A little crafty

I was invited to a cookie exchange and I found an easy way to make 4 dozen cookies. You don't have to make cookies, you just roll marshmallows in Ghirardelli chocolate, Heath bar & candy sprinkles. Amen & Amen!

Cute candle holders: Epson salt or sand with votives. The white candles look neat too!

At school, Claire made clove oranges. I love the way they smell so the kids made a few more today. They look festive with the advent wreath greenery.

My next project is tin can candles, I snatched that idea from a blog link to Nester. Too bad I did not bookmark the link, there are only hundreds to choose from! Maybe next year?

Traditions

Advent is one of our favorite traditions. I have been following some of these posts as well, great ideas for daily advent readings.

We love to make Paula's Cookie Cutouts. I got tired of waiting for her to show up, so I decided to do them myself like last year and the year before that!

I just love to clean up the mess and sweep up every last candy sprinkle known to man.

The best part is sharing them with others!

The lights on our tree

I wish I could see, I wish it everyday.... not really. I get so annoyed trying to get the true effect of the lit tree with my camera. This has been a yearly issue, year after year.

Anyway, it is a senseless complaint since it is only once a year!

As directed by my sister, I used mesh instead of ribbon. However, I only decided to try the mesh after the tree was decorated. I broke a few ornaments so I plan to "switcharoo" next year.

The kids had a blast decorating the kid tree. The pencil tree will not hold many more kiddo ornaments, one can only hang so many hand prints. But thank you Jesus for those little hands!

I spy our elf, Nick Jr., up there too. I bet he gets a daily eye & earful. I am glad the walls don't talk!

Manic Monday

Back to the grind this week, I kinda feel like Claire. I wish someone would carry me!

Is it Fall or just a farce?

With a touch of Fall this week, we busted out the winter clothes. Rain for 2 days allowed for rain boots, really cute ones!

Will even scored a pair of WalMart cowboy boots. They are cowboy/gangsta/superhero boots, what a mix!

I hope they last as long as the cool spell.

Pumpkins and more

I had major visions of harvest, fall pictures at the pumpkin patch this year. I even purchased a blue pumpkin which has looked absolutely grand on my porch. The stellar pumpkin still did not lead to perfect pics. But, who is perfect? Only Jesus, as I tell my children!

Claire dressed up as Junie B. Jones on Friday for Character Day of Red-Ribbon week. If you have a first grader, you must know Junie B. There is a chance you may also have survived or even TAUGHT during red ribbon week in the great land of America. By the end of the week, I seriously considered Xanax to face one more day of red-ribbon mania. Oh, I kid...maybe.

Of course, if I had darlings like Junie B. Claire or Mad Scientist Faith, I may have reconsidered the mania. Making green slim causes anyway to stick around.

Speaking of sticking around, Will found these gloves before our 7:30a.m. soccer game arrival on Saturday morning. It was a brisk 48 degrees, so he decided to stay warm, for the rest of the weekend. No kidding, he has not taken those gloves off.

I think the Bee was pained to hang with the Hollywood Diva & Spiderman.

Her mood lightened as she ate chocolate. I am sure it will also brighten my week!

When we were discussing costumes, Faith took her time deciding what she would like to imitate. One day after school, she said very emphatically that she wanted to dress like an 80's girl. I refrained from saying, "Oh my GAHHHH!" I said my usual response, " We will see." Her response, "I just want to be an 80's girl for the poodle skirt!" Oh, for heaven's sake...gag me with a spoon, get your generations straight! :)

Happy 4th B-day Will!

Dear Will,

You are Mama's special sweet boy. I love you so much and I am so proud of you. I pray you continue to grow in wisdom and stature like Christ. I pray you have a humble heart for the Lord like your Daddy. I pray the stubborn streak in you is used for God's glory and allows you to be strong in Him. I pray you would keep your eyes on Christ as you walk each day with him. Do not look to the right or left but look to His word to guide you.

Sweet Will, I hope your mama remembers to wash your sheets so you do not have to sleep on the plain mattress anymore. I also hope she keeps the fridge stocked with celery, yogurt & cheese. We would not want you to suffer without eating. I hope your sisters always adore you and you grow up learning to appreciate a girl's emotional state! Grasp the drama around here and learn to laugh like your Daddy's side of the family. Mommy is still learning too. Laughter is good for the soul. Thank you for your kind words and your love for me. I will love you forever, my baby you will always be. I love you to the moon and back.

A boy & his cake

Random for Fall

I thought the kids looked especially cute this morning so I had a great plan to capture the cuteness with my camera. However, my camera was dead so I had to borrow Faith's camera. The monogram on Claire's shirt tied in the hot pink & gray, but puppy stole the glory!

My darling nine year old has 3 tests today, Science, Social Studies & Math. You would not believe how smart I am becoming. Ha!

W is almost turning four. This morning I asked him why he got in bed with me last night. His response, "even though I am almost four, you said I will always be your baby." True enough brother.

I must think I am the Nester decorating my mantle. $5.49, thank you Ellis Pottery!

Bread & soccer

In September, I made bread, watched kids play soccer and did homework. Fantaboulous times!

This is what my kitchen looked like as I made bread, it was kinda nuts.

But, it was worth it!

Don't the kids look thrilled? I think it was because we took pictures at 6:50 in the morning that day. Pure sin people, pure sin.

Snacks make it worth it all!

Highs & hoes

I feel the need to share mine, it has been a week, or half a week anyway.

Tradition says one starts with the highs first. I must begin with the lows, it will make me appreciate my highs.

1. Why is Sonic happy hour not all day?

2. 3rd grade Math homework may kill me, I long for real happy hour after homework.

3. Why must produce spoil or ripen so quick? I need my own orchard.

4. Bedtime is getting later & later at my house.

OK, so maybe it was questions of lows/hoes? On to the highs...

1. I am making Amish bread, it takes 10 days. Let's hope I do not forget where I put the starter each day. I enjoyed mashing today, a wonderful post afternoon high! Once I complete my starter, I can share with you. All 2.5 of you need to stay tuned, you can make bread too!

2. BSF started back today and I volunteered with the children's department. I rocked babies, it was blissful. A tiny low was I tried very hard to remember the sounds & smell of my own 3 babies. :(

3. Would I trade homework, late bedtimes and lack-of-Sonic for my 3? Nah, I will keep them, right after happy hour! Oh, I kid, happy hour would not even recognize me. I think you have to wear something else besides work-out clothes.

A gift - My 3 blessings

Last winter, Craig was the pastor who prayed at the Garth House fundraiser. The sweet couple who asked us to attend bid on a portrait session to Gayletta's. Guess who they gave it to as a generous gift? The portrait is a 30X24. My snapshot does NOT do it justice. Plus, I feel like the frame does not pop on this brick. I love the frame I chose, but we need more lighting over the fireplace. Anyway, I am thrilled with all the pictures.

Isn't Will adorable? He ought to be, they moved his entire body from another pic for this shot.

Soccer for 3

All 3 are playing soccer this season. I have yet to figure out how to be at 3 games at one time. Who would have thought that 3 kids played at 8:00? I do not know why BYSC did not consult this momof3. :) God help me during hunting season. I will save that for another post.

My favorite words

Time is ticking before I am the mother of a NINE year old, did you hear me? She is nearly 9. Sweet mother of Abraham Lincoln, where did the time go? Anyway, we had a busy weekend. Labor Day means I labor at the birthday party each year. I am not so fun, fab or near as laboring as I appear. I said after last year, I was through with big birthday parties. Well, as usual, I lied. We still partied at New York Pizza & Pasta and then escaped to the lake with the family.

However, the party was at 4:30 because I decided I did not want to run into all the Friday night pizza rush. The cake was so yummy. Susan White invented the word fabulous with this cookies & cream filled cake!

Faith brought a friend with us and the Morris cousins met us there. The kids tubed and explored Rattlesnake Island. Don't worry, we were on the opposite site of the Rayburn drunks. :)

Faith and Payton Ann talked Ma into about a dozen golf cart (with big mud tires) rides.

Yes, this is the little kids, watching Scooby Doo & eating homemade ice cream quietly. Who knew? Who cares, they were still.

So, my favorite words should be: "Mom, you are so great for making my birthday special!" Or, "Mom, I love to go shopping with you!" Nope, those are not it. After we shopped all morning with Faith's birthday money, I heard music to my ears as I awaited patiently in the JUSTICE dressing room. "Mom, can we got to GAP now?" Amen sister, I have raised you right. If I see anymore glitter, I may scream. And I don't care if the lip balm is $1.54.

I will save my thoughts about Claire's Boutique and my Claire for another post. Oh gracious, even Toy Story characters would be speechless!

It's that time of year again!

August & deer hunting, just does not seem to go together. Oh, but it does around here. It is also soccer time! Soccer for all THREE children. Pics soon...with more time, effort, and patience.

The Last One

I think as parents we are always turning around and noticing how fast time flies. I know it flies for everyone, but it seems to whiz by as we watch our little ones grow up. This summer, I made extra effort to read with Claire and practice multiplication facts with Faith, but I realized I have a few short years with Will alone. Since the girls have started school, I have tried to spend a little alone time with him.

With much ado, I finally convinced him to stop jumping "to infinity and beyond" and retrieved him from the top of the couch to sit with me. After reading several books about fires, dinosaurs and Woody rescuing Wheezy, we played in shaving cream. He was enthralled with drawing happy faces. After a few minutes, I asked him why he liked the happy face. His response, "It makes me feel happy because I love you!"

Oh dear, be still my heart.

1st day of school 2010-11

New dresses and back packs....Faith's bow looks like a torpedo! :) It matches the tallest kid in 3rd (and 4th) grade.

Faith wanted me to hurry up and take her picture! My little Claire, she looks scared but she was happy as a clam!

Now, it's me and my little man, who did not want to leave his Ma's house. I had to bribe him with McDonald's. I know, that is disgusting. I only drank tea. It is especially gross since I made homemade banana bread for breakfast! The girls took muffins to their teachers. Yes, I am a suck up.