Let it snow - NOT!

Last night it started snowing.  I don't know who ordered it, but I do know that it wasn't me and I wish they hadn't.  At 5pm I had Ben shovel the porch clear and a path to the shop. 

This morning I woke up to this:

I took a ruler out and measured 6 inches of new snow over night!  Where's my car?

Unless I can get someone to come plow me out there will be no leaving the house anytime soon.  Good thing I have lots of food stored up.  And even if I do get the driveway plowed there's no guarentee that the roads will be safe.

It sure does look pretty though when I take a deep breath and just decide to enjoy.

There is something satisfying about watching your son shovel deep snow.

They made it and now the walk back to the house for warmth and comfort.

Looks like a couple of long days in the house ahead.  Who needs church?  ME!   It calms me and allow my children to live one more week.  Here's to hoping I can get out.

Thanksgiving 2010

I pose a question to you:  Does any family function truly start on time?  Well, not with my family that I know of and this year's Thanksgiving was no different.  Food wasn't ready and people were late, but we managed somehow.  As we were killing time Chris sat on grandpa's lap and Lex came to say that he was her Christopher and not grandpa's.

Two of the three table settings

My sister made this turkey vegetable and cheese ball platter.  Very cute and delicious.

Afterwards and before pie time my boys put on a music/dance show.  I make a disclaimer here and now:  I had no part in this or any idea as to what may have been performed.

Lex decided to join in the dancing

Then she needed a massage by Uncle Jefferey

A good year.  Glad it is done and really want my husband home for the next one.  This was his second year in China on Thanksgiving.

A year of waiting

Last Thanksgiving was hectic.  Doug was in China, my back was throwing fits, and Thanksgiving dinner was to be held in my house.  The holiday came and went and while waiting for the wishbone to dry, I herniated my back and ended up on bed rest.  Needless to say the wishbone got pushed in a corner and semi-forgotten.  Only semi because I kept seeing it when I cleaned the kitchen and Chris kept asking when he was going to get to break it.  Well one year later and today was the day.

Ben and Chris are ready

On your marks, get set, pull!

And the winner of the wish is.......Chris!

I hope we don't have to wait another year for this year's wishbone pull.

Teeth

Horrible pictures I know but I still had to post them.  These are 3 of Chris' teeth that he got pulled yesterday.  The boy is scared of bleeding teeth and refuses to pull them out, so we either go to the dentist if his big teeth are in yet the baby ones not out or we jsut hope that rough housing will knock them out.  Those two long ones are canine teeth.  Wow are they big!  I don't remember Ben's being that big so what happens?  I'm not sure, but it is still cool to see these suckers.  I placed a regular paper clip next to them for size comparison.

Sewing

My oldest has been bugging me for some time to teach him how to sew and of course if you teach one to sew another will want to learn too.  So, I finally caved and thought of a fall way to begin sewing lessons.  I remember when I was in about 4th grade "sewing" a scarecrow so why shouldn't they.  I bought some burlap and make some template, cut out the shapes and thus the sewing began.

First they sewed the patches on

Then the pieces together

And...there you have the finished scarecrow.  This one seems to have grown a substantial amount of facial hair.  :)

 Sure hope my son's teeth don't turn colors like this poor guy's.

Of course once we started they wanted to do more and more, but I 'm only crazy enough to do one project at a time.  The younger ones got to paste small version of these to cardstock to make their own scarecrows.

Chattin'

When Doug travels we try to talk on the computer. This way his work doesn't have to pay the over seas cost and we get to talk every day.  Yesterday Lexie was so cute talking to him that I had to get a picture.  She's trying to keep the headphones on her head so she can hear him.   

Can you believe those eyes? Talk about gorgeous. Not sure who she got those from, but boy is she lucky.



6 months!

Six months has come and blown by since Peter's birth.  At his check up he weighed in at a whoppin' 20lbs and was sporting one tooth fully through on bottom and the one next to it just breaking skin.  Until I felt them I didn't even know he was teething. 

 He is such an extremely happy baby boy.  He laughs at everything and loves unconditionally.  I can't tell you the joy he brings and comfort he gives when his daddy is away.  I admit sometimes it's hard when he needs something and I want something different but I love to snuggle him anyway.  He is currently learning and practicing the art of rolling over.  Back to belly is his current mode, but I'm sure the rest will follow soon so long as I give him floor time.  I've realized that he isn't down much on the floor.  Probably this is a good thing since his siblings are messy with objects and food, but mostly it's easier on my back to sit him in his highchair or in his walker.  I love you Peter.

Alone

My hat goes off to all you single parents.  I don't know how you do it or how your kids can turn out ok.  Because of Doug's current job he gets to travel around the world and I get to stay home with all of our children for weeks on end.  I would just like to point out the his "get" is a good one and mine is a not so nice one.  Anyway,  his recent activity has taken him to China for his second time.  This is a great experience for him to see other cultures and try to use is associate degree.  The children and I were home in the cold.  Did I mention that he is in southern China where the tropics are?  For some reason there were times during this experience that were harder than the other times he left.  Plainly said I miss my husband when he is gone.  I miss his voice.  I miss being able to look up and see him in the next room.  I miss just feeling his presence when he is here.  I miss his warm body in my bed.  It gets cold when my heater is gone and while I have small little bodies climbing in my bed they tend to kick, thrash, and scream in their sleep.  I miss the security of knowing I don't have to handle the catastrophes myself whether it is sick children or an intruder in my house (something I haven't had to deal with thankfully).  There are times at night that as I lay there in the state between sleep and awake that I swear I can feel him lie down next to me but when I turn no one is there.  You may think I'm crazy, but I know what I feel and it is his presence and warmth curling around me.  The days feel like weeks, the weeks like months, and the months like years.  The end never seems in sight and then suddenly he is home again and my world is right once more.

I applaud all those raising a family by yourself.  This is no easy job and I only know a little of how hard it is.  My longest alone time has been 5 weeks so far and it seems like forever.

First snow

If you look closely you can see a few "first" snow drops on our back porch.  This light falling of snow elicited excitement and an extra boost of energy from my children.  You would have thought that they had woken up to 2 feet of snow not just a sprinkling that didn't even stick.  Of course they booted up and with some coats on (the oldest thought he was tough and went out in shorts, t-shirt and boots; wish I had taken a picture :)) they headed out.  I made them work while out there cause that's just what I do, but they had fun freezing in the falling snow for a bit.

Look carefully and you will see the first snowflake in her hair and no it isn't dandruff.

Halloween: A Weekend Affair

With Halloween being on a Sunday this year, celebrating it was a weekend affair.  Friday started with parties at school.  Saturday was church party and some trick or treating.  Sunday was a ghoulish dinner with at my parent's house and a couple of other trick or treat houses that were missed.  A fun and packed weekend that was fun, but boy am I glad it is over.

My goblins all dressed up. The butcher, the construction worker, the cowboy, the witch and my little pumpkin.

For as few places that we visited plus a small truck or treat at church the kids sure got a lot.  I admit to going through their bags and taking some away.  Not for me to eat mind you (although I was tempted to grab a couple butterfingers and Reese's peanut butter cups), but because they had so much and I didn't relish them losing any teeth.

Yes, even Peter got a small basket of candy

Just a Halloween shot of me and Peter.  He doesn't look to thrilled, but I thought I looked good.

Dinner at my parent's was gross fun.  We had rolls shaped like hands, pumpkin soup, carrots carved like fingers, maggot pudding (rice),  frog legs (french style green beans), this body part fruit bowl (pomegranates as teeth and such all covered with slime), and rat bone spaghetti. 

I added a bowl of worms

and polliwogs in a bog

For some reason no one wanted to eat the worms.  The kids and adults alike were grossed out.  I loved it!  Wish I had had my camera to take a picture of the whole meal to share, but alas I didn't.  You can find the worm recipe at theidearoom.net and the original bog at afewshortcuts.com

For me, unless you are cooking for only 4 or less, I would double or more the recipe for the bogs.  So here is my slightly altered double recipe

Frog Bog

1 lg box of lime jello

12 oz cool whip

green fruit roll up (didn't have any green so mine are orange)

mini marshmallows

sprinkles or mini chocolate chips

Mix the jello into 3 cup boiling water.  When dissolved stir in the cool whip.  Pour into individual serving dishes.  Refrigerate 3+ hours.

Eyes: Cut strips of fruit roll up and roll around the marshmallows.  Place two black sprinkles or mini chocolate chips (I will try this next time) in the center of the marshmallows to make them look like eyes.  Place eyes in the finished bog.  Top with sprinkles.

Just had to include this picture of my construction vampire.