"You don't talk to mommy like that Isabelle."

"Mom. Calm down"

Love? Hate.

After having Monday off, spending all day Thursday at home with the kids, and still not crossing anything off my "to-do" list, when school was cancelled again today, I decided that I needed to do something productive. Something I absolutely HATE. Something I've never done before. How can that be? I've not done it since we moved into this house. Going on month four. Not a big deal if you are talking about alphabetizing your spices or cleaning out your closet but it's not either of those things. It's mopping. Saying I hate it is well, and understatement. Really. Ask anyone who's been in my kitchen.

I make up excuses. "Jackson is awake, he'll get in the way. " "Jackson is asleep, I'll wake him." "It's going to get dirty again tomorrow".


First order of business, entertaining Jackson. I sat him on this stool in the hopes, that since he cannot get down, he'll sit still. And maybe watching us would keep him entertained.



And wouldn't you know it, he sat nicely the entire time. Over an hour of sitting, nary a peep out of him.


The entire time! (kind of blows that excuse!)


I bribed Elizabeth and William to help me, and we got it finished. The tile is variegated enough to make the dirt hard to see, and porous enough to make it hard to clean. Great choice.




I LOVE the way it looks. Feels. And wonder, if I love this so much, why do I hate doing it so? oh. my knees are rubbed raw.

Boy Toys? Girl Toys? Who Knows.

A couple weeks ago after Ice Skating, Miss Rebecca and I took the kids to "Toys R Us" to spend some Christmas money that was burning a hole in their pockets. It was a better trip than when we went before Christmas, less people, better parking, no real agenda, and spending their money was easier!

It was a great teaching experience. We talked about saving our money to buy something bigger, spending it on lots of little things, all in all, not a bad day.

Isabelle picked out this little stroller. Kind of funny, because I almost purchased it for Christmas, but decided against it.

Want to guess what it's being used for?





So nice, big brother putting it together for little sister to use....






Right. He has his own agenda.



Poor girl has to wait her turn!

Are You A Giver?

Yesterday I ventured into one of my favorite down-town shops, "One World Handcrafts" to check out their after-Christmas sales. One World is a "fair trade" shop, they sell items made in under-developed countries. All the people who make the items are paid fairly. Hence, "Fair Trade". I love this little store. They have a great selection, and I have purchased many a gift from them. Makes me feel good that someone in need is benefiting.

While I was there, I discovered that they are collecting items for hygiene kits to send to the earthquake victims in Haiti. And that is when I had my most recent "Good Idea".

For every comment left on this post, I will donate one hygiene kit for a victim in Haiti.

And one, randomly drawn commenter will win this reindeer ornament. Made in Haiti, of course.




If you would like to do some giving on your own, here are a few great organizations to get you started:


Samaritan’s Purse- www.samaritanspurse.org
o Mennonite USA- www.mcc.org
o Church of the Brethren- www.brethren.org
o Red Cross- www.redcross.org
o Salvation Army- www.salvationarmyusa.org
o Church World Service- www.churchworldservice.org
o AmeriCares- www.americares.org
o Catholic Charities- www.catholiccharitiesusa.org
o Christian Reformed Church- www.crcna.org
o Convoy of Hope- www.convoyofhope.org
o International Relief & Development- www.ird-dc.org
o Operation Blessings- http://community.ob.org/
o Presbyterian Disaster Assistance- www.pcusa.org
o United Way Worldwide – www.liveunited.org
o UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)- www.new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor

I Share The Dream

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."



- Martin Luther King, Jr.

I Love Her

I was frantically cleaning the bathrooms today when I heard Jackson wake up from his nap. At least an hour earlier than I had hoped. I finished up what I was doing, and went up to his room to find Isabelle sitting next to him in the crib rubbing his back. Immediately upset, I thought she had went in and woke him. In a very much Walmart-mom tone, I said:

"What are you doing???"

And very sweetly, she replied:

"I heard him crying so I came in to make him feel better."

"It didn't work so I just wiped the tears from his eyes."

I love her.

blah.

I'm having one of those weeks.

I feel very removed from God.

I'm not connecting with my husband the way I like too.

I'm snappish with my children.

The house is a mess.

The laundry needs done.

It feels like EVERYTHING needs organized.

My work? I totally forgot an appointment this week. My schedule is filling up, and I'm wondering if I'll have time to prep for all the classes.

I feel like I'm swimming laps. Making a lot of splashes, but never really getting anywhere.
And to worried about getting to the non-existent finish to come up for air.

I felt this way last fall, when we were moving, trying to get things ready for birthdays, holidays and all the other crap we had going on. I have a really hard time saying "no" to things, and it just seemed like we went from one thing to the other. I remember thinking: "ok, today is: **** I'm supposed to be happy." I hate not being able to plan things properly, and I love anticipating events. Lately, both have been missing in my life. And then, yesterday I read McMama's post, "I'm gonna miss this" I had a little cry. at my desk. at work. no kleenex. I looked fantastic for my meeting.

My goal for this weekend: take time to organize something, and STOP, take time to enjoy the ride.

Farmer Family Fun!

Last Saturday my Mom, my Aunt Tawn, my cousin Jennifer and her three girls, Clara, Reese and Brynn came to spend three fabulously fun days with us.

Isabelle and Reece on the stairs.

Why do they like to lay on them?

Everyone enjoyed the tea party...even William. When he wasn't serving!

We have enough snow now to go sledding, and Elizabeth and Clara had a ball.

We ate. Grandma's Chicken Pot Pie.

And thanks to Jennifer, I have 3/4's of a sugar cream pie to eat.



They watched movies.
And Sponge Bob. don't tell.

And poor sweet Brynn. Jackson bullied this sweet little baby the entire weekend.

I had a really nice time chatting with Jennifer. I feel like I say this all the time, but it really is

nice to talk with other women who share the same day to day stuff. Makes me feel good to know that other people experience the same joy, sorrow, anger, and will to move on, and to do better.

Jennifer is a great mother, sister, daughter and friend. I really love spending time with her....especially since she is the one person who understands when I need to vent about MY MOM!

What Did I Do Today?

I pimp'd a potty.

Hey, Hey Good Lookin'

Whatcha' got cookin'?

New Additions!

Since the tragic death of Dexter, and the traumatic death of Duke, Ryan and the kids have been feeling the void of our canine companions. Late this last summer, we took in two stray Australian Shepherds. They were very nice outdoor dogs, but they decided to move on.

So when my friend Kim told me about a litter of too cute black lab/doberman mix puppies, it was to hard to pass up.

Brother and Sister

They are just the cutest little things!

The first meeting..

They were pretty shy...

but loved from the first moment!

Maybe a little rough,

but love all the same!

They have been so good, so smart! They are warming up to us, and have started chewing on a few things. I'll probably have some angry post later on something of mine that they destroyed, but right now, it is the perfect incentive to keep things picked up!

The potty training has been great so far... they seem to realized that they are supposed to go when we take them out. Only one accident in the house so far!

We have yet to name them. Elizabeth wants to name her "Dakota Jane", and William thinks that "Tyler" is just the perfect name for a dog.

Any suggestions?

Brr! It's Cold Outside!

One of the first things in our new house budget was an outdoor wood burner. Was also one of the last things finished. Or should I say, "The last thing finished"? We do have a few more odds & ends to do, but in the mean time, we are really enjoying the cozy warmth of the wood stove in a draft-free home! We no longer see the curtains move on these cold, blustery days. Partly because I haven't got the new curtains made, but mostly because the windows are weather proof.

The best part? It's right out the back of the garage. You barely have to get dressed to throw wood in! And for you neighbor ladies? Better keep your blinders on. You know how Ryan likes to run around naked.

Just Like Riding a Bike

Last Saturday I was having one of those: (pick one)

"I'm an awful mother for working all the time",
"I feel guilty because we have not done anything fun during Christmas break",
"I'm a horrible mother that makes her kids bathe themselves and feeds them cold cereal for dinner" days.

Elizabeth had been asking, and so with the help of Miss 'Becca, we went ice skating.

Skates on and ready to go! (except William, who was a disgruntled family member)

He got over it.

Isabelle lasted for about an hour, and had a great time. I spent the first hour in the car feeding Jackson, and playing on my phone while he slept. Miss 'Becca and I swapped, and she sat in the car with two sleeping babies while I took on the ice with the big kids. We had so much fun. I cannot believe they want to go back with all the falling down they did. I am pleased to say that I did not fall down once. mmhhmm. Just like riding a bike.

Chocolate You Say?

Yes, Please!

A Little Christmas Day Scare

We have very independent children.

And most of the time, I'm very happy about it.

Until it scares the crap out of me.

Christmas Day was a great, layed back day, spent playing with new toys and games. At one point in the evening, I realized I had not seen or heard Isabelle in a while. Don't make a hasty judgement... the four of them had been all over this house, upstairs reading books, playing babies/tractors, in the living room watching t.v., eating in the kitchen, playing in the basement with the wii. I thought maybe she had gotten tired and layed down somewhere and fell asleep.

I was right.

Except for instead of being in a random corner fully clothed, she had decided to bathe before bed.

I snapped a quick photo before I got her out of the tub, dried off, and into her jammies, but after I checked for breath sounds and a pulse. It took about a half hour of snuggle time in her bed for my heart rhythm and blood pressure to return to normal.

Never mind the tattoos.

Whole Family Sleep-Overs!

Sunday afternoon, our friends from Oklahoma! (can you type Oklahoma! with out the ! ? try it, it just doesn't look right).

We had a great couple of days catching up, the kids played wii, ate, played wii, ran through the house, played wii, ate, played wii, ran through the house.....

They were wonderful house guest, the kids had an absolute blast. I don't think I saw William for more than 3 minutes the 36 hours they were here.

Cannot wait to see them again!

Musings

Last night we rang in the New Year with our nearest and dearest. What a great night. Hanging out in a warm home, food spread out, playing games, minimal crying, and no fights amongst those little people. Just thinking about it gives me warm fuzzies.

I took down the Christmas Tree, the earliest ever. And ran into the local Quilt Shop's New Years Day sale. It was packed. Next year I think I'll wait and go at the end of the day. *phew*

Now I am sitting at the desk, organizing my calendar, and all the list I manage. I have a list of list. Really. Probably should get busy, huh?

A Decade of Photos

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2006

2007

2008

2009

New Years Resolution? Organize my photos so that I can find 2004 and 2005. Yours?